leah meets brandon

2009-05-01T15:42:00.000-07:00

hey everyone,

this will be our last pairing here.
thanks so much to all of you who've checked this blog out.
hope you all enjoyed it.

2009-04-27T13:40:00.001-07:00

2009-04-24T11:54:00.000-07:00

Brandon: listening to WhipC.R.E.A.M. by K-OS

Leah: welcome to Ontario. :)

2009-04-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

2009-04-20T09:22:00.000-07:00

2009-04-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

2009-04-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

2009-04-14T10:33:00.001-07:00

2009-04-06T16:32:00.000-07:00

2009-04-03T17:28:00.001-07:00

2009-04-01T11:06:00.000-07:00

happy April!

we liked having "no theme" so much, we decided to have just one more!

actually, we are a little lame because we have no idea what theme to do this month.

SO, we need YOUR help.

what theme do you think would be rad enough for us to conquer this April?

please, please suggest one in the comments below.

and we'll deeply ponder over each one.

thanks!

-l & b

2009-03-30T10:37:00.001-07:00

2009-03-29T01:48:00.000-07:00

massive apologies for the delays.

some internet crapness happening at Burundi.

(so you can now all go blame Brandon.)

2009-03-26T11:05:00.000-07:00

2009-03-23T10:42:00.001-07:00

Leah:

some exciting, exciting news- i am heading to Guatemala
this summer! and i need all your help. please, please go here
and find out how you can be a part in this.

Brandon:
"only that day dawns to which we are awake."
-thoreau

2009-03-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

Leah:
a stone of remembrance.

(for Kat)

2009-03-18T03:03:00.001-07:00

Brandon:

michief, for sure. [espièglerie, c'est sûr.]

Leah:

i think these weeds are pretty.

2009-03-16T10:49:00.000-07:00

2009-03-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

Leah:

sit back. listen.

(Morning Glory Cloud by DM Stith)

Brandon:

teza tea plantation as seen from mount teza, kibira national forest, muyinga province, burundi.

2009-03-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

Brandon:

listening to boa sorte (featuring ben harper) by vanessa da mata

Leah:

yes, that's snow in march.

2009-03-09T18:21:00.000-07:00

Leah:

finished reading Great Expectations by Dickens

Brandon:

listening to mrs. morris by charles spearin

2009-03-06T19:06:00.000-08:00

Brandon:

listening to: the love song by k-os

Leah:

reading "light in august" by faulkner

2009-03-04T10:02:00.000-08:00

Leah:
school in one hour.

Brandon:

young shepherds.

2009-03-02T16:43:00.001-08:00

hi all, happy march! there won't be a theme this month.

but it looks like it's already off to a good start.

2009-02-28T08:36:00.000-08:00

2009-02-25T08:33:00.000-08:00

Leah:
i took this photo before valentine's day with my film camera

and when i got the roll back, it was neat to see that i

double-exposed the shot.

2009-02-23T09:28:00.000-08:00

2009-02-20T08:48:00.000-08:00

Leah:
there officially should be huts in vancouver to take pictures of.

but antiques will do for now.

Brandon:

walls apparently don't erase as easily as chalkboards do.

2009-02-18T01:10:00.000-08:00

Brandon:

leonidas is an artist.

Leah:

this street is pretty busy. and you see such a variety of people.

2009-02-16T00:00:00.000-08:00

2009-02-13T00:07:00.000-08:00

2009-02-11T10:07:00.000-08:00

Brandon:

salon de coiffure

Leah:

you should come visit here.

2009-02-09T08:40:00.000-08:00

2009-02-06T00:00:00.000-08:00

2009-02-04T00:00:00.000-08:00

2009-02-02T02:00:00.000-08:00

hi all,

due to some unfortunate circumstances, the last Friday photo of January will be forever non-existent.

we truly apologize for keeping you in suspense. but perhaps we will surprise you with an extra photo this month.

on another bright note, it is now February and the theme this month is "words here and there".

also, if you ever forget what theme we are doing, please click on the archives link below and it will show you all current and past themes.

peace,

leah & brandon

2009-01-28T04:28:00.000-08:00

Brandon: be still and watch

(rainy afternoon outside my office)

2009-01-26T09:19:00.001-08:00

Brandon: be still and watch

(out my office window this morning)

2009-01-23T06:18:00.001-08:00

2009-01-21T08:57:00.000-08:00

Brandon: it was hard to be still watching the inauguration...

2009-01-19T00:00:00.000-08:00

2009-01-16T00:00:00.000-08:00

2009-01-14T09:27:00.000-08:00

2009-01-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

2009-01-09T16:24:00.000-08:00

2009-01-07T09:31:00.000-08:00

2009-01-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

2009-01-02T14:50:00.000-08:00

the theme this month is "be still".

2008-12-31T11:59:00.000-08:00

Brandon:

wishing you a socially and spiritually prosperous new year.

Leah:

i cannot wait to see what new adventures 2009 will bring.

2008-12-29T11:34:00.000-08:00

Leah:

"Material benefits aren't bad, what's bad is that everyone doesn't have them."

-Rita Mae Brown

(from her essay, "The Last Straw")

Brandon:

"So oft in theologic wars,
The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean,
And prate about an Elephant
Not one of them has seen!"

-John Godfrey Saxe

2008-12-27T17:21:00.000-08:00

Brandon:

technical difficulties...

Leah:

ummm, happy Saturday? =)

this is my sister... in 35mm film.

and that white stuff behind her... Vancouver's record breaking snowfall;

it's making a lot of people slower than usual. apologies (again).

2008-12-24T16:50:00.000-08:00

uhhhh, apologies for the lateness, but look at that... just in time for Christmas! =)

also, we have both decided that once a month, we are going to grace you with our presence.
it's going to be called our "once a month thing".
and it will be amazing.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

2008-12-22T12:39:00.000-08:00

Brandon:

bujumbura at night.

still innocent of the inexorable approach of consumerist frenzy experienced elsewhere,

there's no hint of Christmas celebrations drawing near here in bujumbura.

lacking the normal cultural cues to Shop! (and the subversiveness that they inspire),

Christmas tends to sneak up on all but the aspiring martha stewarts of bujumbura.

Leah:

buying nothing, less, or lots, i hope this Christmas season is just splendid for you and yours.

i hope it is filled with family. i hope it is filled with friends.

and i hope it is filled with a kind of magic that only happens at this time of year.

2008-12-19T08:27:00.000-08:00

Leah:

"Maybe this Christmas will mean something more
Maybe this year love will appear
Deeper than ever before
And maybe forgiveness will ask us to call
Someone we love
Someone we’ve lost
For reasons we can’t quite recall
Mmm, maybe this Christmas"

Ron Sexsmith, "Maybe This Christmas"

Brandon:

"most men pursue pleasure with such breathless haste that they hurry past it."

-kierkegaard

enjoy each other.

2008-12-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

Brandon:

my wish this Christmas is that the sun would set on our intolerance.

Leah:

redemption.

(a word that has recently taken on a certain beauty than it

ever did before). there's a lot of things that could be

redeemed in this world.

2008-12-15T00:00:00.001-08:00

Leah:

well, my wish came this Christmas: SNOW!

too bad snow comes with cold weather.

p.s. if you could wish for anything this Christmas

that can't be bought with money, what would it be?

think deep now ;)

Brandon:

we're all sort of stubbornly clinging to this, aren't we?

2008-12-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

Brandon:

liberate yourself.

Leah:

perhaps we could try new traditions at this time of year.

it'd be kind of like switching your camera settings from autofocus (AF)

to manual focus (MF) to try something different for a change.

the results in the end just might surprise you.

2008-12-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

Leah:

Oh Holy Night

what does Christmas mean to you anyway?

Brandon:

it's going to collapse; if not soon, then your soul will, so get out while you can.

but beauty will be found in the ruins...

listening to: radiohead, house of cards.

2008-12-08T00:00:00.000-08:00

Brandon:

huh?! what do you mean i need a new crown for Christmas?

Leah:

aren't the best things in life free anyway?

you have to try and see the possibility in everything.

("Shadow Baby" by Allison McGhee)

2008-12-05T01:03:00.000-08:00

Leah:

"The economy is collapsing, but life is good." -shane claiborne (via this)

now, why would you want to waste a beautiful sunny afternoon like the one

we had just yesterday and spend it in a packed mall? vomit.

Brandon:

give the gift of art! so i understand that not everyone is as talented as sophie (thanks sophie! "donkeys without borders" depicting the ubiquitous donkeys of lamu island, by sophie lodge) or as leah, but buying gifts often becomes the easy way out, doesn't it?

or the hard way out. here i am in one of the world's poorest countries, with people dying on my doorstep because they haven't got enough to eat; at home, i hear, people are dying on the doorsteps of megastores because they've been trampled or shot in the crazed mêlée as they fight their way to the merriest Christmas discounts. during a world economic recession. this makes me want to vomit. honestly; is it not time to say "enough"?

2008-12-03T00:00:00.000-08:00

Brandon:

if you really feel the need to buy someone something this holiday season,

how's about making it something helpful for someone who actually needs it?

for instance, a goat for this woman.

for more ideas, visit tenthousandvillages.com.

Leah:

now, wouldn't this be convenient?

2008-12-01T00:29:00.000-08:00

the theme this month is "Buy Nothing Christmas"

Leah:

no, are we actually doing this theme? yowza.

nothing to start off the Christmas season than MAKING Christmas cards!

the steps are pretty easy. allow me to elaborate:

1) print photo

2) stick photo on paper

3) voilà!

Brandon:

please don't buy me anything; you already spoil me. sail away with me instead?

2008-11-28T02:27:00.001-08:00

Brandon:

"Wisdom is better than silver and gold."

Currently Listening To: Bob Marley, "Zion Train"

Leah:

"Heavenly Father, You always amaze me."

Currently Listening To: Jon Foreman, "Your Love is Strong"

(and now, one of my favourite singer & songwriter)

mannnn, i'm gonna miss this theme! i loved getting to share music with all of you.

hope you all enjoyed it as much as i did ;)

2008-11-26T00:00:00.000-08:00

Leah:

(Hmmm. This makes for an interesting pairing because that giraffe sure

looks like it could EAT me!)

"How I know your face,

All the ways you move,

You come in, I can read you
You're my favourite book."

Currently Listening To: Stars, "My Favourite Book"

(sharing with you one of my favourite bands)

P.S. Can anybody guess what book I'm holding in my hands?

Brandon:

"You're the magic that holds the sky up from the ground.
You're the breath the blows these cool winds 'round."

Currently Listening To: Ben Folds, "Magic"

oh, hello.

2008-11-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

Brandon:

Hello from my tent in the Maasai Mara!

On safari with my parents- brilliant.

Currently Listening To: Daniel Lanois, "I Love You"

(one of my favourite songs ever)

Leah:

Just thought we'd show ourselves and our Canons,

and say HELLO to all you lovely blog-readers out there.

My camera happens to be a girl and her name is Rebs. =)

Currently Listening To: The Wallflowers, "One Headlight"

(well, we didn't plan to share our favourite songs, but i wanted to

share one of my favourite songs too. actually, i'm gonna be sharing

more favourites for this last week of November!)

2008-11-21T02:32:00.001-08:00

Leah:

"This is home

Now I'm finally where I belong."

Currently Listening To: Switchfoot, "This is Home"

Brandon:

"When I die, won't you please feed me to the lions of the Kalahari?

I don't care if they eat my bones, 'cause I know I won't be coming home."

Currently Listening To: Sam Roberts, "Lions of the Kalahari"

2008-11-19T08:52:00.000-08:00

Brandon:

Mud bath. Maasai Mara, Kenya.

Currently Listening To: Bon Iver, "Skinny Love"

(Thanks to Christie. No real relation to the elephant, but loving the song).

Leah:

"Surrender has somehow become so beautiful."

Currently Listening To: Mute Math, "Control"

2008-11-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

Leah:

"They're the ones who'll hate you

When you think you've got the world all sussed out."

Currently Listening To: Radiohead, "High and Dry"

Brandon:

"I think that it's brainless to assume that making changes

To your window's view will give a new perspective."

Currently Listening To: Death Cab For Cutie, "Blacking Out The Friction"

2008-11-14T10:22:00.000-08:00

Brandon:

"Oh, that song is singin'
Singin' in to me

Slow and sweet
It carries me
Out to sea

And swallows me
In to the deep
And comforts me"

Currently Listening To: The Cinematic Orchestra, "Breath"

Leah:

Sometimes... errrr, it's all right to sharpie in an accent

when the mug company has completely misspelled the word café.

Currently Listening To: Seabird, "Sometimes"

2008-11-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

Leah:

My bathroom yesterday night-ish.

Currently Listening To: She & Him, "Change is Hard"

Brandon:

Southern Burundi yesterday morning.

Currently Listening To: Alexi Murdoch, "Orange Sky"

2008-11-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

Brandon:

"I am not a stranger in the hands of the Maker."

Currently Listening To: Daniel Lanois, "The Maker"

Leah:

I had such a good weekend. You? Mine was filled with family and Indiana Jones, and I'm just loving this singer right now.

Currently Listening To: Brooke Waggoner, "Young Friend"

2008-11-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

Leah:

"The trouble, doll, is not moving mountains

But digging the ground that you’re on

If it’s true that good fortune gives no chase

We got just what it takes

'Cause I know something good this way comes"

Currently Listening To: Jakob Dylan, "Something Good This Way Comes"

Brandon:

I'm way too excited about way too many things right now. And this girl is waiting excitedly to receive a school kit.

Currently Listening To: The Cure,"In Between Days"

2008-11-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

Brandon:

Currently Listening To: Grey Reverend, "Heavy Heart"

Leah:

"I'm gonna start me a new wave."

Currently Listening To: Josh Ritter, "Mind's Eye"

2008-11-03T00:00:00.000-08:00

*the theme this month is "Currently Listening To"*

Leah:

"I never felt magic crazy as this
I never saw the moons knew the meaning of the sea
I never held emotion in the palms of my hand
Or felt sweet breezes from the tops of the tree
But now you're here
Brighten my northern sky

It's been a long time that I've waited"

Currently Listening To: Denison Witmer, "Northern Sky"

(originally performed by Nick Drake)

Brandon:

"Now did you want to see me broken
Bowed head and lowered eyes
Shoulders fallen down like tear drops
Weakened by my soulful cries

Does my confidence upset you
Don't you take it awful hard
Cause I walk like I've got a diamond mine
Breakin up in my front yard"

Currently Listening To: Ben Harper, "I'll Rise"

2008-10-31T05:26:00.001-07:00

*click here to see all pairings for October. or visit our Flickr*

Brandon:

It's contagious, isn't it?

Leah:

Fall surely is the most beautiful season of all.

(ahhhh... so who's excited about the next set of November photos?? ooh, me, me. =) i will try to post non-leafy pictures, i promise. but what can i say... i love fall!)

2008-10-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

Leah:

"To live is to change." And Love... "Love changes everything." -Orleanna & Leah Price

(from the book The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver)

Brandon:

It was humbling to see how excited high school students were to learn that the school kit they were about to receive contained a ruler!

2008-10-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

Brandon:

It's surprising how happy the clouds make me.

Leah:

It's funny to think that my little brother, to me, no matter how tall he grows every single day, will always be that little 2-3 year old curly-haired kid I remember so well. (He's in Gr. 6 now, by the way, has bigger feet than I have, lost his baby curls and yes, I think he has passed my 5'6 height). With my younger sister, however, I always seem to see her continuously changing in front of my very eyes. It's as if she is becoming and transforming and flowering and growing into this beautiful young woman, who I know is destined for something great. And I wait... in pure excitement to see and witness a life that I hope and pray I will always, always be a part of.

I am so, so proud of this girl.

2008-10-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

Leah:

I am listening more. Because I want to hear everything you have to say.

Brandon:

"Be blessed in your place of unknowns. It's hard to be at a place where the rest of your life is the next decision to make. But I know you'll make the right one."

2008-10-22T08:32:00.000-07:00

Brandon:

Let the rains come. "This is the present, at last. This is the now, this flickering, broken light, this air that the wind of the future presses down my throat, pumping me buoyant and giddy with praise." -Annie Dillard

Leah:

I am looking up more.

2008-10-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

*the theme this month is "Seasons of Change"*

Leah:

It is Fall here in Vancouver. I find myself stopping and staring ever more often in my tracks as I make my way to and from bus stops and Skytrain stations and my humble dwelling located at the right side of a house. I notice things more nowadays it seems. So many changes... all around me; within me... going on.

Brandon:

As seasons change and the rains begin on the equator, a sea of colourfully-dressed Burundians gather to receive their share during a seed distribution. The ones who stand here have made it through another lean dry season and enthusiastically await the harvests that the seeds will soon bring them, and the ability to again provide for their families and try to become more self-sufficient.

about the project

2008-10-09T05:35:00.000-07:00

We are two people who have never met.

Leah lives in Canada and Brandon lives in Burundi.

For the next 12 months we will be taking photos based on a monthly theme.

We will then pair them together and post the final diptych on this blog every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Leah's photo will always be on the left and Brandon's photo on the right.

The pairing of these photos are completely spontaneous, so we hope you enjoy seeing what we come up with as much as we do.

Thanks for stopping by.

***

On Flickr:

http://flickr.com/photos/leahmeetsbrandon

Inspirations:

3191 (a year of mornings)

how we say hello

Other Similar Projects:

3191 (a year of evenings)

forever left & right

before & after

44 times two

noticing project {2009}