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Behind the Scene

8/21/2022

 
Having come to the end of this part of Winston and Saphira's story, and leaving them travelling in the wilderness with the Elves for now, it's time for some Behind the Scenes.

First, packing for the trip. When we went up north for a few days in July, I wanted to take two sets of dolls along - my little Kaye Wiggs dolls (who had never been camping before) and my two dragons and five Elves. It's always a challenge trying to pre-plan the photos I want to take, and then make sure I had all the props required, and some never get used. Most of the props would be for the KW girls camping trip, and I piled everything on the dining room table...
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Dragons on the Rocks

In Killarney I really wanted to take some dolls and the dragons out Chickanishing Creek for some photos out of the rocks overlooking Georgian Bay. So, in addition to the four KW dolls, I also packed Winston and Saphira in a big cloth bag, inside a big garbage bag, to keep them dry in the canoe. Jan makes a comfy seat out of several life preservers in the bottom of the canoe, where I end up sitting, basically 'ballast with a camera'. Getting in and out of the canoe is a major challenge for me, but I'm determined to get some photos, so make the effort.  We always get out at the mouth of the creek to enjoy the scenery....
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The nice thing about the dragons is that they don't need to be shaded from the sun....
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Then it was back in the canoe and we headed along the shore to another location....
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...and get out for a snack....
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...and to take some photos, while laying down flat on the rocks....
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I even managed to capture their reflection in a pool...
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Breakfast

It's so much easier to set up a scene on a picnic table than on the ground. Unfortunately picnic tables have wide gaps and I forgot to bring a piece of thin wood to put on the table under any scenes. So I had to be careful not to have the table legs, or the dolls, standing on top of any of the gaps. For the best light, I always set up my scenes with the sun behind me. It would have been better for the dolls if it had been hazy, or overcast, but it's not like I can order the weather. I just have to make do....
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But Jan is always standing by with a big umbrella whenever I have to shoot in the sun, to shade the dolls until I'm ready to take the photos. He will shade the dolls as I set up the scene, then steps away so I can snap a few photos. Then shades them again when I change poses...
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It's really nice having the scene up on a picnic table, and with the picnic table standing perpendicular to the sun, the wide cracks between the boards barely show up.
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It's also great because then I can walk around and take photos from all the different angles...
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Which is pretty much impossible now if I have to get down on the ground.
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'Mountains'

I wanted some scenes with the little party travelling somewhere rugged, and had in mind the rocks beside the tiny parking lot at the Killarney lighthouse. I set everyone up on the rocks, moved back to take the photos, but if everyone isn't posed perfectly, or some of the characters are hidden, then I need to direct Jan to make any adjustments.
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Perfect!
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Stay tuned for more Behind the Scenes tomorrow. In the meantime you can revisit the entire 'Tale of Two Dragons' in Favourite Photos.

​Copyright © 2022  Martha Boers
All Rights Reserved

Dragons in Love

8/20/2022

 
Winston and Saphira tried to spend as much private time together as they could. ​
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They would get up before the others...
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 ....so they could be alone together, just the two of them.
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As the days went by, they became ever closer...
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Until finally, one evening, it was Saphira who said it out loud,   "I love you, Winston..."
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..and she gave him a big hug...
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Winston's heart skipped a beat.  He had been totally smitten ever since the very first moment he saw her...but had been afraid to say anything...
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"I love you too."
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Copyright © 2022  Martha Boers
All Rights Reserved

A Bouquet of Flowers

8/19/2022

 
While everyone was resting, Winston went and picked a bouquet of wild flowers...
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He found Saphira.  "I picked these for you!"
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"They are beautiful, and some of my favourites!"
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"​Thank you so much!!!"
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And she gave him a big hug.
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Copyright © 2022  Martha Boers
All Rights Reserved

Dinner in Camp

8/18/2022

 
After crossing the mountains, they'd decided to take a break and just rest up in camp for a day. ​
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This time Winston offered to make dinner by himself...
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Willie was only too happy to be able to just sit with the others and enjoy a meal for a change....
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Winston had made all his favourite signature dishes...
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..no doubt, to impress the lovely Saphira...
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Even though Phairby was usually off fulfilling her Fairy Godmother duties, she usually made it a point to join them for meals.        "This looks so good!"
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"It sure does!"
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Copyright © 2022  Martha Boers
All Rights Reserved

More Mountains

8/17/2022

 
The next day they had to cross yet another mountain range...
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..even steeper and rockier than the last one...
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Copyright © 2022  Martha Boers
All Rights Reserved

On the Rocks

8/16/2022

 
The sky became overcast and the wind picked up as they headed out along the shore of the lake....
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"At least this is easier going than through the forest..."
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"Yes, or over the mountain passes."
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"We should reach our next camp by nightfall."
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"I just hope it doesn't start to rain..."
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​But their luck held out, it didn't rain, and they finally arrived at their next camp just as the sun went down...
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Copyright © 2022  Martha Boers
All Rights Reserved

Breakfast

8/14/2022

 
Willie and Winston were busy whipping up a hearty breakfast...
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..for the Elves, who were finally up.
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"This looks delicious!"
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"It sure does!!"
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"More pancakes, anyone??"
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"Well, this has been delicious, but the sun has been up for a while now, and it's time to move on."
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"Yes," he sighed, "we have a long way to go today."
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Together in the Wilderness

8/14/2022

 
Early the next morning, while the Elves were still asleep after their arduous trek the day before,  Winston and Saphira went off together to have some private time alone...
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"This is a really beautiful place!"
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"It sure is."
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"It's one of my favourite places..."
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"...and I wanted to share it with you."
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"I'm so happy to have met you."
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"Me too.  All our lives we thought we were the last of our kind..."
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"...and now there's two of us!!"
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"But we better head back..."
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"I promised Willie I'd help make breakfast."
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So they started back towards camp...
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Copyright © 2022  Martha Boers
All Rights Reserved

Into the Mountains

8/13/2022

 
The little group headed through the forest.
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 ...and soon found themselves in the mountains.
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The terrain became ever more treacherous...
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..as they made their way through a steep rocky pass...
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"This way!!"
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"Are you sure??"
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"Yes. Just follow me!!"
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 Copyright © 2022  Martha Boers
All Rights Reserved

Leaving

8/12/2022

 
Winston didn't need much convincing...
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...and decided to go with them...
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I'm so glad that you decided to come!!"
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"Me too!!"
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Winston turned to wave...
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"Good-bye!!"
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"I'll be back for your wedding!!"
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Then Baron noticed Phairby...
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"What?  You aren't going with them?"
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"No. I have a few places I need to go first.  Fairy Godmother duties, you know. I'm going to join them later."
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And the two of them watched the little group leave...
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...as they headed out....
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..across the castle ramparts...
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...and through the castle gates.
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Copyright © 2022  Martha Boers
All Rights Reserved
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    Author

    Martha Boers is an award-winning Canadian doll maker and costumer specializing in fantasy and historical-style costumes.
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