Adventures in Mermaid-ing
"I've always loved Mermaid Folklore. There is just something so enchanting about those stunningly beautiful creatures who lounge on rocks all day, singing and luring sailors to their doom... I've always wished I could know how it feels to be one of them, even if just for one day."-Kayla M
Let's be honest, who born in the time of Ariel hasn't yearned to know what it feels like to be a mermaid? I know I spent more time in the bathtub singing "Ah-ah-ahh-ah-ah-ahhhh" than any child should. When my mom dragged me from the tub I was closer to resembling a raisin than the mermaid I envisioned I was in the bathwater.
Growing up on Vancouver Island it's impossible not to believe that magical creatures like faeries and mermaids could exist. I've always had a strong connection to the ocean and the forests, and have spent countless hours breathing in the magic of those places, and believing in things not everyone can see.
But this blog post isn't about me, and it's not a travel ad for Vancouver Island.
No, this post is about someone very dear to me, who asked me to help make her wish -- to be a mermaid for a day -- come true. And while I may not have a Sea Witch's powers to trade her legs for fins, I could at least try, right? So that is what I did...
The first step in becoming a mermaid is having the proper wardrobe, so off we headed to the dollar store (oh Dollarama, the lie that everything in you is a dollar cuts deep into my heart, and my wallet).
Our vision was a crown fit for a Sea Queen, and what we left with was a handful of rope, shells, pearls, a 3 ring wire tomato cage, and a dream. After some trial and error, multiple shell layouts, and a couple hot glue blisters, we created our masterpiece!
Next: Location, location, location. I know what you're thinking, "Okay, Vancouver Island mermaid photoshoot makes sense, but in the ass crack of the prairies?" Correct. The longer I have lived here, the more I have (slowly) grown to have an open mind about Manitoba. While it may not have the ocean, or mountains, or real big trees, it does have lakes... and lakes can be pretty neato-mosquito. (Seriously so SO many mosquitos.) Our first stop of the day was a 2.5 hour drive out of the city to Steep Rock, Manitoba. So, armed with nothing but a couple of props, an iPhone and a prayer to King Triton (iPhones are expensive guys) we set off!
Being the Mountain-Goat/ Water-Baby that I am, I could not resist getting straight into the water (fully clothed) and out scouting for the best "Mermaid Cove" spot. And while I was able to scramble to quite a few places, I unfortunately was unable to safely ferry the subject of my photos across without the possibility of her falling in, so I scouted some more.
"Just keep wading, just keep wading, don't slip *shit* keep wading-wading, what do we do we wade wade.."
Once I was back on land we were in business! I found a little rocky cove, out of the way from prying eyes (at least those that were on foot...there were quite a few canoes we had to patiently wait to get out of shot, but it was a beautiful day, so it was worth it.) The perfect spot for a Siren to lure men to their deaths!
These are just a few of my favourite shots from Steep Rock
This whole day, a random summer Sunday, was so many things for me. It was a road trip with some of my favourite people. It was hiking and exploring. It was a chance to be creative and test my skills in hair, makeup, photography and editing (and, at one point, driving on gravel roads for extended periods of time!) But most importantly it was a chance to do something special for someone who I consider to be the little sister I never had.
Armed with that feel-good-feeling, a cd case full of Kate Nash, Feist and Florence and the Machine, we all hiked back to the Mom van, and broke into the cooler of snacks. Ready to start our next 2.5 hour leg of our 'Adventure in Mermaid-ing': Hecla Island.
We arrived at Hecla just as 'Golden Hour' was fast approaching, and wasted no time. After a few small accidents (and a large re-evaluation of what water-shoes can do for you) we dove right in. Literally!
I could go on and on about how crazy fun this day was, but thats just the photographer's perspective, and I think my photos should speak for themselves. So I thought who better to end this blog post (along with the photography, of course) than the mermaid herself?
"Somehow we were able to transform me, your average teenage girl, into a full fledged mermaid... minus the tail. It was a magical day! While we were taking photos, I felt so free and so lucky to have you all in my life. To have family and friends who encourage you to follow your dreams (no matter how unlikely) and make you feel so incredibly beautiful both inside and out, is the greatest gift anybody could ask for. I'm so happy with how the pictures turned out. They were exactly how I had envisioned them, and I couldn't be more thankful!" -Kayla M
