10 on 10 - march — kim thompson steel | visual storytelling studio

This month's 10 on 10 incorporates some of my favourite things - winter, time to wander with a camera in hand, coffee, colour, and a face-to-face with an online friend who is now a friend in real life.

In February, I flew home to Toronto with my daughter to visit family and experience some honest to goodness winter, with minus temperatures and snow. I always try to fit in a visit with a friend or two, new or old, and this time managed to coerce the incredibly talented Lisa Macintosh into meeting me for coffee. She invited me to visit the amazing space where she shoots her Great Hall Series. The Great Hall is a well loved local music hall on Queen Street, very close to my old stomping grounds and workplace of many years ago. "You've Changed" greeted me after I parked and made my way through the slush to the sidewalk, and it resonated deeply... it's almost a different lifetime since I worked in the neighbourhood almost thirty years ago.

I didn't have to go far to find the colour and street scenes I crave...

After coffee at the charming El Almacen (best almond latté ever), where Lisa and I chatted like long lost friends and discovered much in common, we made our way over to the Great Hall. Lisa was meeting another musician for the next installment in her absolutely fabulous series, but she had made time for us to hang out, and of course, take some photos of each other. Lisa is not only a gifted photographer, but generous with her knowledge and support. I came away from our short time together feeling inspired and ready to make a start on my next project, which I've been letting roll around in my head for more than a year. (Stay tuned for more news on that in the near future.)

I am a lucky girl. And change? All good.

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There are some amazingly talented ladies posting their 10 on 10 stories today. Please check out Maite Pon's, and then keep clicking on the links on each post to see them all!