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photographer |
Jane shifts into the next phase of her life - that of a photographic artist, yoga teacher and yoga therapist, abandoning the attachments of the material/commercial society for a humanitarian artistic sphere, sharing the wisdom she has gratefully gathered from her Masters and teachers. |
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goals |
Jane's goals are:
Jane's studio is the world, and its people, her subjects. Her Quests: "What makes an artist?" and “Why are we here on this planet?” |
| thanks |
Jane would like to thank all those who have assisted, taught, inspired
and supported her on each phase of her life's journey. |
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relevant past |
1980 -
moves to London, England - studying photography at Polytechnic of
Central London and Sir John Cass School of Art after receiving a
Bachelor of Education from University of British Columbia, Canada.
1985 - launches Jane Weitzel Photography at 402 West Pender in Vancouver, Canada. She begins shooting headshots and fashion portfolios as well as teaching and designing photography courses at the college level. First photography exhibit located in Vancouver, Canada. 1990 - Renames business as Weitzel Studios. Moves studios to larger facilities at Century House located at 432 Richards St, Vancouver. The new studio is dubbed as the "Tuscany Villa" for it's double doors with brass handles, grand marble staircase & bathroom fixtures and twin crescent-shaped balconies covered in granite sculpted grape vines. Jane seeds a satellite darkroom business (growing into today's Rocket Reprographics) and an events production business. She holds a second photography exhibit, shown across Canada with a group of 8 other photographers, sponsored by Kodak. Jane launches a fourth business in Los Angeles, photographing actors, celebrities, editorials, commercials and fashion. 1994 -
photo exhibit in Vancouver, Canada - "Fast Forward" 1997 – 2001 – scales down studio operations in preparation for a vision quest journey of 4 years, May 1st 1997 to May 1st 2001, to the day, living in the deserts of North America, Asia and India. Desert Origami
Questions: "what makes an artist great?" and “why are we
here on this planet?” Jane witnesses the answer to question number one after spending weeks in the desert in the grace of painter Francesco Clemente, photographing his daily activities and painting his large canvases. What makes an artist great? The answer, shown by the motions of Francesco, is “great artists are allowed to dream." Their life paradigm is such as they are allowed to step away from the material realm. They are supported in order to do so. And when supported they can travel through dream and intuition, experience the higher realms, then bring the experience back to the material world. Their mission is to manifest the new experience into a material form, in order to share this dream so those deep into the material world can stand in front of the art form and, in a split second, experience the same dream the artist experienced. The quest of the artist is to share the intuitive realm. 2001 - returns to Vancouver to resume photography, plus her new favorite sport, riding her motorcycle. Jane co-produces, with Michelle McKay, a collection of Vancouver artisans and performers interpreting the Self through an exhibit named 11SelfPortraits. Jane goes DIGITAL! Jane focuses on digital still photography, shooting digital headshots, fashion and editorial stills plus several digital video projects and EPKs as DOP and producer. 2003 -
places a deeper focus into Canadian Independent film-making, while
sustaining a photo still photography business. Her other focuses, yoga
asana and philosophy, have Jane’s attention when not shooting. In 2003,
Jane participates in three Canadian independent features, six shorts, one
music video as
director of digital
photography,
primarily utilizing the
Panasonic DVX100 24P camera. 2005 - joins creative forces with Tracy D. Smith to film Taming Tammy, an independent feature shot in Vancouver. She continues teaching hatha flow and restorative yoga. 2007 – graduates as a certified Yoga Therapist. Her personal practice explores ashtanga yoga asanas, deep sadhana meditation and vedanta philosophy. She continues teaching hatha flow yoga and yoga therapy to 60 people a week. She edits two monthly yoga web newsletters in between artistically photographing headshots for actors from all over North America. She celebrates with the Taming Tammy crew and cast upon its screening at the Vancouver Film Festival 2007. 2008 - was a year of living overseas once again. At the beginning of the year, Jane returned to India with Michael, to the Sivananda Ashram, in beautiful Kerala, India, serving with the yoga teaching staff & counselors, plus attending the advanced teacher training program. She returned YVR April 2008 to teach yoga asana classes & providing private yoga therapy & photograph Vancouver actors' headshots. 2009 - Jane has been blessed with visual and teaching talents. She continues to brilliantly service Vancouver's actors with their headshots. "I choose to photograph actors at this time, as actors are in a constant search, of looking deeper and deeper into their Selves, 'peeling their onion', in order to become their true self in their goal to become a strong actor. This is the sign of the true self on their journey on this planet. In turn this quest creates a soul to play with in pursuing that dynamic headshot for their craft as an actor." In the Yoga world, students & clients find Jane (Janaki) while seeking harmony in their life through yoga. Her current yoga therapy studies are in de-stressing for adrenal restoration, brain wave balance, yoga for women in their 40-60's & Vedantic Yoga philosophy. 2010 - Wasn't that a party? The 2010 Olympics in Vancouver was a monumental success with many opportunities to raise the Canadian flag. It was heartwarming to see that many Canadian flags on people ...and the buildings, too. What a generous collection of events. The Vancouver streets were open to pedestrian traffic strolling from visitor and cultural venues to sporting events. Canada was proudly Canadian for a warm exciting 16 days. A highlight was seeing the huge gravel trucks on the freeway, transporting snow to Cypress Mountain from Manning Park, a couple of hours away. 2010 will also see Jane & Michael travelling to Quebec for the Summer, then to Europe, on way to India. They aim be teaching yoga at the Sivananda Ashram in South India by end of October 2010 and stay for the Winter and Spring 2011. Drop by for an uplifting 2-week yoga vacation! It's all in the quest of Jane's personal Sadhana that carries her deeper on her own path, continuing to experience the answer to the second question: "Why are we are here on this planet?" 2011-
It's September 2011 and Jane has returned to Vancouver safe and sound from Europe and India and better for her extensive journey into seva service, karma yoga and her personal practice. The "Yoga for World Peace" sadhana tour was successful; teaching many along the way. While in India, Jane taught asana class each day to a far-reaching worldwide collective of students, each on their own path of self-discovery. So you can imagine the high level of inquiry and exchange going on. Jane faithfully coached, counseled and collaborated yogis each day as well as witnessing her own practice taking her deeper and deeper. It is no surprise for some to hear that upon returning to Vancouver a few shifts took place alongside some major life decisions.
It has been 30 years since Jane started a career in photography. That was fast! It has been an incredible journey, from headshots to high fashion, celebrities to chocolates, art exhibits, big studios, travel and great teams of talent. She is grateful for it all. All things have a beginning, middle and an end. It time to transition to another phase. The results and effects of sharing yoga and it's healing properties has attracted Jane to go further into teaching yoga, life counseling and providing yoga therapy. She will remain in Kitsilano Vancouver for a while to be present for those inquiring how yoga can holistically support their lifestyle. Her teaching name is Janaki. Janaki is registered Yoga Therapist with IAYT. Jane will remain shooting special photographic art projects and practicing hand and wheel pottery. Jane would like to thank each and every one of you in all aspects of the photo, headshot, fashion, magazine, advertising business for all your support in the past plus, along the way. The next phase? Jane is not sitting still. She is teaching Yoga, studying pottery and sustainable living... Here is some quotes to meditate upon... "The Earth is one of the fields for experiencing the fruits of good, bad or mixed actions and for performing new, fresh actions" - Sri Swami Sivananda ... and ..."The world exists, because the mind functions with a dualistic lens." - Sri Swami Sivananda (ask her about the Chakras of our Solar System) hmmm...
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" Healthy Body... Healthy Mind... Happy Soul " - Janaki |
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© 2011 jane weitzel |
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