Eye on Rome: Remembering the study tour and beyond...

My favourite city in the world is Rome.  My first encounter with the fabled city was back in 2003 with a group a fellow students on a 3 week study tour of Rome.  I used nothing but a small digital camera on that first trip and certainly wasn't anything close to a photographer.  That said, It really was the trip that opened my eyes to a greater world.  That allowed for a deeper appreciation of culture and a lust to see more of the globe. Many of those from the initial trip remain great friends today - I can't believe how long it's been since we were all in Rome.  

Jake playing the Guitar in the garden during our study tour.  Some the best times we had were in this little garden at the end of the day listening to his magical voice and trying to take in everything we had seen.

Since then I've been back 4 times for varying stays but always with my professional camera.  As a student of history, the Italian capital has it all.  The remnants of the mighty Roman Empire from more than 3000 years ago still play a role in the city today.    

The Colloseo Bus stop.  Just one of the many examples where the past meets the present

The Renessance and Braoque periods surround you, especially inside the hallowed walls of Vatican but in other places you'll see family emblems and the piazza's with massive and impressive fountains meant for people to gather and congregate.  On our tour we certainly did that.  Then, and in subsequent trips, I made the required pilgrimage to Trevi Foutain.  It is a such a sight at night!

The Famed Trevi Fountain from the side.  What a wonderful place to spend the evening!

The more recent history including the Vittoriano, representing the unification of Italy and the reign of Mussolini all find a place in the history of Rome and the scattered remnants of those eras in the not too distant path are everywhere in the city.

An artistic take on the Vittoriano, also dubbed the "wedding cake" because of it's size, shape and whiteness.

The Italians sense of history, the innate understanding that good or bad, the past is not to be buried but showcased or at least allowed to exist as a reminder is apparent everywhere.

Thousands of people congregate to watch Pope Benedict XVI Give Mass at St. Peter's

I have thousands of photos of Rome including all the hot tourist locations but I thought I would show you an artistic variation of what came to my lens during my time in Rome.  Pick pockets aside, it is probably one of the safest cities in the world and with the ability to enjoy a bottle a wine outside at anyone of the main fountains and piazza's.  As the summer fades and I realize that this year, for the first time since 2005, I won't have the opportunity to step foot on European soil.  With that I end my July posts and I hope you've enjoyed  a tiny glance at Rome.

Sylwia in the Archives

Not long ago I was doing some work for Trade Secrets at Hamilton PC on a door hanger full of coupons that they are using to promote different services.  On of the benefits of having worked with a number of models in the past is that I have a bank of images I can draw on for my designs.  We used this smiling image of Sylwia for the bottom coupon offering new clients a 15% discount.

That shoot was aimed at trying a few different lighting strategies with using a black seemless paper backdrop (9.5 feet wide) and one light.

The shoot was a ton of fun because Sylwia is an absolute pleasure to work with and game for trying various poses as we played with the light.

Sylwia, who is entering enrolled in sciences at university, has a personality that just begs to be photographed and at her urging we played around with the lab coat, the textbooks, and the protective eye wear.

And I saved my favourite for last and also a lesson on why I rarely delete any of the photos I've taken.  The first time I went through these images I completely missed this image.   

Sylwia and I are planning getting together for another shoot soon and I'm looking forward to the results.

The WMGSA

I've been really busy in the last 6 weeks with the Waterloo Minor Girls Softball Association.  I've been working with them for 4 years now and I can't say enough about the association.  They are run with a smooth efficiency that belies most organizations.

The girls that play competitive ball all seem to carry this air of confidence that is refreshing.  It's nice to see a young group of girls so committed to the game.

I've grown tired of the standard team shot and like I've mentioned before, the WMGSA are great at allowed the artistic freedom to create images like the one below...

I look forward to many more years with the girls.  It's fun because now most them know me and within minutes their true personalities come to the forefront...  It really has been a joy this year!!

Viktoria with Moves and a Martini Glass

I've decided to let you all in on one of my personal projects.  I'm not really sure where the inspiration came from and I'm surprised this idea even popped into my head but it did:  "The Personality of the Little Black Dress."  It seems all the women I know have a little black dress.  Sometimes it's a fall back option when nothing else works, other times it's their go to number when the night is important.

My concept involves that favourite black dress, a martini glass (a martini is also always available if the setting is right), and a hobby/profession all rolled into one or a series of shots...  

I've worked on this concept on and off for four years but the others didn't seem to come together as I had hoped (that's the one thing with personal projects is too often they find a place on the back burner unless you make a concerted effort to stay true to the concept).  Today was the first time "The Personality of the Little Black Dress" came together as I envisioned it on that hazy Saturday afternoon in 2006.                                                                                

One of the first people I approached with the concept was Viktoria.  Viktoria is a phenomenal dancer and that skill has taken her around the world.  She certainly knows how to move to the music.  Almost three years ago we started scheming on how to bring it all together.  Europe, cruise ships, and last minute hiccups (mostly on my end) foiled our previous attempts but earlier today we finally managed to get together for a shoot.

We didn't stop there though and with her friend Sarah providing a myriad of one-liners we spent a couple of hours laughing and shooting away.

It's amazing how quickly people get to know one another and modesty goes out the window when the strobes are firing and the personalities match.  Before long, it was like hanging out with old friends.

With Viktoria's open mind we were able to try a few concepts with water that really turned out well too and meant that the floor got a bit of a cleaning too

Great fun today...Hope we find another time to work together...

A River Runs Through...

I like to play with the camera...The image I'm posting below is neither the best one I've ever shot or terribly interesting.  But just the way the street light was reflecting in this stream as it meandered toward the Halifax Harbour across a few exposed stones forced me to look again.  I just like the serene feel of the water here...

Eye on the Louvre

Every once in a while I take you on a trip through my eyes.  Today I'm taking you to the Louvre.  After visiting Paris a number of times but never making it to this artistic heaven, I finally entered the hallowed grounds a couple of years ago.  Originally a fortress built in the 12th Century, the building housed the French Monarchy until Louis XIV moved permanently to Versailles.  During the French Revolution, the Assemble Generale decreed that the palace be turned into a Museum to display the artistic treasures of the Republic.  It has largely remained a museum since and its collections continue to grow.  It is virtually impossible to see all of the Louvre in one day and really it is censory overload to even attempt it given there are 8 section - Egyptian Antiquities; Near Eastern Antiquities; Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities; Islamic Art; Sculpture; Decorative Arts; Paintings; Prints and Drawings.

It is exceptionally difficult to do photographic justice to the masterpieces housed at the Louvre and often I found myself just taking in the scenery without even taking the lens cap off.  the sheer size and profound effect would be lost in any photographic attempt I would show here. That said, I made sure to visit the famed Mona Lisa

 and chart through the living pieces of Napoleon III.  I also wanted to take home with me how I saw the outside of this impressive building. 

I'm looking forward to my next visit and taking on a new wing of artistic eye candy.

Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan

On June 9th, I wrote about Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time.



On June 12th, I wrote about the generous and humbling gift Greg Mortenson sent to me - two copies of his newest book Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

I finished the book that week in June but I have been exceedingly busy the past month or so and haven't had a chance to give the book the thorough review it deserves.  For those that are just coming to this now, essentially Greg and the Central Asian Institute (CAI) have made building schools, especially aimed at the education of girls in the most remote regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan.  Mortenson abides by the axiom that when you educate a boy you educate an individual but when you educate a girl you educate a village.  He also builds schools under the motto of the last place first.  Hoping that his schools will serve as a catalyst for other aid groups to eventually make their way to these remote regions of the world.  From his first school and the $12 000 he raised to build it to managing a $4 000 000 yearly budget.

On a personal level this book is deeply satisfying.  It goes into much more detail on the individuals who make up Mortenson's team in Afghanistan and Pakistan that he affectionately refers to as his Dirty Dozen - a third of which cannot read, two have multiple wives, and critically they are equally divided between the three rival Islamic sects: Sunni, Shia, and Ismaili.  Without the work of the CAI, there is virtually no way these men would be sharing tea.  What they do share though is a commitment to educating young girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan, a commitment that could cost them their lives at any point.

This book is even better written then the first.  The drama and newspaper feel of the first is replaced by an earnest story about the personalities involved and the mission they are all on.  As Canada gets ready to wind down their military commitment to Afghanistan, this book is an interesting way of looking at what might be able to be done if we focused more of our efforts on enabling villages and the people instead of spending on the military effort.  In the end, Mortenson is doing more to win the hearts and minds with 4 million dollars a year than the Canadian Department of National Defence who operates on a 20 billion dollar annual budget, nevermind the US budget.

While I admire his approach and the effort Mortenson has put in, in the last 16 years I can't help but be disgruntled by the state of progress (and yes I know progress is a dangerous word but I think an appropriate one when it comes to basic human rights) in Afghanistan.  Case in point - This repressive law that was passed a little over a year ago by the Afghani Parliament.  That we are almost a decade into our mission to allow a form of islamic democracy in Afghanistan and we are still "celebrating" the Kabul Women's Garden where women are "allowed" to remove their burkha's and wear high heels and makeup seems like we are going backwards.  Shouldn't this be part of the society by now and it seems that in a society that featured the following stats pre-taliban:

• 60% of teachers at Kabul University
• 50% of students at Kabul University
• 50% of civilian the government workforce
• 70% of school teachers
• 40% of doctors

that we should be further along the way helping this country achieve it's own goals.

but I digress...

What Mortenson is doing is nothing shy of amazing.  He is engaging the local populations and they are the ones who provide the land, build the schools, and employ the teachers.  What Mortenson provides is much needed cash.  That locals complete the construction and make th decisions make The CAI a unique NGO.  Instead of forcing their will on the local population they are engaging the population and building schools to lay the foundation for future generations.  I support his mission both on here and through a small monthly donation and I hope you find a way to at least read the books...

The Wind Broken Stones Live Tonight with the Irish Descendants

Tonight the Wind Broken Stones are opening for the Juno Award Winning Irish Descendants tonight at Norma Jeans.  This is fantastic opportunity for the band and a perfect match musically, ear candy if you will.

The better part of a month ago, we had a photoshoot with the Wind Broken Stones and I've also been responsible for producing their designs.  After a series of discussions on how their digital download cards should look, we came up with the designs you see in this post.

We combined some modern crisp imagery with a 70s bubbly folky type font.   Each card has two of their songs available for digital download but I think these will be kept for a long time after the files have landed on the computer.

While I love the music blaring from my home speakers, I appreciate it even more live.  I'm really looking forward to covering their show tonight.  It will be phenomenal!

For those in the London area tonight it would be a shame to miss this one!

Softball and Lemons...

As the softball girls that I photograph get older, their game times also get later.  Games that start at 830pm give me about 45 minutes of effective light before the big ball park lights flick on.  The challenge of minimal ambient light, dark backgrounds, fast movement and the harsh overhead flood lights really keep you on your toes.

My philosophy in difficult lighting and weather has always been the same...To borrow an apt cliché, when life serves up lemons, make lemonade.  of course you have to understand your camera to squeeze the most out of those lemons but I really like the use of light here and incorporating the big floodlights into the final product.

Without delving into a world of camera geekdom, the equipment I'm using allows me to push the edge of technology and come up with some pretty creative results.  before the older teams have shied away from team photos with me but this year as the girls I've worked with for at least three years age and their parents have become accustomed to the type of photography I provide, the teams have stuck with me.  As a result, the girls know me and the big camera has been apart of their ball experience for so long that they are instantly themselves.  That I spent my childhood around a team environment allows me to interact and meld into that group setting where teasing equates to admiration and respect.  The results we get are as much a part of their comfort and ease as anything else!

Claire in Halifax

While I was in Halifax working with my web team on our various projects last week I had the opportunity to work with Claire.  She is a fantastic young model who spent a good deal of her life dancing and now models for Redken.  Her enthusiasm in front of the camera was fantastic.

Claire has such a genuine smile and maturity beyond her years.  The day we planned for the shoot was touch and go weather wise but the rain mostly held off and her enthusiasm never dampened.  At one point Claire looked at me and said something to the effect of "what a gorgeous day, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

Too often many of us spend our days in a state of waiting; wishing we were somewhere else partaking in some other activity.  On a hot muggy day with the sun slowly falling from the sky amidst periodic showers, Claire was embracing the moment.  That sort of energy is contagious and it was a joy combining my personal artistic projects with her vision and spontaneous creativity.

The cloudy day (or what we refer to as the softbox in the sky) provided nice even light and we strolled through two gorgeous outdoor locations just outside downtown Halifax.  I can't wait to work with Claire again.

Family Photos with Elise

I met Elise in France last year on the Cleghorn Battlefield Tour that I helped lead.  Elise is quite smart and, with Vero,  helped to bridge the gap between the French students from Montreal and the English students from Waterloo on the tour.

For a while now, Elise has asked when it would be possible for me to capture her 11 year old Daughter and 8 year old adopted son from Ethiopia.  Only charging a lot more for travel would have allowed that to happen and I figured at some point I would be passing through Montreal on my way home so we waited.  It just so happened that we crossed paths in my parent's home town of Shediac, New Brunswick.

Her daughter, Isuelt, is a little sweetheart and absolutely loves the camera.  She picked out a special hat and her little white dress for the shoot.  She loved to be directed and contributed her own ideas and modelesque looks.

Dawit, on the other hand was not as open, to the idea of having his photo taken at first.

But as the shoot progressed he became more comfortable and by the end was directing the shoot.

This is one reason why I like taking my time with families and letting them interact in their own way.  So many parents want their child to listen to the photographer.  Quite frankly I would prefer if the opposite occurred.  I'd rather be chasing them in their element acting as themselves then directing a hardened, shy, embarrassed, or unhappy young one in front of the lens.  When I shoot models, I often tell them in our contact beforehand that I should be chasing you and then I'll stop you if I want a slightly different angle etc...  the same works wonders with family shoots.  I always start by introducing myself no matter their age, getting down to their level, making eye contact and talking to them while holding my camera but never firing a single shot.  Then I always encourage the kids to start out doing what they want and from there I can direct their pose a little more, shift them slightly to a better light.  Once they are into the process and you've created that trust, the images come naturally.

Iseult with her hat and her dress on the beach in Shediac

Jasmine Star, a very popular wedding photographer, runs her business on the motto that couples (brides in particular) buy a photographer not photographs.  I follow the same strategy for all my shoots from weddings to models to family moments.

Dawit with the Big Lobster in Shediac

Working with Ash and the Benefits of Having Personal Projects

I mentioned a few posts ago that while I've been on the East Coast, I've also been working with a few models on some personal projects and to build my image database for any of my design work.  In return, the models end up with a few images for their portfolio and their facebook pages.  When I shoot commercial projects where I need a model, I always use those who have worked with me in the past - the rapport alone makes it worth it.  

The personal projects allow me the freedom to make mistakes, play with new lights and lighting strategies, try unconventional lenses, and break the composition "rules."  On the processing end, I get to play a bit in the digital darkroom.  Essentially I get to shoot and process consequence free (not sure why I felt the need to link the Great Big Sea video but somehow it feels appropriate on many levels).  Today I'm showing you a few from my shoot with Ash.

Ash was a blast in front of the camera.  I always like shooting with someone who has a sense of humour and doesn't take themselves too seriously and this is Ash to a tee.  She has her head on her shoulders and over the course of two shoots was absolutely wonderful to work with.  In an instant she could go from laughing and joking to pulling off a look like the you see in these photos.  I think we managed to capture some unique head shots that all tell a different story or convey a different image.

I would be remiss not to thank David Connell for letting me use his studio in Saint John.  Conzie joined us for the first half of the shoot and it was fun to throw around some ideas and see how he worked with Ash.  He had also worked with Ash in the past and that helped to all but eliminate the tension you sometimes feel when you're working with a new model.  Thanks Conzie...

I know I've been a bit cryptic about the nature of the personal projects but until I'm ready to share (or really if I'm ever ready to share) you'll only get references to them on here.  Like a songwriter who is in the concept phase with a few lines and half a chorus, my two artistic endeavors are still in their skeletal form...