The Private Photo Collection of Ian Tate

Over the last 8 months I've really narrowed the focus of my business to include three main services. Photography, Design and Research. I have some clients who require an overlap of those services. Roger Sarty, one of Canada's most prolific Naval historians, had recently hired me to track down the private image collection of Sub Lieutenant Ian Tate. Today we traveled to Port Hope, Ontario and were greeted by his son Davidson. Tate was an amateur photographer and one of only two officers to survive the sinking of HMCS Valleyfield, the only Canadian frigate lost during the war. The images that he captured are, according to Roger Sarty, the best he has ever seen outlining the Battle in the Gulf of the St. Lawrence, where German U-Boats wreaked havoc on allied shipping for a good deal of 1942. The collection was printed in a series of 4 scrapbooks which also contain detailed dates and captions. These photos allowed Roger to gain a more concrete understanding of the times and places. It was great fun to watch him fly through the photos with the excitement of kid in a candy shop. He highlighted the shots he needed and with the help of Davidson, I took down the captions and scanned the original photos. I had a brilliant scanned shot of the convoy that I wanted to put up but it has never been published and so instead I'm putting up the photo of Tate aboard 0-0064, October 2, 1942. He is escorting the Gaspe-Rimoski convoy. With over 100 photos in our collection for the book, today was a brilliant day. Because of the connection, Sarty's soon to be released book on the St. Lawrence will feature never before seen photos of one of the closest war ever came to Canadian soil during the Second World War.

Operational Military History series

At the Conference we launched an Operational Military History series. For students, this is a gold mine of information in a small booklet that is very affordable. These collections are an essay ready to be written or add valuable statical data and context to an argument. The first in the series gives a brief introduction British Army Operational Research. At the very least these books highlight that detailed analysis of a problem has a way of discrediting long held "truths" about military operations. In any event, as Terry Copp quite rightly points out, no military would even think about engaging the enemy without a operational research team in place.

21st Military History Colloquium

This past weekend the Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies held the 21st Annual Military History Colloquium. The conference, which was the first of its kind for military historians in Canada, always attracts the who's who of military historians from essentially the Easter part of Canada through to Ontario. It's a fantastic event which provides an outlet for graduate students and professors alike to present their latest material. It also allows for book launches etc... In honour of this weekend I'm posting one of the photos I've held back in a series called "The Enduring Memory of War." Hope you enjoy it.

I really haven't been as active with my blog or my camera over the last month, but that is all about to change with a few family photoshoots lined up over the summer. Also I plan to get out a bit more and just experience my new camera and the waterloo region.

"This Ain't no Picnic, It's War"

Another book title out - Cyprus 1974 "This Ain't no Picnic, It's War": The Combat Diary of Alain Gaudet, Canadian Peacekeeper edited by David Kielstra. This is a wonderful look at the thoughts and the sentiments of a 22-year old Canadian Paratrooper who maintained a diary of events as he saw them. The forward is written by Major-General Alain Forand and although Gaudet is not always aware of the bigger picture, the general adds that "it is rare and extremely interesting to look and live an operation through the eyes of a soldier. It is refreshing to read Corporal Gaudet’s experiences straight from the heart and sometimes with “undiplomatic” comments concerning the on-going activities of his peers, superiors, the fighting adversaries and the unfortunate civilians caught in-between." (p.8) For this reason alone it has been a fascinating book to work on and one of the few that I have read cover to cover.

The book is also the first in a new series - Laurier Military History Series - prepared by the Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies. The series is sure to produce a number of excellent short booklets between 40 and 100 pages. It continues the mandate of the Centre and works well with the desire of Terry Copp, the Centre's Director and WLU Professor Emeritus, to see quality work from academics and graduate students in print..

Florida

It is really quite nice that about once a year my family manages to get together for a little vacation. This year, like last, we went to Florida. This year was my 30th Birthday and my bother and father planned a pretty special trip to play the TPC at Sawgrass. On the list of courses a golfer would love to play before he dies, in no particular order, includes Augusta National (not bloody likely when presidents have a difficult time getting a slot), the old course at St. Andrews in Scotland, Pebble Beach, and the TPC at Sawgrass. Sawgrass, of course, is home to the fabled 17th hole, a devilish 125 yard par three that you either hit the green or your add your ball to the 120,000 their hired diver retrieves yearly. My father, a 12 handicapper in his prime, found the middle while my brother, myself, and Evan the hooters tour professional we were paired with all found a the water. My second shot landed dead centre and I calmly made four. The real highlight for me came at the par 4 18th and the menacing tea shot. My brother captured a great photo of me coming through the golf ball and it was likely the prettiest drive I hit all day. A 296 yard tea shot that left me 131 yards from the pin. Only one person has ever recorded a birdie on the 18th enroute to the players championship.

The highlight for my brother was deep sea fishing. I would rather jump in a tub full of scissors than spend an afternoon on the Gulf Of mexico trolling for grouper. As tasty as they are fresh, the act of fishing holds no enjoyment for me at all. Here is a photo of the crew minus me at the end of the day. Mark and James are holding the prize fish of the day.

Looking back for a client

I found a shot from one of my shoots ages ago. I was hired to design an ad for a Hair Salon and that sent me searching my archives. The client wanted an edgier shot and the I thought of the shoot I had with Stephanie...I really enjoyed working with Stephanie - she had that spunk and a real willingness in front of the camera. Often when I'm shooting models I have to provide much of the direction but the really great ones make me chase them. Here is the image and when I have permission I'll post the final Ad.

Arctic Sovereignty edited by Whitney Lackenbauer and Peter Kirkket

I mentioned a while ago that alot of my time recently has been spent on the graphic design end of things. Since coming to Laurier in 2005, I have worked with the Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies. Under the leadership of Terry Copp, the Centre is a always alive with guest lectures, a library of Military history offerings, a place for policy and DND representatives to recruit, and our ever expanding publication wing. This year I have taken on the role of publications manager at the Centre and we will have pushed out 8 books by the end of April. Part of that role involves designing the covers. The next book out is Arctic Sovereignty edited by Whitney Lackenbauer and Peter Kirkket. The book might be my favourite cover design yet. The book is hitting the market at a time when the arctic and who owns what parts is being questioned. the melting away of the ice coupled with an estimate that 1/4 of the worlds natural gases and fossil fuels may be found in this region is certainly important news and sure to be at the forefront of the Canadian agenda moving forward. Though I've been through the process a number of times and seen the proofs, I still love the moment you crack that first box and see the printed copy.

Until next time and I hope that is a lot sooner than last time...