Point and click
This is a post for people who don’t take photos in that sort of obsessive compulsive way some of us do.
JE ME SOUVIENS MAINTENANT… Last year, I went to a small yet spirited party at one of my fave Ottawa restaurants, Oz Kafe (huuuge respect to my pals holding down the fort over there), and I had no camera. Others did, however, and I saw at least one mostly sitting on a table, left unused. “Blasphemy!”, I thought, so I picked up the tiny CoolPowerPixShot-whatever-it-was and got to work, thinking I’d never see any of these photos again.
Like a baby, which many people I know seem to be having these days, nine months later, the photos surfaced – apparently as much a surprise to the camera’s owner to me.
Looking at the photos, I actually feel kind of pleased with what I managed to capture with a small camera that had been so neglected.
I’m stoked about these photos because I kind of see them as the potential EVERYONE has to take interesting photos in regular environments if only they cared enough to try.
And you do need to try. You need to take photos every day and become familiar with your camera – whatever it may be. Make mistakes and learn from them. Share your photos and be open to feedback. Don’t be scared to take risk and don’t be bummed when something you like isn’t the same as what your neighbour likes. Be prepared to kill your idols too.
Then again, maybe people are wise to leave their cameras on tables for people like me to pick up and maybe they should do it more often.
Or, maybe “anyone can take these photos”!
Yes? No? Discuss…
PS: Shout outs to Victoire & Danny Deleto, members of which are seen in the above photos and help make this city a bit more interesting for me every day. Sincerely.
Picturama! $1 photos
Around the turn of the millennium, when I was still a student and before I felt comfortable calling myself a “photographer”, I was taking photos and getting 4×6s printed all the time. I took this camera almost everywhere I went. I used to spend hours scanning them but I doubt many people ended up seeing much of it at all.
That changes tomorrow…
Tomorrow night (Tuesday) at Canteen in Ottawa, I’ll have some of those oldies selling at $1 a pop as part of Canteen’s Picturama. In my photos, you’ll catch glimpses of life in two different communities in Nunavut, a now-defunct hardcore music festival in Syracuse, New York as well as some photos of Montreal and Ottawa. Here’s a preview:
Not seen is a photo of seal blood on the streets of Iqaluit. For real.
The $1 price tag is cheap – maybe too cheap. But, if Picturama works, it should get people thinking about photography as a medium that indeed does have value and that it should be used, printed and displayed. Also, word is that I’ve already made a sale!
Hangin’ pictures on my wall
Every Saturday Rap Attack, Mr. Magic, Marley Marl
- Biggie
Time lapses
Been having fun with lime lapses lately.
Here’s one taken from my friend’s 32nd floor condo in Toronto during Nuit Blanche. 28 photos of the CN Tower shot over two hours. Big ups to Ryan Stec.
Bright Lights Big City by Ryan Stec from Le champion du monde on Vimeo.
The second is a bit an overview of the Halloween party I took photos at. Five hours in five minutes interspliced with 38 of my favourite photos of the night. If you came to the exhibit, you might have seen this video projected into the window of La Petite Mort.
Petite Mort Gallery Halloween 2009 from Le champion du monde on Vimeo.
This last one was done this week. It’s kind of like the CN Tower one where it’s more for experimenting purposes but at the same time, I think it makes a nice document at the same time. There was a meteor shower this week and while my camera caught some stars, meteors, it did not. Luckily I did see one with my own eyes and boy oh boy did I wish on it!
Shooting Stars from Paul on Youtube.
DEVIL’S NIGHT: exhibit this Saturday
Halloweek is done! Still sort of piecing together parts of Saturday night. I spent about 90% of it on top of a ladder and photographed about 100 people. Huge thanks to everyone who came out!
From these photos, I’m having a one-night exhibit at galerie La Petite Mort in Ottawa this Saturday, November 7.
So, I’m having an art show. Please come. It won be the same without you
le samedi 7 novembre 2009 de 19h à 22h.
galerie La Petite Mort Gallery
306, rue Cumberland Street
Ottawa (Ontario) K1N 7H9
Here’s a sample. Still sort of a work in progress. Mounting a show a week after the photos are taken…Tonnes of work to do before Saturday!
While I’m at it, here are two photos I took on Friday during a Clean Shave Day event for Mustaches for Kids.
What a pair of fresh faces!
Nite Ride video
Did the Nite Ride on Friday. Some of the photos I shot for Artengine got used in a video…
Nite Ride is running all week. Don’t miss it!
On Saturday, I biked over to la rue Hanson in Hull to visit Justin Wonnacott’s studio, which is upstairs from galerie AXENÉO7 in the old Hanson Hoisery building. Amidst the good conversation, there was also a very impressive array of snacks which provided the fuel necessary to bike home across Booth Street bridge. Hull pour vie.
Wednesday night, I’m taking photos at a Halloween party at Mercury Lounge in Ottawa and then again on Halloween night at La Petite Mort Gallery. Show up in an awesome disguise and step in front of my lens.
The Gatineau Hills like you have never heard them before
I don’t have a copy yet but these were printed with photos I was commissioned to take for a rad event called Nite Ride. It starts tomorrow.
From Artengine’s website:
From October 23rd to October 31st Artengine will present these new audio works on a 5.1 surround sound bus tour designed by the artists themselves. Starting from Arts Court a tour bus equipped with a special stereo system will take passengers on a creative driving experience unlike any other. The routes and sounds, designed and scored by two of Canada’s most innovative sound artists, will fuse sound sculpture and a cinematic road trip into a lush hour-long tour of the Ottawa-Gatineau area.
Sounds good, right? I actually think it might end up being kind of scary. I can’t wait! Vroom vroom.
Here are a few more shots from our Nite Drive poster photo sesh… You sort of have to double check when your client says “I want blurry photos.”
PS: Updated le site web
L’Halloween arrive avec une petite mort
Pretty excited about this. For Halloween (one of the best holidays after Decemberween), I’ve been asked to take portraits at Galerie La Petite Mort’s Fourth Anniversary party. There’ll also be a one night exhibit of these photos sometime in the weeks that follow Halloween (details to come).
This is special not only because Halloween falls on a Saturday night this year but I’ll be finding myself among rather good and talented company.
Here are two photos from the summer:
My pal Rio at House of Paint. On most days, you can find him making Led Zeppelin-inspired tea flavours in the Byward Market.
Lac Heney makes relax.
Xtra & Nuit Blanche
I have the cover of the latest Capital Xtra. Read about Faizal Deen.
Here’s a two-hour timelapse I took of the CN Tower during Nuit Blanche. Some friends were responsible for this installation. It really was a brilliant accomplishment.
While I remember them, I might also post some funny moments from the weekend on Twitter.
Nouvelles cartes & X
verso et devant.
Imprimées à Toronto par Traffic Marketing & Design (”World’s Greenest Business Card“).
Pas pire.
Rapidement… Demain soir, le Festival X (de la photographie d’Ottawa) présente une discussion qui a comme sujet, le portrait contemporain. De plus, le 23 septembre, Marie-Jeanne Musiol offre une présentation à propos de ses aventures en électrophotographie (en autre mots, photographie Kirlian) – un genre qui m’intéresse un peu depuis un bout de temps. Pour plus d’informations…
Baggy Bottom Boys & Pride Parade
After several months of production and post production, Jokers of the Scene’s video for Baggy Bottom Boys finally dropped a week ago. Bummer. I’m not in it a single time…
Jokers Of The Scene “Baggy Bottom Boys” from Mr Goldbar on Vimeo.
OK, I made it into the video… the spirally thing was a blue balloon that I inflated for ten minutes to a size of over a metre in diametre. I then threw it into the crowd where it didn’t even last five seconds.
To brighten things up, here’s a photo (also involving balloons) from this Sunday’s Pride Parade in Ottawa. Somehow, this pyramid of balloons and colourful parasols completely eclipsed the National War Memorial looking north on Elgin Street. A few more photos on xtra.ca but you’d already know that if you followed me on Twitter.
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