En tout cas, I’m back where I was in March. Progress is slow but good.

In the spirit of things I did in March, here are a few photos I took in and around an alley next to the Molson brewery in Montréal when I went to see some bands. I hung around there for a little over an hour between this big rehearsal space and the beer factory. A sensory experience if I ever had one. Guitars & yeast in quantities that exceed bar levels of each.

Next blog post will feature some highlights from the blog I edit for the News Photographers Association of Canada. Sometimes I post on Twitter about the blog but if you don’t follow that, the next post will be especially worthwhile. It’s a fun gig and I feel lucky to have gotten a great group of people to share a bit of themselves on it.

Collectively, Nicola Kuperus, Ryan Foerster & James Cooper have been written about in People Weekly, Vice Magazine, XLR8R, Juxtapoz, Tiny Vices, ISO50, Apartment Therapy & Fecal Face.

Now, their work will be on the walls of Canteen Gallery in Ottawa for a few weeks.

The vernissage is this Friday, June 4 from 7-10pm. There will be cupcakes from Auntie Loo’s. Also, I have prepared a special mix on my iPod for the occasion. If Inaas fixes her speakers, expect to hear some Clipse, ADULT., Passions, Pissed Jeans, Goblin and Plastic Bertrand. Maybe even some J. Timby.

Plz come, eh.

I was on CHUO 89.1FM earlier today talking about it. Funny to be on da radio.

Here’s a poster I put up at a few choice spots today. Click on it to make it bigger.

PS: If you are on Twitter, y’all should follow me @championdumonde. I update that drastically more than I update this blog. This BP thing is bumming me out but I am generally probably a bit funnier on Twitter.

PPS: above is a photo I took at 2:08am some night a few weeks ago. I posted a few more on Flickr.

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that I’d be bringing photos from a few out of town photographers to Ottawa. It has been announced in a few places for about a week now so I am now sharing it with this blog.

NICOLA KUPERUS (Detroit)
member of ADULT. (Ersatz Audio), featured in XLR8R

JAMES COOPER (Bermuda)
featured in Juxtapoz & Tiny Vices

RYAN FOERSTER (Newmarket)
featured in Vice, Nylon & People

The show opens Friday June 4 at Canteen Gallery in Ottawa. Come between 7 & 10. Show up early if you want vegan gluten free cupcakes. The show runs till June 27.

All in all, I’m pretty pumped to be involved with these three and hope people reading this and people in Ottawa will appreciate the work.

I feel this is a rare event for Ottawa and I’m grateful each artist accepted to show their work at Canteen.

So yea, share this. Tweet it. Do whatever. It’s actually kind of important.

Car parked somewhere in upstate NY.

Last thing’s first…

Went to Le Poisson Rouge to see Jokers of the Scene, Catchdubs & Star Eyes. Familiar faces in strange cities are always nice – particularly when spending about a quarter of each day driving. (Love to drive.)

This was my first time really hearing Star Eyes and I left feeling pretty psyched so she’ll get some special attention here. Not long ago, MISHKA released a dark mixtape she made with Dust La Rock called Ov Cvrse. It really has been a few weeks but I’m still taking it in.

Also, here’s a video for her song Disappear. Her close up shots are awesome.

Le Poisson Rouge. This wasn’t even the actual exit.

Photographers

Inevitably, I did my best to squeeze in some cultural activities. This included hanging out with people like Ryan Foerster & Naomi Harris as well as checking out the Ryan McGinley exhibit at Team Gallery and finally milking my MoMA membership by paying a visit to Tim Burton’s show there. The Marina Abramovic retrospective was great too. Daring, even.

This June, I’ll be showing some work by Ryan Foerster in Ottawa with some other photographers from Detroit and Bermuda. Stay tuned for more info on that.

Food

As a vegan, every time I travel, eating is typically pretty high on the list of things to do. My needs are basic but I appreciate when food is done properly. The stand out meal for me would have been the falafel I had at Azuri Café in Hell’s Kitchen. I knew this spot was well known but when I got there, a food tour on its way out. “You make me nervous! I can’t make that many falafels so quickly,” says the man at the counter to the arrogant tour guide. A close second place would go to NY Dosas outside Washington Square Park. Truth be told, I had been trying to eat here for four years (and about as many visits to the city). Finally getting a chance was like finding a unicorn. I regret not trying Meskerem Ethiopian but I’ve got to give myself something to look forward to for the next trip!

Meaghan Tsaacs in line at BabycakesNYC.

Photography

In exchange for accommodations in Brooklyn, we worked out a deal to provide content to Pomp and Circumstance’s website. My first entry showed Coney Island in all it’s glory on opening day, Sunday, March 28, 2010. The second was a series of black and white cell phone photos of discarded umbrellas ruined by wind and rain. Barter system for life. Need photos and got something awesome to trade? HIT ME UP! Come to think of it, last year, I traded for a week in a Vancouver condo and I have yet to cash it in. To date, I haven’t had a reason to but perhaps it’s time I make a reason.

Coney Island topless jogging.

Cell phone photo of a busted umbrella in NYC.

Of course, nothing of what I have written about so far actually motivated my week in the state of New York. While I cannot yet speak in too much detail about my motivation, I will say that my experience rates high as one of the most profound I’ve ever had. It was challenging and I don’t yet feel fully accomplished but I feel positive and hope to continue later this year. Thanks to everyone I spoke to and everyone who in some way helped facilitate this trip. I put about 2300km on a car that was neither mine nor a rental. Sometimes, generosity of individuals can be amazing. Distance between Ottawa and my destination outside New York City: 666km.

Here are two glimpses…

This photo is a crop of about 11% 0f the total photo it belongs to. Stay tuned to eventually see it in its entirety.

One of the most amazing hours of my life. People were very curious too.

Merci.

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.

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

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.

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

PLUS D’INFOS

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 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.