New year! New photos!
So, bonne année tout le monde.
Boom! Changed a few things up on my site! See some new/old/different photos in one of three new sections
lechampiondumonde.com
lechampiondumonde.com/portfolio-ii
lechampiondumonde.com/nouveau
For example, this photo I shot in 2007
Or this shot from 2009
A lot has changed since August. It has been rather exciting! Get in touch if you are curious for more. Otherwise, more photos on this blog to come. Thanks to everyone who has been along for the ride!
Until then, follow me on Twitter if you get down like that. A lot of non-photography content goes there.
Toronto
Been here for a week. I’m eating well. Hardly sleeping.
The view.
The Office.
The mixed items.
These next three were shot in Trinity Bellwoods through a high contrast orange filter.
Rebecca & Sarah.
Now for some cell phone shots…
A dog at the Berkeley Church
And some from Hot Docs…
Kimber rode a horse across Canada and made a movie about it. She is the first woman to do this since 1949.
Guess Who…it isn’t The Guess Who.
New York Megapost
Spent a secretish week in NYC. Here are some things I did…
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.
Nominated
Wow. This is a nice surprise. (Seriously surprised) A photo I took last year just got nominated in the Social Issues category for a News Photographers Association of Canada National Picture of the Year award. Here it is.
OTTAWA – May 31, 2009 – Lucy Chapman (left), her partner and their daughter remain locked in a group hug during Guerilla Freeze, an event meant to desensitize passers-by to the sight of same-sex displays of affection. (Paul Galipeau / Capital Xtra!)
This is rad because I’m up against two pretty big names and the photo was also shot for Capital Xtra! There’s a video of the event the photo was taken at on Xtra.ca where you get different angles of the moment. You can also see me in the video, I think. We’ll find out what happens in a few weeks. Get the full list of categories and nominees at NPAC.ca.
Until we find out, here’s a photo of me trying to get out of New Jersey yesterday (JK…mad love to the Garden State).
Goth Candy Bang Bang
Here’s some goth candy I cooked up for the weekend. Now, when talking photos, don’t forget to breathe. Steady breathing = more oxygen = clearer mind = better ideas?
Whenever I post music on here, I really try to make it songs that are actually hard to find. Sometimes, I even feel like the only way to make it available is to rip it off a 12″ record (as is the case today) or a DVD (as I have done in the past). So here, we have a song originally performed by Cher and covered by countless people in many languages. Petula Clark’s version, to my ears, is probably the most unique and proves that it’s possible for a song that’s meant to be moody and a bit dark to actually put a bit of a smile on your face.
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On darker, more Nick Drake, tip, check out O. Children.
RIP Alexander McQueen.
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.
Hump!
Pride Week is done in Ottawa. It was a definitely a crazy and unforgettable week full of parties, art shows and of course, the parade… I’ll have more to show later but for now, here’s a gallery of photos shot at Hump, a weekly queer dance party at Mercury Lounge in Ottawa.
Now that it’s all over, here’s an important lesson I learned today:
You never think it’ll ever happen to you but really, it can happen to anyone… Oops.
U.S. Election
On November 4, 2008, residents of Ottawa, Canada celebrated Barack Obama’s victory in the United States presidential election at the East Africa Restaurant. Here are some photos from that.
James Nachtwey
Seven-year-old boy survives fall over the Niagara Falls
If your parents raised you on CBC Radio, you’ve probably heard Stuart McLean’s voice once or twice, particularly on his show, The Vinyl Cafe, whose official instrument is the yukelele and whose motto is “we might not be big but we’re small.”
Recently, before starting a new season after a summer break, he replayed some of his favourite stories from 2007/08. I heard this one night last week and was so glad to discover it was available online. You can listen to the entire broadcast (and you should – it’s really awesome) but what caught my attention most was the Roger Woodward Story.
I wont say much about it except for it’s a true story about a seven year old who fell over the Niagara Falls and survived. Stuart McLean, to me, is a sort of radio equivalent of Norman Rockwell and Jimmy Stewart in It’s a Wonderful Life. His stories rely on a lot of details to establish a sense of truth and honesty but within these details is a creative talent that aurally livens everyday life to a point where reality seems magical. Granted, falling over the Niagara Falls has a difficult time being classed in the category of “everyday life”
The story itself is great but it’s what happens after the story is told that really clinches the story. In a way, I’m sceptical of the spontaneity of the whole thing but overall, as a piece of creative radio journalism, it’s pretty brilliant.
Download it here 21.2mb / 18:29
I’ve never personally been to Niagara Falls but as it is one of the most photographed locations on the planet, we all sort of know what it looks like. I enjoy the Bird’s Eye View from Microsoft Maps.
In other waterfall news, the Victoria Falls, straddling Zambia and Zimbabwe seems to be another prime spot to check out. In September and December, you can friggin swim at the edge without falling over.
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