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.
Brandon Sek!
Feels like its been a while… What’s up, Internet? Last month, the monthly party I had covered for two years ended. This month, I started a new residency with a lot of the same crew. Everything kicked off on Friday with Toronto’s Brandon Sek in as the guest DJ.
I felt a bit lost for ideas but I feel pretty pumped about what I managed to pull off with an otherwise simple concept. As I continue to do these, I will aim to keep a less is more philosophy. This time, it also was an excuse to play a bit with the adjustment brushes in Lightroom. Too much? At least I’m not isolating the colour of a rose in a black and white image…
That said, I thought boxing gloves would be awesome to photograph but hand them over to people who have been drinking and it turns out they’re probably less inclined to pose for a photo and more inclined to actually beat the hell from each other! Hilarity ensues.
A bunch of bizarre plans seem to be lining up for 2010. I got a fortune cookie that told me I should keep things to myself for now but fingers crossed, eh? I feel good. Until then, check out the blog I maintain for the News Photographers Association of Canada. This week, Peter Martin is writing from the Venice Carnivale and Brent Lewin is writing about Elephants in Thailand.
Finally, lets talk about the weather for a second. Winter temperatures are in full swing but the snow isn’t really falling. Last year, we got pretty significant dumps on a monthly basis. I’m bracing myself for something huge. Here are two photos that say “Ottawa in the winter” for me.
Disorganized RIP & Burtynsky
Click the images to see two separate galleries from the final Disorganized, last Friday, January 1, 2010. History in the making.
This second set actually doesn’t have a single photo taken by me. I hooked up a bunch of people with disposable cameras whose flashes I covered with coloured gels. None of these people are photographers and I gave them very little direction. The dark film confused the scanning machine at the lab too so some images in this set are actually halves of two images but, it is what it is. Get into it.
Thanks to Iain, Little Alex, Jif, Antonella, Zach, Cait & Rio for being awesome parts of this project!
Totally, an unforgettable night. I think the set will be released online around Valentine’s Day. Actually, if you are reading this and you have some of your own photos from the night that you’d like to share, we’re collecting them at final.disorg@gmail.com.
The fun’s going to continue at Babylon on Friday, February 5. Details to follow…
Besides all this, I’ve had a nutty week but it has been cool. Edward Burtynsky is speaking at Carleton University this Sunday as well which I’m pyched about. If you haven’t yet, check out his movie Manufactured Landscapes. Here’s the trailer.
99 for 2009
Last year was pretty wicked and I’ve got some exciting projects coming down the pipe for 2010 too. Before those though, here are ninety-nine photos from two-thousand and nine, in chronological order.
If you still haven’t seen it and you’re still in the mood for some Christmas cheer, check my mini Santa video.
Tonight: Last Disorganized ever
Bonne année tout le monde! Last night was good but tonight is when the magic happens. For the last six years, my friends have been putting on a monthly party called Disorganized in Ottawa at Babylon Nightclub. I’ve had the good (mis)fortune of being the resident photographer for the last two years. It all ends tonight.
We’ve all got many tricks up our sleeves that you’ll have to be there to witness but worth mentioning now is the early door time. Doors open at 9pm because there is a special screening of a video made by artist Ryan Stec of the light installation he presented during Nuit Blanche in Toronto. Show up on time to be among the lucky first to see this on four(!) screens.
Here’s a preview:
Bright Lights, Big City Project Documentation from Ryan Stec on Vimeo.
This clip captures the final minutes of a section of Ryan’s project Bright Lights Big City, which synchronized the lighting system on the CN Tower to a radio broadcast on CIUT. The project was produced for Scotiabank Nuit Blanche on October 3rd, 2009.
The scrolling image across the bottom of the screen is the music visualization used to created the light show.
So busy. Little sleep. Lovin’ every minute of it.
Merry Christmas!
Comme remerciement d’avoir contribué à une année particulièrement excellente, je partage un clip du Père Noël que j’ai récemment enregistré lorsqu’il était récemment en visite à Ottawa. Cette production n’aurait pas été possible sans la participation des bonnes personnes aux Bergers de l’espoir et au Tea Store sur le marché By. Merci à tous!
Je vous souhaite tous un formidable temps des fêtes et une nouvelle année à ne pas oublier!
As a thank you for making 2009 a particularly stupendous year, I’d like to share a clip of Santa Claus that I recorded during a recent official visit he made in Ottawa. This was all made possible thanks to the good people at the Shepherds of Good Hope and the Tea Store in the Byward Market. Thanks to everyone!
So, here’s wishing you an absolutely fantastic holiday season and a very excellent new year!
Huge shout outs to my girl La Bolduc for providing the soundtrack.
Barletta @ Disorg
Toronto’s Barletta was supposed to play Ottawa a few months ago but he was detained in a Mexican airport and missed the flight that was supposed to take him here. Oops. Friday night, he more than made up for playing hookie.
Cardigans and Green Day remixes… For a guy who just played off his laptop and a mixer, he was definitely able to keep up the pace. Increasingly, I’ve noticed DJs using alternatives to Serato, which had been the standard for a while. Wonder what this means…
Anyway, click for photos!
Turning Five
Some friends of mine celebrated the fifth anniversary of their weekly queer dance party last night at Mercury Lounge. To make something last in a town like this can be challenging to say the least. Suffice to say, major congrats are in order!
A lot of cameras of various sizes were out documenting and Twitpic-ing. Here’s one from me.
Fierce!
Stylusts & weekend wrap up…
First weekend of November was crazy busy. Friday night, I was chilling at Babylon with my boy Tom Wrecks, who was performing with Drastik and Illo as The Stylusts. Cashtro was partying too.
Afterwards, I stayed up all night editing a video for my one night exhibit at La Petite Mort Gallery. It isn’t often that I show work in this way so huge thanks to everyone who was able to make it out! I liked being able to invite my friends for a drink in a gallery instead of a bar for once. The photos might stay up till Thursday or something but the gallery is closed Monday and Tuesday. A lot of people who couldn’t make it are asking if images will be posted online anywhere. We’re sorting that out but in case you didn’t already see it, a image from the show:
Got a few things coming down the tube which is very, very nice and appreciated. Winter’s not even here and I’m already thinking of spring and summer 2010.
Last night, I finally got to sit on my couch for first time in about a month (long story) and watched some movies by Michel Brault and Claude Jutra. One of them was called Entre la mer et l’eau douce (1967) and the last one I watched was Rouli-roulant (1966, English title: Devil’s Toy).
This movie might be one of the first Canadian skateboard videos ever made and it ends with a great song sung by the actress Geneviève Bujold. I don’t think it was ever properly released so I made an mp3 from the DVD. Please listen and let us know what you think of this quiet québécois pop song about skateboarding.
Pierre F. Brault – Rouli-roulant (feat. Geneviève Bujold)
PS: Shop at Invisible Cinema. 319 Lisgar at Bank in Ottawa. Over 13000 movies.
Midweek Halloween @ Mercury Lounge
Having Halloween on Saturday is awesome because life kind of turns into HalloWEEK! Party #1 was last night. Click the banner for the gallery if you dare…
Today’s a day off (kind of?) and then I start doing Mustaches for Kids(!) stuff tomorrow night and then Halloween will be spent in a little death on Cumberland.
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