EXPECTING
Sometimes you can just tell how much two people mean to each other. Sure, Greg and Erica have created a new little human together, but watching them cuddle and just be together really nailed it for me. There has been a cold snap and it was -21 Celsius with the wind-chill when we decided to get together and shoot these ‘Expecting” photos. Erica was a real star and was up for anything (even walking on ice!). Best part, she had images on her phone of poses and looks she liked. It doesn’t get better then working as a team on a photo shoot.
CONVOCATION PORTRAITS
I normally never shoot stuff like this. I find the portraits boring and quite “blah”. That is until I had a chat with Zaren! You may recognize her from the great things she does around St.John’s or even from her days on VOCM Radio. Let’s just say Zaren thinks outside the box, and was really keen to do something different. Different is what we got... No problem to head down to the mighty Atlantic shoreline and climb down to the rocks as the Waves crashed behind. I was scared I was going to lose her over the cliff a couple times! Convocation portraits with power! What a great afternoon!
MOVEMBER
I am very proud to be part of the Volkswagen St.John's Movember Mustache Team. Imagine my surprise when I was asked if I would like to be a part and take a few snaps during the month of Movember. It’s sort of funny because Facial hair doesn’t seem to grow properly in any regular patterns on my face! Men’s health, and in particular, Men’s Mental Health is something that is ignored. Many men suffer alone and isolated because there is no support. Every Human has bad days and bad things that happen, and the Movember Campaign helps men through. They also help with disease and physical health. It’s a good cause.
SEXY LAUNDRY
Three words.... SHARON KING CAMPBELL . One of my favorite people I have ever worked with, Sharon directed Sexy Laundry and invited me down to the Arts + Culture Centre to make a few promo snaps. A wonderful play that I actually saw over a decade ago in Vancouver, I really enjoyed the interaction between the lead actors Geoff and Janet. I actually thought they were married! It was a pleasure to work with them, and they were great sports about the way we had to shoot. Light levels super low and holding for 4 seconds! It was great, and one of my images even made it into the Telegram Newspaper!
PERFECT WEDDING
It was really great to be asked to come and take a few Promo snaps for Joint Productions latest play called “The Perfect Wedding”. An absolutely stellar cast who just seem to connect on many levels...and this was just a few days into rehearsal! Directed by the wonderful Janet O’Reilly, and staring some of the best young actors in the Newfoundland Theatre scene, I was happy just to be in the same room! The images were shot at the JAG Boutique Hotel in downtown St.John’s and should be showing up Online and on posters!
MEXICO
Those who know me, know I have had an “interesting” time here in Newfoundland. There are many things I love, and there have been some moments that have been arduous. It is time to get away... and where better then a little fishing village called Aticama in the state of Nayarit on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. It’s a place to re-center with lovely Sun, Sand and Seclusion. The perfect place to concentrate on creativity and images that are simply for me. To make things even more photographically pure... I will be working with one manual camera and one fixed lens - and that’s it!
I have fought this one for a long, long time, but it seems that social media and speaking in a language of Millenials can understand is important. So if you can't beat 'em... join 'em! Actually I am quite enjoing Instagram and seeing the amazing quality of the work some of the photographers are producing. Let's be honest though - there is alot of crap! Highly edited with weird filters and shot with sub quality mobile phone cameras. I love that the masses are living a photographic lifestyle and images have become even more personally important, but an iphone and snapchat filters don't replace skills.
CRIBBIES CANTOR RUN
What a fantastic day for the the RDF Company (Rain-Drizzle-Fog) . They organized a race just outside of St.John’s from Cape Spear NL to Petty Harbour NL. I was invited to take a few snaps at the finish line... and how could I refuse? The weather was amazing and all 60 of the runners were a real treat and I enjoyed photographing their smiling faces as they crossed the finish line. There are not many places in this world that have anything even close to the natural beauty of the East Coast Trail... what a great trail to run!
DA DUB SHOW
What a great day to be a Volkswagen. I was invited to shoot the largest Volkswagen and European car show in the province. Hundreds of cars and smiles everywhere. I shot the event on behalf of Bill Matthews Volkswagen - the only VW dealer in the province. All the proceeds raised during the event were donated to Ronald McDonald House... and being the biggest year yet... there was a fantastic donation. Quite a family, these V-Dubbers ;)
JOE + HALEY
I don’t normally talk about the couples I work with. Simply because everybody is always wonderful. Thing about Joe and Haley is that I am blown away how in tune with each other they are. This engagement shoot literally stretched over 10 months. We did the first set of photos in December when Joe actually proposed. They were magical snow shots... but we also wanted something warm! Schedules never did match up and I became really busy over the summer. Finally we were able to head out to Brigus NL (a magic place in itself) and the images were amazing. I really love people who are in Love!
AUDI ATLANTIC
STUNNING!!! I had the opportunity to photograph the brand new Audi A4 S-line. It is an amazing machine, and is the first of it’s model year in this province. Now I didn’t get to drive it... but sitting behind the wheel with my camera was a close second. I am very lucky to do work for the only VW and Audi dealership in the province ...and the best in Atlantic Canada!
PROJECT 3|||6||||||5|||||
I am still working on a personal project called 365. The goal is to shoot one dedicated image per day for all 365 days of 2016. It has been creatively inspiring - as I am not shooting for anybody else but me. If I find something interesting it becomes my image of the day. It is a live public project that can be viewed via social media on Facebook... with when complete a google+ link , a dedicated gallery on my webpage and a limited production hardcover book.
FACE 4 RADIO
So cool to meet and shoot local celebrities. I was lucky to be part of the social media campaign that had me on location for a couple days with Keliegh Butt from 99.1 FM the hits, and JLac from K-Rock 97.5 in Atlantic Canada. Fantastic Dj’s they both are, very kind and personable - at the end of the broadcast day I felt as though they were just great people!
CAPE RACE
For years I had wanted to visit Cape Race and the Marconi station that received the SOS signal from Titanic. It was always a bit of dream when I lived elsewhere on this planet. What a fantastic little weekend adventure, and the biggest ocean storm I have ever seen! The wrath of God type stuff ;) I was amazed to be the only person camping out at the tip of Cape Race right in front of the Lighthouse. A wonderful part of Newfoundland and I was really taken with the 300km drive called the Irish Loop.
DIGITAL HASSY
I did a thing... actually I bought a thing. I decided to shell out a few dollars for a digital back for my Hasselblad! A little history here, Hasselblads have always been my favourite camera system. Their ad slogan of yester-years was 'Why not buy your last camera first?' and it still rings true everytime time I pickup this camera. I've had for 'Blads over my shooting career and they have always been magic. I still shoot film and always have a Back loaded to go with this rig, but I found I was picking digital cameras over this babe. Easy fix - a digital back. They are crazy expensive (and I mean stupidly) but I found a mint used Phase One P25 for a deal. It doesn't compete with medium format film or even my pro-am Nikon D800, but it does mean I can have a little fun in the studio with my old Hasselblad!