Jason Drake — What's New Blog

WHAT'S NEW

Here is a peek of things that are happening in my world... and also what is important, interesting and entertaining. A blog of what I am up to and what's new!

...and who knows, perhaps even 'The secret of true happiness' ;)

TOFINO TINGLE

'Wanna come to Tofino?'... That was the question out of the blue, and without hesitation, the answers was a definite 'You Bet'. It’s funny but I used to love going to Tofino, but for whatever reasons I had not been in ages. So we jumped in the Jeep and made our way across Vancouver Island. The journey was better then expected and there were no issues with the road closures that I had heard about. There were no set schedules, and stopping at anything interesting along the way was mandatory for one of my ‘photo moments’. The single day turned into three and I even gave West Coast surfing a go... I think I enjoyed taking pictures on Chesterman Beach before and after slightly more than the actual surf experience (who knew ingesting large volumes of saltwater could make you sick)... Anybody like sunset images... because I must of made a million of them!

DECAL DESIGN

I was asked recently to come up with a decal design for a company vehicle so keep your eyes open for this ‘Grizzly Van’ when you are out and about. The idea originally was for a photography based montage, but honestly I feel that ‘look’ is very twenty years ago... and if there is one photo filter look I dislike more than any other is the fade between (almost as bad as HDR). I decided to design something really graphic and clean based upon the wonderful artwork of the late indigenous artist Curtis Wilson. Curtis had been commissioned to produce a small Grizzly Bear and Salmon limited edition four colour print with the copy-write available to modify the art as needed. I digitally recreated the artwork and isolated some of bear components to produce this graphic. Simple and powerful, you won’t miss this van speeding past you on the freeway. The powers that be were quite pleased and the graphic is going to be phased in as a corporate brand identifier ... thanks, I knew it looked pretty good too ;)

HUMPTY DUMPTY

All of the King’s Horses and all of the King’s men won’t be putting this Nikon back together again! I took a bit of a nasty spill on a hike I went on this weekend to Strathcona Provincial Park... now I am not really a huge hike type guy, but I really wanted to take a few black & white images at a place called Myra Falls. I visited the lower falls before with somebody quite special and I have this weird connection with the place. I have returned a few times to make images, but always with digital cameras and never film, until now. Long story short... I was trying to climb somewhere I had no place being and actually fell! Although I wasn’t broken (other than my ego) my lovely Nikon FM went tumbling, hit a massive rock and smashed into pieces :( I manage to climb down and collect most of the bits, but I don’t think this camera will ever see another waterfall. It’s odd, but now that I look at this broken camera... it reminds me of the broken person I visited the falls with so long ago now...

VANNIN VIBES

I have spent this summer traveling, supporting local and just trying to get out and about as much as possible. Perhaps it’s to make up for lost time as last Summer due to circumstances , I didn’t listen to my traveling heart like I should of... as John Lennon says ‘Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans’ ... I have just come back from a 1000km journey of discovery and making photos in my trusty GMC Van. This vehicle has been mine for the last 13 years and it has taken me across North America a few times now. I seriously love this beast and every time it comes out of storage, I spend hours behind the wheel just smiling as the miles click by. Originally a travel conversion van, over the years I have modified this bad boy to the ultimate photo-support vehicle. I have a state-of-the-art photo editing station, multiple charge points, hidden camera storage areas, solar power, an ultra important espresso machine and even the ability to develop analogue film if needed. Now if only the mighty Vandura would float or fly, then I could drive round the world!

SIPPING CIDER

One of my gigs lately has been photographing the products available from local Vancouver Island sustainable suppliers. I had no idea how many great providers, manufacturers, farms and wineries/breweries are based here on the Island and I feel quite proud taking some of these photos for my employer in the tourism sector. Simply put, the main responsibilities of sustainable tourism include: 1) Protecting the environment, natural resources, and wildlife 2) Providing socio-economic benefits for our community and all of us who live and work here 3) Conserving cultural heritage and creating authentic tourist experiences 4) Bringing tourists and local communities together for mutual benefit and 5) Creating inclusive and accessible tourist opportunities. It’s all about supporting local on so many levels. Let’s just say I definitely supported these Raven's Moon ciders and so did my hangover!

GRAPHIC GRAFLEX

I don’t often dust off this bad boy, but I wanted to make some ‘period looking’ black and white portraits and nothing has the ‘period look’ like an antique press camera! This 2 1/4 “ x 3 1/4” Crown Graphic is such an interesting camera and many years ago I was so lucky to find a roll-back conversion that allows me to still shoot 120 film. It only gives me six images per roll, but the cut film for this camera’s plate backs disappeared decades ago now... so at least I can still use this rig. What I love most is the front movements that replicate the narrow depth of field look that portrait cameras of the 19th century had. Literally, I can adjust the lens board axis so just an eyelash is in focus! These cameras were hugely popular with newspaper photogs in the 1940’s and were never really a creative camera. For me, the Crown Graphics (and Speed Graphics) are so much quicker and easier you use than a 4x5 or 8x10 view camera... which every instagram millennial seems to use as a prop!

VANCOUVER VISTAS

It’s good to be back in Vancouver... and that’s something I never ever thought I would ever hear myself say! I have forgotten how great this city is for making images... although I am rusty at critical seeing. I guess living in ‘Island Isolation’ in a little tiny town has made me slightly less observant to key moments, but much like riding a bike it is coming back to me. A big city environment is a perfect match for photography and riding a motorcycle. You can pretty much stop anywhere quickly and you can always find somewhere to park. It limits the gear you bring, so it is just me, one camera and a single ‘street’ lens - a 35mm/f2. A thoroughly pure experience! I have spent the last few days (and hundreds of shutter clicks) from dawn to dusk photographing cityscapes and street moments much like I used to... no destination... just enjoying the journey.

SWITCH IT OFF

Well the time has come to disengage from my social media channels. I was always a fan of social and felt that it was once something quite special. My social experience goes back a long way to the digital dinosaur age and I started with Friendster over twenty years ago. Then I was a MySpace kinda guy, and then Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Linkedin and Instagram. As of 2017, I had been using Instagram exclusively after switching off my FB (the other channels all died in some way along the timeline). Lately I have found the Insta-Algorithm a bit of a monster that continues to hold my images ransom for paid boosts and prevents engagement. In the end, social media is fake. It is a machine entity that can destroy genuine thought. Not to mention the damage it can do to personal relationships through life disengagement. I really am tired of phone culture and will now be switching it off personally and only using social for my paid digital management clients. Here's to 'Phone Phree' :)

CAPTIVATING CARVINGS

There was a time when my all I did was photograph original artwork so that artists could reproduce their work. Sometimes it was for archiving and sometime it was for duplication to sell. This week that training came in handy, as I was tasked with photographing a number of original First Nation artworks. The mandate is this “to recognize and celebrate the cultures and contributions of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Indigenous peoples of Canada.” ... Simple, so rather than just a boring studio 45 degree copy lighting scheme, I decided to place the pieces in a more connected environment... The forest. I am very pleased with the results as the carvings and painting came to life in the wind and the light. In particular this beautifully carved mask entitled ‘The Wild Woman Of The Woods’ by Artist Tim Alfred had me transfixed as the breezed whipped her hair backwards and forwards (I must of made 50 photos of this carving alone!)

PASSPORT PARADIGM

It’s passport renewal time once again... and that means new passport photos. I have photographed so many people for passport photos over the years. Thirty years ago when I worked in a Camera Shop, I would probably do 20 passport shoots a day as the rest of the team hated taking them. I always loved making passport photos, and it helped me be fast and efficient when working as a portrait photographer years later. I even used to shoot my very own passport pics. The rules have changed substantially and I no longer attempt my own photos (just because my photographer stamp has my name!). I was happy to head down to the local chemist and have the kid behind the counter take my picture. His name was ‘Paul the Passport Guy’ and he actually did a really good job. They even said as much at the passport office when I submitted my renewal application. I won’t lie... the photo I have lived with for last decade has me with long hair and looking slightly like a cartel mule. I should now be able to pass border control with those funny looks!

GOURMET GREATNESS

Today I had to spend my day hanging out with a resort Head Chef and his team to make some stunning images of the beautifully rustic menu at Knight inlet Lodge. Chef Alex and his team couldn’t of been more accommodating and let me ‘do my thing’ while they worked. It’s amazing in commercial kitchens how the team just ‘gel’ and are able to predict the needs of their head chef. Sometime Alex didn’t even say a word and the right knife appeared or a fresh bunch of cilantro was chopped for the final plating. I was pretty honored to taste all sorts for wonderful food combinations and I forgot how much I used to love making food images. It’s taking me a while to sort the stuff... but I did say there would be enough great images for a cookbook! It’s no surprise if you read my blog, but I was super drawn to all of the Mexi foods. Hmmm... I wonder why ;)

GOODNESS

As I get older, I have started to come to some pretty serious conclusions about what (and who) is important in my life. We all have the chance to enjoy this short time on the planet. Usually that means finding what you love to do and who you love to spend time with. I found what I loved to do a long time ago... making pictures. I have been criticized by some for not using my talent to make lots of money. For me it was never about the money, and I personally can’t stand greedy photographers who couldn’t care less about the ‘moment’ . My biggest issue has been the second part... who you love to spend time with? I seem to have a soft spot for disingenuous humans and always try to see the good... even when it’s false. Everybody has past trauma and everybody deserves a second chance... to a point. I recently came to a ‘split in the road’ of my life path and decided that only those who are truly good people will have the chance to continue with me along my road....shall we see where it leads?

QUIRKY QUEBEC

There are so many wonder-filled parts of Canada, and one place I always seem to have a quirky time is in Quebec. I haven’t been back to the 'land of poutine' since 2017, but I was offered the chance to attend a conference in Quebec City so how could I say no to ten days of French Fun??!! Seriously though, Quebec and Montreal are some of my favourite North American cities for just going for a walk, getting lost, and taking amazing street and city life photography. Unlike the West Coast (where I live now) where everybody seems to fall asleep at 8pm, Quebec City is alive in the evening and I spent a few late nights in the local jazz clubs listening to free-form tunes and making images of wrinkled, old skool Jazz musicians. I made loads of images on my walk-abouts, plus “jouir de la vie”... Ohhh , and even managed to actually do some work ;)

OLD IS NEW

As I have finally unpacked my last box of cameras that were in storage, I was really happy to rediscover my Russian FED I that is a copy of a Lecia II from 1933! Like I have previously mentioned , Russian Cameras are not really know for being reliable of even functional sometimes, but that is part of their charm. I love not knowing what things will look like when the film is developed. The unpredictability reminds me of what art is all about... fun in letting things just happen. I wonder if Jackson Pollock smiled when he through his paint on the canvas the same way I smile when I press the stutter button on this little 35mm camera. It’s not all unpredictable... I know that the film will tear on the sprockets and the sunlight will leak down the lens barrel and make lovely light ghosts in the top left corner. Seriously, all of these kids who pretend to be photographers and have never experienced the fun of film. You don;t know what you are missing!

MOTORCYCLE MADNESS

It’s official... not only am I addicted to Cameras, but I can’t seem to stay away from big, heavy V-twin motorbikes. For those interested, I parted with my last motorbike before I went and lived in Mexico. I regretted selling that bike, but timing and finding a storage facility just didn’t work out. Since then, I have been lusting over every Cruiser bike that rumbled it’s way past my heart on every road. I am very conservative when it comes to bikes I will ride... they have to be a cruiser and they have to be black! It’s actually harder then you can image trying to find a black cruiser that doesn’t cost both arms and both legs... but I finally found a stunning Yamaha Roadstar 1600 that was like brand new. I feel in love the moment I plonked my self in the saddle and the deal was made with out too much negotiations. This beautiful bike has a 1600cc huge v-twin engine, that is literally double the size of the engine that was in my first car! I love bikes for one very import reason... I am completely engaged with the environment I am traveling in and I can stop at a moments notice and make stunning images.. It’s the best way to be a travel photographer!

GLORIOUS GABRIEL

It has taken a few days to sink in... But I am so grateful to my wonderful family for the amazing Peter Gabriel concert tickets. It’s an understatement to say I am a fan of Mr.Gabriel’s work and sadly the stars never aligned for me to be able to see him play Vancouver in 1993 or in 2002. I love all of his LP’s from early Genesis to his last record of new music - Up. The LP pictured here is called SO and I have worn out three copies (it has my fav song on... In Your Eyes). For my birthday this year, everyone surprised me with two beyond amazing seats to Peter’s upcoming Vancouver concert in October. I literally didn’t believe it and has taken days to accept this is going to happen. Now... What are my chances of manifesting the person reaching out I most wish to share the moment with and How am I going to get a camera past security???? feliz cumpleaños and I feel beyond loved...

MEXIFUN

Sometimes I should just listen to my thoughts... or pay more attention to my actions? I seem to be gravitating away from wanting to make images as a commercial photographer and I am not sure why. I think it has alot to do with my cumulative experience as a photographer and what is enjoyable and what is not. For years I used to love any chance to take photos and I always felt honoured that somebody would hire me. Even if I found the gig ‘not compatible’ with my sense of aesthetic or fulfilling... I would still complete the task, as that’s what professionals do... right? Time has been on my mind alot lately, and how little I seem to devote to people and moments that truly make me happy. What I do know is that I have incredible amounts of fun when I make pictures when I travel... especially in Mexico where everything seems to just ‘Click’

PERILOUS PACIFIC

Camera + Saltwater = BAD ... Or does it? There is nothing better than a new Camera Day and today is one of those days. Sadly my dear sweet worn out silver X100S took an accidental swim in the warm Pacific ocean. Those in the know are aware that I have been a huge fan of these little Fuji rangefinders since they were introduced in 2010. I have been privileged to have owned a few of the X100 models... The camera that went for a swim had nearly 300,000 clicks on it and traveled with me everywhere in the last four years (and I mean everywhere!) It was completely worn out and making very strange noises, but still made beautiful photos... Right to the end. This new X100F has now joined my camera family and has already become my favourite. Like it’s predecessors, it’s a rangefinder made of metal, it has a non interchangeable fixed lens with no zoom, a leaf shutter and complete manual control.... Funny how these little machines run circles around my big professional rigs 🤔... Now if only it was ocean proof!

ALMA MEXICANA

I really must have an ‘Alma Mexicana’ ... a Mexican Soul. Only 8 weeks after returning from my last quick getaway, I will be heading down again in six days! I am seriously going to have to decide if Mexico will be my home of the future. I certainly love creating images in Mexico... probably more then any other place I have lived or even visited for that matter. All it takes a scroll down my blog to realize how wonderful I feel the people and culture are in Mexico and most Latin countries. I never feel out of place or an outsider as I photograph there... yet down my own street I feel I stand out like a sore thumb (not sure of that analogy either?). Anyway... it will be great to be once again immersed the place I love and especially for my quincuagésimo cumpleaños. Happy Birthday to me (and my Dad).

LANDSCAPE LEISURE

What’s the best part about travel for work... Making photos and being paid! I had to travel ‘South-Island’ for a work thing and I was lucky enough to visit a few areas in the Cowichan Valley as I traveled. I decided to spend sometime just concentrating on Landscapes. Typically Landscape (like Wildlife) photography just isn’t my thing, but people seem to like the pictures I make. I concentrated on ‘Singular’ immersion into the environment with one key foreground subject leading the eye into a secondary subject not quite related. I produced about twenty images with this mandate in mind around various areas in the Valley. Unlike street photography... it’s about waiting for an optimum mix of lighting and weather conditions to make a landscape interesting and really just being an observer. I’m not really a fan and prefer the connection of Street or Portrait work...

FILM FOR FUN

It is so fantastic to finally be unpacked and actually have access to my darkroom for the first time in ages. I love shooting film and have for 25+ years. I particularly love the cameras that shoot film and I am often torn between my medium format and 35mm rigs when going out for fun... so often I will take one of each and try not to duplicate the same images. I am partial to 6x6 and feel most at home with a square format. Anyway, film is fun and I have been very happy with my new supply of film and chemistry from Freestyle Photo out of California (www.Freestylephoto.com ). Lately I have been using a line they carry called Arista , both in Film and the the associated chemicals. The quality is on par with Ilford and Agfa products I used to love and the pricing is very reasonable... I guess the Millennial brand name shooter doesn’t think this stuff is ‘Hip’ enough?

BOOKISH BEARS

As much as I wish that my world was all about just ‘taking pretty pictures’ all day long... that is just not the case. Being a photographer has changed alot during my career and I probably would of starved to death had I just relied on just making images - no matter how fantastic the photos are ;) I was lucky enough a few years ago to upgrade my skillset that opened up other professional roads of being creative. Now when I am hired for gigs, I can offer the complete workflow from start to finish for my employers. That includes a substantial amount of Graphic Design and Desktop publishing. Not only can I see an entire gig through from start to finish... I can expedite the entire process. This book for Knight Inlet Lodge is one of those projects. Not only are there quite a few of my images contained within these 100 pages (and some other amazing photographers!), the look and feel of the entire book uses my sense of aesthetic, and the technical requirements of production are exact. I couldn’t be happier with the finished production run...

ASHES TO ASHES

Ashes to Ashes and Dust to Dust. It is time to leave the past behind. As I have previously hinted at, photographs are keys to memories. It doesn’t matter how wonderful the image may be , sometimes the lock that it's connected to should not be unlocked. I have for years tried to avoid sorting certain images or even looking at some them. Box UNO was filled with photos I just found too hard to deal with. Many are connected to fleeting moments that have long gone and people who made choices for right or for wrong. This box was filled with photographs that spanned a thirty year history of my photography life that were out of sight - out of mind. My life and my photographs are so intertwined that it is difficult to separate one from the other. Especially when connected to people and moments I cherish. The only way is by fire. Now if I could only muster the courage to destroy the negatives and smash the hard drives!

MOVE IT

The adjustment has come... It is really time to move. The last year I have lived in a city that is the last major centre on Vancouver Island. It is the end of the line, but I truly believed I would find what I was promised and what I was longing for. It hasn’t happened on either front, so enough of this ‘Wrong Way’ feeling. I have found a lovely home heading south that has the one prerequisite I need... A WOODSTOVE! Starting this weekend, I will actually unpack every box I had in storage including the one in the photograph above. I call it UNO and it was the first box I packed up when I left Newfoundland in 2017. Hard to believe this particular box has been packed for six years! Those around me know I have literally been living out of a suitcase for the last eighteen months, with all but two of my cameras and all my bits-n-pieces in storage. My photography has been limited and honestly I feel quite amazing considering the pared down state of my camera bag. I am looking forward to this start over!

BEACH BIAS

Planes, Trains and Automobiles.. I just lived that film for the last 125 hours as the Airlines learned how to fly all over again. Actually, it wasn’t quite like the film... my hand wasn’t between two pillows ;) I eventually made it to Mexico and by the time I made it through customs in Puerto Vallarta and into the arrivals terminal I realized I had been holding my breath! In all of my years of air travel, I have never seen anything like this holiday season and maybe for my visit I will just drive down from Canada... it will definitely be quicker. Anyway, I was picked up and whisked away and within a couple hours I was enjoying making photos and drinking cerveza on the beach. This trip will be short, as I have to get back to work and I lost an entire week in the travel. I am serious though, next time I come down for an extended visit... I am driving and will chase the footsteps of Edward Weston!

FAB FAM

Family is everything and a perk of WetJet forgetting how to fly during the recent winter travel chaos is I had a moment to drop in. I showed up in Vancouver just in time for a mammoth Christmas-slash-40(ish) Birthday party to be in full effect. It was one of those parties where you look at the clock and think is that 7PM or 7AM (just ask my brother T)... It was a wonderful couple of days and I had a great time with my nieces hanging out in the snow and attempting our version of snowboarding. I did manage to capture some pretty great photos, that will be looked at for years to come (and maybe even generations!) I wish I lived closer and spending time was the greatest Christmas gift anybody could of given me. Made me almost forget my flight delays... Almost.

SNOWED IN

Well... where to even begin. The end of 2022 has turned into a travel nightmare, and I am writing this from the lovely Calgary airport at 3AM. I decided to take another quick adventure to Mexico, and on the day I was to fly one of the biggest winter storms in recent history hit North America hard! The thing is, the weather was back to normal in a couple of days but the airlines were in complete shambles - especially Westjet! Sad, because I actually worked for Westjet a million years ago and knew how great of a company they once were. Clearly the pandemic hit their Human Resources hard and anybody with any skill found ‘Greener Pastures’... Long story short, my 4 1/2 hour direct flight turned into 125 hours and lots of chances to take pictures of snow, things covered in snow and more snow.

WRONG WAY

It’s been quite a while since I updated my blog.... and I have had the feeling of ‘Wrong Way’ haunting me for the last couple of months. You must know that feeling right? Where no matter what you do, where you are or who you are with something doesn’t feel quite right. That seems to be the life I am leading at the moment. I have noticed most people just seem to shrug it off or fill the ‘wrong’ feeling with what ever they can find (Entertainment, online consumerism, addictions, etc)... not me, I really do try to find the root cause of the ‘Wrong’ life direction. Sadly, it can be quite overwhelming and definitely affects my creative input and output. One of the few things I have learned over the years is to not fight the ‘Wrong Way’ but listen and adjust. Now...I have listened, the question is what adjustments are about to come into play?

HOLD TIGHT

“Hold Tight”... that was the simple statement my pilot said to me before he throttled up for take off! It’s not often I get to ride in a floatplane, let alone sit in the co-pilot seat, but I had to fly in to a remote location for work and it was either by helicopter or floatplane. I ended up in the De Havilland DHC-3 Otter, a floatplane that was produced from 1951 to 1967. For the plane nuts out there, this is quite a rare plane as only 466 were ever produced and most of them are still flying 60 years later. The few that service the west coast of Canada are relied on to transport people and supplies into remote communities, camps and lodges. There wasn’t much room to work with a camera in the cockpit, but I manged to take a few cool images and ...keep my lunch down (It was a tad bumpy!)

SUMMER LOVE

I have never had such a busy Summer as this Summer is turning out to be! Although not making nearly as many personal pictures as I want to, I am shooting alot for work and definitely doing more design work than I have ever done. I have actually had to say no to wedding inquires due to my work load, but one wedding I would never say no to is my baby brother’s! That’s right, Toody and Jonina became official last week after nearly a decade together. It was such a beautiful wedding and even better...it was Mexican themed! Although I was the ‘official photographer’ I felt like I was sitting on the beach enjoying a cerveza for most of the event. The weather was hot, the music was festive, the tequila flowed and there was true love in the air. It made me so happy to be part of this beautiful day, and I really do have the most amazing family who traveled across the planet to be part of this special occasion... Que sean muy felices toda su vida

SIZE MATTERS!

It’s always exciting when it's ‘NEW LENS DAY’ in the studio... well, maybe not all that exciting for this beast! For my latest gig I needed something with a long focal length and a fast aperture. I’ve discovered there all sorts of limitations when it comes to shooting wildlife and I have gained an entirely new respect for good wildlife photographers. Not only do you need some serious muscle on the gear side of things, you need the patience of Job! I decided on a new 80-400mm and a 1.4x tele-extender. This set up gives me a 560mm and enough speed to handhold when needed. The lens itself is quite a bit of technology because it sports Nikon’s amazing Vibration Reduction system (VR). Essentially, it allows an additional 2 to 3 stops of handhold ability by floating certain lens elements with an electric motor that counterbalance the shake... kind of like a gyro! I have never been much of a long lens kinda guy,but in my new gig... size really does matter ;)

BEAR NECESSITIES

I have ‘BEAR-ly’ been back a week and I have been offered (and accepted) a dream gig that couldn’t make me happier. Not only is it all about using the best of my photography, design and marketing skills, it will allow me to travel a few times a year plus put my energies into environmental causes that just make Canada a better place. I have become involved with one of British Columbia’s most prestigious eco-tourism lodges that is remotely located in the beautiful Knight Inlet off the BC Coast. For those who don’t know Knight Inlet... just imagine the most stunning fjord of Norway or New Zealand... and multiply that by a hundred thousand! The one thing I will have to brush up on is my wildlife photography skills, because I have a feeling my street photography style with a prime 35mmf2 won’t prevent me from becoming a Grizzly Bear snack!

RETURNETH

It’s been a whirlwind of activity since I stepped off the plane just a few days ago! My entire life in Canada was put on hold for the seven months I spent in the embrace of Mexico’s warmth (I'm so going to have to sort my Mexican residency). I Digress... I flew into YVR and was picked up by one of my lovely little brothers and was whisked away to spend a few days with family I hadn’t seen in ages. I had only 5 days to visit, enjoy the sights and... oh yeah... buy a new car so I could get back to Vancouver Island and start life afresh. I feel great and I write this as I enjoy the ferry ride across to the Island. Many close to me have said 2022 is going to be my year, and I really feel it will be. Once back I’ll figure my new base of operations and live the Island life I have dreamed of (that includes the joy of a wood stove and a proper darkroom!). Hmmmm...perhaps I’ll start with small steps like getting the cameras and the Jeep out of storage ;)

TERMINUS

This is a final point in space and time... a terminus. It’s staggering how quickly time can move and the last six months have passed in a blink. My flight is in a few hours and as I enjoy my final cerveza on the beach, my mind wanders through all of the marvelous Mexican moments of the last few months. Medieval poet Geoffrey Chaucer’s famous line “But at the laste, as every thing hath edne” sums up how I feel - beautiful moments are fleeting so enjoy them while you can. I am lucky that my photography is a huge part of who I am and my camera is intimately intertwined with nearly everything I experience. So much so, that I must remind myself to put the camera away and just be in the ‘now’... I’m pretty happy about how this six month adventure has turned out. I’ve made thousands of digital and film images and still managed to have been engaged and completely present in the moment... and honestly, some of these beautiful moments have been the most fulfilling of my life :)

LIBRO MEXICANO

Estoy muy emocionado! That’s right, I am so very excited how my latest coffee table book has turned out. Simply entitled ‘MEXICO’ it chronicles my journeys to this beautiful land over the last twenty years. This book has been in the works for ages, and my last six month adventure afforded me the time to update and complete the set of images that have become this stunning showpiece. I originally began with the idea that I would make a commercially sell-able coffee table book of images people would buy. I quickly realized that not only are landscapes and expensive haciendas pictures completely overdone and boring, I also started to understand what is truly important... Images I adore! This 240 page, hardcover, oversize coffee table book is filled with photos that mean the world to me. It is perfectly reproduced and is an absolute joy to journey through... I am sure all who see this fantastic folio will agree.

Email me directly to order your advanced copy

TRANSCENDENT TEPIC

Some places just feel like home! Tepic is one of those places for me. It is one of my favourite places on the planet to photograph life and I find myself continually drawn to it’s charm and it’s people. Nestled in the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range, this metro area is home to over a half million wonderful Mexicans. I decided to alter my journey slightly and spend another week ‘street-shooting’ this wonderful city. Tepic sadly has been plagued by so much Cartel activity that both the Canadian and US Governments have issued ‘No travel Advisories’... and that in turn made me literally the only Gringo in town. This allowed me to work quietly and succinctly without masses of horrible tourists on their mobile phones trying to get thousands of social media likes. I found a beautiful little airBNB just three blocks from the heart of the city (with an amazing view of the Catedral de la Purísima Concepción) for only $26 a night and I walked for hours each day making images... stay tuned for some amazing images!

STREET STYLE

I question myself about my personal creative photography all the time... especially when it comes to my street images. The genre of Street Photography has been with us since the birth of photography and the life of Eugène Atget and his images of Paris in the 19th century. There was a time when a photographer had to be incredibly skilled to produce powerful and compelling street images. He would have to be hyper-aware and talented to be able to translate the ‘decisive moment’ into an image via the camera. Today with the proliferation of cheap, high quality digital devices there is an entire generation of street shooters who can press a button and yet don’t see anything. Those who have been close to me when I’m in the ‘Street Zone’ and working intently know I have two ways of doing things. Either unobtrusive or upfront. Both have their merits and I choose my interaction based on the final image I am trying to create. I often question these images... but my goal is only to have one truly powerful image per shoot.

RESORT RESULTS

I wasn’t planning on doing any commercial gigs while away and concentrating on my creative project here in Mexico...FYI there is a new coffee table book in the works! 'No Gigs' - that was the plan, until I was asked to make a few images for a local boutique resort here in town. After a few discussions to finalize the requirements and the price, I spent the better part of an afternoon and early evening making a few images to be used for online promotional and social use. I’m usually quite efficient with shooting architectural and real estate images, but I am not traveling with my pro cameras and lighting setups. Luckily enough, I did bring a high mega-pixel full frame Nikon, a speedlight and my trusty 15mm ultra wide... but I haven’t even fired this stuff up in nearly six months (I’ve been shooting my Fuji rangefinders and TLR)! This type of pro-photography is like riding a bike and comes back quickly. Even with my limited gear, I was able to make some really lovely images... funny what you can use for a Tri-Pod when the need arises ;)

PHONE PHOBIA

I have had enough of mobile phones! Now it’s not what you think, I don’t have an addiction or a behavioral issue like ‘Nomophobia’... quite the opposite actually, I just can’t stand them and what really drives me nuts is the amount of so called pro-photogs who can’t actually use a proper camera and rely solely on the point-and-shoot capability of a phone camera. Don’t get me wrong. Phones do an ok job and I love the idea of everybody having an image making device in their pocket. These new phone cameras come with up to a staggering 200 mega-pixel sensor and every piece of correction software under the sun. Thing is they still produce quite shitty images. Once you go past just posting to Instagram or your social media darling of the month and actually take a good look at the images made by phones - they are awful. Terrible colour rendition, hugely distorted lenses with all sorts of chromatic aberrations, not to mention ergonomics and ease of use. These toy cameras need every trick in the book to try to provide a decent picture. Let’s not even talk about HDR or iphone portrait blur background... Gross!

#THROWBACK

Part of the joy about being a photographer for so many years is the ability to travel through time! Not literally of course, but spiritually. As I sort my back catalogue of film images from the last 30 years, I am often transported to the exact moment I made certain photos. This landscape/seascape in particular made me smile. It reminded me of how young and concerned about making images I once was. It was 1994 and I had just bought my first Hasselblad (I had saved up for nearly a year to purchase!) and I made every effort to get up each morning to photograph. This morning I went out on a boat to catch the sunrise and I made sure I paid attention to everything technical. The photos turned out, but I learned that it was the moment that was important and not the technical ability. After this image, my style became alot more organic and intuitive... and I worried alot less about the mechanics of making images!

WEB WHIMSY

There is so much more to being a photographer than just making pretty pictures. Not only do you have to create meaningful images you also have to be a marketing director/ social media whiz/ branding dude/ website creation person/ secretary/ treasurer/ CEO/ CFO/ customer service expert/ book keeper and pretty much any other title you can think of. I decided to spend some time wearing my ‘webpage dude’ hat and work on a few much needed updates to my website. I have such a huge backlog of images and it’s an overwhelming thought to just look at some of my latest photos! I started with a revisit to my ‘SUEÑOS MEXICANOS’ image essay and I am really pleased with the results. I feel I lean towards a harsh reality with much of my imagery, and my ‘Mexican Dreams’ essay should represent the joy of life that I am now immersed in. Interested? Take a look for yourself here and let me know what you think!

MEXI-MAGIC

I pride myself on my street shooting style, and the ability to work without disturbing the magic of a moment. Last night I was out enjoying the Mexican street night life which included fantastic street food and photographing the local street entertainment. I ended up being the only Gringo in a crowd enjoying a local magician who was a master at slight of hand. I was making images in my normal unobtrusive style and somehow the magician must of felt my camera??? I ended up being the center of the show, and no matter how much attention I paid to the well known hidden ball trick, I could not for the life of me keep my eye on the prize! Bets were made, and at a ‘billete de cien pesos’ per attempt I knew I would be in bad shape pretty quickly. In the end a good time was had by all, and I’m sure with the bets I lost, this Magic-Man had a few cervezas on me ;)

INSTA IDIOTS

The world is full of many types of personalities, some positive and some negative. Many use social media for their soap box to say anything that pops into their heads. Personally, I find my online social presence a necessary evil, and try to stick with photography heavy platforms like Instagram or even Twitter. Today, I had a number of my image posts interacted with by a troll, who seemed desperate to get a reaction from me? What’s a troll? They’re people who deliberately provoke others online and they live to make people upset and angry. What’s the easiest way to deal with them? Don’t be baited, ignore or delete what’s been said and just block them. I don’t have to explain my images to anybody - they speak for themselves, and many times much louder and much more precise than any words ever could! Note to the Insta-Trolls out there - I couldn’t care less what you think (MIC DROP!)

PERFECT TIMING

The one thing that I have concluded as I settle into life on the west coast of Mexico is that my timing is WAY OFF! Having spent the last year working at a break-neck pace (and almost in danger of becoming a workaholic) my creative timing is off. I still see the images unfold in front of me, but translating the mental connection to the physical motion of pushing the shutter button seems to be delayed. I know what it is, simply lack of practice and being at one with my camera. Honestly, shooting photos commercially, I became lazy, and didn’t really worry about the key image because I could re-shoot all day if needed to get what was required. My art images don’t have that luxury, and it is split second decisions that allow things to manifest. I am lucky, because I still have the ability to ‘see’... and that is something most wannabe photographers don’t possess at all! I’m not worried, my timing will return!

SING THE CHANGES

Sometimes you have to take advantage of opportunities and jump in with both feet! Actually, it’s a pretty easy call, and when the stars aligned with a chance to spend a Winter in the Warmth, I am outta here! Work is on hold, Everything is in storage, Goodbyes are spoken and only my favorite cameras made it into my suitcase... I will spend the next six months concentrating on myself and my creative photography. Much like twenty years ago, when I traveled as a contract photographer, I will be living out of a suitcase and immersing myself in a culture I have continually loved to photograph. I will be an honorary Mexican and be based on the beautiful West Coast of Mexico in the lovely town of Rincón de Guayabitos! Interested? Stay Tuned for some amazing images!

INEXHAUSTIBLY INFINITE

Things happen in life that you really don’t see coming, and they strip your beliefs to the core. These life changing moments can destroy worlds (trust me I know), but they can also allow for a redirection to rise like a phoenix from the ashes and emerge from a catastrophe stronger, smarter and more powerful. I am truly blessed to have my creativity and it has ‘saved’ me from the influence of unstable actions upon my life. My images are very personal, and I communicate to those close to me via my photos. All of us on this planet have a path to follow... the question is whether you chose to walk it with somebody who matters, or just dissapear - sadly, this photo says it all. Remember to enjoy every single second with the people who matter in your life... It's important.

FAMILY FUN

What a great evening for a fantastic family portrait session on the shoreline of Discovery Passage here on the east coast of Vancouver Island! As of late I have focused (pun intended) on my commercial clients and have let my portrait and wedding workload fade slightly. I had an invite to photograph a lovely family with some of the most photogenic children I have ever met... how could I say no! The evening was lovely, with gorgeous golden hour light and just a slight breeze. We worked fast and I made loads of beautiful images - and I remember how much fun it is working with a family core that really loves each other. Thanks to Kiel and his beautiful family - WE DONE GOOD!

CHEERLESS CITY

I had to head down to Victoria as I have been considering a change of scenery. I love city life and I feel my images portraying the human condition of city dwellers are as powerful as ever. I must admit , I was slightly taken aback at the state of homelessness in BC’s capital city. There is clearly a massive issue here due to skyrocketing rents and gentrification of the downtown core. It’s all very sad, and as I haven’t photographed here in fifteen years, I have missed the chance to help shed light of what’s happening. Much like Vancouver and other cities I have worked in across Canada, it’s time to take care of those who need help. Take the time to contact your local MP and force our powers in charge to do the right thing... taking care of people is the least they can do - it’s their bloody job!

LUSTROUS LONG-WEEKEND

What’s that... I have been working alot? No problem, let’s get out of here for the long weekend! I piled the van full of camera gear (and beer) and made my way north to the beautiful village of Tahsis BC. It’s no easy journey with over 100kms of dirt road to transverse... but what an adventure and once you reach Tahsis, you will understand why the rich and famous fly in for a taste of the outdoors. I was happy to just sit, have a beverage, watch the tide come in, make a few photos and just enjoy being in the moment. I made quite a few beautiful images and look forward to the chance to edit them and share with all of you good people of the Internet!

GRIEVANCE + GRIEF

Grief is the inevitable Human Condition that each one of us will experience at least once in our lives. Grief can be defined as the symptoms and reactions that accompany the loss of something meaningful in our lives. Sadly, it can have life altering traumatic results. Like many who have experienced endings that have caused immense pain, I too have simply asked...Why? To help understand why, I have started a photo project dedicated to loss . I always feel a tremendous sense of calm and some relief when creating photographs and I believe art (and in my case photography) will help guide me through some very difficult answers and grievances. The goal is simple - to work on a higher level of consciousness, observe my surroundings, connect with my inner feelings, hopefully learn how to forgive...and most importantly to heal.

BEFITTING BILBOARDS

It’s always great doing work for local businesses, especially within the car industry. I have found that they are always grateful for great work and always keep me in mind when something comes up. I was asked to shoot some billboard images that would promote the team and hopefully get people to actually look at a highway billboard as they passed at 120kph! I spent the afternoon working with the ‘talent’ and after some jokes to relax everybody, we got down to work making images that would be great on a twelve foot billboard. I was super happy with the results... but perhaps you can let me know what you think... next time you drive Highway 19a on Vancouver Island, keep our eyes open for my work ;)

JEEP JOYRIDE

I was at the launch of the all new seven passenger Jeep® Grand Cherokee L and what a fantastic machine! I headed out on the road with a couple team members from the local Jeep Dealer to make a bunch of promo images (and video) that could be used across multiple social platforms for ad work. We spent the afternoon enjoying the rugged sights of Northern Vancouver Island and I spent the next week editing and choosing my favorite shots. I love that so many great photos made the ‘cut’ and I have seen a tonne of social media use... now if I could only get Jeep® Canada to hire me for a national campaign ;) If you know anybody at head office... just let me know!!

MORNING COMMUTE

As I settle into life on the coast of Vancouver Island, I am blown away by how beautiful this coast line is. I have a new gig where my commute is fifty kilometers from the house, and every morning as I drive along the shore line, I have to stop at least once and make photographs. Who knows, I may become a landscape photographer yet. I don’t really have to try very hard, the scenery is stunning. I usually just shoot with my pocket camera - the Fuji X100T, but I have a number of big cameras with big lenses in my trunk and I often wonder if I should bust out the ultra wide angles and tripods. No... shooting with the Fuji is pretty pure with a single 35mm equivalent focal length, full manual controls and just me. Let’s just say I am loving my morning commute!

GLORIOUS GLASS

It’s been a while since I have treated myself to a new piece of glass. I do really try to limit my ‘gear addiction’... honestly, I have nearly all the gear a team of paparazzi could ever dream of. There are however two lenses that are on my lust list - one being a Hasselblad 40mm (an expensive bit of kit for really only fun use) and this lens I just picked up - a Nikon 14mm f2.8 ED. I promised myself I would only get this lens if the right price presented itself. Well, the right price did! This thing is stunning and tack sharp. I use a 16-35 for a lot of work, and when I need extra insane wide, I have a crazy 8mm Cine-Lens, but this distortion free 14mm has been something I have wanted for years. This weekend I played with this lens and let’s just I am completely blown away. Thank you Nikon Pro-Services :)

TRIED-N-TRUE TRANSPORT

Bread and butter time! The beauty about doing what I do is that when I need a gig, I can always fall back on photographing vehicles (or weddings or food). The world has moved online in a big way because of Covid and car dealerships have adapted to this virtual showroom world with ease. Good photographs go a long way to enticing a potential buyer to choose one dealership over another. Dealerships need good photographs. Digital merchandising that translates to lead generation and sales requires the greatest images. Product and service both have to be portrayed to build customer trust and I am always happy to provide quality images. The great thing about Vehicle Dealerships is that they always pay their bills... unlike some of the other industries I have provided photographs for!

PORTRAITIST-A-PLENTY

I shot a stack of portraits today and realized that I’m a little rusty. Not in my tech skills, but more my interaction and patter. The job today was fifty staff photos to be used on a corporate webpage and various social media channels. I had to smile to myself, because in the good ole days when I worked as a cruise ship photog, I could shoot fifty portraits in about ten minutes with one arm tied behind my back. I used to have the ‘spiel’ down to an art and get people in front of my camera to smile, relax, and just be themselves. It must be me getting older, or I have become a serious perfectionist, but I just felt that I could put some of my sitters at ease. No worries though, the images still looked fantastic and when done I packed my gear away like any other shoot!

TURKISH DAZE

It’s funny how many rolls of film I just haven’t got round to developing in 25+ years of my work. Perhaps it’s not funny Ha,Ha... but funny weird. I would ever compare myself to any other photographer, but sometimes I get a little freaked out by the Vivian Maier story and all of her undeveloped rolls of film discovered after her death. I have recently found so many rolls that I photographed between 1998 and 2000 in Turkey. Every moment I had off from my photo job at the time, I would just wander the streets with my Rolleiflex. Some of the images are really magic and I get lost in them to the point I have to remember that I actually made these pictures. I doubt I would be able to photograph the same way now because of the advent of the intrusive Instagram generation of photographers. I digress... just keep checking in with my fine art galleries for the showing of my Turkish Days...

SCIMAR SAMMIE

I was delighted to hear that a portrait from a Pre-Covid photo shoot was chosen by SciMar to be featured alongside a blog article on their website. What’s interesting is not the portrait itself, but the relationship I have with the person who is photographed! His name is Sam Hofer and he has been a great friend of mine for over thirty years now. That’s right... I have known Sam since Grade Nine! Even now so many stories flood my memories. We played High School football and Rugby together, worked various jobs together and enjoyed many a beer together. One could say that Sammie is a lifelong friend, and even when time and distance separate us, we always seem to make time to connect. Makes me think of all the portraits I have made over the years and how some people stay in touch and how some just drift away...

Read Sam's Interview

MAMIYA MAGIC

Today I decided to dust off the old Mamiya C330 and take her out for a walkabout. It’s no hype when I say there has been a ridiculous slowdown because of Covid-19 and I find myself with a few extra hours to play. What was it they say about ‘idle hands’? Not that I am complaining, I have never been so caught up on automobile and house maintenance, my computer and data systems are clean and organized, and my photo editing is now only a year behind!! ;) Seriously though, it is great to get out with some of my old cameras and enjoying making images in a creative and relaxed frame of mind...and that’s exactly what I’m heading out the door to do today. One Twin Lens Camera, 10 rolls of film, a comfy pair of boots and a day to myself.

HEDONIC TREADMILL

I am trying to sort images for my latest online photo essay that has do with Hedonism and Hedonic Adaptation. Simply put it has to do with happiness and seeking pleasure to avoid suffering. Essentially despite positive or negative events and life changes there will never be a permanent gain in happiness. I have been making images for such a long time now and many are linked to my personal highs and lows and this project started with me trying to discover my concept of the 'Happiness Set Point'. This is a fairly personal project and it is difficult due to my emotional connection to certain images... and actually trying to get the approval to allow them to be shown.

"A true saying it is, Desire hath no rest, is infinite in itself, endless, and as one calls it, a perpetual rack, or horse-mill." - Saint Augustine

REMEMBERED

My grandmother passed earlier this year. Due to the covid pandemic, travel to England was not a possibility to say goodbye. Part of life is having to say goodbye and to grieve. Life is also growing older and watching those you love age. My grandmother Muriel was 96 and she lived a beautiful life filled with travel and family. Sadly I haven’t spent as much time with my grandparents as I wanted too. Great distances separate my immediate family and we live in Canada, Mexico, UK and Australia. This past week we gathered in the flesh and digitally on the shore of the Pacific Ocean to remember my Grandma. We ate her favorite foods, drank her drinks and told her stories. I will miss her... and others who have passed from my life. We released flowers into the ocean and we read a poem that meant the world to her... xo

VENERABLE VINYL

I love all things analogue. That’s probably part of the reason I still love photographing on film. It’s September and you know what that means... World record Day! Since the annual event inaugurated in 2008, I have done my best to line up and support the local record stores I love so much. Unlike many of my age bracket, I never gave up my Vinyl collection when it fell out of fad. There is alot of talk about LPs and the quality of sound. Most of it is ‘fake-news’ by certain hipster types and marketing teams. I don’t necessarily listen for the sound (an uncompressed, lossless digital file sounds amazing on the correct equipment), but I love it more for the interaction. Touching an album, gazing at the artwork... dropping a needle on the groove, etc! I have literally worn out my copy of the latest War On Drugs album. It is much like analogue, mechanical ways of making images. Not technically better, but soulfully better.

SUN SETTLED

Wow have I ever been enjoying the Sunrise and Sunset here in my new home. I’m not really a Landscape Photographer... I think Ansel Adams had that pretty much covered a hundred years ago, but there is something to be said for just sitting on a rock by the ocean and watching it all unfold! The thing is this - I feel I can’t really do these moments any justice with my camera. They are so grand and perfect. I suppose no photograph can ever portray the actual moment and it will always be a far distant facsimile. My landscapes are just that - a facsimile documentation of the moment I experienced. I need to remember that those who view the corresponding image were not there with me... so it probably looks pretty good. A frame of reference is interesting in that way ;)

BIG MOVE

The day has come once again for a big move. Six years ago I packed everything up and moved to the most easterly point in Canada. I eventually returned to my place on the West Coast and the bustling city of Vancouver. Thing is this... the East Coast changed me (on many levels), and Vancouver no longer felt like home. Time has come to make a real home and after many visits and lovely photographic journeys to beautiful Vancouver Island we have decided to call this place home. Island Life is something special, no matter what coast you are one, but sorry Newfoundland, the West Coast has one major plus - no snow in July! The van is packed and I am looking forward to this next step in life in a wonderful place with a trusted friend. It will be a perfect home.

LOS MEXICANOS

...And it has begun! I am finally working on my latest coffee table book. It is simply titled “LOS MEXICANOS” and it will represent a twenty year retrospective of my time photographing the spirit of Mexico. The images that will become key components of this book will highlight an exciting and vibrant culture during the first two decades of this century. It will also show my personal journey as an image maker and I will include some of my early ‘serious’ photos when I decided my life would be dedicated to photography. I was lucky enough to work on both the east and westcoast of Mexico in my twenties and many of these film images will make the cut! That said, I have a huge job in front of me and the daunting task of narrowing thousands of images taken over twenty years, down to approximately one hundred and fifty... wish me luck!

HE'S VERY CLEAN!

There is exciting news on the horizon. I don't want to jinx things, but let's just say it involves packing things into boxes and moving! Not to worry...still on the West Coast of course. I have collected quite a few things during my lifetime and it seems that everything is dusty! The windows and doors in the studio are left open for much of the year and that may have something to do with it... In an attempt to get ahead of all the packing I have started on the first of my camera shelves in the office. There is loads of dust on these paperweights and it took me ages. My work cameras are always kept in their protective cases when not in use, but these display cameras are all machines that have broken, fallen, smashed, etc over the years. They may not be boxed yet, but at least they are clean.

AUTO MECHANICA

I have so many projects on the go an so little time to dedicate to them. I suppose a positive of the Covid Pandemic is that I have alot of time. It’s no secret that I love all things mechanical, and I am please to re-visit my ‘Auto-Mechanica’ project that has been on the back burner for ages (years!). I have thousands of Automobile images I am now in the process of sorting and editing. There is alot of great vintage and patina in these photos and I am looking forward to having a show dedicated to the art of autos - now if I could only secure a venue.. Coronavirus sure has changed things. Another plus is that I am actually caught up on my own vehicle maintenances. Huh, who would of thought I would run out of tinkering in the garage!

COVID CRAZY!

Ok...Enough is enough, this Covid thing is completely out of control and is not only causing the world to fall apart, but it’s affecting mental health all over the planet. Imaging a place where it is full moon all the time and then magnify that by a million. Personally, I have had to limited my consumption of the news, cancel a couple international trips and (at all costs) avoid each and every paranoid and mysophobic person I see. I’m not trying to down play the issues behind Coronavirus, but luckily here on the West Coast of Canada there has been comparatively very little infection. People have quarantined themselves if there has been any potential virus contact... yet the crazies are walking around in body condoms and quoting scripture. I can’t wait for normal to return...

FIENDISH FILM

Taking advantage of all the downtime due to the Covid-19 shutdown, I decided to spend a few moments in the darkroom and get caught up on my film development. Although I ordered new dry chemicals out of New York, (they haven’t arrived at the time of writing this) so I only had enough to mix up a gallon of Developer and a gallon of Fixer. It’s enough to process some 120 film that I have been sitting on. Making images on film is such magic and it’s truly amazing to see all of these moments come alive in the form of negatives. So many moments on rolls of film. Some beautiful, some ugly... some happy and some sad, but they are all perfect. When my inventory of processing chemicals I can tackle some of my 35mm stuff!

BRITISH BROWNIE

Speaking of film, I am really happy with the latest edition to my camera collection... an original Ensign Ful-Vue box brownie camera from the thirties. I have a really soft spot for vintage and antique film cameras, and many have been added to my camera family over the years. I even still use a few of these cameras to make stunning images! I have been on the look out for one of these early Ensign cameras. These are great little British cameras with only a single shutter speed of 1/30sec, one F-Stop of 11 and a super bright finder, and unlike most box brownies, the most important feature of this camera is the use of120 film and 6x6 square format! I found this particular camera on-line in Greece and let's just say I'm 'well chuffed'.

CORONAVIRUS

Things are going slightly mad in the world... and people are scared. Everywhere I have visited in the last few weeks has been in ‘Shutdown Mode’. The journey away from the city highlighted how crazy things are getting. Rules about when and where you can go, supply chains breaking down giving us empty shelves and a general mistrust of your fellow man. Sadly there is alot of misinformation from misinformed organizations and people who can’t seem to turn off the news. It’s pretty simple, wash your hands regularly, avoid contact with communal things like dirty door knobs and if you are sick - STAY HOME! Do your part to be part of the solution and hopefully life will return to some sense of normality.

OUTTA HERE!

The world is falling apart... or so the news says? Coronavirus is shutting down the planet and people are wearing any kind of mask they can find. Time to 'get outta Dodge' or something like that. Vancouver is getting really weird around Covid-19 and there has even been panic buying of Toilet Paper (even though the virus symptoms have nothing to do with that end!) Well... gas prices are the lowest they have been in nearly a decade, so time for a surprise photo road trip away from all the city doom and gloom. Where to on the map? How about Highway 3 and up into the Rocky Mountains for a couple weeks :)

PORTRAIT OF...

I picked up a few new books this week to add to my library. One book was a great find in a small used bookshop about my favorite photographer - Diane Arbus. It’s funny how many millennial photographers no nothing about the history of the medium. That is another discussion, but most have no idea the photographic path that the art has taken over the last 120 years. I love the work of many photographers, but Diane Arbus’s work just connects with me. She often photographed people on the fringes of society always probing the questions of identity. She used a TLR and her images were not about the ‘tech’ but about the moment. I highly recommend reading about her! “A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you the less you know - DA”

ISLA BONITA

I love Vancouver Island...there, I said it and any chance to head over and enjoy the Island lifestyle, I am in! It is a wonderful place and like all of the islands of the coast of BC it has such a chilled vibe, that you can’t help but relax. A full tank of gas in the van and over on the ferry for a few days to check out a few of the places on the Eastern Coast. So many great places to ‘renegade’ camp and I made some amazing images. I particularly loved Cumberland and had a fantastic coffee there. So many quirky little places all along the coastal road, but the winner was a crazy Bric-à-Brac shop in Campbell River with all sorts of things and a surprisingly great selection of antique cameras. !

ELAPSED ENTRY

Time is a difficult concept... especially when associated with photography and memories. I have found myself with the luxury of time on my hands and have decided to revisit over twenty five years worth of my analogue imagery. It is time to properly go through thousands of negatives and prints and digitize my archive. This is no small endeavor, and many of the images were personally important when I made them. I did attempt this a few years ago, but sadly circumstances brought everything to a halt. I am now ready to catalogue and clean up my photo past so I can concentrate on the future and all it brings. It is time to “Enter at Own Risk”

RENO-TASTIC

Last week I had the chance to photograph a couple of properties for a boutique renovation company here in Vancouver. Although I have shot quite a lot for the Real Estate pros, I had never made images for renovation contractors. I have got to say it was great! To meet the craftsman who actually do the work on these million dollar properties and feel the pride as they point out the finer details and the technical challenges was a real eye opener for me. It never occurred to me how much work goes into altering properties in downtown Vancouver’s high-rise market! Thanks to James and Owen for the gig and I look forward to your next impressive project!

HUMONGOUS!

I was unpacking a few boxes the other the other day and I came across some light modifiers I bought about 5 years ago and never used! All my studio lighting schemes are produced from a combination of up to five strobes and various softboxes, reflectors and umbrellas. Pretty simple stuff really... but I always think my softboxes are too small. Don’t get me wrong, they are great for food and product images, but I always feel my portraits have odd rectangular catchlights. Long story short, I bought this 60” Octabox but never got round to using it and it was packed when I moved across the country. There it stayed until this week... It’s amazing... and humongous!

PORTLANDIA

I was treated to a lovely gift by somebody very important to me... a week away in one of my favorite cities - Portland. It has been years since my last visit, but Portland always has a special part in my heart. It is a place one to itself with a unique style and thriving art culture... and my favorite book store on the planet - Powell’s (Google it)! Off in the mighty Vandura we made our way down Highway 101 and the rugged Oregon Coast. I made loads of images as we our way through Olympia, Astoria and Long Beach. Patina and genuine people, Shipwrecks and craft beer the journey unfolded in front of my camera. The USA does some things so well...and some not.