Toronto Portrait Photographer

Elegance

2011-11-04T15:05:00.003-04:00

You can click on the image to enlarge.

Holiday Weekend Time

2011-07-29T13:39:00.004-04:00

The Intersection

2011-07-01T17:12:00.001-04:00

Andy

2011-06-14T14:47:00.002-04:00

Andy is a neighbour of mine and I snapped his picture only because even at eighty-plus years old he still has movie star hair. He also has over five thousand tracks on his iPod which is really pretty impressive.

Always Ready For A Rainy Day

2011-05-23T13:20:00.002-04:00

The Master, the Dog, and the Car

2011-05-16T12:23:00.001-04:00

Let His People Go

2011-04-18T09:12:00.005-04:00

I thought this was seasonally-appropriate. Wishing everyone a Happy Passover and Easter.

Opera-Goers

2011-04-04T11:47:00.001-04:00

At the Four Seasons Centre in Toronto during Nixon in China.

Hide and Seek

2011-03-14T11:40:00.008-04:00

The Spy

2011-02-24T09:34:00.003-05:00

Mystery Girl

2011-02-11T16:11:00.004-05:00

The Exorcist On His Day Off

2011-01-04T10:46:00.003-05:00

After and Before

2010-12-13T15:14:00.002-05:00

Winter in TO

2010-11-30T11:31:00.002-05:00

Yes, the ice and snow and freezing cold are coming to Toronto. Don't worry though, the nightmare will be all over in nine or ten months.

Ladies

2010-11-21T12:37:00.002-05:00

Doggies: A Study in Contrasts

2010-11-01T14:16:00.004-04:00

Nobody likes to be upstaged.

Foot Traffic

2010-10-22T10:46:00.002-04:00

Zen Thanksgiving

2010-10-11T12:16:00.004-04:00

Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon

2010-09-26T14:26:00.006-04:00

There were several distances being run this morning including a full marathon. I'm not sure which these folks were in but they're all tougher than I am. Click on these to enlarge if you want a better view.

Phoning in When You Spot Godzilla

2010-09-20T10:26:00.002-04:00

Getting Used to Tyranny at a Young Age

2010-09-14T18:53:00.002-04:00

Hall of Mirrors

2010-09-11T10:54:00.003-04:00

How To Tell Your Camera Stinks

2010-09-07T13:14:00.001-04:00

Melissa and Ian's Engagement

2010-08-31T16:15:00.006-04:00

Yes, perseverance pays off. After two previous rainouts on the same day (don't ask) we managed to finally do Melissa and Ian's engagement session. They were lots of fun which always makes things easier, and their good friend Katlyn assisted which made things easier still. The less work I have to do the better!

Congratulations, guys!

Everyone Wants To Mail Their First Letter

2010-08-30T10:42:00.003-04:00

Looking Forward, Looking Back

2010-08-28T17:08:00.003-04:00

Good Deed for the Day

2010-07-24T12:35:00.003-04:00

How cool is this. A vision-impaired gentleman getting some assistance for a morning jog.

Wait. You didn't think I'd done something good, did you? Really, you should know better.

G20 Re Re Re Redux

2010-07-12T14:15:00.004-04:00

These pics are from yesterday, two full weeks after the G20 when we all saw this Starbucks and TD Bank branch get vandalized. Which inspires our first-ever poll. What do you think? These windows haven't been fixed yet because:

a) Now that they've seen the place this way they kind of like it.
b) So many windows were broken by the protesters the window-fixing guy hasn't had time to come by yet.
c) The window-fixing guy is on vacation.
d) The building managers are just completely incompetent.
e) They're waiting for all the windows to break so they can replace them all at once.

Feel free to email your answers or any other explanations or guesses.

World Cup Final 2010 Hysteria

2010-07-11T14:54:00.004-04:00

An actual shot of me heading a soccer ball. Or is it a trick? I'll never tell. And yes I know lots of folks are big soccer ('football') fans but the psychic octopus predicts that no matter who wins today I won't care.

When You Don't Gotta Wear Shades

2010-07-01T13:37:00.002-04:00

Marta Live at The Press Club

2010-06-14T12:10:00.004-04:00

Just a shot of Marta and her band performing at The Press Club last week. Be sure to click on the image to enlarge and get the full effect.

Becel Ride For Heart

2010-06-06T11:50:00.005-04:00

I drove by and thought this was some kind of test run for how we'll all live after the HST goes into effect. It turns out though it's a charity event. I thought it was a cool pic.

Click to enlarge to find yourself or someone you know.

Henry's Photo Show, 2010

2010-05-15T11:40:00.013-04:00

Like I've said before I really don't like to do tech reviews here because it's stuff most people just don't care about, and shouldn't care about, but I did drop by Henry's Photographic, Video and Digital Imaging Show yesterday at the International Centre near the airport.

They let you bring in your own camera equipment but be forewarned that they check the serial numbers at the door and if you didn't buy your lens at Henry's they set it on fire and then toss it around.

Okay, I'm making that up. They did have a display where you can check out all kinds of lenses, including this massive Nikon 600mm.

For lonely and/or creepy middle-aged male photographers they also had a couple of model shoots all pre-lit and set up so you can fire off shots of your own. I've thoughtfully cropped these so you can see that there's stuff behind the backdrop.

They also offer classes on how to use an iMac, and these were very popular so get there early and reserve a spot if you're interested.

The only sort of tech review I will offer is that I tried out the new Sony Nex cameras. These are digital minicams that shoot HD video and also use interchangable lenses along with a detachable flash and viewfinder. The shutter lag on these seems to be all but non-existent, shutter lag being a continuing problem with all small digital cameras, especially if you're taking shots of people. Though I only played with them a few minutes they seemed pretty impressive. They won't be available till June.

Henry's show runs the rest of the weekend.

The Green Living Show's Coolest Stuff

2010-04-23T19:01:00.013-04:00

Earlier today I swung down to check out the show at Toronto's Direct Energy Centre. I promised I'd report on the organic wine, but it turns out they were only offering serious wine tastings. Tickets are required and even with a media pass there's no way to just drop in and get a little sip. When I found this out I'll admit I began to lose all interest in saving the environment...that is until I met the organic beer exhibitor!!

This was Nickel Brook Beer. I think it's even possible this guy is the owner, but I had trouble following what he was saying because the beer was so good. I got a sample of the organic lager and all joking aside, I'm a pretty knowledgeable beer connoisseur and this is good beer. Very crisp and full. It's available now at the LCBO and will be at the Brewer's Retail in a few months.

After some beer I had a powerful urge to drive. And very fast. But in keeping with the spirit of the occasion I wanted to limit myself to electric cars only. Where was I going to find a really, fast electric car?

Yup, that's the famous Tesla Roadster all right. You can see even now it's plugged in and getting juiced up. I asked nicely several times and then got pretty threatening but they wouldn't let me drive it.

So what other green issues do I care about besides beer and sports cars? Chocolate!

This is Zoe from Genuine Health purposely doing an impression of an overenthusiastic product spokesperson. In real life she was very charming and let me have some tiny chocolates that are designed to improve skin tone and are choco-filled with antioxidants. They were chocolate though, and I decided I needed something a little less decadent.

I saw a very button-downed, uptight businessman and asked him where I should go.

He was nice but had no suggestions. Next I found Ladan here...

She was nice too, and the proof is she's a photographer which by definition makes her a good person. It also turns out she and her husband make these awesome organic food bars that sell under the name Taste of Nature. They come in all sorts of exotic flavours.

There were other products I liked. Bee's Wax candles from Clapham's in BC...

I love hot, spicy food and there was excellent hot sauce made and demonstrated by Hot Mamas. It's not just hot, it's salt-free, which is pretty unique I think.

And just so you don't think I'm all frivolous, here are two beekeepers.

They were from the Toronto Beekeepers Cooperative. They told me about a couple of causes one of which was Not Far From the Tree. What these folks do is help you tend fruit trees in your backyard so the fruit can be harvested and distributed instead of simply wasted. I can remember that the plums in my backyard as a kid usually went to waste so this seems like an awfully cool idea.

I tend to walk around pretty haphazardly at these events so realize this is by no means an exhaustive or scientific list of the good things at the show. It runs the rest of the weekend. Don't miss it!

This Coming Weekend...

2010-04-20T11:59:00.004-04:00

I'll be taking pics and generally soaking up the atmosphere at the Green Living Show. It's being held at the Direct Energy Centre, April 23-25; tickets are $12 and it's easy to get to by public transit.

Be sure to definitely check it out. Look for me mostly around the organic wine booths....

Pulitzer Prize-Winning Photos 2010

2010-04-13T15:37:00.002-04:00

If you don't know, the Pulitzer prizes for photography are split into two categories, which are Feature Photography and Breaking News Photography, which in plain English means one winner is a series and the other an image of a single dramatic moment.

I can't show any of the images here because, um, I'll be sued into the next millennium, but you can see the Feature winner at the Pulitzer site; same is true of the Breaking News. I warn you though if you don't like sad stories don't read the caption on the Breaking News image too closely.

Photographers in the Sewer

2010-04-06T14:30:00.002-04:00

An interesting article in the Toronto Star today that's gotten lots of play. Two photographers were arrested in the west end for walking around in the sewer system. Insert your own photography joke but they're actually a couple of 'urban explorers', that is guys who check out abandoned buildings and infrastructure like tunnels and, well, um, sewers.

I actually learned by accident years ago that Toronto is pretty much considered the urban explorer capitol of the world. The craze was started by the late Jeff Chapman (AKA Ninjalicious) who published the underground and online magazine Infiltration. It's pretty a fascinating pursuit actually. Personally though my idea of exploration is trying to find stuff in my closet. That's exciting enough for me.

Easter Parade in Eastern Toronto

2010-04-05T11:11:00.017-04:00

When I think of an Easter Parade I think of this. Somehow when I was growing up I never even heard of Toronto's Easter Parade, so when I found out there is one we went down Sunday afternoon to check it out. The parade is organized by the Toronto Beaches Lion's Club.

It was lots of fun. Near the beginning came the Easter Bunny himself. He was surrounded by nearly a dozen very aggressive, gun-toting bodyguards...

There were several antique and classic emergency vehicles...

Somehow I remember Blinky being better than this...

There was also a lone Harlem Globetrotter...

Various dogs...

Lots of beauty queens...

And since there were voters at the parade the politicians showed up as well...

I think most people thought the Shriners stole the show. Not only did they have the loudest music, they danced. No video, sorry.

Check it out next year!!

Peter Gowland RIP

2010-04-03T17:00:00.004-04:00

Though most people probably never heard of him, photographer Peter Gowland died this past week at age 93. Here's an excellent obituary in the New York Times.

He was a great photographer most famous for his pin-up shots (some of which aren't family friendly) but I first heard of him because he designed his own cameras. If you want to buy something for someone you know who has everything then get them a Gowlandflex camera. But be warned that they ain't cheap.

As the only (non-copyrighted) image I could find suggests: Peter Gowland started life as an actor. In fact he appeared in 'Citizen Kane'! How cool is that?

Cosmo Music in Richmond Hill

2010-03-20T14:41:00.004-04:00

I never talk about equipment or technical information on here because really, who would care except for a bunch of other photographers?

Guitar stuff is different.

After a great deal of hemming and hawing I decided to buy a new electric guitar and amp for the first time in quite awhile. I settled for an Epiphone Les Paul and a Fender VibroChamp XD. If you're a real guitar geek you'll think my choice of guitar is way too low end but it sounds great and is amazingly well intonated, which if you don't know basically means it plays in tune. What's more if you light it properly it looks really cool and mysterious, as you can see above. Yup, that's my actual guitar.

As for the amp, it's a small tube/solid state hybrid which is a relatively new kind of design. It sounds very warm and 'up front' as they say.

I bought this stuff at Cosmo Music and thought I'd give them a plug because they offered some useful advice and didn't high pressure me or sneer when I ended up buying a guitar that's not close to being the most expensive you can get. Not only do they have tons of guitars of every type they have keyboards, drums, brass and woodwind instruments, you name it.

No, they didn't give me the guitar and amp for free in exchange for this post. Of course if they want to give me another guitar....

A Toronto Photographer's Guide to Toronto Photographers

2010-03-15T13:29:00.005-04:00

If you have a special occasion to commemorate, want a great image of the family, what have you, choosing a photographer can be a difficult decision. At various times clients have told me horror stories about other photographers they've hired who didn't turn out to be quite as good as they'd hoped. Now, gleaned from this real eyewitness testimony and purely as a public service, I offer a few ways you can be sure the photographer you've hired (or are about to) may not be right for the job:

1) The word 'photographer' is misspelled on his website.
2) When you call to make a booking he asks if he can borrow your camera for the shoot.
3) He admits he really hates children but will take a picture of your kids anyhow.
4) He insists on appearing beside you in all of your photographs.
5) He actually says 'Say Cheese' before he snaps each image.
6) One of his relatives is a Nigerian prince who needs your help.
7) He charges extra for focusing.
8) It's an engagement shoot and he tells the bride-to-be she could do better.
9) He claims a one-year delivery time for prints is 'industry standard'.

Spotting even one of these danger signs could mean you have a real problem. But always remember that most professional photographers really do a great job and that they can capture images you simply couldn't get any other way.

Staring at Condiments

2010-03-10T11:29:00.004-05:00

Heck, I took this picture and I'm not even sure what this person is doing. Is she actually staring at the condiments, unsure which to get? Is she cold and leeching off the hot dog vendor's warmth? Is he refusing to serve her? Is she just shy?

A Seminar From Jeff Vespa

2010-03-08T09:40:00.005-05:00

I missed this when it first hit the internets...my old buddy Jeff Vespa doing a seminar on how celebrity photographs are retouched. You didn't know they retouched those things? Yes, it's true. And there is no Santa Claus. Hate to break it to you.

If you're interested you can also see some of Jeff's very own celebrity images.

Massage Chair Only For Massaging Customers

2010-03-05T17:25:00.003-05:00

Your friendly neighborhood photographer had a large bedspread that just wouldn't fit into his washing machine, so he went to his friendly neighborhood laundromat to use one of their industrial-sized machines. Not only was the laundromat staff actually friendly they had wi-fi (!) and this nifty chair. There are some things no photographer can resist. And I beg you, if you aren't a customer of this laundromat, please don't go there to get a massage in this chair. You can sit in it, but no massage.

Here's the link if you're interested in purchasing a massage chair of your own.

Environmentally-Friendly Transportation: Two Styles

2010-03-03T15:32:00.003-05:00

I don't have any smartass comment to make about this. I just thought this lady was very sweet...and clearly a real trooper.

Canadians Are Worlds

2010-03-02T14:30:00.007-05:00

The question is, Canadians Are Worlds what? I see a sign like the one at the top left and get worried that I'm no longer hip, that I'm supposed to understand what this sign means and that all the cool kids probably do. I haven't been back to Dundas Square to see if maybe this was an unfinished sign so I just don't know. It's a total enigma.

Okay, you caught me, I really took this because I thought the cowboy in the body paint was pretty cool. He looks like he should have maybe been in the closing ceremonies of the Olympics. Plus he looks good in black and white.

North Toronto Collegiate Institute: Just So Much Garbage

2010-03-01T14:27:00.002-05:00

Before anyone sends any irate emails about the title of this post please note that I went to North Toronto myself and I even graduated and everything. I just happened to be passing by and thought what you're seeing above was really sad. I had to take a picture. I'll never post anything arty again, I promise.

For those who don't know, apparently the school will remain functioning in the future but will be located in the basement or parking garage of a condo. I'm not sure of the details. No matter what though it really is sad. It's like if Upper Canada College was turned into a skateboard park. Which actually sounds like a good idea now that I think of it.

Maternal Protection in a Cold, Cruel World

2010-02-27T14:55:00.001-05:00

I hate when people start a presentation by reading a definition from the dictionary. As in, "Webster's dictionary defines productivity as the art or act of being productive." Not very helpful, is it? No. But today I'm going to start with a definition. Call me a hypocrite if you must.

I think we can all agree that a portrait is a picture of somebody. Right? Well, I thought I'd start posting some pictures of people that I've taken which aren't standard 'portraits', but are portraits because they're pictures of people.

You follow? Man I have a way with words.

Michelle Quance Rocks

2010-02-26T13:06:00.001-05:00

Yes, sometimes I still shoot film (remember film?) and this week I dropped by my friendly neighborhood black and white lab here in Toronto, the conveniently named Toronto Black and White. There was a great print on the wall and I asked, Who did that?

Michelle Quance was the answer.

This was actually the second time I'd asked about a cool print at the lab, and the other time it had been done by Michelle Quance as well. I'd even looked her up on the interweb that other time and seen there was lots of fine work on her site, but after that I forgot the name. As anyone who knows me can tell you I have a terrible memory for names. I can remember the scores of Blue Jays' games from ten years ago, but names? Nope. It's a bad habit I admit. I'm sorry about it.

Anyhow, this past week after visiting Toronto Black and White and re-learning the name I googled up Michelle Quance again, and what did I see, besides her (still very impressive) site? A just-posted review of Michelle's work by a disgruntled consumer, saying she was bad, bad, bad, extremely bad, possibly a member of Al Qaeda and really just generally bad. The review was on several sites but always worded exactly the same way and so clearly written by exactly one person. A person who didn't even have the courage to post a name and was complaining just this week about work done three years ago.

That's unfair.

No one likes the internet more than me, especially all that music I illegally download (whoops, ignore that). But when someone posts anonymous ancient complaints it's awfully suspicious. Of course I can't tell you the circumstances of a photo shoot done three years ago by someone else however I can tell you that photographers don't go around inquiring about other photographer's work very often. Especially not twice. Consider that if you read the complaint about Michelle's work somewhere on the 'net, and consider that this is coming from a potential rival. Except for the weddings part, because, well, I don't do those. They make me cry.

And please don't mention to anyone about the music stuff.

Animation Birthdays at the NFB in Toronto

2010-02-22T15:32:00.000-05:00

Boy, they never had anything this cool when I was a kid. If you want a great idea for a kid's birthday consider an 'animation party' at the NFB in downtown Toronto. All the partygoers get to make (and keep) their own plasticine characters and shoot them using stop motion photography. By the end of the party the kids have created their own short animated film. It may sound a little technical, but the whole process is explained and overseen by NFB staff in a way that kids can follow no problem.

First there's the character construction....

You end up with characters that may or may not look something like this...

Then you place the characters on a tiny animation background moving them a little at a time, shooting them frame-by-frame...

You're almost certain to end up with a great (and possible hilarious) animated flick. Of course since these are birthday parties you shouldn't forget the birthday part of the party at the end...
You can get more details and info on how to book by checking out this page at the NFB's site.

Taking Photographs of the Olympic Flame

2010-02-18T10:46:00.002-05:00

So apparently they had the Olympic flame in Vancouver incarcerated in a prison camp-like compound and now they've fixed it so you can get a picture. I personally think there's a much bigger problem with this flame design, namely that it looks exactly like something from the Fortress of Solitude. Does Superman have a copyright infringement attorney? Anyway, the flame imprisonment hasn't even been the only problem in Vancouver, some are saying it's the worst Olympics ever, and the ratings have been poor, with NBC's broadcast of the games actually losing to American Idol.

In the hope that these problems can be turned around in the remaining week or so of this year's Winter Games, and that future competitions will run more smoothly, I humbly offer the following suggestions:

1. Anything with judges is not a sport. I know a lot of people like figure skating and stuff like that, but athletic competition is about winning, not about looking as if you've won. Did anyone ever say, "Favre has thrown a touchdown that could have won the game, but the judges awarded him only five points because he threw off his back foot!" Or that Gretzky didn't deserve an assist because he didn't spin the right way? Get rid of all the judges. The only exception would be the snowboarding halfpipe, because, let's face it, that's cool.

2. All the skating events should be full contact sports. This way you can keep figure skating, the competitors can do whatever fancy moves they want but there will always be one other skater or pair on the ice at the same time who get to knock them down. Whoever's still standing at the end wins, and that's how you know who won, no confusion possible. Imagine how great speed skating would be with full contact, especially in the distance events where they cross over from inside to outside once per lap. They should be able to whack the hell out of each other at that point. All of these changes would be sure winners for TV ratings.

3. You know that weird sport, the biathlon, where they ski and shoot at targets? That's good as far as it goes, but it should be modernized so the competitors also carry hand grenades and use them to completely obliterate the targets after they hit them with a rifle shot. Mortars wouldn't hurt either.

4. VANOC? In case you don't know that's the acronym of the Vancouver Organizing Committee of the Olympic games. Who thought of that exactly? It sounds like the name of a military junta in Myanmar. Change that. It's Vancouver, the west coast, right? How about The Olympic Organizing Dudes, or TOOD. As in, we have a really relaxed TOOD.

5. The Olympics is all a sham, we all know that, none of the athletes are amateurs at all, they're paid by their country or some corporate sponsor. There's nothing wrong with that, but if it's going to be pro sports, let's make it pro sports. You should be able to trade Olympic athletes just like you trade guys in hockey and baseball. Some of our winter athletes aren't cutting the mustard? Trade them to Djibouti or Kenya where no matter how bad they are at winter sports they'll be the best in the country. In exchange Canada gets some middle and long distance runners for the summer games. It's win-win. Plus it advances the mission of the Olympic games to foster international understanding and will allow greedy sports agents to get involved, which is always fun to read about.

I don't see a downside to any of these suggestions. Write your MP today. Flood them all with emails. You know what to do.

How To Die Onstage in Ten Easy Steps....

2010-02-10T09:47:00.001-05:00

Just a quick note that my old pal comedian Mike Buzzelli is now writing a weekly humor column south of the border. Check out the first one. He really is a funny guy...even though he's from Pittsburgh. Or maybe because he's from Pittsburgh.

Also check his jokes about Snapple. That's right, Snapple.

Recycling Sports Apparel in Toronto to Make Some Very Cool Stuff

2010-01-30T12:46:00.000-05:00

I don't do tons of commercial photography but I did shoot the merchandise that's made by my friends Mutsumi and Lisa for their new venture Sureman36. What does Sureman36 do? They take old and used items like hockey jerseys, soccer jerseys and socks to make stuff that's cool and must-have. The pillows you see above are their specialty but they make lots of other items too, like skate guards and those all-important tush cushions for cold hockey auditorium seats. Check out their site to see what two entrepreneurial moms can do.

If you want to see the goods in person they're also available at the Leaside Arena Hockey Shop which is open weekends 8am-8pm and evenings Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Let me also say on a personal note that during the photo shoot all the merchandise was very well behaved and highly professional. I'd be happy to work with any of it again.

Toronto Author D.J. McIntosh

2010-01-06T12:19:00.001-05:00

D. J. McIntosh is the former co-editor of Fingerprints, newsletter of the Crime Writers of Canada. On a very cold (cold) day I grabbed the publicity shots and back cover photo for her upcoming novel The Witch of Bablylon, already sold in no less than seven countries. It's the first of an entire Mesopotamian trilogy, a thriller that delves into the aftermath of the looting of the Baghdad museum. You can read more about it by clicking here.

Sadly it's a little too early to order a copy because the novel isn't due to drop until April 2011, but make a little note in the back of your mind, or better yet write and/or carve something on your hand. The Witch of Babylon will be published around these parts by Penguin Canada.

And please, if you know Oprah, mention the book to her. She'd love it.

Marta Playing Tonight Only on Queen West

2009-12-05T12:27:00.000-05:00

Alt-country singer Marta will be playing tonight at Cameron House, 408 Queen West in Toronto, circa 10.00 PM. You can see her website here. And in honour of tonight's performance here's a whole Marta gallery!

The 'Sure Man' Event

2009-11-30T12:56:00.000-05:00

As fans of this blog know, our friend Milos Divic passed away suddenly this past summer. Saturday night a benefit concert and silent auction was held at the William Lea Room with the proceeds going to the RESP's of Milos' sons Stefan and Kenzo as well as the ICU of St. Michael's Hospital. Kudos to Paul Flint, James Ross, John Fleck, Marc Jamieson, Mark Daprato, Jimmy Johnson, Kelly Moorhead and Lisa Cruikshanks for their hard work and dedication in putting it all together. The bands were Rotary Phone (yup, that's their name) and of course, the newly re-formed Pottery Road. Collectively they pretty much managed to blow the roof off the joint.

And yes, 'sure man' was one of Milos' favourite expressions.

Yes, Christmas is Coming to Toronto

2009-11-19T11:50:00.000-05:00

The ~~most stressful~~ happiest time of year is quickly sneaking up on all of us, and everyone's starting to wonder wistfully what presents they're going to be giving and receiving. If you are planning to get a holiday portrait of that special someone or the whole family before the end of the year, please consider making a booking as soon as you can. Just as there are only so many toys in Santa's sleigh there are only so many slots this time of year and I have to yet figure out how to clone myself (though I'm working on that). Call early so I don't have to play the Grinch.

YIPPEE!!

2009-11-14T16:05:00.001-05:00

The new site is working...at least for now. More improvements will be on the way.

Sure, why not go look.

WHOOPS!

2009-11-13T10:35:00.005-05:00

If you've been redirected here it looks like my gallery site is closed for maintenance. Rest assured the Jedi Kittens will have things running soon. Please check back in a few minutes.

Gulu Walk Toronto, 2009

2009-10-26T12:25:00.000-04:00

What's Gulu Walk? You can read about it here. Toronto's walk on Saturday was one of over seventy held in sixteen countries, all inspired and organized by Kieran Hayward and our friend Adrian Bradbury, both of Athletes for Africa fame. Saturday's walk was attended by young and old, many altruistic canines, a few ex-pat Ugandans and some of Toronto's finest to provide much needed traffic control. Oh, and the guy in the pink was dressed that way for a fund-raising stunt. Honest...

And speaking of fund-raising, you can still donate without walking any farther than your computer or the post office.

Model Portfolios

2009-10-22T11:29:00.001-04:00

I don't shoot a lot of model portfolios, but that doesn't mean I can't be convinced. I'm especially interested in any ideas with a unique theme or storytelling aspect. If you're building a port and are thinking of something a little offbeat give me a call.

And what's the theme here? Looking cool I guess. But really, I just like this image.

What Looks Best?

2009-10-13T11:48:00.002-04:00

As nasty subzero weather descends on Toronto in the middle of October, I'd say if you want swimsuit shots of yourself on the beach your timing is a little off. But any time of year or in any location certain types of wardrobe are going to look better depending on your skin complection and hair colour and the style of shot you've requested.

Like any professional photographer, I can always offer advice about what's going to work and what isn't so you're well prepared. The shot above for example would have looked much different (and would be less effective) if our subject had been wearing a light top instead of a dark one.

Marta and Brazen Angelz Live Tonight

2009-10-01T16:23:00.001-04:00

A perenial favourite at Toronto Portrait, Marta will be playing tonight at Revival on College Street, opening for Brazen Angelz who are launching their new album. You can buy or check it out here.

And I'm pretty sure that's an all-time record for links in one paragraph. I'll have to check with the staff.

In any case, if you have the time, check out the show.

Tokyo Camera Style

2009-09-25T13:44:00.001-04:00

For those of you who like, love or are addicted to cameras (not that I would know anything about that), or if you'd like a look at a different culture where it's quite normal for folks to walk about on the street with big (film!) cameras around their neck, check the site Tokyo Camera Style. Literally it just shows images of cameras found on the streets of Tokyo. I'll have to admit that when I first found it I went through all forty-plus odd pages at one sitting. Yikes!

Additional Print Of Milos Available

2009-09-23T12:24:00.000-04:00

Because even now there are folks checking here looking for something about the loss of our friend Milos (I can tell you're doing this, I'm watching you), I've made one more print of the Rock On Against Cancer event available for anyone who would like to download and print it. Simply follow this link, but please remember to contribute to the fund for Stephan and Kenzo if you do so.

And be sure to follow the download instructions exactly!!

New iPhone App from Chase Jarvis

2009-09-22T16:59:00.001-04:00

Super photographer Chase Jarvis, whom I've mentioned before, has just released an iPhone app that allows you to modify iPhone pics as well as post and share them online. This is not some kind of arcane app only for professional photographers, it's for anyone who likes snapping some shots on their iPhone and fiddling around with them. If this is you then check it out.

Corporate Portraits

2009-09-17T12:22:00.001-04:00

Pictured above is entrepreneur and organic pesticide pioneer Bob Cameron. He looks like he's won a few Nobel prizes, doesn't he? But the picture below is also entrepreneur and organic pesticide pioneer Bob Cameron.

If you need portraits for a company website or publication it's important that they look professional and match your corporate identity. And if you run your own business any corporate images should reflect your personality too, because, really, you are the business.

My rates for corporate portraits vary based on the job but are very reasonable when compared to some of the competition.

Headshots

2009-09-14T12:31:00.010-04:00

If you're a working or aspiring actor in Toronto for theatre, television, commercials or film, you know you need a great headshot. I can help you.

In a previous life (or, okay, it was the same life) I worked on a lot of independent features and I've sat in on many casting sessions. I know a lot of actors don't ever get to read because they just don't have a good headshot. Here's where I can really be of help because I know exactly what jumps out to casting agents and production staff, I know what sort of headshot grabs them because I've been right there when they made decisions. And because I've worked extensively with actors I can work with you to produce just the sort of headshots you deserve.

It goes without saying your shots will be of the highest technical quality, bordered to your specifications and printed with your name. I offer a CD that you can use to print headshots on demand or I can have everything printed for you. Best of all my prices are very reasonable.

Geometry

2009-09-12T11:27:00.000-04:00

I always did pretty poorly in math once I got to high school (though I aced physics--go figure). What does that have to do with anything? Well, I just thought I'd repost this image for Saturday because I do like how it seems to have a flowing abstract almost geometric quality to it. Some shots just work and that's all there is to it.

TIFF and the Paparazzi

2009-09-11T10:00:00.001-04:00

Last night the Toronto International Film Festival got underway. That means ten days or so of flicks from all around the world and also celebrities, celebrities, celebrities. And with the celebrities of course come the dreaded and evil hordes of the paparazzi with their fangs, horns and fire-belching flash attachments.

At least that's what a lot of people think, and there's been countless portrayals in movies and on TV to make it seem like it has to be so. While I don't doubt that some paparazzi are indeed incredible jerks, I actually have met and studied them in their natural habitat, and I even know the official photographer of TIFF, Jeff Vespa, who started out life as a lowly paparazzi himself. And not only is he an excellent photographer, he's a nice guy, so if you see some paparazzi lingering about the city in the next few days, don't automatically assume they're all bad guys. Most are just trying to make a living.

I'll even confess that I've taken shots of celebrities myself. So now you've caught me!

The Maple Leafs 2009-2010

2009-09-10T10:28:00.001-04:00

I've thought before of having a contest where people guess what a subject was thinking about at the exact moment a portrait was taken. An enigmatic smile can be read a million different ways so I thought such a contest might be interesting.

Then for some reason I got the idea for another contest (and yes, I should probably stop thinking about contests). What if (my idea went) people tried to guess what someone absolutely wasn't thinking about at the instant the shutter fired? And in this case you already have the answer: the Leafs upcoming season. My client just looks way too happy for that.

Yes, I win.

International Bacon Day

2009-09-09T11:30:00.000-04:00

I foolishly missed this holiday, the new International Bacon Day, which is now celebrated in at least half a dozen countries. If you want to start getting ready for next year the holiday is observed on the Saturday before Labour Day.

I only bring it up because a buddy of mine, Toronto marketing guru Neil Murchison, has created The Bacon Song. If you're a vegetarian you probably shouldn't watch.

Back to School

2009-09-08T12:19:00.003-04:00

Sadly, yes, it's back to school once again in Toronto and just about everywhere else, and all the kids entering junior high and high school are terrified that they're going to be beat up. And if it's back to school it also means those dreaded school photos must be just around the corner, the ones they inevitably make you do right after gym class.

Of course those may be fine for the mugshot-sized shot everyone gets in the yearbook, but to kick off this term consider getting something a little more personalized and of genuine quality. The school years don't last long and they need to be remembered.

Stylized

2009-09-03T10:06:00.001-04:00

Some people prefer a more stylized look. As always, if you want to try something a little different, just ask.

This kind of black and white image is perfect for a digital fibre based print.

A Good Portrait Photography Lesson

2009-08-27T14:42:00.002-04:00

Of course everyone knows the customer is always right (except maybe Rogers), but what if you have two customers? Who's right then?

I was hired to take a portrait of Paul here (the man) along with Sam (the dog). Here's the image Sam liked best:

It's a little hard to see in this small version (you can click to enlarge) but Sam's thinking was that he looked kind of cute with just the one eye open and that in black and white the white of his eye made him the centre of the action, which being a dog, is just what he likes. The problem was Paul (the man with the money) didn't agree. Not at all. He wasn't sold because he actually thought Sam the dog looked bad in the image above, not himself at all. He felt the better image was this one:

He felt this second image was 'more like Sam'. Which leads us to the question of how Sam could possibly be so wrong about his own portrait? Well, it seems like quite a puzzle until I tell you what the more astute readers will have already guessed: that it wasn't Sam at all who liked the first image, it was really, um, me, the photographer, which leads us to our lesson.

To get a good portrait you have to know something about your subject, you have to talk with them, watch them, and while I did speak with Paul and have on more than one occasion, for obvious reasons (I hope they're obvious) I've never spoken to Sam the dog. To get to know a dog you have to spend lots and lots of time with him, and if I had known Sam better as Sam and not just some dog, I would have immediately sensed that the first image was just all wrong.

Now if I could just get Rogers to show up when I'm home....

Athletes for Africa 5v5 Charity Soccer Tournament

2009-08-23T14:53:00.001-04:00

Brainchild of Adrian Bradbury (see very first pic below) the tourney was held yesterday at Cherry Beach on Toronto's lakeshore, a round robin event to raise money for a youth centre in northern Uganda. Among the celebs who generously gave their time were Rivers Cuomo, Michael Cera and Rick Campanelli of ET Canada fame, all amazingly skilled with a soccer ball. There was also an impressive array of local soccer talent on hand as well as a small army of volunteers. And, oh yeah, it was actually fun.

Of course a soccer tournament means action shots, action shots, and more actions shots. But while yesterday's action is over, Athletes for Africa is an ongoing concern. You can donate any time.

And since I took 'em, there's more action soccer shots here.

Sears Portrait...Not

2009-08-21T15:19:00.001-04:00

I don't want to pick on Sears, I have nothing against them at all, but I'm just feeling mean today and I really do dislike portraits with a staged kind of background. Even the family sofa or an easy chair makes for a better image, which is another reason I like real locations.

When I was little though I did dislike the school photographer who'd come every fall: he'd grab hold of my head and point it more at the angle he wanted. Do they do that to Brad Pitt when he's getting shot for a magazine? I don't think so. Maybe that's why I hate those backgrounds.

Humour For the Day

2009-08-21T11:33:00.000-04:00

Just because it is extremely funny I'm posting the link to this video, even though about ten million people have already seen it. A rare example of humour in this era that isn't laced with obscenity...or worse. Yes, safe for work.

Who's the Man?

2009-08-20T12:32:00.001-04:00

Everyone is different: sometimes the first shot of a portrait session is the best, while other times people need quite a long time to loosen up in front of the camera. That's why it's important to not feel rushed and to set aside a reasonable amount of time for a session, usually about an hour will do fine.

How long did it take to get the shot of me that appears on this blog? Seventeen hours. True story.

New Search Function from Google

2009-08-19T14:46:00.001-04:00

A cool little bell and/or whistle I've added is a search box to the right that allows you to search not only all the topics on this blog but also all the links to other sites. Pretty cool. Try it.

Book Cover Illustrator Aleta Rafton

2009-08-19T09:29:00.002-04:00

If you want to see some pretty amazing visual art, check out the site of California-based book cover illustrator Aleta Rafton. Awfully impressive work.

And, no, we're not related (I'm pretty sure). I just happened to find her portfolio while surfing around.

Our Friend Marta (Again!) Playing Tonight

2009-08-18T16:45:00.000-04:00

At the Cameron House, 140 Queen Street, Marta and her band will be playing with relative indie music newbie Stella Rose whose first CD comes out this fall. Show starts at 9:30 PM.

If you want to see pics of Marta you can see them here, here, and yes, also here. That should tide you over.

Why Black and White Photographs Are (Sometimes) Better

2009-08-17T11:11:00.001-04:00

If you look at Google's home page it's very simple: really just a blank page with a search box in the middle.

The reason for this is that Google understands exactly what service it's providing, namely the best search engine, and anything that's superfluous to that mission has been cut away so only the essentials remain.

The same principle can be applied to a photographic portrait: what's essential is the expression of the human face, a look in the eye, a pose, the line, the light. And all of these essentials are shown in a black and white image, with extraneous information like the colour of a the sky or a shirt cut away.

Of course, when it comes to something like photography no rule is writ in stone, and lots of time colour is not just appropriate but fantastic. So while many people do like the 'classic' black and white or sepia look I always provide a choice so you can decide what suits best.

Image for the Rest of the Weekend

2009-08-15T15:55:00.000-04:00

While I go off to enjoy the warm day and possibly follow the PGA Championship on my iPhone I leave you with this:

Best Time of Day for a Portrait

2009-08-15T13:36:00.000-04:00

Just a couple of words about the best time to consider scheduling a portrait now that it's finally warm and sunny in Toronto--halfway through August.

If you wish a portrait done inside the time of day doesn't matter much, but if you've got a location in mind that's outside, realize that the middle of the day is the worst time to shoot. Bright afternnon sun might seem like good photography weather but in fact it's not, the light is much too harsh and high that time of day, so if you'd like something outdoors early morning or late evening is best.

I'd especially recommend early morning since it's still reasonably cool at that time. Just something to consider....

A Different Kind of Portrait

2009-08-15T10:59:00.001-04:00

This isn't the kind of thing I normally post here (I know, I always say that) but here's a look at the work of one of the world's great photographers, Sebastião Salgado. It's rare to find more than one or two of his images posted on a single page online which is why I thought I'd share this.

The Touchy Subject of Kelly Clarkson's Retouching

2009-08-13T11:15:00.003-04:00

It's all over the news so I thought I'd mention the extremely important controversy over the retouching of Kelly Clarkson on the cover of Self magazine. I can't legally show any pictures of her but if you want to see actual behind-the-scenes video of the photo shoot in question you can go here.

I'll let you decide if Self went too far in this case, but it's true that photographers often touch up images, sometimes a lot, sometimes a little. Usually it's to remove a skin blemish, that kind of thing, and I don't see what's wrong with that since a blemish is only temporary anyway. And the wonders of retouching allow you to look at the picture of me at right without turning into stone.

Kelly Clarkson, if you remember, is famous for being the first winner of American Idol, and while I really can't show any images of her, I can show the first winner of Canadian Idol, Ryan Malcolm, performing with a stripped down version of his band Low Level Flight in east Toronto.

Toronto Parks Are the Best on the Globe

2009-08-12T11:02:00.000-04:00

Or so I say. No matter where they rank though there are lots of them, and a park always makes a nice natural location for a portrait, whether it's (belated) graduation, kids, a couple or an entire family. Just one of many, many options to consider.

New Website by Toronto Recording Artist Marta

2009-08-11T16:13:00.002-04:00

Lately it seems that around here it's been Marta, Marta, and more Marta. But, hey, if there's news there's news, so I just thought I'd post that Marta has a new and improved site. Be sure to check it out. Sadly, since she's about to start a U.S. tour she doesn't seem to have any dates in the area in the near future.

Lightning Strikes Twice

2009-08-10T11:40:00.001-04:00

Let me mention again (because it always seems to cause some worry when there's a big storm) if you have a scheduled portrait session that needs to be cancelled because of weather you won't be charged. And we can re-schedule no problem.

On the other hand if you want to have a portrait taken on a golf course during a thunderstorm, I do charge extra. Just FYI.

Prints of Milos and Pete Available

2009-08-08T15:10:00.000-04:00

There are still folks checking this site quite a bit who are searching for information on Milos or Pete Somers, so I thought I would tell you that full-sized prints of both from the Rock On concert can be downloaded here. The download is free, provided you make a donation to the appropriate trust, or, sure, you could make a donation to both.

Thanks.

Children and Families

2009-08-07T13:28:00.001-04:00

Like with most kinds of portraits, I always feel it's better to use a real setting even if it's just a backyard or the park. This allows for a more 'photojournalistic' type of style, and because the location is real everything just feels more...um, real. And none of those stiff poses or funky photographic backgrounds with the swirly stuff on them.

Sepia Portraits in the 21st Century

2009-08-06T12:23:00.002-04:00

Hey, sure Toronto's a big modern city, but what's cool is still cool no matter how un-modern it is, whether it's an old oak table or churned butter. The same is true of sepia portraits, also known as toned portraits, which are black and white images that have been treated in the lab or digitally to achieve a shade that might range from selenium to olive. These tones can be quite subtle but, if done well, very beautiful.

Toning is one of my specialties, so if you're interested please let me know.

Toronto Band Pics

2009-08-03T12:44:00.003-04:00

Just call or email me if you'd like a quote on band or musician photography services. Getting good images in the dark of a club can be awfully tricky so a professional is the way to go whether the shots are for publicity or your own personal scrapbook. Prices depend on how extensive a package you're looking for. And, of course, all your images will be featured on one of my blogs. That's free!

Portrait in the (Recently Rare) Toronto Sun

2009-08-01T13:32:00.001-04:00

Not the newspaper that is, but the actual sun, if you can remember what it looks like, after all it seems to have been on vacation or extended sabbatical this entire summer.

This is Alora, a native of frosty Winnipeg who's quite a skilled photographer herself, and she had all kinds of ideas and suggestions about what might be visually interesting at this location. When I have a subject with ideas of their own nothing actually makes me happier because a) I don't have to think as much and b) I know the subject's involved and interested. And that always makes for a better picture. So if you're planning to get your portrait done in the near future and have some ideas of your own on how it should be done, please don't ever hesitate to tell me. Even if your idea is pretty crazy!

Say Cheese

2009-07-31T11:31:00.001-04:00

I never, ever tell a subject to say 'cheese' in order to get them to smile, though sometimes little kids will smile if you tell them to say 'pizza!' I don't use that trick either (or hardly ever). Instead I try to establish a real rapport with whomever I'm photographing. It usually works.

Here's another shot of Amanda...and a beautiful, self-confident smile that's not over done.

All-Australian Show on Queen Street West

2009-07-28T14:07:00.000-04:00

If you want to enjoy what looks like it might finally be a warm evening in Toronto, consider going to see alt-country singer Marta tonight, Tuesday, July 28 at 9:30PM. The venue is the uber-cool Czehoski restaurant and lounge and she'll be playing with a few other Australian musicians. Insert your shrimp and/or barbie joke at will.

Here's a r e-post of a shot I took of Marta playing around town late last month.

Selection, Selection, Selection

2009-07-27T16:47:00.000-04:00

Here's another shot of hip-hop dancer Amanda, so different from the other on e I posted it's almost hard to tell it's the same person. This one is grittier, which I thought fit, but which is better? It's a matter of taste I think, so while I always provide my clients with a great selection of different images and styles, the final decision of which image to use is always left up to you. You can, of course, always order more.

Bio

2009-07-27T11:14:00.008-04:00

A graduate of McGill University in Montreal and the American Film Institute in Los Angeles I've forgotten all the French and Spanish I ever knew but can still communicate in English if people talk slowly. I was once in a coma for eleven days which was actually much more hilarious than it sounds. My photographs have been used by everyone from CTV to Penguin Canada. I'm also the author and creator of the almost world-famous local nature blog Toronto Wildlife.

I now use this site mostly for street portraits, but you can see other types of images here.

UPDATED: March 24, 2011.

Happy Thoughts

2009-07-25T10:23:00.003-04:00

Because Amanda is a hip-hop dancer and choreographer I wanted to shoot her in a pretty gritty location. I might show more of that some other time, but this is a nice poetic little closeup I think where you can't get a sense of the backdrop at all. And why does she look so content? Unfortunately throughout the shoot my camera kept jamming up which was annoying for both of us, and I think right here I was asking Amanda to imagine what it would be like to kill me. You can see how upset that got her.