Shooting for my Agency Book

In fashion photography Helmut Newton said, “If you find a beautiful woman %90 of your photograph is complete. ” Now I’m primarily an editorial and commercial photographer so for me when I am shooting fashion this quote reigns true. Here are a few photographs of a new talent Jill Scott. We shot these for some new work for my agency book… Jill herself is not represented by any agency at the time of this blog, but I don’t think it will be long before she is…

Enjoy!
C

Kermet The Frog

I’m a student of photography. Pretty much I buy photography collection books every week.

Yesterday I was reading a Yousuf Karsh book. You see Karsh was a Canadian photographer who took several famous photographs; Winston Churchill without a cigar, Albert Einstein among others he took the one of Jim Henson with Kermit the Frog on his shoulder…

While reading the Karsh book in my office I looked up at my toy display collection and saw my scale replica of Kermit. Something dawned on me…A lot of people ask “Whom in history would I like to photograph?” Jim Henson is always at the top of my list.
I thought what the hell… So pulled down Kermit and we went to the studio.

It may not have been be the full duo of Henson and Kermit, but I thought to myself hey I’m at least shooting %50 of it.

Oh yeah Kermit was really cool to work with, he didn’t complain, he remained super still… over all an excellent subject – Its not easy being green.

Remember don’t take life too seriously.

C

Dr David Schindler

I just had to share this story.

The best thing about being a photographer is the opportunities we get to meet fantastic people. It’s a privilege infact. But this past week I missed the boat on an opportunity to really get to know a fantastic subject.

Last week I was commissioned to shoot a three photo shoots for Readers Digest. One of the Digest shoots had me photographing Dr David Schindler.

Now usually I try to lean as much as I can about a subject before I shoot them. But in this case I was so bogged down with shoots, I had no time for background research.

All I knew is that Dr Schindler was a high-ranking Scientist at the UofA. So I turn up and shoot him in about 40 mins...

As it turns out a few days after the photo shoot I find out from another Digest subject that “Dr Schindler is an internationally celebrated scientist who has won several awards. He once won an award which gave him $1 million dollars, he then selflessly put all that money back into his research." I was floored at that comment.

I can’t believe my best question to Dr Schindler was - "Dr Schindler, could we put some glass beakers in front of you? I think it would look cool for the photo." Dr Schindler just looked at me and said "sure no problem," He was one of the most humble men I have ever had the pleasure to photograph.

Enjoy.
C

Book Cover photoshoot.

I have been commissioned to photograph for a few books in the past. One of my personal favorites was titled “Star Wars Memorabilia” (which I shot for Shane Turgeon). You can find it at Chapters in Canada.

But recently I photographed a cover for Ardith Trudzik’s third book being released by Borealis Press. Since many if not the majority of my clients are from Eastern Canada I often am working alone under the guidance of an Art Director hundreds of miles away. But for this specific project my art direction was in addition to shooting her paintings “we want you to shoot a cover”… The book title is “If you Tell – It will kill your mother”

Ardith is 74 years old, and suffered from multiple personality disorder as a result of the sexual abuse she endured as a child. Ardith still lives with her multiples, but they are all at peace. Her book will be released in Chapters across canada.

Cal Nichols

Here is a portrait of Cal Nichols taken during the Oil Sands tour 2008. Cal owns the Gasland group of companies and was the founding member of the EIG, the investor group that kept the Edmonton Oiler hockey team in Edmonton.

Obviously I had heard of Cal before but have never had the opportunity to photograph him. From my brief experience meeting Cal, I found him to be a very kind man.

I felt that when he asked me about myself he was genuinely interested in my response, a lot of times this just isn’t the case with big business owners.

I feel that this portrait shot in a candid style best reflected his persona -

Thoughtful, Genuine and Sincere,

Enjoy,

C

2008 ends

Lots happened in 2008. I was quite fortunate n my personal life but from a photography standpoint 08 was a real jump for me. I hosted a photography exhibition for the 2008 Canadian Olympic Taekowndo Team in Beijing China. Several commercial trips to various locations from Jamaica to Playa came to fruition. I had the chance to shoot with several outstanding clients like Ethan Moreau, Ed Stelmach, McCann (an huge ad agency), Tom Gilbert, Nike Vision, Optamedia, Venture Publishing, Avenue Magazine and to many others wonderful clients to mention. I have to give a lot of credit to hard nosed tutelage of Jim Korchinski who basically pushed me to be my best but moreover not forget the business side of my work. Jim also pushed me to keep shooting for charity. In this area I was fortunate to work for the Stollery Childrens Hospital, Elves Society, Cure for Cancer, Dreams Take Flight and a few other community based charities.

Although 08 offered more than I could have ever asked for I can only look forward to 09. On the plate I already have an extensive shoot in Egypt and Jordan planned.

Anyways here are some images I shot for an big spread in Avenue magazine. The spread came out in BW but here are some of the color images.

Enjoy!
C

Blue Mountains Jamaica

This past week I was shooting in Jamaica, specifically in the Blue Mountain area. I have worked in Jamaica several times before shooting travel gigs in Negril, Ocho Rios, Browns Town, Trelawny and Lucea, but this by far was the most interesting of all my previous shoots.

In this set I shot a well-known yet rarely visited tourist site - Bob Marleys birthplace. About a 2 hr white knuckle cab ride from Ocho Rios.

bob marleys one bedroom room inspired these lyrics- ("We'll be together, with a roof right over our heads" we'll share the shelter of my single bed")

Because I tend to shoot off of the resorts or out of the main cities of Negril or Ocho these assignments can become at times a little daunting. Although Jamaicans are by and large friendly when you head off the beaten path you encounter many “screw faces” – people who are not really impressed with what you are doing.

I have learned a lot shooting travel all over the world. The first thing I do is put away the big white expensive telephoto lens and travel light. The expensive looking gear not only puts you a risk of being robbed but it also tends to put your subjects on edge as well.

So I find using small fast lenses the best way to go. The small lenses force you to get closer to your subjects but they are also non-imposing.

Enjoy.

C