Colleagues

Being at school for photography has many perks. The premier being that I'm learning a whole ton of cool stuff about photography. But there are others. The next coolest might be meeting people. Since day 1 I've been meeting people who are a)interested in photography in the way that I am, and b)super talented in their own unique styles and niches. I've been hanging out a lot with a couple guys who couldn't be farther away in styles. My buddy Bobby (Link to his work) shoots very colourful, visually appealing images on the cutting edge of digital technology. Very cool stuff, believe me. But my other buddy Dylan MacArthur (Link here, duh) shoots nearly entirely B&W film, and most of it is street level, emotional, truthful stuff. I saw Dylan in action today and this guy is like a ninja. His skills with street photography are something that I am both very envious of, and looking to emulate.
I was thinking the other day, on one of my many 'wander Toronto, shooting and thinking' trips that if I want to move into Photojournalism when this is all said and done, that Street Photography is the thing I seriously need to work on; like a lot. So be prepared, I'll be posting some (crappy) street photos when they come in the next couple posts.
But if there's one thing I've learned recently it's that if you really want to take this seriously, carry your camera everywhere, and keep your eyes open; always.
Archipelago Photography

The Women

This is a project I've been working on over the last few weeks. It's actually the piece of work I'm the proudest of that I've made in a long while. I think it's kind of a cool idea, just showing one bit of a face, of all the girls that really matter to me in my life. For those not in the know, from left to right we have, my Mom Jane, my sisters Katie and Maggie, my nieces Abby and Kendra and my girlfriend Rachelle.
Archipelago Photo

Photoshop Class

Technically the class is called Digital Photography, but it is, in essence, Photoshop. It's one of my favourite classes so far, but  I'm not so sure I'm happy with my work in it. The class has really driven home for me that the strength in Digital Manipulations is in the pairing of great concepts and great skills. And I'm not so sure either of these pieces show exemplary concepts, and the skills are still coming to me slowly. This is not to say I am not proud of these pieces, only to say that they especially remind me that a piece could always be better. That's the joy of art.
The pieces are London Normal School for a project called Photomontage, and Maggie's Last Leaf for a project called Illusionism.
Archipelago Photography- islands of thought and image, connected with a name

The Royal Ontario Museum

I have been exploring the neighbourhood that I now live in for a few months now and I have just recently discovered a great surprise. I live reasonably close to the ROM. I had been to the ROM once in the past and really loved it. All the history and science really interested me, because although I'm not terribly knowledgeable with those subjects, they inspire me and keep my mind interested. Also, because I'm in touch with the 6-year old in my mind, I just love dinosaurs. I mean, who doesn't, really? So the other day, I had a whole Monday to myself, basically no homework, and nothing to do. I walked to the ROM and spent the whole day just wandering the museum by myself. I made some pictures, but making the event about my eyes, not my lens. For those looking for a museum to photograph, choose the ROM for sure. The whole museum is photo-friendly, even flash and video, just not in all exhibits. Here are a few of the images I made that day.
Archipelago Photography

Halloween Approaches

School Work

Less Mainstream

Archipelago Photography