I don't think that that we have enough pics of politicians doing everyday things like licking their lips. Toronto mayoral candidate George Smitherman seems way more human to me now.
Regent Park
The Khawaja family live in a temporary home in Regent Park. They're supposed to move into the much-hyped newly designed neighbourhood this fall. They hope it happens before September so they can take the family trip they have planned to Bangladesh.
When I arrived they were hanging out in the backyard, enjoying the nice weather and seemed relaxed about my arrival. Normally families begin to primp and fuss when my camera comes out, asking how they should pose. Most seem disappointed when I tell them to relax and just pretend like I'm not there.
Not these guys, they were naturals. They just did their thing and pretty much ignored me. It was a nice.
I have to admit I had some preconceived ideas of what Regent Park was supposed to be like. Yes, I admit my bias, which I imagine is probably shared by a lot of people who have only driven past the area.
Surprisingly it felt a lot like the upper-middle-class suburban Ottawa neighbourhood I grew up in - kids running around shrieking, riding bikes, their moms yelling when it got dark for them to come home. I guess it was a little run down (but this is temporary housing) the families were all immigrants and the kids talked excitedly about cricket instead of hockey. Otherwise, this could have been a neighbourhood anywhere in Canada.
When I arrived they were hanging out in the backyard, enjoying the nice weather and seemed relaxed about my arrival. Normally families begin to primp and fuss when my camera comes out, asking how they should pose. Most seem disappointed when I tell them to relax and just pretend like I'm not there.
Not these guys, they were naturals. They just did their thing and pretty much ignored me. It was a nice.
I have to admit I had some preconceived ideas of what Regent Park was supposed to be like. Yes, I admit my bias, which I imagine is probably shared by a lot of people who have only driven past the area.
Surprisingly it felt a lot like the upper-middle-class suburban Ottawa neighbourhood I grew up in - kids running around shrieking, riding bikes, their moms yelling when it got dark for them to come home. I guess it was a little run down (but this is temporary housing) the families were all immigrants and the kids talked excitedly about cricket instead of hockey. Otherwise, this could have been a neighbourhood anywhere in Canada.
Matt, male model
My boyfriend takes me on dates to the park to eat burgers and lets me take pictures of him without complaining. And he's the funniest, even though he looks very serious in this photo. He's the best.
No, you can't have him.
No, you can't have him.
This way to the bat cave
I love dinosaurs. This started in my childhood and hasn't diminished over time. So when I had an assignment shooting a fancy-shmancy corporate event among the dinosaurs at the ROM (wicked location choice) I couldn't help but take some time to shoot a handful of shots for myself.
Also, FYI just a few facts on the bat cave:
- It has a pool of moving cockroaches
- There is a bat grooming station
- It is full of over 800 animatronic bats
Sounds rad to me.
Also, FYI just a few facts on the bat cave:
- It has a pool of moving cockroaches
- There is a bat grooming station
- It is full of over 800 animatronic bats
Sounds rad to me.
Calvin Trillin
New Yorker writer Calvin Trillin is one serious dude.
I had the chance to photograph him at swanky Toronto restaurant Canoe today. I'm not entirely sure what it is, but he's got some sort of intense-chessplayer-Winston-Churchill-elder-statesman vibe going on. Strange, considering he's moderating a panel discussion on the subject of poutine at U of T tonight.
For the record, he told me that he doesn't have a position on poutine.
Oh yeah, and the staff at Canoe were awesome. I expected them to be stuffy and not particularly helpful since I wasn't wearing a business suit, but they were gracious hosts for the shoot. Maybe I'll blow today's paycheque on dinner there.
I had the chance to photograph him at swanky Toronto restaurant Canoe today. I'm not entirely sure what it is, but he's got some sort of intense-chessplayer-Winston-Churchill-elder-statesman vibe going on. Strange, considering he's moderating a panel discussion on the subject of poutine at U of T tonight.
For the record, he told me that he doesn't have a position on poutine.
Oh yeah, and the staff at Canoe were awesome. I expected them to be stuffy and not particularly helpful since I wasn't wearing a business suit, but they were gracious hosts for the shoot. Maybe I'll blow today's paycheque on dinner there.
Out the window of a car
I took a road trip to Chicago with my friend Fritzley to visit my best friend Caroline. All these pictures were taken from the car or during pit stops to get fuel and food.
Gushing
This is my boyfriend Matt at the CN Tower. Isn't he the cutest ever?
Jamie Kennedy's Gilead Bistro
I ate at Jamie Kennedy's Wine Bar when it first opened years ago. Everyone was raving about it, but I left disappointed.
The staff who greeted us at the door were snotty. Our server was terrible. The food was mediocre. So when I was asked to photograph Kennedy's new restaurant, Gilead Bistro, my expectations were low.
I will say though, my visit to Gilead Bistro was wonderful. It felt friendly, not snotty at all. It just had a nice, intimate, relaxed vibe.
The staff who greeted me were friendly (of course they tend to be nice when they know you're there on behalf of the paper, but I think it was genuine). Photographing in the kitchen, I expected Kennedy to be a little rude. He wasn't. In fact, he was quite friendly. Maybe I've seen Gordon Ramsey on television too many times.
And the food looked amazing. I was really hoping Kennedy was going to suggest I take some home, but I guess he knows that you can't run a business on freebies.
The staff who greeted us at the door were snotty. Our server was terrible. The food was mediocre. So when I was asked to photograph Kennedy's new restaurant, Gilead Bistro, my expectations were low.
I will say though, my visit to Gilead Bistro was wonderful. It felt friendly, not snotty at all. It just had a nice, intimate, relaxed vibe.
The staff who greeted me were friendly (of course they tend to be nice when they know you're there on behalf of the paper, but I think it was genuine). Photographing in the kitchen, I expected Kennedy to be a little rude. He wasn't. In fact, he was quite friendly. Maybe I've seen Gordon Ramsey on television too many times.
And the food looked amazing. I was really hoping Kennedy was going to suggest I take some home, but I guess he knows that you can't run a business on freebies.
Bob Rae
What's up Bob Rae?
You sure were nice to photograph reading in your home library. You weren't all chest-puffed-out politician at all. Just down-to-earth nice.
Although, I knew this.
See, I met you once in the Air Canada lounge. I was reading and the Ryder Cup was on the television in front of me (though I was oblivious to it).
You sat next to me and asked, "Are you watching the Ryder Cup?" When I looked up I responded, like an idiot, "You're Bob Rae." You said, "Yes I am. Are you watching the Ryder Cup?" I think you just wanted to know the score. Of course, I responded, again, "You're Bob Rae. You're the first Premier I remember growing up."
Rather than ignoring me since I was obviously incapable of answering whether I was watching the Ryder Cup or not, you were nice and chatted with me for a bit. I thought you were pretty cool.
Then this past summer during Gay Pride you shot me in the face with a Water Gun. That was pretty funny.
I didn't mention either of our two previous meetings when I photographed you this time. Instead, we talked about how you were reading Wolf Hall and about the Olympics, and when I left I thought to myself, "Gee. That Bob Rae guy sure is nice. I'd vote for him."
You sure were nice to photograph reading in your home library. You weren't all chest-puffed-out politician at all. Just down-to-earth nice.
Although, I knew this.
See, I met you once in the Air Canada lounge. I was reading and the Ryder Cup was on the television in front of me (though I was oblivious to it).
You sat next to me and asked, "Are you watching the Ryder Cup?" When I looked up I responded, like an idiot, "You're Bob Rae." You said, "Yes I am. Are you watching the Ryder Cup?" I think you just wanted to know the score. Of course, I responded, again, "You're Bob Rae. You're the first Premier I remember growing up."
Rather than ignoring me since I was obviously incapable of answering whether I was watching the Ryder Cup or not, you were nice and chatted with me for a bit. I thought you were pretty cool.
Then this past summer during Gay Pride you shot me in the face with a Water Gun. That was pretty funny.
I didn't mention either of our two previous meetings when I photographed you this time. Instead, we talked about how you were reading Wolf Hall and about the Olympics, and when I left I thought to myself, "Gee. That Bob Rae guy sure is nice. I'd vote for him."
Ballet Dancers
Heather Ogden and Guillaume Côté are principal dancers with the National Ballet of Canada. In addition to being dance partners, they're a couple off-stage and engaged to be married.
I know. They look and sound perfect. I'm not going to lie, I wanted to hate them because of their perfect smiles, their perfect bodies, their perfect lives and their perfect love.
But here's the thing - you can't hate them. They're really sweet and unpretentious. A lovely, genuinely adorable couple.
You could really sense that they love each other and they had a natural ease around one another, which was great to work around. I was a bit worried that I'd have to try and coax them out of their on-stage personas for pictures, but they were so sweet with each other that all I had to do is capture some really beautiful, simple moments in the short time I had with them.
I know. They look and sound perfect. I'm not going to lie, I wanted to hate them because of their perfect smiles, their perfect bodies, their perfect lives and their perfect love.
But here's the thing - you can't hate them. They're really sweet and unpretentious. A lovely, genuinely adorable couple.
You could really sense that they love each other and they had a natural ease around one another, which was great to work around. I was a bit worried that I'd have to try and coax them out of their on-stage personas for pictures, but they were so sweet with each other that all I had to do is capture some really beautiful, simple moments in the short time I had with them.
IDS 2010
I spent some time shooting IDS 2010 here in Toronto. Lots of gorgeous things that I can't afford, but it was pretty to look.
Marmalade
I don't really like marmalade, but it sure is pretty to photograph.
Feature Hunting at Harbourfront
Since I can't remember a time when I wasn't able to skate, it was interesting to check out some newbie skaters at the rink of Harbourfront Centre. It was actually one woman's first time on ice. Ever.
Cows
I love my job.
Today's assignment involved cows. The Dairy Farmers of Ontario had twelve cows outside the ROM for some event to promote ice cream made from 100% Canadian milk (at least I think that's what the press release said - I was too focused on the cows...I even missed the free ice cream).
I'm told that I'm easy to please.
Today's assignment involved cows. The Dairy Farmers of Ontario had twelve cows outside the ROM for some event to promote ice cream made from 100% Canadian milk (at least I think that's what the press release said - I was too focused on the cows...I even missed the free ice cream).
I'm told that I'm easy to please.
Prairie Pedal
Meet Shane Saunderson.
Shane biked from Calgary to Toronto to raise money for Myeloma Canada. Shane's father was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma just over two years ago, so he took this trip to help raise money and awareness for the disease.
The people at Celgene Canada were nice enough to help Shane out on his bike ride, making a huge donation of $10,000 to his fundraising efforts. So Shane and Kevin Leshuk Celgene Canada's GM biked from Princess Margaret Hospital in downtown Toronto to Celgene's offices in Oakville to accept the cheque.
I'd like to say that I biked along with them the entire distance, but really, I just stopped along the way to get a few pictures.
Celgene GM Kevin Lushuk waits for Shane Saunderson to bike up at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto.
Shane bikes up to meet Kevin to start the trip.
Shane biked from Calgary to Toronto to raise money for Myeloma Canada. Shane's father was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma just over two years ago, so he took this trip to help raise money and awareness for the disease.
The people at Celgene Canada were nice enough to help Shane out on his bike ride, making a huge donation of $10,000 to his fundraising efforts. So Shane and Kevin Leshuk Celgene Canada's GM biked from Princess Margaret Hospital in downtown Toronto to Celgene's offices in Oakville to accept the cheque.
I'd like to say that I biked along with them the entire distance, but really, I just stopped along the way to get a few pictures.
Celgene GM Kevin Lushuk waits for Shane Saunderson to bike up at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto.
Shane bikes up to meet Kevin to start the trip.
Jen and Andrew
Here are a few engagement shots of my friends Jen and Andrew, shot at the Brickworks. Jen and Andrew were like supermodels, climbing up hills, stomping through brush (filled with grasshoppers, which Jen hates), smiling the entire time.
A big thank you to my boyfriend Matt who acted as a brilliant assistant lugging around my gear, scouting photo locations, making the couple laugh and standing in for Andrew (pretending to kiss an invisible Jen) before the couple arrived. Merci!
A big thank you to my boyfriend Matt who acted as a brilliant assistant lugging around my gear, scouting photo locations, making the couple laugh and standing in for Andrew (pretending to kiss an invisible Jen) before the couple arrived. Merci!
Chicago
Chicago, Chicago, Chicago.
I spent the long weekend visiting my best friend Caroline in Chicago after a road trip with Fritzley. Just a few random, unrelated snaps.
I spent the long weekend visiting my best friend Caroline in Chicago after a road trip with Fritzley. Just a few random, unrelated snaps.
Some Writing
Ok, so I have received a few complaints (at least someone is reading) that my blog, while visually interesting, "sucks" on the writing front. I'm told that I am supposed to provide more interesting writing like the monkey post on my travel blog from 2006.
Click here for the original, not so clean version of this post and click here for the cleaned up version that ran in the Globe and Mail.
Seriously? I get attacked by monkeys in Thailand, survive to write about it and it's all people remember from that trip? Plus you want more?
Now, I did go back and read over some of my entries on this blog and have noticed that they are written like "mom e-mails". You know what I am talking about - the ones you get from your mother that say,
"Dear Della. Went to mall today. Bought shoes. Not sure if I like them. Oh well. Can always return them. Love, Mom."
This got me thinking - why haven't I been writing? And why has the limited writing I have been doing been so mom-like?
The only conclusion that I've come to is that I've spent the last two years training my brain to think visually, in pictures, and less verbally. While I was traveling I was reading a lot of books, which I think was training my brain verbally, and that came out in my writing.
I have no proof of this. I think I might just be me. Probably.
Click here for the original, not so clean version of this post and click here for the cleaned up version that ran in the Globe and Mail.
Seriously? I get attacked by monkeys in Thailand, survive to write about it and it's all people remember from that trip? Plus you want more?
Now, I did go back and read over some of my entries on this blog and have noticed that they are written like "mom e-mails". You know what I am talking about - the ones you get from your mother that say,
"Dear Della. Went to mall today. Bought shoes. Not sure if I like them. Oh well. Can always return them. Love, Mom."
This got me thinking - why haven't I been writing? And why has the limited writing I have been doing been so mom-like?
The only conclusion that I've come to is that I've spent the last two years training my brain to think visually, in pictures, and less verbally. While I was traveling I was reading a lot of books, which I think was training my brain verbally, and that came out in my writing.
I have no proof of this. I think I might just be me. Probably.
Tornado
I can't believe a tornado actually struck the GTA. It's so Wizard of Oz.
Surprisingly the people I photographed today were so amazing and positive, even though their houses had been destroyed and they were obviously still upset. Everyone just kept repeating how lucky they were to be alive and how fortunate it was that no one was hurt.
Angelo Genova, owner of the destroyed house in the background, surveys the ruins on his street after a tornado struck Vaughan Thursday night. Genova has lived in the home since 1975 and was in the basement with his family eating dinner when the storm struck.
Phil Genova, son of Angelo, is upset over the damage to his childhood house (on the left) and to his aunt's house on the right.
A worker removes fallen trees beside a house that was destroyed by the tornado.
Workers remove trees.
Damaged cars.
A car windshield is smashed by flying debris.
Neighbours survey the damage done by falling trees.
Surprisingly the people I photographed today were so amazing and positive, even though their houses had been destroyed and they were obviously still upset. Everyone just kept repeating how lucky they were to be alive and how fortunate it was that no one was hurt.
Angelo Genova, owner of the destroyed house in the background, surveys the ruins on his street after a tornado struck Vaughan Thursday night. Genova has lived in the home since 1975 and was in the basement with his family eating dinner when the storm struck.
Phil Genova, son of Angelo, is upset over the damage to his childhood house (on the left) and to his aunt's house on the right.
A worker removes fallen trees beside a house that was destroyed by the tornado.
Workers remove trees.
Damaged cars.
A car windshield is smashed by flying debris.
Neighbours survey the damage done by falling trees.
The Breeders!
The Breeders were one of my favourite bands in high school so I was psyched to shoot them at Lee's Palace on Saturday night. Sadly, I only got to shoot two songs, but one of them was Divine Hammer so I can't really complain.
