As official photographer, I take pictures during the workshops and presentations our branch hosts.  My first job was to shoot headshots of some of the chair members.

And since the majority of what I’ve posted are traditional portraits, here are some more!

 

Usually, actor headshots are done in black and white, but it was suggested to go with colour headshots, so I jumped at the opportunity to do something different.  I decided to try something similar looking to a 1950’s kodachrome portrait (but not exactly), since ‘Harvey’ was made into a movie in 1950.  My little tip of the cap to the history of the play.  I think they turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself…

 

The play runs February 26 & 27, and March 5 & 6 at the Theatre at Brebeuf College School
211 Steeles avenue East, North York
(Just west of Bayview Avenue. )

For December’s entry to the Monthly Project, I was going to shoot a burlesque troop for their Christmas show.  Unfortunately, very long story very short, none of the ladies (save for two) wanted to have their pictures taken.  And two people don’t quite fit the idea of the project, but at least I was able to shoot something.  My Saturday wasn’t a complete waste.

It just means I’m going to have to up the ante for January.

For more information on these talented ladies, visit their website.

 

Within a week and a half of October’s shoot, I contacted the staff of BSE Pro Wrestling, got a response, and nailed a date and location for the shoot, their November show at the Markham Fair Grounds.  Now, normally the arena there is for showing off livestock, and the seating floor was covered in dirt, and the backstage where I was located smelled like cow poo, but it was awesome.

BSE (formerly Blood, Sweat & Ears) is one of the most successful independent pro wrestling organizations in Canada, and arguably North America.  Getting to talk to these young performers following their dream was very uplifting and refreshing, and despiote the fact all of its secrets have been told years ago, it was still magical to see them work out their matches before they went out and fought.  I even got to shoot independent star Johnny Devine!

Even if you’re ‘above that kind of thing,’ I urge you to go check out a show.  The wrestlers are talented, they do a great job, and you’ll be quite entertained.  And go see their website.

A special thanks goes out to Arda Ocal and Tom Harbin for contacting me so quickly, and all the wrestlers who let me backstage.

 

That’s because Tom has been my best friend since high school – and Mike is his brother.  No favouritism, I swear.  I’ve also known Charlene since high school, and if you buy me a drink sometime I’ll tell you the story of how they started dating.  It’s a good story, not one I’m wasting here.

All embarassment aside, here are the pics:

 

Once a month, I’m going to be shooting portraits of people from an organization, or an event, or what have you, as a document of those involved in their communities, and try to make it, and life, a more interesting experience.

October brought quite a few choices for me in Toronto, but the best choice visually, and dare I say most fun, was the annual Toronto Zombie Walk.  Basically, people dress up like the undead and make their way limping and moaning across the downtown core to the Bloor Cinema, where they can get tickets to watch a zombie movie double bill, or go to any of the zombie bar parties in the area, official or otherwise.

Driving to the Cinema, I wasn’t sure what I had gotten into, as 3000 ghouls had decended upon the area (as well as some people dressed in ‘zombie control’ swat gear).  Luckilly, most of the horde decided to head to the bars, and while the theatre was full, I got to shoot about 50 happy zombies, some of whom contacted me after and were treated to a high res picture of themselves.

For more information, check out the Toronto Zombie Walk website.

By the way, we watched ‘Night of the Comet’ – which I haven’t seen since it came out on video, and Lucio Fulci’s ‘Zombi’ – which I have on tape, and created the internet famous ‘Zombie vs. Shark’ clip.  I LOVE ZOMBIE MOVIES!!  There, I said it…

 

More kids!!  More kids!!  Maybe I should start shooting adults sometime…

Anyways, we shot Olivia on her Grandparent’s property, utilizing both the fall colours of the woods and the grassy fields.

With the combination of off camera flash and post process filtering, the field pictures look almost like late spring / early summer.  Olivia is very imaginitive, and has a crazy sense of humour.  She even had me racing up a hill, and was telling Lisa (my wife who I drag out to shoots for cheap assisting) stories about what was living in the tree she was standing beside.

 

Adam and Matthew are my nephews (and Adam is my godson), and pretty much any time I get to visit them, I HAVE to whip out the camera.

Adam, 2, is very inquisitive and curious, and just won’t sit still.  Matthew, 6 months, pretty much sits there and drools, as all 6 month olds do.  He’s still cute, though.