documentographer.com

day 2: a week ago today

The rule was to post every day, but that it doesn't have to be a picture I took on that day.

So, here is last Friday.  Redrock, Nevada.

A picture a day for a week.  Two days down!

ok ok, a photo a day!

Apparently I'm not blogging enough.  This is what I have been told by one dear outspoken reader. AKA pusher.  But I like that she says it like it is, and asks for what she wants.  "Do a photo a day, for a week."

Ask, and you shall receive. So, here I go.

This is yesterday, today.

mmm...mama to be

Who says you stop being beautiful and sexy when you are pregnant?  Hogwash!  I think that's a rumour that women created just to keep others away from their secret...pregnant women are stunning!

Andrea's proof:

The power of NOW

It's time to live in the moment.  Get to it today, if not this week. Why is that so necessary now? This is the final week to see Prom Night in Mississippi at the Lens Factory (1040 Queen West). If you want to know if it's something you're interested in, check out this week's NOW magazine art review at this link here.  

If not now, then when?

You and (WPP)I and all of us together

I'm absolutely thrilled by my experience at WPPI this week.  Rebecca and I have seeped in amazing information about what works for other photographers, shared what works for us, we've expanded, stretched our imaginations, met fabulously inspiring people and are feeling great and excited about our businesses. What else could you ask from a wedding and portrait photography trade show?

It is possible that this grand success *might* have something to do with the fact that we have barely left the MGM Grand hotel where we sleep and conference.  In fact, I can count that I have stepped outside 4 times since I have been here -- for amounts of time varying from 20 seconds to five minutes.  So, unless they are pumping something through the oxygen here, I can say that this has been an incredible week for me.  

Joking aside, I just want to share that I was incredibly moved, and re-awakened by the Master Class led by the (in)famous Jesh de Rox.  By talking about what is important in life, and speaking nothing about photography, it was a beautiful reminder that the things that are truly important in life, are really the things that are truly important in photography. Things like Truth.  

His talk re-awakened my reasons for choosing photography as my creative expression.  It is to share my truth with you, and ask you for yours back. This is such a brief summation of what I got out of this class.  I just wanted to touch on it here, because I am feeling really great about the direction I have been going in this photographic exploration so far, and I am so inspired and excited for what is to come.  

I never knew that Vegas of all places was the place I would find this deep, reflective insight.  I am really looking forward to exploring this further, sharing it with you, and having you share it with me.

What happens in Vegas...comes home from Vegas!

I will be MIA in Toronto from Monday to Friday this week.  But I'll be AA (All Action) at WPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International) trade show of trade dhows in Vegas!  AKA How many photographers can you fit in one place without going insane?  

Well, you can fit two more!  I'm heading off with my dear friend Rebecca Wood of the amazing Rebecca Wood Photography.  

We are going for new ideas and new inspirations.  Then we'll come home, and apply it all here.  Or, come home realizing we're doing EVERYTHING perfectly, and just grateful for having made $648,989 at the casinos.  Either way, it's sure to be ridiculously fun. And informative. Yes, informative.  This is a business trip to Vegas.

i *heart* love

may your day be sprinkled with love goodies.

party for the prom

A week ago, the Lens Factory was jam-packed on Queen West, for the opening of my Prom Night in Mississippi photo exhibit.  It was so hot in there, the windows were sweating.

As you can imagine, I was delighted.  (Here's me, delighted:)

It was also a pleasure to have so many people there for the Q&A with film director Paul Saltzman.

It was bitter cold, and so wonderful that so many old friends, new friends, friends of friends, family, old clients, new clients and strangers, all came out.  

Thanks to Komposit Creative Director (& friend) Matt Kassirer for these photos.  BTW, he's the same guy who made my website...

If you haven't gone by the gallery at 1040 Queen West yet, you still can.  Until Feb 28.

Prom Night in Mississippi, in Mississippi!!

Everyone's been asking when they can see Prom Night in Mississippi in Toronto.  Although I don't have answers for that yet, it did just show for the first time in Mississippi this week!!

Here is Director Paul Saltzman's take on the experience:

just back from the oxford, ms. film festival. screenings were awesome. they scheduled one but the demand was great so they increased to 3 screenings on the first day, that were all packed. then on sunday another screening with overflow audience. apparently, in 6 years, they've not had such demand. 'prom night in mississippi' won the audience appreciation award. we are delighted. 

at the first screening, about 10 of our students attended. as the kids came down from the audience for the q&a they got a standing ovation from the whole crowd of about 300. it was fabulous, a magic moment. morgan freeman then arrived and after the q&a went down the line and congratulated each of the kids, one at a time. our sense is that the event was life-changing for these young and courageous kids.

monday night, we screened for the community in charleston, in the high school auditorium. it holds 980 and there were more standing at the back. for the first 5 minutes about half the dialogue was drowned out with cheers as the crowd saw the people they knew, on-screen. afterwards, all the seniors in the audience, whether in the film or not, came down front for q&a. the town is 70% black, 30% white, like the high school population. the audience was about 90% black and 10% white. apparently, the buzz around town among the whites was that the film made them and their town look bad. the local newspaper publisher/editor and his wife weren't going to come but we talked with them, in advance, and they did attend. afterwards, they said they had been wrong in their fears. 

on tuesday, we spend a couple of hours with morgan and peggy up in memphis, at the house they are in while morgan does his physical therapy. a very sweet visit. morgan reiterated his love for the film and his appreciation to us and all who helped make it happen. he added: "i think the prom and the film, together, is one of the most significant, seminal events for the town of charleston since reconstruction." wow!  he leaves this week for 3 months in south africa on a nelson mandela film, directed by clint eastwood. 

recipe for creativity

1. flashlight

2. open shutter + darkness

3. an open mind for fun + chaos

4. the warmth of a Costa Rican night?  Not necessary, but recommended.

5. a finale