New Life

My friends Ben and Sarah now have a beautiful very tiny girl. I had the privilege of being invited to take photographs at the birth. It was the first I've ever witnessed, and an added bonus was seeing my mom in action as a kick-butt doula. 

More to come later, appropriate film results willing.

A New Member

With the end of my career at SPAO coming to an end soon, I will lose a vast supply of equipment available for use. So I bought a 4x5 Busch Press Camera on Ebay after extensive research.

It came today in the mail, alongside a hefty customs fee. Worth the wait and fee, however. It was a slightly nerve-racking two weeks of waiting, after having heard bad stories of friends buying non-existent Macbooks and selling lenses to buyers in Nigeria that wildly steal your money and lenses. And so, I was very relieved to meet the Canada Post man with a big box of styrofoam nubby things, cradling a beautiful camera.

Here are some celebratory shots...      (actually, they're at the top.)

I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain?

Full- Serve

...very un-edited. 

In other exciting news, I tried out the 8 x 10 camera at school today. If that makes no sense, go here for an example.

Peace and Love.

The Rift Valley

Jen

Beginning

This year we are making a magazine alongside the three third years, directed by the talented graphic designer Valerie Yobe. The thematic is to do with 'Beginning', considered however we like. This was my approach, and was chosen among several others to be included. The text that will go with it follows...

Beginning

With each new day, there is a beginning. Often it is just the beginning of that new day - easily put. With the wear and continuation of life, we grow weary of others, ourselves, the mundane, the in between.  Every so often, we shed our souls of this weariness, this oldness. We drop what was cloaking in defense, or merely just what was generated. It is an ending sort of beginning; stopping and restarting. We are still in the same place, but, with a new outlook, less weight, and a much needed refreshment.

Unfocus, in starting over. Refocus, in coming back again.

Magida

Paper neg in a press camera. 

Alexandra

Fisher

...Plant-Based.

Stove Famous

The Dryness and the Rain

Working on the Embrace

The work that I am most proud of comes completely unexpectedly, it just happens. Way more natural; not planned for. It's a tough approach to control. And really, just requires embracing... I suppose. 

Live A Little

Scan-o-gram (scanned something or other and made into a photograph.)

Ascension

These photographs are from almost a year ago. It's a village named Ascension, in the Dominican Republic. I lived there for two months with five great friends, two years ago. Its population is comprised of Dominicans and many Haitians. Many enter the DR in hopes of finding employment and a better life, escaping the extreme poverty and violence in Haiti. This village is alive with hundreds of the most alive, joyful, giving, thankful, and beautiful people. Nestled in the hills just inland of Puerto Plata, it is a world away from resorts.

Violence and segregation paint the history between Dominicans and Haitians. Some history here. Generally, Haitians in the DR are treated with scorn. In late December, a Dominican was found dead in the cane fields near the village. Dominicans revolted and entered the village in a mob, threatening the families and destroying businesses. Many of the families fled, leaving a very empty village. Not much was done about the mob, unfortunately. To read more, check out Rachel's blog. She runs a jewellery co-op in the village, providing employment to single moms.

It's hard to imagine that place being any different - singing, thriving, radiant. Full of busy life, noisy fruit trucks, and the latest hit song playing constantly and most likely by Daddy Yankee. And the most gorgeous kids you've ever seen, running around laughing without a care.

Please come back, Polaroid.

A scanned polaroid of my teacher, Angelina. 

In The Beginning

I bought a digital point&shoot after Christmas, so as an attempt to get some photographic juices flowing, I'm going to post a photo a day. Whether it be a snapshot, an older photo, or current work. Magida (a fellow classmate) is also taking on the challenge, and we shall be accountability partners. We're ball-parking to keep it up until the end of the school year, and hopefully beyond. A photo a day keeps Tardioli away.

This picture is obviously of mushrooms. I started taking some pics in a grocery store, and found it very refreshing to just snap away. I think its important to stop and take casual fun little pictures every so often.