Photo Journal Book 1
For years now i’ve carried a little camera with me as a way of keeping a photo-journal of sorts. Just capturing random moments and things I see as I wander about.
Beneath the Red Hill Expressway in Hamilton
I was fortunate to come into the world of photography when printing was a huge part of the experience - the final destination. That has always stuck with me. There is just something so satisfying in the printed image. It could be just my own bias, but having the work physically printed just makes it feel so much more real. The images come to life when printed in a way they just don’t in the digital world.
Dupont St.
I’ve always loved photo-books, so i’ve started printing 8 x 10 inch books of my photo-journals. Here are a few spreads from the first book.
High Park
For those who live near my studio, you’ll probably recognize a few spots i’ve captured on my walks. Sometimes these pictures are taken when we break for lunch and I pop out for 20 minutes. But generally, these images are just captured as I go about my life snapping away at whatever catches my eye.
Laneway behind Dundas St. W
Most of the photos in this book were shot with the beautifully small and pocketable Contax T3. I was also using the Olympus OM-1 at the time.
Laneway behind Dundas St. W
Beneath the Red Hill Expressway and Old Van
Alley near Dupont St.
Algonquin Park
The Junction
Dupont St.
The Junction
My studio is a short walk from the junction. I find i’m drawn to windows and blinds. I’ve been taking a lot fo pictures of them lately. I suppose there’s something about the reflections in the windows creating an added layer of depth while seeing gaps and imperfections in the blinds adds to the sense of mystery.
Camper Window and Crumpled Blinds - The Junction
Mail & Spray Blast - Dundas St. W
Dundas Street West
A couple things that caught my eye as I was dropping off my stuff for my accountant on Dundas Street West and Islington.
Dirty Window and Fresh Roses
Breakfast
Inspired by David Hockney’s photo collages, I wanted to take a similar approach and apply it to my world, food photography. This series was quite fun to shoot, and a bit of a challenge to pull together in the end, but I’m pleased with the results. I’ve always been attracted to photographing the most simple food. It’s just more relatable, more honest, more real. So this breakfast series is the simplest of the simple breakfasts: egg, toast, and grapefruit.
Canada's 100 Best Restaurant
Here are a few selects from a recent project I shot for Canada's 100 Best Magazine.
I haven't done much restaurant location shooting in a while so it felt good to get back to my roots and where it all began for me.
Chef Rob Gentile at Buca Yorkville
Chef Julie Marteleira at Leña Restaurant
Chef Patrick Kriss at Alo Restaurant
Toronto Eats
Toronto Eats, the follow up to Amy Rosen’s Toronto Cooks is out now.
Shooting this project was like speed dating 50 of Toronto's best chefs - big thanks to them for making this beast of a project come to life. Stay tuned this week for some of my favorite shots from the book.
2017 Photography Awards
It’s always an honour to have your work featured amongst your peers in one of the photography annuals.
Here is some work of mine that was selected as a winner in the Communication Arts 2017 Photo Annual and the 2017 Applied Arts Photography Awards.
You can see the rest of the winners at the following links:
Communication Arts 2017 Photography Annual
2017 Applied Arts Photography Awards
Communication Arts Winner
PC Black Label Recipe Photography - Advertising
Shortlisted
CMYK 2 - Self-Promotion
The Bobbette and Belle Cookbook - Books
Botany 2 - Self Promotion
PC Black Label Action Photography - Advertising
2017 Applied Arts Photography Awards Winners
The Bobbette & Belle Cookbook - Complete Book
CMYK 3 - Conceptual
Looking back on wandering
Last year I got back to wandering with my camera - shooting nothing in particular, just always bringing the camera with me and capturing whatever catches my eye. Often it was light casting a certain tone, transforming a setting or scene i’ve passed many times before. Other times it’s just a feeling or sensation that’s hard to express.
It’s always nice to take some time at the start of a new year to look back and reflect on the previous year - and oh what a year it was.
Last year I got back to wandering with my camera - shooting nothing in particular, just always bringing the camera with me and capturing whatever catches my eye. Often it was light casting a certain tone, transforming a setting or scene i’ve passed many times before. Other times it’s just a feeling or sensation that’s hard to express.
"If you want to know where your heart is, look to where you mind goes when it wanders."
All of these photos were shot with either the Fuji XT-1 or the X100T. Both small, beautifully designed cameras - perfect for carrying around at all times.
So, that being said, here are my top ten shots from my wanderings in 2015.
You can follow my personal work here.
Beneath the Bloor Subway line at Royal York. This was shot during my meanderings along the Mimico Creek.
Another one from along the Mimico Creek. This is further north, under the the 427 highway.
Lakeshore West - Mimico. These low rise buildings stretch out along the lake throughout Mimico. At first glance they all seem to be the same, but getting in closer and poking around, they each have their own little unique bit of flare. It's pretty cool.
High Park - Probably my favourite place in Toronto. I pass through this big, beautiful park every day on my way to the studio. This spot in particular always blows me away.
Riding my bike along Lake Ontario every day - you can't help but notice the play of light between the sky and reflections on the lake. How different the same scene can appear from day to day is incredible.
Another one from High Park. Love the tones in this shot.
Another one of the low rise buildings in my neighbourhood. This was shot on election night coming home from voting. Love the play of colour here - warm vs cool.
Sunset at Grenadier Pond. I pass by this spot every day. Sunsets are often unbelievable here.
Washrooms in High Park. I love the way the diffused glass windows make this little building glow at dusk.
The Gardiner Expressway. Every day I pass under this busy highway and think how glad I am I don't have to deal with that beast :)
Toronto Star Cookbook
Jennifer Bain's Toronto Star Cookbook hits the shelves this week. We shot this project in studio last April. It's funny how you kind of forget about the work for a while and then it comes back to life with the release of the book a year later.
With recipes ranging from Brazilian fish stew, to bimbimpbap to beef kaftas to grilled cheese sandwiches, this cookbook is definitely the most eclectic selection of recipes i've ever shot.
The Toronto Star Cookbook includes recipes from the province's chefs, farmers, home cooks, food writers, store owners and many others. Inside are recipes from more than two dozen cultures, reflecting the province's rich multicultural food scene, as well as many Canadian classics. Jennifer selected and personally tested every one of the book's recipes, most of which have been featured in the Star since she took over the food beat in 2000. Also included are 25 READERS' CHOICE recipes, chosen by Star readers as their favourites of all time.
Prop Styling: Madeleine Johari Food Styling: Noah Witenoff
Publisher: Appetite by Random House
The Cover
Smoked Cheddar Grilled Cheese with Sriracha Ketchup
Ontario Buffalo Mozzarella with Tomatoes and Basil
Pasta All'Amatriciana
Bread Spread
Chapter Opener
Porchetta & Co's Rapini with Garlic and Chili
Garlic-Basil Smashed Potatoes
Beef Kaftas with Tahini-Lime Sauce
Caju's Brazilian Fish Stew
Geetha's Sweet Potato Usli
Noodle Spread
Carrot Quinoa Pie
Chocolate