Manifest Photography. The f-stops here.

Who Pays Photographers?: Freelancing—or Working for Free?

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 17:24:02 -0700

Who Pays Photographers?: Freelancing—or Working for Free?:

“Know the code. All of these statements mean they want you to work for nothing.

This will give you great exposure.

I just want something to show the boss so he’ll hire you.

Help us now and we’ll pay you when we get rolling.

We just want to see what you can do.

We’ll build this…

Turtle Toaster poster. From my upcoming exhibit “A loaf of...

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 14:53:04 -0800

Turtle Toaster poster. From my upcoming exhibit “A loaf of bread, a flask of wine, a book of verse -and thou.”

Here with a loaf of bread beneath the bough, A flask of wine,...

Sat, 19 Jan 2013 14:54:59 -0800

Here with a loaf of bread beneath the bough,
A flask of wine, a book of verse -and thou.
~Omar Khayyam

A loaf of bread, a flask of wine, a book of verse -and thou

Sat, 19 Jan 2013 14:49:06 -0800

My sixth solo exhibit (which features the longest title yet) explores the role of bread in history. Borrowing from different eras and genres of art from the Italian Renaissance, Dutch Baroque, French Impressionism to 20th Century advertising and Pop Art I have undertaken to investigate how bread has shaped the world. It’s a lot more interesting than you’d think!

For those who have never attended my previous shows they are not your typical stuffy artsy-fartsy affair where people in suits wax poetic over high art while sipping Shiraz. It will actually be fun. (And hopefully thought provoking and interesting.) There will be art, music, a variety of breads, intriguing cocktails and other festive libations to consume.

And of course really really cool & creative people like you who support the arts.
Look forward to seeing you there.

https://www.facebook.com/events/131860793646464/

Photoshop Law takes effect in Israel. What do you think?

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 15:30:15 -0800

Interesting. Without the 18.5% BMI clause this would have probably led to more models starving themselves since photoshopping their bodies would have to be made public knowledge.

Questions remain however. Except in the case of portraiture, I photoshop the crap out of everyone because well, we ALL need a little work. I’ve seen and retouched literally thousands of pimples and wrinkles. Would a photographer in Israel have to disclose that?

Photography is not always about projecting reality. Sometimes it’s my job to illustrate an idealized world. Just as it’s sometimes my job to project an overtly vulgar one. Projecting only the truth leaves us with a very narrow view of the world.

This law seems on the surface to be righteous. I just hope it doesn’t result in an assault on the imagination. Truth shouldn’t be elevated to some higher status. Abstractions and ideas that don’t exist in the real world shouldn’t be regulated or relegated to some sort of second class status. Die gedanken sind frei!

Read the article here: http://bigthink.com/ideafeed/israels-photoshop-law-goes-into-effect?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+bigthink%2Fblogs%2Fbig-think-ideafeed+%28Big+Think+IdeaFeed%29&utm_content=FaceBook

Converting my Classic Broncolor into a Funky Floor Lamp. After...

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 21:00:00 -0800

Converting my Classic Broncolor into a Funky Floor Lamp.

After removing the guts of the strobe and properly disposing of the battery cells (contact your local recycling centre on how to safely dispose of them) I reassembled the chassis. Two screws, a few yards of copper wire and 3 circuit boards that look like something from a sci-fi movie were the only things left over.

I then removed a standard light mount from a pot light I bought at the hardware store. With a pair of tin snips was able to expand the original mount that held the flash tube and mount the new light socket in it’s place. I then fed a power cord with switch through the back plate where the original power cord was fed and attached it to the light socket with a pair of marrets. It all remains nicely hidden inside the chassis.

Besides the aesthetics of it (it really does look like a rocket booster) this is one of the most functional and versatile lamps you could ask for. I can place a variety of reflectors, umbrellas, grids, softboxes onto the mount to create an endless variety of lighting scenarios in the living room.

Now I just need to break the habit of flipping the original model light toggle switch on the back when attempting to turn it on and off.

Converting my Classic Broncolor into a Funky Floor Lamp. My...

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 20:33:00 -0800

Converting my Classic Broncolor into a Funky Floor Lamp.

My first strobe kit was a used set of Broncolor monoheads from the 1970’s. About 12 years ago two of the three crapped out and the repairman I sent them to scavenged one for parts. It rendered one of them useless but I couldn’t bring myself to toss it in the trash. I always felt the ubiquitous “Broncolor Turquoise”, the aluminum construction and beautiful proportions had potential to make for a cool piece of furniture. It looks like a rocket booster!

I’ve been told that the batteries can hold a charge for up to 6 years. The thought of them discharging 800 watt/seconds of power in my face frightened me but after sitting idle in my mom’s basement for over ten years I decided it was likely safe to set about converting the unit into a floor lamp.

I unscrewed the rear ring plate. It’s pretty damn sinister looking inside. Do I cut the red wire first or the blue one? I started snipping one wire at a time and removing circuit boards. More screws more wires, more circuit boards. I felt like I was diffusing a bomb. *Do not try this at home.

Mine! But you can use it :)

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 00:46:00 -0800

Yes, Bill C-11 has some drawbacks and aspects of it are controversial (especially when it comes to internet privacy). On the upside, there’s this if you’re a photographer living & working in Canada:

http://www.petapixel.com/2012/11/07/canadian-photogs-now-officially-own-the-copyright-to-all-of-their-photos/#kL33yVHm4KcwQS3b.01

Gun Street Girl's blog post re: Arsenic & Old Silk

Sun, 28 Oct 2012 15:39:25 -0700

Gun Street Girl's blog post re: Arsenic & Old Silk

A Hallowe’eny image. Apologue -The bat and the Bees.

Sat, 27 Oct 2012 16:06:33 -0700

A Hallowe’eny image. Apologue -The bat and the Bees.

“Tiki Tableau.” Made the image into a faded 1960’s style...

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 13:29:16 -0700

“Tiki Tableau.” Made the image into a faded 1960’s style postcard. This was a fun shoot. Every Tuesday resident tiki expert Donnie “Bahama” converts Clough Club in Vancouver’s Gastown into a classic tiki lounge. It’s a hell of a fun time.

“Tiki Tableau.” This was a fun shoot. Every Tuesday...

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 13:25:48 -0700

“Tiki Tableau.” This was a fun shoot. Every Tuesday resident tiki expert Donnie “Bahama” converts Clough Club in Vancouver’s Gastown into a classic tiki lounge. It’s a hell of a fun time.

SHOOTING APRONS FOR GLOVES. (Above: Craig “Old...

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 14:44:00 -0700

SHOOTING APRONS FOR GLOVES.

(Above: Craig “Old Timey” Kenzie, Mark “The Machine” Louie)

I’ve been hesitant to write this blog post because I don’t want to be self-indulgent or steal anyone’s thunder. Aprons For Gloves and The Restaurant Rumble is about community. But this is a blog about the work I do and I was privileged to be given a supporting role and unique perspective on this worthwhile project. I literally had a ring side seat.

I love coffee and cocktails and I know many of the best baristas...

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 14:43:00 -0700

I love coffee and cocktails and I know many of the best baristas and bartenders in this city. When images of them striking (mostly absurd) boxing stances starting popping up on Twitter and facebook I had to find out what it was all about.

Sitting in Pourhouse I asked Patrick about Aprons For Gloves. He introduced me to Nick who explained that the old boxing gym on the Downtown Eastside had closed it’s doors and the kids that trained there had nowhere to go.

(Above: Dennis “The Steamroller” Brock) This...

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 14:42:00 -0700

(Above: Dennis “The Steamroller” Brock)

This wasn’t just any gym. It was a safe haven for at-risk youth. Over the years Coach Dave became a mentor to many of these kids. He doesn’t just train them, he advocates for them. He checks their report cards, he talks to their parents, teaches them self-respect and champions them both inside and outside the ring. He will tell you that he’s less interested in nurturing the next boxing prodigy and more interested in creating responsible young men and women who will go on to contribute to their community.

(Above: Chris “The Coffee Grinder” Giannakos) Nick...

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 14:41:00 -0700

(Above: Chris “The Coffee Grinder” Giannakos)

Nick set up a charity called Aprons For Gloves to raise funds to build a new gym. www.apronsforgloves.com and was producing a charity boxing match called The Restaurant Rumble. The gorgeous documentary series by Warren Lane Productions. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WYFs5HkD80&feature=relmfu explains it better than I ever could.

(Above: Hamish “The Brew Monster” MacCrae) When I...

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 14:40:00 -0700

(Above: Hamish “The Brew Monster” MacCrae)

When I was a kid my dad used to take me and my siblings to the Downtown Eastside every Saturday. We would buy meat from Save-On Meats and Freybe’s and deliver it to The Franciscan Sisters of Atonement. A convent that prepared meals for the homeless in the neighbourhood.

I grew up middle class in the suburbs but my dad’s family came from a modest home. He and my mom took care to remind us how fortunate we were. Instead of sheltering us from the often harsh realities of life the DTES they challenged us to confront them. He became a community organizer and us kids grew up surrounded by activists like Jim Green and Harry Rankin. I grew up having an affinity for the DTES. It was where we went to community and cultural events, shopped and dined. And it would be a few blocks south where I opened my studio in 2000.

(Above: Stuart “The Ginger Ninja” Whyte) As Nick...

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 14:39:00 -0700

(Above: Stuart “The Ginger Ninja” Whyte)

As Nick described the project I began to wonder if I had anything to offer. There are many ways to help people on the DTES. Twelve weeks of getting punched in the face was one I couldn’t have imagined. The fact that these men and women had volunteered to raise money and were willing to put their bodies on the line was a story I wanted to lend a hand in telling.

(Above: Steve “Bad News” Da Cruz) It occurred to me...

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 14:38:00 -0700

(Above: Steve “Bad News” Da Cruz)

It occurred to me that the event would need photography. For posters, playbills and online publicity. I knew that there was potential for a series of stunning portraits too. And I knew that if my dad were around today my contribution to this project, no matter how small, would have made him proud. I felt I had something to offer and I wanted in.

(Above: Samm “The Face Rearranger” Rabby) People had...

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 14:37:00 -0700

(Above: Samm “The Face Rearranger” Rabby)

People had a variety of reactions to the prospect of people from the restaurant industry boxing. Most people like me envisioned a farcical romp. A few rounds of bartenders prancing about and flopping around the ring. It was going to be a mockery of the sport. I was also aware that some official mucky-mucks had trepidation about the event being portrayed as some sort of low brow bloody spectacle. The more people I spoke to the more I began to suspect that the images we produce would come in handy in conveying what was really going on.