Good Mood

This was shot on location at the Ruth King Hall in The Valley, Anguilla.  Strobe was bounced off the ceiling with a strong back side light coming from an open door on camera left.   

Anguilla Facilitators

Here are head shots of some of the facilitators from the Apple Theatre Company Project.  Most of the folks were drawn from government ministries such as education, justice.  The project focused upon empowering the facilitators to create theatrical scenarios, develop stories, manage production, and lead the kids who would actually perform many of the pieces.   It was the hope of the project and its sponsors that through theatre arts, facilitators could expand their problem solving and leadership skills.

Apple Theatre Company in Anguilla BWI

The Apple Theatre Company was commissioned by the Anguillian Ministry of Social Development to facilitate a summer theatre program for teenagers.   One of the mandates of the program was to empower young adults within the community to lead the production exercises with the cast and crew drawn from jr high school kids just being released for summer holidays.   Many thanks to Jasmine, Eleanor, Lenox, Hyacinth, the facilitators, and of course the kids!  We look forward to when we can do it again.

Here are photographs of four kids who contributed to the program:

Lisa Giesbrecht

Here are some tests of body builder, Lisa Giesbrecht, back in her figure days.

Jami Rodermond

Here are few from Jami Rodermond's shoot:

Jan van Vianen

Here are a few more from the photo shoot with Jan van Vianen:

Blue Skies in January - what are the chances

Here are a series of images that Kristie Clarke and I collaborated on a shoot near the top of Beacon Hill Park.  The original concept of the shoot was  fitness lifestyle in the the dark, overcast, almost stormy Vancouver Island winter.  The weather leading up to the shoot was looking promising with rain, wind, and general nastiness.  Then on the day of the shoot - blue skies!  Oh well, let's work it.

For this shot I underexposed the background by a few stops, placed a White Lightning X1600 with standard reflector camera right at full power.  

For the this shot (and the first image), we used a beauty dish on camera left with the sun coming in from behind Kristie on camera right, giving her a nice rim highlight.

Special thanks to Kristie for collaborating!  I look forward to working together again.

Dragonfly Hill Vineyards

Dragonfly Hill Vineyard is a Vancouver Island vineyard owned and operated by Carol Wallace on Old Saanich Road, and I was given the assignment to shoot the editorial pictures on one of the hottest days of last June.  The  Everything Wine Magazine story by Jason Sych can be found here.  I believe the image below of the new grape cluster made the cover which I really enjoyed as it is not the typical image you might see as the cover of wine mag (I.E. swollen grapes near harvest).

All the outdoor shots were taken at mid to late afternoon at the beginning of June.   To tame the contrast and get some detail in the shadows (I.E. under Carol's very cool sun hat), a collapsible reflector was called to duty.  Luckily there was not much wind that day and I was able to prop it up with my foot, leg, a post, a vine, and of course the editor, Jason Sych.

For the interior shots, I placed a White Lightning X1660 with standard reflector in the middle of the driveway and blasted it through the window you see on the right.   Once inside, I was able to get some interesting reflections off the stainless steel tanks.  A collapsible reflector with the silver side was used opposite the window.

I am particularly impressed by  writers who can look totally at ease while two fisting at work.  Jason, I love working with you!  

Jasmine and Louis

These images of Jasmine and our son, Louis, were shot in 2007 in what was my little studio.   We have since converted the space into a double barrel office with dueling desks.

The shots were taken with an umbrella'd speedlight camera left, and another speedlight with a grid for the background spot.  The background is actually a 4 x 8 sheet for Styrofoam insulation.

Light On Our Feet

Nath Keo and Holly Vivian

I had the opportunity to photograph several dance groups who contributed to Light on our Feet; an event conceived by Holly Vivian, Lead Tech at Metro Studio,  home of Intrepid Theatre.  The festival was a raised funds to acquire specialized lighting that dance companies more often than not have to rent for their productions.  With nearly every organization, artists especially, struggling to find ways to lower their operating costs and still provide good products, the acquisition of these lights will go a long way to enhance the value offering from Metro Studio, and ultimately lower the production expenses and simplify logistics for dance companies.

Kudos to Holly for conceiving and producing the event.  She is a Pro beyond measure!

Below are a few of the artists who contributed.  Special thanks to all the artists who donated their skill and passion.

Lights consisted of 2 White Lightning X1600 strobes.  Main is a Photek Softlighter, camera left, and fill is center high in an shoot thru umbrella.  There is also a silver reflector in camera right.

triPOD dance collective

 

Constance Cooke

Suddenly Dance

Jung-ah  Chung

Kelly Tyerman

Cheesecake Burlesque Revue

Anne Marie Cabri

Nath Keo

Here is the lighting diagram: