Sheltered by the earth

October 5, 20066 Comments

My Elements series of self-portraits was started on a whim last summer when I decided to experiment with motion blur by swirling sari fabric in front of the camera. The resulting effect created by the blurring and colouration of the photos made me think of fire, and eventually I decided to build the series around it interpreting the four elements. Second in the series was Floating, where I attempted to simulate the look of swimming underwater through a combination of lighting and the use of fabric.

The above photo is from a shoot I did this past weekend to interpret the element of Earth. Althought I’m quite happy with this photo it doesn’t fit well with the rest in the series. It is a little too different in it’s literal use of the earth, and lacks the two elements common to the other two: motion and fabric. At this point I’m not sure if I will reshoot this idea another way, or just try to create a similar effect through further manipulation in photoshop.

Body

August 4, 20064 Comments

I was trying to find some suitable poetry or verse to go along with this photo, but I haven’t had much success. (Vaguely searching google rarely yeilds anything good in that respect.) If you have any suggestions, then please leave a comment.

Self Portraits

April 10, 20061 Comment

I have a short article about my self-portraiture work in the April issue of Vein Magazine. Their current theme is “Portraits: both sides of the lens.” Please go check it out.

Learning to use my wings

March 27, 2006

Are you searching for your soul?
Then come out of your prison.
Leave the stream and join the river
that flows into the ocean.
Absorbed in this world
you’ve made it your burden.
Rise above this world
There is another vision…

~ Rumi

I touch the earth

March 17, 2006

“I know I am made from this earth, as my mother’s hands were made from this earth, as her dreams came from this earth and all that I know, I know in this earth…and I long to tell you, you who are earth too, and listen as we speak to each other of what we know: the light is in us.”

~ Susan Griffin

Elemental

February 9, 20063 Comments

To my surprise, over the course of the past year self portraiture has become part of my artistic practice. What began as a very tentative and conservative foray into taking pictures of myself is now an endlessly creative outlet for exploring ideas and personal expression.

My most recent foray into self portraiture builds upon a series of shots taken in the summer called “Burning” where I created the illusion of fire by playing around with sari fabric and in-camera blur. I’ve since decided to turn this into a larger series exploring the four elements, with water as the natural succession to fire.

The idea for the water images was inspired by the underwater portraits of Howard Schatz.I specifically had in mind his beautifully published book “Waterdance” which is now out of print but I was lucky enough to come across in a used bookstore. With “Floating” I sought to simulate the murkiness and lighting quality of underwater using textured fabric in front of the lens and a wavy lighting pattern falling on the black background.

I am fairly happy with the results from this shoot, but feel they could be stonger with a further exploration on the same theme. Stay tuned for the next attempt.

I like to make silly self portraits.

February 5, 2006

When scarves attack!

2005 pictoral review…

January 2, 20061 Comment

In honour of New Years day, I’m presenting some of the photographic “Year 2005 in Review” slide shows for your viewing pleasure.

Reuters – 2005 Pictures of the Year.

MSNBC – Editors and Readers Choice.

CBC – Faces of 2005.

CBC – Canada The Year in Photos.

Looking back through my own photos from the past year, I realize it’s difficult to choose just a few that I feel are the “best of” or that sum up the year for me. It’s been a very productive and inspired year artistically, thanks to the photo community at Flickr and to my local group of Flickr friends in Vandigicam. I’ve decided to select some of my favorite photos from a few of the series I worked on this past year:

In 2005 I was inspired to explore self portraiture in a way I never have before, and in the process I think I learned a lot more about photographing other people.