FILM!

So I have developed the film from the 4x5 cameras Scott and I shot with 2 weeks ago, scanned film and they turned out so sick. We used ISO 50 transparencies which are really specific and you have to get your settings spot on or your screwed. Seems we succeeded, I love using these cameras.

Burton US Open

ben, me, shaun white

Peetu Pilroinenben, Jake & Donna, me, zac, davedave, ben, peter line, me, (im so bad with names)

So I've been in Vermont since Wednesday arriving home late Sunday night. I got invited by the Burton crew here in Ontario along with a bunch of other rad dudes and dudettes to venture in a convoy of big black ominous SUVs and trucks to the Burton US Open. We went to Burlington at first, to tour the Burton Headquarters with its incorporated skate and jib park with big bowl and half pipe in the back where the local kids come to skate. Inside everything is open and bright, everybody is in shorts and sandals with their dogs roaming freely around the office and the Burton store. After taking a walk around and meeting all the people behind the scenes we continued on to the BMC or Burton Manufacturing Center. I have watched a Burton Vapor get constructed from nothing to a finished product. Remarkable and totally amazing. To much to really get into all the details, this isn't "How it's Made", if you want to know ask me and ill go into it, i'm a huge tech nerd, but not on here.

Anyways, highlights, well I met the ginger phenom Shaun White, chatted for a bit and snapped a shot in which you can't see where his hair stops and mine begins. Then the big man himself Jake Burton and his wife Donna, nicest people every, lifechanging event. And last but definatly not least, chilled with Peter Line 2 nights, such a solid dude. All in all I will never forget the past 5 days ever!

There are more photos of the Halfpipe event on my Flickr.

thanks to dave pearson for the party shots.

Scott Pilgrim vs The World

So they're filming a movie at the intersection Sonia and I live at called Scott Pilgrim vs The World based on the series of graphic novels by Bryan Lee O'Malley. The crew is placing cotton fake snow and then blowing ice and snow everywhere else as well to create a snow scene then driving a old TTC bus through the intersection. Michael Cera is staring as Scott Pilgrim who must defeat his beautiful new girlfriends 7 evil ex-boyfriends in order to win her heart. It's funny seeing I have a very good friend named Scott Pilgrim who is also peers with O'Malley, small world huh? Sonia thought it was a prank that Scott was playing on us when we first received a notification about the filming in our mailbox until I told her about the comics.
I got in trouble for taking photos, had to be covert.

UPDATE: Flickr has been updated with some photos of the Burton US Open at Stratton Mtn in Vermont that I just got back from. Such a great time full post to come once I collect some more photos from friends.

Canadian Music Fest

bloc party photo: emma svensson

holy fuck photo: james mejia

Sonia and I went to show on Saturday as part of the Canadian Music Festival. We went and saw Bloc Party but were pleasantly surprised to find out that the opening band that night was none other than edgy Toronto natives Holy Fuck. Bloc Party played and entertaining show but as hard as I have tried to like the new album, hearing it live cemented that it does nothing for me. Maybe a few songs, but otherwise it has settled in uncomfortably as the the dreaded third album. I was talking to my friend Jason and he was saying that he read an interview that said each member has been taking their turn with the albums and creating them in their own direction which is kinda cool, but it was clear from the crowds reactions as the show went on that Silent Alarm still reigns. People weren't rocking out to the new album not because they didn't know the words, everyone was still singing along. They just aren't as good. Even clarity, the new stuff is all over the place and disorderly. Silent alarm was on point and tight almost math-rockish. I'll put it this way, if I didn't already know and like Bloc Party before that show, I wouldn't of cared about them after.

Which brings me to the highlight of the the night, Holy Fuck! No, that's the band. They stole the show in my mind, just amazing. Experimental, improvisational electronic rock. Started by Graham Walsh and Brian Borcherdt "a chaotic live celebration of lo-fi noise and weirdo casio-driven rock. With a rotating rhythm section consisting of some close friends and multi-talented players they were described as 'Toronto's evil super group'." Working with all sorts of artist from, Broken Social Scene, Do Make Say Think and even recording and working with Glenn Milchem drummer of Blue Rodeo (and side project the swallows) as part of the band for some time. They are so worth a listen and if you get a chance to see them, GO!

Distillery

UPDATE: a b/w version of the top photo was used by blogTO for their weekend radar, you can see it here.

Went to the Distillery Dist. yesterday with school. Was pretty fun, went on a mini tour guided by my prof Johan and then just cruised around and took photos. There are lots more on my flickr and while your at it check out sojourn-al to see a couple of really cool stitched shots that Scott took.

update: visited all the galleries that were open and saw some really amazing stuff. A full post to come on one of the exhibitions I saw. Also got a tour of the Pikto Studio, and although this is on Scott's blog also we just thought it was so awesome I feel I need to make mention of it as well. Has a huge 16"x22" cyclorama, I want one! Skate half and shoot with half!

Hands Up

I shot Sonia the other nite, haha get it?....sorry. Don't worry, she's ok.

update: she hates this photo.

My Brothers Keeper

David hasn't been featured in any of my photos for a while. It was great spending time with him this week. He is also a natural model.

Secret Garden Club

Seems like the conservatory is becoming a frequent walk spot for us lately, took some more photos in and of it. There are some 'art-fag' shots and I also tried to take some more broad documenting shots so you could see more detail and how its laid out. Today at school Scott and I used 4x5 cameras outside. I really enjoy using these cameras, there is a lot of control you can have, its just going to take some time to learn, that and they're huge! It's also fun to be using film again. Once I get the negatives developed, as long as they expose popular, whether they're good or bad, I'll scan them and post so you can see my first attempt. Until then check out the Garden photos on my flickr here.

Self Hype

So Ive been mentioning and posting school a bit lately, so to keep with that theme. Scott Pilgrim posted a collection of photos of his photos from a white balance exercise him and I had to do. Then added a dismantling sketch of me. Check Scott's blog sojourn-journal (or as I like to call it sojourn-al) and the full size image on his flickr here.

Fenced In

A tree at the beach trying to escape the confines of a fence.