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.

School

Just a couple of silly photos from school, purely for posts sake. My legs looking downward and the spiral shell case, uh, stair case. There is a great one of Scott on my flickr we did for a panning shot as part of an assignment. Great fun, check it here!

Kropilak

Took this after the winterfest pictures. A very Branislav Kropilak inspired pic. His are way better and impossibly clean.

Office Space

My great friend Malcolm who lives in Scotland is studying construction design architecture stuff at Uni in Glasgow. While doing research for a project he found something and thought id like it. It's about old subway cars being turned into office space and working space for artists called Village Underground. Based in London England, it was created by furniture designer Auro Foxcroft. Some may remember a similar project using old shipping containers. You can see one here and the subway cars here.

Games Night!

So i'm completely out of chronological order here, this happened even before Wintercity Fest.

Anyways, on the 6th we had a games night at our apartment. You know, good old fashioned family games night. Catch phrase, Jenga the excitement was almost to much for some. All in all it was alot of fun. Good old firends and some new ones too. Music and drink, lots of food from the potluck dinner with the main couse graciously prepared by Jenna. Her first 'real' food dinner she'd ever prepared and it was awesome. Here is a little taste of the evening, and as my trend has been lately there are more available on my flickr here.

Nathan Phillips Square

So Sonia and I went to Nathan Phillips Square last week to watch the second night of the Wintercity Festival here in Toronto. There are some more pictures on the event on my flickr.

Alot going on lately very busy, to much to give a proper update so I hope you enjoy pictures.

PBNYC

Button Up, originally uploaded by Poster Boy NYC.

So I have recently added another link to the site, some of you may have noticed, most of you probably not. Anyways one of Sonia's co-workers and friend of ours Jenna has a blog called Searching for Answers. Pretty cool stuff I suggest you check it. I found this on there and I think its awesome.... street artist Poster Boy NYC check it here or go to Jenna's blog for more.

Beaches

Sonia and I went to the Beaches for a walk today at Kew Beach, I brought my camera along an took some snaps. It was a beautiful day with sun and not to much wind, the beach was busy with people, kids and dogs. We had a really good time. There are more on my flickr here if you want to take a look.

Thomas Forsyth

So I bumped into this guy Thomas Forsyth cruising around I forget where now, but it was for another piece of his work with spinning tops but I'm a huge chess fan and when I found this I thought it was just way too neat!

UPDATE: I forgot about this, but the GZA from Wu-Tang is also obsessed with chess, he believes teaching kids to play at a young age will assist in taking on the world and taking over it. Read more here. He wrote a ultimatum about it for Frank 151 but I couldn't find it. If you can it's awesome.

Goodbye Christmas

We finally took down the Christmas tree. But instead of just taking it outside and leaving it on the side of the road. We decided to utilize this and heat our home, so I cut off all the branches and sawed it into sections and we had a roaring fire all night. All with my Swiss Army knife too! Here is all that's left.

we sure do!

Allan Gardens Conservatory

Had a weekend off for a change which was nice. It's not often Sonia and I have corresponding days off so we took the opportunity to visit the Allan Garden's Conservatory just a block away from our place. It is part of the Toronto Botanical Gardens and is almost 100 years old with over 16 000 square ft of greenhouses all interlinked with different sections and different temperatures and moisture levels it's really awesome. Areas for tropical plants, palms, seasonal cooler trees, a cacti desert section, ponds, water falls, bridges and a water wheel. If you get a chance I suggest you make a visit, it's open 7 days a week 10-5 and it is 100% FREE. I have more photos posted on my flickr, go here to see!

Flickr Update

I posted some new stuff on flickr, nothing special, but if you're bored. click here.

Emily came over tonight, was so good to see her. Welcome home!

Moist Beaver

Moist Beaver... you may be thinking I'm on a new porn craze lately, Last post with the pixel porn and now Moist Beaver? But let me put you at ease I am not going through puberty again.

Here is a little blurb on what Moist Beaver really is.
Taken from their website

Moist Beaver magazine is a production featuring new aspiring artists and art culture in Toronto and surrounding areas: functioning as a method of publicity, and giving these artists a place to be projected into the public eye and be discussed. The world of art feeds off itself and there is a need for a place to publicly view and analyze art and the contemporary issues that artists and young up and coming adults are addressing today. This magazines goal is exactly that; we have a fun youthful flare and we approach the issues concerning the young adult population.

There are very few platforms for visual artists in Canada to connect, and to gain exposure. In our overly structured society, which revolves around money and connections, artist tend to find it hard to make a name for themselves, despite whether they are talented or not. This magazines function is 3 fold:

1. A platform for artists to view other work of their contemporaries, gain insight and advice from others, and get ideas for their own practice, as well as broaden their horizons about mediums techniques and opportunities that exist in the artistic world for young artists.

2. A place for artists to gain exposure, exhibit talent and make connections. As well as a place for artists (and commercial photographers, writers, etc) to showcase their talent, add to their resume and expand their knowledge.

3. A way for people to address and read about current issues, connect with the culture in the emerging youth of Canada, and a place for people to voice opinions, and ideas about society, change, and our physical world.

Or just check it out for yourself here.

Emily is the girl smoking the cigar on the main page in gray, she recently had some photos featured in the latest issue which is available online you can download here. You should totally do it!

UPDATE: I thought this needed a picture so I added one.
photos by: Emily Marie Collins, Jen Mann and Erika Brodzky

Jean-Yves Lemoigne

Pixxxel Porn. So I bumped into this photographer Jean-Yves Lemoigne while cruising around on It's Nice That only to later realize that i'd already been to his site for something else I saw on a post on Main Vein by resident blogger sp, then to again fall upon it on Fabrik so I figgered although he has been featured on a few blogs already I wanted to highlight a different series of his. I think the style is awesome, reminds me of playing Duke Nukem 3D back in the day. Check out his stuff it's pretty great and some stuff is rather funny. Here are some other cool ones of his.

Dan Grzeca

I was very lucky this Christmas, Sonia spoiled me to the extreme. One of the highlights was a collection of hand screened Explosions In The Sky posters which are featured on the walls of our home. Two of which were done by Dan Grzeca who has a very distinct style and has done work for all sorts of band from Explosions to the Black Keys, Iron and Wine, The Melvins, Built To Spill and even Saves The Day and Atmosphere. I like it, check his blog with the link above or check out or even buy some posters here.

I've also started back at school and it is mad, in many senses of the word, the classes are rad but as comes with school, I've got a lot on.....and no money

Grotesk

I was up early today to do some work for extra cash so I've been sitting here since 8:3oam waiting to go to my normal job at 10 so i've just been surfing checking out some stuff. I'm not a huge hypebeast viewer but I was on the site this morning and found this.

Collection of artwork from Brooklyn's Kimou Meyer, aka Grotesk. In case you didn't know Grotesk also did the art for the Cool Kids album Bake Sale. A lot of his work is pretty funny and quite sarcastic. Check out his flickr to see some more of his art as well as some amazing New York street art and graffiti.

While your surfing around you can check this too. My friend Jude reps this mag called Frank151 which I think is visual stunning and very entertaining to read, they have a new hat colab with New Era 59Fifty. While on the frank site I found these videos by Jack McBrayer called Livin' Neath the Law, this one is How To Rip Off a Drug Dealer, so good!

Christmas Party

It was moguls Christmas party on Saturday at one99. more to come but this gives you and idea of what it was like

photo by jim waddington