Shoot Your Friends.

Tim - somewhere outside Orillia

Sometimes the context of content can be kinda confining(Alteration!) and sometimes I just want to shoot people, just cause I like to. If you have friends that are into photography like I do, then most often then not they are in the same boat. For me lately this has kinda given me the chance to explore some sweet new locations. Recently my friend Tim and I came acrossa  really great place to take photos, neither of us had any plan or had anything inparticluar to shoot, we both just wanted to shoot for practice sake, just cause we can. Unfortunately, as soon as we set up, JC had to add his 2cents and the rain and clouds moved in and we got one heck of a thunderstorm, luckily I have a few film shots(waiting for Noritzu to fix the C41 machine at work) but have yet to be developed, I did get one digi shot, see 'Tim - somewhere outside of Orillia".

Tamara - Backyard Lawn

 Some other new locations I have found have been right where you least expect them or maybe its just trying something new, looking to broadering my horizons. One place that I didn't really realize would be my new favorite is my backyard lawn. It has the texture, the colour that I dig, its extremely easy to get to and if its one of those days or nights, I can have a few beverages while shooting! The neighbours might think your nuts but f'em, everyone is crazy in some sort of way right?

Tamara - at the family property.

So now that I have gotten over the stigma of shooting without content( I do think that content is one aspect to making a successful photograph but not always) it seems that I can feel free to shoot where I want without feeling guilty of "slacking off". One thing that I have learned especially from certain folks pushing me, is that its better to shoot something then nothing at all. So thats kinda what I have been doing lately when either my ADD starts to kick in or I just want to shoot something new. 

Shoot Yourself.

Self Portrait in my backyard(post footwear shoot, 11pm)

So when it comes to photography I think I have ADD. Sometimes I  just want to take pictures, maybe to practice some sort of  lighting that I have been wanting to try or just cause the weather is right or the people I do want to shoot do don't want to be shot that particular day. so that leaves me hangin'. what to shoot, who to shoot or where to shoot?

Self Portrait- Low lighting practice. No.3

If no one is as stoked as I am? Then maybe I should shoot myself? F''em, you don't needs those people to take photos, to practice lighting, I have a good face for pictures(at least thats what my girlfriend tells me), so I  should shoot myself! makes perfect sense? So here are some of my DIY Attempts.

Self portrait In basement.

Self Portrait - Low lighting practice.No.5

One thing that I have found when doing self portraits, there is no one to scubble with, no one to rush you or make you feel rushed,  your on your clock not someone eleses. You have the time to do the complicated lighting that no one wants to sit through as you perfect it inch by inch. So when the homies are being downers and your dying to shoot someone, I say shoot yourself!

So here it is The IJH photographs blog!

Title page for the series "Immortalized In Flesh"

So I have been kinda busy since moving back to Barrie. I have been hustling to survive and I have also been working on two personal projects. The first is a series entitled "Immortalized in Flesh".  The reason why I started this series was because I have quite a few friends that have some bitchin' tattoos thats are rarely seen in detail. So I wanted them displayed in a way you could  see the beautiful colours, design and skill. So I figured now is a better time then ever to start photographing the tattoos and the people that have them. Its sort of away for me to give back to my homies and strangers for taking a step that I haven't been able to yet.

The second series isn't that "new" but definately far from complete. Thats the series entitled "Homecoming" which features portraits, landscapes and places from around Barrie and surrounding area, all the stuff I left behind when I moved to Ottawa. All shot with natural light, no electronic flash set ups, nothing. Just cloudy skies aka J.C's Softbox.

I have also been shooting and post producing images for the premire issue of Pie Magazine. Pie magazine is a lifestyle magazine situated out of Barrie, the coool thing about Pie Magazine for me is that they have been really great and have pretty much let me do whatever I want as long as its in context of the article, so I am really pumped to be working with them! Unfortunately you'll have to wait for those images, sucks I know! You can see the behind the scenes shots of the shoots I have done for Pie on my facebook, not really a sneak peek but definately a close second! Enjoy.

"Bo and Adelle" from the series "Homecoming"