Behind The Pie.

Here are some outtakes  from the making of the first "pie", Pie magazine premire issue. The web blog machine will not let me upload more then five, but there are many many more. These are my "fave 5". Enjoy.

This was actually the very first watch shot out of the whole set, as soon as I saw the dude and the stache, this was my first idea but it had to be toned down for our target market. we didn't want to scare anyone away with the first issue, "bunch of pervs those people over at Pie Magazine they are......." people would say. It might/might not show up in an artshow all cropped and different looking in the near future, who knows?

This was one of the outakes from the "gossip guys" fashion editorial shoot. Obviously not an intentional photo but we were shooting till like 1030 at night and this was the second last shot of the evening and everyone was getting tired and wanting to finish up. Sometimes when your that tired you do silly things and this was one of those moments captured. Oh and just so you know that girl in the shot is our olympic contender for figure skating and the dude is the genius behind Barrielicous(a festival of foods, where people only pay $20.09  to eat at fancy restaurants such as Oscars and other upscale places, it runs throughout the month of july).

So the"Gossip Guys" article was shot at a beautiful mansion owned by restauranteur Mark Porter.  This is where one of the shots took place, you can see Steve Locke's set up and kinda get the vastness of the three tiered back lawn that faces Kempenfelt Bay, the property is absolutely amazing. Probably one of the pimpest places I have ever had the luck to go to, Go there if they invite you over!

So they did a story  about Ryan aka Mr Barrielicious and why he was on the cover. This was the editorial shot for that story, I kinda wanted a silly but seriously looking portrait. While setting up and getting the lighting right, Ryan was joking around and gave me this "bottle dick" pose and it was perfect! the actual shot is a little more refined but this is where I got the pose from. Plus I was still bitter about not being able to run my tounge and cheek sexuality of the mustache watch shot, the world works in weird ways and I got what I wanted. stoked!

This is post champaigne explosion celebration that made the cover. The room was drenched with booze, the lights were safe and the shot was made. It was also like 1130 at night and I still had post to do on it( finished at 3:30am). But no matter how tired we were, the shoot went super well and everyone was stoked.

Pick up a copy of the mag today, lots of hardwork went into it and there is so many talented folks involved in its production, well worth the 5.95. Aren't smokes twice that much these days?

Close But No Cigar.

This post features some "masterpieces" that will most likely never see the light of day aka Print. They were all shot for someone to serve a purpose and when it came down to the client digging them or not, they were sent packing. NOT APPROVED.

This is one aspect of photography that is not necessarily new to me but I am experiencing it more now that starting to meet new clients. They love the work but they don't love the work. Maybe they liked the idea of it but didn't like the final outcome, its not what they had envisioned, who knows. Not getting images approved by clients is definately a sting to the ego but then you have to move on or go back to the drawing board and come to a  new compromise and move forward again.

Sometimes no matter how genius and clever(apparently pretty clever as Oprah was feeling the grass theme this month also see O magazine cover shot) you think the shots are and how you think the images will give the client a new modern look and feel to their business, its ultimately up to the client and sometimes even though through conversation they are up for "new ideas". Its easier and more effective for the client to stay with the same style and "look" they have adapted through the years. Nothing personal. CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR.

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"