Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Mark & Mei - Winter Engagement Session!

Well, this past weekend we took on the challenge of an engagement session in the cold Toronto winter...and we certainly couldn't have asked for a greater couple then Mark & Mei! We didn't have any 'specific' locations in mind, so a small city tour occurred and it yielded so many great ideas that I would recommend it for future couples any time! Of course, the cold temperatures were definitely not for everyone, and we were lucky to avoid winds and heavy snow...but enough rambling! :) Here's a sample of the many great shots!






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30 - Pick your fav!






BEHIND THE SCENES

We found this at the dollar store - what a crappy son, IMO:
http://www.jclayphoto.com/v1site_images/galleries/gallery170/IMG_8413-Edit.jpg">

Getting ready. We each wore x2 pairs of pants!



Saturday, February 21, 2009

The Art of Street Photography Part I & Why Bother..?

Though primarily a wedding and fashion shooter, the idea of street photography has always fascinated me. By that, I mean it in a literal sense - photographs, almost always candid, of people going about their day to day outside in public. It's proved a big challenge for me, and perhaps that's one of the big reasons for the draw - where shooting, say, an engagement session, I can direct, pose, and control everything, street photography is nothing but the photographer doing the best with what he can.

Additionally, it's very difficult to photograph someone in a 'true' moment - people, especially in large cities, are very guarded and kept to themselves, and a professional camera on someone's neck can often be akin to a gun holster sticking out of someone's waist. Not that I can understand it, but I can relate - as a young adult, the absolute last thing I wanted was a camera pointed at me, and I would go to great lengths to not be on that side of a lense.

With the wedding season starting up in the next month or so, I've been given the chance to pursue more of this fascinating style. Capturing emotion, interaction, *real* people in an artistic rendering is certainly great fun and I believe creates some beautiful results...tells some great stories. I hope you agree.


















Set II