Just Divorced!
I first conceived of the idea of a Just Divorced photo shoot while driving around with my friend Jovo who had experienced a cathartic release upon getting divorced. The concept was to explore the idea of divorce as celebration, as release. I had the idea of Jovo jumping out of the back of his 82 vandura with a blow up doll and a “Just Divorced” heart across the rear. Well, as the prep for the shoot continued, the ideas got more and more concrete, and I got interested in parodying wedding images in general. We came up with four set ups an on Sunday September 20th, we shot them!
The shoot was a success with local models, Little Vegas, Gisela Cardenas and Stephanie Manou joining Jovo for a fun shoot, last sunday.
The final images are viewable by clicking the image below.
Assisting on the shoot were expert model wranglers, confetti tossers, and light manipulators: Matthew Power, Michael Gardiner, and Brandon. I would like to thank Melissa Dutchak for producing the “Just Divorced” sign and I would also like to extend an extra special thanks to Christyn and Bogey for allowing us to throw rice and confetti all over their front lawn and turn their living room into a green room. Thanks!
Below are some behind the scenes pics from Michael Gardiner’s iphone.
Photo A Day Insights
It’s been almost a month that I have been taking my camera with me almost everywhere I go. Its been a month of serious looking, examining, mental framing, and risky driving maneuvers as I pull over on the sides of busy roads to shoot something that caught my eye.
Its been fantastic.
But perhaps the most exciting insight I have gleaned from this project so far, is confidence in the knowledge that great images are literally just under my nose. Two of the last three images I have taken are within tennis-ball-throwing-range of my kitchen, and that has re-opened my eyes to the visual world around me. I almost can’t not see pictures everywhere I go at the moment.
Check out my progress: PHOTO A DAY
MJPH
Photo A Day Project!
Commencing on the summer equinox this June 21st 2009, I will take one photograph a day, for one full year.
This project has had several motivations: firstly, I caught myself saying that I take better photos while traveling. I realized that this belief was not only destructive, but completely untrue. Rather than “ability,” it’s attitude that makes great photos in everyday life — that and the discipline of carrying my camera all the time.
There are images, remarkable, small, and beautiful right under my nose every day … primarily, this project is designed to engage my observational abilities in everyday life.
I started on the summer equinox to have a seasonal record, rather than a calendar record of a year. I think this has something to do with connecting directly with my life in an earth-bound manner, rather than a man-made calendar year.
The Plan:
1. Take one photo every day.
2. Take at least one portrait, one landscape and one abstract per week. Anybody want their portrait taken in the next year? Contact me!
I may not be able to upload the images every day, but be assured, the images will have been shot on the day in question.
You can follow my progress at: MJPH’s PHOTO A DAY
CBC Literary Awards Finalist
Line of Control, my account of two weeks traveling through Kashmir made the shortlist of 22 finalists in the creative non-fiction category of the 2008 CBC literary awards.
I consider it a real honor to be shortlisted in a contest that lists authors like Michael Ondaatje amongst its previous winners. For more information on the awards and to view the finalists, click here.
Holiday Photography Sale
Are you searching for something completely unique? There’s still time to order custom prints from my library, and make it in time for the holidays. All colour and black & white C-prints are produced on Kodak Endura paper, with each print personally approved and signed.
The images are avaliable in three custom sizes as outlined below. These prices include framing and mats and glass. Also, these are print sizes, and the actual frames are 6 - 8 inches larger. If you’re interested in prints only, please call me.
FANTASTIC HOLIDAY PRICING!
20″ X 30″ $700 - $900 + PST
16″ X 24″ $350 - $450 + PST
11.5″ X 16″ $250 - $300 + PST
If you are interested in seeing examples of these prints in person, consider visiting Lululemon’s OQOQO on West 4th. I am currently displaying six pieces there as, Lululemon’s Artist of the Month. OQOQO is Lululemon’s organic brand of yoga-inspired clothes, and from what I’ve seen they are beautiful. Unfortunately I couldn’t tell you first hand because it’s women’s only.
If organic tea and coffee is more your thing, I am hanging a selection of images at the AGRO CAFE on Granville Island Sunday December 14th, with my stuff displaying until mid-to-late January. It’s located on Railspur Alley on Granville.
For details on the store location please go here:
All images are available for viewing in the PORTFOLIOS below! Enjoy, and I look forward to hearing from you.
MJPH
Public Street Reading Announced
I was really excited when about a month ago I was invited to read my short story Bukowski My Boilermaker for the Vancouver leg of the Word on the Street Festival. I somehow imagined a small venue, dark and full of coffee where I could ramble on without consequence. What I did not realize - until I looked it up online a few minutes ago - is that I will literally be reading on the street - at the corner of Homer and Georgia. So, I will be a ranting lunatic at the corner of Homer and Georgia, talking about this time this guy told me he’d kill me if I ever laid a hand on him again. It will be good. You should come. That’s Sunday September 28th, 1:00 PM For information on the Festival itself please visit this site. |
Wend Magazine Publishes Ascending A Dragon
Well, there were a few months there where I assumed this cool little magazine from Portland had gone under taking my deep water soloing story with it. News came a few weeks ago and I wasn’t far off: the editors had had some disagreements with their publisher and went to great lengths to get new funding and start a new magazine.
Months later the summer issue of Wend was released (not in Canada) and as compensation I was given a digital version of the magazine which you can read below.
The story concerns a deep water soloing journey in HaLong Bay Vietnam.
Click the link below to read the:
WEND SUMMER ISSUE
Enjoy!
MJPH
BEING THERE - August 5th 2008
A new show of photos will be on display at LOCUS for the month of August. The show features black and white portraits and landscapes from China and the South Pacific.
Western Magazine Award Nomination
Hey good news! My story, Bukowski My Boilermaker, that was the winner of SubTerrain Magazine’s 2007 Lush Triumphant contest has got more legs! It was nominated for a Western Magazine award in the Human Experience category.
Climbing Photo Annual
One of my photos from Cuba was selected in the May issue of Climbing magazine. It features my buddy and Havana underground climbing scenester Jose Fuentes climbing the east face of the Castillo Del Morro - a 16th century castle and major tourist attraction.
Check it out.
The Eel, A Bird and A Hovering Spear Published
FULL SPECTRUM - March 13th 2007
Come down to the Yaletown Brewing Company between March 7th and 13th to view a series of new colour prints from recent trips to Asia and the Caribbean. The series, entitled, “FULL SPECTRUM,” features candid and portrait photography engulfed in vivid colour environments.
FRESH PHOTOS!
Well, those last three months of traveling kinda got pretty busy and I didn’t get to post any photos. I’m starting to post them on Flickr slowly over the next month or so. The first batch are from my first few days in Thailand.
Please click the photo to see em.
I’m Lush Triumphant!
I submitted a story to a creative non-fiction contest called Lush Triumphant about a year ago, and low and behold it has been selected for publishing! It will be published in the forthcoming issue of SUBTERRAIN MAGAZINE.
Subterrain is having a party for the release of the issue and yours truly will be reading from “Bukowski My Boilermaker.” The event is this Tuesday April 24th at the Montmarte Cafe on Main street. Show up about 7:30 or so to get a seat.
First Published Writing!!!
Hey guess what? The Globe and Mail has picked up a polished version of “The Ugliness of Tourism” story. It will be published in the travel section SATURDAY MARCH 17th.
I had two coconut shakes in celebration!
MJPH
