BluesFest 2009

Well it's taken a few days, but the glow has faded. BluesFest is over for another year.

There were so many big-name artists this year that it was hard to see them all. We did get to see Joe Cocker, Styx, Jackson Browne, Ben Harper, Blue Rodeo, and of course KISS. One of my favourite artist was there too, Matt 'Stubby Fingers' Anderson.

Matt Andersen in a blur as usual. Freakin' amazing player, singer, entertainer.

Here's some more performers...

Blue Rodeo.

More Blue Rodeo.

Great performance. Loved it.

I just thought he was a cool guy.

I’ve served as a volunteer photographer for two years so far. This year there were five photographers covering the festival with an assignment to capture each of the 30 roles volunteers perform. What a blast! The images were used in a daily online newsletter, for a slideshow at the volunteer appreciation party, and for various promo ads throughout the year.

Here's some of over 100 images I submitted.

Volunteers working at the Internet Cafe

The crew at the wine cafe.

These are the 'Alternate' volunteers, the minute men of the the north.
Ready to race off and fill in the gaps at a moments notice.

Sometimes it's not all fun and games.
These alternates are waiting it out at the 'Village', dreaming of their next assignment.

Another great assignment is to park bikes all day long. Work, work, work...

After or before each shift, we were served an excellent meal at the Volunteer Village where performers entertain on an ‘open-mic’ stage. Really chill!

Volunteers relaxing at the Village

At the village, conversations are easy among fellow volunteers taking a break. There’s a common feel among us that’s very positive and fun. Some I spoke to have been doing this for 9 years and have developed friendships here that have extended beyond the festival.

Our friend, Fran being the boss lady at a beer tent.

Our friend, Jennifer, explaining something cool to
my wife, Joey, and another friend, Lori.

I can't wait for next year. Till then...

Fine Art Printing Workshop

Last weekend I attended my first photography workshop. I've been to various lectures and meetings and trade shows on photography but this is the first time I've paid to have a professional photography pass on his/her expert knowledge. It was worth every cent.


Andrew Collett has a studio in Port Carling Ontario, a small town right next to Algonquin Park. He specializes in beautiful landscape images of the north and is especially known for his work within the park. The workshop class was small (7 of us) which allowed direct interaction with him in an intimate environment. It was conducted in the studio work area surrounded by all the tools of his trade: several Epson printers, frame-cutters, hanging/spraying room, canvas stretcher, matt cutters, etc.

We were asked to bring along a few raw files of images we would work on in the course. Most of the attendees were well established amateur landscape artists and brought amazing images. After this weekend, I felt like a rank novice in the world of outdoor/landscape imagery. Something I hope to improve on with some exercises over the summer and another one of his 'in-the-field' courses in the fall.

One by one the others brought their images onto the main computer for class discussion. My inexperience in the capture and handling of outdoor scenes became evident as successive students displayed their prize images. The distraction gave some opportunity for an emergency dive back into my small collection of archive images on the laptop. I slipped in one picture from a business trip the week before and another taken in panic on the morning drive to the studio.

Click on image for a larger view.
Naval Test Facility at Dodge Pond, CT.

Click on image for a larger view.
Roadside on the way to Workshop.

Andrew instructed us on image editing for print preparation. His fine touch was evident in the minor adjustments that, while appearing subtle, made all the difference in the final printed product. This included exposure and black point, white balance, curves, input/output sharpening, and a few other adjustments.

His understanding of the various print media led to selecting various subject images for a matching paper type. The test facility one above for instance is very contrasty and benefited from a glossy print to bring out the deep blacks and sharp edges. The roadside image was suited for a canvas media.

Finally, his framing and canvas wrap techniques were really cool. Canvas mirror wrapping, protective coating, stretching, and mounting were done very efficiently with two methods. He also demonstrated glass-cutting, matting, and framing. Those who had images printed out left with their artwork either framed or canvas wrapped.

Check out some of the fun here in a slideshow.

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Spring Walk

Spring's New Life. This past Victoria Day weekend, we set up our camp and enjoyed the new life around us. Spring reminds us that life triumphs everything. New grass, new buds, tracks in the warm mud, and secrets coming out of holes in the ground. It's a time to discover just how irrepressible the seeds of life are!

The flowers! There's a flood of colours and variety this year. Ottawa's Tulip Festival is a highlight of our nation's annual display of gratitude from a wartime friend-nation, the Netherlands. Though that dark war is long past, the springs that followed are the repeating "I told you so" reminder that every winter ends. Boys target dandelions instead of brothers.

Fresh Mud. While looking down to mind my way, I discovered impressions of past explorers. From animal, man, and automobile come marks that sign to us, "I've been here."











Fraggle Rock!
Like the magical hidden world where Fraggles live, there's glowing hints of subterranean kingdoms in culverts and holes. Spring brings the possibility of new discoveries.

KellyLee Evans at Lorne and Lori's

Another house concert at Lorne and Lori's place. Yes, and this time it was one of our favourites, KellyLee Evans. Check out her website.

She's an amazing local talent with 2007 Juno and Gemini Award nominations as a singer-songwriter. Some of my favourite songs are "Rapunzel", "Let's Call A Truce Tonight", and "Help Me Help You".

After setting up in the corner of the yard by the house, her band started cranking it up and Kellylee started into her set. The neighbors had their chairs out and listened along with the guests that filled the back yard.

She had her stories and friendly banter. A tale about how she cut her finger. You can see that bandage in the slideshow.

After more than an hour, she and her band quickly packed up, chatted with the guests, and headed off to their next gig at the Ottawa Tulip Festival. Busy night!

Check out more images from the evening here.

What's next? Some suggestions were made and I wouldn't be surprised if another favourite sing-songwriter will be dropping by before summer's end.

Matt Andersen Strikes Again!

Matt Andersen hit the Black Sheep Inn in Wakefield BIG TIME. What a night! He played solid for two hours and had the crowd whispering his words, clapping and finger snapping the beat, belly-laughing at his self-deprecating wit, and at the end howling for more.

He is a huge talent in an extra large shirt.



His interpretation of Bruce Springsteen's song, "I'm on Fire" was soulful and as one fan piped, "...better than original!"

Matt is on a cross Canada journey in his van. He has a very ambitious schedule and you can see it here along with his Tour Diary.

Neil McDaniel started the night. He is a fellow New Brunswick'er. Nice performance. Later he accompanied Matt on the keyboard. Check out his site here.


If you've never heard of Matt, track him down. Check out his site at www.stubbyfingers.ca . He's coming to Blues Fest in Ottawa this summer. A MUST see.

More photos of the night, some friends, and Lucy-the-bar-dog here.

A View from Civilization

Click image for larger view...
...just finished watching the climatic end of Battlestar Galatica. I've watched this from it's beginning in my dorm in the 1980's with a packed crowd of RMC cadets (mostly Engineers and artsie types) hanging on every word. I've watched it with grown kids in my home in the 2000's. I've watched as 'Everything that has happened will happen again." :-)

On a walk-about downtown, I slipped across the bridge to the Museum of Civilization. Saw this panorama while looking across the river and thought of the cycle of things; how power & pride revolve around fall & ruin and sweep back into building & growth. Not a desperately sad thought if you realize we always find a way to pick up and carry on. Quite an amazing thing... this cycle we as individuals follow, as families, as nations.

It struck me that our nation's captial buildings are framed on one side by buildings filled with a history of civilization and on the other a bridge between two cultural nations. One side of this bridge is rooted in a city forest of buildings, the other extends to trees and nature. Kinda artsy but in context of this theme of cycles it resonated.

Here's a few others in a slideshow. Hope you enjoy.

Blacksheep Inn, 12 March 2009

Another great experience at the Blacksheep Inn in Wakefield Quebec.

Fairly often, a group of our friends get together at local events to enjoy various Canadian Blues talent. One of our favs is Steven Fearing who appeared last Thursday at the Blacksheep Inn.



Accompanying him this time was fellow maritimer Catherine MacLennan. A great evening!


For more pictures of these two, jump to the slides.

Woman have shoe stores...

Ya I know, it does sound sexually biased but I speak from experience. Some woman can spend hours going in and out of shops looking for the perfect shoe or dress or whatever. That just doesn't happen for me. In fact, large sections of my brain go inert when dragged along on such an adventure.

But then there's equipment crack!

No surprise that men have stuff too. This is usually related to either high-tech gear that makes noise and pictures (stereos, HD screens, etc.) or more noise and gears (power tools, cars, etc.). Some guys (like myself) are slaves to camera sh%@. It's like crack. Don't do well without a hit every week or so. Can't really afford to indulge but love to dream.


Yesterday was my day to go walkabout and chill. Like a free-electron following a random path, there's always a capture potential out there. In fact, there's such a highly positive-charged gravity well located inside places like The Camera Trading Company (368 Bank St, Ottawa, Ontario). There's an event boundary close to the front door. Once past that, there's no escape... nothing comes back out.

Inside is a dazzling assortment of camera gear that baffoozel's the camera geek mind. Just look at this stuff!




There to help you in your journey of equipment addiction is Tom Steiner. He's an enthusiastic curator of this museum-like collection. There's a story and education behind every piece. He explained the history and practice of each piece I showed interest in and some I didn't. One in particular was an old large-format camera he had in the window. With painting your own emulsion onto the glass plate you could achieve an equivalent ISO of 3 to 5! Can't imagine the exposure levels you'd need to get a decent picture.

It was hard to leave but what an enjoyable hour.

Feeling moody lately. I'm hungry for new work and to work in a new way. Really want to expand. Then I came across this recently released short film by Zack Arias on transforming yourself and your art.

Check it out here.

It's absolutely brilliant. A must see for all those pro photogs and wannaBe's. Even if you're not in the business, it's applicable to all those who go thru funk-times and feel the cycle of things daunting. He nails so many feelings and comes up with advice that's fairly universal.

I'm actually in a very good place... great family, interesting work, nice home, 25-year-old Chevette that's still running smooth, and the chance to photograph for people. Why is it we want more when we have so much? Hmmm.

New Events slides

Here's some images of Blues singers/bands I've enjoyed over the last year. Great artists and great performances.

Follow the links and enjoy...

Fun nite with the DownChild Blues Band:

Great perfor mer at a friends house party, Steven Fearing...






My all time blues fav singer/songwriter, Matt Anderson:








DJW