Growth is all about taking risks. I had never really done a portrait shoot in a winter snowfall before for a number of reasons – but that changed this year when a client specifically asked for a snowfall shoot. I will admit that I was nervous at the prospect, but after thinking it through, I […]

Sometimes you want more than a headshot – but you don’t want something too posed, either. Welcome to the lifestyle shoot! What I enjoy most about these is how the clients have an idea of what they are looking for and we collaborate on the finished product. What do you want to say about you?

A acquired a new lens and took it along on a backcountry camping trip to test it out. While the moon was in full effect and made shooting the stars a challenge, there were some spectacular sunsets to capture. This is one of my favourites

They say that “one is the loneliest number” – but they obviously didn’t chat with this butterfly who seems to have a veritable buffet of snacks within reach…

It takes work to get into the backcountry – but the views are totally worth it. This is Shark Lake in Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park. Site 453, if you’re ever interested in the same view.

The absence of ambient light from the city gives one a fantastic view of the heavens. On a back-country trip into Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park, I captured a few images of the stars – a feat made a bit easier once the moon had left the scene. While I enjoy an unobstructed view – I […]

Sometimes the moon can be your friend and sometimes it is not. In this case, it was definitely a perfect sidekick to capture this image. While my target was the stars, the light from the moon and the slow movement of the clouds conspired to make an improvement to what I was looking for.

We spend so much time watching shows where people compete that it’s nice to see some cooperation. I loved this moment between these two young dancers – it’s part of the choreography, I’m sure, but the way they are looking at each other is simply too sweet for words.

I love canoeing, and it has been a dream of mine to own one. There is a great canoe builder located outside of Acton, ON, who makes amazing watercraft. I saw this one a few weeks ago and finally took the plunge (so to speak). While I didn’t have time to hit the water with […]

My daughter and I took our cameras out for a walk along the Humber River in Toronto (since the winter conditions had subsided). The wildlife was out in full force. The sun was bright and the sky was clear, but there was still some thin ice near parts of the shore – clear, thin ice […]

I found a recipe for a hot glazed biscuit doughnut (AKA Bonut) from Alton Brown and have been enjoying it a fair bit. I added a few modifications of my own, giving them a Canadian twist (maple whiskey in the glaze and bacon as a topping to add some contrast). While I still have some […]

I was shooting a school event that was a lot of fun. They had decided to have a glow-in-the-dark dance party complete with black lights and glow sticks. Something of a challenging thing to shoot, especially considering that flash photography is not always welcome. So, I decided to have some fun with some of the […]

Near my house during this time of the year, the salmon make their run up the river. There are a number of weirs on the lower part of the Humber, and the intrepid fish have to “climb the ladders” to get to where they need to go. With the water levels higher today due to […]

A fun shoot today at the Koffman Academy of Music and Dance. It’s always entertaining to wrangle a bunch of kids and get them to be serious about posing for photos. Really, it’s almost easier to let them be themselves and catch the magic as they subconsciously fall in line. That being said, moments of […]

I’m not one for typical sports team photos. With the sun setting in the background and the shadows at play, how could I resist? “Badass” is the message here, folks.

I love fireworks. I love the challenge that they present in terms of capturing them in such a way as to tell a story. There are a number of images in this particular set – but this one is one of my favourites.

I love old machinery. While the intent of artillery is not necessarily friendly, the design of them seems very cool to me. The bigger the cannon, the more interesting the infrastructure that supports it. The contrast of this gear against the skyline really caught my eye.

Near the south-west corner of La Citadelle in Québec City is a large gun manufactured by Krupp, a Prussian company (interesting origin for a cannon on Canadian soil) that has since re-branded and now makes coffee machines. In any case, old machines of war (particularly projectile launchers) are interesting because of how intricate some of […]

In Ville de Québec in the lower area there is a restaurant called Le Lapin Sauté. We didn’t get a chance to eat in there (we weren’t actually hungry at that time, having so recently devoured some delicious crêpes), but I had to stop and capture a few images of their interesting décor. To me, […]

Back in 2005, I captured this image on a cloudy and rainy day. In August of 2016, I returned to take another photo, but found that someone had fixed the door, moved a hinge and replaced the door handle. Furthermore, the conditions were completely different: instead of a cold, rainy day, it was hot and […]

The Spruce Bog Trail in Algonquin Provincial Park is like an old friend – this year, though, it seemed a bit different. The water levels were down and the summer had been pretty harsh, resulting in some interesting changes. For instance, there were not as many dragonflies soaring about; on the other hand, the water […]

My friend’s mother has a fantastic flower garden in Essex which is a joy to photograph. During this particular visit, the sun was out in full force, which makes for a higher possibility of washed-out photos. Of course, where there are flowers, there are butterflies, and capturing a butterfly in a shady spot with some […]

There is a tree near our house that is hollow on one side. Raccoons have been living there for years, and even though they can be pests, they are so cute when they are wee. During the evenings in the early summer months, the mother takes them outside of their home to teach them all […]

A week before I took this picture, I saw this little Boston Oriole floundering under the leaves of a giant hosta – with the parents fluttering around like mad seemingly trying to protect it. When I took this photo, though, the wee Oriole had finally found the power of flight, and used it to fly […]

In the front garden, several varieties of Sweet William (dianthus barbatus) grow. While each plant is a different colour, one of them has produced several colours on the same stem. I found this to be a fascinating occurrence, and thought that it would make an interesting composition.’

Sometimes a dull, humid morning can result in some spectacular imagery. I was checking out a snail in my garden when I noticed that the leaves of one particular species of perennial (Columbine) collected a significant amount of water – in large drops. With the sky being somewhat muted and the correct angle, these drops […]

If you’re ever looking for a great study in texture and form, visit a vineyard. At any given time of the year (including winter) you can find a subject to focus on. This image (taken in Napa Valley) shows something that looks like barbed wire – but if you look closely, it\’s actually some dried […]

If you have never been to Napa Valley, I would recommend visiting the area – especially the small town of Yountville (just north of Napa). It is a gorgeous little town with lavender everywhere. As you walk down the streets, the smell of the flowering plants permeates the air, as does the gentle sound of […]

After the first period in the game that I was invited to shoot, the teams switched sides, which brought my associate’s son’s team closer to where I was perched. I removed the extender, which allowed me to dial the lens to f/2.8, giving me the ability to dial down the ISO somewhat (1600 from 6400) […]

An associate of mine asked me to take some photos of his son playing hockey (his son plays goaltender). It was definitely a new experience for me – and very challenging. Between the odd lighting and the fast action, it was far more different than the shoots that I have done for soccer. Arena lighting […]

It can never be denied that the destruction of the World Trade Center in New York (September 11th, 2001) was a tragedy. Regardless of what anyone thinks in regards to the event itself (and what led up to it), a large number of men and women lost their lives that day, by simply doing their […]

If you have never been to the High Line, make sure you check it out if you ever visit New York City. It is essentially a linear park/walking trail built on an elevated railroad spur along the west side of Manhattan. It is an excellent use of an abandoned section of transit, filled with beautiful […]

The vegetation along the High Line (New York City) is quite spectacular. On a recent walkabout in the city that never sleeps, I saw this cluster of Asters in the linear park that looked like they were watching over the path. The overcast sky and drizzle made for a neat composition that emphasized the guardian-like nature of […]

I shoot photos of my daughter’s soccer team for myself and the other parents because I think action shots of sporting events are far more interesting than the posed photos that the league provides. In the non-posed photos, you can really see the personality of the kids shine through, and every once in a while […]

Bees are industrious creatures that I admire for their beauty and their seeming tirelessness. Photos like this are precisely why I am happy that I created a wild flower garden beneath a huge silver maple tree. The colours are fantastic, the visitors are spectacular, and the light is filtered through a canopy.

This photo is an improvement over the one I took earlier this year. It’s true that this moon is much closer to being full – and while this is great because it is reflecting more light from the sun, it is also not so great because it is reflecting more light from the sun (and […]

Ladybugs (ladybirds for those of you from across the pond) are beautiful to look at and are a natural form of pest control. If there is a bug that makes people smile, it would be this little creature. I did a shoot in my garden one afternoon and this is one of my favourites.

The garden in front of my house attracts all kinds of pollen-gatherers. While my ongoing quest to capture a European Wool Carder on film is still not complete, there are other great opportunities that are constantly presenting themselves. This hover fly, for instance, is perfectly framed in the flower that it is working on. The […]

Perhaps not the most stellar photograph – but I do enjoy it. I took this one from East Beach at the Lake of Two Rivers in Algonquin Park. There is something peaceful about paddling in the morning or the evening. The noises of the day have mostly faded away and the stillness of night approaches.I […]

Astrophotography is definitely not my strong suit. I took a number of photos last year and only one of them really turned out the way I wanted it to. Attaining a crisp image is challenging because keeping the exposure too long will result in trails (because the Earth is turning, after all); too little exposure […]

Another photo from a friend’s garden in Essex County, this beautiful Hortensia plant seemed to be doing well for such a delicate species. I found this particular shade of purple quite alluring, and thought that it might make a stunning composition.

During a weekend near Essex, I visited the home of some friends who had an amazing garden in their backyard. A good rule of thumb: where there are beautiful gardens, there are also usually beautiful insects. A cursory inspection wasn’t even necessary, as this little flier came to rest on a nearby leaf. My goal […]

When it comes to insects, I don’t think that you can do worse than flies. They are associated with rotting carcasses and disease, and they tend to invoke a flurry of flailing arms when they fly around people. Yet, from time to time, I am struck by how bright and colorful some of them are.

A few years ago, on my way to pick up my daughter from school, I spotted a strange sight in the school’s front garden: green bees. I thought that this was some secret government plot to take over the world – but I was mistaken, of course. I read up on them after I saw […]

Mushrooms and the like are fascinating. In a world where things are constantly dying, these industrious life forms thrive in the lowest common denominator of materials available to them. It’s pretty fantastic that fungus exists, helping to power the machine that makes the world work. And yes, I know that I gave this photo a […]

Watching your kids play sports is awesome; you get to see how their skills develop and how the games affect their personalities. I find it neat how kids seem to have much more fun than adults playing the same game – yet there are moments when they take things very seriously. This candid image shows […]

I was working on the garden when I heard the telltale sounds of an industrious little creature hard at work on the maple tree in my front yard. Sometimes it\’s a bit difficult to find the source of the noise (some of the trees are huge) – but this little downy woodpecker had left a […]

Sometimes a single pose can reveal a lot about a person – especially when the background plays a part in the explanation.

If you look in the dictionary under “frolic”, you might see this picture.

I love cardinals. Even though they are common birds, their brilliant red feathers and pleasing songs make them an uncommonly beautiful bird in my opinion. This year there were a number of northern cardinals around the neighbourhood that would taunt me with their songs. When I had the chance, I would grab my camera and […]

A friend of mine in the neighbourhood brought my attention to the fabled “supermoon” last summer. Since that time, I have been struggling to capture a decent image of the Earth’s tag-along. I began with images of the full moon – but sadly, the details of the surface were hard to resolve due to the […]

The Master & Dynamic MH40 is a beautiful piece of technology. It\’s one of the best set of headphones that I have ever listened to. Combining great form and function, the MH40 is well-designed and sounds amazing. I love the combination of leather and metal, which combines to make the product look more like art […]

Macro shots are always fascinating as they really show things that we don’t normally see due to their small size. I was North of Belleville and taking photos in a beautiful garden, trying to capture bees and dragonflies. In my quest to capture the insects, I started noticing how awesome the flowers looked up close, […]

I was doing some garden photos when I found this scene unfolding before me. It looked like the dragonfly was chatting with a much smaller conversation partner. I wonder what they were talking about?

Last year, I took a few photos of hummingbirds at a resort in Algonquin Park. While they were all right, I wasn’t particularly happy with them, since my goal was to get a nice, sharp image of the bird with its wings extended. This year, I was at a cottage and there was a hummingbird […]

I have always looked at dragonflies as the border patrollers of nature. With the ability to fly at relatively incredible speeds and the skill to intercept other flying insects on the wing, they are both beautiful and deadly. I captured this particular dragonfly just before a mission.

We decided to hike one of our favourite trails in Algonquin Park: the Centennial Ridges Trail. It’s a fairly long and challenging hike (approximately 10km) which reaches a beautiful lookout over Whitefish Lake. Along one point of the trail, there is a beaver pond, with a pile of gorgeous flowery bushes strewn about the shore. […]

Chipmunks are everywhere; they can also be pests (thanks to human interference) – but it’s hard to deny how cute they are. Chipmunks always remind me of camping (specifically, one of the many camping trips with my uncle), and it’s nice to see them running around whenever I am in the great outdoors. I have […]

While I am not that great at chess, I love to play. The concept is really neat, and there are so many different versions of the pieces that it\’s mind-boggling. Still, the classic shapes are my favourite. Simple, yet menacing, they can be intimidating in the hands of a master. This set has seen some […]

Hiking any trail in Algonquin Park is a rewarding experience. Critters like this Chipmunk can be found scurrying about – but sometimes you luck out and manage to find one standing still enough for you to get close and actually focus!

I hadn’t hiked the Beaver Pond Trail in Algonquin Park for quite some time, so I was interested to see what had changed. Along the way, various insects were busy at work, so I captured a few images. I liked this one because of the angle – I deliberately chose a black background to throw […]

In Algonquin Park this year, there were a family of loons on Canisbay Lake. We paddled in close to observe them and then went back to shore. Of course, I had forgotten to bring my camera with me for that trip. Shortly after we landed, I couldn’t let the situation be – so I grabbed […]

It’s always nice to see kids that are great friends. This image was captured at a neighbourhood fun fair where all of the kids were having a great time. I managed to catch these two young ladies and asked their permission for a quick photo op (and yes, I also asked their parents for permission […]

At a recent family photo shoot, I sought to duplicate an image that I had created at a wedding a number of years ago. The lighting was different, as were the ages of the folks involved. The idea was for it to be something amusing while highlighting one set of siblings with the others in […]

There is a green space near my house that is cut off from most of the light sources in the city. It’s a great place to take photos of the sky at night since there is very little interference. To have such an ideal place to shoot allows for some experimentation with imagery.

I captured this image shortly after I received a new lens for my birthday. Ladybugs are always a striking target, with their bright shells and the various markings on their backs and faces. While I would love to do this over with an extension tube, I was quite happy with how this one turned out. […]

As part of another project, I would visit events to sample technology and interview creators. While many of these events were pretty snazzy, some were even more glitzy than others. This was an attempt to capture some of the interesting lighting at one of the events that I had attended.

Birthday parties for children have evolved from trips to Mother’s Pizza to all kinds of interesting crafty activities. One of my favourites is The Clay Emporium, where kids can pick out various ceramics to paint, which are eventually fired and cured. It’s a great place that reminds us how creative kids can be – especially […]

I dig desserts – especially cupcakes. Think about it: all of the goodness of cake in a smaller, easier-to-eat form factor. And really, when you think about it, they are usually smaller than pieces of cake that are served to you. I also love how creative some of the toppings can be. This was taken […]

While walking the trails in any park, it’s a good idea to keep your eyes and ears open. You never know what you might find. This slithery subject almost escaped my attention, but an uncommon shifting sound gave away this snake’s position. I carefully crept up and captured it when it froze. I wish I […]

Taking a hike in Algonquin Park can be enjoyable just for the clean air and the beautiful vistas. However, making it a bit more of an active exercise and using your eyes for more than just large-scale sights can result in some wonderful surprises. Many of the trails go by watery areas – and a […]

Folks who stay at Bartlett Lodge can check out the Guest Lounge (Isabel’s Cabin) to the right of the main building. Inside this structure there are books to read and a number of games to pass the time. While waiting for the early dinner seating one day, I noticed the sun playing off of one […]

One of the best things about shooting weddings is to get in close and see the faces of the bride and groom. It’s almost as if the entire room disappears for them for a minute – and this allows them to focus only on each other. Their emotions are laid bare and can be seen […]

Sometimes you just have to capture an image because it strikes your fancy. This is a photo of Old City Hall in Toronto. I was on my way home from a gig one night and had to walk by this landmark on my way to the subway. I had my camera with me, so it […]

Wandering around San Francisco will never disappoint. While I am fond of taking photos looking up the trunks of mast-straight trees, sometimes I find something a bit more interesting in terms of shape. It’s amazing how such tall things can look so oddly delicate. I enjoyed taking this photo, particularly as both the texture and […]

I have always loved spiders and their webs. On top of the incredible properties of spider\’s silk, the design of the webs is elegant and beautiful. I captured this image at the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. This one particular angle really highlighted how some of our designs might actually […]

We stopped in the town of Sonoma during a wine tour and we were given an hour to wander around and enjoy the shops and sights. Close to the end of the break, I stumbled across a celebration – it was a tribal dance celebrating Mexican Independence (which is what the locals told me). The […]

It is rare for me to fall in love with a city. While I am not as well-traveled as some, I have visited a number of cities in different places around the world – but I have have never felt the pull that I did when I visited San Francisco. There is something about the […]

The prisoners of Alcatraz had a constant reminder of what they were missing only a mere mile and a half away (San Francisco) – by looking out the nearest window. Those who were unruly were placed in solitary confinement – a jail within a jail – a lonely stay in the dark. I wanted to […]

One of the ladies at the concierge desk at the Grand Hyatt in San Francisco told a story about how people’s parrots got loose ages ago and mated, creating a wild local population of exotic birds. On one of our hikes, we took Vallejo St to the end and walked down a path to Taylor […]

When we were in San Francisco, we visited Grace Catherdral. While the building is beautiful both inside and out, I was particularly struck by the stained glass windows. I wanted to capture an image of the light and the colour, rather than the stonework that the glass was mounted in. It took a few tries, […]

I am well-known for capturing images like this; I have quite a number, to be honest. I never get tired of this particular angle, though; and this time, I found a singular tree along the Spruce Bog Trail in Algonquin Park that was very interesting in the way that it had grown. The trunk is […]

I was taking a quick photo of my daughter on a Sunday afternoon when a butterfly touched down in the lilac bush just behind her. It was having a veritable feast and didn’t look to be going anywhere anytime soon. Sometimes luck presents you with an opportunity that is too good to miss.

The night that I took this photograph, the moon was closer to the Earth than it had been for a long time. I went for a walk to the river near my house to see what sort of images I could capture and decided to try and capitalize on the brightness of the moon in […]

Shaun, a friend of East Indian descent, invited my friend Mike and me over to his place. Mike brought his sitar, and after a brief breakdown of the instrument, handed it over to Shaun. Mike showed Shaun how to hold it in a sitting position and it looked so natural that I had to capture […]

I was hired to shoot the holiday celebration for a company in Toronto. They held their event at the Windsor Arms Hotel, a posh location in Yorkville. Old architecture mixed with a great DJ and modern sensibility in style to make an interesting evening. When I first arrived, I saw a very well-composed photo of […]

The local school holds an annual Halloween pumpkin carving night each October. A good chunk of the neighbourhood comes out to participate. Kids and parents alike wield carving tools and create some spectacular Jack O’ Lanterns. At the end of the night, the carved pumpkins are all lined up, lit candles are placed within each one, and […]

This is my first real attempt to photo-stitch a landscape. This scene, consisting of four photos merged together, is the main overlook on the Lookout Trail in Algonquin Park. It is a fantastic vista and surely worth the hike (which isn’t really all that long – it is just all uphill). In the distance, you […]

Canisbay, a car-camping area located off of Highway 60 in Algonquin Park, is (in my opinion) one of the better-maintained camping areas in the park (not counting the interior). There are several trails between the main camping areas and the beaches/comfort stations. I took a stroll along one of these paths and looked up at […]

Sometimes an opportunity presents itself that is too good to be missed. I captured this photo along the Spruce Bog trail in Algonquin Park along with a similar one from a different angle (foreground lit by the sun); I like this one better. Something about the contrast with the blue water really spoke to me […]

My friend Shaun has a band. The name of that band is Cobra. This is another one of the shots I did for them in the Humber Valley. The fact that they were each dressed in different styles really gives the viewer’s mind something to think about: these three are a team even though they […]

This is another one of the images from the Cobra shoot. Lighter elements in photos usually tend to be a distraction; I thought I would turn that idea on its ear by making a dark subject the main distraction in the image. The eye moves to Shaun, crouched and at the ready; yet he is […]

They are a great band with a unique sound. I wanted to do a shoot that was just as unique so I told them to meet me in the Humber Valley. I had a feeling that they would all be dressed in different styles, which really works for them. This shoot was fun to do. […]

I went to see my friend’s band Cobra for a performance in the underbelly of Toronto; I took my camera along to capture some images for him. In the basement of a pub, Cobra performed to a packed audience (a testament to their popularity, as the other bands that night did not have the same […]

Jellyfish freak me out; there is something about them that is very eerie; the slow undulation, the translucency – something just makes me shiver a little when I see one.. Creepiness aside, they are also very beautiful; like moving poems. I was happy to be able to capture a picture of these specimens at a […]

Moss is cool; so to speak. I really like looking at it (although I hate seeing it on my roof). The colours in this picture are soothing for some reason; I find moss in some pretty neat spaces along hiking trails, especially in Algonquin Park; giant shield-rock sticks out of the ground and one side […]

When I saw these djembes, I was taken back to my days playing Capoeira. Wonderful mix of texture and structure, I love this image of a group of hand drums. I bet that when you laid eyes on this photograph, you heard the beat in your head, didn’t you?

Seriously; is it possible to take a bad photo of an elephant? They are so photogenic! Every elephant I have ever seen looks like some wizened wizard (who happens to be naked and weighs a lot more than I do). There is just something about them that makes me feel at peace, even though they […]

There is beauty in things that rust. Time’s effect on colour and texture of our technology is a great reminder of how transient we really are when it comes to the world. The contrast between ever-present nature and these human-made creations was interesting. If you have ever held an interest in electric streetcars or other […]

I enjoy doing family shots, especially baby and kid shots. The typical “prop the baby up unnaturally” bit really bothers me (as I have stated numerous times), so I like to shoot a healthy number of “serious” photos and then spend the rest of the time capturing the bits in between. I love this photo […]

Sometimes the things that we like to remember about our children are not necessarily physical attributes; behaviours, likes/dislikes, and things along those lines are just as interesting. In fact, I know that my memories of my own child are split between remembering what she looked like and reminiscing about how she acted. Something so simple […]

I did something like this before, but I can never shoot enough images of elephants – they are truly larger-than-life to me and I find them beautiful. Even though elephants are sizable creatures, a photograph can sometimes diminish that. I like trying to convey the size of something by limiting how much of it can […]

Tucked away in a mountain fortress in Vineland, Ontario is an awesome winery called the John Howard Cellars of Distinction.It is a wondrous place; very simply laid out; very friendly people. I love wine and how it is made; it is like magic to me. This is the gauges on one of the pressurized tanks. […]

Most of the time, we’ll trudge all over the place looking for beautiful things to photograph.  Maybe we feel that the quality of the photo is proportional to the amount of work we put into capturing it.  Sometimes, though, pride in your own front garden is enough to shine a spotlight on something that’s right […]

My friend Mike is a very cultural guy. As I told his mom once, he’s someone who is very much into authenticity. Mike does not go halfway on anything. So when he told me that he bought a sitar, I had to see it. I knew that it would be a very beautiful thing to […]

I took this photograph at a birthday party for a two-year-old. There was a dessert tray consisting of very nicely decorated (and frankly delicious) cupcakes. One of the most fun things to watch is a child imagining what it would be like to eat one of those cupcakes. Given the number of grabby hands, it […]

Near my house there is a bridge that is being reconstructed. There is rubble everywhere and rebar sticking up out of the base of the bridge. The supporting columns of the bridge have huge bases that are adjacent to the river. They afford a great platform upon which to take great photos of a subject […]

After a rainy long weekend in August, 2008, one of my friends decided to escape the campsite early on the last morning that we stayed. He’s easily one of the strongest paddlers I know, cutting through the water like one of the loons I had seen that morning on that very same lake. He finally […]

I visited Little Doe Lake in Algonquin Park with some friends over a long weekend in August, 2008. It rained like Noah was coming for most of the beginning of the trip. The foul weather kept a grip on us for most of the weekend, intermittently teasing us with warmth and sunshine. The last night […]

My cousin got married and had a wonderful ceremony. Everyone received a paper fan with their wedding program (most likely because it was fairly warm in the chapel). I had set both program and fan down on the seat beside me to hold my infant daughter for a brief moment; upon handing her back to […]

When I studied Karate (Goju Ryu), ascending to the next level meant several tests as well as the creation of a photo portfolio comprised of various poses from katas (forms consisting of a series of specific movements). It’s not difficult to make those types of photos interesting, but I also like to take a few […]

I have said many times to many people that I don’t really like department store baby photos. The weird poses always make me cringe. If you’re going to take a picture of an infant, take it in such a way that is natural.  Being held? Good. Lying down? Also good. Propped up like some weird […]

In late January 2007, a friend and I were doing photos for a portfolio he was working on. We went to an abandoned industrial complex to use as an interesting backdrop. It was freezing cold, but it was manageable inside the building, as the winds couldn’t get at us. This photo was challenging because it […]

The weather was cold in late January of 2007. I took my friend to an abandoned industrial complex to shoot some photos for a martial arts portfolio he was working on. I brought my sword along, as it is a folded steel Katana that catches the sun effectively. The many holes in the roof of […]

While at a cottage at the end of October of 2006, I awoke early one morning to go out and photograph the newly fallen snow. It was quite a sight to see everything blanketed in a downy layer of white. These benches were lined up quite nicely, and it was interesting considering that they were […]

I had the opportunity to take some photos of the city in the early morning from a very unique vantage point. It was a bit cramped, as I was sharing the space with some other photographers, and I didn’t want to have the same images that they did – even though I was the only […]

After taking this photo earlier in the month, I wanted to try some more photos using just a flashlight and a very long exposure. This time I used some really slow slide film. I found the colour saturation to be much better. It’s a neat effect which I am going to employ again at a […]

Fungus can be a fantastic subject. When I was on a hike in Algonquin Park and saw this, it reminded me of civilization in a way (it looks like a traffic jam). The contrast of the orange on the dark background just made me think of bright cars against black asphalt. Sometimes we see nature […]

It was the end of our annual Interior Trip in Algonquin Park. August 2006 had brought a great experience. On the last night, after almost everyone had retired, I did some experimental work with the assistance of another camper. This one turned out almost exactly the way I expected it to. I will definitely try […]

I shot this image early in the morning during a trip to Algonquin Park in August 2006. I love watching Loons. They are like poetry in motion (even if they take forever to take off). Their beautiful colouring really makes for a dramatic photograph, no matter what the background. f/4 1/60 sec 300mm

While camping on the shores of Parkside Bay in Algonquin Park (August of 2006), I happened to spot a group of Common Mergansers. I thought it would be an excellent image, as they were swimming as a group. It would fulfill part of a photo challenge put to me by my Sensei (I was in […]

Parkside Bay is a nice little spot in Algonquin Park if you want to catch a great sunrise. Most of the sites (with the exception of a few) allow a great view of the sun peeking over the horizon. This was taken in August of 2006, and yes, those are the real colours of the […]

In July of 2006 we visited Niagara-on-the-Lake. It’s one of my favourite places. At the B&B we stayed at, there is a really great garden with old tables and chairs, and good old Bacchus on the wall. It was a plug-in fountain that happened to be unplugged. He was old, but the waning sunlight was […]

I managed to capture a number of great images from a July 2006 trip from Beamsville. This photograph was taken during a short hike at one of the local wineries. Tucked away in a clearing in the forest behind the winery was a small pond. This beautiful creature had landed next to the water. f/8 […]

‘This is an image that I captured during a trip to Beamsville in July, 2006. This photo was done as part of a framing study. The subject is essentially framed by the shadows and landscape; even though there is no “frame” in a traditional sense, your attention is naturally on the flowers. f/8 1/250 sec […]

On a July 2006 trip around the Niagara Peninsula, we decided to stop off in Beamsville to check out some of the wineries on the Bench. This particular winery was exceptionally placed near the escarpment, and it had a really warm feel. I really liked the flowers that they had growing around the building entrance, […]

This photo, taken in June 2006, was a follow up to this shot. I thought it would be a great idea to shoot the same angles as I did the first time. Unfortunately, I was not able to replicate this exactly, due to some unforeseen obstacles (home renovation), but the idea is still there. This […]

I was at my cousin’s wedding and these lush trees were in bloom.  The sky was practically cloud-free, so I decided to experiment a little bit by changing my aperture and shutter speed to make the sky a bit darker.  The sun reflecting off of the petals really takes the light out of the backdrop, […]

We visited a friend in Washington DC in April of 2006. She took us to a local market one morning and it began to rain a little bit. I’ve never been to DC. I never realized how beautiful the neighbourhoods are there. This was taken just after the rain. It’s a photo of textures. My […]

Spring is always a great month to go to the zoo. The air is still crisp, which makes some of the animals a bit more active than normal (so they can keep warm). Sometimes you luck out and get a wonderfully sunny day, making the trek about the grounds enjoyable. In March of 2006 I […]

It was a cold day in January 2006. My associate and I were working on photos for his black-belt portfolio. We ended up in High Park to take some photos of Kata positions in a natural setting. The goal was to utilize the landscape to highlight the strength and grace of Goju-Ryu Karate-Do. This is […]

In November 2005 I was invited by some friends to take some photos of their little munchkin pre-birth. It is part of an ongoing project to do a before and after set. The lighting in this photo is dramatic, showing their faces and her belly. It’s an image that leaves me with a sense of […]

September in the Distillery District of Toronto can yield some interesting images. In 2005, we visited this historic place and found a plethora of images to capture. This one is interesting because it highlights one of the many big windows in the area, which reflects some of the old buildings. It struck my eye as […]

August 2005 saw us camping in Canisbay (Algonquin Park) relatively close to the lake. Sometimes, on a particularly sunny morning, you can capture the rays of the sun through the trees and paint a picture that is other-worldly. I looked up and saw this angelic figure and thought it would make a great image. Do […]

One of my clients asked me to figure out ideas that went against the grain in terms of traditional martial arts photography. I came up with the idea of doing two shoots in contrast. One in the wilderness and the other in the city (urban wilderness). On the Bloor subway line between Dundas West Station […]

This is an image shot in August, 2006 from the North Shore of Parkside Bay. It’s a bit of a pain to get to, having to navigate a few turns in the Algonquin Interior. However, the opportunities for wonderful landscape photos make any negative aspects disappear. This image displays a really beautiful cloud formation. f/4 […]

It’s July 2005 and our intrepid band of camping folk has paddled far enough into the wilderness to get away from the louder folks. This is the reward for those who work a little harder than average to get to where they want to go. A sight like this is worth it. You really can’t […]

Another image from a trip to Niagara-On-the-Lake in July 2005. This called out to me as a representation of the region for obvious reasons. The trick was to make it a little different. I used a yellow filter to make the subject(s) more striking. It worked. Whenever I look at this photo I immediately get […]

While vacationing in Niagara-On-the-Lake in July 2005, some winery tours were in order. Modern machinery has obviously replaced the old-world devices, for obvious reasons. Of course, there is something charming about those \”ancient\” relics. I used a yellow filter for this photo, as I was feeling playfully inventive. f/8.0 1/250 sec 105mm

There are many wineries in Niagara-On-the-Lake; in July 2005, we visited several.  here is something about the workers that is almost poetic. The labour is tedious, to be sure – but to be outside and enjoying the fruits of that labour (so to speak) at the end must feel at least a little rewarding. f/8.0 […]

A continuation of a shoot along the shores of Georgian Bay for a friend, the purpose of this photo was twofold: it was to demonstrate a warrior’s readiness, and it was to also indicate that the greatest enemy you will ever face is yourself. It was an early day (we got up before the sunrise) […]

A friend of mine required a shoot of him performing movements in Kobudo. We camped up at Awenda near Penetanguishene in June of 2005. The Southern shores of Georgian Bay were a great backdrop for his poses. We woke up before the sunrise and met the dawn with blades drawn. f/4.0 1/60 sec 200mm

On the long weekend in May, 2005, we visited Old Québec City. The landscape is dominated by Chateau Frontenac, but I didn’t want to create an image that has been done to death. So, I tried to find ways to incorporate the old hotel while paying homage to more than just the building itself. Hopefully […]

This gentleman was strumming away when we visited Old Québec City in May of 2005. He looked so at home in the middle of the tourists – but seemed very separate from them. It was more than his music. It was him. He seemed to be from nowhere and everywhere. I don’t have much of […]

Wandering around Québec City (The Old City) to find good photographic opportunity is like looking for gold in Fort Knox. I wonder if the locals realize how rich a portrait their city paints. The streets embody character, and every turn reveals something new. This door struck my eye on a cold May day in 2005; […]

May 2005 brought a great opportunity to visit a place I’d never seen before: Old Québec City. We took several walks around the wonderful self-contained town and there were so many wonderful examples of old world architecture. The days that we visited were overcast and windy, not to mention a little cold. This warm door […]

The sun was beginning to climb over Rock Lake in May 2005. I was photographing the sunrise from dock at my friend’s family cottage when I bumped into a tree, causing morning dew to drip down from the needles of the conifer. The pattern was hypnotic and the colours were inspiring. I thought I would […]

A crisp morning in May 2005 is when this was taken. It was on a fishing trip at a cottage. My friend was still sleeping so I had the morning all to myself. The view from the dock at his cottage is what you are seeing right here. The lake head was still, and the […]

Another photo from the trip to Kingston in November, 2004. This forlorn fire hydrant caught my eye. It sat, dejected, in the middle of a construction site. Sometimes an object cries out in a human way, telling a story of happiness or woe. This hydrant had most likely stood vigil for a long, long time. […]

This photo was taken in Kingston. A lot of the architecture there (both on and off Queens Campus) is great. It is styled after the old, and yet seems very new and clean. These light fixtures looked interesting lined up from where I was standing, so I shot them. The sky was overcast, so the […]

My cats were hilarious. One of them was afraid of everything on the planet. The other was inquisitive and was also, frankly, a camera hog. When they were kittens, the brave one explored the house while the “fraidycat” stayed in (or near) the pet carrier. This photo is one of the many that I have […]

It was a rainy hike in October of 2004. The bright side to rain is that when it abates, it leaves behind a nice misty landscape. This view was taken on the Booth’s Rock Trail. It was at about the halfway point, and essentially the trail runs along a cliff and you can look down […]

I love doing pet portraits for people. Animals have just as much personality as people do; it’s fun to capture what makes the pet special to the owner. My friend Christine had recently brought these two furballs home and wanted to capture the memory. I love cats because, even though they are solitary, there always […]

This is one of those rare photos that is a product of patience, skill and luck. In August of 2004, I had tried unsuccessfully to capture a blood moon (I was in the Algonquin interior, and had no tripod). The moon was somewhat bright, but there were other campfires in the foreground, and nowhere really […]

Bigger is not always better. A beautiful sunrise can be an incredible sight, but sometimes the most powerful messages come from places that you don’t expect. Along the Centennial Ridges Trail in Algonquin Park there is always a lot of new growth. The eternal struggle of the young upstarts against the established old guard is […]

During the beginning of October 2004,  colours up North were spectacular. Canisbay Campground Site 108 had a really nice view of the sky through some trees, and while looking up I noticed this lonely maple. It took a try or two, but I ended up capturing this image (it was windy). It seemed so appropriate. […]

My parents adopted this Malamute who was gigantic but very passive. I offered to do some portraits of their new pet for a few reasons. First of all, my parents love photographs; secondly, a Malamute (like Huskies) have great fur whose pattern creates an awesome contrast regardless of the backdrop. This is one of my […]

In August of 2004, we took a trip up to Algonquin Park to go camping. It was far colder than we imagined it would be – almost hitting zero. Imagine: zero in the middle of August! One of the benefits, though, was that the air was crystal clear. I snuck this picture of my traveling […]

My friend Bill (a sword and armor maker and distributor) had set up shop at the Renaissance Festival in Milton in July 2004. The amount of work that goes into some of these swords never ceases to amaze me. This particular sword was lying on its own, ready to be sold. I really enjoyed the […]

Another photograph taken along the Centennial Ridges Trail, this is a photo of a young Red Pine (I believe). A friend pointed out the interesting irregularly-shaped plates of bark, and thought it would make an interesting image. I had black-and-white film loaded at the time, and wasn’t sure if I wanted to take a photograph […]

This photograph was taken along the Centennial Ridges Trail in Algonquin Park in July, 2004. It’s a maple tree in a very young stage. What struck me about this particular sapling was its perfect symmetry, and how it looked as though it had just erupted from the ground like an explosion. This reminded me of […]

Our cat Laila is a beautiful animal. A brown Tabby, her fur has a fantastic pattern; sleek and striped – she’s like a little tiger. What also helps capture her is the fact that she’s a total poser: as soon as she sees a camera, she sits perfectly still and swishes her tail until you […]

An associate that had seen my work and wanted a portrait of her own pet. They lived close to the waterfront where there were lots of locations to choose from in regards to a place to do the portraits. Daphne was a sweet dog; very well behaved and sweet. This shoot was very easy to […]

Cutting the cake is always an exciting event. This couple made their own cake stand, which was pretty cool. It was all about personalizing everything. It was nice not to have a crowd all around them; there were not too many distractions (I curse all EXIT signs). Even though they are both holding the knife, you can clearly see […]

People are the center of weddings. This is obvious. But at your next wedding, make sure to take a look around. The decorations used can be a gateway to the personalities and the souls of the people holding the event. The themes that they choose as well as what they try to present to their guests can speak […]

It’s nice when the Bride and Groom look at the camera. Shots like this are also fairly common, but they are still classics. I think it’s important to make sure that there are at least some photos of the couple gazing into each other’s eyes. That’s what it’s all about, after all. f/5.6 1/60 sec […]

Weddings are interesting events to shoot due to the fact that you have to align your vision with that of the couple getting married. Other than the typical photos, I think it pays to capture some of the small details. Textures and colours can play an important part in how the couple remembers the day. […]

My friend Pamela is a brilliant musician; both a gifted song writer and vocalist, she can move you more than you thought possible. So when she asked me to do her photos, I was very flattered and excited. Pamela is beautiful, has a great sense of humour, and is very creative. Working with her on […]

I was walking down Spadina Avenue in Toronto on a snowy day in January of 2004 when I came across this sign. It’s just a great example of how multicultural Toronto is. f/5.6 1/60 sec 200mm

Another shot from visiting Carly and Evan. This happened shortly after Evan latched onto Carly’s chin. I shot with a fairly low shutter speed, taking advantage of the back-lighting. Sometimes I find that a silhouette can speak just as loudly as the light behind it. f/5.6 1/30 sec 200mm

My friends Mike and Carly had a little boy back in 2003. He was a cute little guy. One day we went over to visit and I brought my camera with me. I don’t particularly care for baby photos from department stores. They seem strangely unnatural to me; I dislike the propping up of babies […]

We happened to be in the same city in which friends of ours were getting married. They invited us – unofficially – to attend their ceremony, which was a real treat. I had my camera with me, so I brought it along to the ceremony. Both sides of their families were camera buffs, so it […]

Both of our cats were very sweet, but one of them was an occasional lunatic. Logan was prone to chasing his own tail, misjudging distances while leaping, and bonking his head off the window while trying to get the pigeons outside. Regal was one of the last words that I would use to describe him. Yet -at times- […]

I composed this image for a class project. We basically had to compose an image and explain what we did and why we did it. I am very proud of this one, as I had put a lot of thought into it. One of the concepts that was taught in class was that of framing. […]

This little girl looked up, not as focused on what the group was doing as her neighbours. It was October of 2002 in Kaua’I in Koke’e State Park. Her eyes speak of the innocence and beauty of youth. Youth is one of the greatest enablers of the spreading of information between cultures. With larger schools, […]

We came across a group of performers in Koke’e State Park back in October of 2002. Before they performed their musical ritual, these Hawai’ians engaged in what appeared to be a prayer. The amount of passion that arose from the speaker was inspiring. I wanted to do my best to capture that intensity. Rather than […]

‘It was October 2004. The Centennial Ridges Trail in Algonquin Park promised some wonderful colour, and a cliff overlooking Whitefish Lake for a possibly spectacular sunset. The day was clear, and the air was cool. Along the way there is a beaver pond. There were evergreens all around as well as deciduous trees changing colour. […]

This was taken while we were walking around Lisbon in September, 2001. I always try to make sure to check out the less-travelled paths of the cities that I visit. For some reason the flavour of photographs in these areas is always more rich than the taste of main thoroughfares. This photograph shows a set […]

It was shortly after the fall of the World Trade Centre that I took this photo. The news of the destruction of the towers circled the globe, pulling with it the dark veil of a sombre mood. However, as humanity tends to do, the lost were mourned and the world started again on it’s endless […]

This is another shot of Sintra in September 2001. There is a castle (Pena Castle) which, on a sunny day is a spectacularly colourful piece of architecture. I don’t think that there is any defensive value in creating a multi-coloured structure such as this. However, it is quite striking. On a foggy day, it is […]

A few blocks west of the Praça do Comércio (Commerce Square) in Lisbon you will find this wonderful square (Praça do Municipio). In the hustle and bustle of Lisbon a place like this can be a tranquil refuge. This work of sculpture was really great, because it summed up what I was thinking about finding […]

Lisbon is a confusing city. There are quite a few blocks that are not really square. On this trip, we eventually ended up close to the harbour. I believe this place is called the terreiro do paco which skirts the edge of the Praça do Comércio (Commerce Square). It is a very interesting structure, and […]

Lisbon is full of surprises. We were on a walk toward the port district in September, 2001 when we came across these men in uniform. I’m not really sure who they were, but it’s always interesting to see what types of uniforms the military or the police are wearing. Form and function are usually at […]