3 of Mississauga’s Master Triathletes

Back in May we spent a day at Mississauga’s Clarkson Pool photographing three triathletes who, in their master years, showed us what fitness is all about. These three were a lot of fun to work with – so many laughs were had – and when it came to keeping up with our demands i.e.: swimming back and forth over and over…and over to get JUST the RIGHT shot, they were patient and they were tireless.

The photos that we eventually captured will be used for promotion of the facilities and programs available to Mississauga’s older adults and these three could certainly inspire the population to come out and participate, their fitness had me questioning why at two decades younger I don’t have nearly the energy that they do!  If I were a Mississauga resident perhaps I would be looking into ‘doing whatever they’re doing’ because they seem to be doing it right.

As it happens Marta – the powerful looking lady in the blue swimsuit at top – has a son who, as a linebacker, has won two Grey Cups in his CFL career.  We would like to shoot Marta and her son together one day – he may have trained hard over the years to earn those rings, but we’re pretty sure he could still learn a lot from his mom about staying strong, healthy, and active into his senior years.

We probably all could.

Some Images From This Year’s Doors – and Gangways – Open Toronto

This year we spent the Doors Open weekend down at the Waterfront shooting images from this area of the city for use in marketing material promoting all the area has to offer.  The waterfront has undergone a lot of changes and redevelopment over the past two years.  If you haven’t had a chance to spend time in the neighbourhood since it underwent construction, now might be a good time to visit.

These people – and pirates – all seemed to think so.

One Way to Stay Cool in May

So way back in May just as we – and the rest of the city – were digging out from that intense winter and were beginning to enjoy the warmer temperatures, we began working with the City of Mississauga.  The first assignment that we shot for them was, as it happened, the cover and some interior shots for the City of Mississauga’s Fall/Winter Active Guide.  So essentially on the first really warm day in May we went into a giant freezer and didn’t come out for 6 hours.  Why not?

Two of the models that we used for the shoot – the two you see above – are children of a client we worked for at Downsview Park. We had used these kids for a few projects at the park over the years, and in all honesty they are two of my favourite kids. They were really patient and tireless skating around all day to produce the shots we needed. Awesome kids. When all the necessary shots had been captured we did portraits with each of them – and as it turns out they might end up being banners in the arena, we’ll have to wait and see, but I’m hoping if I ever go back into an arena in Mississauga I see my two favourite kids up there on posters – larger than life.

 

Our Weekend with Cory Joseph and the Larry O’Brien Trophy

At the end of the NBA season last year the San Antonio Spurs beat the Miami Heat to win – for the 5th time – the NBA Championship and take home the Larry O’Brien Trophy. What was different this time was that after the celebrations ended in San Antonio, the trophy – ‘Larry’ as it is called – went on a bit of a tour. For the first time, members of the winning team were allowed to bring the trophy home and share the celebrations with the family and friends who had supported them through their early days and saw them through to securing their place in history as NBA champions.

Earlier in the week we had covered the celebrations as Cory took Larry to his high school; on that day the school retired his number 5 jersey. The energy was running high as local kids got the opportunity to see, touch, and covet the trophy, a symbol of goals reached and success achieved – hopefully encouraging them to pursue their own dreams.

The weekend, however, was reserved for Cory to celebrate his stardom with those closest to him… and well… for some photography with Larry.

We spent quite a bit of time with Cory’s family, with his agent Fara at Klutch Sports Group, and of course with Cory himself – who remains humble despite his accomplishments.  Lovely people.  I guess no matter how big of a star you become on the court, if you started your life with a couple of older sisters they will never let you forget that you are STILL their younger brother… and just as the shutter clicks on a family photo, one of them just might instil some humility by pulling your ears.

What an awesome family – they have taught Cory well.

Scenes From Toronto’s Waterfront

Well summer is finally on its way.

After the winter that we all just endured the weather has finally warmed up and people are out and determined to enjoy it. One of the best places in Toronto to enjoy the summer weather – complete with cool lake breezes – is the waterfront.

During the Doors Open festival in May we shot some material for the Waterfront BIA, capturing images of people enjoying the first warm weekend we’d had in a long time. People were out running, biking, walking all shapes and sizes of dogs, and generally partaking in all the waterfront has to offer.

Some of those fun-loving people (and their dogs) even made it into our blog.

 

Pirates Invade Toronto’s Waterfront. Sort Of.

Last weekend all across the city, the doors to architecturally, historically, culturally, and socially significant buildings usually closed to the public were thrown open for the 15th annual Doors Open Toronto. Down on the waterfront Doors Open turned into Gangways Open as ships usually not accessible to curious by-passers welcomed crowds of happy locals and tourists alike onboard to discover these ships.

Over the course of the weekend plenty of pirates – presumably drawn to the area by the lovely new boardwalk, the numerous restaurants and retail outlets (including the amazing new Amsterdam Brewhouse), or by the sandy beach at H2O Park complete with cozy muskoka chairs – were found roaming the area. After all, what pirate wouldn’t want to take some time out from their busy plundering to relax in the cool breeze of the waterfront?

At the end of the day we had a few minutes to grab a few of these pirates, quickly set up lighting onboard the Empire Sandy tall ship, and in between the mild chaos of setting up the shot, corralling those happy locals and tourists into areas of the ship NOT in the shot, and managing the breeze that threatened the shooting umbrellas, were able to capture this photo above. It tells the story of the day: blue sky, puffy clouds, a tall ship… and some rogue pirates.

In the end, what else would you want from a weekend on the water?

New Work for Salex Lighting

Over the past few weeks we have been working on an ongoing project with Salex Lighting, a lighting company that provides lighting solutions to many of the cities new and existing architectural projects – some of which you might recognize in the photos above.  The right lighting can add so much to the aesthetics of any landscape or architectural project and as photographers – who are always looking for ways to use light to manipulate the way a subject is portrayed – we’ve found it a new and interesting experience to have stepped back a bit to focus simply on the light itself.

 

Salex Lighting Has a New Showroom

Last week we were introduced to the team at Salex Lighting and on Thursday shot their new showroom (and office) located in Scarborough. The centre piece of the new location is the staffroom complete with a fireplace, oversized sofa, and a billiards table finished in orange felt. This is truly a room that was designed with the comfort and enjoyment of the Salex team in mind.

Our thanks to Paul, George, and Nick of Salex for all of their help. We certainly look forward to working with them again in the future.

A New Promo Shoot With Billions Cobra (aka Aidan)

Last week we did a quick promo shoot with Aidan Koper.  You might remember Aidan from the shoot we did last October when we sent him into Lake Ontario to stand with a flaming whip.

This time the shoot involved a lot less fire – just some digital instruments, a vintage mac, and Aidan at his rock star best.

More Winter Magic on Elm Street

For the fourth year running Elm Street was the location of  Ice, Wine & Dine, an event organized by the Downtown Yonge BIA.  Restaurants brought their goods outside and sold or gave away samples to the happy crowd who enjoyed drinks in a martini bar made of ice, performances from some of Zero Gravity Circus’ fine performers, and the works of few master ice carvers – one of whom happens to be from the very NON-icy island of Jamaica.  More on him in another post… stay tuned.