Bruno Ierullo Renegade 2013 Collection
Awesome production for Bruno Ierullo’s fashion show at the International Centre in Toronto. B.I.’s Renegade 2013 Collection featured approximately 350 looks over the span of about 2 hours…straight. The 400 ft elevated runway had rock concert lighting and sound that definitely made for a fantastic show. I used about 36GB of memory for this one show which, to put in to perspective, was more GB than the 8 shows in one day at the World MasterCard FashionWeek. I shoot conservatively as well. Anyway, loved the show, even though my arse and legs cramped up pretty good from sitting on my Pelican case for the second hour.
Thanks to Alan Flores for securing me a media pass.
Thanks to Raymond Chow for lending me a CF card…again.
All images from the show can be viewed here.
World MasterCard FashionWeek F/W 2012 March 12-16
Great week covering World MasterCard FashionWeek in Toronto at David Pecaut Square. I missed last season so it was exciting to be back. Once again I reconnected with many of the runway photographers from past shows and met many more new fantastic and talented photographers. Although I was not obligated by my client/agency to do so, I made a personal commitment to shoot all runway shows, main runway or studio. Yes it was a long week but I loved it and actually I was a lot more relaxed and less tired than previous seasons. 31 shows spread over 5 days and I felt like I could have done another week. Maybe it was the free beer tickets they were handing out everyday which I and a few other guilty photographers took advantage of…everyday.
A few notables at this fashion week. First off there was a record number of knucklehead spectators that crossed in front of the media pit, mid show. WTF!!! Also, a model who was in obvious discomfort in her heels walking down the runway decided to take her shoes off and left them right in the middle of the runway. WTF!!! Also I saw a record number of spectators with more than just point and shoots who flash bombed many of my images. I also noticed many iPad shooters in the crowds as well. Also, the number of photographers was definitely less than previous seasons (tightening of media accreditations?) and the media pit was definitely narrower than last time. Lastly, washrooms?!
Anyway the week had started with a bit of a hiccup as I received an industry pass as opposed to a media pass. After some clarification I was in and claimed my spot for the week, just left of the runway beside the house videographers. I was happy with my spot although I could have used a bit more reach (used my Nikon 70-200 2.8VRll). The first day had only 3 shows in the evening and the highlight for me on the first day were the luxurious designs from Pavoni.
Day 2 was the longest day of the week with 3 studio shows and 5 main runway shows. My spot in the studio was floor level just right of centre beside George Pimentel. Yes my “idol” George. For those of you that follow me and read my blog, you will know this is the truth.
I like the intimacy of the runway in the studio but the narrow runway made for some dangling feet from crossed legs on the edges of my photos. Annoying. For the main runway shows, I found myself alternating between standing up with a monopod, standing up with no monopod or sitting on my Pelican with my monopod. Definitely got more consistent shots sitting down but standing up I was able to move an additional 10 inches closer to centre. Anyway, got the shots I needed and captured fantastic repeat designers from previous seasons on this night, my favourite being Lucian Matis.
Day 3 was another long day incorporating 2 studio shows and 5 main runway shows. Thanks to Raymond Chow for lending me a CF card as I decided at the beginning of the week to shoot raw for all of the shows although I’ve always shot jpeg at fashion week due to the sheer number of images and speed of processing. With that you lose a bit of depth and colour so this time I decided to shoot raw. Anyway, it was the usual packed house for Joe Fresh but my favourite designer of the day was Cara Cheung with her edgy and glamourous designs.
Day 4 continued with 4 studio shows and 3 main runway shows. The biggest excitement on this day was George Pimentel’s new Nikon D4 unboxed. Yes, I had to touch the beast (not George) and snap a couple of shots. Awesome!! George kept saying in amazement after viewing the images on the back of his new camera, “Photography is over”. This day also had my favourite designers David Dixon and Pink Tartan. Neither disappointed but many thought the lighting for Pink Tartan was too dark. I kept it real leaving the lighting “as was” in post while many photographers brightened their images with mixed results.
Day 5 had 3 studio shows and 3 main runway shows with Arthur Mendonca being my favourite designer of the day.
With that, another fantastic week at the now World MasterCard FashionWeek was done. Many of us photographers had a few drinks after the last show and talked about the long week, upcoming fashion shows and the possibility of seeing each other again next season. Until next season enjoy the images from all of the shows.
Basch It Up!
The Basch It Up! design competition at 99 Gallery was a fantastic event to start Fashion Week in Toronto. Designer students from several colleges had the opportunity to create designs for the Basch label. It was a great opportunity to showcase the talents of the students and congratulations go to Sarah McGowan who took home the grand prize. The night continued with Wesley Badanjak’s Fall/Winter 2012 collection for Basch and Lovas.
It was also a great night to see the usual gang of runway photographers and chat about new gear, fashion and the upcoming World MasterCard Fashion Week.
A special thank you to Brill Communications.
All images from the Basch It Up! competition can be viewed here.
All images from the Basch Fall/Winter 2012 collection can be viewed here.
All images from the Lovas Fall/Winter 2012 collection can be viewed here.
While listening to Tindersticks’ fantastic new album The Something Rain on my iPod, I strolled around Edwards Gardens. It has been several months since I last made my rounds here and it felt great to absorb the colourless and serene surroundings. It’s always about taking a time out from the ‘noise’ of people and conversation as well as escaping the ‘energy’ from computers/t.v. Much needed and I was lucky enough to capture an image I liked during the afternoon.
WHAT TYPE OF PHOTOGRAPHY ARE YOU CURRENTLY FOCUSING ON AND WHY?
I have worked as a Freelance Photographer in the fields of Portraiture, Architecture, Stills and Historical Processes such as Gum Bichromates, however currently I am focusing more on my Fine Art Photography – at night. It’s something I started experimenting with shooting at 16 and have come full circle to enjoying the experience these past few years, once again. The long exposures allow for truly being in the moment and I shoot this work with chrome, (yes, I still shoot slide film, everything on my website was shot with film 🙂 ). Kodachrome 64 was my go to favorite film forever but now I shoot with Velvia.
The majority of my personal work is captured at night, as this is when I am most inspired and has been an element of my work for over 20 years. There is mystery at night, and I feel that this body of work is an expression of a photographic meditation through a long exposure. I have been able to merge my two loves of Photography (picking up a camera at the age of 12) and Yoga, I began to practice in 1990, so 22 years ago, however I have been teaching this as well since 2006. The peace and tranquility in these scenes are what I hope will transcend for the viewer, so they might take away something as magnificent as belonging to something greater, or just something inspiring and as necessary as hope.
TELL ME ABOUT A PHOTOGRAPHER WHO INSPIRES YOU
In my University days studying Fine Art, we learned about the History of Photography. It was incredible seeing the first images ever created – it would be impossible to pick just one, I would say that I have been inspired by the early photographers, Nicephore Niepce, Julia Margaret Cameron, to the great classics, Andre Kertesz, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Irving Penn and in Fashion, which is where I started, Richard Avedon, Sarah Moon and Herb Ritts. It’s the way they were able to tell a story, with such depth, richness and truth.
FOR YOU, WHAT ARE THE BEST AND WORST PARTS OF PHOTOGRAPHY?
The best part of Photography is that connection I experience in the creating of the image, the magic, whether it’s in photographic meditation with nature or with a person – being in that flow, or the zone, it’s a beautiful dance of give and take. To me, they are both sacred however when another soul, allows me to capture their essence, this is an experience I do not take lightly and that’s why I take time with my portraits – to allow the person I am photographing to emerge and share their true self as they begin to feel the trust. Without this, their inner being, you can capture just the mere shell, and the image won’t have the energy, the gravitas that each of us carry within us, always.
The beauty of photography, for me is the creative process but like all things there is the practical element that is important as well, the yin and yang, without the other, one can not exist. If I really had to focus on my not so favorite part, it would be keeping up with the latest and most powerful computers and software at the studio and on the road. This is so essential in creating the data base of my life’s work, which is all digitized today, scanning all my film along with the raw files from digital shoots and the amount of storage this requires especially having to back everything up on different hard drives.
WHAT IS THE LATEST PIECE OF PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT THAT YOU HAVE ACQUIRED AND HOW IS IT USED FOR THE TYPE OF PHOTOGRAPHY YOU DO?
Coming from the world of film and television, I learned how to light with Fresnel tungsten and daylight balanced lights (like Mole-Richardson’s used in the Hollywood films of the the 40’s) so I was delighted to see a portable easy to use light called The Rotolight. I used it recently on a music video shoot and it worked beautifully. Created by brilliant designers in London from Pinewood Studios.
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN PHOTOGRAPHY AND WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAMERA?
I picked up a camera when I was 12, more for documenting family events with a Kodak Instamatic that was a birthday present from my parents. But then I became fascinated with photography when I started experimenting with long exposures at night on a friend’s camera, an SLR that took 110 film. The first real camera, 35mm, I bought was a used Minolta XG7 and then a year later I upgraded to the X700. It was the perfect camera to buy at 17, light and affordable which allowed me to learn about photography and carry it everywhere. I also began a camera collection years ago and my oldest is from 1895.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE LENS IN YOUR BAG?
My all time favorite lens is the 150mm F 2.8 from my Mamiya 645, fabulous for portraits when I was shooting medium format. Right now, while I’m traveling, my favorite lens is the EF24-70mm F 2.8 for my Canon 5D. And since I travel with my film camera as well, it’s a 28-85mm, as the portability of both these zoom lenses is priceless.
WHAT, WHO OR WHERE WAS YOUR ULTIMATE PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPERIENCE?
Again, it’s tricky to pick one – I feel that I have been so fortunate to do what I do, that each experience has been incredible. From all the people and performers I have photographed to all the places I have been, I can’t pick one…but if I had to, there was one that was so profound – I was hired to photograph a home birth and I was on call, just like the Mid-wife. The mother to be and I did a beautiful pregnancy shoot a few weeks before hand so she would feel comfortable with my presence at the time of her giving birth. Talk about the magic of the universe, from 5 people in the room, there emerged 6. I will always feel honoured for witnessing the birth of Paris 🙂 who is a teenager today.
WHAT, WHO OR WHERE WOULD BE YOUR ULTIMATE PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPERIENCE?
That’s a tough one to answer, I love to travel, so wherever my next destination is, will be amazing. Every shoot is so special whether I’m photographing a person or a specific place and I am grateful for all the experiences I have had so far and that I will have in the future.
WHAT MUSIC ARE YOU CURRENTLY LISTENING TO?
After an amazing intimate concert down here in Florida, I have been loving the sounds of Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion. 🙂
THANK YOU AND KEEP SHOOTING!
