A late night shoot along the Toronto waterfront near Ontario Place. I managed to grab some amazing shots on this particular evening which are finally coming to light more than a year later. Some times I shoot and just let images sit in the vault until a time comes where I see a different vision or have a different feeling about the capture.
The freedom of the water in the distance enclosed by the barrier that supposedly prevents us from jumping unchained. Notice the openings and height of the offending fence as it is easily broken down, but our minds have trained us that an enclosing barrier means that we can not go through or that we shouldn’t. A young elephant is metal chained to a post and an adult elephant is roped to that very same post. Why is that? The young will try everything until taught they can not veer away and then as an adult through trained thought give up the fight. My advice : Try a fresh perspective and break the barriers.
The title should actually read, ‘Son’ spray as my oldest son Ethan stood in the water to allow a capture of this shot. Nothing shows a more summer feeling than water on a really hot day. Ethan and his little brother Liam (my youngest) had a great time splashing about at this cool water park.
Composing this architectural marvel took a little determination, patience and walking around. This is probably one of the most under rated building attractions in the city as they married contemporary engineering while keeping bits and pieces of the past from Toronto’s old world charm. This is a slight step away from what I have been producing recently but couldn’t resist a great shot.
Yesterdays challenge was to travel light and remain resourceful throughout the day, using the landscape around me as a method of stabilizing my camera. This was a blind shot, guessed the compostion and timing of the shot while placing my camera on the ground using my filter case, my blackberry phone and a lens cap to prop the camera on an angle. Amusing to see the response of those around watching my makeshift tripod system, I would have caught a picture of this set up if my blackberry wasn’t so busy holding my Nikon up. The reason behind my mad set up is that this image is a 30 second exposure @ F22.
A continuation of thought, you can remain permanently paralyzed with the opposing current but shifting the thought, the will, the desire will cause a dynamic change to the opposing water that fights you. The victory remains yours once you catch the right shift and make it upstream with a new story to tell.
Anyone has had a moment in life where they lose themselves being stalled in an upstream battle, these fellas are no different as they will be stalled for eternity awaiting the moment that they might free themselves against the opposing current. Prolonging the battle or shifting slightly in the current will create different effects. I encourage you to try it sometime, it is a liberating experience.
What lies beneath the surface of shadows and darkness is something known only to our own minds and memories, we all have a dark passenger that lives within us, what that darkness holds is an individual experience but we always have a light to follow, a guidance, a reprieve that we can hold on to if we fight hard enough.
This is second study of a broken mooring post that would hold boats in place or maybe a dock at one point, not quite sure but one thing that I do know is that these posts have seen better days in their past. When I happen upon a scene in Halifax, Nova Scotia I always wonder how long things have been there for and if my ancestors had seen some of things that I enjoy today.
This is a fitting tribute image to mark the 10,000th visitor to the blog, I wonder how many have used this viewfinder to pan the lake and far off landscape. Naturally my camera felt a little shy and intimidated but both the viewfinder scope and my Nikon warmed up and created a very special image.
This is an older shot but a favourite of mine as I love the twisted patterns of the branches leaning away from the frame. As a side note the boardwalk that leads into this twisted framed shot no longer exists. The trees used to grow right out of the boardwalk and was an amazing sight at the time.
Sometimes going back to the drawing board and revisiting old friends can give you a totally different vision. This dock has made numerous appearances in my blog with various styling and shot at different times. This particular image has been edited in two different formats giving an old image new life again.
As in life, repeated tasks crash against the every day normalcy. A wave repeats itself over and over again crashing upon the rocks. Can you find beauty in the continual crash or do you find comfort in the continuance of the same repetition day after day. I prefer continuance but from time to time I must run from those crashing waves just for change of pace.
A dream comes to to her thoughts as the waters crash silently upon the edge of the beach. A dream may come as quick as the wind or may recede as fast as the wave. But dream she does and What Dreams May Come is a mystery to all.
This is a difficult task to achieve. Remain still, calm and relaxed for the length my shutter is open. Danielle achieved the fourth image in the Siren’s collection with ease and she did it for 30 seconds on a cold day, I feel terrible while she toughed it out but the results are always stunning. While working on a number of shots we managed to get this one among many which I am proud to add to the Siren collection Please visit Danielle’s site or contact me directly.
Betsy and I had been in contact via e-mail, text, blackberry’s etc for about a month planning this shoot. Her determination to work with me and her enthusiasm paid off very well with this really hot shoot. These are some of the highlights of our session that are not long exposure based as I am doing for the Siren project. As you can see it was worth taking the camera off the tripod to do some standard editorial shots of her. She gave me sultry and sexy images and became a wonderful addition to my portfolio 
I invite you to visit her site if you are interested in contacting her or you can contact me directly.
She listens to the wind as it silently whispers into her thoughts at the edge of the water. Patience and time created a stunning shot from Betsy Borin of Cambridge, it is a crazy idea to attempt shoots like this due to the length of my shutter time and the very, very cold temperatures. Betsy was awesome and amazing for her determination to get the shots perfect. This was the last frame of five attempts on this shot. I was worried about her being cold before capturing this, and she said ‘Let’s just do it’ I ran back to my perch at the end of the pier and voila we have A Sirens Whisper.
I am very happy to introduce my new project with this wonderful addition to the imagery. The Siren’s of Fragile Glass will be an ongoing collaboration of long exposures featuring models and testing their patience while I wait out the timing of the shots. I am looking forward to meeting with Bets again when the weather is warmer. Thank you Bets!
At times we sleep through life without realizing it, drifting unknowingly on an undetermined path and hit that crossroad of tested patience. Which way we choose to pursue the cross is a matter of will, decision and influence of lifestyle and experiences. I fell asleep for awhile, a long while actually and the autopilot light kept me on that course. Now that I have awakened, which way do I choose to go? I shall follow the light that falls at the end of my lens and remain awake and not let myself fall asleep on that undetermined path again.
With the spring comes blooms of life and a change of season. This transition continues effortlessly and endlessly through time. In life we all face transitions in many forms and how we handle and adjust to those changes is an individual experience. My own personal transitions have been an ongoing experience and never ceases to amaze me how each day is different from the last.
Recently I came about a friend who is also experiencing their own transitional change. A proud, courageous and amazing change. The years have past but the friendship remains intact regardless of the transitions each of us are currently experiencing. Mikayla sparked an inspiration in me that I am truly thankful for. This image is dedicated to you, a reminder of your past and a welcome to your amazing new future. The tulips duality in its bloom truly marks your amazing journey. Can’t wait to fly out to Vancouver in August to catch up on old times and go shooting.
I met with Kelli yesterday to attempt another long exposure shoot at a location that I admired in the Queen’s Quay area along the Toronto Harbourfront. The name I badge my collection under very well describes the fragility of life, the landscapes and the environment in general.
I am always one to be skeptical of my scenes remaining intact but was sadly dissappointed when I arrived to find the tree had been badly damaged and toppled over. I caught one of my personal favourite images of this scene and some may recognize it from one of my earliest posts. In a fraction of time in the tree’s total life span I probably captured one of the last photographs of this wonderful scene.
The evolving land and the world around me is mysterious from behind the lens because I always wonder if the scene will remain untouched or unchanged or if I documented its last moment of glory.
This would be the reason for soggy shoes and wet socks and pant legs that were drenched. You will recognize this wonderful chair from another shot that I had taken with this lovely wicker chair in the water. Sometimes you have to play around with your elements to get those perfect shots. You can see the Lack of Inspiration shot to see the difference.
Children’s books, fantasy stories and animated films will have pirate ships soaring through the air creating imagery that most of us wish we could see to escape from it all. Karriem and his father Martin brought to life a pirate ship kite sailing high in the sky over the notable landmark Lifeguard House in the Queen St. beaches area in Toronto.
Thanks to Karriem, Martin and Sarah for allowing me to share this awesome image. Next time I look to the sky and see a red pirate ship I’ll know who it belongs to.
Caught this in the Queen St. Beaches area while out and about on Easter Sunday. Funny how the details of life such as No Parking Sign can be found with a bike parked and chained to the it.
These boarders decided to take a break and walk about the beach, perfect timing for me as I got a great shot of their parking space along the boardwalk of the Queen St. Beaches. Like my posts with ‘The Stoners’ the boards took on a similar life as their stone statue counterparts.
You could go over the fencing, but the logical choice would be to walk through it. For some they will take the more challenging task of hauling their weight and effort in climbing the fence knowing the potential risks may be worth getting to the other side. Those who are less challenged and see no need to place emphasis on that kind of effort will simply walk through the access with great ease and pride with the simplicity. Who gains the greater reward? Everyone chooses their path to gain that reward…. which one would you be?
The quiet calm of the waterfront mixed with a long exposure and a passion for beautiful imagery completed the first of a series of shoots that are being planned with Kelli and I. Our friendship spans over many years and a very special shoot for both of us being on either side of the camera. We had been planning this for a long time and this past weekend was the first time we were able to have our hectic schedules match and it was definitely worth the wait. She is wonderful for creating the right poses and made it easy for me to fire away and concentrate on the exposures.
I invite you to visit Kelli at her web site Kelli Online or at her Model Mayhem page and see the vast and beautiful portfolio that she has done over the years. I am happy that mine will now join the ranks among the beautiful imagery she has created. When you drop by, tell her I said Hi.
Thanks Kelli for your patience and working through the long exposures, I look forward to creating more of these beautiful images with you in the future
Waking up at the crack of dawn, well actually before the crack of dawn is a discipline that is hard to undertake when you love the warmth of your bed, home and don’t want to wake up when it is the same darkness you went to sleep in. I had made plans to shoot with fellow photographers, one whom you have already met from A Lack of Inspiration and another wonderful monochrome shooter named Stephen Lai. I set this whole shooting adventure up, made all of the confirmations and totally missed my alarm and awoke with Alex sitting at my doorstep calling my cell phone. In 10 minutes or less I was dressed and as presentable as I could be and in his car. Poor Alex! Thanks bud! I OWE YOU!
Shooting long exposures are taxing on the camera battery and today for some reason my batteries were draining extraordinarily fast. I drained three batteries on 37 frames probably due to temperature and length of exposures. This was the second last shot before my third battery gave up the ghost. Timing is everything some days and in this case an angel was sitting in the camera long enough to capture this stunning shot from the Scarborough Bluff’s which is in my old hometown.
Don’t miss tomorrow’s post as I had a complete knockout weekend shooting spree, including a stunning series from a talented and beautiful long time friend who jumped in front of the lens for me. This was a long wait and our hectic schedules finally matched , well worth the wait when you see the results.
The water rises and reclaims it ability to crash upon the beach by breaking down the concrete barrier that once had it glory in the sun. When looking through the viewfinder I really felt like I had gone to the end of the world and just over beyond the rocks is the unknown and unseen future. In reality, I would just get really wet if I tried to find out what is really beyond the horizon.
Frank Sinatra could not have created a better atmosphere for a bar scene than with his song ‘One for My Baby’. Empty chairs in a bar adorned with all the comforts to bring on a festive mood or allow one to run from the world yet I will always wonder of what stories the owner of this jacket would have. However we did not meet and this shot was the end of my own brief episode in this charming bar. Cheers Mr. Sinatra!
Its quarter to three,
Theres no one in the place cept you and me
So set em up joe
I got a little story I think you oughtta know
We’re drinking my friend
To the end of a brief episode
So make it one for my baby
And one more for the road….
Awhile back I posted a shot called The Wait and I was curious to see what would happen to the stone landscape when I returned. My first observation was right as the stone characters I captured are gone however there are many new ones that arrive every day. The whole area is constantly evolving within minutes as people try their hand at making new stone statues. The shots that I have captured here were broken a short time after I had left as I went back again to see more new ones. Looks like I may have a series of images to keep capturing over the summer.
Here are three captures from the day
Waking up on a Sunday morning and having family and most of my friends far and away I decided to gain some motivation in shooting, so what do I do? I call the photographer and host of a blog called A Lack of Inspiration Mr. Alex Ulleri. With our lack of inspiration in mind we set out to shoot and pretty much for most of the 6 hours we shot our camera’s in sync. We were in tune with the subjects and while not compositionally the same we both have simliar subjects on our memory cards.
I just read Alex’s blog and he will have you believe I fell in the lake, I did have soggy shoes, socks and pant legs but that was due to the nice big wave that came in to say ‘Hello’ when I was trying to balance the chair a little better. I have been called a Photdog and that is because I will lay down in the sand, mud, hang in trees, stand in the middle of streets and even ask random people to pose for me.
This scene came upon us towards the end of a tiring day of walking around about 2 square kilometres in the Kew Beach neighbourhood. Both of us had an epiphany and knew that we found our Easter Egg after a long day of hunting. We were both exhausted but it was worth it.
Yes Alex, my squishy shoes and wet legs did appreciate the drive home. It was great shooting with you, if ever I need a Lack of Inspiration I will definitely give you a call. Just remember I live on a One Way street
Over the past year, I have had the pleasure of working with the incredible and talented personality of James Biss who is a well known mentalist and performer. As well as being a great entertainer he is also one of the founders of the Friday Night Magic venue which he performs from time to time along with a cast other incredible magicians, illusionists and hypnotists.
Recently James has published another book Mind Blowing which is available at numerous Magic Shops or you can order a copy at Hank Lee’s Magic Factory. In this wonderful book are some shots that I have taken of James during our sessions and as a photographer it is always a great feeling when you receive commercial recognition within the pages of a book.
I do highly recommend booking James Biss for your next venue, corporate function or party as he will surely dazzle your audience with his charismatic charm. Even just give him a call and invite him to dinner and ask him to tell the story about Kelly Stretton but don’t give him any of your keys if he asks.
James Biss Contact Information
Magical.com
extremely_mental3@yahoo.ca
Life with a Blackberry gets interesting when you realize how easy it is to keep in touch with the world at all times. I have now signed the [Fragile Glass] blog up to Twitter for updates and random entries from me and the Blackberry. Keep with my antics, shooting schedules and random useless updates.
I am also seperating my blog into two blogging sites. My main Fragile Glass site will remain for my image postings and the new Fragile Glass training and tutorial site will be dedicated to helping those get the most of their images by my reviewing tutorials, tips and tricks to create awesome monochrome shots. You can follow
that site here.
[Fragile Glass] Workshops and Tutorials
Last but not least keep an eye out for the ‘ The Photdog Blog ‘ which I will be releasing soon. This is going to be a fun and zany site dedicated to crazy shooters all over the world. The site will have wild antics and have people shooting themes that are out of this world.
Cheers, I am going to be a busy blogger and tweeter….. now hopefully I will find time to shoot some images too.
From my post Me and My Shadow 2 days ago you could see the strength of light causing the shadows on the people in my shot. Here is the culprit causing that in full brightness.
Another childish capture of a little one running away from her charge, she came bolting out of the alley and into the courtyard at full tilt when her Mom (I am assuming) was just picking up some speed to give chase. Captured this at the Toronto Distillery District. Working so close makes this place an easy target for being shooting rang for me.
Caught this little scene at the Toronto Distillery District in the King St. and Parliament St. neighbourhood. The sun was casting strong shadows on this afternoon and this little girl seemed easily amused by the funny darkness that keeps following her wherever she goes.
Digital Black & White Tutorials
