PINKUS ZUKERMAN

I photographed Pinkus Zukerman a little while back. For Ottawa Magazine.

In case you don’t know (and why would you unless you live in Ottawa and/or follow
the classical music scene) he’a a world renowned violinist as well as The National
Arts Centre Orchestra main-man. A bit of a celebrity…..known far but not wide.

One of the things I like about shooting celebs and other “known” types is that they
come with public baggage. They’ve probably spent a bit more time and energy than
usual getting you to think of them in some certain way. Even if they haven’t (and that’s
a big if), the very fact that you “know who they are” changes the way you view photos
of them.

Plus, they are usually very savvy when it comes to the photo-portait process. Many
celebs are (of course) natural actors who are adept at portraying some idealized
version of themselves. I figure it’s my job, when shooting these public figures, to
cut through as much of that noise as possible and try to find an aspect of their
image that is new. (Tho’ I suppose you could look at it the other way and say the
photographer’s job is to reinforce the celeb’s public image. Problem is, my brain
just doesn’t work that way.)

I met with the art director and editor at Ottawa mag. They told me that we could
use Zukerman’s home, or the stage at The National Arts Centre. Zukerman’s people
were behind this magazine profile and photo shoot so location (within reason) wasn’t
going to be an issue. Me, I just wanted to shoot him using a plain wall. No fiddle, no
stage, no job description. Everyone in Ottawa already knows (up to a point) what the
guy does. Why should we just fall back on the easy clichés?

I was most pleased when Ottawa mag art director Jane Corbett saw these and
commented: “Very different from other shots I’ve seen of him. Thanks.”

All I can say to that is: “My pleasure. Thanks for the freedom.”

XTINA VISITS

My long-lost ex-assistant Christina Riley came back to Ottawa for a short visit from
her current location in California. Her sched in Ottawa is packed but she found
the time to drop by. Cin and me and Christina had lunch in the back yard and
chewed the fat.

Big fun. Big glasses.

MORE ME

Bumped into this on the web a couple of days ago on Lois Siegel’s web site/blog thingy.

Don’t ask…..

USER, take 3

Last year I spent a bunch of evenings and nites down on the corner of Cumberland and
Murray Streets. Photographing crack addicts.

I went back a few weeks ago to continue the project, to try a new approach. (Scroll down
to August 10th to see my first, new, unsuccessful efforts, along with an explanation.)

Long story short, I was dissatisfied with the results, with how I was going about fleshing
out the project. There was just something that didn’t feel right about my new approach.
So I went back to the drawing board, back to the corner. I did head shots again, but
different from last time.

To me these newer images are way more successful than those I took on my first attempt
this year. But they perplex me. And that can only mean one of two things:

1/ They don’t suit me and/or the project, i.e.: they suck.

2/ I’m following a path that I don’t understand that will eventually lead me somewhere new.

Here’s a little slide show of 3 of the brand new shots. The jury’s still out on what’s what
with these. All in all, though, this process of trying to find a new approach, one that fits
with what I’ve done on the corner before but is different, is really turning my crank. (In
a good way.) (Believe me.)

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FESTIVAL X

I’m planning on blogging extensively about Festival X this year.

For those of you who don’t know…..Festival X is the Ottawa Photography Festival.
Now in it’s second year. Is it too late to change it’s name to something that doesn’t
require you to, whenever you say: “FESTIVAL X”, follow up by saying: “That’s the
Ottawa photography festival”?

Anyway, I dragged my sorry ass down to the MEDIA LAUNCH this past Tuesday.
Looks like they’ve got a ton of stuff happening between the GALA OPENING, Sept.
18th at St. Brigid’s Centre for the Arts, and Sept. 28th when the fest wraps. I count
17 openings on Friday Sept. 19th between 5:30 and late. Whew! More details will
follow as the time draws near. (Go to their web site for all the info.)

My blogging about the festival will, I think, be a combo of gossip, snap shots, reviews
and color commentary. Lets get things rolling with some snaps from the media launch.

Banner. Photograph by Danny Hussey

Food

Francesco Corsaro, Fest X veep. Khalia Scott, Fest X pres.

SPAO main-man Michael Tardioli. Frame guru Patrick Gordon.

Art critic Paul Gessell studies the sched. Danny H. kisses Angelina McCormick

Michael Schrier. Justin Wonnacott. Photographers.