Saturday Mar 28, 2009 : Toronto to Lima

We rumbled down the runway like a bumblebee overdosed on Codeine. (Think slow, kind of rolling side to side, and really unsure if we’re gonna fly.) The plane was packed full in every seat except the extra empty seat next to the window, which was mine – this remained for the flight. Score!
Just about an hour earlier I had strolled up to the check-in counter and upon being asked where I was destined, I replied, “Lima – Peru” making sure to roll the “r” to make it seem important, yet still keep it light-hearted coming from a visibly white guy. After a two hour flight I found myself in the temperate clime of Miami, my stopover en route to Lima.
If you’ve never been to Miami, like me, you may underestimate the extent to which the Spanish language is spoken in the place. It’s quite amazing really. I would hazard to guess that more than 75 percent of people around me are speaking Spanish. I love it. When I honed in on the closest airport café to fix my coffee craving, I almost defaulted to Spanish but caught myself just before uttering, “Un café Americano por favor.” It would have gone over just fine, as I discovered the employees were speaking Spanish amongst themselves.
And this is where you find me: sitting in Miami (mee-ya-mee) trying to stay on top of the blog which I’ve dedicated myself to for the duration of the trip. I look forward to my upcoming flight like I look forward to sitting in a can of peas for 6 hours. Nonetheless, my excitement is starting to build as I think about the next 5 weeks of shooting.

Hasta Luego Amigos!

Photography, PSP, and Peru

I’m excited to have you all join me for what will be an amazing photographic experience. From March 28 to May 2, I will be working with Rebecca Sweetman and Andrea Maldonado from the Paradigm Shift Project (PSP). PSP is an NGO that crates needs-assessment documentaries about social and environmental issues. Their current project, Peru, will create a film about sustainable urban agriculture and community gardening.
Please take a look at the website.
So what am I doing?
My goal is to document the experience in still images; this includes the making of the documentary, as well as the issues and people surrounding it. I’ll post images to this blog not only from the documentary itself, but also from my day-to-day life in Lima, which I can’t wait for!
So please, bookmark this website and check back daily as the updates roll in.

Cheers!

Skiing at Grand Targhee, Wyoming.

I have to ski in Ontario. This is where I live, and if I want to ski without breaking the bank, this is where I have to do it. However, it's a treat when we get to get away and ski something new.

This past January saw me going along with 3 very close friends to see our good friend Carolyn and stay with her on a horse Ranch on in Idaho - right on the state line to Wyoming. Carolyn was located conveniently close to the great mountains known as the Tetons, and we enjoyed some great skiing for a week.

Thanks to Carolyn for putting us up, and up with us. Hope you enjoyed the food.

Here are some of my favourite images from that week.

Dog sledding in Algonquin Park!

I recently had the great experience of going dog sledding in Algonquin Park with Outward Bound. It was absolutely spectacular! OB has an excellent dog handler and staff that absolutely adore the dogs. I was floored to see that the dogs themselves were significantly smaller than I expected them to be. I guess big heavy muscles aren't conducive to long-distance running (think endurance athletes).

In addition to this, dog sledding is definitely not a lazy-man's sport. Sure you ride on the sled on the flats and downhills, but any sign of an uphill and it's time for you to help the dogs out. Get off and push the sled and run behind it. It's a great work out, and even a better way to enjoy the outdoors. Can't recommend it enough for everyone, as it's a great way to enjoy winter.

I thought I'd leave you with a photo of the dogs from my team that day, point dogs Jazz and Cha Cha, with Fraser howling right behind them.