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How Some Photos Were Taken
(Amanda Hale)
Darby met me at my car, with no barking and led me to meet his master, Amanda Hale. Amanda and I decided that a field with dandelions and wildflowers would be a good location for the photos. Darby showed me down a path that opened onto the field and he stopped in the perfect position, while I went to get the rest of my gear. I got the feeling that if he could have carried some of my bags he would have. Amanda sat in the flowers and Darby positioned himself prominently for the photo. With no cue Darby looked up each time for the exposure and after one roll of film I knew we had more than enough to chose from and Amanda agreed. I packed my equipment and again Darby guided me to my car and waited patiently as I backed out the driveway. The perfect dog! I wonder if he knows how to use a can opener?
(Joy Kogawa)
Joy Kogawa wanted to be photographed near or around water as several of her works involved water. Blaise and I found a fountain in the West End of Vancouver that had a waterfall with a poem inscribed next to it. We positioned Joy next to the falls right above the poem and I tried to find a good location to shoot. Nothing worked either due to the background or communication because with the noise of the falls we couldn't hear Joy and she couldn't hear us. Suddenly she raised her hands and looked upward and I quickly took the photo. It was only later that I found that Blaise motioned for her to stand up so we could try something else and Joy thought Blaise meant to raise her arms.
(Robert Gray)
Robert Gray thought a photograph in the style of Rene Magritte, the famous painter, might best exemplify him as a writer. On a Sunday afternoon we found ourselves at English Bay with Robert in shirt and tie and umbrella. We wanted to photograph him in the water with the umbrella with the ocean in the background. I hadn't thought how many people sunbath at English Bay on a sunny Sunday, and there were hundreds of people. As we all walked into the water to get into position, people started yelling screaming. They thought this was performance art and we were there for their entertainment. As I started to shot, I could hear the screaming getting louder, and the splashing closer to us. I envisioned my costly equipment being destroyed in the ocean and a wave of fear went through me. Suddenly a huge man came up behind us and said
"Don't worry I'll take care of this";. He was a life guard and he saved me that day. I was never able to thank him and hopefully this will have to do: THANK YOU!
(Al Purdy)
After doing an poor job photographing Al Purdy the first time we met, we agreed to go back a second time to get it right. This time we came with more than just our cameras. Blaise found a number of squeggie toys, talking toy cameras and so forth to use as props. As we passed through Sydney on the way to Al's house we also noticed a community centre that had murals of orcas and a dinosaur on the wall: "This could be a great background!"; We persuaded Al to try it despite being a bitterly cold January day.
We positioned Al with his hand outstretched as if the orca was jumping on his command. We also did a series with the dinosaur behind him with his arms folded. Throughout both shots Blaise was behind me squeezing various squeegee toy and toy cameras in attempts to make him smile. Al finally said at the end, "I don't know whether I should laugh or be offended!
Darby met me at my car, with no barking and led me to meet his master, Amanda Hale. Amanda and I decided that a field with dandelions and wildflowers would be a good location for the photos. Darby showed me down a path that opened onto the field and he stopped in the perfect position, while I went to get the rest of my gear. I got the feeling that if he could have carried some of my bags he would have. Amanda sat in the flowers and Darby positioned himself prominently for the photo. With no cue Darby looked up each time for the exposure and after one roll of film I knew we had more than enough to chose from and Amanda agreed. I packed my equipment and again Darby guided me to my car and waited patiently as I backed out the driveway. The perfect dog! I wonder if he knows how to use a can opener?
(Joy Kogawa)
Joy Kogawa wanted to be photographed near or around water as several of her works involved water. Blaise and I found a fountain in the West End of Vancouver that had a waterfall with a poem inscribed next to it. We positioned Joy next to the falls right above the poem and I tried to find a good location to shoot. Nothing worked either due to the background or communication because with the noise of the falls we couldn't hear Joy and she couldn't hear us. Suddenly she raised her hands and looked upward and I quickly took the photo. It was only later that I found that Blaise motioned for her to stand up so we could try something else and Joy thought Blaise meant to raise her arms.
(Robert Gray)
Robert Gray thought a photograph in the style of Rene Magritte, the famous painter, might best exemplify him as a writer. On a Sunday afternoon we found ourselves at English Bay with Robert in shirt and tie and umbrella. We wanted to photograph him in the water with the umbrella with the ocean in the background. I hadn't thought how many people sunbath at English Bay on a sunny Sunday, and there were hundreds of people. As we all walked into the water to get into position, people started yelling screaming. They thought this was performance art and we were there for their entertainment. As I started to shot, I could hear the screaming getting louder, and the splashing closer to us. I envisioned my costly equipment being destroyed in the ocean and a wave of fear went through me. Suddenly a huge man came up behind us and said
"Don't worry I'll take care of this";. He was a life guard and he saved me that day. I was never able to thank him and hopefully this will have to do: THANK YOU!
(Al Purdy)
After doing an poor job photographing Al Purdy the first time we met, we agreed to go back a second time to get it right. This time we came with more than just our cameras. Blaise found a number of squeggie toys, talking toy cameras and so forth to use as props. As we passed through Sydney on the way to Al's house we also noticed a community centre that had murals of orcas and a dinosaur on the wall: "This could be a great background!"; We persuaded Al to try it despite being a bitterly cold January day.
We positioned Al with his hand outstretched as if the orca was jumping on his command. We also did a series with the dinosaur behind him with his arms folded. Throughout both shots Blaise was behind me squeezing various squeegee toy and toy cameras in attempts to make him smile. Al finally said at the end, "I don't know whether I should laugh or be offended!
Submitted on July 27, 2012 in By David.
