Movie Reviews

1. Bladerunner:
I chose to watch/review this movie mostly for it's cinematography & use of formal elements to create mood, but upon watching the special features, I was blown away by the influence photographic techniques had on it's creation. Essentially, Bladerunner was to movies what Jerry Uelsmann was to still photography!
Many of the shots featured parts of the scene burned out and replaced with hand-painted renderings to help create that futuristic appearance. The aerials of the city were actually two-dimensional cut-outs of building silhouettes, created through a process quite similar to old photographic processes (they etched the silhouettes onto metal, then used a chemical to dissolve any un-etched areas. Once the etching template was created, it was easy to mass reproduce the building shapes). For the actual filming, they would blow smoke between these two-dimensional cutouts to create depth (atmospheric haze: a structural element from CI class!)
Furthermore, many scenes featured multiple exposures to create a desired effect.
Although this movie isn't necessarily my favourite genre or storyline, I quite appreciated all the time and effort it would take to make this film in the pre-computer, analogue days. I was facinated by the processes the used. Finally, I also appreciated the use of lighting, back lighting, and colour/tone to create the distinct mood prevalent throughout the film.

2. City of God
I enjoyed how photography "saved the day", in a way, for the narrator/protagonist in this film - in the end, it elevents him from 'slum hood' to a succesful photographer living in the big city. Although we get a hint of the importance of photography early on in the film, it's not until the very end that we see it's impact, a fact that I think parallels the idea that a photo is only a snapshot of an instant, only a moment in time, and that there is so much more to the story than that single frame can show. I also enjoyed that many questions/issues surrounding photography are also subtly explored - copyright (when his images are taken from the developing room & printed without his knowledge); interpretation (he thinks he's 'dead' when the images are printed, but in actuallity, the subjects are happy about it); representation; photographer bias (choosing to leave out the images of the crooked cops), etc.

3. The Last Emperor
I chose this movie film because some initial research indicated that it has some of the best cinematography in modern film, which earned it the 1987 Academy Award in this category (as well as 8 other wins). This film used colour to create mood, particularly through the use of complimentary colours. Texture, pattern, line and form were also prevalent in the cinematography, mirroring these qualities, which are prevalent in the historic architecture and art of China's Forbidden City (the setting for much of the film). This film is beautiful to look at, but very long and a bit slow paced! However, with a photographic eye, I can begin to understand how much thought went into each and every shot in the film.

Africa Pics

So I didn't get a chance to update y'all during my trip to Swaziland as often as I had hoped. Blame it on the 14 hour+ days that we spent working in over 38 degree C heat!
To make it up to you, I spent the last day in a marathon editing session to get my best shots ready and posted for your enjoyment!

Some background for context:
Riverwood Church adopted a small "carepoint" (kind of like a community centre) called Enaleni in Swaziland, Africa last year. Enaleni cares for the local community - providing two meals a day to children in this area hard hit by the AIDS epidemic. Our group of 20 was the first from our church to visit this important place, and I wanted to document our love for the people there and the many projects we were able to complete during our short visit. Enaleni: we miss you already!

Moment of the day...

Today, it was 38 degrees here in Swaziland - plus humidity, and with very little wind. (I know you windchill sufferers will groan, but trust me...this is way too hot, when you're not used to it, for manual labour!)

So, I took many breaks to play with the kids of Enaleni, just to escape the heat. One particularly quiet girl was just happy to be by my side and hold my hand while we watched the chaos of a rousing soccer game. I started drawing shapes in the sand with my toe, just to pass the time - pretty much absentmindedly, while watching the action.

When I looked back down at my new friend, I realized that (like many children), she'd been mimicking my every move, and traced a heart with her toe. Yes, it makes a great picture that I couldn't help but capture. But more importantly, it makes an unforgettable print on my own heart that I'm happy my quick photog reflexes could share.

Of Marshes and Farmers

Well, we arrived in Africa today and two thoughts immediately hit me: 1) dang, that sun is hot! 2) It's so green here I'm almost blinded! (compared to white, white, and gray Winnipeg winter)

But as we drove the five hours across the South African countryside to our final destination, Swaziland, I was struck by a much deeper thought. I noticed that wheat and corn fields dotted the landscape, that I knew the name of flowers along the roadside (cosmos, my fav, line the ditches!) Here there was red dirt and green fields, just like in PEI. There are some prairie meadows dancing in the breeze. Here a field of muted greens, browns, and purple - just like the moors we visited in Scotland. There, pothole wetlands just like the coulees of Saskatchewan.

With all these memories, it's no wonder I got a bit lost in space and time (although it could also have been the fact that I was riding in a bus that had the heat stuck on, in plus 35 degree weather!) But it made me wonder what, other than the simple colour of our skin, makes us so different from the people we are coming to serve?

Shooting moving targets...

...is fun, yet challenging, as I discovered this past weekend. N was racing our dog, Rufio (a shepherd cross) as part of the ski joring competition at the annual City of Lakes Loppet in Minneapolis.

Our team of 4 Canadians headed south of the border to represent, and we did great! (results) We were so proud of our Ruf and N in their first big race, coming in 14th in his class and 5 minutes ahead of the average!

It was a great opportunity to practice some very fast-paced event photography. With a loaner 70-200mm lens (thanks Tim!) in tow, I set out to capture some of the excitement (and mayhem) of the pre-race corral and the mass start. It was chaotic to try and find my chosen subjects in a sea of cross-country-ski-gear clad guys, never mind obtaining an accurate focus!

Before I knew it, I had to book it over to the finish line (I literally had to run...these dogs are fast!) in time to capture our guys coming across the finish line. I'm sure glad I took the time to stake out my location before the race began.



Cudos to all the organizers and racers... I'm looking forward to next year!

If you like what you see, please find out more about ski joring in Manitoba.