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****

Jeremy

Free Range
 

The Gang

Fall Fam

Paris, Ontario? Even better!

The Grand River International Short Film Festival was amazing. Social, entertaining, and culturally perfect for a guy with a short attention span. More, please!

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Proust Questionnaire: Jeremy Sale, Sr. 
 

The Proust Questionnaire is a mini-interview. Its name and modern popularity (link: Vanity Fair) is owed to the responses given by the French writer Marcel Proust.

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Today's Proustian Participant, Jeremy Sale, is my Dad.

Born in South Africa; a resident of Jordan, the UK, and other places; Dad is a full-fledged, Leafs-loving Canuck and an all-around great guy.

Anyone who's met us, knows that Dad was a huge influence on me. He took black-and-white photos in the 70s with his Pentax, and made me envy the cool complexity of an SLR more than any other object on earth. He also introduced me to the bizarre and spooky world of the darkroom at The Mississauga News—about as close to a science fiction set as you're likely to visit as a kid.

He also made people laugh all the time. Still does. Watching him reduce my aunts to tears was a real "I have to do this with my life" kinda thing. 

Do your thing, Dad...

Proust Questionnaire: Terry O'Reilly 
 

The Proust Questionnaire is a mini-interview. Its name and modern popularity

(link: Vanity Fair) is owed to the responses given by the French writer Marcel Proust.

Terry O(photo courtesy of Terry O'Reilly)

Today's Proustian Participant, Terry O'Reilly, is a legendary adman, whose mellifluous modulations have been a highlight of CBC radio going on 16 years. Under the Influence is hands-down my favourite radio show; featuring the most compelling content, host, and musical theme anywhere on the dial.

Although he and I spend our time on opposite sides of the A/V coin, Terry's creativity, professionalism, and approach to clients guides my own work every time I get paid to pick up a camera.

Terry's latest book, This I Know: Marketing Lessons from Under The Influence, is a wonderful collection of 'epiphanies' geared to small and medium-sized marketers who would prefer to outthink rather than outspend their competition.

Take it away, Terry.

Snap your fingers and you've mastered a musical instrument. Which one is it?

Bass guitar. I always have been attracted to the rhythm section of bands. When I look at my own life, I’m a fundamentals guy. I love the fundamentals of marketing, the fundamentals of the martial arts, the fundamentals of audio - so it’s no surprise I love the foundational sound of any song. And of my beloved Beatles, only the rhythm section remains.

What book do you beat yourself up for not having read?

For years, it has been Walden, by Henry David Thoreau. For the past 20 years, I’ve promised myself I would read it. And every single year, I would break that promise. But this year I finally picked it up - I’m half-way through it now and loving it.

You have a 3-day vacation to live in the time and place of your choice (with enough currency to get by). Where and when would you go?

I would time-travel back to November 1961, to Liverpool, England. To the lunchtime show the Beatles performed at the Cavern the day Brian Epstein saw them for the first time. Just to feel the energy, the freshness and see the look on Epstein’s face as he saw his future.

What is the grocery item you will not buy the generic version of, even though you know it doesn't matter?

KD

First music that you bought with your own money?

First single: Ride Captain Ride by Blues Image. 

First album: Abbey Road.

What did you dream of doing as a kid, that you would absolutely never do now?

Be a secret agent.

What movie do you feel you enjoy at a deeper level than most people?

To Kill A Mockingbird. Without question. It moves me to my core. I’ve seen it dozens of times. Same effect with each viewing. I even did a pilgrimage to Monroeville, Alabama, to wander among Harper Lee’s world. She was still alive then. I once worked with Alice Ghostley, who played Dill’s aunt in the movie. I told her it was my favourite and asked her what it was like making the film. She said yes, it was a great movie, but that she couldn’t remember anything about it. She said it was just a one-day gig for her way back in 1962. Sigh.

What would be the most frustrating thing to know for certain, if you couldn't convince even one person of it?

That there is no such thing as Karma.

What food did your parent(s) make that will never be surpassed?

A Newfoundland-inspired beef stew.

Guilty-pleasure sing-along when you're alone in the car?

Brandy by Looking Glass. Hahaha.

You're given a two-hour chat with the person of your choice, alive or dead. Who do you pick?

George Harrison. Besides being my fav Beatle, I would be fascinated to get his personal, unvarnished take on the Lennon/McCartney relationship.

Favourite candy at the age of 10?

Double Bubble gum.

If you woke up tomorrow as a 17-year-old, what would be your plan?

I think I would head to Hollywood. Try and break into the writer’s room of my favourite sitcom.

What caused the biggest laugh you ever remember having?

The night my family was playing charades. My then 80-year-old father drew a song title I had written down. It was “In A Gadda Da Vida” (by Iron Butterfly). I have never laughed so hard as I did watching my poor father try and act out that title. I think I actually hurt myself.

Thanks, Terry!

Proust Questionnaire: Jesse Hirsh 
 

Jesse Hirsh

(photo courtesy of Jesse Hirsh)

The Proust Questionnaire is a mini-interview. Its name and modern popularity

(link: Vanity Fair) is owed to the responses given by the French writer Marcel Proust.

Today's Proustian Participant, Jesse Hirsh, describes himself as a futurist, researcher & public speaker. You may remember Jesse's regular appearances on, and sudden disappearance from, CBC radio. As it turns out, Radio One's loss was ultimately our gain, if only for the birth of Jesse's regular newsletter, Metaviews—a daily dive into the future in which we're already living. But, be warned... he publishes so much solid content that you might feel overwhelmed. Not because of the abundance of content, but because the world is moving so fast, regular content becomes increasingly necessary.


He is a necessary splash of cold water whenever you get either too optimistic or too pessimistic about the 21st century. Just when I've given up on understanding buzzwords like blockchain, machine-learning, and augmented-reality—not to mention their implications—along comes Jesse to make me feel (slightly) less of a Luddite.

Rough number of books at home you have not finished reading yet.
That I aspire to finish? A dozen.

You have a 3-day vacation to live in the time and place of your choosing (with enough currency to get by). Where and when do you go?
Ten years from now. Same place that I am now.

You can magically implant "dedicated altruism" as a core tenet of any one company. Which do you pick?
Ticketmaster.

If you could own it for free, what is your must-have movie prop?
I'd like to have the war room, or the table in the war room from Dr. Strangelove.

What would be the most frustrating thing to know for certain, if you couldn't convince even one person of it?
That they're lying to themselves.

What food did your parents make that cannot be surpassed?
Tur-duck-ken.

Guilty-pleasure sing-along when you're alone in the car?
Once Upon a Time by Mariahlynn.
 

You've woken up 15 years from now. What three companies are still in the news?
Comma.ai, Amazon, Microsoft.

What is the most optimistic thing you believe?
That people are intrinsically smart and good.

What is the most pessimistic thing you believe?
That society is stupid and evil.

Two-hour private chat with the person of your choice, alive or dead. 
Malcolm X.

Favourite candy at the age of 10?
Sour gummy worms.

Biggest laugh you ever remember having.
It was so funny I forgot.

What useful advice is not being given to 16-year-olds, or, more importantly, their parents?
Drop out of school and foster your joy of learning while doing your
best to understand the Internet (everyone thinks they do but nobody
really does).

Snap your fingers and you've learned a musical instrument. Which one?
Drums.

If you could be a fly-on-the-wall during the making of your favourite movie/music/art, what would you pick?
Public Enemy, It takes a Nation of Millions to Hold us Back.

Thanks, Jesse.
 

Andrew King(photo by Andrew King)

(photo by Andrew King)

The Proust Questionnaire is a mini-interview. Its name and modern popularity

(see Vanity Fair) is owed to the responses given by the French writer Marcel Proust.

Today's Proustian Participant, Andrew King, is my kind of Canadian—artistic, smart, funny, and with an energetic zeal for revealing fascinating subjects close to home, and further afield.

His blog, Ottawa Rewind, is a goldmine of "I can't believe I never heard of that" material:

- that Loonie in your pocket was never supposed to have a loon on it.

- what if Henry Hudson survived mutiny and carved his initials on a stone near Chalk River?

- remember the UFO that crashed into a swamp near Ottawa? Me neither.

On Twitter, he has a regular #WhiskyWednesday thread that is always worth your time.

Anyway, let's get to it...

What is the most overrated advice out there? 

Stay In School…well the school you are told to stay in. The government school model limits individual creativity and practical knowledge/skills of success. Do the things you love and avoid those you hate. Prosperity and happiness will follow. 

 

What mystery would you most like to see solved in your lifetime? 

Oak Island! Come on, you are digging in the wrong place guys!

 

Favourite junk-food that you cannot get any more? 

Burger Buddies at Burger King.

 

What supposedly "classic" book or movie have you still not seen, and probably never will? 

“Gone With The Wind”… I don’t even know why I don’t want to see it. 

 

Who killed Kennedy?

Oswald via CIA MK Ultra program, and Mafia hitman for the final backup guarantee second shot. 

 

What is your holy grail movie prop? Sky's the limit. 

Indiana Jones whip. 

 

Guilty-pleasure sing-along for the car?

Spoons “Romantic Traffic” 

 

You have a 3-day vacation to live in the era of your choice, with enough period currency to get by. Where/when do you go? 

1963 Laguna Beach California. 

 

What fictional world do you obsess over?

Star Wars!

 

What is the one amazing Canadian fact that, annoyingly, nobody seems to know?

The Robertson square screw is Canadian and was only outdone in popularity by the Philips star screw because of Henry Ford.

 

Is there any artist that you boycott because of their past actions?

No, as long as they don’t hurt anyone, its a free world.

 

Irrefutable extraterrestrial intelligence detected in your lifetime?

Yes. In next ten years for sure.

 

What animal most terrified you as a kid?

Sharks. (not an animal, I know, but still terrifying for me)

 

If you could upload your consciousness and live as long as you wished, would you?

No. This is what the elites want as their money can not buy immortality. Epstein, Gates, that whole crew are/were secretly working on this. We are meant to be finite beings, only to savour each moment as it could be our last.

 

If you could be a fly-on-the-wall during the making of your favourite movie/music/art, which would you pick? 

Raiders Of The Lost Ark.

 

What one conspiracy theory are you kinda tempted to believe but ultimately don’t?

The Great Pyramids were built by aliens. 

I came up with a dumb idea last night as I fell asleep. 11pm is a target-rich environment for my dumb thoughts.

What if... instead of taking photos, professionals instead recorded short audio samples of their clients? 

"Dude, that recorder is so February."

Switch the visual for the auditory.

These high-quality "voice vignettes" would be recorded on top-notch gear and lovingly pressed into boutique, artisanal vinyl (or, perhaps a gluten-free, heirloom wax-cylinder). "Professional Family Audio Memories" can now be yours.

For big bucks, of course.

Personally, I don't think this is a great idea—or even a good idea. In fact, I'd never even had this thought enter my mind once until last night. But I bet there are people out there who are really into archival audio recordings of their families. 

It just seems weird because I am really into photos. And (gasp) not everyone is.

In the same way that I believe Professional Family Audio Memories is unnecessary and a little silly, there are people out there who think that family photography is... yes, unnecessary and a little silly—and thus, not worth the price. I get that.

It's a good reminder: all artists should be finding ways to connect on an emotional, rather than sensory level. 

Because, guess what? 

If you could somehow offer me a 20-minute professionally-edited audio compilation of my kids from, say, six years ago? Yeah... I'll get my wallet.


 

Proust Questionnaire: Brian Hurson

Hasselblad sampler.

"Check out the dots on her!"(a Braille Playboy is unquestionably "for the articles".)

The Proust Questionnaire is a mini-interview. Its name and modern popularity

(see Vanity Fair) is owed to the responses given by the French writer Marcel Proust.

Today's Proustian Participant, Brian Hurson is a tremendous personality. At very first glance, he might remind you of a mob bruiser from Miller's Crossing or maybe Gangs of New York. Then he starts chatting, and all you can think is... oh man, when can I get this guy out for a beer?

It could be persuasively argued that Brian's "Nite Owl" barbershop in Long Branch completely rewrote—some would say rebooted—what a local barbershop is all about. The place is unabashedly retro, but with purpose. Anything old in there old for a good reason. They literally don't make 'em like that anymore. (The coffee also seems to be circa 1947, but I always have one.)

Brian's place is literally the only barber-shop I've been to in 48 years where I wanted to actually talk to the barbers.

And, if you time your visit, you can also get the best shoe-shine you've ever had for five bucks. Just don't bother with the "shine-box" quotes. They've heard 'em all, tough guy.

Justifiable Barbicide.

What simple advice would you give yourself at age 19?

Follow your gut instincts. Find something you're interested in and passionate about and pursue it, even if the prevailing thinking at the time is that it's not what people do. Don't be afraid to travel to pursue it.

(Possibly related) what article of clothing was your worst choice, in retrospect?

The more distance there is, the more I'm OK with my sartorial choices.

Do you have a motto?

Do what you say. And say what you mean.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Not there yet.

What does “success” mean to you?

Not having to compromise my vision.

What is the most overrated advice?

“Whatever is meant to be…”

What word do you consistently misspell?

College (colleague)

What word or phrase do you overuse?

“You know?” It's the Irish in me. Still say it all the time, ya know?

What word is the most overused with others?

“Awesome” (guilty - JS)

What food did you love as a kid that you now hate?

They're all still great.

What food did you hate as a kid that you now love?

Still hate ratatouille.

What is your greatest fear?

As I get older I'm more apathetic about fear itself.

Your guilty pleasure TV/movie?

No guilty pleasure, only pleasure. I'm a sucker for the Dirty Dancing soundtrack.

Who should be the next James bond?

Idris Elba. He's English and I was riveted by his performance in The Wire.

What book do you feel you really should have read by now?

I have many books on the go. I used to be a voracious reader. I'm always trying to get back into it. Right now I'm working on a Japanese roman noir that a college (sp.?) gave me.

First song (or album) that you remember buying?

Pulp Fiction OST. Bootleg copy on tape cassette bought off a street vendor on O'Connell bridge in Dublin in ‘94. It was pissing rain as usual.

Your guilty-pleasure sing-along song?

Pure pleasure, no guilt. “Atlantis” by Donovan. 🎶 All Hail Atlantis 🎶

Free trip to anywhere on earth for 3 weeks... where would you go?

See the iridescent algae in Fiji (“Heat” reference)

What is your most prized tool of the trade right now?

My 1940s Dubl Duck “King Klip” hair clip given to me by my old boss back in the Old Country.

What's your alternate-universe career?

1950s LAPD detective. With blood on my shirt.

What one thing should all men know?

“Shhhhhh…. Nobody cares….”

What about women?

I'm really not qualified.

Proust Questionnaire: Laurence Kim

Photo: Laurence KimPhoto: Laurence Kim

The Proust Questionnaire is a mini-interview. Its name and modern popularity

(see Vanity Fair) is owed to the responses given by the French writer Marcel Proust.

Today's Proustian Participant is photographer, photography business blogger and coach: Laurence Kim. Described on his site as:

"... entrepreneur, photographer, husband, father and Sriracha addict. When not writing or coaching photographers... probably playing the guitar, chasing his kids around the house or scooping the kitty litter."

Laurence totally gets it. His site is chock-a-block with simple, relevant business advice; even if you don't happen to be a photographer. He is aces in my books.

Do you have a motto (original or otherwise)?
I have a new motto that I've taken from Black Phillip:  "Live Deliciously".

What word do you consistently misspell?
None - I'm a speling savent

What word or phrase do you overuse?
Awesome.

What word is the most overused with others?
"Like" as in, like, you know...

What advice would you give yourself at age 18?

Plastics.

There's no greater freedom than working for yourself. But start soon. You can start any business you want when you're 21 and living in your parent's basement. You can't do it if you're 45 with a mortgage and 3 kids.

(Possibly related) What article of clothing was your worst choice, in retrospect?
Some unfortunate baggy pants made of parachute-like material from 1986.

What food did you love as a kid that you now hate?
Ketchup on scrambled eggs.

What food did you hate as a kid that you now love?
Hot sauce on scrambled eggs

Do you remember a moment where you said to yourself, "Wait a second... I can make a better _______ than that guy"?

Tutorial. Most people are pretty poor at explaining things. I've always thought I could do better.

What is your greatest fear?

Spiders, especially hairy ones...

Who is your favourite explorer?

Whoever it was that first put Sriracha on pizza.

What superpower would you pick—if you were forced to?

The ability to not care what anybody else thought

Guilty pleasure food?
Bacon-covered "insert food here"

Star Wars or Star Trek?
Star Trek. Captain Kirk was the man.

Who should be the next James bond?

Idris Elba. Nobody else is even close.

What book do you feel you really should have read by now?
To Kill a Mockingbird

First song (or album) you remember buying.
Pretenders. Chrissie Hynde was my first crush.

Your guilty-pleasure, alone in the car, sing-along song?
Sweet Caroline.

Gear doesn't matter, but what is your most coveted equipment right now?

My Google Nexus 6P phone. It's my primary camera right now.

Proust Questionnaire: J. Kenji López-Alt

Kenjiphoto: J. Kenji López-Alt

The Proust Questionnaire is a mini-interview. Its name and modern popularity

(see Vanity Fair) is owed to the responses given by the French writer Marcel Proust.

Today's Proustian Participant is a chef, scientist, and inspiration all in one. I would say that 75% of the food I prepare—anything that takes longer than 90 seconds, to be sure—can be traced to Seriouseats, where Kenji serves as Managing Culinary Director.

In our house, Kenji is as much a verb as Google. "Sous-vide lambchops with vegan pressure-cooker macaroni? Let me Kenji that." In fact, if I could travel back in time to freshman days, I would pass along only three things: 

1. Insider-knowledge of the '92 Blue Jays

2. A gun-point ultimatum to get a real haircut.

3. A copy of: "The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science"

Self-described on Twitter as: "Beatles lover. Husband to a Serious Cryptographer. Feminist. Relaxed and groovy atheist. Unapologetically progressive. Filter needer."

Works for me.
 

Do you have a motto?

Hmm. Not really. Maybe that if you're not learning you're not living.

Was there ever a moment, lesson, or bit of advice that was hugely revelatory to you?

The most useful moments for me have been of self-discovery. Figuring out what it is that I personally define as success and realizing that it is not the same as what is generally considered to be success.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

My marriage. It's hard enough living your own life. Living a life with someone else and making decisions together is that much more difficult, but also that much more rewarding.

What word do you consistently misspell?

Muffings. For some reason my hand just wants to type muffings instead of muffins.

What word or phrase do you overuse?

That said. That said, it's a useful phrase.

What word is the most overused with others?

Foodie. I'll be happy the day that word is officially retired.

What advice would you give yourself at age 18?

I'd tell myself to not be such a jerk and talk a little more softly.

(Possibly related) What article of clothing was your worst choice, in retrospect?

I honestly can't think of an answer to this. I tend not to focus much on clothing choices and I rarely get cold, so I don't really notice when I forget a sweater or something like that.

What food did you love as a kid that you now hate?

Bananas. I started hating them when my little sister used to leave banana peels in the car overnight. The smell was terrible.

What food did you hate as a kid that you now love?

Fish.

Do you remember an empowering moment where you said to yourself, "Wait a second... I can make a better (blank) than that guy"?

I don't remember ever feeling empowered by thinking "I can do X better than that person." My moments of empowerment more come from me realizing I can do something better than I could in the past. 

What is your greatest fear?

Losing loved ones. Or the really deep sea.

Who is your favourite explorer?

Hmm. Not sure I have a favorite. Anyone who does science is good in my book. 

What superpower would you pick—if you were forced to?

Oh man, I wouldn't want a superpower. Way too much expectation and responsibility. I wouldn't trust myself with one, no matter how good a person I think I am. Batman is my favorite superhero. No superpowers, just intelligence and perseverance.

Guilty pleasure food?

A Big Mac late at night.

Star Wars or Star Trek?

Is this even a question? Wars. 

Who should be the next James bond?

Hmm. Don Cheadle. Or I'd like to see a woman play bond. Cate Blanchett would fit the role nicely.

What book do you feel you really should have read by now?

The Art of Eating. Or anything by M.F.K. Fisher, really. I haven't read a single one of her books. 

First song (or album) you remember buying.

Schubert's string quintet in C. The Deutsche Grammophon recording of the Emerson Quartet playing with Mstislav Rostropovich on first cello.

Your guilty-pleasure, alone in the car, sing-along song?

I have no guilty pleasure sing-alongs. I sing along to pretty much anything that comes on and karaoke is my favorite bar activity. I guess I'm mildly embarrassed that I know all the lyrics to most Katy Perry songs. 

Free trip to anywhere on earth for 3 weeks... where would you go?

Free? Hmm, better pick somewhere expensive or difficult to get to because I do plan on going everywhere. Let's go with Antarctica. That's one place where I may regret poor clothing choices.

What is your most coveted equipment right now?

I don't really have much equipment that couldn't be replaced if push comes to shove. I guess a yanagi that my mother gave to me. It's not particularly special, just a carbon-steel sashimi knife, but it has some sentimental value that couldn't be replaced.

Proust Questionnaire: Bill Gekas

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The Proust Questionnaire is a mini-interview. Its name and modern popularity (see Vanity Fair) is owed to the responses given by the French writer Marcel Proust.

The sixth participant is a stellar photographer—and contender for best Dad ever—Bill Gekas. 

Prediction: Bill's daughter will one day have an entire wing devoted to her at a major art gallery.

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Do you have a motto? 

Learn the rules, only to know when to smash them.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? 

Raising a child to question everything.
 

What word do you consistently mis-spell? 

Procrastinate.

What word or phrase do you overuse?

Liaise.
 

What word is the most overused with others?

Honestly.

What advice would you give yourself at age 19? 

Travel. As much and as far as you can.
 

What article of clothing was your worst choice, in retrospect?

Sandals.

What food did you love as a kid that you now hate? 

Eggs.

What food did you hate as a kid that you now love? 

Chilli.

What is your greatest fear?

Death by drowning.

Your guilty pleasure TV/movie?

Amelie.

Star Wars or Star Trek?

Star Wars.

Who should be the next James bond?

Matt Damon.
 

What book do you feel you really should have read by now?

The God Delusion.

First song (or album) you remember buying.

Iron Maiden - Number of the beast.

Your guilty-pleasure, alone in the car, sing-along song?

Jump - Van Halen.

Free trip to anywhere on earth for 3 weeks... where would you go?

Mongolia.

If you could photograph one person (alive or dead) who would it be?

Dalai Lama.

If you could be photographed by anyone, but nobody else gets to see it, who would be your photographer?

Dan Winters.
 

We all know the gear doesn't matter, but what is your most coveted equipment right now?

Fuji X system. X-Pro2.

Most overlooked talent in a photographer?

Colour theory.

What's the easiest way to look better in a photo?

Dress well.

Should people try to find "soulmates"?

No

What one thing should all men know?

How to respect women.

What about women?

First aid.

Proust Questionnaire: Harry Sale

DSC_1153

The Proust Questionnaire is a mini-interview. Its name and modern popularity (see Vanity Fair) is owed to the responses given by the French writer Marcel Proust.

The next victim participant is my brother, Harry. Harry is an Investment Professional at RBC Dominion Securities. He is also a kick-ass uncle who hosts the annual "Frosting Fest" for my kids: an all-night celebration of pizza, Three Stooges, video games, and a tub of Betty Crocker's finest.
 

What brief advice would you give yourself at age 19?

Harry

Proust Questionnaire: Jen McKen

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The Proust Questionnaire is a mini-interview. Its name and modern popularity (see Vanity Fair) is owed to the responses given by the French writer Marcel Proust.

My fifth Proustian Participant is not only an amazing photographer, but a genuinely good person and real breath of fresh air.

I first became aware of Jen when I was tipped off to her blog post "I Won't Photograph Ugly People".  Definitely, read it. It's probably not what you think.

I went from: hearing of Jen, to: admiring her philosophy and photos, to: chatting with her on the phone once for about 90 minutes. Since then, we stay in touch here and there on Facebook. (Which is to say, when I ask her advice on something photographic, she always entertains my lame-o questions.)

In short, Jen is awesome.

What simple advice would you give yourself at age 19?

Dear 19 year old self: Spend more time with your family…especially your sister because life is so short and you are about to find that out the hard way. Also, surround yourself with good quality friends, you’re going to need them. 

(Possibly related) what article of clothing was your worst choice, in retrospect?

MC Hammer pants…..good lawd! 

Do you have a motto?
It can ALWAYS be worse. I try to always see the best in everything. Even when I’m having a bad day or I’m in a bad situation, I always remind myself, it could ALWAYS be worse. 

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Besides being a Mom, I would have to say going against what everyone advised and starting my own business. I quit my (steady and reliable) “day job” during a recession to work for myself. I had no one to blame if things went wrong, no boss to go to, no co-workers to pick up the slack…it was all me. I’ve been successfully running my business for 10 plus years and because of that, I get to spend more time with my family.

What word do you consistently misspell?

"Calendar"….I always spell it “calender” with an e. Drives me nuts.

What word or phrase do you overuse?

“Just one more” Ask any of my portrait clients. I’m always like “ok, just one more” and then I keep clicking. I can’t help it. 

What word is the most overused with others?

Selfie. 

What food did you love as a kid that you now hate?
Coming from a poor family, we ate A LOT of hotdogs. I use to love ketchup on my hotdog which would soak into the bread. Today, if i eat bread with ketchup on it, I gag.

What food did you hate as a kid that you now love?

Avocado! Num Num Num. 

What is your greatest fear?

This is a good one, because if I’m being honest, I have several. Most of them are probably like anyone else. I have the fear of failure and not being in good health to see my children grow up.

Your guilty pleasure TV/movie?

Bachelor/Bachelorette. OMG, I can’t believe I just admitted that. 

Star Wars or Star Trek?
Would you hate me if I told you I hate both of them? As a matter of fact, I have never even watched one of these movies in their entirety….ever.

Who should be the next James Bond?
Henry Cavill….he’s pretty easy on the eyes.

What book do you feel you really should have read by now?

Ohh, this is a hard one. I go thru reading spurts where I’ll read a ton of books at once and then months where I don’t pick one up. I’m a huge personal finance nerd so I love books about finance, investing, getting out of debt, so I’ve read a whole lot of them..but I would say I should have read “Thinking, Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman. 

First song (or album) that you remember buying. 

Alanis Morissette. This question actually made me laugh out loud. I can’t remember what grade it was..but I’m thinking maybe 3/4th grade. I got my very first cd boom box and I had been wanting one for SO LONG. “Santa” brought me an Alanis CD and it was the only one I had for quite a while until I saved up enough money to order more from Colombia House. As a matter of fact, I think I still owe them money!! hahaha! Just kidding, but seriously I think I sent out for CD’s underage and never paid for them. 

Your guilty-pleasure/alone in the car sing-along song?
I love all the 90’s hair bands….but New Kids on the Block comes on and I’m all over that shit! haha! 

Free trip to anywhere on earth for 3 weeks... where would you go?
I’ve been fortunate to travel to a lot of places but one place I still wish to go is Greece. I want to go there so bad. I’m fascinated with the culture, the colors, the architecture and the history. I just think it would be an amazing place to visit.

If you could photograph any one person (alive or dead) who would it be?
My sister. She died when I was 20, she was 17. She’s really the whole reason I got into photography to begin with. After died, we sat with a shoebox full of photos trying to find images to show at her funeral. It was then that I realized we didn’t have remotely enough photos of her other than shots in fancy easter dresses in front of cheesy back drops. I would give anything to photograph her again…..to have one shot of her laughing. I wouldn’t care what she was wearing, how her hair looked or if her makeup was just right…I just want a photo of her laughing.

If you could be photographed by anyone, but nobody else got to see it, who would be your photographer?

Hmmm, honestly, I think most people are expecting me to name some famous award winning photographer but the truth is I think the “rock star” status is over rated. Although I do admire lots of photographers for their craft, I really don’t idolize anyone. I would want (husband) Greg to photograph me…so maybe I can see thru his eyes what he loves about me. Cheesy I know! 

Photographers all know the gear doesn't matter, but what is your most coveted equipment right now?
Although now I’m primarily a prime shooter, the 24-70 2.8 will always have my heart. That’s where it all started. I saved up and saved up to purchase that lens when I first started. It was my work horse and a large part of the reason i was able to start my business all those years ago. I’ve shot A LOT of sessions with that lens. 

Most overlooked skill for a portrait photographer?

The ability to entertain your clients during a shoot. Not only do we have to know our equipment inside and out, know about composition, lighting, how to pose people, how to set up a shot…but also keep things interesting. It’s like you are a photographer/performer/treasure finder all in one. 

What's the easiest way for people to look better in a photo?

LIGHTING. Proper lighting can hide or accentuate flaws or features you want to show off.

What one thing should all men know?

Please put the seat back down

What about women?

You are your own worst critic and that everyone and I mean EVERYONE can name something they don’t like about themselves…..don’t be so hard on yourself.

Should people try to find “soulmates"?

Yes, I like shoes that match. 

And finally... What is the ultimate best Halloween candy?

NOT candy corn…gross. Anything chocolate! 

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The Swimmer and the Aviator.

(mini-interview with the bride follows)

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Quick... name some things I enjoy, and combine them into a perfect shoot...

• a small, relaxed wedding
• a short, heartfelt ceremony
• a really happy couple, who want meaningful, candid moments

Bingo.

Nancy and Rick are friends of friends, and I was truly honoured to be asked to photograph their low-key backyard wedding. I love lurking on the fringes, with a silent camera, and capturing the moments. Thank you both for a lovely afternoon!

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Oh, and just for the heck of it, add two unique wedding rings.

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Proust Questionnaire: Nancy Kuehner

Where did you guys first meet?
Online!  Fitness Singles we were both competitive swimmers, Rick was a US Navy Pilot…  Rick flew to Toronto a month after first connecting online... 6 weeks later I was in Sicily... 6 weeks later he was retired and in Toronto...18 months later married!!! 

Where is the best place for a first date?
I do not think it really matters as long as you can be yourself, first dates are exciting and scary, you want to feel as comfortable as you can.

What brief advice would you give yourself at age 19?

Don’t be scared, you’ll survive and in 1 year if it was a crappy decision no one will remember everyone is too consumed with themselves to be thinking about you anyway (heh heh).

What article of clothing was your worst choice, in retrospect?
Not just for dating but going out in general uncomfortable shoes - ugh!!

First movie you remember?
Night of the Living Dead “They’re coming to get you Barbara."
 

Do you have a motto?
Can I use profanities?
 

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Being on the Canadian National Swim Team for 3 Years, representing Canada around the world.
 

What is a popular thing, that you just "don't get"?
The baggy pant thing below the bum  - stop it already.

What word do you consistently misspell?
It's a city, and I will be living close to it soon: Cincinnati (I feel it should have two T’s not two N’s)

What word or phrase do you overuse?
"That's awesome."
 

What word is the most overused with others?
I don’t know if its overused  but when I hear it I feel it is “right on”.
 

 
In an alternate universe, what is your career?
Swim Coach
 

What food did you hate as a kid that you now love?
hmmmm turnip??
 

What food did you love as a kid that you now hate?
I still like what I liked
 

What is your greatest fear?
Dying
 

What book do you feel you really should have read by now?
I think we should start with what have you read and cannot remember and should... Pride and Prejudice (I haven’t read it).

 
First song (or album) you remember buying.
ACDC Dirty Deeds Done Dirty Cheap
 

Your guilty-pleasure, alone in the car, sing-along song?
Pretty much anything from the 80’s.
 

Free trip to anywhere on earth for 3 weeks... where would you go?
Thailand
 

If you could have a beer/coffee with anyone alive or dead, who would it be?

My friend Robin.

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Jennifer Bailey Photography

credit: Jennifer Bailey Photography

Proust Questionnaire: Liz Bradley

The Proust Questionnaire is a mini-interview. Its name and modern popularity (see Vanity Fair) is owed to the responses given by the French writer Marcel Proust.

Liz Bradley is a terrific nerd, whom I respect and admire deeply. She is a super photographer with a keen eye, and a beautiful family. Her daughter is also one of the luckiest babies I've ever seen... 

EdithSeriously, where was this Star Wars gear in 2003?

"You're taking Luke where?"

What simple advice would you give yourself at age 19?

Stop worrying, you’ll be fine, and have lots of dogs.

What article of clothing was your worst choice, in retrospect?

Leopard print pants. Enough said.

Do you have a motto?

"Just bounce."

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Charity work - giving back. And co-creating the cutest kid ever (aka Edith, my daughter).

What word do you consistently misspell?

Silhouette (I even spelled it wrong writing it here - thank goodness for spell check!)

What word or phrase do you overuse?

I am an exclamation point overuser - does that count?

What word is the most overused with others?

Sorry.

What food did you love as a kid that you now hate?

Meat.

What food did you hate as a kid that you now love?

Vegetables.

What is your greatest fear?

Family members dying. Definitely not a fan of this.

Your guilty pleasure TV/movie?

'Say Yes to the Dress' or any kind of home renovation show.

Favourite scene in all of Star Wars?

This is a hard one… just one?? Ewoks taking on the Empire in Return of the Jedi.

Who should be the next James bond?

A woman.

What book do you feel you really should have read by now?

I have so many unread books but I don’t worry about it - adventures yet to happen!

First song (or album) that you remember buying.

New Kids on the Block cassette tape.

Your guilty-pleasure/alone in the car sing-along song?

Probably something Katy Perry.

Free trip to anywhere on earth for 3 weeks... where would you go?

Maldives.

If you could photograph any one person (alive or dead) who would it be?

My family. Always my family.

If you could be photographed by anyone, but nobody else got to see it, who would be your photographer?

Storey Wilkins and David Williams. Two of the kindest people in the industry.

Photographers all know the gear doesn't matter, but what is your most coveted equipment right now?

Nikon D5

Most overlooked skill for a portrait photographer?

Empathy.

What's the easiest way for people to look better in a photo?

Stop worrying and trust the photographer. They know what they are doing and will give you the tools to make you look the best.

What's your alternate-universe career?

Ghostbuster.

What one thing should all men know?

Kindness.

What about women?

I don’t differentiate. Same. Kindness.

Should people try to find "soulmates"?

Yes. Even if it’s your dog.

And finally... what is the ultimate best Halloween candy?

Chips.

Jennifer Bailey Photography

credit: Jennifer Bailey Photography

Proust Questionnaire: Kevin Mullins

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The Proust Questionnaire is a mini-interview. Its name and modern popularity (see Vanity Fair) is owed to the responses given by the French writer Marcel Proust.

My second victim participant is one of my favourite photographers out there, the hard working and affable Kevin Mullins.

Kevin lives and works in Malmesbury, England. His work is inspirational to me, because it highlights the most important aspect of photography: catching the moment. As much as I love (and take pride in) perfectly posed shots, there is nothing quite like that one-in-a million grab—the kind of shot that could never be captured again. 

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Do you have a motto?

Work hard every day, and enjoy the rewards.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Being asked to speak for Fujifilm at a large convention in Tokyo.

What word do you consistently mis-spell?

Questionnaire.

What word or phrase do you overuse?

"I'll be there now in a minute" (its a Welsh thing)

What word is the most overused with others?

Awesome.

What advice would you give yourself at age 19?

Work hard every day, and enjoy the rewards.

(Possibly related) What article of clothing was your worst choice, in retrospect?

A pair of white denim jeans!

What food did you love as a kid that you now hate?

Angel Delight.

What food did you hate as a kid that you now love?

Curry.

What is your greatest fear?

Illness in a member of my family.

Who is your favourite explorer?

Ranulph Fiennes.

Your guilty pleasure TV/movie?

Only Fools & Horses. Constantly.

Star Wars or Star Trek?

Star Wars. I've never watched an episode of Star Trek.

Who should be the next James bond?

Jessica Ennis Hill.

What book do you feel you really should have read by now?

Lord of the Rings.

First song (or album) you remember buying.

Queen - The Miracle.

Your guilty-pleasure, alone in the car, sing-along song?

Nine to Five - Dolly Parton.

Free trip to anywhere on earth for 3 weeks... where would you go?

Iceland.

If you could photograph one person (alive or dead) who would it be?

Townes van Zandt.

If you could be photographed by anyone, but nobody else gets to see it, who would be your photographer?

Eliott Erwitt.

We all know the gear doesn't matter, but what is your most coveted equipment right now?

My Microsoft Surface Book

Proust Questionnaire: Michelle Sale

The Proust Questionnaire is a mini-interview. Its name and modern popularity (see Vanity Fair) is owed to the responses given by the French writer Marcel Proust.

The first victim participant is my wife, Michelle.

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What advice would you give yourself at age 19?

Give more consideration to who you are, where you are going, how you are getting there.  Don't just let things happen. 

These guys. Right here.

Cheryl, Brandon, Gavin, and Mary are self-identified as "The Fifth Fam"—as in, Fifth Street, New Toronto. When you are part of a neighbourhood—when it's a significant percentage of your DNA—you embrace it all. You walk it, you live it, you love it.

And, not just your house or your spiffy backyard. Not even that awesome park down the road, either; where just about anyone can look good at golden hour.

How about a back alley, at 2 in the afternoon?

You tell 'em, Mary.

Yes. How about a back alley—complete with questionable characters offering random, unsolicited advice. Add some dirty puddles, a bit of litter, and a few dog-poo land mines... well, let's just say it's not the place you'd shoot a 50th wedding anniversary.

(But let's be honest. In Toronto, the only danger of being in an alley on a Sunday afternoon, is that you might start ranting about the federal deficit, right?)

Rant.

So, if it's cool with the kids, let's do it! As long as the colour is there, and the attitude.

Heck, even colour is optional.

Aside:

There's a photographer I follow and enjoy; his name is Zack Arias. Amazing guy. He loves a lot of things, but "brick walls" ain't one of 'em. He loathes brick walls as a backdrop: they're hack, they're boring, and "gritty for gritty's sake" can get tired, once your band has made it out of grade eleven.

I get that.

There are also many photographers who disparage graffiti* as a backdrop—unless you happen to be shooting it in the context of the artists themselves. 

I get that, too. 

But for some clients, I just. Can't. Resist. 

Especially when our local artists have made this place such a gallery of awesomeness.

Blue Steel.

Magnum.

Le Tigre.

Stay cool, Fam!

*Note: when I say graffiti,  I only mean the good stuff. Garage door "taggers" are cordially invited to seal themselves in a sleeping bag full of wet cigarette butts for the rest of their lives.

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"What's Your Story, Etobicoke?"

—Assembly Hall, Sept 29, 2016—

(Arts Etobicoke link here)

This relaxed and informative evening at The Assembly Hall in New Toronto turned out to be something I wasn't necessarily expecting: fun.

Hear me out...

When I shoot event photography, I don't plan to be entertained. I plan to work; and I can get pretty zoned-out* in the process. Ask my wife, "When is the absolute worst time to have a conversation with Jeremy?" Answer: when he has a camera in his hands.

But this night was one of those rare times when I could actually listen what was being said and process it. I got to hear solid writing advice, interesting prose, and arresting poetry.

And, as a bonus, I was allowed to put images to it all.

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My favourite take away from the night regarded poetry (courtesy of Bardia Sinaee, above): "Assume every decision is deliberate"—which is to say, the poet has intentionally placed every syllable and line in a particular way for a reason. If it strikes you as out of place, you may want to examine it more closely. (Unlike photography, where every now and then I look at a good photo I've taken, and say, "Oh... yeah, I totally meant to do that.")

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Thank you to Antanas Sileika, Bardia Sinaee, Farzana Doctor, Catherine Graham, Maria Coletta McLean, and Transient for letting me lurk and snap while they spoke; and thanks, as always, to Arts Etobicoke for the opportunity to do so.

(Sorry for all the em dashes, Antanas. It's my personal vice.)

*Regarding the "zone-out"...

Beginning one hour before a shoot, and continuing for the next couple of hours, I am generally at—or above—a base-level of freaking out. "Am I at the right location... at the wrong time? Who is the organizer again? Are my batteries full? Are my cards empty? Damn, the lighting's mixed! Did I remember my gels? Did I just trip over an antique chair?" 

This doesn't subside until I've loaded my images onto a computer and backed them up—twice. (At which point I would gladly lend anyone a thousand dollars, because I'm so happy.)

Should we celebrate beauty, or should we celebrate life?

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I once saw a comedian tear the house down with this...

"You know what we women should do? Instead of losing weight for our wedding photos, we should gain weight... that way, when we return to our normal size, people will look at our wedding photos and say, 'Wow. You look amazing!' "

We like to enjoy things at their peak, don't we? Fresh coffee; new cars; in-season peaches and tomatoes. It goes for our image, too. There's that "gotta preserve the moment" thing, right?

Which is great for travel, if you have no plans to return to the Amazon basin for a few decades. But don't take photos to preserve yourself. Take photos to celebrate yourself. For kids... yes, I will grant you: they really are only that age once. But you? You are the age that you are.

How's that for crappy, dorm-room metaphysics?

It's far better to look like you—wearing every history-soaked year of your life—than aim for the image of an unrealistic ideal that will sit in a frame on the mantle, reminding you of what you are not. The honesty in a true image is unmistakable, and far more powerful.

Some names to consider: Helen Mirren, Judy Dench, Meryl Streep, Susan Sarandon... Those women own it. They don't need, nor do they want, headshots from 1993. Like the overcrowded ranks of "distinguished" and "character-filled" male actors, they have been granted the privilege of growing old on their own terms. (And, they're not even old. Shhh...)

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At the risk of redundancy—there are whole bookstores devoted to this topic, after all—here's a lyric to consider. (Notice how Mick Jagger dresses up future-body-shaming as the far more respectable "carpe diem".)

Who would believe you were a beauty indeed
When the days get shorter and the nights get long?
Lie awake when the rain comes
Nobody will know, when you're old
When you're old, nobody will know.

-She's so Cold

The singer is counting on a woman's insecurity to get her into bed, but the vibe is pretty familiar to anyone who wistfully remembers how much more amazing they looked at 21. "Nobody will know," right?

Are men immune? God no. For a quick peek at male insecurity, dust off your T.S. Eliot from grade ten...

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I love chatting with a new client on the phone, and hearing cautious inquiry turn to full-on "Let's do this!" 

It was great to meet Clair and her kids. Not just because they were some of the most pleasant people I've met this year, but because—for a while—it seemed we might never actually meet face to face. 

No fault of their's, mind you. Fate conspired to keep us apart.

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But here's the thing... fate is no match for a photographer and a determined client.

Clair and I first chatted on May 31st, but we didn't get to click some frames until late August. Travel for them... travel for me... the day was too busy... the day was too humid... tornado warnings in Toronto! Summer can be as much of a challenge as the winter.

(Tip: want to make a predicted thunderstorm go away? Cancel your shoot. Ta-da!)

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Works every time.

But, I never sweat it when a schedule needs to be altered here and there. A family shoot (very much unlike a wedding shoot) can often wait for the perfect time, place, and weather. Not that you should push it off indefinitely, but patience can truly be a virtue.

The outdoors, specifically, can be like a poker game: sometimes you have to fold some not-so-great cards, and patiently wait for pocket aces. Too hot? Fold. Midge season? Fold. Solar eclipse? I'm in if you are!

In our case, "pocket aces" turned out to be right after a brief rainstorm, when the clouds were just so.

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(insert angelic choir)

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Thanks for a great shoot, guys! Sure glad we waited.

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Aimy and her husband both work at University of Toronto, teaching smart-stuff that keeps us all in the "Jetsons" era. They are big thinkers, but when it comes to kids, they are straight from the heart.

The kids patiently let me drag them around the front campus, as I goaded them into the all-important "one more shot". (Some M&Ms may have been involved.) 

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Note: the last time I graced the downtown campus, I was nose-diving in engineering. Fortunately, it was slowly dawning on me that I was more captivated by the slick UofT brochure photos than the actual program. (Word to the wise: applied science is 100% math, and 0% glowing green liquids.)

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​I love historical Toronto, so when a family says, "Let's shoot at UofT," I never say no. 

But here's the secret weapon. It doesn't always happen, and at the end of the day, it doesn't matter to the final results... 

I really like a setting to have a special connection to the people involved. That's it. 

It's just a bonus when the "meaningful" and the "beautiful" planets align like this. But, if you don't happen to work at the Guggenheim, trust me... I have some other nice locations to choose from.

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What I love most about the downtown campus are the quiet courtyards and old stone buildings. There's a lot to be said about actual ivy in the ivy-league.

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Note: these dynamo kids—who could power a city with a proper energy converter—are probably a shoe-in for the class of '24.

All the best,

JS

Tax Bite

My wife and I are pretty good with our money, but often we feel like we skipped something on our tax form. You know, the "Check here for your extra $200 per week" section? (That's the e287-B form, I believe.)

Now, if there's one thing Facebook proves, it's that everyone except you is eating at a great restaurant; driving a cool car; flying to a spiffy place in the South Pacific where your glass-floor cabin is perched above the ocean on stilts. How else can you explain the lifestyles of friends who appear to be just like you? Clearly, they either won the 6/49, or they're deep in hock. And since that can't be true for everybody, my conclusion is that we are all dropping $20's on the street, every day, without knowing it.

Please let that not be true.

What unfortunately is true, is that we are—every one of us—dropping great memories on the street without realizing it. Now, whipping your phone out every five seconds is generally a bad idea. But... that being said, some of the best shots you will ever take of your family are when you're being a silly tourist—even in your own town.

So bring your camera along, Snap as many thoughtful pictures (candid is generally best) as you feel like, but then... CULL THEM MERCILESSLY... THAT NIGHT. If you get three good photos per day on vacation, or just at your local Farmer's Market on Saturday, you're ahead of the game.

Then, in January, when the holiday dust has settled... upload about 60 good photos into an inexpensive photo-book, and order one for each of your extended family members. After a few years, it'll feel like you have stacks of hundred dollar bills on your coffee table, when, in fact, you have something much, much better.

You say you like to travel? These three amigos are about to embark on a 12-month adventure that'll make your head spin...

BOSTON, COSTA RICA, SAN FRANCISCO, AUSTRALIA, INDONESIA, MALAYSIA, MYANMAR, THAILAND, VIETNAM, LAOS, CAMBODIA, PHILIPPINES, NEW ZEALAND, SRI LANKA, DUBAI, KENYA, TANZANIA, BOTSWANA, GREECE, BOSNIA, CROATIA, FRANCE, ITALY and ICELAND.

Whoa.

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(My "no brick walls" commandment was thrown out the window when I discovered this amazing old building near a car-wash in Etobicoke several years ago.)

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Free backdrops are everywhere, people.

(Props to the artist, of course.)

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I wish all my clients brought a "light-bounce book".

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Safe travels, men!

(My "map with yarn" covers Ottawa to Brampton on a good year.)

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Can't remember what prompted this reaction. Who cares!

Periodically, I will be posting a bunch of short-but-sweet vignettes which will keep you up-to-date on what's happening at Jeremy Sale Photography. 

All the best,

Jeremy

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