In January 2016, the all Canadian singer-songwriters series NAC Presents celebrated 5 years of loving Canadian music with a live show entitled #FOMO featuring A Tribe Called Red, U.S. Girls, Mehdi Cayenne and The Lionyls. Fantastic live art was provided by Ariane Beauchamp and Robbie of Ottawa’s Fall Down Gallery. Seeing a national institution continue to surprise, inspire and reinvent itself up close through excellent curation, programming and execution is both awesome and encouraging. It was a blast to be a part of the event and to try and distil the energy that was in the National Arts Centre that night into a brief film. There was so much fun footage to work with that it was difficult to encompass a wide ranging showcase into 1 minute and 20 seconds, but I’m delighted with the results, and hopefully it succeeds in it’s task of giving you a case of #FOMO. Filmed by Alexander Vlad and Alex Brazeau for the National Arts Centre. Music by A Tribe Called Red.
FEATURED: United Nations COP18 Doha Throwback Part 1
In 2012 I had the great privilege of shooting for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) when Doha, Qatar hosted the UN’s COP18/CMP8. COP is the Conference of Parties, basically when the world comes together to figure out how to save the human race from man-made climate change. The other side of the curtain gave me incredible insight into the process, protocol and perils of the climate change debate.
As a photographer, but also as a human concerned with the state of the planet we call home, to see how our collective future is debated over and quantified in geopolitical and economic terms is most definitely sobering and enlightening. It both demystified the workings of geopolitics and compounded the importance of vision, action and compassion when tackling issues of global consequence.
With the recent successes scored at COP21 Paris, I cannot help but look back to my experiences during COP18 and remember just how hard ministers, delegates and activists had to fight for such even the smallest concessions from industrialized nations.
My own country of Canada was actively acting against the interests of low-lying and at-risk nations through climate change policy and took home several “fossil of the day” awards for being environmentally backwards, often touting previous achievements instead of committing to the necessary action in the present.
With cautious optimism, I am pleased that our new government takes such a more proactive stance on climate change and took power just in time to be a positive voice for much of the Paris convention. Stay tuned for Part II.
EVENT: Ottawa Wine & Food Festival 2015
Over Halloween weekend, Alexander Vlad and Christopher Eades had the opportunity to be the official media lads for the 2015 edition of the Ottawa Wine & Food Festival. Over the last 30 years the event has transformed into an institution, and in addition to industry folks, it consistently draws a curiously well dressed cross section of the general public. The event video is in production now, but here are some of our favourite stills from the show.
DAILY EDIT: Cleaning up the Mayor of Ottawa
It is that time of year once again, Movember. To launch the beginning of Movember, my friend Jeffrey Rafuse (House of Barons) was asked to come to the office of the mayor of Ottawa to give him a straight razor shave. Matt (GM of House of Barons) Jeff and I brought everything necessary for a proper shave including an over 100 year old barber chair to the brief case/shave kit. During the press conference held by mayor Jim Watson, he was sat down and shaved in the boardroom infront of the local press. Thanks for bringing me along.
EVENT: Le Petite Salon’s Open House
The newest addition to the eclectic array of businesses on Elgin street, Le Petite Salon. Continue reading “EVENT: Le Petite Salon’s Open House”
DAILY EDIT: OPENING WEEKEND AT THE TD PLACE PART 2
The opening weekend for the TD Place, brought to you by Christopher Eades, part 2.
The home opener for The Ottawa Fury FC.
For the rest of the photos visit The Fury’s site.
Continue reading “DAILY EDIT: OPENING WEEKEND AT THE TD PLACE PART 2”
DAILY EDIT: Opening Weekend at The TD Place part 1
The opening weekend for the TD Place, brought to you by Christopher Eades.
Part 1
The home opener for The Ottawa RedBlacks.
Continue reading “DAILY EDIT: Opening Weekend at The TD Place part 1”
EVENT: One Bad Son, The Wild & Iconoclast @ Maverick’s
The day after St-Patrick’s day is usually associated with calling in sick and stepping around puddles of green hurl, but this year (and please for every year after) it was all about rock & roll. Ottawa bad boys of rock and longtime collaborators, Iconoclast, teamed up with Kelowna-based The Wild to rile the crowd up for tour headliners One Bad Son, who in turn blew the roof off of Maverick’s and brought signs of life back to a deeply hungover Rideau Street.
Continue reading “EVENT: One Bad Son, The Wild & Iconoclast @ Maverick’s”
EVENT: Dear Blackwolf @ Irene’s
On a blustery March night, Dear Blackwolf (Arturo Portocarrero and Joseph Perry) took to the stage at Irene’s in Ottawa to drive home the final leg of their tour with The Wicked Mercy and Brandon Allen. Described as a “high octane blues rock due” they blend roots and rock genres to create something guitarist Joseph calls rumble music. Photographed by Alexander Vlad.
Check em out online, they’re definitely worth a listen!
EVENT: Backstage of the Nordstrom Gala
Was invited along to shoot the very talented individuals from Fernando Cellini and Mac Cosmetics here are some photos taken backstage. Photographed at the brand new Nordstrom Rideau Centre by Christopher Eades.
EVENT: Coldwell Banker Rhodes at Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Ottawa based Real Estate firm Coldwell Banker Rhodes were celebrating their 75th birthday at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. It was an absolute pleasure to shoot in the main hall amongst the machines that chronicle a century of flight. Photographed by Alexander Vlad.
EVENT: GRILLZ & GLAM VALENTINES DAY EDITION
There is a reason that Grillz & Glam has been going strong for over four years now, at Babylon Nightclub.
Come and rediscover that reason, and come party with us as well. Every second friday of the month.
Shot by Christopher.
EVENT: Craft Spirit Society at Maker Space North
This was one for the books. The Ottawa Craft Spirit Society threw a stellar tasting party at Maker Space North, featuring a tremendous amount of small batch liquor from all over the world, including several in our region. Music was provided by Ottawa’s finest, DJ Dusty. Photographed by Alexander Vlad.
EVENT: Frenzy w/ Iggy Smalls & Foster
Here are a couple shots from Frenzy with local heroes Iggy Smalls and DJ Foster, shot by Alexander Vlad at Babylon Nightclub in Ottawa, January 5th, 2015.
EVENT: Frenzy w/ Sweater Beats
Here is a set of photos from December’s edition of Frenzy, featuring Sweater Beats from NYC. Shot by Alexander Vlad, the event went down at Babylon Nightclub in Ottawa on Decemeber 5th, 2014.
EVENT: Mercury Lounge 18th Anniversary
Mercury Lounge is as close as a club can come to being an institution of musical excellence, and having celebrated their 18th anniversary they are showing no signs of letting up anytime soon. Photographed by Alexander Vlad.
