Scenes From The 2013 Vancouver International Wine Festival
The 35th Vancouver International Wine Festival ran Feb 25 – Mar 3, 2013 and I was there for the fifth time documenting the wide variety of tastings, pairing, social events, seminars and everything else wine-related over the course of the week. This year, the benefactor is Bard on the Beach, allowing this renowned festival to continue directly supporting local arts and culture. It was another smashing time and here is a selection of images from the week that was.
Vancouver, 2013.
Mendoza Vineyard
Somewhere outside Mendoza, Argentina on one of our many winery visits in the area. Rent a bike in Mendoza, ride outside town and the world is your oyster if you are into great wines. Most wineries are open to visitors and they pour very generous samples, especially when it comes to the country’s flagship grape – Malbec. Delicious!
Mendoza, Argentina, 2007.
West Hastings
West Hastings Street, Vancouver, 2013.
Low Light in the Kitchen
A technical post, checking out the low light capabilities of the Fuji X-E1 camera I’ve been working with for a few months now. This image shows a bowl of apples on my kitchen counter, illuminated by a streetlight from across the street, through my yard, shining a wedge of light into my kitchen window. Shot at ISO 6400, and handheld at 1/8 second, it’s certainly passable. I’ve been pretty impressed with the quality of the high-ISO shots I’ve been getting from the X-E1. A recent shot in near darkness was taken at ISO 25600 (see it here) and easily works, especially in a pinch. I’d rather get the shot and worry about ‘noise’ after the fact. Moments are too fleeting to care otherwise.
Vancouver, 2013.
Handbuilt Heavyweights
Lots of yummy frame designs spotted at NAHBS 2013 including this little grouping of frames built with True Temper tubes. Can you spot the builders by their typography?
Denver, Colorado, 2013.
A Set For Super: Andrea Superstein
I had the privilege of photographing Vancouver-based musician and songwriter Andrea Superstein a few weeks back. It was just two years ago when we had our first session in her West End neighbourhood when we worked with her quartet and did some sultry solo shots along the way. A few years later, after scores of live shows & festivals, a CD release and accolades from across the country, this day was all about Super. She has a number of big projects on the go, so check out her website for some tunes and live schedule. Super’s blend of latin, jazz and blues delivered through her soulful voice and arrangement is well worth seeking out! Here is a new selection of portraits we did together in the West End and East Van.
Vancouver, 2013.
* Special thanks to Lillian at Attic Treasures for providing a last minute interior location on the Drive
Festka Bicycle Self Portrait
While at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show last weekend in Denver, CO, I had the opportunity to check out some seriously stylin’ bikes. Like this Motol Chrom, from Festka Bicycle Company, for instance. Festka is a collective of builders from Czech Republic who have shown at NAHBS a few times now. This particular bike was a scene stealer – the entire surface is reflective and I almost thought I was seeing a hologram when I laid eyes on it. With only five in existence, I suspect it’s an indoor-only track bike that may never feel the pavement. Sure looks good as an art piece, too!
Denver, Colorado, 2013.
Bariloche From The Top
It always pays to find the highest vantage point to take in a cityscape and figure out the lay of the land. In San Carlos de Bariloche, in Argentina’s northern Patagonia, this place would be Penthouse 1004. We stayed here for a number of days while exploring the Lakes District, settling into their airy, friendly confines on the shore of Lago Nahuel Huapi. While we visited a number of years ago, it looks like the young folk who opened this hostel are still at it. I’d return in a second, not only to stay there again, but to go deeper into the vast Patagonian wilderness that surrounds. That, and the quality of light in this area was amazing!
I’ve thought the architecture here in Bariloche is quite unique to the rest of the region, more mid-century, more Mediterranean…? Either way, there’s definitely a European flavour in the city centre, more so I imagine during the ski season when porteños from Buenos Aires flock here for recreation and luxury. See what you think…here are two shots looking SE and SW respectively from the top of 1004.
Bariloche, Rio Negro, Argentina, 2006.
Momentum Mag Cover Shot
Our first photo shoot in the new studio space we’ve created here at Momentum HQ results in my first cover for the magazine in a few years! I was very happy with how these came out and our ‘model’ was a delight to work with. Emily Millen, a yoga instructor from Vancouver, looks dashing in Nooworks, on a Civia Twin City 7-speed bicycle, equipped with goodies from Nantucket, Po Campo, Abus, Dring Dring, Ergon, Knog and Rivet. We used one shot for the cover and a second look inside for the Bike Makeover page. Here are a few favourite outtakes as well. The latest issue of Momentum (April/May – #60) is on newsstands now. Grab a copy while they’re hot!
Vancouver, 2013.
Shiny Shiny… Shiny Tubes of Metal!
I’m at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS) in Denver, CO this weekend. Meeting, shooting and talking bikes with the finest hand builders in the country is always a pleasure. I love this show! I’ll have some images to share and a photo piece in the next Momentum, but to tide over the bike geeks in the crowd, here is a set I shot at NAHBS 2009 in Indianapolis. The two images here have been exhibited at bike-themed art shows around town and available as framed fine art prints, if you have a bike-lover in your life looking for some pretty colours ;)
Indianapolis, 2009.
Meeting Fires Creative 