Wednesday, November 26, 2008

TS lens trials

After being so impressed with the photographs done by Vincent Laforet with the TS (Tilt-Shift) lenses (check the CN Portfolio series), I decided to rent the Canon TS 24mm f3.5 lens for the weekend and try it with my 5D. Although it takes some getting used to, I managed to get some shots I am happy with. If you check Vincent Laforet's blog entry for today, do not miss the HD videos he is making with the new EOS 5D MkII soon to released by Canon. In particular the aerial shot of New York taken with a TS lens.

I am no Vincent Laforet, but here are two of the shots taken on Sunday with the TS lens (click the photo to enlarge):


©2008 Daniel Marchand

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Early winter shots


Winter is slowly coming. It has been snowing lightly for the past two days and the temperature has been below the freezing point.

Here are two shots taken yesterday in Gatineau Park.



©2008 Daniel Marchand


Sunday, November 2, 2008

Sunday afternoon stroll









mus-mus.org launches its experimental website with the project @600

Several photographers around the world have been invited to take part in the @600 project on November 4, 2008 @600 Internet time. The organizers have reserved 25 spots for other photographers. The final selection will be selected by a jury and will be announced on November 21.

All participating photographers will take one photograph at the same moment. These photographs will be joined and archived on the mus-mus.org website for a unique document of that special moment.

The organizers are still looking for photographers from Canada and have asked me to pass on the word.  

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Fall Colors

For the past several years, Fall colors have been at their peak for the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend.  Colors are never the same year after year, so I always look for different landscapes to photograph.

Yesterday, on our way back from the upper Ottawa Valley, we came across a yard full of discarded dumpsters that were in complete harmony with this year's yellows and oranges. Here are a few shots.




All photos copyright ©2008 Daniel Marchand

 

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Canon 5D MKII

Those who have not been following the buzz created by Vincent Laforet who blogged last week on his limited (72 hours) experience with the 5D replacement, the 5D MKII, have missed some great moments.

Vincent posted last night the result of his work, the first HD video shot entirely with a DSLR. The arrival of the Canon 5D MKII, expected in late November, is bound to change how photographers work.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Day 3 of the Canadian Election Campaign - The Arts

No new photo today.

Instead, I suggest you spend some time viewing this interview with Prime Minister Harper in which he presents his policy on the arts, recent cuts notwithstanding.

Monday, September 8, 2008

Day 2 of the Canadian Election Campaign

Signs supporting candidates are popping up all over Ottawa. Some are even covering both the Canadian and the American campaign.


This one is not directly linked to any campaign, but the messages are notheless relevant.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Launch of the political campaign 2008

They're off.

Protesters were waiting for Prime Minister Harper this morning outside of the Governor General's residence.



Friday, August 29, 2008

Festival X

The second edition of Festival X is coming up. The opening is just 3 weeks away and many of us are getting ready.  Some of my new work, including the piece below will be on display at Patrick Gordon's Gallery September 18-28.


Monday, August 11, 2008

Vincent Laforêt in Beijing

On July 30th, a few days before he left for Beijing to cover the Olympic, Vincent Laforêt, started his own blog. Vincent is a young (relative to me), New York based commercial and editorial photographer. 

He was recognized as one of the "100 most influential people in photography" by American Photo Magazine in 2005 and was named one of the "30 photographers to watch under 30" by PDN in 2002.

In my humble opinion, he is by far the most creative and innovative of today's photographers.

Well... follow what he is now doing in Beijing, either through his own blog, or through the Newsweek blog. His daily entries are must reads.

He continues to produce some amazing photographs, including this one, and this one.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Daniela Edburg - "Drop Dead Gorgeous"

© Daniela Edburg "Death by Oreo"

I first saw some of Daniela Edburg's work at Paris Photo last year and was impressed by her photographs. Daniela Edburg was born in Houston. She now works and lives in Mexico City. Her series "Drop Dead Gorgeous" could also have been called "Death by Food".

Read her interview by Nicole Pasulka of The Morning News (Black and White ans Read All Over).

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Kiwi Sculpture Garden Project

For the seventh year, Kiwi Gardens of Perth Ontario, in collaboration with the Edward Day Gallery of Toronto is holding its Kiwi Sculpture Garden Project. The 2008 Sculpture Project runs from June 22 to August.

The exhibition is worth a visit if you are in the Ottawa region. Kiwi Gardens is located a few kilometers past Perth, on Harper Road. Here are a few of the sculptures displayed.

"Bird Hotel" by Christian Bernard Singer

"Cloche" by Penelope Stewart

"Untitled" by Anne O'Callaghan


"Adirondak Chair" by Mark Thompson

All photos Copyright ©2008 Daniel Marchand

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Proud to be Canadian...

We left early on Tuesday morning (July 1st) to get to Parliament Hill before the Canada Day invasion. We noticed that new Canadians who were almost a majority, were very proud to display their love for Canada.

I was lucky enough to get some shots of the empty space, including this one...

©2008 Copyright Daniel Marchand

...and this one of a new Canadian who had travelled from Toronto to attend the celebrations. He was very carefully writing his message for the Prime Minister and the Governor General, hoping that his attire and his flag would catch their glance.

©2008 Copyright Daniel Marchand

In the evening, while waiting for the fireworks, I  got those of a family of recent immigrants who were among the most enthusiastic of participants, very proud to be Canadian and displaying it loudly.


©2008 Copyright Daniel Marchand

©2008 Copyright Daniel Marchand

Monday, June 30, 2008

New winter image


New (older) image I have thought of adding to my Winter series. 



Thursday, May 22, 2008

Rockliffe base

The former CFB Rockliffe is one of Ottawa's largest brownfields. Its location close to the centre of the city makes it a prime target for residential development. The land will however require some environmental clean-up before it can be fully developed.

Canada Lands Corporation was set to purchase the land and create an eco-district that would eventually house up to 15,000 people. The project had to be shelved in early 2007 because of a native land claim.

Here is the first of a series documenting what is left of the base.

Copyright ©2008 Daniel Marchand 

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Farm series continued

I have finally received my new scanner and can proceed with the production of my 4X5 work. Here are the first two images. I intend to include these in the new series on early spring growth.



Monday, May 5, 2008

For the new series

I have been returning to the same location at the Ottawa Experimental Farm for a few weeks to witness the evolution of the regeneration of growth after a long winter. I intend on doing a series that will centre on the same bushes. Here are a few more shots taken yesterday. These, taken with the digital camera and the ones taken last week, may or may not be part of the series in the end. I will see later this week what the scans of the shots taken with the 4X5 will produce, once I get the new scanner.






Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Earth Day

A few Earth Day shots that may become part of an on-going series...








Thursday, April 17, 2008

SPAO #3...


...opens tomorrow.

I am looking forward to seeing the result of the work of this year's students. I have seen some photos and it promises to be a great show.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

PURPOSE


Not too long ago, I discovered the "webmag" Purpose which was created in January 2006. Purpose, published in Paris, is free and entirely dedicated to the presentation of photographic work.

The spring 2008 issue is just out and includes some great photographic work. I am particularly fond of the Laurent Malone series on Living in Marseilles and Joakim Eskildsen's The Roma Journey.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Save Polaroid...


Please visit this site to help save Polaroid...

Friday, March 7, 2008

Guerilla #15

Guerilla has just published its #15 issue which includes amazing work from SPAO students. SPAO continues to improve and the creativity demonstrated by the students proves that great photographic work can come from centres other than New York.

Among my favorites are the three below.
The very contemporary look offered by Greg Zenha:
Jeremie Roy's paper neg print:

... and Michelle Wilson's:


Wednesday, February 27, 2008

New Series in the making...

As winter is coming to an end (we hope), I am busy working on additions to my winter landscapes. Here are samples of what the additions may look like: