Holy Holi
Holi in India is a photographer's playground. What an unbelievable event full of color and joy.
Colourful India
My trip to India was primarily focused on capturing the colors of Holi. In addition to the spice market, I was able to photograph daily life in India.
Closing the spice market
My trip to India was primarily focused on capturing the colors of Holi. I did however have a few days in Delhi and was able to discover some interesting parts of the city courtesy of Navin Kumar.
The kings of Ndutu, Tanzania
My latest trip to Tanzania was special because of the lions we were able to observe in complete peace. We saw them hunting, cuddling, eating, fighting, playing and protecting one another. Every possible posture, from aggressive to kind, were on display, day in and day out. Meet the kings of Ndutu (warning, graphic content)
Tanzanian tribes
There are a number of different activities to do while in Tanzania that don't involve animals. One of my favorites is visiting local tribes. Not only do you get to see how others live, you have the ability to directly inject money into their, albeit, small economy which in turn allows them to continue living traditionally. It's a win-win for visitors and for tribesmen alike.
Loviatar
If you've seen my DJ Hero collection, then you probably already know that I enjoy photographing music related events. Two days removed from my latest African photography adventure, my friend JP (drummer) and his band Loviatar were headlining a show in Ottawa. Naturally, I had to attend...
VOSH eyecare mission, Cusco - Peru
I was recently in Peru doing some volunteer work in Cusco. The intent of the mission was to help people with serious eye issues/impediments. Through the help of many charities and donations (local and abroad), we were able to bring down thousands of glasses, medical equipment and a lot of basic medicine.
Over the course of 4 long days, we were able to assess and help roughly 2000 people. The vast majority had never had their eyes examined and it was pretty sad seeing kids unable to see anything 10 feet away or older folks with cataracts so bad that their vision was reduced to peripheral at best. I think the person that encapsulated best the 4 day mission was a state worker who could barely hear or speak and was visually impaired due to serious cataracts in both eyes.
Click to read a full account of the mission and to view a collection of photographs that really encapsulates the four days.
Pelea de Gallos - Cusco, Peru
While on my trip to Peru where I volunteered at a VOSH eyecare clicnic, I was invited to many events. Two stood out more than the others.
The first was an unusual bullfighting event where no animals are killed and the highlight of the day is when a condor is attached to the back of a bull (see "Bullfighting with a twist, Cotabambas - Peru" for a detailed report). The second event was a "pelea de gallos", also known as "cockfighting". While the first invitation was a pleasant surprise given the historical meaning and the lack of dead animals, the second was, as expected, nothing short of legalized animal cruelty. I did however decide to go and document what I saw.
Covering the event was a tough decision to make given how I feel about animal cruelty and how I love to photograph animals at their best - alive.
Click to read my thoughts on the event along with a handful of pictures from the event (warning: some images are graphic and may be disturbing for some.)
Bullfighting with a twist
A photo essay on bullfighting in Cotabambas, Peru, held on their Independence Day.
The fascinating aspect of the day is when a condor is strapped to the back of a bull, who proceeds to fight against a torero. The event itself is a metaphor, depicting the fight held many centuries ago between the Incas and the invading Spaniards.
Graffitiville: from Santiago to Valparaiso
I've been to many museums and I've visited many cities over the last 15 years. I can honestly say that there is nothing that compares to Chile from a street art perspective. The graffiti in Chile is simply incredible and stunning, easily shaming many contemporary artists featured in the glitziest galleries from New York to London. What's most impressive is the sheer size of some of these canvas': why aren't these artists featured elsewhere? Imagine if they were given a chance to create their art in ideal conditions?
I was shocked. Not because I've never seen good graffiti before, but because of the amount and quality of graffiti that I saw. It was everywhere, it was embraced and not tagged over and it simply complimented the cityscape impeccably.
Chile: landscapes and wildlife
Chile is a wonderfully diverse country. From the cosmopolitan Santiago to the incredible seaside cities like San Antonio, Valparaiso and Vina del Mar, there is something for everyone.
I was lucky enough to visit some amazing cities and do some amazing activities, including horseback riding in the sand dunes and along the pacific. Take a look at some of the wildlife I encountered and the beautiful landscapes from all over.
The London Tube Vs. The Fisheye
What happens when you combine a fisheye lens and curvy scenes?
Ndutu (Tanzania) game drive
2012 started off on the right foot with a trip to Tanzania. There, my friend Aaron and I witnessed some truly remarkable scenes while out in Ndutu (south Serengeti).
Click to read see pictures from my most recent African adventure and also stop by my blog post entitled Behind the scenes of an African safari to view some useful information about safaris in Africa and what to expect.
24 hours in Paris: Rediscovering a Favourite City
This past weekend, my wife and I embarked on (yet another) impulsive trip: 24 hours in Paris! For me, Paris is to Europe what New York is to the United States: a city that I know fairly well and feel comfortable in and one that is extremely photogenic. There are key differences between the two cities of course, but generally speaking, both are cosmopolitan, both are architecturally inspiring, full of heritage sites, and both have an endemic charm that is difficult to describe but easy to experience. Click to read about our short adventure and to view the collection.
Egypt - One year after the revolution
One year ago today, Egyptians - men and women from every religion - took to the streets to voice their discontent with the status quo. A few short weeks later, their oppressor was out of power. The situation is not yet perfect or ideal, and we can only hope that Egyptians remain courageous and fight until they have real democracy. Click to see a handful of images from my 2005 trip to Egypt, a trip that will forever remain etched in my mind.
Tanzanian Game Drive
I have been very fortunate this year as I have been able to visit both Kenya and Tanzania and spend a considerable amount of time in game reserves photographing all sorts wildlife.
My latest safari adventure brought me to three major Tanzanian national parks: Tarangire, Ngorongoro and finally, the Serengeti. The adventure didn't end there however... Visit my photography collection to get a glimpse of Tanzanian wildlife and for more details on my experience while there.
Tanzanian Portraits
Whenever I travel, I typically have primary and secondary goals in mind. For my trip to Tanzania, my primary goal was photographing wildlife. My secondary goal however was more social in nature, and it involved photographing the people of Tanzania. While I didn't have a lot of time in the cities, I was able to capture some very memorable moments while in Arusha and in transit between national parks.
Tsavo East Game Drive
If you have viewed my Kenyan hotels collection, you probably already know that my journey to Tsavo was almost as much fun as the game drive itself. Mostly because the everyday scenes unfolding before me on the way there were different than what I am used to seeing and experiencing.
That said, Tsavo East was also fun and was my first game drive during this trip. It offered splendid vistas and an incredible amount of animals.
Masai Mara Game Drive
Getting to the Mara and back was quite the adventure, some of which was good, some of which was bad. After flipping through and rating close to 2,500 pictures taken in the Mara, I must say that the adventure was worth it.
This collection contains 1% of the pictures taken in the Mara. Funny enough, culling and choosing the best pictures was not difficult. To this day, I can still vividly remember the moments that stood out for me, and I can remember at least a single photo-op with each of the big 5.
Street Photography, Mombasa edition
Unfortunately for me, my outbound flight to Amsterdam was canceled. Consequently, I lost a day in Mombasa. I still managed to make it into the city in between meetings and what not, and here are a handful of pictures that really epitomize what I saw, namely: poverty, griminess and dilapidated infrastructure.
Luckily, these city traits did not extend to the residents, who were charming and inviting.
Kenyan Hotels
On the road to Tsavo East, I noticed the incredible amount of hotels lining the road. I can only assume that the hotel demand comes from the sheer volume of trucks that criss-cross the country every day. I don't think I've ever seen so many trucks to be honest* and at times they were lined up for kilometres waiting for inspection.
As you'll see, the accommodations are basic, but when compared to the alternative - a rolled over truck - I think stopping for a few hours is best. Enjoy!
The East Village
I'm a creature of habit, that's for sure. Having been to NYC on more occasions than I can remember, I can honestly say I never ventured beyond my usual stomping grounds.
On my most recent trip, myself and another talented photographer went out of our usual way and ventured to the East Village. What a terrific neighborhood, full of photographic opportunities!
Exit Through the Gift Shop - German edition
I recently spent a few days in Germany, shortly after seeing the excellent movie "Exit through the Gift Shop". Inspired by the movie, I set out to create my own pictorial version of the movie. Hope you enjoy!
Rio Street Art
Rio de Janeiro, one of the central tourist destinations in South America, known for Carnival, the Samba, it's fantastic beaches and of course the wonderful food. But if you take a closer look, you'll also notice some incredible street art. Take a look at what many miss when visiting this beautiful city!
Buenos Aires Tango
"Without the streets or dusks of Buenos Aires, a tango cannot be written." Jorge Luis Borges
Buenos Aires, the city synonymous with the tango. Visit this collection which documents my brief but memorable visit to "La Reina Del Plata".
New York
"This is the town that never sleeps. That's why we don't live in Duluth. That plus I don't know where Duluth is." Woody Allen
My personal home away from home is New York. It has a certain indescribable charm and flair that I personally cannot get enough of. Visit this brief collection that documents the city that never sleeps.
Reminiscing
My wife and I recently moved, and during the move, I had to pack and ship my many photo albums. I unpacked them last weekend, and had a great time going through my old albums, including all of the small paper mementos (e.g. airline tickets, admission tickets) intertwined between the pictures. There is something special about touching your photographs, and I encourage everyone to print and hang your pictures in order to live with them. My friend JP once gave me that piece of advice, and I can easily say that I'm happy I listened to him. Click to see some of my first pictures taken in Africa in 2004.
September 2012 Read more