Toys

I ride bikes. I have since I can remember. I've been told of a story where I rode my bike down the center line of a busy Saskatoon street when I was three or so. I grew up near the BMX race track. My days were spent jumping dirt. As I got older I kept going to the track. Then I met some guys who introduced me to street riding. Soon the pegs were on the bike, parts were trashed, new stuff put on. Through out it all the only constant was having fun and jumping things. Styles came and went, but my love for biking never faded.

Looking at my bike now, I see that my ride is a little trashed. Probably time to put some cash in and get some new and lighter parts. If I take this thing to China, I might as well get it as light as I can...

Quite often I feel lucky. Lucky that I get to share in peoples lives. As I document them, they are letting me see a side of them that many others may not see. I hear stories of their lives, stories of hardship, stories of love.

I've met people from all walks of life. I've met the poorest of the poor and people that have seven figure incomes. Everyone from dairy farmers in Saskatchewan to Elvis impersonators in Ontario to homeless children in Laos.

Every person that I have met has a story. It is my job and my joy to take these stories and spread them to others.

I am a listener. I have always been like this. Quiet. I am the guy who sits across the table and asks questions, listens and digs deeper for more information. A cross between a bartender and a soft shoulder. My ears are always open. I don't judge. I take both sides of the story and come out with my own interpretation. I make it as unbiased as I can.

In the studio, this happens less. I still hear stories, however more than anything it is to understand the person that I am photographing. People put on masks. Masks make for bad portraits. I have to dig deep and get to the real person. Sometimes this is easy, but usually it takes time. I generally write off the first three shots.

But in the end, I always leave satisfied. I get my shot and I hear good stories. Not always exciting like a Hurricane Katrina survivor, but always just as important.

This Posts for You

So this post is dedicated to Denis and Dree, who have just stepped up to the world of hi-speed internet. Yes, these two were on dial-up until this week.

I remember back in the days before the internet. Logging onto BBS's and downloading pictures and programs. Always worrying about someone picking up the phone and killing the download. Those were the days.

On a somewhat related note, I have been playing around with Linux again on my mini-itx computer. Not a fan on the thing so it is whisper silent. Oh yea, and it runs off a 64 mb CF card instead of a hard drive. fun times.