Just got a proof of how my image will be used for the iTunes cover of the “African Kings” album coming out real soon.   I’m really looking forward to seeing the posters and actual CD/insert design as well.  Here’s a little backgrounder on these guys… (excerpt from their website: www.defendersmusic.ca )

Hailing from Vancouver, B.C. come two of Canada’s premier emcee’s with their long -anticipated debut record, “African Kings”, the first of seven installments from West Coast legandary rap duo, Checkmate and Concise a.k.a. DEFENDERS OF THE FAITH.

Both born in Africa, this team of writers/producers were key elements in such songs as the Juno Award Winning, number1 hit “Northern Touch”, Juno Winning number 1 hit “Fuel Injected”, Juno nominated Rap recording “R.A.W.”, Juno Nominated Rap album “F.A.M.E.”, and numerous radio and video hits worldwide.

Both Concise and Checkmate, are critically acclaimed lyricists, performers, and producers, having released three full-length projects, (Welcome to the Game - 2000, F.A.M.E. - 2003, Checkmate presents Game Related - 2003) as well as having toured much of Canada and the United States and appearing in many magazines & publications.

Says Checkmate of the duos first full- length offering…

“This record is a culmination of events…it’s everything Concise and I have been waiting for… a diverse, well-written and produced album, featuring some of the best rappers and beatmakers we’ve had the pleasure of meeting and working with in our short recording careers…”

“African Kings” features West Coast greats, Daz and Kurupt (L.A.), Devin the Dude (Houston, Texas), King Reign, Bishop Brigante, Tone Mason (Toronto), Mical Monica, Young Kazh, Kemo, Savage Beats and Hydro (Vancouver). Additional production by Checkmate and Concise, with a release dates scheduled for 2008.

If you don’t know, now you know.

My lady Maryah has been busy!  She has been creating these beautiful headbands and other hair adornments for sale at local arts&crafts shows…. and online as well, on her site www.thepenguingeisha.com OR on etsy lotuslulu.etsy.com.  Take the time to visit her blog there, the write-ups on each item are so well written & it’s fun to hear the stories behind them.

So every week, I’ve got a new batch of headbands to photograph - it’s great fun, and with both of our schedules being so busy, it’s nice to be able to do something productive together.  I’m pretty sure a couple of these will be added into my portfolio - I love how they’re coming out with the warm wood floor in the background, the bright popping colours of the feathers on the headbands, and Maryah’s beautiful smooth & porcelain-like skin… it plays so well together.

Since we’ve been doing these in-home-studio shots, she has noticed a rise in views and sales on her site - and well deserved - a ton of time has gone into the selection and collection of rare or vintage bits and pieces that make up the bands, then even more time carefully creating the delicate pieces.

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I am a curious individual.  “What if..” is ALWAYS my question of the day!  I’m inspired by an email today from an aspiring photographer who asks “how do you get all this cool stuff to shoot?”  I’m photographing the kinds of things others wish would fall into their laps… and I thought like that once myself. (oh, who am I kidding, I still think that sometimes!)

My advice: Turn your questions into quests.

I am always asking, seeking and finding opportunities to do something new, to explore, to create, to grow and to make my next image better than the last.  I don’t sit still.  I have a great group of creative friends.  I never stop ‘playing’ with the art of photography - new angles, new techniques, homemade lighting gear… experiments galore.

I haven’t had any jobs handed to me.  Each job has been the result of my constant desire to make images.  I will create a job where there wasn’t one before.  I suppose the first time I did this is when I worked for my parents 10 years ago at their Physiotherapy Clinic, I suggested custom exercise sheets for their office.  They got the nicest custom sheets you’ll find, and my skills grew in leaps and bounds.  I would go on to do “Kids with Santa” pics for the community centre every Christmas for six or seven years.  Working at the Ministry of Forests in Port McNeill a few years back, I conceptualized and created a staff flowchart for the lobby… 50 Headshots and hours of graphic design later, I had created two large posters, and had considerably increased my experience and skill at making a great corporate headshot.  These are merely a few examples of how I have incorporated photography into what was not intended to be a photography job!   Give me lemons… you’re gonna get some lemonade!

I was quite pleased when Brian Hay of Spyder Hoe Solutions had contacted me to get some photographs of his machine working in a Nanaimo neighborhood. What he can do with this machine is incredible - the agile spider-like ability of the machine when combined with a skilled and reputable operator is a sight to behold.

The machine also boasts the capability of doing these types of jobs with minimal environmental impact:
(excerpt from www.spyderhoesolutions.ca)

“Spyder Hoe Solutions Inc is an Excavating and Landscaping Contractor based in Nanaimo British Columbia serving all of Vancouver Island. We offer a wide range of services to both Commercial and Residential Customers with a Kaiser Mobile Walking Excavator. With our machine we are capable of working efficiently anywhere a conventional Excavator would be used as well as safely on steep slopes without benching in and can access confined areas with ease. We also use fully biodegradable Panolin Hydraulic Fluid and grease and can work in water up to six feet deep.

With its legs instead of tracks, ability to ‘walk’ and step over obstructions, there is nowhere we can’t go. We can reach any destination with no need for any roads or harsh impact on the environment on the way in.”

www.spyderhoesolutions.ca