AUTUMN IS HERE!

One of my favourite things to do around this time of the year is to go for a walk on a warm Autumn day and listen to the the gentle crackling of the leaves beneath my feet. To celebrate the fall equinox  I went for a walk around Thetis lake.  I have to say that the walk also become a very inspirational afternoon,  just prior I was wondering what to create for the new fall campaign on our Meade Design Group website.

 

Here is an example why I love the help of technology:  my Iphone and Instagram were my assistants, and with their help I was able to capture the nostalgic/vintage feeling  I was aiming for.  Autumn is after all, a season for change.

 

 

Here are the shots I took that I used to create the new animation for the entry of Meade Design Group’s website:

 

 

I invite you to check out our website and harvest your style

 

 

How do you use technology to inspire you?

MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011

IN CONVERSATION WITH MATT POLITANO

Matt Politano

 

Matt Politano is a good friend of mine, but he is also a very talented photographer and graphic designer.  Born and raised in Victoria, Matt always took a liking to the arts and studied art and art history at UVic, graduating with a degree in Art Education. But Matt found himself drawn towards digital media and developed a passion for fine art photography and graphic design and now has two businesses: His namesake photography studio and Oculus Design + Marketing.

 

What I love about Matt’s image work is that he really blends fantasy and reality seamlessly, and has a fascinating process involving modern technology (such as Photoshop, digital cameras, flatbed scanners etc) and tried and true printing techniques for magnificently layered pieces. As a graphic designer, Matt is able to consistently produce work with and for his clients with a clean and understated aesthetic. I also appreciate that he is a proud member of the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada, and is terrific at spreading the word on why it is so beneficial to work with a certified designer.

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Another reason why I can connect so well with Matt? We are both avid bloggers! Matt does a great job of sharing ideas and work on his blog – including a daily dose of his photography, check it out for a little eye candy!

 

Matt’s got a new exhibition on the horizon, and I cannot wait to share his work and design insights with my readers – please read on to get in on the conversation…

 

 

Iván Meade - What was the first photograph you ever took, do you still remember the subject? Do you still have it?

Matt Politano – I think the first photo I took was probably a Polaroid at some family get-together. I remember being fascinated by Polaroids; watching the image slowly resolve before my eyes. I received my first SLR camera as a high school graduation gift (I still use some of the negatives shot with that camera in my work today) and shot almost exclusively in B&W for a number of years. My first deliberate art photo was actually a digital composite created from multiple scanned images – digital cameras still being exotic items at the time.

 

 

Iván Meade - When did you first get started in photography?

Matt Politano – It really started with that first SLR camera; I took a photo course in University and fell in love with the immediacy of the medium. I would spend long hours in the darkroom, often staying into the early morning hours – until the headaches from exposure to the chemicals just became too much. I experimented with anything I was introduced to: solarization, photograms, colour filters. Eventually, I transitioned to digital – lured by the increased speed with which I could experiment.

 

Iván - What is it about photography that interests you as a graphic designer/artist?

Matt Politano – I love the duality of photography: on one hand, because we can 'capture' what's in front of the lens, we have always trusted photography as a documentary tool – but, right from day one, photographs have been manipulated to match their creators' vision. With the tools at our disposal today it's easier than ever to fabricate reality and so there's a constant tension between our trusting eyes and our sceptical brains – it's interesting to explore and even exploit this tension.

I also enjoy the immediacy that photography offers, allowing you to not only be a part of the scene, experiencing it, but also capture fragments of it and manipulate the experience – and the memory of it – at the same time.

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Iván Meade - Have you always worked in photography or have you worked in other mediums as well?

Matt Politano – I actually came to photography fairly late, starting out in more traditional media like painting and ceramics. Even now I don't work exclusively in photography; I integrate other disciplines/media where it creates the desired effect. And there's still something inherently satisfying about getting your hands dirty; a tactility that's missing in photography – especially digital.

 

 
Iván Meade - What has influenced you and your sense of style?

Matt Politano – I've always been drawn to the Surrealists and the Pop Art movement, perhaps because I have a well-developed appreciation for the absurd. I also love to travel and explore architecture and spaces/places where humans have imposed some kind of order on nature. A lot of my work is devoid of human presence, and yet focuses on spaces created specifically for their use. I think this is perhaps because I feel that these rational spaces are utilitarian in use but, by standing quietly, alone, one can truly appreciate their beauty – so many of my images place the viewer in that position.

 

 

Iván Meade - Who or what would be your dream subject?

Matt Politano – I have too many, I think, but an area I'd love to experiment with is fashion photography. One of my biggest influences is Tim Walker, who creates incredible images for Vogue – he has a delightful vision that could be described as 'Terry Gilliam shoots fashion'. His models are often players in absurd dramas and the images are more about concept than the models or even the clothes. There's so much room for whimsical and surreal storytelling.

 

 
Iván Meade - What is your favourite photograph?

Matt Politano – My absolute favourite photo is a Tim Walker image: Lily and Spiral Staircase – such a simple, but stunningly beautiful image. A recent favourite is Hideaway  by Rosie Hardy, a young photographer based in the UK. I also recently saw a show of work by Ellen Kooi  that simply blew me away; I could have happily bought half of the pieces.

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Iván Meade - How do you find the transition from graphics to photography?

Matt Politano – In a word: difficult. The imagery I select, direct or shoot for communication and experience design is all carefully directed at communicating a specific concept or message and is usually only one supporting element that must work with text and other elements. Switching gears to personal work often requires a lot of effort, because I'm no longer focusing on someone else's needs, but rather on my own vision or feelings. So while I'm using almost all of the same tools, the intent behind it is very different.

 

I do find, too, that there are aspects of my personal work – a certain aesthetic– that sneak into my design work, as well as compositional and other design elements that filter through and influence my personal work.

 

 
Iván Meade – Do you use your photography in your graphic design projects?

Matt Politano – Absolutely. I don't shoot much commercial work, preferring instead to art direct and work with some excellent photographers in town (is an added bonus, I learn from their techniques and practices) but I do occasionally shoot for clients and also shoot elements like backgrounds or textures as needed for client projects. Stock photography is just so predictable and repetitive that I often prefer to simply shoot something myself. It's also a great way to keep learning and keep from getting stuck, creatively.

 

 
Iván Meade – You will be presenting on April 5th at Dales Gallery a new exhibition “The Floating World” – What can you tell us about this exhibit?

 

Matt Politano - The show features several different series I've been working on recently, including some large double-exposures, landscapes and a series of images that pays homage to Japanese woodblock prints, using a combination of photographs and appropriated imagery.  The prints are a mix of paper-based and transmounted, almost all limited edition and all signed. The pieces range in size from 36" wide down to some 10"x10" squares of market images, ideal for displaying in a kitchen and priced to make attractive gifts.

 

Dales Gallery is an excellent space for displaying these pieces – I'm really excited to see everything up on the walls and I hope your readers will come to the opening on Thursday, April 12 from 7-9. The show runs until May 1 so if you can't make it to the opening, the gallery is open Monday-Friday 10 am - 5 pm and Saturday 11 am - 4 pm. You can find the event on Facebook.

 

You can view my previous work, as well as some of the pieces in this show at Matt Politano. If you'd like to stay in the loop on my shows and new work, you can subscribe to my very occasional email newsletter – as an added incentive, until the end of the show's run, I'm entering everyone who signs up for my mailing list in a draw for a signed copy of my upcoming photo book.

 

MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011

In Conversation with Russ Heinl

Russ Heinl is a very talented well-established photographer. His main subject matter is aerial and architectural photography plus a totally new and different direction he has gone in: black and white medium format photography.  Over the last 16 years Russ has had 11 aerial books published including: Over Beautiful British Columbia, Over Canada and Portugal An Adventure of Discovery.   He is definitely one of the best interior photographers on the West Coast.

 

Vancouver Library

Photograph courtesy of Russ Heinl

Architectural

Photograph courtesy of Russ Heinl

 

I strongly encourage you to check out his websites [www.HeinlAerialPhotography.com and also www.RussHeinl.ca] for yourself and to read on to learn more about this talented local photographer.

 

Bamberton

Photograph courtesy of Russ Heinl

 

Iván Meade - When did you first get started in photography? 

Russ Heinl -  I still recall the day, I was 19 at the time when my girlfriend (now my lifelong friend and wife of 37 years) bought me my first camera as a gift.  I started taking pictures later that same day and since then have never stopped.

 

Dallas Road

Photograph courtesy of Russ Heinl

 

Iván Meade - What is it about photography that interests you as an artist?

Russ Heinl – It is the ability to capture an image that reflects how I am seeing and feeling the subject.  Perhaps my favorite photographic quote will serve as a good example of this:   “There are always two people in every picture:  the photographer and the viewer” – Ansel Adams.   The photograph allows me to share this moment with others.

 

Elk Lake

Photograph courtesy of Russ Heinl

Sidney

Photograph courtesy of Russ Heinl

 

Iván Meade - Where do you draw your inspirations?

Russ Heinl – Two places.   One comes from the subjects themselves.  When you connect with your subject you feel inspired, it just feels right and the photography falls into place naturally.  The second comes from enjoying other photographer’s work, certain images really connect with me and I get a great deal of pleasure from looking at them, they inspire me to get out there and get photographing.

 

Machine

Photograph courtesy of Russ Heinl

 

Iván Meade – Who has influenced and motivated you the most?

Russ Heinl – As for influenced, nobody makes me want to take better photographs more then Ansel Adams.  No matter how many times I look at his work it never ceases to amaze me how perfectly he has captured the moment.  His composition is impeccable!

And as for motivation there are two gentlemen who have truly motivated me and given me the confidence to move forward with my work.

The first is Ted Grant, Canada’s premier living photographer with a career spanning 55 years.  The National Archives of Canada have a dedicated “Ted Grant Photo Collection” and he is the only photographer to hold both Gold and Silver medals from the National Film Board of Canada.

About 19 years ago I humbly and somewhat nervously approached Ted requesting he review my portfolio and offer his frank opinion on my work.  From our first meeting Ted has always been very supportive and encouraged me to get out there and work hard and to not be afraid to pursue my dream. Over the years and from time to time I would show him my progress and our relationship and my confidence grew from there.  Thanks Ted!

Robert Bateman is one of Canada’s national treasures and he needs no introduction.  When my first book “Where The Eagle Soars” was nearing completion I contacted his office requesting he review my work with a request for him to write the foreword to the book.   Eventually the two of us connected, he liked the photography and he did write the foreword, we even ended up working together on a west coast lighthouse project we both had an interest in.   Robert has encouraged me as an artist but more importantly his philosophy that “composition is everything” has greatly influenced and guided my approach to photography.  Thanks Robert!

 

Winter Snow

Photograph courtesy of Russ Heinl

The Oriental Hotel

Photograph courtesy of Russ Heinl

 

 

Iván Meade – In what direction has your photography moved?

Russ Heinl – A good question as I feel I have come full circle now.  As you know I am well known for my aerial and architectural work and like many photographers have been making my living in the commercial world shooting 35-mm digital color images.  More recently I felt an urge to get back to my photographic roots.  Simply put I needed to get back to making photographs again, not just taking them.

So now my artistic side is experiencing a renaissance from shooting black and white images on my medium format Hasselblad film camera.  The camera is totally mechanical, the image is square and it takes time and a degree of skill to operate.  By its very nature it makes you slow down and think about what you are doing and to really give serious consideration to the composition.

 

Winter Snow

Photograph courtesy of Russ Heinl

 

Iván Meade – Do you have any new projects coming up in the near future?

Russ Heinl – Yes there is a new and exciting project in the planning stages now.   I’ve partnered up with the British Columbia Cancer Foundation (BCCF) and a corporate sponsor to launch a solo art exhibition of my black and white photography that will be a fundraiser event for the BCCF later this year.   Robert Bateman has graciously agreed to write the introduction to the show for us.

 

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MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011

Photography by Michael Easton

Every couple of months, I receive an email from Vancouver's naturalist photographer Michael Easton. In his latest email I got some imagery from the Ashcroft region of British Columbia that is worth checking out.

The dry Ashcroft region has an abundance of spectacular landscapes both large and small. In this particular set of images, Easton has chosen to consider the small in the form of the abundant crusty rock lichens with their exciting abstract shapes and textures.

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The ever expanding catalogue of Michael Easton's work contains over 1010 unique black and white nature images. To see more work from David Easton please visit:

Michael Easton
http://www.naturphoto.com

Fine Art Nature Photography
604.988.3532

MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011

In Conversation with David Ellingsen

Sometimes coincidence works in a very mysterious way. A month ago while I was preparing the Tom Ford blog entry I wanted a black and white photography to add some personality to the imaginary space I was creating. Back then I remembered I saw a beautiful photograph at our local Liberty Store. I went online and I visited Liberty's site and I was introduced to David Ellingsen's photography. Then I went to his website and I was even more impressed with the fact that he had even more beautiful images than the ones I recalled. The scope of his work and the quality of the images is truly throughout his site, and his vision is totally innovative and unique. The next day when I posted the Tom Ford entry, I received a very kind email from David Ellingsen thanking me for including his work in my blog. I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity and asked him to do an interview for my blog.

Iván Meade - What was the first photograph you ever took, do you still remember the subject?

David Ellingsen - I don't remember my first one...I do remember the first class I took at Camosun College and the addictive quality of the almost magical darkroom process which hooked me. The Victoria darkroom collective I joined right after fueled the process further.

Dune Study - Fine Art Photography

Iván - When did you first get started in photography?

David - Not until I was 30...a bit of a late bloomer career-wise. My older brother is an accomplished artist, and was from a young age, and I realize that I had subconsciously given him the place as the artist in the family (apparently I thought there was only one spot for that). I did not even consider it myself until I was sliding towards 30 and seriously looking for a fulfilling career. Completely self-imposed situation, but better late than never I suppose.

Fraser Delta Study 1- Fine Art Photography

Iván - What is it about photography that interests you as an artist?

David - The combination of technical mastery with artistic vision constantly excites me. When both come together in a successful image the sense of elation I feel tells me I'm on the right path.

Georgia Straight - Fine Art Photography

Iván - Have you always worked in photography or have you worked in other mediums as well?

David - Only photography so far...although print making and painting are probably on the horizon in some capacity.

Georgia Straight South 1 Orcas Island - Fine Art Photography

Iván - What has influenced you and your sense of style?

David - My upbringing on a rural farm in Desolation Sound and the tight knit large family definitely had it's effect on me. As a result, appreciation of the natural order of things, solitude and honest inter-personal relations are some of the themes I see in both my Fine Art and Commercial work.

Other photographers like Richard Avedon, Sarah Moon and Jean-Paul Goude also are strong influences.

Richard Avedon
http://www.richardavedon.com

Sarah Moon
http://www.r-g-m.net/#

Jean-Paul Goude
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a7tykcV1IE

Hibernus 26 - Fine Art Photography

Iván - Do you have prefer black and white over colour photographs?

David - I feel the choice between B&W or colour is specific to the photograph you are making and consequently do not have a preference.

Hibernus 28 - Fine Art Photography

Iván - Where do you draw your inspiration from?

David - A close observation of life around me.

Iván - Who or what would be your dream subject?

David - That's a hard one...and constantly changing...too many to list I think.

Right now I'm working towards two series involving the themes of death and mankind's relation to the natural world.

Ogden Point - Fine Art Photography

Iván - I noticed you are involved with the community and social issues, how important is this to you?

David - I think growing up in a small tight knit community you realize the importance of helping others in whatever capacity you can, financially or otherwise, for the greater good. I was raised in a family that would bend over backwards to help each other and the community in general...it seems this has stuck with me in some capacity.

Iván - I also noticed your portrait of David Suzuki, how "green" is photography these days?

David - On the plus side there are far fewer chemicals going down the drain these days. But the digital revolution has produced a huge amount of waste in itself and the constant need for upgrading equipment and software to stay competitive is frustrating to say the least, financially and environmentally.

David Suzuki Portrait - Commercial Photography

Iván - If you weren¹t involved in photography, what do you think you would be doing?

David - I think I'd probably have my own restaurant/café/etc. I worked in that industry for a long time and really enjoy it...especially the co-workers it seems to attract...a crazy bunch.

Untitled 027 - Fine Art Photography

Iván - What art do you have on your walls?

David - Paintings by artists I know personally and lots of my own work.

Iván - What is your favourite photograph?

David - Of my own work the two "Untitled" Series are particularly satisfying...a real step forward for me in my own artistic journey.

Of other photographers I'd have to say Richard Avedon's American West series is probably one of my favorites. Also Joel Peter-Witkin has my great respect for his entire body of work.

Joel Peter-Witkin
http://www.correnticalde.com/joelpeterwitkin

Iván - Your photographs have a very dream-like quality, do you ever draw inspiration from your dreams?

David - Never from dreams. My inspiration comes from a specific idea/concept or the evolution of one through the working process.

For more of David Ellingsen's stunning photography please visit his website at:

http://www.davidellingsen.com

FINE ART + STUDIO
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http://www.gettyimages.com

MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011