Main press centre in Vancouver. I picked up the last of my Olympic credentials on Saturday and so am officially official. Lots of Olympic workers and media, with special clothes and accreditation tags around their necks, and police in the downtown core but hard to see ‘Olympic fever’ among regular folks. Most of the Olympic signage you’re seeing is commercial but there are a few …
Victoria Bananas
No snow for the Olympics in Vancouver and bananas growing in Victoria. Story here.
Blogging Elsewhere
I’m guest blogging all week at www.npac.ca. While you’re there get a membership and support Canadian photoj.
Wet Coast Weather
Out looking for a weather feature on a recent wet and very windy day and was driving away from a view of the breakwater as nobody was walking on it and with good reason, the waves were breaking over the top of the wall. Just as I pulled away I saw a runner heading onto the breakwater so pulled a u-turn and drove back to …
Vancouver Visit
A brief visit to Vancouver a week ago to pick up my Olympic credentials. Snapped a couple of images while cruising the downtown streets, just fun stuff for a change. Liked the flag reflection in the one and just playing around with the image of the downtown library building.
Dave Bidini – Orion Lecture
The great Dave Bidini was in Victoria last night giving the annual Orion lecture. He talked about his travel for his books and TV documentaries and afterwards took questions from the audience. He’ll be around for a few more days talking to various writing classes at UVIC. I’m sure it’s not always so but Dave’s life seems so seamless, travel and music and writing and …
Worthy Causes – Shelter Box & Ancient Forest Alliance
I don’t usually hype groups or causes but two very different organizations came to my attention this week that deserve some attention and donations. The first, Shelterbox, supplies a large box stuffed with tents, bedding, waterfilter, stove, pots etc, everything that a person or family in a disaster situation needs and needs quickly. It’s such a simple but effective idea. Shelterbox groups can be found …
Nanaimo Neon
Old neon in Nanaimo, BC. The sign for the Modern Cafe. From a quick visit last weekend.
The Dishrags – More Images From Vancouver Punk’s Early Years
Pete Rockwell Exhibition -Sacred Spaces
Pete Rockwell was hanging his images for his new exhibition at the Collective Works gallery in Victoria’s Fernwood district this afternoon as I drove by so popped in and took a few photos. The exhibition features Rockwell’s photographs of the Jordan River area focusing on the leftover traces of industry in the area including a hydro electric power plant. The exhibition also features sculptures by …
Poet P.K. Page dies at 93
Renowned Canadian poet, novelist, artist and librettist, P. K. Page has died aged 93 at her home in Oak Bay, British Columbia. Just two days ago I’d stopped by the Cadboro Bay Book Store and asked Amber what was new in the store and she pointed out a new chapbook Cullen by P.K. Page, published by Outlaw Editions. I bought a copy and after heading …
Dark Image For A Dark Day
Can’t ID Bands
Postimg for ID help -anyone know? First two pix, same band, no idea. Second band. Dimwit on bass but doesn’t look like Subhumans.
Jordan River Winter Surfing
Just another Vancouver Island winter day with the surf kicking up along the coast. Lots of surfers and kayakers out on the water. Weather ranged from pouring rain to a light mist although the sun came out on the drive home (typical). Word was spreading about the waves as more and more surfers were turning up throughout the morning. Surfers head out Beautiful BC wheel …
Happy New Year 2010
Who knows what surprises the new year will bring?
Tom Hawthorn – Sudden Death Records & Joe Keithley
In keeping with the recent punk theme, check out Tom Hawthorn‘s story on Joe Keithley’s Sudden Death Records in the Globe and Mail. Check out Sudden Death Records yourself.
Bev Davies – 13 Photographs of DOA – Exhibition & Calendar
The opening reception for Bev Davies’ latest exhibition and calendar will be at Vancouver’s Jem Cordova gallery (#36-22 East Cordova Street) on January 2, 1PM-5Pm. Show runs until January 13.
Brian Howell – Show Opening January 7
Brian Howell has a show opening at the Winsor Gallery on Thursday January 7. Reception starts at 5:30 pm.
DOA Group Shot
Tom Harrison, then music editor of the Georgia Straight, and I drove out to the house Joe Keithley was renting in Burnaby off of Kingsway for a big interview for the entertainment weekly. Chuck was living with Joe at the time. This may have been the first big media shot DOA received. UPDATE: Ooops. Just found more negs , the ones that were from that …
Interview with Joey Ramone
John Mackie, now Vancouver Sun writer then Georgia Straight freelancer as I was, interviews Joey Ramone in his Denman Street hotel.
And….more Vancouver punk photographs
Acclaimed documentary fimmaker Susanne Tabata is working on a film about the Vancouver punk rock world and I’m going through all my old negatives in order to send her some images for possible inclusion in the film. Here’s a few more possibilities from the early days. Hopefully Scott Beadle will chime in with some names and dates. Lots of faces here, drummer is ?, Randy …
Skulls – First performance -The future face of Vancouver punk
These images are from what was one of the first performances by a Vancouver area punk band at the Easter Be In at Semiamoo (Sp?) Park. It was a pretty loose grouping of guys who would later go on to form some of the most important bands in Vancouver. The era’s long hair, other than on Joe Keithley who looks freshly shorn, and stubby beer …
Merry Christmas
More Early Vancouver Punk Photos – Dishrags, Furies and Joe Keithley
Starting to sort through my negs from the early days of Vancouver’s punk rock world. Here’s a few more pix scanned from old prints. Joe Keithley after a gig at a high school The Dishrags, first concert, with the Furies The Furies Crowd at show, including Colin Griffiths, ?, and I believe, Scout from the Dishrags
The Pointed Sticks in Vancouver
On Saturday made the trip over to Vancouver too see a band that I’d seen many times before but not in 30 years. A lot of bands started in Vancouver during the early punk rock years and only a few have survived. The Pointed Sticks were the one band that, at the time, seemed destined for stardom. Great music, stage presence etc etc. But it …
Ho Ho Horror
It hard to find Christmas images that are different but the skeleton that the owner has standing outside the Science Works store on Oak Bay Avenue is always dressed properly for the season and at this time of the year the contrast is a little shocking. Not quite a shocking as the year the late artist Jimmy Wright erected a crucified Santa (pic below) on …
Afternoon Commute, Vancouver Island Style
Heading home in a small boat off Turkey Head with the setting sun lighting up Mt. Baker (in Washington State) in the background.
Early Morning Moon
Out early at Cadboro Bay looking for a sunrise photo and on the way back to the car saw this tree and the waning moon. I like the graphic beauty of the bare winter trees. This was the sunrise photo, a runner stretching on the beach.
Artist Portraits
I really enjoying taking portraits, especially of creative people. It’s always interesting to try and incorporate their environment into the image.With tighter papers, every section is squeezed for space so we’re not running as many entertainment stories and consequently not as many portraits of artists etc. Here are a few, fairly recent, images. I really liked this image of Keith Hiscock at the Morris Gallery. …
Prince Charles and International Hockey
A nice variety of assignments these days with the recent launch of the Olympic Torch Run here as well a vist from Prince Charles with Camilla and international junior hockey with Team WHL vs Team Russia.