Favourite Photogs: Maurice Li

I’ve talked about photographers whose work is bright and punchy and vivid and I feel like, by now you all know that I basically like to be kicked in the face, visually. That moment when my eyeballs see something and it takes a second to register and maybe there’s some dancing lights. That sounds overly dramatic, I know I know I know. But my parents didn’t buy me that ‘Drama Queen’ pillow for no reason. But I do. I like having to do a double take and maybe pick my jaw up off the floor, promise myself that that,  that is the kind of work that I want to be producing, that I want to work towards. No one has done this as well in the last few weeks as Maurice Li.

Favourite Photogs: Cass Bird

If I was going to pick someone who catches the modern world in her lens, I’d have to say it’s Cass Bird.  (You know her from Pharrell William’s Girl cover.) Her photography is fun and bright and happy. (It’s also kind of mostly verticals which is strange, neat and cool because I’m one of those people who shoot horizontal on a regular basis but….strange, because I’m one of those people who….you get the idea.) But her photography reminds me of a twenty-something year old snapping bubblegum and giving you a wink as she turns up the music just this side of probably too loud. Not only that, but her work is also a mini collection of who’s who: Jay-Z, Cate Blanchett, Jessica Chastain, Brittney Griner, that guy from Girls, I mean Adam Driver. If that’s not what’s in, I don’t know what is. 

Favourite Photogs: David Shale

I found David Shale‘s work through an interview with Popular Photography and was just fascinated. Once upon a time, way back when I was still in high school and more uncertain about what I wanted to ‘do with my life’ than I am now (terrifying, right?), I wanted to be a marine biologist. A little out of left field, I know, but the idea of being able to study the ocean and all the beautiful, and slightly scary, animals in it, fascinated me. As you know, that didn’t pan out (though, who knows) but I’m still drawn to anything that deals with the ocean and what lives in it. Which is probably why this grabbed my attention so much. Marine life, up close and vividly personal. Yes, please. 

Favourite Photogs: Gillian Laub

I’ve gotten lazy the last few weeks with my Favourite Photogs series. I’ve been trying to organize stuff with leaving, which means seeing people and figuring out what I do/n’t need, the list goes on. But! I’ve got the next few posts prepared, so at least there’s that! (I feel like getting the hang of scheduling posts is kind of like ironing: you find yourself doing it and go, “Oh man. This is a new level.”)  Gillian Laub is intense. By that I mean her photography is intense. She doesn’t hold back and hits you square between the eyes with all that intensity she creates in her photos. Which is good because sometimes, a lot of times, you need more than photos of perfectly lined books and delicious looking dishes. Laub delivers that and through several different series of photographs, from both far away and out of sight and right close to home.

Favourite Photogs: Ryu Voelkel

Two things: 1. Part of my decision was based on this top photo. Because: Champion’s League final and I have football feels!!!!  2. I can’t believe I haven’t posted about  Ryu Voelkel yet. I first saw his work in my second year at Loyalist and haven’t been able to get enough since. He shoots mainly sports photography and, you guys, it’s brilliant. It’s creative, it’s a bit out of left field, it’s just really, really great.