Focus Optional

I finally had the two disposable cameras I had developed. Shots from when I was at school, during my internship and at home. The boys had fun too. Because you can’t see the picture on the back of the camera after you’ve taken it. (And figuring out where to put your fingers gets super tricky.)

Also got a Pentax from one of the teachers at the school that I have finally bought film for and will have developed the next time I’m in the city. It’s a bit of a learning curve, but I’m having so much fun with it, so who cares if there’s a finger smudging out a face or two?

Things I’m Loving:

+ A Working Girl Can’t Win by Deborah Garrison – Bought it at the thrift store when I was home for Christmas and did a quick read through then. Just re-read it and absolutely loved it.

+ Burn. – A photography journal curated by Magnum photographer David Alan Harvey.

+ Coconut Water – Don’t laugh. I can’t buy this in town. So I go to the city and hunt down a couple of decent cans. (And the stuff at Starbucks is just…no. No.) Thank goodness for one stop London Drugs!

+ Wise Words – Sometimes the Dr. is as true as it gets.

Roller Derbies & Being the Best

I always seem to remember about blogging at the most inopportune times. When I’m working, just before a football match starts, just before bed as I’m drifting off to sleep. And of course, I always say to myself, “Later, later,” or, “I’ll do it tomorrow,” and now look at me. It’s been exactly a week since my last blog post. Because I’m lazy like that. (Seriously, I’m pushing it with this one right now as I’m supposed to pick my sister up in twenty minutes. Oh boy.

A couple of things happened though, which was really cool. First: last Saturday my friend Meghan and I (the girl with the skateboard in my last post) went to our first roller derby! It was actually really fun once we got into it and sort of figured it out. (She commented that we should have watched Whip It before going.) I just grabbed my camera on my way out of the house, so no long lens, but, I was really glad I went and even with the few photos I got. 

As well, the second issue of Planet S came out yesterday! While you can see the Lifestyle bit I did, you’ll actually have to get your hands on the issue to see all the photos/profiles/ads that I did for it. So, if you’re in the Saskatoon area, pick up a copy! It turned out really great and I’m really proud of all the pieces that I had included in it. 

Michael Eva won Best Bartender for this year. He works at Amigo’s Cantina and was loads of fun to interview. 

Adam Taylor won Best Barista from his job at Museo. Guys, he worked in Sweden as a barista for a year. That alone should more than impressive. 

So yes, if you’re in the area, pick up a copy. I’m thinking I might take photos of some of the published stuff for those of you who can’t, because I’m nice like that. (And I like to show off.)

Things I’m Loving: 

+ Envoy of Belfast – Let’s just say my wallet is so thankful it’s broke because it would quickly get there if I had any money. 

+ Charity Tickets – If you’re a Canadian Men’s National Team fan but can’t get to any of the games this summer, you can send a kid to a game instead. Since I won’t be able to go, definitely something I’m going to do. 

+ How To… –  A list of ten things you’ll never know if you might need. From how to sharpen a disposable razor to testing a car alternator to surviving in quick sand or being buried alive to hacking an alarm clock, they’ve got you covered. (Let’s hope you won’t need all of those at any point in time!)

+ Milk Tea Boba – Things I miss from Taiwan last summer: bubble tea. I haven’t had it since I left, mostly because if you’re not in the BIG centres, it’s really not the easiest thing to find. Making my own while I’m at home this summer is probably the closest I’ll get, so this will definitely come in handy!

Details, Details

Did a quick shoot for a restaurant review that we’re publishing today. 12 Grill, if you’re interested. The last three are just detail shots I did since I had the few extra minutes and, well, that’s what you do if you have a camera in your hands. You take pictures.

Speaking of, I got my film developed (yay!) and I’ll try and scan the pictures (the ones I want to share because, really, no one wants to see most of them) sometime this weekend. I’ll say more when I do post them, but it was good in a ‘I learned something new’ kind of way.

Things I’m Loving:

+ XI Quarterly – A new, North American quarterly football magazine that’s on Kickstarter trying to raise money to get published. Definitely excited for when this kicks off and I get it in my hands. Things North America needs: thoughtful magazines dedicated to football. (Kind of like The Green Soccer Journal).

+ Bon Iver at AIR Studios – 24 minutes of live Bon Iver. I’ve listened to it….6? 7 times today? Mellow (because that’s how Bon Iver is, really), and perfect for that background music that you can really work to.

+ Andrew Gibson: Stay – It’s poetry month and between two or three friends I’m definitely getting my poem-a-day fix (which is great). Here’s some spoken poetry. I dare you to not start it over once you’ve heard it once. (I did it. Three times. Once I like something, I really like something.)

+ L’Aviva Scarves – I adore scarves. I get so many each year that there’s basically just this rainbow of material over the door of my closet, weighing the poor thing down. These ones are bright and patterned and big. Things to love, really.

The Best Of…

I keep trying to get posts up and I’ll get them half started before I inexplicably peace off and do something else. (And by ‘peace off’ clearly I mean I just opened another tab and found another corner of the internet to get lost in.) 

On Friday (when I started this post), I did more shooting of inside restaurants. Which is kind of a double edged sword, really. 1.) I now know where all the best places to eat in town are. Which is great because I love food but bad because 2.) I’m an intern. Who was just a student. Which means that I am at the bottom of the money food chain, even as I have ridiculous spending tendencies. Sigh.

 

Again, more bars. Because that’s (apparently) where I like to spend my time. Or, more correctly, where Saskatoon wants to spend most of its time. Things I can approve of. 

 

Things I’m Loving:

+ East Side Stand Up – A semi-autobiographical comic strip about a Toronto FC fan and his love for the TFC. Related to current things going on in the TFC, which means some knowledge is required. (Which I am proud to say I’m starting to get. #newfanforthewin)

+ DIY: Around the Home – Spring’s here, after a few bumps and bruises, but it’s here. With it comes that desire to re-do and change and brighten and get rid of and get new and update. These are some fun, cheap ways to do that. Especially if you want to add some simple splashes of colour.

+ 35 Magnum Photographers Give Their Advice to Aspiring Photographers – You know the thing I’ve realized about advice? That, for the most part, it’s really basic stuff that just gets tossed to the side because you think it’s so simple. And then when it comes from the mouths of people who’ve ‘made it’, you realize why simplicity is best. This is full of those simple things, with a few twists in there and a good read.

+ Sprouted Kitchen – I love food. I feel like I haven’t actually stated that quite so publicly yet. But I do. If you could see the amount of recipes that I have bookmarked and saved in a specially marked folder in my e-mail, there’d be some eyebrows being raised. What I also love is food photography. It’s like a combination of two of the best things. Sprouted Kitchen has both: fantastic food, beautiful photography. And you wonder why I spend gross amounts of time there.