Hey Rosetta! at Lee's Palace, February 24th 2011

Hey Rosetta! is a band from St. Johns, Newfoundland that just released a fantastic new album, Seeds, under Sonic Records. They employ cello, violin, and piano into a very rock-and-roll kind of sound, blending familiar energy into instruments not traditionally known for what is essentially pop music. And do they ever bring a house down. Their sold-out, two-night stop in Toronto was met with huge anticipation by the crowd, and did they ever deliver. Their encore performance, which consisted of a rendition of a great 80's song was especially awesome. It's always a please to hear an entire crowd sing along, even if it may not be to your own song.

At Yonge-Dundas Square, celebration, peace and solidarity with the people of Egypt

With the recent events in Egypt dominating the headlines of the world, it was no surprise that optimism would fill the air yesterday as Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak finally stepped down, effectively ending two weeks of protest. How fortunate I was, then, to walk by Yonge-Dundas Square on Friday evening and see hundreds of people cheering, chanting "power to the people", and talking to local media in solidaridy with the people of Egypt. I immediately got out my camera, made my way into the crowd and took in the scene.

Here are some pictures of the people who came out to support the people of Egypt, the ideals of democracy, and the hope for a better future.

At Nuit Blanche, 2010.

PHOTO: Roommate

A portrait of my roommate.

Happy Holidays!

Took this at the Distillery District in downtown Toronto last Friday. Finally snowed in Toronto, so you can definitely expect some pictures of my favourite season.

The semester is over, and my last exam is in a couple of days so I'll be able to post pictures from recent concerts I've been to, like Mayer Hawthorne, Aloe Blacc, and Wolf Parade. I'm contemplating putting my final assignment up here too, but I'm not sure if it's something I want people reading. We'll see.

Skateboarding

 I remember when my cousins first introduced me to the art of skateboarding with this video, fondly encapsulating my mind with dreams of being Rodney Mullen. I got my first board, a Birdhouse deck with Canadian Grind King trucks and my little brother followed suit, skating at the various skateparks in the GTA for years. The waxed curb outside my old house is still there, according to an old neighbour. Though I haven't skated seriously since 2006, my good friend Gabe, pictured here, is definitely a formidable skater, and still skateboards these days. Here's a picture I took of him in the summertime. I would love to shoot more skaters doing their thing. It really is a beautiful pastime, one I hope isn't on its way out.

Here's a phenomenal skateboarding vid of Kilian Martin, perfectly exemplifying the focused proficiency this sport demands, and the ability to make these near-impossible movements seem effortless.

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P.S. For those who care, I've been recently signed on to contribute to POUND magazine, so be on the lookout for some of my writing there! There's a bunch of good stuff on their site, and I'm really proud to lend my name and efforts to a publication that keeps it as real as these guys do.

PHOTOS: Inside Allan Gardens

Walking around the botanical garden in Allan Gardens is one of the few secret treasures in downtown Toronto. Most people pass by it without second thought, but thankfully, I had it brought to my attention by a good friend who lives right across the street from it. It's almost like stepping into a different, nature-filled world. It feels like the Garden of Eden at times, not only because of the sheer diversity of the plantlife in there, but also because it's just peaceful. Definitely a good place to go to calm down after a stressful week.

Walking around Toronto

In one of my classes today the instructor had us bring our cameras to the lab and go out and take "newsworthy" pictures, like ones you would see that preface an article in the paper. Naturally I was ecstatic about the endavour, as I've been delving into photography for several years now and think I've gotten steadily better. It's a very fun hobby of mine, and one that I am constantly trying to get better at.

Here are some of my pictures I took today.

This little kid (complete with Buzz Lightyear action figure and gramma) was a pretty cool dude.

Streetcar was moving.