Thompson Rivers University 2017
One of the most exciting and reaffirming things that can happen to a photographer, or any business for that matter, is a return client. When your services have provided so much value to a client that they choose to come back, it's an incredible feeling that pushes you to continue the path you’re on. When the email from my friends at Thompson Rivers University's marketing and communication team popped into my inbox, I knew it would be a great day. Having previously worked with them to create photography for the school's engineering program in Kamloops and the cover of their magazine (see photos here!) , I was excited to see what they had in mind. This time, they were looking for help to capture portraits of a number of students at the school for the upcoming academic year's viewbook. This publication is a big deal in the university world; it shares all the exciting and innovative things that are happening at TRU and in the city to draw students from around the globe to the university. The viewbook is sent to all incoming students and even distributed at other events like university fairs. Needless to say, I was on board from the get go. Each subject had a unique story and background that we worked to show in the images. Additionally, the team and I wanted to showcase the beautiful campus and buildings of Thompson Rivers University from a number of different perspectives. For each subject, I will walk through the creative planning of the shots and the choice of lighting and location. Enjoy!
For the shot of Suraj, our aim was to show him at common grounds, a popular student-run coffee shop in the Student Union Building to represent student services available on campus. The natural light from the large windows provided soft lighting on Suraj so there was no need to add artificial light.
Christine, another student studying at TRU, balances her academics with raising a young family. We chose to shoot the portraits of her in the stunning Brown Family House of Learning, which incorporates wood, glass, and metal in its construction. We wanted to show off the architecture of the building alongside our subject. Because of the bright backlighting from the windows, I made the decision to add artificial light to make Christine pop. In both shots, I have a softbox set up left of the camera to illuminate her face.
Iuliia, who came to Kamloops all the way from Donetsk, Ukraine, is a volleyball superstar. She played for the Wolfpack throughout her time at Thompson Rivers University. For the portraits of her, we wanted to show off the more natural aspects of campus. Shooting outside under cloudy skies gave soft light on Iuliia and the foliage in the background.
Tristen is working toward a degree in psychology at TRU. For this shot, we wanted to tie in the beautiful artwork that adorns the walls of the House of Learning and the architectural design of the building with the subject. Glass construction of the building and white walls = a bunch of beautiful, soft light bouncing around in the building, so there was no need for artificial light in the shots of Tristen.
If you've got to this point, thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed seeing a bit of background on these shots that I am so proud of. Also, I want to extend a huge thank you to Caitlin, Linda, and Amanda and the whole creative team at Thompson Rivers University for hiring me to create these photos; I can't wait to work with you again!
You can follow my adventures more closely on Instagram or Facebook !
Subscribe to my newsletter below to be notified of new posts and other exciting news, no spam I promise!
[mc4wp_form id="5291"]
Urban Portrait Photography in Kamloops
I'll start this post by saying that finding an urban location for shooting photos in Kamloops is not an easy task. Our city is a fantastic hub for all kinds of outdoor activities, but our urban development is somewhat lacking. However, I've wanted to do a shoot that showcases a different side of Kamloops for some time. After discovering this parkade, I knew I had found the location I was searching for. I gave my friend Evan a call to model, and the plan was set. Here's what followed.
Manning Park – A Weekend in the Mountains
Any chance I get to spend time in the mountains, I jump at the opportunity. When I was asked if I'd like to spend a weekend in Manning Park, the answer was an obvious yes.
Manning Park is located in south-central British Columbia, just north of the Canada-USA border. The park is accessed via the Crowsnest Highway, from either Hope or Princeton. The parks beauty stands in its remote feel. Cell service gone, your eyes are forced away from the phone and up into the snow capped peaks that surround the area. In every direction, you are reminded of the immense beauty that British Columbia holds.
Each day brought a new adventure. Night one, after arrival, was spent snowshoeing up into the sub-alpine in -20ºC weather to capture photos of the surrounding peaks as the moon rose. The frozen fingers were absolutely worth the memories I have frozen in these pictures.
Of course, what would a winter vacation be without some skiing? The next day was spent 15 minutes down the road at Manning Park Ski Resort. The small resort had a distinctly homey feel, and even though it was my first time at the hill, I felt like a local. The entire day was enjoyed weaving in and out of the gladed forests through deep BC powder.
With overnight snow and a sunny forecast, plans for our final day were confirmed. Snowshoeing was a go. We set off in the morning to explore the lightning lakes area, finishing the afternoon with a search for the three waterfalls: Shadow, Nepopekum, and Derek. The deep snow and crisp winter weather presented the beautiful views in their best light.
Returning home after such a memorable weekend is always tough. I'm so glad to have had the opportunity to see a new part of our beautiful province. Being able to capture the memories to share gives me such a great feeling, as if I'm taking you along for the ride. Thank you for reading!
Alex
If you'd like to see more of my work, please subscribe to my newsletter below. No spam, I promise!
[mc4wp_form id="5291"]
Hornby Island 2016
July 6, 2016, I returned home to Canada from nearly a year abroad.
I can't quite describe what it feels like to come back to a city, a country that feels so comfortable yet so foreign at the very same time. It was truly great to see my friends and family that I missed once again, yet there was, and still is, a part of me that wished I could've just stayed in Taiwan. I spent a year developing a life of new homes, new families, new friends, new culture and new language. To give it up after a year felt almost unfair, as if I was leaving only as I started to truly be one with the country. But, that's how it goes. Within a week, I felt very at home back in Canada. It felt to me like I had paused my life for a year, dreamed up a crazy adventure, then awoken back to my real life. Only within the last few days has it truly hit me that my life in Taiwan, my life as an exchange student has ended for good. That was a tough one to take, not going to lie. However, I've done my best to stay busy and keep my mind from wandering too far. I spent 7 days on the coast of B.C. with my family on our yearly vacation to Hornby Island.
A week is never long enough to truly explore any area. Having gone to Hornby Island nearly every summer since I was a toddler, however, I've come to appreciate the time that I do get to spend in my favourite places. This past week I was lucky to travel once more to Hornby with my family. The moment I step off the ferry, I instantly feel at home. The island has an energy that's incredibly difficult to describe. The rustic, hippie community has become a second home to me. As I return, the memories of my childhood summers rush back. The bike races through the winding mountain trails, sandcastles built on the beaches, and countless times we've jumped off the cliffs into the warm water below all come to mind. Over the years, it's been interesting to see how Hornby has changed, but also how my own maturity has affected my perception of the island. The children we grew up with are now all young adults. While we meet once a year, the friendships always remain as if we had never left.
This year, I have really dedicated myself to improving my photography and working to better myself as an artist. I have focused especially on my portraiture, aiming to connect with the subject to create a charged image. With that in mind, I purchased a flash setup with the goal of learning how to incorporate artificial light into my photography on this trip. Below, I have shared some of my favourite shots from the trip.
On another sunrise shoot, the weather wasn't nearly as cooperative. However, it worked well with a moodier style of portraits. I had a lot of fun experimenting and learning how to best blend the artificial and natural light in unique ways.
Of course, what would a trip to the island be without some cliff jumping? The pastel colours of the sunset painted the sky so vividly.
I had an absolute blast over the past week. Seeing old friends, spending time with family, and working to develop my photography were all such satisfying parts of the experience. Each year my relationship with the island changes, but it's always nice to go back.
[wysija_form id="1"]