i·dol·ize

–verb (used with object)
1.
to regard with blind adoration, devotion, etc.
2.
to worship as a god.

I used to idolize John Lennon. Oh, I had a few other musicians I thought could do no wrong. Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Bruce Cockburn and many more. I see things very differently now. I remember my Dad making very dismissive comments about Lennon after seeing his photo in the paper. He would rant, “Who the hell does he think he is?” or something like that. At the time I thought my Dad didn’t get it. As only a ten year old could think. But I have to admit he did get it. He got so many things that I am only beginning to see now.

Red Canoe on Lake Manitou - Click for larger

There were also many photographers I looked to for inspiration. Some I have since met. Meeting your heroes can be a major disappointment. But I have been lucky. Most photographers that I admired from afar and have since met have turned out to be kind wonderful people. Some I now call friends. That is and continues to be a great gift.

Photographer at Hudson Bay - Click for larger

I recently showed a movie called “Waterwalker” by Bill Mason to my 3rd semester Photography students. This movie was an inspiration to me and frankly changed my life forever. It inspired me to pursue a creative life. A life I really did not think was possible. Bill was driven to create and was a wonderful storyteller. I never got to meet him. He died long before he was on my radar. His actions, work and words continue to influence me and the life I live.

Red Canoe in Temagami - Click for larger

I love to read biographies and have read many including one about Bill Mason. This summer I read a biography about John Lennon. It was not very complimentary. It showed a tortured creative soul driven to succeed. One of the most painful things about growing older is the many myths that are shattered along the way. You start to see the world in a different light. It forces you to analyze the heroes in your life. It’s not their fault we have put them up on a pedestal. It’s not their fault they are imperfect. None of us are perfect.

Does this mean that that these people don’t have lessons to share? No. The radio played John Lennon tunes all day long to acknowledge the 30th anniversary of his death. The music, the talent and his voice still ring true for me. His life in all its imperfection, produced sounds that will always bring joy to my life.

All of them - from my father to musicians, artists, writers and teachers - they have all lived imperfect lives as we all do. They continue to teach me and inspire me even if I don’t idolize them any more.

Dad - Click for larger

Inspiration

It comes from everywhere. I get my inspiration from the people and things around me. It’s so nice to be surrounded by talented creative people. When I see my students' and colleagues' work, I get excited. They push me to try new things through their work and their words.

A former teaching assistant and now friend dropped by the campus to take me out to lunch. Aizick and I always have great conversations about photography and all things digital. We learn from each other every time we are together. During our conversation, he said, "You must get a few students that come into your class with the attitude that they already know it all". I'm paraphrasing here but it was along that line. Sure, some people let their egos get in the way. I guess I too have been guilty of that at times! We continued our conversation and I said, "You know, I can learn just as much from my students as they learn from me". Regardless if someone has been working with Photoshop for 10 minutes or ten years, I can learn from them. The way they approach a problem. The way they see. Their process is always fascinating to me.

Things have been a little stressful and busy of late but I have been shooting a little when time permits. It's nice to get back to the camera and the computer. In this post I would like to share with you some of the images I have produced lately that were inspired by people around me.

Dimitri, one of my 4th semester students showed me a great location for shooting the skyline of Toronto. I have returned to this location a few times since. Here is one of my favourite images from this spot:A couple of weeks after I shot the above image, I returned to the same location with Dimitri, Ray and Marlee. We all shot our own thing. We shot from very different angles, each with our own vision. Ray showed me one of his images and how he processed it and his looked as if he was in a totally different place. So I re-processed one of my images with inspiration from him:Sydney, another one of my 4th semester students dropped by to show me some of his images. He was a bit down, not quite sure of the talent that is flowing out of him in all directions. I'm not sure my words were inspiring to him, but his work was to me. His work is so different, so oddly beautiful. Here is one of my images of my friend Fred (click to see original) re-worked a la Sydney:I can't leave out Carina. She has been working very hard to produce some food images for her final portfolio and is making great progress. Carina inspired me to take this image:One of my 1st semester students sent me an image he submitted for his creativity course. It was a panoramic image, reworked as a spherical panoramic. I asked Sam how he did it. My version is nowhere near as good as his but I will do a bit more of this kind of thing and see what I come up with. Here is my before and after version:
Ah, it's spring. I feel like hitting the road and exploding with creativity! Can't wait to get back out there…