Go Skateboarding Day 2021

Hi internet. I haven't written outside of work for about four years apparently, so here you go. 

On the Powwow Trail 2017

The year 2017 marks 150 years of confederation in Canada. 

To see people celebrating and honouring Powwow during this year was a powerful experience.

Teens Chicken Dancer, Flying Dust, 2017

I started my own trail of sorts this year with my family in the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation on July 1, and followed that stop up with many more around northern Saskatchewan. 

From Forte-a-la-Corne (James Smith Cree Nation), to Muskoday's 26 annual celebration, to my most recent stop in Flying Dust for their annual competition powwow and many in between I had the opportunity to catch up with familiar faces, and make new friends. 

Alvin Sangret, a "golden aged" mens traditional dancer taught me about protocols in the arbour. 

Fort-a-la-corne Traditional Powwow, 2017

Right from that first day in Muskeg, I've had one thought running through my head:

For powwow to be celebrated this year speaks to the perseverance of Indigenous people in Canada, and in Saskatchewan as a whole. 

Northern Saskatchewan was heavily impacted by racist Indian Act policies like the Pass and Permit System, which made inter-tribal gatherings harder to host or attend for many Nations. Residential schools were created, and for generations, sought to "kill the Indian in the child," as the countries first elected colonial leader said.

Powwow itself was illegal until amendments to the Indian Act in 1951, forcing the gatherings to be held in secret in order to keep the traditions going. 

All of this and yet, the celebrations are here to stay.

Always watching and learning.

Youth Chicken Dancers, Flying Dust, 2017

With that thought in mind, I look forward to another year following another trail. Here are some of my favourite shots from my trail in 2017, in no particular order.

 Mens Traditional Dancer, Flying Dust, 2017

Youth Mens Traditional Dancer, Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, 2017

Youth Women's Fancy Shawl Dancer, Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, 2017

Women's Jingle Dress, Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, 2017

Grass Dancer, Fort-a-la-Corne, 2017

Tiny Tot Grass Dancer, Fort-a-la-Corne, 2017

                             

Women's Fancy Shall Dancer, Flying Dust, 2017

Youth Chicken Dancer, Wahpeton Dakota Nation, 2017

Youth Traditional Dancer, Wahpeton Dakota Nation, 2017

Women's Fancy Shawl Dancer, Wahpeton Dakota Nation, 2017

Women's Jingle Dress Dancers, Wahpeton Dakota Nation, 2017

Hoop Dancer, Flying Dust, 2017

Burton Bird, Hoop Dancer, Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, 2017

Until next year, friends. 

In film, pt. 2

This is part 2 of a 2 part series featuring my film work between 2014 and 2016. To see part 1, click here.

I've always loved landscapes and scenic work. It's some of the first stuff I started messing around with when it comes to my "photographic journey" if you want to call it that. It seems only natural it was some of the first stuff I started shooting on film.

This post consists of some of the visuals I have come across during my time travelling across Canada. From British Columbia to Ontario, here's some things I've found.

A view from around Algonquin Provincial Park in the fall of 2014.

Banff, Spring 2016. Had to walk through some freezing knee deep water to get to a good point for this one. Shot on 120, still unsure about this crop though. 

St. Thomas Anglican Church, in Belleville Ontario, summer 2015. 

The bridge spanning the Bay of Quinte, in Belleville Ontario, summer 2015. 

Canmore, Alberta. Spring, 2015 on my way back east. Woke up early in Banff to make sure I got this beauty magic hour lighting.

Cathedral Grove, Spring 2015. A short visit to the island, but a productive one. I've always loved that trees can seemingly regenerate from their old husks. 

Goldstream Falls, just outside of Victoria British Columbia, spring 2015. My short island tour took me from the far western portions of Vancouver Island, to the far south in a span of three days.

Highway 6, between Regina and Southey, Saskatchewan. After torrential rainfall in the spring of 2015, a few portions of this particular section of highway appear to be miniature lakes. I feel for whoever owns these buildings; in the last few years I haven't seen any changes in this particular scene.

From water damage, to fire damage. This was somewhere along highway 17 in Ontario in the spring of 2015. Just outside Dryden, if my memory serves correct. 

Lake Minnewanaka, in Banff, Alberta. Spring 2016, while moving between St. Catharines and Penticton. 

Saw this while visiting Alyssa Lloyd in Bancroft, Ontario, spring 2015. She's got a hell of a view to look at every day!

Long Beach, British Columbia, spring 2015. Long Beach is just outside of Tofino, my favorite place I've ever visited. I do miss that salt air.

Johnston Falls, Alberta, spring 2015. These falls are west of Banff. Some of the coolest and freshest looking water ever. Pure glacial run off. 

I think this is around the Killarney Park area in Ontario, in the spring of 2015. Took the scenic route through Ontario on my way back east; skipped all that horrible Toronto traffic by doing so.

Highway 62, between Belleville and Bancroft, in the spring of 2015. The last leg of my epic solo journey.

The northern portion of Okanagan Lake. This was my last stop in the Okanagan heading east back to Belleville in the spring of 2015. 

The southern portion of Okanagan Lake. The homeland, Penticton British Columbia, spring 2015. 

An orchid, in the Cathedral Grove forrest in the spring of 2015. Testing the detail of my TLR.

The Penticton Herald office, in Penticton British Columbia, where I spent three and a half weeks or so as an intern. I learned a lot in my brief stint here; and I continue to learn at my new job in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.

Somewhere in the Rocky Mountains, in the spring of 2015. Mountains are amazing. I went quite a bit off the beaten trail to make this one. Saw a few bears on the road down to the trail I found - had to make sure I was quick here! 

The Rogers Pass, in the spring of 2015. Pretty much 100% guarantee I am stopping for a smoke break at this point. 

Sandbanks Provincial Park, Ontario, Summer 2015. I only made three visits to Sandbanks. I'm glad I brought a camera along all three times. 

Penticton Indian Band lands, British Columbia spring 2015. Water is one of my favourite subjects.

Snake Falls, Ontario, Spring 2015. These little rapids / falls caught my eye on the highway driving through Ontario. I believe they're before Sault Ste Marie.

A rock stack at Flinton Falls, in Ontario, fall 2014. 

Wikaninnish, British Columbia, spring 2015. Another one of those magical stops outside of Tofino.

A winery, en route to Naramata from Penticton in British Columbia, spring 2015. 

Until I get a few more rolls developed, that's all for now folks. Thanks for reading and checking out my photos! I'm excited to be working with film; the next step for me is to learn how to develop my own work, and then perhaps I will be able to post more consistently! 

Watch for my upcoming "Sweet 16 for 2016" post, which will be 16 of my best from the last year. 

In film, pt. 1

In the fall of 2014 I picked up a 35mm format camera while attending school in Belleville Ontario. The following spring, I got my hands  on a 120mm Mamiyaflex, which I've taken quite a liking to. Shooting TLR has presented some unique challenges; waiting to get film processed to see the end result is a bit nerve wracking but fun at the same time.

Shooting film has changed the way I shoot photos in general, there is no doubt about it.

Going from digital memory, where you can snap as many photos as you want, to film where each and every shot will cost was a big shift. I've found myself planning more shots instead of just firing away in the hopes of getting something good.

I seem to take a large amount of portraits when shooting film. Maybe it's just that control-ability factor.

After getting an Epson V800 from my amazing girlfriend for Christmas, I have been scanning and editing like crazy the last few days.

This post consists of some of the people (or animals) I have met at various stages in my life. There will be a part 2 of The Life of Bryan In Film, which will consist of the other work I have shot.

 Liam "Beaner"Just, Toronto, Summer 2015. Taken while we were filming Bellevegas in the big city. 

 

Colton Cruson, Regina, Spring 2016. One of the truest g's I met in Regina. 

 I believe this is Dan Brown, from Schreiber, Ontario. Apparently, this is the first photograph anyone has taken of him in 20 years; his last one was a mugshot. I took this one on my drive back to Belleville after completing my internship in the spring of 2015. 

Jonah Melnyk, Quinte West, summer 2015. Taken while filming Jonah's part in Bellevegas.

 A man taking / collecting bottles, spring 2015. Taken in Ladysmith, British Columbia.

 Matt Adams, Northbrook, Ontario, fall 2015. Taken while we went on a random excursion north. Matt dubbed me "The life of Bryan" randomly during my stay in Belleville, it stuck with me and became the title of this blog. 

Scott Seymour, at the stage in Belleville Ontario, Spring 2015. Taken during the filming of That Life 2.0.

Spenser Smith, in Cathedral Grove, Spring 2015. We went to Tofino together to do some shooting, something we've both enjoyed for a long time, and stopped through this ancient forrest. 

For the life of me, I cannot remember this dogs name right now. I'm feeling Myles? He's James Miller, my former editor's dog in the spring of 2015. He never quite took a liking to me until it was time for me to leave. 

Sunny Singh outside of Banff, Alberta at Lake Minnewanaka, in the spring of 2016 during our (temporary) move to British Columbia. 

Sunny Singh (the best!), just outside of Cupar, Saskatchewan in the spring of 2016. The prairies really do make you feel small.

 Torlan Tollers Jumpin' Jack Splash, summer 2016. This dog has too many titles for me to remember. He's also a complete goofball, but he's one of the best dogs ever. 

Zach Taylor, somewhere around the Algonquin Provincial Park in the fall of 2014.

I will now immediately begin to put together my second film related post, consisting of my landscape / nature / scenic shots. Stay tuned!