NAC Opera Soiree

Just a quick thanks to Robyn Paton and the folks at the NAC for the very appreciated tickets to the Black and White Opera Soiree last night. It was such a cool evening of opera and music, not to mention the opportunity to see if Brent and I could actually polish up okay. (if we could only shine half as bright as Lindsay and Lucia) :)








© Dwayne Brown

Broken Hearts

Typically my postings are positive and look at the beautiful side of life. But this has been a very difficult week for my daughter and her friends. They lost a very good friend on Sunday - a young man named Mike Swan. So today's posting is perhaps more reflective and somber in tone.

I went to this boy's wake last night with my daughter Claire and was saddened to see all her friends so confused and grief stricken. But I was also incredibly touched by their maturity and generosity for each other. So many friends and so many differences, but so much love and support for each other. I was sincerely humbled and proud of them all.

I didn't know this boy well, but Claire did. And she always spoke so affectionately and fondly of him - always of his good humor, positive attitude and his loyalty to his friends.

My heart is heavy today for this young man's family, Kaitlyn (his girlfriend), Tyler (his best friend), all his close friends, and of course for my daughter Claire. So many broken hearts.

Hold your children tight, they are all so precious.


© Dwayne Brown

Student Body (and faces)

We had a great few days shooting at Algonquin this week! The school has such a cool diverse mix of faces. All shapes, sizes and colors - it's such a photogenic candy store for me. It was a fun opportunity to photograph real students just being students. No real set up or too much imposing ourselves on the situation or environment. Just capturing real moments in the classrooms. Fun for me and I believe more importantly, a very natural and honest collection of imagery for the college to use in it's advertising and marketing.


© Dwayne Brown


© Dwayne Brown


© Dwayne Brown


© Dwayne Brown


© Dwayne Brown


© Dwayne Brown

Trusty Assistant - Trusted Friend

Anyone that knows me and/or works with me, knows that I don't go too far without Brent far behind or within texting distance. There's a magical point in which a photographer and assistant reach a point in which they don't need to use words to communicate anymore. Brent and I have been noticing this happening more and more these days. It's a little spooky, and oh so cool at the same time. Brent's without a doubt the best assistant I've worked with over the years, and he's also become a invaluable friend. Thanks Brent!


© Dwayne Brown

Brand Loyalty

I was just looking at some of the images we shot yesterday for Algonquin college and was asking myself 'why do I tend to migrate to shooting certain folks over other folks'. It's not that one person is necessarily more photogenic than the other, but it's that they also in a subtle way help represent the brand of the college. The students we photograph aren't pre-selected, we just react to the students that are available during the time we're scheduled to shoot. Thus making the photography and our intuitive approach so important to the end result of the college's brand.

This photograph of 'Alison' in the veterinarian studies program is a great example. She's young, wholesome, friendly, super approachable, honest and earnest. The viewers of the imagery need to see themselves in the photography and then hopefully imagine themselves attending the college.

All of this reminds me just how important the job is we have as photographers.


© Dwayne Brown

The Ice and Sunshine........and my boy. :)

After spending a week in Cuba, I didn't miss the snow and cold....but I did miss my favorite canal skater, Alex!

Free Weekend Download - Cuban Palm

Cuba is full of exotic textures, so different than here in Canada. I loved this palm at our hotel, with it's converging lines and geometric shapes. Cool and odd at the same time I think.


© Dwayne Brown

Please use this 'link to download the file'. Feel free to print it and frame it, just please don't use it for any commercial applications or poke your eye with it.

Recarga en el sol.......

Just got back from a much needed week away. Away from just about everything.....except my daughter Claire (we did the trek to Cuba together). It was a week to recharge, to reconnect and to re-appreciate all that is important in my life. I laid in the sun, talked constantly to Claire, drank a few cervezas, made notes, made friends with some lovely Cuban folks, read a few magazines (cover to cover), sipped on many café con leches, took a bunch of snaps, listened to a lot of music, and spent a lot of time reflecting. All super good things to do............especially the spending a week with Claire part!


© Dwayne Brown


© Dwayne Brown


© Dwayne Brown


© Dwayne Brown


© Dwayne Brown


© Dwayne Brown


© Dwayne Brown


© Dwayne Brown

Over the Shoulder.

While we were working on some business for the NAC for English Theatre this afternoon, Brent was taking some snaps and it made me think......just how funny it is that we now live and work in a time when we not only don't mind folks looking over our shoulder, we actually encourage it. It's just part of the collaborative process.

And I guess when I say collaborative process, I mean I let folks into my process, to compliment it. One thing I've learned over the years, is that as much as I like collaboration I also really like to steer the shoot (in my own way). A creative director once told me a long time ago (a couple life-times ago I might add) that he was there in my studio for me to tell him how we were going to do the shoot, not the other way around.

For me, today - this photo showed me a lot. It gave me a opportune perspective, to see the folks looking over my shoulder (which I of course never get to see) - the discerning eyes, the scrutiny tempered with trust. It's an ongoing and welcomed responsibility to build that trust and to instill that confidence with our clients.


© Brent Gervais

From A Bio-Chemist Cage Fighter to Competitive Swimmers

The University of Ottawa has been such an great client for us over the past few years. They've given us the opportunity to shoot so many interesting profiles for the university's website - researchers, professors and students alike. Each of these portraits offer a unique and fun challenge to always elevate the subject and their work, while at the same time make them warm and approachable. And always work quickly, efficiently and to use with the environment and the subjects work to help tell a story.

Today we photographed Nick Denis, a PHD bio chemist and also an award winning cage fighter, and then later in the afternoon Derrick Schoof the GG's swim team coach. Cool people making a difference!


© Dwayne Brown


© Dwayne Brown

From Archivists and Environmentalists to Affectionate Art Directors

It's funny, my mom just emailed me and pointed out that I haven't loaded very much up on my blog this week. She might of thought it had slowed down or something. When actually it's just the opposite. We've been just as busy (knock on wood) - but for some reason I hadn't shared the work till now.

It's been an interesting week of 'busy'ness - quite diverse really. Bank of Canada annual report on Monday, then some cool African Art for a website, a press conference for a Cancer and Heart partnership with the Minister of Health, then an archivist and an environmentalist for the University of Ottawa yesterday and today.

I guess it's the fun and dynamic aspect of being a photographer - everyday is different. Always learning and almost always having fun. So yes mom, we're still keeping busy. :)


© Dwayne Brown