A Voice Through Art

I think everyone knows that art can give an artist a voice, but last night I learned that art can also give at risk youth a voice too (a powerful and respectful voice). Last night I checked out a very interesting art show at The Saw Gallery - it was an art show that was put on by the folks with the Ottawa InnerCity Ministries. These folks not only do loads for Ottawa's homeless and inner city youth, but they're also helping some of our at risk youth to find and express themselves through their art. It's so cool to meet folks that are using courage and creative means to find their way forward. My sincere compliments to the artists from last night's show! :)



© Dwayne Brown

Scratching the Surface

I was out for a walk last night in my neighborhood (Hintonburg), appreciating all of the different textures and surfaces that were along Wellington (the glamorous life of a photographer). Does a surface tell a story? I believe they all do - just as every face tells a story. Perhaps the texture or surface of a wall allows us to fill in some of the narrative, imagining the hands that have touched it or the countless people that have walked past.















© Dwayne Brown

Maximum Daylight 11:07 PM

One of the things I never fully appreciated when I was a kid growing up in Edmonton, was just how late it stayed light. This morning when I heard the words 'maximum daylight' used by a news announcer when he described today being the longest day of the year, it quickly took me back to those super long summer days growing up here in Edmonton. :)


© Dwayne Brown

Credo Coffee

One of the cool things about working and visiting other cities, is discovering new cafés. Credo Coffee is this cool little urban café in downtown Edmonton. Great coffee and delicious "world famous chocolate chip cookies". I'm always pleasantly reminded when I return to Edmonton, what a well kept creative secret in Canada it is! - for being a predominantly blue collar town, it's so urban and creative! Inspiring!


© Dwayne Brown

Overshadowed by Nature

I just love how nature and light play the most wonderful tricks sometimes. Last night when I shot this in my friend's garden, I initially thought it was the shadow of a smaller leaf being cast on these larger leaves, but in fact it's just the two leaves over lapped, making a shadow of what looks like a smaller leaf. Nature is so cool!


© Dwayne Brown > brownstock

Strength and Support

This old cement train trestle support still stands over the burgeoning North Saskatchewan River like a sentinel, and a testament of past years of strength and determination. As a kid I passed the bridge at least once a month and I was always struck by it's massive size and how strong it must of been to support the heavy trains that passed over it. I'm so glad today I took the time to take a photograph of one of the lasting supports.


© Dwayne Brown

Perspective

As folks in Alberta try to stay dry and pump out their basements from flooding, I look out the wet and rainy window of my car and I see an almost tropical abstract scene - a beautiful scene. Perspective reminds me that it's always how you look at things, and it reminds me that we always have a choice as to how we see things!


© Dwayne Brown

Weekend Free Download - Chateau Laurier

On Saturdays, my son Alex and I sometimes like to do a little walking around Ottawa's Downtown Landmarks, as we did yesterday. Part of our tradition is to have a couple of hot dogs across the street from the Peace Tower, and yesterday's hot dogs were especially delicious. I shot this Weekend's Free Download yesterday while we were exploring inside the Chateau Laurier Hotel. The hotel is so rich with history and such beautiful architectural details. When we do these little walks, I'm always so reminded what a beautiful city we live in!


© Dwayne Brown > brownstock

Please use this 'link to download the file'. Feel free to print and frame it, just please don't use it for any commercial applications. (hot dogs not included). :)

Congrats Grads!

Graduation is such an exciting time, as it was for the girls of Elmwood School last night. Congratulations ladies!



© Dwayne Brown > Dwayne Brown Studio

Forced Off/On-Track

I got a little forced off-track and stranded deep in the west-end this morning, but sometimes that's exactly what we all need now and then. I decided to bus back downtown and it's been a super long time since I've traveled that way. The bus itself was such a candy store for people watching. And waiting and traveling through the various stations just puts you in a different place and frame of mind to look at different things.

So, forced off-track? Maybe on-track might be a better way to look at it. :)






© Dwayne Brown

Mc-Office

I can't believe I'm actually using a McDonalds for an office this morning. ;) I needed an office and they apparently now have free WiFi, cool! I'm surrounded by groups of seniors and mom's with their toddlers. I'm reminded that it doesn't really matter where you are, as long as you have your friends and your family (and in my case my electronic connection), you're in the right place.


© Dwayne Brown

Facing West

Some places are more perfect that others - this place, when you face west......is the most perfect. :)


© Dwayne Browne

Firstlight

The first light of the day is so beautiful yet so fleeting. Like all light and all opportunities, it needs to be seen and appreciated. I've always been curious why light just looks and feels nicer on the weekends.


© Dwayne Brown

Peaceful Sentinel

I was driving past the Peace Tower this evening, and although I've been driving past it for a little over 10 years now, it still impresses me. It's iconic Gothic architecture will soon be a towering backdrop to Canada Day.


© Dwayne Brown

Rockwood

No involved explanation.........just nice water weathered rocks on simple weathered wood. :)


© Dwayne Brown

The Value of Authenticity

What is authenticity anyway? Is it real, is it honest? Raw - gritty? Sometimes. Or maybe it's just simplicity. The longer I do this, being a corporate photographer thing - I'm more and more drawn to authenticity. In the corporate photography world authenticity gives value and currency to imagery and it lets you trust in it.

I love this portrait of John Lindgren for Mosaid that I shot the other day, because it's so honest and real. The lighting is super simple, there's a singular focus, and his expression is honest......and authentic!


© Dwayne Brown > Dwayne Brown Studio Inc.

Bluer than Blue - Greener than Green

Some days the sky is just bluer than blue - and for all the right reasons.


© Dwayne Brown

Ottawa Food Bank's Non-Gala Gala!

The folks at FIFTY and the the Ottawa Food Bank had a great fund-raising idea, create a Non-Gala Gala. No fancy and expensive venue, no silent auctions, no local celebrity hosts trying to be funny and no Chefs cooking a Gala dinner. Just a creative initiative to raise money to feed the hungry.


© Dwayne Brown > Dwayne Brown Studio Inc.

Out of Light...... Comes Darkness

Sometimes I fear my blog is too commercial and/or too bright. I was thinking about that tonight as the light was getting low outside and shedding less light in my studio. And it made me wonder about the balance of light and dark - both are so obviously dependent on each other in b&w images. So I snapped a few images, I liked the dark and really liked the movement caused by the low light - both the darkness and the movement so delicately add mystery to an image.






© Dwayne Brown