Power of Simplicity

We've all heard about the value of keeping things simple (keep it simple.....) and it often makes so much sense when shooting for corporate projects. Simplicity allows us to capture and tell a simple story, usually with a primary focus. It's such a great approach for authentic location portraits, like this one we shot recently for Canadian Blood Services - the lighting is simple and natural and all you focus on is the integrity of his smile and his RED 'bloodservices.ca' lanyard. Both helping to compliment and enhance CBS's corporate brand!


© Dwayne Brown - shot for Canadian Blood Services

Power of Authentic

Anyone who knows me or knows my work, probably recognizes that I'm a big fan of imagery that is authentic and real. I love imagery that is honest! And there isn't a better or more suited place for authentic imagery than in corporate communications - whether that be an annual report, a corporate website or a business brochure or magazine.

The use of authentic and honest imagery, I believe gives a corporate brand leverage and currency, while at that same time buys customer's and viewer's trust. The tricky part is in how that imagery is created, because there's an infinite number of ways of showing that authenticity - and of course every organization wants to put their best foot forward!

For me it's very important to not only understand the organization's brand I'm shooting for, but what they specifically want to say with the imagery. In the case of this project I shot for Canadian Blood Services, it was important to show the professionalism, the integrity and the compassion behind this executive's approach to his job. It was important to have him talking and not posing - and very important to show him in his office surrounded by his children's drawings and personal things (all of which helped make his photos more approachable yet professional.) Authenticity can indeed be very powerful!






© Dwayne Brown - shot for Canadian Blood Services

hope - the most important part of life

HOPE. I know it sounds cliché, but I have learned that it's one of the most important emotions of all, right next to LOVE. Hope isn't always in your face in a cheer leading kind of way. Sometimes it's quiet, resolved and focused. Sometimes it's very positive and sometimes it just plain honest and realistic. The folks that best exude hope are sometimes the people that are so humble in the way they present it. I have learned the greatest lessons of hope and humility from my best friend. She courageously faces health challenges every single day and still shares hope to everyone around her. It is her who I look up to and believe in the most. (when most flowers face down, there is always the most positive and strongest minded flower that faces up to the sun, that is my best friend - she is hope)


© Vera Schmalzriedt

Love

Is there truly a force in life stronger than love? It motivates, it inspires, it heals, it captivates, it entrances. It can stop you in your tracks and make your heart skip a beat, or it can literally take your breath away. What could ever be stronger or more beautiful than that? :)


© Dwayne Brown

The Inspiring Domain of the Kitchen

I've been lucky enough to shoot a bunch of food photography over the last few months, including a small shoot this past Tuesday in Kingston for the folks at The Great Waterway tourism authority. We shot at a cool little french bistro called Le Chien Noir, and while shooting in the kitchen I was reminded just how inspiring it is to see an expert work his magic on the stove. Everything matters - flavor, texture and color. It's all so cool! Our thanks to Tim, Eric (at the bar), Derick and Eric (working their magic in the kitchen) and to the servers who didn't mind working around us! Oh yeah....the food was AWESOME! :)


© Dwayne Brown

Saturday Picture Day

A beautiful day for a long walk with my camera. A day of Saturday textures.














© Dwayne Brown

Gladiola on Society6

Someone the other day asked me when was the last time I shot film - and I really had to think, it was such a long time ago! One of the times was when I was shooting this Gladiola for a series of flowers using a really interesting positive/negative Polaroid film called Type 55. I loved the cool and beautiful randomness of Type 55 - it's probably the only film I really miss shooting! (art prints available on Society6)


© Dwayne Brown

Such Heart!

Yesterday was such a cool day! We got to spend the day shooting at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, photographing a bit of 'a day in the life of' the hospital. It was a day that reminded us not only how lucky we are to shoot such interesting people and environments, but more importantly how fortunate we are to have our health.

One of the highlights of the day was meeting Bev Visneskie, a nurse who has collected over 2000 pins from appreciative patients over her 13 yrs at the hospital. The Ottawa Heart Institute is full of awesome caring people - from world recognized cardiologists right down to lovely volunteers who greet patients at the front door. Such an awesome hospital, with great folks with such heart! :)


© Dwayne Brown