Well... happy new year I guess?! Better late than never I suppose.
I'm not even going to say that I made a resolution to try to use this blog more in 2017, because I just know that the chances of me sticking to that are extremely slim. Here are some photos from around Winnipeg over the last few months, unfortunately some of my favourites I can't post because of the file size limit of 20mb... they need to fix that...
Here is the extended fall, and winter so far...
Well, as always I'm keeping it inconsistent with blogging. I never know what to put up here... anyway...
This summer has been one of the best in recent memory. I took a trip to and through the Pacific Northwest, and shot more this summer than I ever have before. I got to shoot 3 festivals, a couple shows, and a few weddings as well, and I've learned that my passion for shooting music is definitely at the top of my list. I hope to continue this roll through the fall and into 2017!
Over the next few months I will be adding a new aspect to my arsenal as I hope to be doing some work for a few brands here in Winnipeg. I haven't done anything like it before, so I am EXTREMELY nervous, but also excited to see where it might go.
Lastly... for those who have sent email, messages, ect. about buying prints. It was always my intention to figure out a way to make it easier to get some of these out to the people that may want them. This weekend I finally made a way to do it through the "prints" section on the website. It still isn't perfect my any means, but, it is a start, and I will try to make it better as time goes on. Shout out to everyone that have already used it to purchase prints! They will be sent to the printer today, and the first batch will be sent out to you mid week!
Cheers!
*Here are some of the photos from the last few months*
Summer is always the best time of the year in Winnipeg, and always the most busy! The great weather brings with it long hours, but, somehow I still never seem to have enough time to get everything done. The highlight for me so far was showing a friend around the city who came up from Minneapolis to visit for Canada Day. It was his first time in Canada and I hope I did a decent job being a tour guide around Winnipeg, and a little bit of a culture guide introducing him to poutine, caesars, ketchup chips, honey dill and smarties! It was definitely a different experience for me to be on the other end of things as it is usually me being shown around other cities that I visit!
I've been out shooting as much as possible and I have been experimenting and learning a ton so far this summer already, stoked to keep it rolling through to my first actual camping experience/trip west next month, I'll be sure to share those if I don't get in a fight with a bear...
Went down to Minneapolis... AGAIN... and I never have enough time in the day to shoot this beautiful place. Every time I visit, I never want to go home, I just hope one of these times I won't have to!
I only had a few hours over the weekend to get out and walk around downtown, but I still managed to grab a few keepers in that time. Enjoy! Can't wait to be back soon!
Summer officially begins with the solstice on June 20th for some, but for the last 7 years my summer starts on the last Sunday of May. I have driven over 6,500 miles (10,500 kilometres for my fellow Canadians) to attend Soundset over that time, and I would travel further if necessary. I've stood in the rain, got burnt and almost been caught in a tornado. I've witnessed legends preform, De La Soul, Ice Cube and Nas to name a few... as well as a new generation of artists who already are or will be legends in the future, Kendrick Lamar, Macklemore and Logic being a small sample of those that come to mind.
This years festival was no exception. Leaving Canterbury Park on the outskirts of the Twin Cities and debuting at a new location at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St.Paul, the line up was near perfection once again. Old school meets new school... up and comers meet icons... and hip hop culture in the form of skateboarding, graffiti walls, b-boys & girls, and a car show wrap all aspects of the genre together in a neat bow.
Each year as I start my campaign north of the border to bring as many people down to Minnesota as I can, I usually begin with mentioning past line ups, and explaining that they will see AT LEAST one artist that they will see a year or two before they blow up nationwide... AT LEAST one that they grew up listening to, and a slew of other musicians that they will discover and put in their playlists for years to come. I have yet to lie. This year the performances that fit those two descriptions for me were Lexii Alijai who I believe will make a huge mark on hip hop for years to come, and Common who was the artist that originally made me fall in love with this music.
Those are just the top 2 performances that stood out personally, but I've left out so many other electric sets such as... Prof, Pharoahe Monch, The Roots, Doomtree, Atmosphere, Jay Rock, Lizzo, Danny Brown, Post Malone, Future and A$AP Rocky not to mention dozens more that graced that stages throughout the day.
The last, and most important thing I mention in my pitch to my Canadian counterparts is easily the most beautiful part about Soundset... and that is the amount of love and respect everyone has for the people around them. This art brings together people of all ages, genders, races and nationalities. Hip hop continues to break down all these barriers, no demographic is discriminated against. This festival is all inclusive and every single person is welcomed in as if they belong. I started coming for the music 7 years ago, and have since left with much more than that. I'll continue to make the drive every May... because pound for pound, Soundset is easily the best festival around right now... not only for your ears, but your soul.
Countdown to the 10th anniversary edition of Soundset starts now.
