BW Photo a Day challenge 009/014

December 5, 2017

Day 9. Simply walking...

009/014 - Dec. 5, 2017 Roxton Rd. & Harbord St.

Photo 009 story:
I didn't see much on my travels this morning until I pulled up to this corner store off Harbord. "GIFTS". This is what caught my attention, just hanging there rusting away. "GIFTS". Now it's gonna sound corny but it made me think about life and how it's a gift. We're so lucky, I'm so lucky! :D Also, loved the vintage font, the old payphone in the foreground. Just a lovely, simple frame. A nice reminder along the path.

BW Photo a Day challenge 008/014

December 4, 2017

*008/014 - Dec. 4, 2017 - Victoria Park Station pathway to Teesdale*

A soft-focused photo aka a blurry-ass photo. These are always a pain, especially in the middle of a photo challenge where I have to post at least one image daily. Again, I had 24 full hours to shoot outside and capture something, anything special and just couldn't come through.

Photo 008 Story:
Parked near VP. Station there's pathway that's connected to the station. This is where I decided to line up this shot. Now in my LCD screen it looked so sharp but this is what I got, a blurry shot. I have to do more research on the RICOH GR and it's low-light capabilities because I'm not to hype about the slow focus and pixelated output. I'm sure it's more me than the actual camera so I'll report back once I read up on it tonight.

BW Photo a Day challenge 007/014

December 3, 2017

A foggy Sunday. I was so excited when I saw fog but made no time to explore it. I know, I know, you're getting tired of me making excuses to find time to shoot. The truth is I tired of it too. Just go shoot, Taha! lol I promise to do better.

007/014 - Dec. 3, 2017 - Blantyre Ave. & Clonmore Dr. — *007/014 -* *Dec. 3, 2017 - Blantyre Ave. & Clonmore Dr.*

Photo 007 story:
The fog was thick, especially over the park. I like that I captured a single person in the far left corner. :D

BW Photo a Day challenge 006/014

December 2, 2017

Still struggling with time-management but fighting through it by at least bringing my RICOH everywhere that I go. I can be better. On a lighter note, I'm enjoying the black and white restriction, I feel it's helped me see more of the details found in the every-day.

*006/014 - Dec. 2, 2017 - Devonshire Pl. & Bloor St. W.*

Photo 006 story:
On route to Bay and Bloor, I found myself stuck in the car once again. Just before I hit Bloor St. I saw a person taking a south facing picture. I wondered, "what's she taking a photo of? So I looked into my rear-view mirror I saw the CN Tower. I actually stopped my car a few yards before the stop sign and took a couple of frames. This was the result.

Good night!

BW Photo a Day challenge 005/014

December 1, 2017

Time to start taking my time. Day 5 of this RICOH challenge and like day 4, I find myself struggling to make time for the one thing I enjoy doing... shooting! Tomorrow is Saturday and I will make a conscious effort to make time to shoot, creatively. I mean what's the point of this blog or this challenge if I don't give an honest effort?

*005/014 - Dec. 1, 2017 - Neville Park/ The Beaches*

Photo 005 story:
Taken right next to the R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plan. This is a classic spot for many East Enders. Once again, the contrast between the clouds and the trees captured my eye. Let's see what tomorrow brings.

BW Photo a Day challenge 004/014

November 30, 2017

*004/014 - Nov. 30, 2017 - Victoria Park and Danforth*

I knew today was going to be busy so capturing a quality photo would be a real challenge. But I still carried my RICOH with me everywhere just in case the moment presented itself.

It started off with garbage day/ brown bags (leaves). Then a walk to the barbershop to get cleaned up. I had a portrait shoot with soul singer Tanika Charles in the afternoon with images that needed to be edited same day. Nevermind that later in the evening I wanted to support my friends at GFC for their new sneaker launch with PUMA. All that to say... here's what I got.

Photo 004 story:

One of the busier intersections in the east end VP & Danforth usually has something going on. I took this from my car. I'll be quite honest, this is my weakest shot submitted thus far. The composition is well done, but there's nothing special about it. I'm learning quickly that you have to make time in your day to create quality images. Period. Lesson learned.

t.

BW Photo a Day challenge 003/014

November 29, 2017

This morning I woke up pretty energized. It was my wife's birthday and I wanted to make her blueberry pancakes, they turned out alright, I think she actually liked them. :D

Building off the positive energy from the AM, I felt good about finding a couple of gems along my travels today. The skies were clear for the most part and the sun was shining.

*003/014 - Nov. 29, 2017 Underpass bridge on Victoria Park south of Gerrard*

Photo 003 story:
I'm getting the hang of the "Exposure Compensation" function. It helped when I wanted to add more contrast. I'll I did was turn the dial -1.3 to the left. I'm currently shooting in "Tv" mode on the GR. Funny story here, I had to catch up to this man as I missed him walking through the first two spaces. Lovely light and shadows all around.

Good night!

RICOH GR - shot on the Samsung Galaxy NOTE8 — RICOH GR - *shot on the Samsung Galaxy NOTE8*

Why I needed a BW Photo a Day challenge... (day 1 & 2)

November 28, 2017

The last few months have come with a lot of change. You could say I'm in a little bit of a rut! In September 2017 I stepped down as Social Media Director at Brimz Hat Boutique, hard to believe I was there for 4 1/2 years! Though I feel overall I did a solid job, I just felt it was time to move on. My fitness is at an all-time low right now, my overall energy is just not where it should be. So I'm back in the gym and maaaan is it ever hard to stay focused and motivated. Lastly, I haven't been getting out in the streets, shooting.
This has lead to more thinking and less doing than I would like.

So when my friend Shanik let me borrow his RICOH GR - point and shoot camera, I felt a little change in me. A spark to try something new. The camera's been pretty easy to navigate and understand the controls. But after a few days of snapping away I started to feel uninspired again. But why? I knew I needed a challenge, something that would force me to work on my craft EVERY SINGLE DAY. So I've decided to do a small "Photo A Day" Challenge for 14 days.

My rules are pretty simple:
- shoot only on the RICOH GR
- shoot only in black & white
- micro-blog the best image I took that day
- post each night by 9pm

As of right now; Tuesday, November 28, 2017, I've shot for two consecutive days. Here's what I captured on day one and two.

001/014 - Nov. 27, 2017 College just west of Shaw, Toronto, ON — *001/014 - Nov. 27, 2017 College just west of Shaw, Toronto, ON*

Photo 001 story:
As I began my long walk from Queen & Shaw to Ossington subway station I had the RICOH ready, looking for moments. By the time I got to College St. there was a lot of action going on, it was the beginning of rush hour. I loved the bright lights shining above this Pizzeria, very vintage. The streetcars on College come quite often so I just tried to time it so a couple would pass through my frame. Not bad... I wish would've caught a couple of passer-by's in the frame to give it more life. Maybe I could've gotten lower and also, framed it vertically (portrait), but what can you do? Live and learn #streetsoul

002/014 - Nov. 28, 2017 Shaw St, Toronto, ON — *002/014 - Nov. 28, 2017 Shaw St, Toronto, ON*

Photo 002 story:

Good light this morning and it was actually a little warmer than it may look. This was pretty easy to spot from the distance. A man and his dog. I wanted to feel the light in the frame, I did just that. I took a couple other nice ones but this made the final cut. #streetsoul

See y'all tomorrow night at 9pm.

A Sully Wong story...

October 31, 2016

I met George Sully for the first time a couple of years ago at a small trade show inside the Gladstone Hotel. I remember hearing the excitement in his voice when he shared his vision for the future of Sully Wong. I recall thinking to myself, "that's the kind of person I want to work with– someone passionate, honest and determined. Finally, two weeks ago that meeting came full circle. I saw Sully downtown on a side-street sitting on his all-black motorcycle. “Taha!,” he yelled. We chopped it up for a few. "I've got some new things in the works, let's build!” And, I was ready to shoot! Here is my Sully Wong visual story. It's based on the release of three of their classic SW backpacks: The A.B.E., The Kyojin and the Nomad II. I was inspired by the durability of each back, the leather finish and the element of ruggedness to withstand life in the city.

Peace to my friend and model @AstonSauce for bringing my images to life. #streetsoul

t.

Bag: A.B.E (All Black Everything) — **Bag:** **A.B.E (All Black Everything)**

Based out of Toronto, Canada, Sully Wong produces a striking collection of premium sneakers, stylish bags comprising of backpacks, messengers, duffels, totes, and headwear. Sully Wong is the original collaboration between designers George Sully and Henry Wong. Together the team focuses on handcrafted designs infused with their brand of Canadian-Asian cultural inspiration.

#streetsoul x Mazda

October 20, 2016

A couple of weeks ago I had a chance to work with Mazda and test out their new #Mazda6. I also took over the @mazdacanada Instagram account. Here's my Fall story to Caledon, Ontario, brief but oh so beautiful!

Sometimes you get caught up living in the city and you forget to explore beyond your surroundings. However, you don’t need to go far to experience something new. On the long weekend I went up to Caledon, Ontario for the first time. It’s only a 40 minute drive from Toronto and packed with parks, trails and winding, scenic roads. It was perfect– the fall colours were at their peak and the leaves blanketed the roads in bright yellows and deep oranges. It was truly a photographer’s dream.

When I think of the Fall, it makes me nostalgic. The air is cooler and the sun sets a little earlier each day. But the season is also full of optimism. It makes me grateful for the second chance to take in all the simple things that were missed in months past. A road trip to capture the changing season always seems to give me that inspiration and renewed spirit to recalibrate before heading into the winter and new year.

Nature in the Fall is really something else. While on the road in Caledon, we pulled over quite a bit to capture the beauty everywhere. This was one of the main reasons that I brought my polaroid camera with me. I wanted to document timeless moments on film and have some instant throwback keepsakes. If there is one thing I took away from this experience, it’s that all journeys short or long, are always worth it.