Nuit Blanche

This past saturday was Nuit Blanche here in Toronto. I dont know if it was because I wasn't as inebriated as past years, but I wasn't as impressed with this years exhibits. There weren't as many independent exhibits lined up on the streets, but I still had a blast! Here are some shots from the night.

Lower Bay Station

City Hall

OCAD

Trinity Bell Woods

Gladstone Hotel

dead flies, haha

❤

September

Summer is officially gone...sad :( But I'm excited for the fall! September came and went so quickly!

Here's some pics from this month. I shot Kid Cudi at Molson Amp, though I am pretty disappointed with the shots I got...I honestly didnt get anything. All the photographers walked out of there shaking their heads-the lighting was horrible! The only OK shot I got was out of luck. Another photographer used their flash and I happened to snap at the same time...but theres a security guards head in the corner...haha. Not my best work. After the show I snapped a few shots on the way out of the CNE grounds just to feel better about my photographic abilities. 

Kid Cudi

I also got invited to a fashion show this month from a new designer Alisha Chintelle, showing her line ALMY Fashion. To be honest, I was really excited to see it, but once I arrived I wanted to leave. It was such an awkward setting. I thought more bloggers and industry people would be there to chat and mingle with, but it was just random people that the designer and pr girl knew. I would walk up to people and ask them what the knew about the line, or if they were bloggers, and they all gave me confused stares. It was bizzare. I met one other blogger, and she didn't even stay for the show. It felt so disorganized and the volunteers had no idea what was going on. Two of them didnt even know english! They'd tell me to go up stairs for the show, and then I'd be re-directed back down to the club where the silent auction was...it was just ridiculous. I cant even make a positive comment on the jewelry designer. I hate to give such a bad review, but when I'm waiting over an hour for a fashion show to start...it's a bit much. The only reason I stayed was because I had paid for parking. The whole thing felt like a middle school production. The curtains looked like they were just thrown over a line and you could see their "backstage" clearly. Once the show started, I was dying to leave. A lot of things just weren't planned out properly. The venue wasn't the best choice, communication wasn't clear, there should have been a host, more invites should have been given out...I could go on, but I won't.  It was a good effort(and I hope they learn from their mistakes) but sometimes you gotta go big or go home. These kids should go home.

This past week I was sent to cover Wiz Khalifa for Envy Magazine. Sound Academy was swarmed with 17 year old potheads, but over all the show was good. It was really fun to shoot. The crowd was loving it, and for the second night Wiz was killing it. 

❤

Selena Gomez & The Scene

My friend Kayley got me to shoot Selena Gomez at Molson Amp this week-really diggin shooting live shows lately, but it's definitely a difficult task! As I walked into the venue I got a wave of deja vu-I've been here before! I've been the eight year old with my concert tee and my home-made sign that reads "I love (insert 90s pop artist here)," running to find their seat, so excited I might pee. The sold out crowd was made up of a clan of little girls, and their moms waving their over-priced glow-sticks in a synchronized movement, while their dads waited in the parking lot with their extra large double-doubles. Opening band was Allstar Weekend-never heard of 'em, they were...alright. They were a bunch of preppy kids that looked(and sounded) like they walked straight out of an episode of The OC, basically. 

ALLSTAR WEEKEND

SELENA GOMEZ & THE SCENE

A Year Without Rain

She spent half of the time on the cat walk, so most of my shots are of the back of her head. Yay..

Photo Fail, I got the shot, and then this asshole got in my way...

Note to self: throw elbows in the pit.

Looking more and more everyday like her namesake. Gorgeous. 

Shooting these shows are a learning process I guess-lighting changes so quickly, you're in a small space with a bunch of other photographers trying to get a better shot than you, and if you're shooting a performer that's dancing and moving around, you gotta move with them too. I guess we'll see what happens!

❤

Lollapalooza/Chicago

I got the most amazing opportunity to go to Chicago and shoot Lollapalooza for Envy Magazine! I am so grateful to have been given this chance to shoot alongside some amazing photographers-I hope this isn't the last time I am able to shoot Lolla :)

Lolla Cake made by Charm City Cakes

Amazing Art at Perrys Tent

Ryan Leslie

Skylar Grey

Atmosphere

Crowd at Lollapalooza

Deluka

Noah and the Whale

Noah and the Whale

Noah and the Whale

City and Colour

City and Colour

Lissie

Best Coast

Best Coast in a torrential downpour

We also had some downtime after lolla to relax and enjoy the city. I completely fell in love with Chicago-it was full of amazing architecture, and beautiful people.

View from the room :)

Streets of Chicago

Jellies at the Shedds Aquarium

Bebe frog

Our feets at Willis Tower

And of course, how could we not have some deep dish pizza

❤