jennifer allison

New York City

2011-10-25T14:34:00.009-04:00

Although my trip to Manhattan was quite a few months ago, I finally processed the film I had while I was there. I found some fun images and thought I'd share. I always love leaving my film for a while so when I get the negatives back it's a surprise what I find!

All images © Jennifer Allison 2011

Heather and Mark

2011-10-03T15:21:00.015-04:00

On October 1st, 2011 at 2pm my best friend married her soulmate.

The day could not have gone smoother. It was a beautiful ceremony and an amazingly fun reception. I couldn't help but grab a few snaps of my best friend and her man as husband and wife. It was such an honor to share the day with them. Congratulations Mark and Heather!

All images © Jennifer Allison 2011

Website update

2011-09-26T19:29:00.007-04:00

It's been a long time since I've updated my website with some new images.

I had some downtime this weekend and managed to reformat some of my old images and post some new ones. I'm hoping that I'll have more time this fall and winter to produce more images to share. Hope you all enjoy!

All images © Jennifer Allison 2011

Turks and Caicos

2011-08-14T09:47:00.005-04:00

This past week I had the honour of assisting an amazingly talented photographer, Carlyle Routh, in Turks and Caicos. We were on assignment for Wedding Bells magazine at the Ganesvoort Hotel. It was an amazing experience to work on location in weather that felt like 44 degrees Celsius and 90% humidity. I learned a TON and had a blast with the team. There was a lot of sweat and no tears. Fortunately, I also had time to relax by the ocean side and enjoy the company of the team that worked on the story.
The island is paradise, with colours so vibrant and stunning. If you ever have the chance to go, I highly recommend it!

All images © Jennifer Allison 2011

Florence and the Machine

2011-07-23T11:41:00.008-04:00

It has been an insanely busy summer!
With visits from family and friends, lots of festivals and fun in the city, I haven't had a lot of time to shoot.
I managed to sneak into the studio this past week to work on a 'Florence and the Machine' inspired shoot with my cousin. We had tons of fun and created some pretty fun images. Lots of outfits, lots of dancing and lots of jumping.
Here's a sneak peek at the shoot, but there is more to come soon.
I'm hoping to get in the studio more once summer calms down so stay tuned!

All images © Jennifer Allison 2011

Contact Festival 2011

2011-05-08T09:48:00.010-04:00

The month of May in Toronto means one thing, the Scotiabank Contact Photography Festival. The theme for 2011 is Figure & Ground, focusing on our relationship to the environment. The theme looks at how photographic images alter perception, inform knowledge, and uncover meaning. With the arrival of spring and thousands of photographs plastered around the city, this month is always an inspiring one.

I have been visiting venues over the past week and hope to visit many more. Some of the venues I have attended so far:

1. ‘An East Wind’ by Ryan Szulc at Sleeping Giant Gallery
2. ‘Dynamic Landscapes’ (Vivane Sassen, Scarlett Hooft Graafland, Olga Chagaoutdinova, Dayanita Singh) at MOCCA
3. ‘Vancouver’ by Fred Herzog at MOCCA
4. ‘Men at Work in Cities’ by Robert Longo public installation on the corner of King Street W and John Street.
5. ‘A Sign in the Northwest Passage’ by Kevin Schmidt public installation on the south facade of the Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery.

Algonquin College Photography blog is featuring reviews from alumni who are attending various 2011 Contact Festival shows. Check them out here, here and here!

All images © Jennifer Allison 2011.
These images may not be used without written permission under any circumstances.

My Father

2011-04-16T10:22:00.011-04:00

This time of year for me is always hard for me. My fathers birthday was in March and the anniversary of his death is fast approaching. This year will mark the 4th anniversary of his passing.

As with anyone, we all have different views of our fathers at different ages in our lives. My father was an amazing business man and as a young child his suits, shoes and ties always fascinated me. I remember playing with his automated tie rack and putting on his shoes that were always way to big.

I went into the studio without any preconceived ideas that this image would represent my father. It wasn't until after putting the image away for a week or so that I realized I was creating another image which represents a piece of what my father meant to me.

It's an fascinating journey for me to see how I use photography as my outlet. I can only hope that as time goes on, the journey becomes more and more interesting.

All images © Jennifer Allison 2011.

These images may not be used without written permission under any circumstances.

Walk a mile in someone elses shoes

2011-03-18T11:37:00.004-04:00

It's been a busy year already so I haven't had much time to post anything, which I apologize for.

I've been in the studio shooting a bit, but it's never enough.

Shoes can tell a lot about a person. These shoes are either owned by others or were at one time. I love that they aren't in pristine condition and are clearly worked in. Who knows where they have been or where they may go.

All images © Jennifer Allison 2011.

These images may not be used without written permission under any circumstances.

Time

2011-01-27T19:45:00.005-05:00

Lately it seems like time has been flying by. The past two months have been jammed packed with work, fun and traveling. I had some time to play in the studio during December and January, which was great. It's so refreshing to be in the studio playing with light.

Fortunately, I was able to shoot many different objects and use some amazing props with them. One object was my grama's travel clock, which I've been holding onto for 10 years now. I have kept a few of her items with me over the years, but this clock needed to have it's moment in the spotlight.

More images to come.....in due time.

All images © Jennifer Allison 2011.

These images may not be used without written permission under any circumstances.

Holidays

2010-12-20T19:08:00.004-05:00

It has been far too long since I last posted, but I have been keeping myself very busy! With birthdays, One of A Kind craft shows, working and creatives and holiday shopping, the last 2 months have been non-stop.
This year has been full of adventures and excitement! I can only hope 2011 will bring as much joy as 2010.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

All images © Jennifer Allison 2010. These images may not be used without written permission under any circumstances.

ASMP Fall Bulletin

2010-10-20T08:00:00.006-04:00

The ASMP Fall Bulletin 2010 has chosen to feature some of the mentees of the YPA Program in their portfolio section. Fortunately I had the honour of being selected as well as my peer Christos Spentzos.

The YPA project was an amazing experience and I learned a lot about myself as a photographer and as a person. Please visit here to view the images and read my perspective on this years theme 'Answering Adversity'.

Thank you to all involved in this project and for all of your support.

Summer of travels

2010-09-09T21:20:00.015-04:00

Over the past 4 months I have spent many hours in my car driving to and from cities, towns, villages and islands within Ontario. Among these trips I have; landscaped a backyard, spent time with my family, mourned the loss of a friends father, graduated college, returned north and visited with old friends, photographed for the YPA project, watched my best friend from highschool get married, spent time with friends from university, college and Starbucks; had a tour of the NAG vaults, learned that my best friend is engaged, moved apartments, and worked in between all of that.

Needless to say, it’s been a busy but rewarding summer. I have been able to spend quality time with friends and family I have not seen in years, some in decades.

Of the 4 months I have lived in Toronto, I have spent 30% of it outside of the city. The other 70% I have spent assisting, teaching part time, socializing, eating and sleeping. I calculated the mileage of my trips this summer and it totaled 9,311 kilometers. This doesn’t include the mileage in and around all the towns I was in while I was away.

Now that fall has arrived, it would seem logical that my traveling would diminish, but this isn't the case. As it stands, I have a few more trips to Ottawa, maybe some north and one to New York City.

Hopefully the new season will bring with it new portraits and more personal work. I'm anxious to see what lies ahead! Stay tuned!!

Young Photographers Alliance Mentorship Program

2010-07-13T18:43:00.008-04:00

I have the honour of being a mentee for the Young Photographers Alliance 2010 Mentorship Program. The Young Photographers Alliance is a global community where young photographers connect with the inspiration, resources and contacts the need to build successful and sustainable careers as the great artists and communicators of the future.

The mentorship program pairs students and graduates with leading photographers. The Canadian team consists of Mickey Nielson, Andrew Myers, Jen Hladkowicz, Christos Spentzos and myself. Our mentor is the incredibly talented Yuri Dojc. There are 11 teams in total, one in Canada, one in the UK and the remaining teams are based out of the United States.

The program was developed with the support of a grant from the ASMP Foundation, the YPA mentoring program challenges each student to explore a specific theme over the course of eight weeks, and produce a series ofimages in an accompanying short essay.

The theme for the 2010 YPA Mentoring Program is "Answering Adversity". Each team will explore this theme from a different location, each offering different perspectives, insights, and creative expressions.

“The world is facing economic hardship not seen since the Great Depression,” explained Deborah Free, YPA Co-founder. “Unemployment, home foreclosures, and the loss of savings and retirement funds are leaving communities, businesses, families and individuals with tough choices. This initiative will send teams of photographers and their mentors into the field to photograph stories of innovation, determination and courage during hard times – much like the WPA and FSA photographers did during the 1930's."

I cannot express how excited and honoured I am to have been chosen for this project. It is a once in a lifetime chance to work with Yuri Dojc and the many talented photographers on the various teams. We have had one meeting with Yuri and it left me speechless and inspired. I have spent some time in Northern Ontario photographing for this project and am eager to continue working with Yuri and the other team members in preparation for the exhibit in New York!

All images © Jennifer Allison 2010. These images may not be used without written permission under any circumstances.

School of Media and Design Award

2010-06-09T09:07:00.008-04:00

I was recently informed that I am the recipient of the 2010 School of Media and Design Award at Algonquin College. I was shocked to hear the news, but am so honoured and grateful.

Again, I can't express how thankful I am for my professors believing in me, inspiring me and pushing me to my limits. I am also so thankful for my friends, family and fellow students. Without your constant support I would never have made it to where I am today.

The award will be presented at the graduation ceremonies on Friday June 18th.

CS5 and promos

2010-06-01T11:46:00.004-04:00

Today is a wonderful day.

I started my morning off by heading to the purolator couriers to pick up a parcel. My fingers were crossed that it was the CS5 Mastersuite I won for Best Website at the annual Algonquin Photography Exhibition, and to my great surprise IT WAS!

I cannot thank Jodi Chandler from Adobe enough for providing CS5 suite as an award. This kind gesture is going to help my new career in Toronto greatly.

My first project with the new CS5 suite will be promo pieces. I am starting a project this weekend for assistant promo pieces which will be a blast.

Stay tuned for the final results.

School of Media and Design

2010-05-22T12:04:00.006-04:00

It is an honour to be nominated for the School of Media and Design Award 2010.

I can't express how thankful I am to my professors for believing in me, inspiring me and pushing me to my limits. Your passion of photography and incredible gift of teaching has made me a better photographer, but more importantly a better person.

I could never have achieved all that I have in the past two years without you.

I am also so thankful for all of my fellow students, family and friends. Some mornings, the 5am alarm was difficult to wake to, especially knowing I had a 14+ hour day ahead of me. Without all of your support, I could never have successfully finished the program. Your encouragement always pushed me to work harder every day.

The recipient of the award is announced at the graduation ceremonies in June.

Regardless of the outcome, I am so happy and honoured to have been nominated.

Exhibition 2010

2010-04-29T15:46:00.005-04:00

The annual Algonquin College Photography Program Exhibition was held this week and it could not have been a greater success! There were so many stunning and amazing images showcased from both first and second year students.

The exhibition could not have been such a success without the hard work and dedication of the students, the faculty and the exhibition committee. Thank you to all who helped with the exhibition! If anyone didn't make it out to the exhibition, here is a recap of the awards, some still photos of the night and a video of the exhibition setup.

The highlight of the exhibition for me, was the honour of winning some amazing awards.

Ginn Award of Excellence (highest GPA)
Michelle Valberg Bursary for Academic Excellence and Volunteerism
Runner-up for Best Magazine Cover
Winner of Best Website

The biggest shock of all for me was winning best website and the prize - the new Adobe CS5 master suite! I cannot thank Adobe enough for providing this amazing award. It will help tremendously with my transition from student to professional.

This transition has already begun with my move to Toronto. I will be starting assisting in a few weeks and cannot wait to start this new adventure. There is much to learn and I am as eager as ever. Although I'm sad that my life as a photography student has come to an end, it's time to jump into this new path head first!

Season of change

2010-04-14T16:09:00.006-04:00

"Spring" def'n: ideas of rebirth, renewal and re-growth.

As the school year nears its end, it brings with it many changes.

Over the last two years I have learned a tremendous amount about photography, but more importantly, I have learned so much about myself.

I have been able to recognize my creativity and learn how to express it in so many ways.

I am so eager to start applying what I have learned and am eager to learn more.

The next turn in my path is leading me to Toronto. The "plan" is to assist photographers and learn as much as I can. All while working on creatives to update my portfolio.

I'm anxious and eager for this transition in my life. I can't wait to see what's around the corner!

Stay tuned for this adventure, it ought to be a good one!

All images and video © Jennifer Allison 2010. These images may not be used without written permission under any circumstances.

Sugino Studios continued....

2010-03-01T10:51:00.005-05:00

On my last day at Sugino, the wonderful My Yen Trung took my photo.

I even got to hold my own fill card!!!!

Check it out here

Fashion and Sugino Studios

2010-02-25T15:56:00.010-05:00

Just before reading week, all of the second year students had the opportunity to photograph models from a local agency at the school. We all participated in a "fashion shoot".

It was loads of fun and we all experimented with different angles and lenses. I thought it would be fun to use a scrim we have in the studio to blur the models. I had so much fun with the models and my group. I hope to do it again soon!

During my reading week, I spent my days at the amazing Sugino Studio in Toronto. Everyone there was amazing and extraordinarily welcoming. I learned so much in the short time I was there and had tons of fun. The creativity in that place is bursting! I had a chance to work in the stills studio and the motion studio. It was a unique and once in a lifetime experience!

All images © Jennifer Allison 2010. These images may not be used without written permission under any circumstances.

Ed Burtynsky

2010-01-10T19:03:00.007-05:00

I cannot think of a more inspirational way to start my last semester of school than to listen to a great master of photography speak about his images. Today I had the honour of listening to Ed Burtynsky speak about his past and current work. His images alone are extraordinary, but hearing the stories and statistics surrounding his images was astonishing.

At the beginning of the lecture he spoke of the 'force of nature'; "We've isolated ourselves from the notion of the force of nature.....we've released another force; technology, machinery, population growth. It's like the inversion of the sublime......we are the force to fear on the planet".

Burtynsky showed slides from many of his projects; Manufactured Landscapes, China, Oil and current projects on Australia Mines. I was amazed at the statistics that accompanied his images. The statistics on China were shocking but the statistics on the Alberta oil sands were close to home. Even though I have looked at many of Burtynsky's images before, I was mesmerized by all of them, especially the ones I viewed for the first time.

I couldn't agree more with Ed Burtynsky when he stated his images are

"a combination of awe and critique".

All images © Ed Burtynsky.

Preliminary Portfolio

2009-12-09T15:41:00.010-05:00

I have completed my preliminary portfolio! It feels great to know that I'm done 6 images for my final portfolio. I had a blast photographing this semester and learned SO much! Now that I am done I can relax and look forward to our Help Portrait event on Saturday and my field placement with Jodi Pudge in Toronto this coming week. I hope you enjoy the images!

Thank you to ALL who helped me out this year; models, friends, peers, teachers, family, various businesses and coworkers. I couldn't have done it without you!

self directed

consumer portrait

environmental portrait

self portrait

food illustration

architecture

All images © Jennifer Allison 2009. These images may not be used without written permission under any circumstances.

Tolmie Family Christmas

2009-11-29T18:18:00.006-05:00

My friends, the Tolmies (Marlow, Paige, Kindell and Josh), were interested in getting some 'cheesy' Christmas portraits again this year. I think this is becoming a Tolmie Family tradition and every year the 'cheese' will be stepped up a notch. They always impress me with their outfit choices. But this year, the plastic wreath/fireplace poster topped it off!

Between crying babies and dancing hyperactive toddlers (perhaps due to bribery with candy.....) we managed to get some hilarious photos and had a blast doing it! Hyper Paige quickly crashed from her sugar high and little Miss Marlow fell asleep once Mom took her out of her outfit. Kindell, Josh and I looked over the photos and laughed so hard we almost woke the sleeping babes!

Who knows which photos will be appearing on the Tolmies Christmas cards this year, but I know that there will be many laughs when the cards are opened!

I can't thank them enough for always coming up with great ideas for their Christmas Cards!

(Blooper before we started. Hint: fireplace)

(Hint: plastic wreath)

(Hint: mistletoe)

All images © Jennifer Allison 2009. These images may not be used without written permission under any circumstances.

Meeka and Ren

2009-11-22T18:23:00.010-05:00

Lately I haven't found much time to keep up with posting on my blog. So much has been photographed since I last posted.

In October I had the great pleasure of photographing two of my good friends Meeka and Ren. Their wedding was a blast! It was so fun to be involved in their day as their photographer, but also celebrate it with them as a friend. Meeka and Ren had some unique ideas for their photographs and I was SO happy for that. It was fun to involve parts of their story into the photographs. The school house we photographed in was the schoolhouse where Anne of Green Gables was filmed - Meeka and Ren met in PEI.

I can't thank those two enough for involving me in their day!

All images © Jennifer Allison 2009. These images may not be used without written permission under any circumstances.

Jacklyn

2009-10-23T10:19:00.003-04:00

Jacklyn was the last model I photographed and one of the most daring. We photographed in Gatineau Park at the MacKenzie King estates where plenty of tourists were visiting. She was more than willing to pose for me here which made the shoot so exciting. The reason I chose this location was because she loves reading and writing and I felt this location helped to display her beauty and her calm personality. Jacklyn is always happy and I find she is almost always peaceful and calming. I really wanted to display her 'dreamer' attitude by placing notes 'she wrote' on the balloons floating away from her. I loved working with her and scouting this location with her. It was a wonderful collaboration.

THANK you Jacklyn!

All images © Jennifer Allison 2009. These images may not be used without written permission under any circumstances.

Julie

2009-10-22T11:23:00.004-04:00

Julie was one of the most outgoing and free spirited model I have ever used. I had such a wonderful time planning the concept for this shoot. Julie was fully on board with helping me plan this shoot and I am so glad she had a part in it. Julie was so energetic and excited to model which made the shoot great. Even though I was standing in stinging nettle, cow patties and mud!

Of all the images I created for the show, I am asked most about how I got the balloons so high up on the barn. I'm not going to tell you exactly how, but they were tied with something. Again, I can't thank my models enough and the same goes for Julie. I hope to work with her again in the near future!

THANK you Julie!

All images © Jennifer Allison 2009. These images may not be used without written permission under any circumstances.

Sara

2009-10-19T14:04:00.006-04:00

Sara is my wonderful "top model". Sara has modeled for me multiple times and is always willing to help me out. This photo shoot was so much fun. All the props are Sara's and I feel it really helped to capture her beauty and vibrant personality. I only wish we could have listened to music on the record player during the shoot. For this photo-shoot I used a different Hasseblad body and back. In an odd twist of fate, this back had a light leak in it which created the unique lighting. It worked out perfectly for this image!

I can't thank her enough for posing for me and adding to my series of beautiful women photographed for the Face and Film show.

THANK you Sara.

All images © Jennifer Allison 2009. These images may not be used without written permission under any circumstances.

Kimberley

2009-10-12T17:46:00.005-04:00

When I starting visualizing for this series, I knew Kimberley would be a perfect model. Kimberly exudes strength and a sense of mysticism which I wanted to capture. She was so calm and displayed such power during our shoot. I couldn't have asked for anything more. I had a wonderful time photographing her. I also had an interesting time setting up for this shoot. Even the soaking wet ground, the millions of mosquitoes, the powerful wind and the quick rainfall couldn't stop me from getting this wonderful image.

THANK you Kimberley.

All images © Jennifer Allison 2009. These images may not be used without written permission under any circumstances.

Anne Marie

2009-10-10T18:29:00.007-04:00

It has been about one month since the opening of Face and Film.

I thought I should post my photos for those who were unable

to come to the show. This photo is of a great friend she was the

first I photographed in the series.

I travelled to Pelee Island, Ontario to visit her and photograph her.

She was so wonderful as a model and helpful in the creative process.

THANK you Anne Marie.

All images © Jennifer Allison 2009. These images may not be used without written permission under any circumstances.

Richmond Fair

2009-10-01T19:07:00.014-04:00

A few weekends ago I headed off to the Richmond Fair.

I love fairs. I turn into an anxious kid again. I had to supress some of my excitement so I could take photos for a school assignment.

However, 1/2 way through the first day I had to stop and run onto a ride.

Once I was on the ride I laughed like I haven't laughed in years.It was such a wonderful feeling.

Once the sun started setting everyone headed to the demolition derby.

Again, I turned into a kid! I was so excited to see the smash up! The last time I had been to one I think I was 8. My wonderful friend Stacey Rebertz lent me the 200mm she had and I took way too many photos! I spent a few more hours the next day getting some horse hitch photos and other moements throughout the midway.

All images © Jennifer Allison 2009. These images may not be used without written permission under any circumstances.

Algonquin College Bookstore

2009-09-10T16:59:00.005-04:00

This summer I had the great opportunity to photograph the 2009-2010 Algonquin College clothing line. The clothes can be purchased at the Algonquin College First Class Bookstore. The whole process was fun and the full day of photographing was wonderful. I had an extraordinary assistant Carol Ann and 4 wonderful models.

Some of the photos have been printed onto post cards with text which are being handed out at the bookstore. Posters will soon be printed and posted in the bookstore and potentially around the college. Thank you to all that provided this opportunity and to those that contributed along the way! I couldn't have done it without you!!

All images © Jennifer Allison 2009. These images may not be used without written permission under any circumstances.

Thank you

2009-09-07T13:47:00.005-04:00

I can't thank you all enough for your support at the Face and Film opening night. Whether you attended or not, all of your love and support was greatly appreciated!

I had some amazing people come out to the show and I got to meet many amazing people as well. It was such a great turn out and I had so much fun! I received some wonderful gifts from close friends and have them proudly on display at home. Although the show was a lot of work, it was all worth it in the end. Everyone's prints look amazing and the energy on Friday night was buzzing! Here's hoping many more shows will be on my path!!!!

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!!!!

PhotoEd

2009-08-26T18:08:00.008-04:00

Yesterday I heard wonderful news that one of my images had been published! It's overwhelming and I'm so ecstatic. Myself and fellow student Thomas Dagg were published in the 'School is Cool' edition of PhotoEd Magazine.

My image of wine glasses is found on the table of contents page in the bottom left. Thomas' self portrait was chosen to represent Algonquin College.

Hasselblads and Madonnari

2009-08-13T20:40:00.006-04:00

I am falling more and more in love with Hasselblads. The more I use the 500c the more I love the format. It's so unique and sometimes makes me dizzy, which is always funny.

I thought I would take the 'blad' out to Buskerfest with a 250mm lens. I think some people though I was carrying a gun, which created some more funny moments. My patience was wearing thin as I was waiting for "the moment" the busker would do their trick. After holding the blad and the cannon of a lens, I managed to capture the busker's "statue of liberty moment".

I then had the opportunity to see Francois finalizing his incredible chalk painting, also known as madonnari. I also had the opportunity to introduce myself to him and talk to him about his art. I am hoping to see him again soon as I have an idea for a collaboration. His artwork is beautiful. If you are ever in the Byward Market of Ottawa, you can find him drawing outside the Sugar Mountain Candy Shop.

All images © Jennifer Allison 2009.

These images may not be used without written permission under any circumstances.

Going Home

2009-08-10T10:13:00.009-04:00

This weekend I had a chance to "go home" and home is anywhere north of North Bay and east of the Manitoba border. This time I was heading to Kenogami Lake, a beautiful lake just north of Kirkland Lake. As a child, I had spent many summers on Highway 11 and one of my favourite memories was heading to the Highway Bookstore. The bookstore is a large "barn" FULL of books. I was getting very nostalgic as I approached the bookstore. Unfortunately, visiting the bookstore as an adult just isn't the same. It's an interesting artifact and I am glad I had a chance to see it one more time.

Once I arrived at our friends beautiful house on Kenogami Lake I instantly relaxed. We opened some wine and spent time catching up. The lake was still and the moon was full. This created some breathtaking moments on the dock around midnight.

The next day was spent cruising the lake and enjoying the sun. We had a huge bonfire, beers and many laughs. I met some exceptionally kind and amazing people who made me feel at home again. For me, heading 'back home' is bittersweet. Every time I go, I'm reminded how much I miss living in northern ontario.

A quote from "On the Road Again" by Jack Kerouac could be reworded for how I feel about 'going home'

"A pain stabbed my heart, as it did every time I saw a old friend/family/northern ontario/the lake I loved who was going in the opposite direction in this too big world."

All images © Jennifer Allison 2009.

These images may not be used without written permission under any circumstances.

Gallery showing

2009-08-04T16:54:00.009-04:00

I am pleased to announce Face and Film, a collaboration of student photographers working with film and various camera formats. Fellow photographers Melissa Ade, Thomas Dagg and Christos Spentzos will be contributing to the show.

The opening night is scheduled for September 4th at Arts and Architecture Gallery in Ottawa.

Antique hunting

2009-07-25T19:46:00.008-04:00

I love going for drives on the weekend to towns I have never visited. But I especially love stopping by the antique shops along the way. I don't know exactly why I love looking at antiques. Whether it's because I feel nostalgic or just curious as to who is going to buy it. I like finding clues, like notes in drawers or markings on frames, that tell me the story of where the item has been.

I particularly like photographing antiques. I took out a Hasselblad 500c with me and some colour film and took some photos. There were water and moss filled claw foot bath tubs, old sinks, old doors and lots of chairs! When I get the film developed I will most certainly post it here. In the mean time, these two photos are my favourites of the ones I took today. There were a few antique shops I missed, but will hopefully get to them sooner rather than later.

All images © Jennifer Allison 2009.

These images may not be used without written permission under any circumstances.

Polar Opposites

2009-07-21T17:15:00.006-04:00

I stumbled upon a unique way to create a unworldly view of panoramas. I thought I'd take my camera along with me on my walk with my dog and test this theory. The results are unique to say the least, but I can't wait to try it out on a cityscape and near some water!

Check out these websites to some amazing photos! And to try it out yourself!

All images © Jennifer Allison 2009. These images may not be used without written permission under any circumstances.

The unseen world implicit in the photograph.

2009-07-16T20:04:00.009-04:00

Whenever I view a photograph I always wondered what was happening the moment that photograph was taken. I am always intrigued by this mystery. What was the story behind it? Who were the people? What was the weather like that day? What inspired the photographer to capture that particular image?

Fortunately, I picked up a book at the library that described exactly how I feel when I view works of art, particularly photographs. The book is a biography on Cartier-Bresson, Henri Cartier-Bresson, A Biography by Pierre Assouline. In the introduction of the book, Assouline describes the magic of the unseen world within a photograph.

"We do not know what the past preserves for us. There are some things that only the man himself knew about his life, and there are certain truths that will forever lie beyond the scope of documents and accounts. That is a good thing, because if everything could be reduced to its logical end there would be no mystery left.

Facts that are strung together like pearls are made to fit a rigid pattern at the expense of all poetry, and therefore give a false picture. What is the use of knowing everything if you exclude the unknowable?

It often happens that in our understanding of a work of art, it is the indescribable that lifts it beyond the scope of the most convincing analysis. Thus the effect comes from what the image does not reveal, the unseen world implicit in the photograph.

Such is the vision of an observer like Cartier-Bresson, who was interested less in the pearls than in the string holding them together. The truth is found not in a comprehensive assortment of facts, but in the spaces between."

All images © Jennifer Allison 2009. These images may not be used without written permission under any circumstances.

Family

2009-07-12T19:02:00.006-04:00

This past weekend I had a great time visiting with my brother, sister-in-law, my nieces and nephew. It was so nice to be able to relax and enjoy quality time with them.

My cute little niece made me laugh SO much! She made me laugh so much I almost forgot to pick up my camera. It was an interesting moment when I realized all I wanted to do was enjoy the moment between her and I. After some time I had to pick up my camera and capture those precious moments.

Lately, I have noticed how much I have been behind the camera. Don't get me wrong, I love being behind the camera. But I also realized, with the help of a 19 month old, that sometimes it's even better to put the camera down and enjoy those special moments!

All images © Jennifer Allison 2009. These images may not be used without written permission under any circumstances.

Pelee Island

2009-07-03T16:30:00.019-04:00

The weekend before Canada Day I had the chance to visit a great friend of mine on Pelee Island. She runs a tour company called Explore Pelee providing guided bike tours, driving tours, field trips, retreats, etc. Unfortunately, the last few days of my trip I fell ill (perhaps the excess of wine played a role) and I could not go on a tour with my friend. However, I did get to tour parts of the beautiful island before I fell ill and meet some interesting characters!

Fortunately for me, the fireworks on Pelee Island are always on the Saturday night. I got to enjoy the big show and the annual traffic jam on the island! If you have yet to visit Pelee Island, it is another world. Like any "island life", it is laid back and extremely wonderful. Another plus is that this island has a beautiful winery which I spent a few hours at and a few dollars too! There is also an amazing bakery called Conorlee Bakery where another good friend of mine works. The food and pastries are out of this world! One of the owners is an artist and I got to sit and have a great conversation her and her friend with wonderful baked goods in the shade of a big tree.

I had such a wonderful visit and wished I was feeling better for the last few days. I guess it will just mean that I have to go back soon to visit my wonderful friends and the beautiful island.

All images © Jennifer Allison 2009. These images may not be used without written permission under any circumstances.

Art Gallery of Ontario

2009-06-19T11:50:00.006-04:00

My trip to the AGO provided many inspired moments. On the way from our car to the AGO I saw a maze painted out on the concrete path of walkway. There were pigeons walking in the maze and it seemed as though they didn't want cross any of the painted lines. They just wanted to make it through the maze. There were people trying to figure their way around the maze, but I found that less interesting. A few pigeons decided to take off while I was about to photograph the maze and fortunately I caught one in flight.

Inside of the AGO while I was photographing the baroque staircase from far away I noticed a very surreal looking image. It was the reflection of my legs in the plexi glass in front of me. Since we were about to enter in a surrealist exhibit I thought it was an appropriate image to photograph. The best thing was that my friends didn't know I was intentionally photographing their legs until a few frames in.

While I was wandering up and up the Baroque Staricase I came upon a view that was somewhat magical. I wasn't expecting to be looking out above the buildings surrounding the AGO and it was a nice surprise.

Baroque Staircase

2009-06-15T20:58:00.007-04:00

This weekend I had the great opportunity to visit the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario) in Toronto. This location is where I intended to photograph my interior architecture assignment for my portfolio. Unfortunately, no tripods are allowed inside and with a 4x5 camera it would be quite difficult to quickly "snap" a photo.

As I walked toward the AGO I knew I was going to be amazed by the art and also the incredible architecture of Frank Gehry. I had viewed many images of the gallery prior to visiting and to prepare for my interior architecture assignment. However, this time I had three cameras and was ready to photograph the architecture for myself, not for a school assignment.

The baroque staircase is one of the main features I was most intrigued by. It is beautiful. It is stunning. Viewing the staircase when you fist walk in is breathtaking. This view is misleading as it only allows the viewer to see a portion of the staircase. The staircase is said to be the equivalent of 11 floors in length as it is not 11 floors high. The AGO website hosts a short audio clip providing details of the staircase. The staircase narrows and widens at certain points, creating the chance of bumping into one another. Frank Gehry had been quoted as saying "it's a narrow staircase...it's the kind of place you might meet your future wife".

I could not stop photographing the twisting and turning and ups and downs of this staircase. Every step I took provided a new angle and view of this masterpiece. Fortunately, there is a vast amount of art for my friends to continue on viewing as I acted like a kid in a candy store. I also had my Canon AE-1 and exposed some frames. I can't wait to see how they turn out!

If anyone ever has the chance to visit the AGO I highly recommend it. You could spend days inside viewing the extraordinary art and architecture. This time there just wasn't enough hours in the day. This just means another road trip and another chance for me to photograph the amazing Baroque Staircase.

Lines and disposable cameras

2009-06-11T13:03:00.007-04:00

Last week my friend Carol Ann and I went for lunch downtown and then off for a walk! I love being able to look at a location I have seen thousands of times differently. This was something I remember from winters in Thunder Bay at night. It was so easy to see the city in a different way - all because of the light and the snow.

Somehow I managed to only be scheduled for 4 days of work this week = ROADTRIP. I'm off to Peterborough to visit one of my best friends. I am taking my disposable camera which I am using for a really interesting art project called "A Million Little Pictures" (www.arthousecoop.com/projects/amlp). If you hurry you may be able to participate too!

I've also included my AE-1 canon and my DSLR. I'm so excited to have time to drive. I miss driving by myself and being able to stop wherever I want to take photos, have a snack or jump in a lake! I hope to post some photos from this "mini-roadtrip" soon!

Just for fun.....

2009-06-02T16:34:00.004-04:00

To inspire some creativity, a group of fellow students started a group where a weekly "themed assignment" would be proposed. It's a fun way to get out there and shoot something interesting! This week the theme was "Beat the Heat". Unfortunately, the weather turned cold and it rained almost everyday. However, there were some wonderful images created and they were all unique! Next week the theme is "Contrast".

For "Beat the Heat" I thought I would photograph a friend in her amazingly decorated "retro" house. I love how her and her husband have styled their house and want to use it for many many shoots. This was a bit of a location scout to see how it would look. I also thought, having a drink after a hot day is always a good way to "Beat the Heat"! Thanks again to Sara for always being such a great model and for always willing to help!

So long San Francisco

2009-05-30T12:35:00.016-04:00

My last day in San Francisco was spent wandering the streets of North Beach, the 'little Italy' of San Francisco. I started off near the famous Lombard Street - the winding street that is seen in many films! There were many tourists wandering the street taking photos everywhere! I wandered up and down hills and walked by the San Francisco Art Institute which is a beautiful building.

I headed toward Telegraph Hill where Coit Tower is located (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coit_Tower). This was another tourist location, but it seems I took a different route to the tower, which lead to some interesting photos. After stopping for a snack and going up the tower, which was useless as the fog hadn't lifted, I headed back down to North Beach.

My last destination on my walk was Vesuvio's (www.vesuvio.com), the famous hang-out of the Beat generation, including Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg. The also famous City lights bookstore (www.citylights.com) was located right beside this famous cafe. The greatest thing about the end of my walk, was I started talking to a man watering plants outside of Vesuvio's. I promised myself I would go inside and have a drink. Fortunately, this man worked at Vesuvio's and was a fellow photographer. My sister met me there and we ordered lunch from a local Vietnemese restaurant and enjoyed it with the bartender and this wonderful man.

The afternoon topped off my trip with the Robert Frank exhibit at the SFMOMA (www.sfmoma.org/exhibitions/382). Honestly, words can't describe how amazed I was at seeing his prints that large. His contact sheets were also on display which were incredible to see. I had out my ipod touch and was taking notes and writing the names of the prints I hadn't seen. I was FULLY inspired. It was so beautiful to see my favourite prints enlarged. I had tears in my eyes at some of the images. My only complaint was that I wish I could have seen the show on the first day of my visit. This was absolutely the cherry on top of the sundae!

I could move to San Francisco in a heartbeat. It was such an amazing place. Almost magically. There is so much life in that city. If anyone has a chance to go - don't pass it up!

San Francisco Sunshine

2009-05-28T10:49:00.012-04:00

Sunshine defined:

1. brightness or radiance; cheerfulness or happiness

2. a source of cheer or happiness

The San Francisco sun was shining upon 100,000 participants in the "Bay to Breakers" event (www.ingbaytobreakers.com). There were 100,000 participants and probably the same amount of onlookers watching the interesting characters that lined the streets of San Fran.

"Bay to Breakers" is a legitimate 12 km race and elite marathoners participate. However, it also consists of MANY others non-elite runners dressed in amazingly ridiculous costumes or not dressed at all. When I first heard that I would be walking this race and the reputation this event had, I had no idea what to expect. I was honestly concerned that it would be a gong show and my camera would be ruined. Fortunately, to my surprise, it was a gong show but not in the way I had imagined.

Our day started off with a cup of coffee at Starbucks, of course! (I can't "walk" a marathon without my power starter). We met our friends and headed toward the race. As I approached the street where the race was crossing I started to laugh. All I could see was people dressed in costumes heading in the same direction as us. Not to mention a huge crowd watching the race. As soon as we "jumped in line" I realized this day was going to be one of the most eventful and eccentric days I would spend in San Francisco.

I was surrounded by people dressed in pink slips and it took me a few mintues (the coffee needed to kick in) to realize that they had been given their pink slips from work. I was also hearing some amazing music, which seemed to be following us in the walk. That's when I saw my first float! Yes, float! In the past, people would construct floats and place kegs within the float. However, this year there were some restrictions (which didn't stop many, the 'censored' photo is mildly following some of the restrictions).

Everywhere I looked there was either an interesting costume or a group of onlookers smiling ear to ear. Everyone was happy. Mind you, some were under the influence of things which increase happiness. The interesting thing was that depending on how fast or slow you walked, you were never surrounded by the same people. This made out for some great photos and some great laughs. There were bands playing about every second block which really

lifted peoples spirits!

I couldn't stop telling my sister how amazing this was. I was so amazed at how happy everyone was. At the beginning of our 12km walk, I told my sister that if I am ever in San Fran when this is on again we are dressing up in crazy outfits. However, by about the 10th km, I said we could just bring some beer and watch everyone from the sidelines. The crowds thinned out at a specific point in the walk. Does everyone remember the famous opening video from Full House? There was a scene where the kids were running in the park? THAT is where the party was for Bay to Breakers.

All in all, Bay to Breakers was an unforgettable day and one of the happiest days of photographing I've had. I hope to make it back again to participate in the walk and photograph it. I hope you enjoy the photos and can sense the feeling of happiness that filled San Francisco that day!

Napa Valley is Ridiculous

2009-05-23T14:33:00.008-04:00

Ridiculous defined:

1. causing or worthy of ridicule or derision; absurd; preposterous; laughable.

Napa Valley is Ridiculous in a good way. It was so "absurd" and "preposterous" it was laughable. I was so excited to be going into "Wine Country", I was like a kid in a candy store.

I was taking photos from within in the car like I was an 8 year old child. Fortunately, the drive was about 1 hour and I had calmed down (slightly) by the time we arrived in Napa.

The magical thing about Napa, other than the copious amounts of wine, is the beauty of it. Everywhere you look is lush green vegetation. There are rolling hills, vineyards, and miles and miles of green. The sun was shining and it was a hot hot day. The vineyard I wanted to head to first was the V. Sattui Winery (www.vsattui.com). I had a bottle of their vintage cab sauvs as a gift last year. It was one of the best wines I had tasted and I needed to get more. The winery also had a wonderful deli full of delicious food to go along with their wine. I ended up with a bottle of cabernet sauvignon (a different vintage than the one I wanted) a chardonnay for my mother and a vintage port for my brother.

The next winery we headed to was called Castello di Amorosa (www.castellodiamorosa.com). Apparently, all the furniture was brought over from Italy and the castle was built to replicate a castle in Italy. The grounds were phenomenal, an old world feel with sheep and chickens wandering around. The tasting room was located in the "dungeon" (aka the basement) of the castle. The wine was also phenomenal and I picked up another nice bottle of cab sauv (which I was told will age well for about 10 years). There were other spectacular rooms within the castle which I snapped a few shots of.

The third winery was less exciting, slightly pretentious, and the wine wasn't that great The grounds were nice, but nothing to write home about.

I was speechless at how lush everything was in Napa - hence "ridiculous". We decided to drive over to Sonoma on the way home. I would have liked to stop and taste some more wines and photograph the scenery in Sonoma but it was getting late and we needed to head back to the city.

My next visit to Napa will include a stay at a B&B or a hotel so my sister and I can BOTH enjoy the wines! If this photography thing doesn't pan out for me, I think I'll just have to move to Napa and become a sommelier!

More to come from my visit to San Fran in the next few days!

San Francisco Indulgence

2009-05-20T16:11:00.005-04:00

Indulgence defined:

1. the act or practice of indulging, gratification of desire

2. the state of being indulgent

Indulging defined:

1. to yield to an inclination or desire; allow oneself to follow one's will

My first day in San Francisco refreshed my memory of indulgence. Once I arrived I was blown away by the lush vegetation growing everywhere and the wonderful houses perched on all of the hills. My sister whisked me off to her downtown condo and then off to a wine bar called the District (www.districtsf.com) in the Somo (South of Market) area of San Fran. I had a wonderful wine tasting of three Pinot Noirs and she had some Cabernet Sauvignons. We both shared a delicious cheese plate and tempura tuna. I realized at that moment how WELL people ate in San Fran and how often they consumed wine - not that there is a problem with that :)

A few hours later with headed off to the North Beach area - "Little Italy" - where we ate at an incredible italian restaurant, Trattoria Contadina (www.trattoriacontadina.com). Again we had excellent wine and food! We wandered around North Beach for a few minutes and then went to a small bar for some more wine!

I realized that my visit was going to be full of indulgent acts and was looking forward to the next day - my trip to Napa! I took many more photos as the days went on and will post more about my adventures and some photos as well.

Imagination

2009-05-09T08:35:00.002-04:00

Imagination is more important than knowledge. For while knowledge defines all we currently know and understand, imagination points to all we might yet discover and create.

-Albert Einstein.

Lately I have found myself reading non-stop. I have been reading books, blogs, websites, magazines, newspapers, ads and many more. I have been reading about photography, design, marketing and yes, even blogging. I am tapping into all of the resources I can and want to learn and devour it ALL! It's overwhelming at times but it is also inspiring.

I am realizing what styles of photography and design I am drawn to and what I am not. I am also realizing just how important marketing myself will be (which started eight months ago, whether I knew it or not). I have much to learn and am excited to have time this summer to start.

I am absorbing all that I see. I have been analyzing photos and ads like a mad women. I have also enjoyed viewing the simple daily rituals of the suburbanites I'm currently surrounded by. (Working at a coffee shop can be entertaining some days!). I can find inspiration from all of these sources and find it helps to calm the creative ideas flying around my brain.

I am so excited to be spending time outside of Ottawa this summer - I am hoping it will refresh parts of my imagination. I am heading to San Francisco in a few days to visit my sister. I can't wait to see her and spend hours at the vineyards with her. However, I also can't wait to walk around the hills of San Fran photography everything. I am also hoping to visit a great friend of mine on Pelee Island in July. Pelee Island is a very unique area of Canada and has great sources of creativity. (Ironically, there are also vineyards there too!). I am planning to head to Montreal and Quebec City this summer as well. I will also be travelling within Southern Ontario multiple times and hope to get some great shots then too.

Reading and viewing all of this information could discourage me, but I find it is doing the opposite (thank something!). I am finding myself inspired with ideas for this summer and for next year at school. I can't wait!!!!!

Since starting the program in the fall I have also noticed that I am back to MYSELF. All of the creativity with photography has finally brought me back to me. As I have told my close friends before "Jen is BACK". Who knew that all it would take was doing what I love and being creative! One of my favourite actors, Alan Alda, quoted it well;

"The creative is the place where no one else has ever been. You have to learn the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover is yourself."

Post Exhibition

2009-05-01T09:50:00.007-04:00

The annual Algonquin Photography program exhibition was held this past Monday and Tuesday and was amazing. There were so many amazing photographs and the layout was great. The space at Adobe was also amazing! There are so many talented people in our program it's wild. Next year will be interesting!

After our required assignments were completed for my portfolio, I decided to add some photographs to my portfolio. I had some fun with a macro lens and did some portraits with a good friend of mine - who channeled Avedon for me!

I am off to San Francisco to visit my sister on the May long weekend and will be photographing like a mad woman......and of course enjoying some wine at the many vineyards. I'll post the best of that trip as soon as I get back. I also have some weddings I'm assisting in and some other odd photography jobs this summer. I hope to post from those jobs as well.

Thanks to everyone who inspired, encouraged and pushed me into this field. I couldn't have done it without you!! Also a HUGE thanks to Carol Ann who put up with me all year and helped me out tremendously!

Final Portfolio

2009-04-15T09:58:00.008-04:00

Here is my portfolio, in "order of appearance". I am hoping to add more before the exhibition and am still debating which image to show at exhibition. Enjoy!

Interior Architecture (Union Station, Toronto)

Glassware

Metal

Photo Illustration

Macro

Self Directed

Low Key

High Key Portrait

Consumer Portrait

Environmental Portrait

Portfolio Day

2009-04-14T09:22:00.002-04:00

Today is judgement day. I have to hand in my final first year portfolio to be graded. The editing process was more interesting than I ever thought it could be. Over the last few weeks I have felt like a child attempting to please two sets of parents. It's a vicious cycle of thinking your image is FINAL and complete, but as soon as you feel the need to get an opinion from a teacher, it's back to editing. Even though it was frustrating at times, it was worth it in the end. Here are two more photos which are included in my portfolio to be graded. The photos are for low key and high key assignments. The models in the photos are married and Josh is far from how is portrayed in this photo. Thank again to you both (Kindell and Josh) for all of the help you have been this past year! I couldn't have done it without you!

Portfolio Time

2009-04-12T21:23:00.004-04:00

I've been working strictly on my first ever portfolio for the last week or two. I've been tweaking everything to make all my photos "just right". My eyes are tired, my head hurts and I can't remember the last time I consumed that much caffeine in a week.

But, it will all be worth it once it is complete. I have all of my photos printed and just need to "prep" them for their new resting place - my portfolio.

Anyways, here is my "Environmental Portrait". I will be posting more in the next few days.

Metal

2009-03-30T21:03:00.002-04:00

For this assignment we were to shoot a metal object or two or three. We were also to photograph the metal objects in different set ups. My final choice was a loon figurine in a light tent. I also photographed some old silver and antique cutlery for the assignment also.

I still have some retouching to do before I submit this image for my portfolio, but it is almost ready.

Restoration

2009-03-17T21:42:00.007-04:00

For my Digital Imaging class I was to restore an old image. Fortunately and unfortunately, my family kept great care of all of their photos, so I had none in bad condition.

To find my "gem" I headed off to the many antique stores on the famous Bank Street here in Ottawa. I managed to find a few bin fulls at one antique store.

It was hard to decide which photo to use and it was difficult to have perfectly good photos ruined.

However, I feel I did the photo justice and the wonderful people within the photo who I have named Althea and Jimmy.

Many hours went into this restoration and the more I worked on it, the more I realized how much more I now know in Photoshop.

Photo Illustration

2009-03-17T21:33:00.003-04:00

Ok...so I'm a little behind in my "blogging". I am blaming on being new to blogging.

Anyways, this assignment - Photo Ilustration - was to illustrate a story or mood with a photo.

I will let you decide what it "means" to you and/or me. This is not the final image as I still have some editing to do on the table and some enhancing to do with the contrast.

Hope you enjoy!

Five Lights.....oh the kicker!

2009-02-28T10:29:00.003-05:00

This week in class we were taught all about the "kicker" and what a light it is.

Our group had a difficult time setting up our five lights and slaving them properly. But once we got all the lights working properly learning where to place the kicker was interesting.

I have a TON to learn about this light and the placement of it, but am really excited about the potential uses for it in more portraits.

Upcoming assignments

2009-02-22T12:53:00.002-05:00

Well I thought that while I am sick I should be somewhat productive and post a new blog. So my reading week is over and thank something that I was only sick for the last few days. In the next few weeks I am going to be working on a Photo Illustration assignment and a Metal assignment. I have already shot the Photo Illustration assignment and am excited for the outcome. Everything went really good and my great friend Sara was a wonderful model. I will be posting the final images as soon as I have finished editing and preparing the assignment. I was supposed to shoot the Metal assignment this past week, but being sick stopped me from shooting. I hope to shoot this assignment in the upcoming week. Again, I'll be posting the photos as soon as they are done. Till then.......

Three Light Portrait Assignment

2009-02-20T16:14:00.003-05:00

This assignment involved 3 lights (hence the name). One was used on the background to create a gradation, a main light and fill light were also used. This assignment also included creating various ratios with the lights. Again, this assignment was a lot of fun and a great learning experience. I have so much to learn still and can't wait.

Two Light Portrait Assignment

2009-02-20T15:57:00.005-05:00

For this assignment we were using two lights to create different ratios. We used four different types of ratios and could use any light modifier we wanted. I really enjoyed this assignment. It helped to understand how simply changing the lighting ratio can create such a different mood to an image. Also, I really enjoyed working with my fellow classmates!

Texture

2009-02-16T13:13:00.004-05:00

This assignment was for texture using certain lighting set ups. I used coffee grinds and loose leaf tea. It was difficult to decide on an object(s) to photograph for this assignment. This was my second attempt at the assignment. I really like the black plexiglass I used with this shot.

Starting Line

2009-02-07T09:05:00.000-05:00

I guess I have to start somewhere with this blog, so Saturday morning with a cup of coffee seemed like a great place to start. This whole blog idea started when a teacher recommended the idea of blogging to post our portfolio work.

Although I have only received one assignment which will be included in my portfolio, I will still be posting random assignments from last semester and this semester. I may not post new blogs that frequently, but when I do, I'll be sure to fill you in on my current projects and any others that are brewing in my creative little head.

I hope you all enjoy my new blog and please feel free to comment or ask any questions. Also, if you have any ideas for shoot (ex: you would like to be in one and have an idea) please let me know!

Until we meet again.........