I am thankful for another year of opportunities to apply my photography skills.
Beach Chairs - Fujicolor 400 - January 2024
This is my annual look back at favourite photo moments of the past year.
Thanks for joining me! Let's jump right in!
1. Meeting People / People Portraits
I aim to do a photo walk at least once a week.
One of the great pleasures of exploring any neighbourhood is meeting the people who make that area unique.
This past year was again a real gift in terms of meeting people. Here are but a few of the good people I was able to photograph.
Tsering in the Square
Assim with his 1964 Thunderbird (see more on Instagram) - Kentmere 400 film
Tristan in Trinity Bellwoods Park - Kodak Ektar 100
In late 2024 I acquired a portrait lens - one that I had wanted for a long time.
Soon after getting the lens - thanks to a quick string of serendipity - I was able to take portraits of three people I met in Toronto's Annex neighbourhood, all within a very short space of time.
L-R: Deniz, Muhammed and AC Peterson (See this Instagram post for details.)
2. Non Profit Work
I had the pleasure of working with several non-profit organizations in 2024.
A real highlight was working with The Neighbourhood Group Community Services documenting many of their programs in photos for use on their website and annual report.
The Neighbourhood Group Community Services 2023-2024 annual report.
(cover image and many photos in the report taken by yours truly)
I have a long background of helping non-profit organizations tell their story visually. If I can be of service this way for you or your organization, please send me a message and I'd be happy to help.
3. Feature with PhotoED and Tamron
Thanks to PhotoED Magazine and Tamron Americas I was given the opportunity to borrow a lens - the 35-150mm F/2-2.8 Di VXD for Nikon Z mount.
Here are a few photos I took with this lens...
A view of the Dufferin Gate leading into The Exhibition grounds.
Captain Chris Markham and his crew pose for a moment on Tecumseth Street near Queen Street West.
I loved using this lens. It is so versatile - perfect for event photography - capable of capturing a group photo and then zooming in for a close-up.
Ajeuro - one of the excellent staff at Downtown Camera.
Many thanks to Rita Godlevkis, the editor of PhotoED Magazine, for sharing an interview with me about my photography and my use of this lens.
(Cette interview est également disponible en français.)
4. Film
2024 was another strong year for me of shooting film.
I shot quite a few rolls with an Olympus Pen EE-3 half frame camera...
Lover - Kentmere 400 film
I shot more panoramic images with my Lomography Sprocket Rocket.
Final Discount - Kodak Portra 800 film
In late October I joined a photo walk run by Cinestill Film, Downtown Camera and Graination.
Cinestill Photo Walk - Kodak Portra 160 (taken by me using a fisheye lens)
Many photographers took part and the range of film cameras on display was very impressive.
Toronto photographer Neill Sturgess, taken during the photo walk. Kodak Portra 160
View from the Ace Hotel, where we ended the photo walk. Kodak Portra 160
Thanks to Cinestill, Downtown Camera and Graination for the fun!
- Click here to see my favourite black and white film photos of 2024
- Click here to see my favourite colour film photos of 2024
- Or click here to see my favourite film photos from past years!
5. Travel
There is nothing like travel to stimulate the senses and to encourage creativity.
Here are some of the places I was fortunate to visit in 2024.
- Detroit
In the spring my friend Sammy and I went to Detroit.
Mural by Ryan Doyle in Detroit's Eastern Market.
There was so much to see and do that I wrote two blog posts about it.
The first post covers Art & Architecture.
A beautiful mural by @hera_herakut in downtown Detroit.
The second post covers People and (Unique) Places.
Nate and his dog Prince
Youana and Brotherly
I may have a third Detroit blog post to share! Stay tuned!
- NYC
In June my sons and I did a road trip to New York City.
We had so much fun along the way, and while there, visiting places they wanted to go to, and a few of my favourites also. :)
My sons looking into the Oculus.
Watching fireworks at the end of a Brooklyn Cyclones baseball game in Coney Island.
Sea Beach - an exhibit by Ismail Ferdous, 2023 winner of the Leica Oskar Barnack award, on display at the now closed Leica store in Soho.
- Southern France
Speaking of sea beach... my wife and I had the unique opportunity of visiting southern France in September.
We had no such plans earlier in the year, but when a good friend invited us to celebrate a big birthday in a very special way, we just had to go!
Antibes Pier - Kodak Portra 160
Nice Umbrellas - Kodak Fuji Velvia 100
The birthday celebrations, the local culture and the climate were wonderful experiences. I will have to share more photos from this trip!
Click here to see my travel photography blog posts!
6. Photo Workshops
I had the privilege of running personal street photo workshops with a number of talented people throughout 2024.
Visitors from Vancouver, California, as well as fellow residents of southern Ontario trusted me to help them learn principles and approaches to street photography.
If this interests you, please get in touch. More info can be found on my website here.
7. Photo Exhibits
2024 was the first year in a while that I did not have a solo photo exhibit.
It was good to have time to recharge and to develop vision and energy for a future exhibit. (One is coming in 2025!)
Several of my photographer friends had exhibits 2024. Here are a few that I enjoyed attending...
- Faysal Derrar
I enjoyed visiting Faysal's solo show titled "Meet Oran in Toronto" which featured images from Oran, Algeria. Beautiful work Faysal!
Click here to visit Faysal's website and here for his Instagram account.
- Alan Bulley
I really enjoyed seeing Landscapings, a Contact Photo Exhibit put on by Alan Bulley and two other Ottawa area photographers.
Alan Bulley is also a writer for PhotoED Magazine.
Click here to see Alan's website and here for his Instagram account.
- Simon Remark
Another exhibit I saw in 2024, that I must mention, is Vivian Maier: Unseen Work at Fotografiska in New York City.
My sons viewing a Vivian Maier self portrait.
It was very impressive to see prints of Maier's work - and her Rolleiflex camera - in person.
In early 2024 I read Vivian Maier Developed - a very well researched book by Ann Marks about the life of the once unknown photographer. If you appreciate Maier's work, or reading unique biographies, you will enjoy this book.
8. Interesting Photo Assignments/Events
- The Solar Eclipse
Like so many photographers I had to go watch the solar eclipse in April 2024.
People awaiting the eclipse on the hillside in Riverdale Park East.
I didn't point my camera skywards very much (long lenses and special filters are needed to do so successfully - and many did an excellent job at that), but I was definitely intrigued by what was happening here on earth during this celestial event.
Excited viewers of the eclipse
One playful person (named Colin Bolton) held up a sign during the eclipse that says Take Me With You. My sons and their friends joined in and struck a pose with him.
See more of my Eclipse photos on Instagram here.
In July I had a great time joining a bus full of media folks heading up to the Highland Cinemas to watch a screening of the film The Movie Man.
The Movie Man tells the story of how Keith Stata built an unlikely multiplex movie theatre in Kinmount, Ontario (cottage country).
Highland Cinemas is amazing - a place that must be seen and experienced - full of so much movie memorabilia. Many elements of the building are rescued from shuttered cinemas around North America and possibly beyond.
Sammy Younan Interviewing Ed Robertson of the Bare Naked Ladies, Executive Producer, Matt Finlan, Director,
and Keith Stata, founder of Highland Cinemas and star of The Movie Man.
Click here to hear Sammy's interview with Keith Stata and to read more about the film and Highland Cinemas.
Thanks to the Hollywood Suite, who aired The Movie Man on their channels in Canada, for organizing the trip to seeing the film - and to My Pal Sammy for helping me join in to capture the experience!
Turner Classic Movies has previously broadcast the Movie Man in the United States and hopefully will do so again.
- TIFF
Speaking of movies... I shot a couple of red carpet events at TIFF in September 2024.
- The launch of Dullsville and the Doodleverse
L-R: Doodles CEO Julian Holguin, Pharell Williams and Director Burnt Toast
Here's a great write-up about the Dullsville and Doodleverse launch event with more photos and videos on My Pal Sammy's site.
I had a wonderful time meeting and photographing the cast, production team and associated supporters of I Am No Queen.
Group photo of cast, production team and supporters of I Am No Queen
- Meeting fellow photographers
While at TIFF I also had the pleasure of meeting these two talented photographers...
We bumped into each other on King Street West and hit it off thanks to Saul Porto's playful conversation starters. (I observed him in action applying this skill several times while we were together.)
Saul and Brent are incredibly talented and both very fun to talk to. Check out their excellent work at the above links.
At one point while we were talking, there was a buzz and some commotion, and then a large group of people came walking towards us, heading into Roy Thomson Hall. One of them can be seen in the below photo...
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was heading into an event. Saul Porto managed to get a handshake, and I got the photo...
Saul Porto shaking hands with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
A fun moment. One of many I experienced at TIFF.
Perhaps I will do more TIFF events in the future!
- Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift mania took over Toronto and I naturally had to capture some of it.
See more of the Swiftie-mania on my Instagram here.
9. Arts Fairs and Markets
I again did a range of art shows and markets throughout 2024, in the fall in particular.
At one of my favourite events - the annual Danforth East Arts Fair in September 2024.
If you are looking for artwork for your home or office, or as a gift, please keep me in mind.
My art images and many photos on my blog posts and Instagram feed are available as framed prints.
I also offer photo art bags and pillows. If you see something you like, just send me a message and I'd be happy to help!
10. New Year's Even in Montreal!
My family and I mixed things up and headed to Montreal for a few nights over New Year's.
A display inside of Studio Argentique - one of my favourite Montreal camera stores.
Pizza and Poutine - Montreal
This was our first time celebrating New Year's Eve as a family outside of Toronto.
Old Montreal and the Port were packed with music and activities. It was a lot of fun!
A few Montreal police officers and I - taken with the unique Psychedelic Blues Film #5.
I am thankful for all the opportunities and adventures of 2024. Thanks for joining me in this journey!
Click here to see my highlights from previous years.
Click here to see my film photography blog posts.
Click here to follow me on Instagram.