Well it has been quite a while since my last blog entry and to be honest it feels great to be back home in Calgary Canada. Withing 3 days of my arrival I have already thrown myself into my business, the outdoors, and of course sharing the photographs from my trip lining up every possible exhibition I can get myself into (posts will be coming soon).
I have been home for now almost five months and it feels nothing less than AMAZING given the extent of time I was away, along with adjusting back to the somewhat organized daily chaos of western society . I find I always get the question (As I'm sure I am not the only one here who get this) "Is it hard adjusting back home after being away so long"?. I find the adjustment of being home actually quite easy, it's hearing the conversations in random public places that always make me stop and think, especially when it's regarding stereo types, the media touching on countries, religion, and the always 20 minute rants about so and so. I'm not saying I'm better than anyone or my views are far more superior than anyone else, or I have never gossiped, because that would not be true... however I truly feel traveling has the ability to open eyes and bring out the best in people where you are almost forced to look at the world around you differently, and really make you stop and think on how you choose to take a positive outlook on your daily routine and life.
So for my next little side project I plan to approach random strangers in the city of Calgary and surrounding areas at any given time, asking with their permission to take their portrait. With any luck I hope to tell stories about everyday people where behind any face can have an extraordinary story. These people could be lawyers, individuals living on the streets, performers, seniors, anyone. I want to create a positive experience for these people being photographed and in turn share their story. I hope to photograph people where my subjects will share stories of travel, opportunity, failure, love, frustration, sorrow, or even nothing.
I have been able to find two brave souls already and below each portrait is a little caption behind each face.
I hope you enjoy what you see and read!!
Cheers...
Meet Jim Arsenal. Jim grew up in P.E.I. where he has slowly traveled across Canada through out his life and ended up mining for copper up in the Yukon for a good chunk of his life. Andy is now retired and has been living in Bellevue, Alberta for the last 11 years.
I found Andy Mitchell randomly one day as I was doing some grocery shopping after returning from a short road trip. I heard his voice half way across the parking lot where I found him singing away with an audience of three people and his two dogs. I was immediately struck by his enthusiasm and signature covered banjo. Andy has been in Calgary for almost 3 months and plans to keep traveling playing songs where ever he can.
I found Andy Mitchell randomly one day as I was doing some grocery shopping after returning a short road trip. I heard his voice half way across the parking lot where I found him singing away with an audience of three people and his two dogs. I was immediately struck by his enthusiasm and signature covered banjo. Andy has been in Calgary for almost 3 months and plans to keep traveling playing songs where ever he can.
I found Andy Mitchell randomly one day as I was doing some grocery shopping after returning a short road trip. I heard his voice half way across the parking lot where I found him singing away with an audience of three people and his two dogs. I was immediately struck by his enthusiasm and signature covered banjo. Andy has been in Calgary for almost 3 months and plans to keep traveling playing songs where ever he can.