Foggy West End Morning

Foggy West End Morning
A foggy morning in the West End of Vancouver as the sun comes up over the horizon

Sometimes when you wake up in the morning, you have to be late getting into work so you can capture a moment like this.

The Coldest New Year’s Day

The Coldest New Year’s Day
-13F (-33F Windchill) in Iowa

Without a doubt, this has been the coldest morning of the New Year that I can remember. I do recall days of going to elementary school and being held inside for recess because the weather was unsafe due to the subzero windchills outside, mainly because there was always some kid who would lose his stocking hat on the bus ride in from the country or not bring gloves that day, but you never really grasp how frigid, cold weather can cause damaging effects that can last a lifetime.

Last night, as 2018 struck in the central time zone, windchills dipped to -34F, which is nearly at the point where subzero temperatures between Celsius and Fahrenheit are the same. Once -40 is reached, reference or calculation is no longer needed.

Today will certainly be quiet.

Walking in a Vancouver Winter Wonderland

Covered a lot of ground today and made some good Christmas memories.

Christmas Eve 2017
Frozen Lost Lagoon
Christmas Eve 2017
Stanley Park Trails
Christmas Eve 2017
Ice Cicle Ground Formations
Christmas Eve 2017
Obligatory Shot of Lions Gate Bridge
Christmas Eve 2017
The Stanley Park Rose Garden in Winter Bloom
Christmas Eve 2017
Evening Visit to Surrey for food, friends, and family
Christmas Eve 2017
Downtown Tree with a Circuit Out or Two

Parliament Hill in Ottawa This Past Summer

Parliament Hill in Ottawa This Past Summer

I was looking through the photos on my phone and found this shot from this past August. It was a really memorable experience seeing the core of the Canadian government and learning a lot more about the country I’ve called home for just over 12 years now.

If you ever get a chance to visit Ottawa, do it. Your country or not, you’ll be guaranteed to broaden what you know about the world.

That One Time When Noel Gallagher Shot Me with His Guitar

Pemberton Music Festival 2016
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Shot during the 2016 Pemberton Music Festival in Pemberton, B.C.

I’ve been seeing reminders popping up from previous Pemberton Music Festivals, which was sad due to the cancellation of this year’s. It made me think about some of the shots that I took from last year, and this one always gets me. It appears that Noel does not like photographers.

Billy Idol at the Pemberton Music Festival, 2016

Pemberton Music Festival 2016

Say what you will about Billy Idol. He’s been doing this rock and roll thing for a long, long time and still being Billy Idol like it’s nobody’s business.

I was very fortunate to get some of the best shots I think I’ve ever had the opportunity to shoot when it comes to concert photography. This one would be my favorite during his performance at the Pemberton Music Festival in July of 2016.

See more photos in this Pemberton Music Festival 2016 on flickr.

How did I miss out on Sloan in the 90’s?

A photo I took of Sloan at Surrey Canada Day 2013

This is a question I ask myself every time I hear their song on the radio or randomly coming up on my various playlists. Even at KRUI, you would have thought that I would have at least played Sloan[wiki] once.

Surrey Canada Day 2013

It’s quite possible that I played them at one time and never knew it. That’s the beauty of free form, college radio. Although some would call it a curse.

Surrey Canada Day 2013

These photos are from Surrey Canada Day 2013 where I got to shoot photos for Rebecca.

Surrey Canada Day 2013

Oh well. Late to the party, but I didn’t miss last call.

West End of Vancouver in Spring Time

Looking down Robson Street: From Broughton Street, looking down towards Denman Street. (Photo by John Bollwitt)

I took this photo last April while on a bit of an assignment by Rebecca to “just get some shots of Robson Street”. She sends me out of photowalks from time to time to gather shots for various material that she publishes. Going back through some old photos, I rediscovered this one.

This really captures why we like the West End of Vancouver as much as we do. We you get down to this end of Robson, things slow down a little, and the city isn’t as loud. This was in April when it was just starting to get warm and the sun bathed the city for much longer than anyone expected.

I especially like the nice convertible in this shot, patiently waiting for the guy crossing the street. If this were a Sunday morning, that would probably be a Lamborghini and in multiples of three to five. They seem to have a bit of a driving club around these parts when the weather is nice enough to bring them out.

Of Monsters and Men @ The Orpheum

Of Monsters and Men at The Orpheum Theatre on May 12, 2013.  (Vancouver, B.C.)
Of Monsters and Men at The Orpheum Theatre on May 12, 2013. (Vancouver, B.C.)

Concert photography and perfect lighting is something like the sweet spot on the bat. If you can connect that moment with perfect timing and location, it’s out of the park.

Not only is it about your location in terms of proximity to stage, but you will never be in control of the lighting that is presented to you. Some times, you just have no option other than to turn a shot into black and white, and that’s very rock and roll in its own regard.