From A New Hope to ‘Remember that time when we had hope?’

<<< SPOILERS WITHIN >>>

I’m a Star Wars fan.  Though, if I’m completely honest, there are only really two excellent Star Wars films, with the rest ranging from horrible to slightly-better-than-meh.  The latest installment unfortunately falls into that latter category.  It’s a more enjoyable movie than any of the prequels yes, I alternated from annoyed to entertained while watching The Force Awakens.  Seen as an action-fantasy-in-space—and seen from an ‘I-really-want-to-like-it’ POV—it’s ok.  Seen as a Star Wars film—or more accurately, seen as the Star Wars film I wanted it to be (ie. a continuation of the first two)—it was a disappointment. 

 

Me & White Water (a true story, from a certain pov)

*After university I didn’t know what to do with myself.  So I wandered round SEAsia for a few years.  You know: one way ticket, wander till I ‘find myself,’ blah, blah, blah… 

Sometimes I get sentimental about those days, in hindsight it all seemed so effortless.  But I kept journals.  And I wrote (and kept) emails.  So despite what my stupid mind today might think, my stupid mind from yesterday is there to remind me.  It’s interesting to look back though, so though I have already posted some old writings (like here and here), in the next little while I think I will post a few more. 

So if you’d care to join me, here are some words from young me, just as stupid as current me, just in a slightly different way…

This photo was taken as we pushed off, still at a very calm and peaceful part of the river. After it started to get a little choppy (not yet white water), the guy in front asked to switch places with me. I agreed.  And then this happened…

– Java, Indonesia. 2002 –

<”LEGS FORWARD!!! LEGS FORWARD!!!”> roared the rafting guides in Indonesian.

Despite the raging torrents of water rushing around me I could hear the panic in their voices.  In the fleeting moments of visibility granted by the rushing river I had fallen into I could see the yellow raft and the desperate gaze of my fellow white-water rafters.

It dawned on me as I was uncontrollably dragged down river, or perhaps it was when I struck a boulder violently with my right shoulder, that perhaps falling into rapids at the top of rocky, fast moving, white water might not be in the best interest of my health.

 

Doras 2009 Afterparty

Jersey Boys (#0189)

All photos are available for sale to the artists. Please contact me directly for a pricelist: alex.felipe@gmail.com

There are multiple images for each artist, most are not posted here, so please email me (with your name and the number underneath the photo of you) and I will send you low res samples of all your images.

In this album are photos from the afterparty, please CLICK HERE to see the backstage album.

Contact: alex.felipe@gmail.com

 

The Dora Awards 2009

All photos are available for sale to the artists. Please contact me directly for a pricelist: alex.felipe@gmail.com

There are multiple images for each artist, most are not posted here, so please email me (with your name and the number underneath the photo of you) and I will send you low res samples of all your images.

These are partially unfinished images, purchased images will be photoshopped fully.

In this album are photos from backstage, please CLICK HERE for photos from the afterparty.

Contact: alex.felipe@gmail.com

 

All That Glitters (nominated for a Nat’l Mag Award)

[I recieved an honourable mention in the 2009 National Magazine Awards for the photos and story below.  Originally published in This Magazine.]

Admitting that I was a Canadian has never been as difficult as when I travelled to the Philippines to photograph two Canadian-owned open-pit mining sites last winter. The fact that I am also Filipino by blood didn’t help.

 

Native Earth Fall Season Shoot

These are some random photos from the Native Earth fall season shoot.  The images were shot at Six Nations Reserve.

Learn more HERE:  www.nativeearth.ca

Watch the launch video HERE.

Watch how it was created HERE.

 

Shadows and Light in Toronto…

One of the things I love to shoot happens to be nothingness.  Literally.  I love shadows, as in my eyes heavy shadows accentuates the light that remains.  This set of images are just a few of my favourites from Toronto… 

 

Fear and Loathing (Minus the Fear) in Las Vegas

So I went to Vegas with the fam last week.  As you can probably guess from my other posts, I’m not really a Vegas kind of guy.   So it’s not really much of a surprise that I was not a huge fan of the place.

More than anything else, it was the falseness that bothered me.  The morning I realised the ‘milk’ I was putting in my coffee (the little disposable kind given out at restaurants) wasn’t really milk but a ‘non-dairy’ chemical substitute almost did me in. 

 

Styrofoam Ones Vinyl Release Party

Pics from the Styrofoam Ones release party at Rolly’s Garage last Saturday night.  It was a mad party, with hundreds crammed into an actual mechanics garage on Ossington Ave.

 

The Journey to the End

Styrofoam Ones and Times Neue Roman pulled some guerilla art during Nuit Blanche this past Saturday night.  Their surprise performances from the back of a U-haul truck caused people to stop, consult their official Nuit Blanche maps, scratch their heads (”I can’t find this event…”), then eventually just give in to spontaneity.