Finally

Things have been a little quiet on the blogging front the last few months, mostly due to that fact that I've had to opportunity to work in camera department on the new superman film, "Man of Steel" Starring Henry Cavill and Amy Adams directed by Zack Snyder (300, Sucker Punch, Watchmen). Its been a great experience but unfortunately I had to sign a confidentiality agreement at the start of production that combined with the films extremely strict no cameras or phones policy didn't really allow me to publish any of my thoughts or experiences about working on the film, so I guess thats all I'm allowed to say about that (for now). I have however been able to get some editing work done on my Photographic Essay about the Western Half of of the United States, which I saw while shooting a documentary with my friend Chris Saunders. We followed Jonathan Beeby as he walked from Oklahoma City to Los Angeles (his walk started in New York City). I had these images processed in Los Angeles already at the end of July but when it comes to shooting film things take a little longer. In any case I am almost done with the edit and here is one of the images from the series. I will be posting more work in the coming weeks.

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Sons & Daughters

My friend Gerhard Van Wyk is usually known for his swift artistic proficiency with ink and pigment but of late he has been meddling with another art form, Coffee. In the few years that I've known Gerhard I've come to learn that everything he does is based on a solid foundation of love, passion and honesty. And his new venture the Sons & Daughters Coffee Company is no different. I was recently in Pretoria, South Africa and we teamed up to shoot the first images for his website. Our goal was to stay true to what Sons & Daughters is all about, good Coffee served with a whole lot of Love, come have a cup.

All images shot with Canon EOS 1Ds Mark iii and 50mm f/1.4 & 100mm f/2.8 Macro.

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Jamaican Vacation Anyone?

I've never been anywhere so acoustically rich. From the second myself and Charlotte stepped off the plane in Montego Bay until we were up in the air again Jamaica was never quiet. The insects, the animals, the people even the land itself never stopped making sound. This is actually a bit of an archival post since these recordings were originally made in October of 2010 when Charlotte and Myself managed to catch a cheap flight out of rainy Vancouver to sunny Jamaica. We had a really great time exploring the island and especially the warm waters around it. So, if youre in the mood to get away have a listen to any of the recordings below and get a slice of Jamaican life.. c'mon mon, take a break!

- Almost There, West Jest Monitor, The Caribbean, 2010.

 - Flight Attendant preparing for take off, Connecting Flight, Toronto, Canada (Please use headphones when possible) 2010.

- Airplane toilet Flush, Midair, USA (Please use headphones when possible) 2010.

 - Jamaican Sunset, Montego Bay, Jamaica, 2010.

 - Charlotte Swimming, Negril, Jamaica, 2010.

- Prayer Session and Invocation at Mount Salem Church, Montego Bay, Jamaica (Please use headphones when possible) 2010.

 - Bethel Court Guesthouse, Montego Bay, Jamaica, 2010.

- Waking up at Bethel Court Guesthouse, Montego Bay, Jamaica (Please use headphones when possible) 2010.

- Rainy Night at Bethel Court Guesthouse, Montego Bay, (Please use headphones when possible) 2010.

- Swimming with the Crocodiles in Black River, Jamaica, 2010.

 - Fixing our rental car's tire.. local style, Montego Bay, Jamaica, 2010.

 - A wall with some the Idols, Near Falmouth, Jamaica, 2010.

- Downtown Black River, (Please use headphones when possible) 2010.

 - Recording "Pistol Style" with the Audio-Technica AT8022 & Marantz PMD661 Field Recorder, 2010.

- Goats in the Hills, (Please use headphones when possible) 2010.

- Jamaican Night, Near Montego Bay, Jamaica (Please use headphones when possible) 2010.

- If you where an insect living in a bush near the ocean, this is what your world would sound like, Beach near Falmouth, Jamaica, (Please use headphones when possible) 2010.

- Listening to the Radio at the Fish Shop, on the way to Black River, Jamaica, (Please use headphones when possible) 2010. 

Recorded with a Marantz PMD661 & Audio-Technica AT8022.

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Shells

So here I sit, 10:15 A.M., a little tired and squinting in the sharp Las Vegas sunlight. My plane will be boarding in the next few minutes, its time to go home. I've recorded, filmed and photographed and most importantly experienced the Western Half of the United States for last two months. Its interesting to try and piece it all together in your head, I think about the people I met, the things I saw and experienced, its very difficult to put into words. But then thats why I love doing what I do, I don't really have to..

- Louise picking up Shells in Buckeye, Arizona (Please use headphones when possible) 2011.

 - COMING SOON, 14 of the 18 rolls of Film that I shot, 2011.

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Young Chavez

I met eighteen year old Patricia Chavez while she was working at a gas station near San Juan, New Mexico. It was at the end of a long day on the road and this lonely Gas station was where we'd be spending the night, parked in a slipway near the store. Patricia shyly agreed to do an interview when the store closed at 9pm. Please excuse all my "hmmmms" & "ahhhs" that punctuate my questions, I was pretty tired by the time I did this interview. We spoke about her plans for the future, being bucked off a cow and the challenges of being far away from her friend.

- Patricia, San Juan, New Mexico, June 30th 2011.

 - Interview with Patricia Chavez Part 1, San Juan New Mexico, (Please use headphones where possible) June 30th, 2011.

- Interview with Patricia Chavez Part 2, San Juan New Mexico, (Please use headphones where possible) June 30th, 2011.

- Interview with Patricia Chavez Part 3, San Juan New Mexico, (Please use headphones where possible) June 30th, 2011.

- Interview with Patricia Chavez Part 4, San Juan New Mexico, (Please use headphones where possible) June 30th, 2011.

 Recorded with a Marantz PMD661 & Rode NTG-1.

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Hunting Cicadas

I've always loved the sound of Cicada's. Whenever I hear them I think of calm summer days, I always get relaxed and in a good mood. We were about half way between Conchas Lake and Las Vegas, New Mexico when I found a quiet section of road with a good Cicada population and I figured I'd hunt one down and record it up close. For anyone who hasn't heard a Cicada they make this buzzing or hissing sound by vibrating their membranes on their abdomens. Its only the male Cicadas that do this to attract a females after spending a couple years underground developing. There are some species such as the Seventeen Year Cicada that spend.. well.. seventeen years underground, yikes! When they're ready they leave the underground scene and go up and make some noise for the general population above, respect. Anyway this isn't National Geographic.

- Hunting Cicada's in New Mexico, (Please use headphones where possible) June 28th 2011.

Recorded with a Marantz PMD661 & Rode NTG-1. 

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Bud

We stopped at general goods store named "Country Store" to fill our RV's depleted propane tank. As I walked up to door to speak with the Clerk/Owner met a man named "Bud" who happened to be sitting on a Vietnam era Huey Helicopter seat, now make shiftily clamped to the front porch of this middle of nowhereish store near Snowflake, Arizona. He was contently sipping on a cup of coffee watching passersbys. I struck a conversation and it was only a minute or two later that I grabbed my recorder to get the rest of the conversation. I guess it was rush hour Country Store style since within minutes a swarm of people briskly floated in and out the front door including Hunters, Ranchers, Drillers, Bikers and Native Americans. Bud Powel is just another example of a genuine American, big hearted and full of interesting stories, not to mention he had one of the coolest voices I've heard in a long time. Please Enjoy!

- Conversation with Bud Powel at "Country Store", 13 Miles East of Snowflake, Arizona (Please use headphones where possible), 2011.

Recorded with a Marantz PMD661 & Rode NTG-1.

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The Rancher

This is a portrait of George Lipton and his very well behaved Dog (didn't get his name) in the small town of St. Johns, Arizona (population 3,538). We were picking up some food when I saw George's dog just sitting on the back of his pickup truck quietly waiting for his master to return. I took a picture. A second or two later George walked out of the "Family Dollar" store, cowboy hat, boots & knife at his side. I introduced myself, we spoke a short while about life in the small town, the dry weather and his Ranch. I have been pleasantly surprised by the welcoming and open nature of most of the people I have come across during our journey across the States contrary to what I was expecting. The road continues.

- George Lipton and His Dog, St. Johns, Arizona, 9th of July 2011.

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Portraits of Chris

During our trip I tried to take a daily portrait of Chris Saunders. Here are a few of those portraits.

- Bloody Nosed, June 26th New Mexico, 2011.

- June 20th, Texas, 2011.

- June 22nd, Near Whealer, Texas, 2011.

- June 23rd, White Deer, Texas, 2011.

June 29th, New Mexico, 2011.

- June 18th, Oklahoma City, 2011.

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San Jon Motel

This is an interview of seniors Daphne and Norman Marsden originally from Great Britain, they've ended up owning & operation their own Motel along the now generally defunct Route 66 in the small semi derelict village of San Jon, New Mexico.

- Interview with the Owners of San Jon Motel, New Mexico, (Please use headphones where possible), 2011. 

Recorded with a Marantz PMD661 Field Recorder & Rode NTG1 Shotgun Microphone.

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9 Mile Cafe

We made a stop at 9 Mile Cafe just over the Texan border, one of those cool roadside cafe's that could either be completely awesome or give indigestion for the next 48 hours. As we walked in the door I noticed a group of rough looking oil workers sitting at a table to our left. Most of them were eating the chicken fried steak lunch special that has been tailored to fit their budget and appetite. We ended up just getting water and coffee and while we were leaving I saw some of the guys were having a smoke so I approached them and took a few portraits (they'll will be uploaded when the film is developed in L.A.). I also managed to grab a quick interview about Life, Drugs and the American Dream.

- Oil Workers at Nine Mile Cafe, Texas. (Please use headphones when possible) 2011.

Recorded with a Marantz PMD661 and a Rode NTG-1 Shotgun Microphone.

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Pedro

So far driving through Oklahoma and Texas you really begin to realize how much and for how long the States have invested time, resource and energy into simply getting oil and natural gas out from under the ground. Dotted all along the road are new and old crude oil and gas operations, many times there would be clusters of operation but often I would see a lonesome oil pumpjack slowly but relentlessly pumping oil. A few miles West of Wheeler, Texas we found a historical US Army Fort Elliot and just a across in a cattle populated field I noticed a rusty black pump jack that had probably been first started back in the 1940's judging by its design and condition (Oil was first discovered in the Texas pan handle in 1905). There its was over seventy years later still slowly but surely pumping what is left of the oil still under the ground. While admiring this hunk and solid iron and noticed that under the main arm someone had written "Pedro" probably during its rapid construction and installation all those years ago. Heres what Pedro sounds like.

- iPhone Photo of Pedro, Texas, 2011.

- Pedro the Oil Pumpjack, Recording #1, (Please use headphones if possible), 2011.

- Pedro the Oil Pumpjack, Recording #2, (Please use headphones if possible), 2011.

- Pedro the Oil Pumpjack, Recording #3, (Please use headphones if possible), 2011.

- Pedro the Oil Pumpjack, Recording #4, (Please use headphones if possible), 2011.

- I recorded with a Marantz PMD661 & a Rode NTG-1 shotgun Microphone, 2011.

- Pedro, 2011.

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The Western Half

As some of you know, I am currently on a documentary road trip working with my friend and rival Chris Saunders. We are following Jon Beeby who has decided to walk across the United States to raise £100,000 for the TAG Rugby Trust in Africa. We are basically spending the next two months in a camper van driving 10 miles at a time till we get to the end of the Santa Monica pier. I arrived in Oklahoma City late last Thursday night and since then we have slowly made our way West into the small Texan town of White Deer.

- Two Dollars, "Nine Mile Cafe" just over the Oklahoma/Texan Border, 2011.

The trip has already been filled some great moments and people. Other than the project of documenting Jon, I will also be scratching beneath the American surface, photographing on my non digital Leica's as well exploring the sounds of this place with a portable field recorder. The only problem with shooting film is that its going to be tough to show you anything till I get back and get it all processed. But every now and again I'll snatch up Chris's 5D and shoot an image for you. Its been great being on the road sleeping wherever that 40 mile mark is, looking up at the stars at night and starring face to face of whats become of the American Dream during the day. I hope you find what I put up interesting and you can be sure that when I get back there will be a whole lot more to come, till the pay special attention to the audio content since it will pair up with the images to come. Adios from Texas.

- My Leica M6 & M4-P, Near Wheeler Texas, Photograph: Chris Saunders, 2011.

- Chris Blogging it up, White Deer, 2011.

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The Greff Brothers

Here are some shots I did for the Greff Brothers.

 New Westminster, 2011.

 New Westminster, 2011.

 New Westminster, 2011.

 New Westminster, 2011.

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I Want to Go Home

This is the first music video that I've had the opportunity to Direct and Shoot, "I Want to Go Home" by The Greff Band off their really inspiring new album "Someone, Somewhere, Somehow". It was a ton of fun to shoot I just want to say thanks to Jarred and Scott for being cool and especially to Arrow and Jordyn for working so hard. Enjoy!

- The Greff Band - I Want to Go Home, 2011.

Credits:
1st Assistant Director: Florent Paret, Daniel Parsons
Cinematography: Shaun Stander
Editing: Shaun Stander & Renico Van Wyk
1st Assistant Camera: Renico Van Wyk
Location Manager: Florent Paret
Assistant Location Manager / Key Grip: Ryan Stander
Gaffer: Damon Evans
Stills Photography: Charlotte Houang
Make Up Artist: Contance Chiang
Costumes Designer: Dana Spittal
Additional Styling and Props: Jarred & Scott Greff

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$25

- Sign, Kelowna, British Columbia, 2010

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Thunder in Chilliwack

It rarely Thunders in Vancouver, I don't know why but I can only recall two times in the last two and a half years but I miss it so much. Johannesburg is frequented by flash thunder storms on hot summer afternoons, its great! Last September my friend Nick invited myself and a few friends out for some fishing and some general relaxing around a camp fire along the Chilliwack River about thirty minutes East of Vancouver. Leaving the city I had noticed the clouds gently swirling overhead, by the time we had arrived they were dark and heavy, the air was full of electricity and trees were swaying and making noise as the large air masses pushed down. I hiked into the forest to get away from the sounds of the nearby road and made this recording of the distant approaching storm.

- Thunder and Wind, Chilliwack, BC (06:26 min, Please use headphones where possible), September 8th 2010. (Recorded with a Marantz PMD661 Field Recorder & Rode NTG1 Shotgun Microphone)

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Stampede Buck

- The Calgary Stampede Rodeo, Calgary, July 17th 2010.

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Twenty Eleven

- Lawn Display, Merrit, BC, 2010.

Hey All, Merry Christmas and Happy New Years! Ok.. I know its the the third of January and the last time wrote on this here blog was errr October tenth. I've got a few excuses but I'm not going to bore you with 'em, instead I'll just let you know what I've been up to for the last little bit. I have been consumed with work on a Canadian TV show called "Endgame" as well as a few other feature films here and there. Renico Van Wyk and Myself won the Poptent Editors choice award for our "Don't Get Slapped with Resort Fees" commercial. I also received a commission to direct & shoot The Greff Band's "I Want to Go Home" (coming soon) music video off their brand new album "Someone, Somewhere, Somehow" (It's real good, go and get it!). I joined the Cinematographers Union (I.A.T.S.E. 669 Local) as a Camera Trainee. And at some stage Charlotte and Myself managed to get on a plane and fly to Jamaica for six days where we got attacked by a not so "Irie" Jamaican and his knife. Its really been a busy but I've felt so privelaged to have had such great experiences and work opportunities. So heres to Twenty Eleven, may it be filled with even more good times and relatively coherent blogging! Cheers!

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