Chiaro Scuro – New York Photo Exhibit

My work is going to be exhibited in New York next week at Fig. 19 Gallery, as part of a group show for a special and close-to-my-heart charity, The ReesSpecht Foundation.

I created these new images over the past couple of months, in working through some challenging life experiences.  I was working with the name “Chiaro Scuro” – the old art-history term used to describe the use of strong contrast between light and dark.  I not only applied this theme in the photography and lighting, but it was very representative of the subject matter.  Exploring themes of duality, reflection, anger and helplessness, these are a few of the pieces of the ever-growing body of personal work.

I will be in attendance for the opening reception at 6:30pm, Thursday May 23rd at Fig. 19 Gallery in the Lower East Side of NY.  131 Chrystie St., NYC.  The exhibit runs from May 23rd to June 6th. Hope to see you there!

Makeup/Hair:  Melanie Manson

Styling:  Mike Sam

Sharp Magazine editorial released

The editorial I shot of the Lone Wolf character on ‘The Frontier’ was released this week in Sharp’s Book for Men.

Click on the image to see the full PDF story.

Model:  Chris Tschupp, Ford Models LA.

Bailey Western Hats Horse-Back Camping

It was quite incredible that I moved to California and discovered horses.  I was very fortunate to have met a couple great movie cowboys (well, they were definitely real-deal cowboys.  They just happened to work in the picture business).  So they taught me to ride and allowed me to photograph them endlessly.  This became a 12-year hobby and passion, and fortunately even brought a few jobs my way.

A few months ago I shot the new catalogue for Bailey Western Hats Fall 2013.  This season, we took the cowboys (and cowgirl!) out on a camping trip.   Complete with campfire, sibley tent and a seasoned motion-picture-star horse, we had a great day in the foothills of Altadena in Millard Canyon.  Oh the smell and taste of campfire eggs is truly unparalleled.

Models:  Danny Smith, Vision Models and Jamie, Photogenics

Makeup:  Melanie Manson

Styling:  Mike Sam

Sharp Ghost Town

The desert is a magical, yet unrelenting place.  I love it.  Back in January I shot this men’s fashion editorial for Sharp Magazine.  Shot out near Joshua Tree, this is a little gem of a location.  The full editorial will soon be published and I will send a link to the actual story when it is released, but these are some of the out-takes and  location photos.   The earth looks like Mars, the wind sounds like music and the gods seem to be watching you.

Grooming by Bethany Colson

Styling by Luke Langsdale

Scouting today in Nashville

Found this bird in a window:

A homeless man’s squat:

And this great face of the caretaker:

Canadian legend, Stompin’ Tom Connors, passes

An icon and a legend, Stompin’ Tom Connors, passed away yesterday at age 77.

I had the great honour of photographing him at his home outside Toronto back in the early 2000s.  His sense of peace and humour was quite striking.

He even had a full bar built on the property, complete with juke box and pool table.  He was gracious enough to share his Moosehead beer and challenge me to a game of pool when he saw me eyeing the table, but the mood turned when I started to win the game, so I thought I should quit while I was ahead.

I raise a glass to you, Tom!  Cheers!

These are still some of my all-time favourite photos, which we created that day at his home.

RIP.

Here’s the obituary as posted on CBC News:

70s hippie soul funk California video

The new Terri Clark video has been released, featuring Dean Brody.

I feel like I’m coming back full circle to the experiences and the feelings I had when I first moved to California 10 years ago.  It was a whole new world for me.  I was drawn here for the music, the desert, the mountains, the skies, the socialist hippies.  ; )    I spent endless days and nights ‘scouting’ the hundreds of miles surrounding Los Angeles.

Appropriate segue into this Terri Clark video…. we had a great day shooting on a super-cool artists’ collective just east of LA, with a wonderful ensemble cast.  The concept is the reuniting of old friends on their Southern California ranch.  70s styling, dancing, grooving, hanging out.  I was very inspired by the Gram Parsons “Fallen Angel” movie, and Townes van Zandt “Be Here To Love Me”.  A collection of musicians and artists, doing what they do:  making great music, living the poetry, and not particularly worrying about what tomorrow may bring…  One day at a time, folks.

You can also see a little behind-the-scenes clip of our shoot day here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMVlWkcR6Jg

And for you Terri fans, the behind-the-scenes mini-movie of our previous video, ‘Gypsy Boots’, was a really exceptional piece; directed, shot and edited by the multi-talented Charles Son.:

http://www.picrow.com/reel/editor/charles-son  (see bottom right thumbnail).

I hope you enjoy the video and much as I enjoyed making it!.

xo

Margaret