Canadian Souvenirs

Posted by Damon Schreiber (Toronto, Canada) on 4 February 2009 in Documentary & Street and Portfolio.

[Markham & Bloor, Toronto]

The B+W Street Photo theme is over, and judging by all the images I had the privilege of viewing, it was a great success. Once again I wish to express my indebtedness to all involved for your hard work and creativity.

Organising a theme like this (at least the way I do it) is rewarding, but exhausting. That's no doubt why it's been almost 2 years since the last time. But the good news is that anyone can make a theme. The challenge is publicising it. I suggest writing to the Aminus3 administrators in the first place so that you can get some kind of prominent attention, the way this theme did on the Admin page. Momo had a good idea to put theme ideas at the top of everyone's Community page which might be a more obvious place, since the Admin/news page is kind of cluttered and easy to skip over. Anyway I look forward to participating in more themes (though not necessarily running them) in the near future.

As to me, my real challenge to myself, is to continue this current theme throughout the whole month of February. I find street photography to be challenging but exhilarating. And I wish to build up a body of work - so here goes...

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Comments (25)

Daniel from Kenmare, United States

I'll take the large egg.

4 Feb 2009 5:33am

bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada

This a great shot Damon! Nice wide angle with just a tad of distortion, much like how life in the city is some days. The street theme has been a real eye opener, and now (like you) comes the challenge of getting out there and approaching from a few different angles. The learning curve... :)

4 Feb 2009 5:42am

Matt from Gainesville, United States

Really nicely composed.

Because I ran into problems with the street theme, I'll pick up your idea and continue it through the month as well.

4 Feb 2009 6:17am

WABIKOJA from Shiga, Japan

Nice capture!

4 Feb 2009 6:17am

Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom

Just what I needed, some 2% milk.....! A great spontaneous shot here, nice one Damon.

4 Feb 2009 7:13am

zahai from Berlin, Germany

Cool shot, nicely spotted and captured... what exactly makes eggs and milk canadian souvenirs though?

4 Feb 2009 8:09am

@zahai: Ah well, there's no real connection between the these basic food items and the Canadian Souvenirs sign. It's just funny that they're juxtaposed this way.

Pradeep from India

Nice one...lots of interesting elements here. Nicely captured :)

4 Feb 2009 8:18am

Linerberry from Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand

As I said yesterday...Thanks heaps Damon for the challege and all your hard work!! Much appreciated:-)

4 Feb 2009 8:22am

k@ from France

Nicely done ! The black dog against the while luminous sign, that's great and happy you go on your theme (i'll do that in a way too but in sepia today :) and thanks again to you, dear Damon, i can figure out how tiring it was for you. Thks for your generousity**

4 Feb 2009 8:35am

Addey Kehinde from London, United Kingdom

Cool capture, I like the slight distortion.

4 Feb 2009 8:43am

Daryl from Amagasaki, Japan

Ahh nothing reminds me of Canada more than bread and milk. Except, of course, large Canadian eggs.

4 Feb 2009 9:14am

Navin Harish from Mumbai, India

Egg milk and bread, the new canadian souvenirs

4 Feb 2009 9:18am

djedfre from schaumburg, United States

authentic Canadian eggs!!! wow! from real Canadian chickens?
great shot!

4 Feb 2009 10:04am

Scene by Sharon Photography from Kingston, Ontario, Canada

nice shot - Canadian souvenirs are eggs and milk... well... interesting

4 Feb 2009 11:45am

Ajinkya from Pune, India

hey how did you get that concave effect to this shot ?

4 Feb 2009 12:27pm

@Ajinkya: Zenitar 16mm fisheye lens.

Nicole from Aix en Provence, France

Thank you Damon for the idea and performing the challenge .
I have the same idea puttong on line other street photography I had already and later try to make others and fight my" shyness" !

4 Feb 2009 12:47pm

dogilicious from Millerstown, PA, United States

Eggs and Milk are souvenirs of Canada? No Molson and tax-free cigarettes? Cool shot, nicely composed.

4 Feb 2009 2:05pm

António Pires from Lisbon, Portugal

Your Street theme was a success indeed and it was a stimulus to explore that kind of photography.

4 Feb 2009 3:23pm

Richard_Irwin from Belper, United Kingdom

A few bargains to be had, but that dog is only interested in sniffing its way home. Good shot, and a big thanks for organizing the theme, good on yer.

4 Feb 2009 5:14pm

Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal

Nice street shot.

4 Feb 2009 7:06pm

Alphons from Kaatsheuvel, Netherlands

I like the 3 contrasting themes: person with dog, in action; souvenirs; daily needs.

(It was a interesting challenge. But I find streetphotography (with human action) still rather difficult).
Gr. Alphons

4 Feb 2009 9:05pm

Lucca from Cologne, Germany

you must have been very near to the both. Very nice effect with fisheye. Oh, this is a great idea to continue with street photography this month. If you had told me before … BTW What kind of experiences do you have with people? Very often I'm asked: "Why do you do that?!" — even when I take a photo of their house, flowers, benches, trash … makes me want to shoot landscapes then. :D

4 Feb 2009 10:19pm

@Lucca: Thank you, Beate! You are of course welcome to continue street photos with me. As to your question, small-minded people cannot hope to understand art. That is their problem more than ours. My answer to 'Why are you taking pictures?' is 'What a question!'

Taylor from Charlotte, United States

Thank you for setting up the street photography theme! I can't imagine how difficult it was to keep track of everyone. I admire your ambition for more street photography this month.

I really like this image and the fisheye perspective. You really captured the night well.

5 Feb 2009 12:24am

shallowregret from Kongsberg, Norway

i take the white bread, that stuff never goes bad
great effort on the challenge, thank you

8 Feb 2009 11:33pm

Twelvebit from Victoria, United States

I really like the night images like this. Here's what I said to blistr on the question of those who ask "why?"

I don't believe you can explain why you're taking photographs to anyone who has to ask. The person who asks "why" you're taking a photo wants an answer along the lines of: I'm taking images of restaurant exhausts for the city health department; or I'm surveying property for a developer; or I'm doing a story on restaurants and employees for the local paper. This is even more true if you're taking photos of people.

Someone who can understand taking photos for aesthetic reasons doesn't ask "why" you're taking photos in the first place. Frankly, giving someone who asks why you're taking photos anything but the kind of literal and mundane explanation he's looking for is likely to add to your troubles. They like it much better when they can believe you're being paid for it somehow.

13 Feb 2009 9:05pm

@Twelvebit: I agree that it's easier to give the answer people want to hear. Same applies when crossing the border. Lately, though, I've been thinking that it's better to be direct and say that if asked, I should say that I'm taking street photos - something that's well within my rights. It makes me feel less furtive, and it could possibly educate a few people. I've decided that being in 'street photo mode' is kind of the same thing as being prepared to answer directly why I'm taking photos. Some days, frankly, I'm just not up to the potential confrontations, though I'm working on it.

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