The Amazon Part 1

Imagine a place, where there is no electricity, no internet, no phone, and no contact with the outside world. Now imagine a place with almost constant activity. Not the typical human activity like big cities, because even those get quite quiet at night. I am talking about a place that is so vivid and alive, 24 hour a day year round. This place has ants that work around the clock, that are able to cut down an entire 20ft tree in just over a week. There are birds that fly hundreds of kilometers for breakfast. The bugs and insects that have so many different names and responsibilities ring through the night as if it were a concert hall. My short 4 day trip into the Amazon was one of the best experiences I have had in my life.

Day 1 didn't kick off with the best of starts. About 5 hours after I wrote my last blog (a few hours before I had to catch a flight), I was hit with a nasty case of food poisoning. I threw up for 11hours straight, and then passed out when I got to my cabin.


The journey to the Amazon, though spent hugging many different airplane bags, is a beautiful one. It began with a plane ride to Cusco, the highest city in the world, also home to the well known Machu Pichu. Then, another flight to Puerto Madonablo. On the 1.5 hour bus ride from the airport to the port, the scene was almost historic native Canada. It wasn't like any Hollywood movie had ever depicted it to be. A 2 hour motor canoe ride up the river with sights of capivara and exotic birds and I arrived at base camp, a spot I would now call home for the next few days.

Are you crazy
Gonzo

The Embarkment

Lima is a beautiful place. It has been 8 long years since I have visited my family here in Peru. But viewing the world through my 13 year old eyes was nothing compared to how I see it now. The culture, the food, and the extreme disregard to traffic law all came as a a bit of a shock to me.

I really don't have much time to write, because I catch a flight in 6 hours to the Amazon and I need to sleep tonight for the hike tomorrow. I just wanted to get a shot out before I left.

I took this at the Vancouver International Airport while waiting to board my flight to Toronto. This is a random woman on her cell phone in front of a light box with no ad.

Are you crazy
Gonzo

Enlightened Art Show

I just found out that I am having a photo in the Enlightened Art Show exhibition set to happen July 2nd, in Toronto. I am thrilled to hear that they have chosen this shot of Jesmond Dubeau up in the Rainbow Backcountry in Whistler, BC.

On another note. I leave for Lima, Peru tonight and then the Amazon on Saturday. I will be there until I return to Vancouver on June 17, only to leave for Honolulu on the 18th. I could not be more stoked right now. Kind of reminds me of when the ice cream truck used to roll around in the neighbourhood with his music going.

Are you crazy
Gonzo

The Jitters

Every now and then, I encounter a situation that is out of my control. I am not talking about your usual cops showing up and busting a session. What I am talking about is a case of "the jitters".

The people that choose to put themselves in front of my lens all know that I like to keep things as stress free as possible. I never push them to do things they don't want to do and I rarely ask them to redo something. Usually when they redo something, it was their decision because they didn't like the style. So basically, I try to be on my game, so they have one less thing to worry about while they're doing theirs.

But, it is not always that easy. There's more to getting a photo than setting up lights and going click. The people themselves have a huge mental game to go through every time they decide to essentially throw themselves down things in a graceful, yet stylistic manner. Occasionally, you hit a mental block, and there is nothing you can do about it. But you know what, I am cool with that. I still get to spend an evening with my friends, and my camera.

Are you crazy
Gonzo