Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Travels

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Stuff in this Blog

• Upcoming Events
• Joni Mitchell
• Richie Havens
Sebastião Salgado
• Florida
• Savannah
• Other Stuff
• Final Note

Upcoming Events

Dear friends and potential clients. Here are two events that I hope some might have a chance to visit (or pass on the info to your friends and have them visit). I will be set up to sell images at the following two venues this summer. These two summer events are so enjoyable for me to participate in each year and the first is this coming weekend!

Cobourg Waterfront Festival: June 29 - July 1, 2013

The lovely city of Cobourg continues to host this annual event: Art, crafts, Canada Day parades, celebrations, pubs, sailboats and more.

10:00am to 6:00pm daily

Buckhorn Fine Arts Festival: August 16-18, 2013

If you can, plan to attend the Art Festival for a day trip, or vacation. While in the region, come and enjoy the many attractions the Kawartha region has to offer.

DATES & TIMES
August 16 – 18, 2013
Friday, August 16: Preview Night Garden Party 7-10pm,
Saturday, August 17: 10 am-5 pm,
Sunday, August 18: 10 am – 5 pm

ENTRANCE PRICES
Admission Friday: $25 good for re-entry all weekend.
Saturday & Sunday: Adults: $7.00 Children under 12 free.
Art is available for purchase using Mastercard, VISA, Interac (debit) and Cash.



Joni Mitchell

Recently, while listening to the CBC, I was alerted to the fact that Joni Mitchell is turning 70 this fall. Jian Ghomeshi went to her California home and managed to get a great interview with the iconic artist/singer/songwriter. It is available as a video podcast on the CBC. Here is the link:



Toronto’s Luminato Festival has celebrated her upcoming birthday with a special concert in her honour at Massey Hall. Seems like just yesterday she was that youthful blonde turning on audiences like a radio. Her wide-ranging vocals, songwriting, guitar stylings and jazz innovations, as well as her visual art, have inspired everyone from Judy Collins to Herbie Hancock. I shall never forget sitting within a few feet of her at a very early Mariposa concert where I was mesmerized by her voice and presence.

The photo I took of her that day is still my favourite image of Joni Mitchell (see below).

Sadly, her recording days are over. But her records (all of them) play like never before on my turntable, CD player and iPod. Always will love your voice Joni.

Joni Mitchell (Photo: John Davidson)


Richie Havens

Still on the subject of music, it was a sad day on April 22 of this year when one of the most beloved voices of the Woodstock era passed away. Richie Havens was revered for not only his soulful renditions of others’ songs, but his own as well. His anthem, Motherless Child/Freedom, opened Woodstock in that summer of 1969. Who could ever forget it?

I was honoured with the pleasure of a conversation with Richie Havens after a concert at the Northern Lights Festival in Sudbury in the late 80s. He was a gentle man and I remember clearly the size of his hands as he grasped mine before we sat on the grass and talked. Richie Havens was 72: Far too young to leave us.

Richie Havens (Photo: John Davidson)


Sebastião Salgado
To all those who appreciate great photography, there is still time to visit the city of Toronto and view the latest project of world renowned photographer and humanitarian, Sebastião Salgado, during the North American premiere of his mammoth photographic exhibit called Genesis. It is being presented at the Royal Ontario Museum. His work has transformed many and I surely am one of them as I’ve been twice and will go back again this summer at least once more. This work took eight years to complete! The scope of this exhibit of black & white photographs is simply too large for a brief discussion to do much justice here. Just see it. But leave yourself a couple of hours to absorb the images: they are big, rich and there are 240 of them!
On at the ROM in Toronto until September 2, 2013


Florida

It’s always nice to get off the plane knowing that you are in Florida to enjoy yourself with little or no pressure and no schedule. Often, I end up going to the state parks where an abundance of wildlife awaits. 

Myacca (Photo: John Davidson)


One can always manage to get interesting photographs and on some occasions I even meet new friends from my own province. This trip I ended up at Myacca and meeting a lovely couple from Stratford, Ontario, called Scott and Tamara (pronounced ‘camera”). I have continued our friendship and just this past weekend hooked up on Toronto’s waterfront where they took part in the Redpath Tall Ships Festival. Tamara is a wonderful singer and pianist and Scott a fine woodworker and knight.

Tamara & Scott (Photo: John Davidson)


Some other locations I managed to get to; Cortez, Anna Maria Island and Tarpon Springs. Cortez is a favourite place as it is one of the last remaining “real” fishing villages in Florida. 

Fresh Shrimp, Cortez (Photo: John Davidson)


Anna Maria Island is close by and is a laid-back ‘Old Florida’ residential destination known for its white sandy beaches and at times, perhaps too much tourism. But its beauty can’t be denied and yes, I too would love to have a small place on that island.   

 
Holmes Beach (Photo: John Davidson)

Under the Pier (Photo: John Davidson)


Tarpon Springs has the largest Greek-American residency in America. A village called Sponge Docks is a great place to walk around and meet people. Naturally, there is an abundance of restaurants featuring tasty Greek dishes.

Met an older man there called Patrick Cryan. A long time resident who with his full head of hair and youthful grin doesn’t look close to his 82 years. 

Mr Cryan (Photo: John Davidson)



Savannah

While in Florida recently I decided to take a car trip from Sarasota up to Savannah, Georgia. I had heard so many good things about this beautiful historic city. So after seven hours and four hundred miles, I arrived in Savannah.

There is so much to see and taste and hear in Savannah. This city has it all, from great food to fine small hotels, gorgeous architecture and historic buildings. The millions of visitors who annually visit this charming and strategic port city can see first hand the historic impact it had on the American Revolution and Civil War.

There were a number of memorable moments for myself during my brief stay of four days, but mostly I shall let some of the images I shot speak for themselves.


East Broad Street, Savannah (Photo: John Davidson)

Forsyth Park (Photo: John Davidson)

Jones Street (Photo: John Davidson)

 
American Pride (Photo: John Davidson)

Textured Entrance, Savannah (Photo: John Davidson)


Off Jones (Photo: John Davidson)

One thing that I did know about Savannah is that it was the location of a great southern gothic story called Midnight In the Garden of Good and Evil. Written in 1994 by John Berendt, it was later made into a movie directed by Clint Eastwood. Much of the imagery from that film took place at one of Savannah’s most famous landmarks, Bonaventure Cemetery. Located on the banks of the Wilmington River, it is the largest of the city’s cemeteries. While in Savannah I managed two visits. Yes, I had hoped by getting there early enough I might be lucky and experience overcast light created by a thick fog with which to work. That didn’t happen, but I did manage some good images just the same. The incorrectly named Spanish Moss, a flowering plant that hangs in abundance from the Southern Live Oaks, can be seen everywhere in Savannah and especially so at Bonaventure Cemetery. Although the moss is home to snakes, spiders, bats and chiggers (which bite and itch terribly), the overall look of the moss adds to the romantic gothic atmosphere.

 
Bonaventure Moss (Photo: John Davidson)


Untitled, Bonaventure (Photo: John Davidson)

Bonaventure Cemetery (Photo: John Davidson)


While strolling down Whitaker Street I happened upon the beautiful sounds coming from a lute at an outdoor café. The man playing the instrument was a true gentleman and a renaissance man by the name of Chris Kohut. I spent some time in conversation with Chris who very kindly explained his playing techniques and indeed performed for me several of what can only be described as ‘Elizabethan’ pieces. Thanks to Chris’ generous gift, I have a copy of his music to relive those moments we shared.

Chris Kohut (Photo: John Davidson)

Chris' Lute (Photo: John Davidson)


Further on I met a very interesting man called Marion who plays both saxophone and flute. He allowed me to make several photographs of him. I must get copies of the images to him soon. He is also pictured here.

Marion (Photo: John Davidson)


An early dinner Vinnie’s - the ‘best pizza in Savannah’ - turned into a late night, as the fun and conversations lasted hours. This cool place located on Bryan Street is so unique with its low ceilings, taped music, great cold beer, delicious food, cash only policy and delivery by bicycle!

So much to see and discuss and so many serendipitous moments: But not enough time or space here. There will be a return trip.


Other Stuff

A couple of weeks ago I shot some newborn images of a little girl called Raegan. The proud parents, Bernadette and Paul, brought her over to my little studio where she slept and posed for my camera. They were kind enough to allow me to share several images from that day. 

Paul & Raegan (Photo: John Davidson)

Paul, Raegan & Bernadette (Photo: John Davidson)

Raegan (Photo: John Davidson)


Below are some other images that I wish to share.
Their locations are shown below each photograph.

85' Ural, Havana (Photo: John Davidson)

After the Storm, Rural Ontario (Photo: John Davidson)

High Park, Toronto (Photo: John Davidson)

Brigden, Ontario (Photo: John Davidson)

Pink (Photo: John Davidson)


Final Note

Lately I have had this urge to re-visit film. In fact I have already begun 
--> the process. Some of the images above were shot on film. I miss it.

With the exception of the newborn shots, all the images shown here, on previous blogs and many, many more photographs, are all for sale. I can be hired for shoots as well. Please contact me directly for more information. 

Feel free to become a follower of this blog. Yes, I really do hope to update it more often.
Thanks for joining me.

John Davidson Photography
blog:  http://johndavidsonblog.blogspot.com/
email:  davidson.photo@sympatico.ca
tel:  (416) 5765279