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.
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| 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) |
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| 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) |
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| Forsyth Park (Photo: John Davidson) |
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| Jones Street (Photo: John Davidson) |
 | ||
| American Pride (Photo: John Davidson) |
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| Textured Entrance, Savannah (Photo: John Davidson) |
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| 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) |
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Paul & Raegan (Photo: John Davidson) |
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| Paul, Raegan & Bernadette (Photo: John Davidson) |
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| Raegan (Photo: John Davidson) |
Below are some other
images that I wish to share.
Their locations are shown
below each photograph.
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| 85' Ural, Havana (Photo: John Davidson) |
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| After the Storm, Rural Ontario (Photo: John Davidson) |
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| High Park, Toronto (Photo: John Davidson) |
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| Brigden, Ontario (Photo: John Davidson) |
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| 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) 576•5279
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