Bold and Vivid studio project

A few month ago, my friend Daniel and I started Shooting out of a studio in the Glebe in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Being a co op of sort regrouping like minded individuals sharing rent on a nice but rather small place good for a starting photographers.

As the ideas and the demand grew , the place started to loose it's appeal and we started to look for a new place to call our own.

I started looking for possible places and the truth showed it's ugly face, office space are not to expensive to rent but does not work having  need of 10' minimum ceiling height , warehouses are best for high ceiling but too big and expensive for our budget.

The first hybrid place we've found was a perfect fit a storage place in the back with high ceilings and a small office in front , but after all the work we put into getting it, including a few postponed rendezvous the owner did not agree to the yearly lease we wanted.

Back to the despair of searching , gloom and doom our likely bread and then it smack me in the face , a work shop was for rent in the online adds with 12'+ ceiling ,garage door an office and break room/show room in the back of it, for an affordable price .

The owner was skeptic at first to think that  photographers would need an old car-wash as a studio but He has an open mind and is ready to the challenge as are we.

More to come in the this saga.

Hard efforts turn into rewards

I guess that wandering everywhere with my camera is starting to pay off.  The Autumn issue of  Photo News Magazine published two of my photos this month, and they sent me some lovely gifts.  While the National Geographic accessory bags are great, it’s the exposure in a national magazine that’s the real prize.   It feels amazing to have my work be recognized by other photographers.  

Check out the Photo News Magazine’s web page. for my photos on page 11 and 12 , also  It  has loads of articles on new gear, and gives some great tutorials on techniques.

http://www.photonews.ca/?page_id=76#Autumn2011

Thank you to ZAK media www.zakmedia.ca

Amplis Foto for the lovely gifts

and to Jaques Dumont, publisher of Photo news magazine for validating my efforts to become a better photographer.

Smoke and Fire

Studio 77 77 5th Ave. Ottawa, ON
Alex Lukey Photography and Ryan McCosham Photography will be holding a 2 day exhibition of their new respective series, Smoke and Fire. Friday, September 23, 2011 from 7pm-10pm. Saturday, September 24, 2011 from 12pm-5pm The photographs will be on stretched archival canvas, and limited edition prints will be sold during the event. Feel free to stop by during those times. There will be food, refreshments and great company! To stay updated on the event you can also visit these sites: www.alexlukey.com   www.ryanmccosham.com
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=239669789408400

Bridal shoot behind the camera

 Here is a video of our behind the seen on our bridal photo shoot done at Studio 77 in the Glebe and at a park near it ,the video in a little dark from the studio light but the photos are awesome, the sound track is from a medieval group from Quebec called Estavel ensemble hope you enjoy.

MMA shoot behind the camera

I have one of my step son involved in MMA, he is practising with one of the big club

in Ottawa it is called Team Bushido.

Now being part of the Studio 77 in the Glebe ,i was hitching to try it 

 requesting shots of himself was a good reason to make some photography.

It is a very nice studio open concept , high ceiling the bomb,all i needed

was some MMA action to get it done.

The shoot went good a lot a photos got taken in a very fast time

  usual when the flow is good.

Got to keep the Model happy and he was all those action shot are awesome,

now to the post processing.

From this raw picture

To this

A growing boy skin is not always the best for the camera, 

the rest of the photos is what turned out enjoy.

Awesome photos and a good day shooting.

Craz E skills at the Ottawa dragon boat races

I decided to go and cover the Dragon Boat Festival at Mooney's bay.  There was a lot of traffic, music and noise from all sides; but one announcer steered me toward where the real action was  happening .

This is the Craz E Crew.  It’s not just a catchy name, because these guys do completely insane stunts.

There tricks are off the wall!!!

 

Insane air and true showmanship.  I can’t even imagine how many years of practice it takes to perform these moves.

 

 

Some tricks I had never seen before,  like this full flip.   You really have to trust someone to have them do a 360 over your head.  

The intensity on his face shows the dedication to their sport. 

Clearing the competition above and beyond.

  I’m glad I had the opportunity to capture the Craz E Crew.  While I didn’t know they were appearing at the Dragon Boat Festival, I was lucky to catch the fine performance of these extreme athletes.  Check them out on their Web site at http://www.crazecrew.com/

Action packed day at the centre point theatre skate bowl

I am truly behind the eight ball on this blog thing, there is more action and events than time to get it all in a timely fashion, so bare with me and i will try to get it all on.

A few week ago i had the chance to meet a group of athletes doing there thing, at the skate bowl near the centre point theatre .

It was a good day not to warm compare to the melting high heat of the pas week.

Regardless they come all to this place to commune with the adrenaline filed sport they like with a rare passion.

Peoples of all ages use and abused there skate or bmx to perfect there tricks , to make it second nature.

It is also a dangerous place for a photographer ,having your attention on the action makes you unaware of you surrounding and susceptible to collisions. 

Or near misses, just got passed by with less than 12 inches, felt the change in the air and he was gone.

I had a good time taking awesome photos of the future of extreme sport in Ottawa and hope to do this again soon. 

Just a good time for incredable photography

Extreme skills at the Orleans skate park

This week i had the privilege to take photos of some talented BMX riders doing there thing at the Orleans skate park.

All of those photos where taken as they were giving there all.

enjoy.

The day was warm and the tricks Hot.

The height of the tricks whet up with the interest of being on camera.

Higher and longer in the blue yonder .

Or down low where we can show it off.

But don't think for a second that doing ground tricks is the only thing this awesome athlete can do.

Crazier and crazier the tricks got.

Suspended in mid air , timeless grace.

Non stop the action, relentless .

A good day for photos...

Thank you to all the athletes, advance and new for there help, and for those awesome photos.

Fast times at the Orleans soapbox race

On Saturday June 11, 2011 I had the chance to take photos of the fifth edition of the Orleans soap box race.
This event is a good opportunity for families to pass quality family time in a friendly competitive setting, where the best builders and drivers prevail.

This set of photos are a testimony to the more than 80 participants of this year's race, and also to the organizers and all families and friends working to make it happen.
 
This is for you enjoy.
 

The cars in their colourful glory, and close by are their drivers preparing their race strategies.

The classic and minimalist forms make these vehicles fast and efficient. 

Old champions are now giving the chance to other generations, by passing the wheel of their speeding fury to their kids to go on as champs. 

Some find ways to relieve the pressure and the anticipation of the race.

The rules and regulations are passed to the drivers. Safety is imperative, but fun is the prime objective. 

The starting line officials are ready, and the races will soon start.

The cars are fast going down the hill, going up to a speed more than 30 km/h

With speed comes concentration.

The drivers are one with their car. 

Some heats are closer than others. 

And as the categories got to the pros, the speed got faster.

Some drivers come from out of town for this event.  This driver is from Laval Quebec. 

A serious driver doing up to five races per year from all over Ontario and Quebec .

His dedication shows in his speed going down the track.
 

A beautiful day for racing.

A big thank you to the Orleans Soap Box Derby 2011 organizers for allowing RA photography to capture some of those precious moments.  See you next year!