So I have. These photos include our trip form Fort McMurray to Vancouver. Most of the pictures can’t adequately fit into more specifics, so, this is just a random album.

Well enjoy!

I miss these days, getting up early and being outside in the cool summer-morning breeze. Got this picture when I was on my way to the UBC Bus Loop from St. John’s College.

I love contrast when I comes to photos, not talking about the high-contrats fashion shoots, but contrast in a more black and white photo and so that is why I liked this photo. I got to work a little bit early and I was walking on Granville Street and saw two guys clearing our a former restaurant. That wasn’t what drew me, it was the silhouettes that made this photo for me.

I love the night feel of this photo, while it was shot on a very sunny morning, and not super early morning but around 9AM. That is what I loved about this photo. It offers some confusion, especially when converted to B&W.

During the sunset a few days ago, Lindsey and I went to Jericho Park. While we were there I got a picture of a duckling lit by the amber sunset light. I couldn’t stay long to take many more, the territorial ducks were very prevocational toward me…

This shot almost felt like a movie to me. I love how the sun shined through the grass, but also how it lights the grass itself.

I love this photo of Lindsey. It was one that I found as I went back through the last shoot. This goes to show you that you may find a great photo, even after you think you are done with an event.

I thought this photo was pretty fun, not only because of the water, but the colors of the fire hydrant really help give that summer fun feel.

Got this photo a few nights ago at the Festival of Lights. This one was hosted by China. Definitely the best firework display I have seen. It made me realize how much I missed by not witnessing the other countries that hosted the festival this year.

Motion makes moments is how I like to think of it. The sway of the crowd past the cop made this photo for me. It almost feels like the situation is a lot worse than it actually is. I remember when I took this photo that people were all laughing and having a good time, but this photo doesn’t convey any of that attitude.

I know I’ve shown this image before. Probably in the past day or two, but I really like it so I think it is worth another show. Shadows, lines, motion and flares are some elements that create my favorite environments to shoot in. This photo has so many of the aforementioned elements. I love how the morning sun just cuts part of the Arts center in separate segments. Then you add the young lady running across and and there you have it. A photo that looks like it belongs to another era, okay maybe it would if I made it B&W.

Another photo by the Vancouver Arts Gallery. This was taken when I left work a few days ago. I was leaving and the first thing that caught my eyes was the color of the ground, wherever the sun touches. Then after that I looked at the silhouetted couple talking in front of the water fountain. Those two aspects drew me in.

This man is obviously a highly-skilled artist. I’ve seen him make various legendary works, including the works of Rembrandt and Di Vinci, he also made a portrait of President Obama. But anyway I love the couple that is watching him paint here.

I’m so glad I used my 50mm for this shot, it wouldn’t have looked the same had it been shot with the 24-70.

On our trip from Fort McMurray we drove through Jasper National Park and that is where we found these guys. The were just hanging out on the shoulder of the highway as cars were passing them by, a few even sat down to watch people, I thought that was ironic.

This was one of the peaks were drove in Jasper National Park. I don’t have much to say about this photo, other than I thought the mountains in Canada are absolutely breathtaking.

Another photo of mountains, but this one has a more moody feel to it. Probably from the ominous clouds in the sky.

This was a photo I took when my Mom was making me Kashmiri Chai. If you haven’t ever had it, it is amazing. Just take my word for it. Starbucks can suck it! Hassan OUT!

Took this shot outside my parents house in Fort Mac. I always adored the lines my parents house created during sunset so one particularly beautiful night I went out and got this photo. Just to keep this in perspective, I took this photo at 11PM at night.

This always makes me smile and then feel sorry for the cute/sad dog. I don’t really know much of what to say to the fella but I did manage to freeze this photo. Every time I see this photo I think about how sad this pup was and how much he just wanted to come out to the party.

This photo really got me. Lindsey and I were heading to the Peter Pond Mall in Fort Mac and I saw these two kids pretending to be driving or flying planes, either way, they were going places. SO I thought I’d be a backseat driver and take a photo of their awesomeness.This really photo is kind of neat but feels very somber to me.This really photo is kind of neat but feels very somber to me.

This really photo is kind of neat but feels very somber to me.

So anyway, thse are but some of the images from the past month and half.  Lesson: don’t procrastinate!!

]]> http://hassanarshad.com/photojournalism/2010/08/procrastination-is-the-lame-but-ill-get-into-that-later/feed/ 3 http://hassanarshad.com/photojournalism/2010/05/local-elementary-school-talent-show/ http://hassanarshad.com/photojournalism/2010/05/local-elementary-school-talent-show/#comments Sat, 08 May 2010 22:02:22 +0000 Hassan Arshad http://hassanarshad.com/photojournalism/?p=2974 It has been a busy few weeks, from working full-time at the day job, to freelancing, designing, blogging and helping others with their blogs. Okay “from and to” sentence structures weren’t ready for me, its okay I give myself a pass for working while my brain is in mush mode. So back to what I was saying, last week was busy, and one of the many events I got to photograph was a talent show at a local elementary school in Fort McMurray. I took on this event as a freelance assignment for Fort McMurray Today and so I thought I would put up the images I didn’t use.

On a side note I feel like I should mention that I did get to the show late, I made it to the last four performances and I have to say I was very impressed. The children did a wonderful job and what I loved about the talent show was its diversity. I saw a girl no older than six have better motor functions than myself… Needless to say I felt pretty pathetic…

The kids did a wonderful job, I only wish I could have been there sooner.

I would usually caption these images but there isn’t all that much to caption.  Most of the images are self explanatory.

Well it wasn’t too bad though, because I did manage to sneak out for an hour  to go to the local skateboard park to take some pictures of skateboarders and BMXers, well maybe it shouldn’t be plural, because when I got there it was before school was out for the day and  there was only one person there, but another showed up sooner after and more people did show up while I was leaving.

So I got to take pictures of Todd Sparkes, a skateboarder that works at Syncrude  and Mike, a BMX rider, (didn’t get his last name) who works at Albian Sands.   They were both great to work with and did some great moves on their respective tools.  I was only there for about 30 minutes but I got some great stuff and I am very appreciative of both Todd and Mike for their willingness to have pictures taken.

Afterwards I got back to the office, uploaded the images and waited for my third interview with Apple.  The interview went quite well and I am feeling fairly optimistic, but I’m still keeping my fingers crossed.   I did have a good time and I’m glad the interview went well, but I do wish I was able to get the images I needed for National Forest Week.

P.S.  I’m not a skateboard expert, or anywhere near that designation, so please be patient with my caption descriptions, because they were tough to write.

Todd's skateboard on top of the half-pipe.

Todd Sparkes sits on his skateboard to pose for a portrait.

Todd Sparkes performs another skateboard trick at the top of the half-pipe

Todd Sparkes portrait

Todd skateboards to the top of the half-pipe and stays up there for a few seconds.

Todd Sparkes comes down the half-pike.

Todd Sparkes skateboards along the half-pike in the skateboard park in Fort McMurray.

Mike Callan takes another run at the half-pipe

Mike readies himself for the half-pipe

Mikes does a really high BMX jump

Mike stands atop the half-pipe for a portrait.

Mike does another trick.

Mike does another BMX trick with a high jump

Another great move by Mike

The Slush Cup started at 1 pm and lasted until 4 pm and all the while children and young adults attempted to make it across the water. While most didn’t make it all the way, many did make it across.  Besides the obvious reasons not to think you can make it across the pool, it was also a lot chillier than it had been in recent days and cold and wet are never a good combination.

It was an interesting event and I had a blast covering it. I got to meet some great people and I also got the chance to see some great snow action.

I hope I can come back next year, but we’ll have to see what’s going on.

Two children follow their friend down the slope.

A wider shot of the Slush Cup

A skier goes through the pool of water as the crowd watches on.

The crowd smiles as the snow boarder makes it across the slush bare bottomed

A snow boarder wields his light saber as he tries to make it across the slush cup.

Jeffery Stodola attempts to make it across the slush cup, instead he fell face first into the pool and lost a tooth in the process.

A skier goes down slope as I am on the lift out of the Slush Cup.

A mother and son enjoy the lift back to the top as their skies dangle on the way up there.

A snow boarder goes over the Slush Cup

The same snow boarder from the image before goes face first into the pool.

Daniel Granger in full super hero regalia hydroplanes on top of the pool. He made it all the way across the pool.

These images were taken during a training session they did on the frozen Athabasca River in Fort McMurray.  The trainers will take 3 to 5 days to run the 300 kilometers.

I will add more information when I get it from Ben Ricetto, who is making a documentary on these runners.

Hassan Arshad

I took pictures pictures of my famous cat, Mr. Kitty, she is constantly making sure I do my work and yes she is only famous to me and people in my family. I took a walk around my neigherborhood and took a few pictures in the snow and then I snapped some when Lindsey and I went to Earls.

Enjoy the random pictures.

Kitty watches me while I was watching television.

I took this image of the doors we were sitting while we were waiting at Earl’s.

Earls sign

A bottle of Johnnie Walker Black sits on a table at my friend Chris' place.

Kitty offers some critiques of an image I took outside my house.

Kitty makes sure I am doing my work

A picture of my new chucks out in the snow. I liked the contrast and negative space and this always also a BOOYAH, to all those naysayers who said I would freeze my feet If I wore these shoes. Little did they know. Okay my feet were cold but it was worth it because I got to Booya…

A picture of our neighbors Christmas decorations.

Our street corner.

I loved the dark and ominous portrayal of Mr. Kitty, this picture is probably the most accurate description of her character.

I took this image while I was at a red light and this monstrous snow truck came next to me. I loved the contrasting colors and the sheer size of the truck.

The lecture was very interesting and I throughly enjoyed it.  It was very informative because, he not only discussed the politics behind the issue but talked about how it impacted average Albertans.  He argued that oil from Alberta should not be the only energy resources that is scrutinized.  Mr. Manning suggested that scrutinizing wind and solar energies as much as oil would be a good solution to find more efficient ways to regulate each industry, respectively.

He also discussed the lack of enthusiasm seen bythe younger electorate at the polls.  A question from the crowd prompted a joke response: “My answer was conscription.” he said jokingly “I think that would be the best and most efficient way to get people involved.”

This was a good lecture to go to if you are living in Fort McMurray, which happens to be where all the oil sands are in Alberta.

Mr. Manning answers a question about getting young people involved in elections by joking with the idea of using conscription or the draft. He felt it was a good way to motivate the younger people to have a say in the elections

A man listens to Mr. Manning during the lecture.

Mr. Manning spoke about the fairness regulation should have in the energy field. He said if the oil sands are regulated and investigated then so should wind or solar energy.