Two reasons for this post: First, I'm now based out of Vancouver! It's been a long time coming and a super hectic and busy last few months, but I can't wait to get shooting out west! And second, to let you know about some of my recent clients for using my photos:

First off, thanks to Sea Kayaker Magazine for running an image of mine on their Summer 2010 issue on stands now. Published 6 times a year, this is the July/August issue. Great articles inside, so check them out!

Sea Kayaker Magazine, July/August 2010 issue, Cover photo by Kamil Bialous.

Black Diamond for using an image of mine from the Tombstone Mountains in the Yukon featuring their Oasis Tent. Found on the BD website Journal/Mountain page.

Black Diamond Equipment Ltd., Journal/Moutaqin website, background image by Kamil Bialous.

And here's the full image:

Camped on the Yukon Tundra. Black Diamond tent in use. Photo: Kamil Bialous.

Superior Outdoors Magazine, for running this image in their inside Gallery Section of their Summer 2010 issue:

Usrzula Lipsztajn paddling into Richardson Cove on the north shore of Lake Superior, Ontario, Canada. We dubbed this place, "The Bahamas" for its clear, warm water. Photo: Kamil Bialous.

And to Mountain Equipment Co-op for using this image, of whitewater paddler David Manning on the Kananaskis River in Alberta, for the online promotion of their 2010 SweetSpots video contest.

Paddler David Manning on the Kananaskis River in Alberta. Image use: Mountain Equipment Co-op, online promotion of 2010 Sweet Spots Video Contest. Photo: Kamil Bialous.

Thanks for reading.

Talk soon,

Kamil

Tags: bd, clients, equipment, kayaking, MEC, mountain, mountain Equipment Co-op, published, recent work, sea kayaker magazine, summer, superior outdoors magazine, sweet spots, tent, vancouver, yukon.

A few weeks ago, working with one of my favourite and loyal clients- MEC Toronto store, we set out to create a series of portraits that would be used to promote an upcoming event in Toronto called MEC Bikefest hosted by Mountain Equipment Co-op.

To view the entire series on my portfolio site, click here.

The event is held on Saturday July 3rd, 2010 in the Liberty Village area of Toronto and will feature a whole lotta cool things bikes and cycling. If you cycle, you should be going - period. Here are the event details on the MEC site.

MEC Bikefest Toronto portraits series. Photo by Kamil Bialous.

MEC Bikefest Toronto portraits series. Photo by Kamil Bialous.

MEC Bikefest Toronto portraits series. Photo by Kamil Bialous.

Our ideas were that the final images should be square cropped, to be able to collage well into a 3X3 tile. I wanted relatively tight framing on the cyclists faces, looking at the camera and engaging the viewer, as well as their bikes to be a part of their personality, so framing was a bit tricky to come up with different poses. A bit cheesy and quirky was also on the menu, which I believe I hit.  Thankfully, I worked with a bunch of super cool MEC staff who were very accommodating and excellent models, so thank you to them! Knowing most of them, I can tell you that even though they were "models" for this shoot all of them are great and committed cyclist and excellent people.

So - technically speaking -  I shot vertically for easier framing visualization of a square crop, keeping things super mobile with a single light so that we could walk around the streets of Toronto and look for the right set up. Conversion was simple, I wanted to keep colour, and a bit of edge without being over the top. I always liked the tones of ektachrome film, so I toned it with a bit of magenta and blue. I think it works for this project. Client super happy and me super happy. The idea was to get people to represent all sides of cycling in the city, from the hipster fixie (Thanks Adrian, sorry.) to the long distance commuter (Thanks Steve!) and everyone in between.

Just like the theme of MEC Bikefest, it's not about riding a particular type of bike, it's about cycling in general, and participating in a culture that accepts an alternative mode of transportation to motor vehicle as a viable way to get around the city. It's not about only MEC bikes either, it's about whatever your ride, and your reasons for it.

Enjoy, and keep it lubed. Always!

Love,

Kamil Bialous

Tags: bike, bikefest, cycling, cyclist, fest, MEC, mountain Equipment Co-op, photos, portrait, riding, series, toronto, urban.

Thanks to Mountain Equipment Co-op, Adventure Kayak, and Rapid Mag for running my images recently.

MEC Spring + Summer Catalog, "Packs" pg. 44.

Hikers Urszula Lipsztajn and Carolyn Wendt, Yukon, Canada.

Mountain Equipment Co-op, Spring + Summer 2010 Catalogue, Packs Section. Photo by Kamil Bialous.

Adventure Kayak, Early Summer 2010 issue, "Stills" double page spread, pg. 10.

Kayakers Paul Bredin and Alan Hamilton, Lake Superior, Ontario, Canada.

My image:

Adventure Kayak, Early Summer 2010 issue, "Stills" double page spread. "Dawn Start - Floating Heart Bay, Lake Superior" Photo by Kamil Bialous.

Issue Cover: (cover image by Michael Paul Franklin)

Adventure Kayak, Early Summer 2010 issue Cover, Cover photo by Michael Paul Franklin.

Please check out the entire issue of Adventure Kayak Magazine for free online here - email required.

Rapid Magazine, Early Summer 2010, "Watercolours" pg 12.

Kayaker Isabelle Filion, Kananaskis River, Alberta, Canada.

My Image:

Rapid Mag, Early Summer 2010 issue, "Watercolours" pg. 12. Photo by Kamil Bialous.

Issue Cover: (cover image by Darin McQuoid)

Rapid Mag, Early Summer 2010 issue Cover, Cover photo by Darin McQuiod.

Please check out the entire issue of Rapid Magazine for free online here - email required.

Now stop reading this, get out there and do something outdoors!

Cheers,

Kamil Bialous

Tags: adventure, adventure kayak magazine, alberta, banff centre, catalog, hiking, kananaskis, kayaking, lake superior, magazine, MEC, mountain Equipment Co-op, ontario outdoors photography, published, rapid magazine, river, tear sheet.

Chris Velan performs at MEC in Toronto in support of 1% for the Planet. Photo by Kamil Bialous.

Chris Velan is an uber talented musician from Montreal, whose I recently got to hear live at Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) in Toronto. Why at MEC? Well, he's on a cross-Canada tour promoting his latest album, Solidago, of which 1% of sales go to environmental initiatives, but also this: his partnership with One Per Cent for the Planet, his partnership with Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) and for years, MEC has been a partner in both those organizations as well.

Anyways, I got to to listen to his hour-or-so-long set, and I must say it was excellent. I was there to some some images of Chris for the promotion of his last part of the tour, and I hope it's great, because the music is definitely awesome. A rootsy, folky, touches of reggae, bounce your head, tap your foot type of music, with layered acoustic loops created by Chris right in front of you with the use of his guitar and voice. Awesome stuff. Reminded me of Andrew Bird a little bit, although a bit more upbeat, I guess.

Please check out the links, and at least become educated about the following environmental causes:

1% For The Planet http://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society http://www.cpaws.org/

And of course check out Chris Velan on his website http://chrisvelan.com/ and his music on iTunes.

Ok enough, I know you came here for the photos. For the photo geeks (like myself) lenses used: 85 f1.8, 50 f1.8, 17-35 f2.8, 70-200 f4 -all Nikon. I'll let the uber geeks guess the body. Store lighting isn't always the most flattering or easiest to deal with when large hot spots appear on the subjects face as the sun crests a window. With a little post work, all looks good. (to me at least) What do you think? Enjoy! Peace.

Chris Velan performs at MEC in Toronto in support of 1% for the Planet. Photo by Kamil Bialous.

Chris Velan performs at MEC in Toronto in support of 1% for the Planet. Photo by Kamil Bialous.

Chris Velan performs at MEC in Toronto in support of 1% for the Planet. Photo by Kamil Bialous.

Chris Velan performs at MEC in Toronto in support of 1% for the Planet. Photo by Kamil Bialous.

Chris Velan performs at MEC in Toronto in support of 1% for the Planet. Photo by Kamil Bialous.

Chris Velan performs at MEC in Toronto in support of 1% for the Planet. Photo by Kamil Bialous.

Chris Velan performs at MEC in Toronto in support of 1% for the Planet. Photo by Kamil Bialous.

Chris Velan performs at MEC in Toronto in support of 1% for the Planet. Photo by Kamil Bialous.

Chris Velan performs at MEC in Toronto in support of 1% for the Planet. Photo by Kamil Bialous.

Tags: 1% for the Planet, Chris Velan, concert, cpaws, in-store, live, MEC, mountain Equipment Co-op, photography, solidago, The Big Wild, toronto.