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.

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.

My current favourite Canadian band, Cuff The Duke, played a concert Lee's Palace in Toronto about a month ago, and I got a chance to shoot the show for the band. Shortly after, or more likely shortly before this show, they were nominated for a Juno - Canadian equivalent of a Grammy, except significantly more badass, although less glamorous and the millions don't immediately start pouring in.

All the best to these guys, I really dig their music. Check them out live, they are really talented, and put on an awesome show. Enjoy the images! http://www.cufftheduke.ca

Wayne Petti from Cuff the Duke. Lee's Palace, Toronto. March 28, 2010.

Corey Wood from Cuff the Duke. Lee's Palace, Toronto. March 28, 2010.

Dale Murray from Cuff the Duke. Lee's Palace, Toronto. March 28, 2010.

Paul Lowman from Cuff the Duke. Lee's Palace, Toronto. March 28, 2010.

Wayne Petti from Cuff the Duke. Lee's Palace, Toronto. March 28, 2010.

Wayne Petti and Dale Murray from Cuff the Duke. Lee's Palace, Toronto. March 28, 2010.

Wayne Petti from Cuff the Duke. Lee's Palace, Toronto. March 28, 2010.

Cuff the Duke. Lee's Palace, Toronto. March 28, 2010.

Peace!

Kamil Bialous

Tags: alt-country, band, canadian, concert, corey wood, cuff the duke, juno, lee's palace, live, nominee, photo of, photography, rock, toronto, toronto concert photographer, wayne petti.

Diana portrait. Toronto. 2009.

I had a very enjoyable portrait shoot with a friend of mine in Toronto recently. Not a big deal at all, just single light with a reflector, on black backdrop. I tried to really slow down when shooting and take fewer frames as opposed to just gunning it. More talking and listening, guiding the subject a bit more, and always having fun. While I shoot quite a few environmental portraits, they are often shot in a journalistic style without too much input from the photographer (me).

Diana portrait. Toronto. 2009.

In the new year, I look forward to shooting many more environmental portraits with the amazing cast of characters I'm no doubt going to cross paths with in the adventure world. Let's try to put together a collection of images that put a face to the act, so-to-speak. To all the climbers, skiers, kayakers, and runners, people of adventure and city rats - I'm looking for your mug. Let's get together and make some cool photos.

See ya this year.

Kamil

Tags: adventure athletes, call for subjects, environemntal portraits, lighting, portrait, toronto.