During my down time, I've recently begun looking back through photo folders from the past. There was one particular day in November of 2007 that I remember quite clearly. My brother and I drove out to Caledon, Ontario where the fog was thick. As we drove I made many exposures, but there were only a couple that I liked. Going through those exposures last week, I found so many great shots that had been ignored 3 years ago! It goes to prove that ones taste does in-fact change with time, and that one should never toss out old negatives! (Or RAW files as the case may be).
www.christianstepien.com | www.dagobahproject.com
My class lining up yesterday.
www.christianstepien.com | www.dagobahproject.com
There are some photos that one just knows will be good even at the moment of exposure. This was one of those. I was with Damien in a cemetery just outside of Belfountain, Ontario when I made this image. It was the perfect combination of subtle light and generous amounts of fog.
www.christianstepien.com | www.dagobahproject.com
I made this exposure back in November of 2007, but I couldn't make it work back then. It's amazing how a few years of experience can change things.
By the way, Happy Birthday, Mom! She turns the big 6-0 today!
www.christianstepien.com | www.dagobahproject.com
The scene a few weeks ago on my drive through Caledon.
The scene on my way home from work a couple of weeks ago. It's the 401 west bound approaching Mavis (I think).
Marina, Katja, Angie and I went to the King Tut exhibit at the A.G.O. last night. I was really bummed that photography was prohibited in the exhibit, but I did manage to snap this image of O.C.A.D. It's like a looming, cubic UFO!
I forgot to post this one back in December! It's the last of the series from Christmas.
This was the scene a couple of weeks ago on a drive through Caledon, my home away from home.
This is the barn that Lola hangs out in when she's looking for an adventure. She walks through the holes straight ahead.
I really didn't like this image when I made it back in October of 2007. It's since grown on me.
A really foggy day in October of 2007. This was made in the Grange Equestrian Village in Caledon, Ontario.
I took my students down the the marsh beside our school this morning. The sun was just above the horizon, and it was making the snow flakes glitter in the air. It was like living in a snow globe.
This is the entrance to the "Exchange Hotel" in Hillsburgh, Ontario. Well, it's the horse entrance. This hotel has been there since...I believe the 1820's. It was for sale a couple of years ago for just over $400 000, which was a steal. I wish I could have picked it up.
The other night in front of my building.
I got to hold the bloody olympic torch today! Holy crap! A co-workers son was running with it when it passed through Mississauga, and he brought it to school today to show the kids. It still has the char marks on it! Freakin' awesome!
Yep, it's Christmas #2 again! My wife, being Serbian Orthodox, celebrates Christmas on January 7th every year. It works out great for me because I get double of the holiday that I love (minus the time off, of course). This was made last night at the Serbian Orthodox church on the corner of Dixie and Dundas in Mississauga.
I was talking to my brother last week about how many views he's had over at www.melonmanmedia.com, and it got me wondering how many I've had here at the Dagobah Project. I found that my images have been viewed over 28000 times by people literally all over the world! If you stop to think about that number...it's absolutely staggering.
I then thought about which image was the most viewed, and it turns out to be this one. Made on August 5, 2007 and posted 2 days later, it alone has over 1600 views. What's even more amazing is that it was made with an old point and shoot from the top of my Dad's condo building on Front and Jarvis.
I don't often stop to think of the impact technology plays on our art (let alone life), but when something like this occurs...it's just mind blowing.
So thank you to everyone who has ever visited either my Flickr page, my blog (www.dagobahproject.com), or my website (www.christianstepien.com). I'll do my best to keep them comin' for ya!
In answer to your questions: No, I have never seen the show or know what it's about (but it's fun trying to say "Chad Michael Murray" 3 times fast). Yes, I realize the image is completely unoriginal and cliche. But damnit...when you see a scene like this, you've just got to make the exposure!
This is Buddy, Lola's 17 year old friend (so, factoring in the 7 dog years per 1 human year, we're lookin' at a 119 year old senior citizen). He barked at me when I first arrived, but I didn't take offense seeing as how my grandfather does the same.
Lola's friend, who loves playing fetch with the soccer ball.
My brother-in-law holding a gigantic Lola a couple of days ago. She's not even a year old yet! I can't believe how big she's become. If you want to see puppy pictures of her, check out my Lola set.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope all of you had a great time last night! We partied until the wee hours of the morning, and I'm feelin' it.
So, in keeping with my now 4 year tradition, I went through the images on my blog and picked my absolute favourites to go into my eFolio, "Blog 2009". You can download it (in .pdf format) here by "right clicking" on the link and saving it to your computer, or just click the link normally to view it online.
Enjoy!
