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Life on Mars

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“
 Mars, Antarctica or Mount Everest Base Camp might be warmer alternatives for some Canadians on Thursday, as the country faces an epic cold snap that has plunged the mercury to record-setting lows in many regions. ”
— ctvnews.ca

Last year it was polar vortex. This year it’s bombogenesis. Out here in the northern lands, away from sensationalist headlines, we just call it bloody damn cold.

Of course, some clueless fool will surely jump at the opportunity: “See! Global warming=total hoax! Fake news!”. It’ll probably be on Twitter and Twitter won’t care, probably followed by the word sad and a few spelling mistakes. And weather patterns will keep shifting, and hurricanes will keep blowing...blow, blow, blow the house down.

But hey...we’ll get a few fun words out of it.

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Addendum: a week later and the rain hasn’t stopped for two days. It’s 10ºC. In Quebec. In January.

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seven suns

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BY VINCENT BALDENSPERGER

Noëllia et Gaël ont une passion commune, la liberté. Concepteurs, créateurs, artisans, tous deux réalisent des longboards haut de gamme aux finitions exemplaires. Matériaux, design, tonalités graphiques, performances, rien n'est laissé au hasard. De la découpe aux finitions manuelles, ponçage, peinture, vernis, assemblage, les deux artistes de la glisse démontrent leur savoir-faire. 7 suns, leur signature la plus lumineuse, magique, positive...

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Noëllia and Gaël share a passion: freedom. Designers, creators and artisans, they both produce exquisite high-end longboards. Nothing is left to chance: materials, graphics and performance are all top notch. From the very first cut through each finishing step, these artists shine. 7 Suns, their luminous signature, magical, positive... 

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Life Between Trains

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Life Between Trains

For ten days, we race around the country, often unsure of our exact location.

Coming as we did from near-summer in Australia to near-winter in Japan, the angle of light and the shortness of the days strike me most; when we arrive at our destination for the night, as often as not it is getting dark, the shadows are deep.

But between the rushing forward, there are moments of tranquility; even in the bustle of cities, among the crowded tourist spots, the giant car parks full of buses.

A time for prayer; an ice cream cone; a flight of birds; an evening shower.

7x020

Spirit of LightDerek Clark | X-Pro2 - 16-55mm f2.8 (22.7mm) - ISO3200 - f/4 - 1/40 sec

Spirit of Light
Derek Clark | X-Pro2 - 16-55mm f2.8 (22.7mm) - ISO3200 - f/4 - 1/40 sec

Street VendorBert Stephani | X100F - ISO2000 - f/2 - 1/160

Street Vendor
Bert Stephani | X100F - ISO2000 - f/2 - 1/160

Entry via the gate(s), Kyoto
Robert Catto | X-T2, 18mm f/2. 1/250 at f/8, ISO 200.

Mr. PinkJonas Rask | GFX50s, Mitakon 85mm f/1.2, 1/125, ISO 800.

Mr. Pink
Jonas Rask | GFX50s, Mitakon 85mm f/1.2, 1/125, ISO 800.

Eloiz
Vincent Baldensperger | X-Pro2. | 35mm 1/125 at f/1.6, ISO 100.

Take out, after the conferencePatrick La Roque | X100F. 1/125 at f/2, ISO 2000.

Take out, after the conference
Patrick La Roque | X100F. 1/125 at f/2, ISO 2000.

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Life at 320 Frames Per Second

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Life at 320 Frames Per Second

It takes a little getting used to - the constant rushing forward.

Travelling by Shinkansen, Japan's high-speed rail system, feels at first like a plane taking off; but, you never quite achieve flight, and the acceleration seems endless.

Out the window, anything close is passing to quickly to focus on; so you adjust to a series of glimpses, of passing cities, farms, stations. And, occasionally, a human form - a face, a shape, a silhouette. A flicker of life outside the metal tube...

7x019

Double ExposureDerek Clark | X-Pro2 - 35mm f1.4 - ISO200 - f/1.4 - 1/850 sec

Double Exposure
Derek Clark | X-Pro2 - 35mm f1.4 - ISO200 - f/1.4 - 1/850 sec

Sunset RunBert Stephani | GFX50S - 63mm - ISO100 - f/4 - 1/1000

Sunset Run
Bert Stephani | GFX50S - 63mm - ISO100 - f/4 - 1/1000

Shinjuku ShadowRobert Catto | X-T2, 35mm f/1.4. 1/280 at f/10, ISO 400.

Shinjuku Shadow
Robert Catto | X-T2, 35mm f/1.4. 1/280 at f/10, ISO 400.

Dancing with Dad on my Wedding DayKevin Mullins | X-T2, 16mm f1.4 lens. 1/250 at f/1.4, ISO 200.

Dancing with Dad on my Wedding Day
Kevin Mullins | X-T2, 16mm f1.4 lens. 1/250 at f/1.4, ISO 200.

Lack ofJonas Rask | GFX50s, Canon 85mm f/1.4, 1/4000, ISO 100.

Lack of
Jonas Rask | GFX50s, Canon 85mm f/1.4, 1/4000, ISO 100.

Aliya
Vincent Baldensperger | X-Pro2. 1/125 at f/2.5, ISO 100.

ElectroPatrick La Roque | GFX 50S. 1/125 at f/11, ISO 400.

Electro
Patrick La Roque | GFX 50S. 1/125 at f/11, ISO 400.

7x018

Mr. Purple
Jonas Dyhr Rask | X100F - 23mm - ISO1250 - f/3.6 - 1/60s

Berlin ScreamDerek Clark | X70 - 18.5mm - ISO2500 - f/5.6 - 1/500s

Berlin Scream
Derek Clark | X70 - 18.5mm - ISO2500 - f/5.6 - 1/500s

JenBert Stephani | GFX50S - 63mm - ISO160 - f/4 - 1/125s

Jen
Bert Stephani | GFX50S - 63mm - ISO160 - f/4 - 1/125s

LAROQUE-november-02.jpg

Too much sun for Halloween
Patrick La Roque | X100F. 1/4700 at f/2.0, ISO 200.

Victorian Spring, MelbourneRobert Catto | X-T2, 35mm f/1.4. 1/1900 at f/2.8, ISO 400.

Victorian Spring, Melbourne
Robert Catto | X-T2, 35mm f/1.4. 1/1900 at f/2.8, ISO 400.

My New York ViewKevin Mullins | X-E3, 23mm f/2. 1/320 at f/5.6, ISO 200.

My New York View
Kevin Mullins | X-E3, 23mm f/2. 1/320 at f/5.6, ISO 200.

7X016

Mountain/ManDerek Clark | X-Pro2, 1/4000 sec at f4.5, ISO 640 (35mm f2 R WR)

Mountain/Man

Derek Clark | X-Pro2, 1/4000 sec at f4.5, ISO 640 (35mm f2 R WR)

Chez Patrick

Robert Catto | X-Pro 1, 1/125s at f/2.0, ISO 2000 (35mm f/1.4)

kevin-mullins.jpg

Size Matters

Kevin Mullins | GFX 50S, GF45mm F2.8 W R Lens, 1/500s at f/8, ISO 1,600

© Vincent Baldensperger

EVOL

Vincent Baldensperger | X-Pro 2, 1/250s at f/8.0, ISO 200 (56mm f/1.2)

Boy / manBert Stephani | GFX 50S - GF63mm F2.8 WR Lens, 1/250s at f/5.6, ISO 250

Boy / man

Bert Stephani | GFX 50S - GF63mm F2.8 WR Lens, 1/250s at f/5.6, ISO 250

ThriceJonas Rask | GFX 50S - GF45mm f/2.8, 1/500s at f/8, ISO 200

Thrice

Jonas Rask | GFX 50S - GF45mm f/2.8, 1/500s at f/8, ISO 200

MAILBOX

Patrick La Roque | X-Pro2 - 1/8500 sec at f/2.0, ISO 400 (XF 35mm f/2 R WR)

8XDEC16

OUR PERSONAL CHOICES THIS MONTH

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Meetings & Collisions

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Meetings & Collisions

At the most basic, fundamental level, photography is about collision.

Light hitting an object, bouncing, and being gathered.

I like the intersection of planes, the crossing of lines, the meeting places between people, between objects, or just between constantly shifting, fading shadows.

Surfaces. Textures. Light, shade.

That's all we have.