stephen j edgar photoblog

The BIG Show

steve — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:09:45 +0000

I had to take a breather from Haiti. After a week of following twitter feeds and facebook groups and blogs -an intensive re immersion into this land and Her people (it’s been a year since I was there last)- I just had to step away from the computer and from the television. A luxury indeed…I think what did it for me was the CNN clip of Anderson Cooper ‘rushing in’ to ’save’ a bloodied child from some ‘looting incident’. My frustration had been the trend in which the media had been going. The whole looting thing seemed to have taken over. Anderson’s heroics just…I dunno, kinda cheapened the story for me. Took it to a level of ‘desperate for ratings’ kinda vibe. Even on the cover of Canada’s National Newspaper, the tried and true, Globe and Mail was there a pic of a Haitian cop beating on a looter with the caption, ‘Street Justice’. I mean, COME ON! I suppose the Globe too follows that adage, IF IT BLEEDS, IT READS.

But now I’m back at it just in time for the big George Clooney “Hope for Haiti Now” Telethon. Wow, it’s like it’s 1980 all over again, complete with a re hashing of ‘we are the world’! Enjoy!

Shifting from a Devastated Haiti to…

steve — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:39:38 +0000

Lavalas supporters are caught in a torrential downpour in St. Marc in 2003

It’s been a week now. There are some stories of survivors still being pulled from the wreck but we will all hang our hats on the fact that those who could have been saved, have been saved. Time to breath. Time to mourn. And time to move on? While Charlie Beckett suggests media is looking for something else to “lead” on and apparently it’s up to we Social Media types to keep the ball rolling. I’m hoping like hell that people stick around and, as Robert Fatton Jr. says, “go beyond the tragic, emotional situation…” and look deeper into why the Haitian Government was “utterly” unprepared for this. Here’s a good read by Greg Marx on this.

There are so many threads to this event that must be looked into. Please don’t move on from Haiti just yet. Haitians need our understanding and our respect.

I’ve got an exhibit of my work from Haiti coming up over the month of February at Crema Coffee in Toronto. 50% of print sales will go to an as yet to be determined Charity focused on Haiti’s rebuilding. Pls come out and support!

I’m not the only photog doing what he/she can! Check out this post in the most excellent blog ” a photoeditor”.

an Excellent quote on Haiti’s future

steve — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:24:09 +0000

“….But if Haiti is to change, the involvement of outside countries must also change. Rather than administering aid almost entirely through the slow drip of private organizations, international agencies and foreign powers should put their money and their effort into the more ambitious project of building a functional Haitian state. It would be the work of years, and billions of dollars. If this isn’t a burden that nations want to take on, so be it. But to patch up a dying country and call it a rescue would leave Haiti forsaken indeed, and not by God.”

George Packer

There’s a live event on Jan 19th as well

For those of us who have been lucky enough to go and ‘get schooled’ in Haiti, watching the world respond to this calamity has been somewhat bittersweet. Obviously it is incredibly and profoundly positive to have so many people focused on helping. It has been HUGE, we can all agree. However, my fear is that the misconception of Haiti and her culture will just be perpetuated. The images we have been bombarded with are what we will remember most after this fades from the top spot on Google…

My experiences in Haiti over the past 10 years were filled with laughter, beauty, and poignancy. I went there thinking to myself all I could teach these people, only to get there and realize all that they could teach me! I remember most affectionately (and humbly) being challenged to a game of basketball by some kids at an inner-city court. I was feeling pretty good about my ball skills in those days…but what followed was a thorough drubbing at the hands of these young studs. I sat exhausted -benched as it were- courtside in the scorching mid day sun, rubbing my aching and burning feet, and I watched these kids play on and on. It occurred to me that many of them had schooled me barefoot for godsakes! I remember thinking at the time how this was a perfect metaphor for the the tenacity and resolve of a grandly misunderstood people!

Rebuilding

steve — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:17:35 +0000

St Marc, Haiti, 2009

I suggested a must read link yesterday in my post and I feel the need to repeat the importance of what Robert Maguire and Robert Fatton Jr. are saying. Here’s the link again. Having spent time in rural Haiti over the past 10 years, I am especially keen on Dr. Maquire’s take on what needs to be done: Establish opportunities in rural Haiti for the displaced people in Port au Prince. After all, it is where most living in the city came from originally! Here’s a quote from his piece:

“The impact of the earthquake has been exacerbated by the huge migration to Port-au-Prince over the past three decades, as Haiti’s rural economy and people have been neglected by both the Haitian government and, largely, by international donors…”

I highly recommend these two if you are curious about where your donated money should go.

Vital and Beautiful Haiti

steve — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:07:30 +0000

This is a time for us all to act. Whatever charity you choose. Wycliff’s is AWESOME. Go there and text your support. The Canadian Red Cross is another you can trust…Please beware of scams. Sadly, it’s no big surprise that there are vultures who profit off this kinda thing. Speaking of which, how’d you like that KING SCUM, Pat Robertson’s take on Haiti? What a douche. Here is a piece that is a MUST READ when it comes to what is really going on and what needs to be done: READ IT!

Anyway, AFTER you’ve acted take some time to pray, meditate, light a candle…whatever it is you do. At some point do yourself a favor and take the time to learn a little about this much-maligned land. This is not the first time we’ve been inundated with horrifying images of Haiti. In fact with new media’s pervasive influence, Haiti is a country many of us had written off as perpetually messed up LONG before this even. Those that are familiar with my work know this popular misconception is something I’ve been looking to beat down for ages: to educate we rich North Americans about Haiti, the Capable…Haiti, the Sublime….Haiti, the Beautiful…Haiti, the Vital!

And that’s where I’m going to leave this post. Take some time to go through my images of Haiti. At the very least it’ll be a welcome break from what we’ve been seeing over the past day or so….but also I hope these inspire you to look deeper into the question of ‘what is Haiti’. Please do not write Her off as pathetic, poor, needy, but rather, understand that this country, and her people have much to offer and much to teach us.

Please pass these around to people who you think might need them….

Ok….where was I?

steve — Wed, 06 May 2009 04:30:13 +0000

an amazing moment, never to be reproduced.

So here it is; 4 days ago I was completely lost and freaked out about my show in Contact 09. A facebook note to friends, and a link’din group later, I’m staring at a full house opening night and watching red dot after red dot get pasted to my work. Enter a twitter or two and I’m seriously feeling like I’ve been born again! Yes, I’ve always been aware that the social networking phenomenon brings a huge set of marketing potential. I’ve read all about it and hammered away at my various accounts updating things but really did not give it much credit.

How do I feel about my show now? About my photography? My little marketing enlightenment doesn’t change how my stuff looks, or does it? Any photographer, or painter, or musician will tell you that it can be tough looking at the same work over and over. More so these days for we that are chained to the computer….’specially during those long winter months. Torture I tell you! I won’t lie to you, seeing all those people enjoy my work, getting up really close to inspect it…very reaffirming. This is exactly what we all need once in awhile.

I’ll sum up as quickly as I can, the 180 that occurred:

After all the new love I feel for the social networks out there, I come back down to earth – to being the father of a 13 year old on facebook. (Yes, here it comes…those with kids know what’s coming round the bend here.) So I’m doing my responsible parent thing and checking out my teenager’s friends and pics when I come upon some shots that turn my world upside down (NO, I’m not going to post a link). For those who aren’t parents suffice it to say I thought I had been kicked in the gut. Pictures of my li’l guy with shirt off…with a girl…with her shirt…askew. I nearly vomited. This was one of about 25 shots like this. Each series from a different date -some images involved alchol, tounges, crotch shots and panties etc etc. This has been going on for some time… Seriously. Suddenly Facebook is the DEVIL. I find notes full of four-letter-words and suggestive ‘musings’ back and forth. Yes, welcome to the real world, DAD.

Obviously this stuff is NOT new at all (hell I was 13 not long ago lol), and we’ve been reading about all sorts of stories about ’sexting’ between teens. Mere days before this, I was casually listening to a friend’s issues re this phenomemon…without much interest. But suddenly the sleeping bear has been awoken and his li’l baby cub is in DANGER. LOOK OUT. The keys to the kingdom have been given freely to these kids. What they are experiencing hormonaly is nothing different than we did, our parents did (ugh)etc etc, however now there is this new and exciting way to get the attention they so dearly crave. The girl featured in these shots with my son, I learned, really wants a boyfriend and is not having much luck, she’s the third child of four in a family that is going through a divorce…she’s 15 (two years older than my son!). and now she has discovered a tool to ease what must be a very painful time….and my poor little guy is being violated by this pathetic little @#$&…My hatred was instantaneous and violent….so I went for a long long walk.

I won’t bore you with the details of what happened to my son and his facebook account. I’ll save that for another post. Yes! it is important how to deal with this but right now I just cannot go on about it…suffice it to say, I think my cards were well played. No, I didn’t lock my son up and ban him from the computer. We had -what I thought- was a really good man to man/ father to son talk. It was good. The BEST silver lining to this was that it FINALLY gave my ex and me that all important (ever elusive) UNITED FRONT. We agreed act in concert and compare notes. THIS was very good and a long time coming. Yes, there are some parentally imposed consequences placed on my son’s head (I KNOW he’s not blameless in all this…)

Talk to me, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Contact 09 SUCCESS! (and a wake up call)

steve — Mon, 04 May 2009 20:31:48 +0000

"Cliffdene no. 1"

Gotta be quick here, just heard the inlaws are spending the night…tonnes to do! So here it goes, I had my opening this past weekend and to my absolute DELIGHT and surprise the show was a total success. For anyone out there who’s put up their work in a public place for the critics to rip apart it can be quite a stressful endeavour. My poor family had to deal with a very frightened, and stressed Photographic Genius for the past month of prep.

I called the show “Transitory” and showed it at “Delight“, a Fair-trade all organic Chocolate shop in the Junction ‘hood of Toronto. This was SUCH an amazing weekend to be a photographic art lover! 25 different venues in this three block strip were showing work from at least 50 artists. It was Fantastic. For all of you who made it -THANK YOU. For all of those who’d like to check out the show it’ll be up tll the end of May. Here’s a little teazer .

whoa, gotta go!@ I’ll finish this post later!!! in the meantime I’d love to hear what you think of the shots!!!!

new business opportunities (for ME!)

steve — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:28:44 +0000

hi gang!

I am happy as a pig in shit today: I’ve got myself a brand new PRINTER!!! (smattering of applause and audible groans…). Big deal? HECK ya! I went digital about 5 years ago and from that moment on my darkroom experiences have CEASED 100%!!! At first it didn’t really matter -y’know, new media, new toys, new friends, new workflow etc. The world of digital quickly revealed itself as a place where my time would be more than filled with all the ‘post production’ activities…and other computer ‘activities’…Indeed, what a change to my LIFE! I stopped working out. I stopped going out. I stopped calling friends. I stopped eating healthy foods, and of course, I stopped going into the dark room. In short, I stopped getting off my ASS!

So here we are 5 years later and my work has taken on a wonderful new vibe with all this newness…and my back is shot. But I’ve digressed (how can I not?). The point I was going to make is: gone is the tactile experience of print making. Formerly a STAPLE of any photographers’ workflow, the art and fun and anticipation of going into the darkroom and waiting for that contact sheet to come out is toast. There was a BIG hole in my heart. And it was filled with zeros and ones…rarely anything to touch or fondle, or as one idiot DOP ranted, ‘paw through’…this is a story I’ll have to tell sometime -not now. George will outted at a later time.

So, my printer! No it’s not an ole school darkroom but a brand new (ok, refurbished) Epson 3800!!! YAY!!! I’ve already tossed prints galore through -as if making up for lost time. I have so much to learn (more zeros and ones I’m affraid) so I best get back to it….

hugs to all…I’ll be intouch real sooooooon

Final Cut on Haiti?

steve — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 02:30:00 +0000

poor kid needs a nap after a full day of partying in the sun!

I’m back from beyond the ridge of reality -Haiti. Fourth time there. Fourth time lucky? Not so much…but then again I haven’t REALLY taken a good look at all the images. Perhaps I’m being a little slackish but truth be told, I’m still exhausted from the trip -physically, emotionally, visually SPENT…oh! and spiritually of course. In a few days this may all change. It usually does. We artsy types tend to be a little on the dramatic side -especially when it comes to “the one that got away…” That’s just the way it is on these gigs when you’ve got NO ground-support, and NO logistics, and NO script and NO translater, and NO idea, and NO sense….but I digress.

Haiti is still the most wonderful nightmare on earth. Her many flavours, exquisite, sensual and sometimes poisonous, one just never knows what he’s gonna get. I don’t think any outsider will EVER be able to understand this much-maligned land. There’s just too much hurt here, and betrayal. A country made up of the survivors. Survivors who were ripped from the womb of their Motherland and thrown into a living hell of torture -a slave owner had to BREAK his slaves to ensure ‘loyalty’…The breaking of spirit… I learned this time around that many Haitians can track their liniage back to their Bill of Sale -but that’s as far as they can go. What an outrage for a people where ancestry is of the utmost importance. Back in 1804 they beat Napoleon’s army and declared themselves the first black republic and as a punishment for this victory were stonewalled by the whole international community. A country that 10 years earlier was funding France’s Empire was now being economically blacklisted -starved. The ’stigma of 1804′ is still in place today. One has only to look at the history and draw some fairly broad and obvious lines -right back to us.

There I go getting all Heavy again…Take it all with a grain of salt (or sugar). You will find the most beautiful and warm people on this side of the island. Don’t beleive everything you read in the papers or see on CNN. There is something here that keeps me coming back again and again. I love this country! It is worth the inconvenience of having my sensetivities tested. You will find, as I, that we ARE rich white folk, who happen to be quite poor in spirit. We have much to learn here.

Wow, this entry took a twist I wasn’t expecting….Tomorrow I’ll follow up with a nice little gallery for you -cool?

stephenjedgar.com

steve — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 23:47:18 +0000

Feb 3rd 2009
8:00 The anticipation is mounting, and so are my hunger pangs. An Air Canada flight from Toronto to Montreal departing at 7am should offer up more than a biscuit for it’s meal. Anyway, I’ve finished the first leg and think I am ready for the next. In the meantime I sit here at the gate for an hour or so with about a hundred others. Most are Haitian and dressed appropriately for travel. A couple of older Mamas look to
be wearing their Sunday chapeau and long dresses. The woman beside me dozes and cuts as striking a profile as the island itself .
Over the next two weeks I’ll be pursuing a few ideas while lugging around my multi media kit that’s been thrown together with the help of a few good friends. My trusty D2X -up to 100, 000 clicks….shouldv’e had
the shutter replaced the folks at Nikon….but I guess they kinda forgot. And I’ve got a Sennheiser lav unit and adaptor for my little Canon HV20…ya, totally scaling down from the disaster in Bolivia. There was
sure I could balance shooting stills and shooting vid with a Sony V1U….not good. So this time trying something a little more ‘relaxing’…the new gadget that I’m most looking forward to trying is my Zoom H2 digital recorder! Look OUT! this is gonna be good. Finally I’ll be able to capture the rhythms of those Haitian drums. Or the sounds of a crazed marketplace in Port au Prince -children laughing, tap taps honking, the crack of a pistol shot…..

12:31. OK, call me slow but I’m only now watching An Inconvenient Truth on the airplane….Jeez. Wow. Incredibly poignant…nothing that hasn’t been said before. I have a really good friend who saw this and
said quite openly that it was ‘lots of talking heads…perpetuating fear….a hoax…” This is a smart and well educated man! After sitting through this…ya, lot’s of talking heads, but…I’m beside myself with wonder
as to where this friend’s headspace is. This is a shout out -you know who you are! WTF!?!?!?!?! The shots of the raising sea levels particularly were un-real. And of course the border of the Dominican Republic
and Haiti came up here. Quite something, isn’t it? I’ve seen it first hand and…it’s surreal. The thing about this documentary, or rather, the recent consequences, we see happening line up with the data that GORE
parades out….whether I desperately wish to find fault in this or not, it all makes complete and utter sense…and that’s what’s so frightening. So anyway, this is how I spent my flight…how uplifting.

9:30 okay, I’m here and I’m on a roof top in Port au Prince after a few rum and cokes -I never drink rum and coke unless i”m in the Carib it seems- arguing about ANYTHING that comes to mind. I miss my honey so
desperately, so wonderfully. my hands are filthy with diesel dust and god knows whatever else is in the atmosphere. I am beneath a quarter moon as the lights of PaP seem to be shutting off. It’s time to give up on the internet signal that just won’t stick and call it a day. I started at about 8 am on Mon….didn’t sleep that night but for a moment or two of dozing before my bro came by to drive me to the airport for 5 ish…….what can I say, it’s been a full day. and I didn’t even mention my missing luggage -ok I”m not the best blogger. Mr Air Canada will have to answer to this tomorrow at 9am. I’d ask you to cross your fingers for me but by the time you read this it’ll all be said and done.

feb 4 09
7:00am. Woke up to some full throttle diesel idling just outside my window. Without even getting out of bed to check I put 2 and 2 together; my room is right beside the pick up drop off for the Wall Guest House. A crew I’d come in with were talking about loading up for their mission ’round 5:30am – must’ve been a big crew cuz that truck sat there for a good half hour spewing it’s fumes right into my room….and yes, I’ve got myself a bit of the ole Barbancourt after throb this fine morning incase you were wondering.
Walls Guest House is the place I’ve stayed every time I’ve come to PaP. While not the lap of luxury, its always had a great vibe and wonderful crew. Of all the people I’ve met here, the biggest peice of the pie is usually
made up of over-smiley Baptist missionaries with a close second going to guarded and tense looking couples wanting to adopt a child. But this time things are a little different. First off, the place is packed! and not with the usual crowd