Refugees

I was blessed with yet another great assignment, this time for Canwest News Services (the agency that feeds the Canwest owned newspaper like the National Post, The Ottawa Citizen, Calgary Herald, The Montreal Gazette, etc…).

Canada will welcomed about 5000 Rohingya people, a Muslim ethnic minority from western Burma’s Arakan state refugees . A first group of 55 arrived in Quebec city recently, and I was asked to photograph the story.

I set up my light and started to shoot while Tamira (in red) and Semoyra Begum where talking to the reporter thru an interpreter.
Tamira was very curious and was often looking at me, allowing me to capture very intimate moments.

A couple of time, she verbally asked me to look at the back of the camera, and she was then showing a shy smile.

Back home, I printed a couple of prints and will bring them to the multicultural center for them once it will open back after Christmas.

On the technical side, I shot with both my 80mm f1.8 prime lens and my 24-70. There was a flash thru an umbrella on each side, and one direct flash with blue gel behind the Asian folding screen.

J’ai eu encore une fois la chance d’avoir une belle assignation, cette fois pour Canwet News services (L’Agence qui fournis les journaux de Canwest comme like the National Post, The Ottawa Citizen, Calgary Herald, The Montreal Gazette, etc…).

Le Canada accueillera 5000 réfugiés Rohingya, une minorité ethnique musulmane de la province burmande D’Arakan. Un premier groupe de 55 est récemment arrivé à Québec, et on m’a demandé de photographier l’histoire.

J’ai installé mes lumières et j’ai commencé à prendre des photos alors que Tamira (en rouge) et Semoyra Begum parlaient à la journaliste à l’aide d’un interprète.

Tamira était très curieuse et regardait souvent en ma direction, ce qui m’a permis de capturer quelques images très intime.
À quelques reprises, elle m’a fait signe avec des gestes qu’elle voulait voir les images sur l’écran de ma caméra, et à chaque fois elle réagissait avec un sourire gêné.

De retour à la maison, j’ai fais imprimé quelques photos que je vais rapporter au centre multiculturel à leur intention lorsqu’il rouvrira après Noël.

Pour ce qui est du côté technique, j’ai utilisé ma 80 f1.8 et ma 24-70. J’ai installé un flash et ombrelle de chaque côté ainsi qu’un flash recouvert d’un gel bleu en arrière du paravent.

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Amir Khadi sworn in

Amir Khadi sworn in
Newly elected Quebec Solidaire MNA for the Montreal riding of Mercier Amir Khadir gestures as he is sworn in at the National Assembly in Quebec city December 17, 2008. Khadir is the first ever Solidaire candidate ever elected. (THE GAZETTE/Francis Vachon)
Technical: Canon EOS Mark III, 1/125 at f3.2 with a 70-200 at 115mm – ISO 2000

The ADQ rally for the Quebec City area candidate started with a lot of stress for everyone, as the survey didn’t look good for the ADQ. La soirée des candidats de l’ADQ de la région de Québec à débuté avec beaucoup de stress alors que les sondages n’annonçaient rien de bon pour le partie de Mario Dumont.

Marc Cardwell
ADQ candidate for the riding of Charlevoix Mark Cardwel looks pensive as he watches the early result coming in on a TV screen at an ADQ rally for the Provincial election at a local Boston Pizza restaurant in Quebec city Monday December 8, 2008. (THE GAZETTE/Francis Vachon)
Technical: Canon EOS Mark III, 1/80 at f3.2 with a 70-200 at 200mm – ISO 2000, on camera flash with CTO gel

At first, they rejoiced as some local candidates where winning and holding their local ridings. En début de soirée, ont s’est réjoui de la victoire de certain candidats locaux.

Gerald Deltell
ADQ candidate for the riding of Chauveau Gerard Deltell winks as he wins his election at an ADQ rally for the Provincial election at a local Boston Pizza restaurant in Quebec city Monday December 8, 2008. (THE GAZETTE/Francis Vachon)
Technical: Canon EOS Mark III, 1/80 at f3.2 with a 24-70 at 64mm – ISO 2500, on camera flash with CTO gel

Gerald Deltell
ADQ candidate for the riding of Chauveau Gerard Deltell smiles as he wins his election at an ADQ rally for the Provincial election at a local Boston Pizza restaurant in Quebec city Monday December 8, 2008. (THE GAZETTE/Francis Vachon)
Technical: Canon EOS Mark III, 1/80 at f3.2 with a 24-70 at 65mm – ISO 2500, on camera flash with CTO gel

But after Mario Dumont announced that he would step down as the leader and other prominent candidates where defeated, the tears moved from joy to tears Mais alors que Mario Dumont annonçait son retrait en tant que chef de l’ADQ et que certaine vedette adéquistes étaient annoncé comme perdant, les larmes de joie se sont transformées en larme de tristesse.

ADQ tears
ADQ campaign director in the riding of Vanier for Sylvain Legare Stéphanie Blanchet shows tears as Legare loses his election at an ADQ rally for the Provincial election at a local Boston Pizza in Quebec Monday December 8, 2008. (THE GAZETTE/Francis Vachon)
Technical: Canon EOS Mark III, 1/80 at f3.2 with a 24-70 at 70mm – ISO 2000, on camera flash with CTO gel

Catherine Morisette
ADQ defeated candidate for the riding of Charlesbourg Catherine Morisette wipes a tear as she hugs ADQ new MNA for the riding of Chauveau Gerald Deltell at an ADQ rally for the Provincial election at a local Boston Pizza restaurant in Quebec city Monday December 8, 2008. (THE GAZETTE/Francis Vachon)
Technical: Canon EOS Mark III, 1/80 at f3.2 with a 24-70 at 48mm – ISO 800, on camera flash with CTO gel

Gerald deltell
New ADQ MNA for the riding of Chauveau Gerard Deltell grimaces as Mario Dumont announces that he leave the ADQ leadership at an ADQ rally for the Provincial election at a local Boston Pizza restaurant in Quebec city Monday December 8, 2008. (THE GAZETTE/Francis Vachon)
Technical: Canon EOS Mark III, 1/80 at f3.2 with a 24-70 at 59mm – ISO 2000, on camera flash with CTO gel

Marc Picard

Marc Picard
Louise Huot shows ADQ candidate Marc Picard a weaving machine in the local fermieres (a craftsmanship group) office in St-Redempteur, south of Quebec city, November 30, 2008. Picard could be the last ADQ MNA after the upcoming election in the provincial Capital area, what used to be the ADQ stronghold. (THE GAZETTE/Francis Vachon)
Full story
Technical: Canon EOS Mark III, 1/80 at f5 with a 16-34 at 25mm – ISO 1600, on camera flash bounced on the ceiling

Financial facelift

It is a funny assignment for the Globe and Mail. They run a weekly column where a family opens their personal finance ask if their goals are reachable, and how. Since it is a very personal subject, the photo needs to be anonymous. And then you see the photographers trying the funniest possible on how they hide the faces. Here’s my take. C’est une assignation très amusante du Globe and Mail. Chaque semaine, une chronique nous présente une petite famille qui ouvre leurs finances personnelles, présente leur s« buts » et un chroniqueur financier regarde s’ils sont atteignable, et comment. Comme il s’agit d’informations très personnelles, les portraits doivent être « anonymisés » (quel beau mot que je viens d’inventer!). Et c’est alors que les photographes s’amusent à être le plus drôle possible dans leur façon de cacher les visages. Voici la mienne

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Technical: Canon EOS Mark III, 1/80 at f4,5 with a 24-70 at 46mm – ISO 200, 2 flashes thru umbrella on each side

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Technical: Canon EOS Mark III, 1/80 at f5,5 with a 24-70 at 34mm – ISO 200, 1 flashes thru umbrella camera right, on direct flash from behind right


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