I Can Almost See the End

I am 11 hours and one anatomy bell ringer away from glorious post exam amelioration.

Also, I have a lurid and highly sexual relationship with my pot of coffee right now.

Disclaimer: I hate cloud pics normally.

I've Checked Out

This fire hydrant represents how I feel right now about studying. That is to say: saddened but resolute in my enduring commitment. Also a tad fangy.

What the Hell

I was juuust starting to think I was looking forward to winter. Then, the other night, it snowed. Instead of the happy fire-crackling prelude to christmas I was hoping for I get this debacle. Toronto has been lifeless for 3 days now, I have frost bite on my forehead, and I get the nature of things in my kitchen. "Now safe from the cold, watch as the urban street mouse nibbles holes, slyly, into the food stuffs of the unwitting inhabitants".

On the brighter side, my garbage was frozen solid to my patio. Oh wait... that's not a bright side at all. Wonderful. Get back to me when Thomas Hardy is done taking a dump on my life.

Merry Fucking Christmas Toronto.

Thinking Back on it

I read a post recently on Kush and Kismet about not letting life get in the way of your passion because your passion should be your life. It makes me think back over the last two years and realize that not only did I put a moratorium on the one thing I truly enjoy but I actually took a few steps back. (I know Clint, I know.)

In realizing this I've accomplished the important part; however, now I'm left standing (lounging sassily) with my path ahead of me, reigns in hand, looking for a signpost. It's all rather exciting really :).

Reflections.

Missed Opportunity

Anything but Studying. For the love of god.

I was sipping a coffee near Queen and Ossington when the scene in front of me became strikingly salient.

The most startlingly blue dress. Her hands, cushioned in black velvet, held the bars of her bike with practiced ease -- a strong but alluring and feminine grip. Her posture was perfect as she checked for traffic, her head swiveling with unerring grace. A magazine was the only object in her basket, and the brief glimpses of its contents spoke to the calibre of her interests.

I looked down to follow my camera and when I looked up traffic had stopped. My view obscured. She turned and I lost sight.

I like the picture better this way.

I Need a Subject

One down, three to go.

What's this photo saying? Not much. I mean, I like it. It's interesting... low-rent apartment detritus. It's not saying anything though. It's an empty chair so it's obviously begging for a model, but I'm using this photo more as a metaphor for my photography in general.

What I really need is a subject. Something to focus my photography on in an overarching way like for a photodoc but also for my everyday photography. I have many pictures of good looking scenes, well composed shots that hold a viewers interest for a second glance... but if I want to start producing something above par I need to be shooting with a subject in mind.

Studying continues.

Dropping Out

During the summer we went to the woods for the day and Jacob and I climbed off on our own. Returning, we found Stina and Dana nested in. Being ridiculous.

Exams are all I should be thinking about.

Street Car Tracks -- The Quick Sand of Urban Life

I was on my way to school tonight to study some brains and brain related material and it occurred to me I was going to be late to meet my girlfriend at the lab.

"No worries!", I said to myself as I committed champion-level power to the pedals of my bike. Streaking down College street like a fucking asteroid blasting through the atmosphere I revelled in the fact that I was totally dominating Toronto with my biking prowess.

While furiously rubbing down my ego my tire caught a street car track and I was ejected matter-of-factly onto the street. I slid 100 feet if I slid a foot I tell ye!!! So, as I'm sitting there staring at the inside of my bike helmet I hear a car horn a few meters away blasting repeatedly for me to move. Apparently my awkwardly-angled, still and silent body was a major inconvenience.

Mystery driver, whoever you are, you are the reason god created sudden infant death syndrome. I want to slap your mother for paying so much attention.

Done with Slacking

Wow, nearly a year since my last post. I would say that's a suitable metaphor for my life during that time. You can imagine what happened if you follow the post history. I've been forced to excise huge portions of my life. People, friends, places. Things I was entirely invested in.

Was it the right decision? Absolutely. There is a lot to be said for clarity of mind and purpose. Not to mention motivation.

Let's get things moving.

Where are they going?

Condiments. Everywhere.

Excuses

What? Yeah that's right bitches I posted again. A lot of stuff has come to a head in my personal life and it has managed to bleed over into what I do professionally. Fortunately, it's all behind me and shit can get on getting on.

Of all the things I'm excited about the one that I'm most behind is KushQ. I've managed to find a team of talented people with similar vision and the above picture is indicative of the type of stuff we are producing. More on that as it happens.

Also, check out this for another reason why I haven't been updating this thing. These guys are sick and I've had a great time doing their photos.

Street level.

Good To Be Home

Back in TO! New apartment and a new school year. I expect lots of updates and lots of fun to be had. Good times all around.

Cheers!

4AM False Alarm

You know what is wonderful? 4AM fire alarms in your apartment. There is nothing that makes me happier then trying to sleep for a 6AM flight and getting woken up by a piercing klaxon that causes your cat to launch itself talon-first off your chest.

Seriously, if you can think of something more joyous then going from a happily deep sleep to an ICBM launch siren in your face I would like to hear it. Getting ravaged by your house pet is just a bonus at that point really.

At least I got some good commiseration time in with the rest of the building tenants. Nothing brings people closer together then waiting outside to find out what douche bag burned their toast.

4th time this year. Wonderful.

It's all good :)

Quiet Moments in Urban Life

I like to pay respect to the background noise at times. The moments we have trained ourselves to tune out sometimes end up being worth engaging.

Crossing an intersection on Bloor I struggled to hear my friend speak. With casual irritation I glanced over at this scene. What struck me at the time was how this guys life IS that background noise. Taking a moment to appreciate his respective little bubble ended up being worth my time.

Cheers guy.

Chill Out People!

Happened upon this lazy little scene the other day. Fairly fitting since I have been freaking out lately with finding a new apartment, managing my courses and playing tour guide. This moment provided me with a corollary that was staring me in the face the entire time. CHILL. OUT. MAN.

So I am.

I feel better. ;)

Also, What the Hell is up with Summer??

Seriously. Look at this woman. It is like she's getting raped by mother nature.

Follow That Vespa

I've been coveting Vespas now for about a month. They aren't quite up to the European level of acceptance over here yet but I think I might get on board. Look at this guy. It's like the world is playing an Of Montreal track wherever he goes, he is that cool.

;)

Sooooooo Hot

I took this photo at the Carabana Festival. When sorting through them I realized I had over 300 photos of brazilians undulating on floats, a couple of a hotdog stands, and then this. I tried so hard on the other ones and took this one haphazardly... it is weird how that works.

In other news: Pineapple express comes out this week. Ohhhhhhh yeah.

I'm not going to lie to you. I've got nothing for this post. The NiN concert has jellied my brain.

Lucid Moments

Have you ever had one of those moments where, for whatever reason, you transition from melancholy to a heightened awareness or clarity of self? I like those. It gives you time to think about what the hell you are doing. Everything seems comfortable and you can flirt with the things that are stressing you out... take stock of them without really engaging them.

I was feeling that way when I took this pic. Was sitting on a wall on Bay Street watching cars go by. (Reminds me of a Sasha Remix).

Life @ Kindred

This summer I've been lucky enough to work at one of the most interesting jobs a student could ever hope for. The people are (without hyperbole) the most interesting I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. Dylan, Stina, Al, Lindsay, Josh, Mike C, Naomi, Jim, Billy, Auggie, Charles, Buzz, Brodie, Angie, Mercedes...

So, on a day when i'm working my ass off and my legs are burning all I need to do is take a step back and look around me. At the people I've been so lucky to meet, at the context I met them in, or sometimes (like in the picture above) it's all laid out so obviously that all I can do is smile.

Life is good.

Dive In

So I'm about 2 weeks away from buying the Canon 135 F/2.0L. I know what you are thinking: "Nick, are you serious? That would make you the coolest person I've ever heard of. Please can I have your children? PLEASE?"

My answer to that is no, you have herpes and you disgust me.

Pizza Pizza

This is JJ. We tasked him with getting the pizza to Trinity Bellwood's intact. Nothing short of a red-hot katana blow to the jugular was going to disrupt him. So, as you can see, he handled this challenge like a f**king champion.

Lupine Vagrant 2: The Hackening

Kat and I were walking up Yonge and I saw this guy. Assuming this guy was up for having his photo taken I snapped off a shot. He responded by flipping me off and calling me cheap.

Never assume a man in a wolf suit on a 28 degree day realizes he is being as conspicuous as humanly possible. Wait, I'm wrong... he could have self-immolated, that would win for most striking thing in my field of vision almost assuredly.

:) on D'Arcy

Great start to the evening. Sitting on D'Arcy street about to begin and one of those summer showers shows up. The kind that etches itself into your memory. At sunset no less. Rain was coating us but Dylan got started anyway. Classic moment. Sentence fragments.

Chilling

That feeling of having the whole summer ahead of you has faded but the inevitable return to school life hasn't put a damper on things yet. So, we hang out. Dylan landed this and it blew my mind. Shortly after this moment he injured himself on the guard rail. Good times man, good times.