The Past Week in Ottawa

Here are my favorite frames from the week,

An Ottawa firefighter carries wreaths to place at headstones of fallen soldiers during a Wreaths Across Canada ceremony at Beechwood Military Cemetery in Ottawa, Dec. 4, 2012. iPolitics/ Matthew Usherwood

An Ottawa firefighter carries wreaths to place at headstones of fallen soldiers during a Wreaths Across Canada ceremony at Beechwood Military Cemetery in Ottawa, Dec. 2, 2012. iPolitics/ Matthew Usherwood

Conservative MP’s Tony Clement(L) and Maxime Bernier(R) held a press conference in Ottawa, Dec. 4, 2012, to discuss the Governement’s implementation of the Economic Action Plan. iPolitics/ Matthew Usherwood

Prime Minister Stephen Harper held a press conference in Ottawa, Dec. 7, 2012, to deliver a statement regarding the proposed take over of Calgary based Nexen by the Chinese state owned CNOOC. iPolitics/ Matthew Usherwood 

Protest at the Israeli Embassy in Ottawa

About 50 demonstrators met in front of the Israeli Embassy in Ottawa, Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012, calling for an end to the increased violence in Israel and Gaza.

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Remembrance Day in Ottawa

I was asked to go and cover the Remembrance Day Ceremonies at the National War Memorial in Ottawa this weekend. Luckily the weather co-operated this year and ended up being quite nice. Remembrance Day is notorious for being bitterly cold and wet.

Here are my favorite frames from the ceremony,

A Canadian soldier plays the last post during the Remembrance Day ceremonies at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012. iPolitics/ Matthew Usherwood

Silver Cross Mother Roxanne Marie Priede, takes a moment to reflect after laying a wreath in memory of her son Master Cpl. Darrell Jason Priede, during the Remembrance Day ceremonies at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012. iPolitics/ Matthew Usherwood

Chief of Defence Staff Tom Lawson, lays a wreath during the Remembrance Day ceremonies at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012. iPolitics/ Matthew Usherwood

A Veteran reflects while laying a wreath during the Remembrance Day ceremonies at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012. iPolitics/ Matthew Usherwood

Thousands of supporters came out to show their respects during the Remembrance Day ceremonies at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012. iPolitics/ Matthew Usherwood

Gov. Gen. of Canada David Johnston (R), and the Silver Cross Mother Roxanne Marie Priede (L), watch the parade during the Remembrance Day ceremonies at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012. iPolitics/ Matthew Usherwood

A supporter shows his respects by placing a poppy on the tomb of the unknown soldier during the Remembrance Day ceremonies at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012. iPolitics/ Matthew Usherwood

Irvin Waller and some OUA Final Four Soccer

Over the weekend I was asked to cover the OUA Final Four Soccer tournament in Ottawa and to take a quick portrait of Ottawa U Prof. Irvin Waller. 

Here are a couple frames,

Expert on victim's rights and violence prevention Irvin Waller, poses for a photo in Ottawa, Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012. Matthew Usherwood/ Ottawa Sun

 Gee-Gees #5 Christine Hardie manages to head butt the ball away from McMasters #18 Natalie Kollars during the OUA Final Four soccer tournament at the Matt Anthony Field in Ottawa, Saturday, November 3, 2012. Matthew Usherwood/ Ottawa Sun

 Gee-Gees #16 Julia Francki keeps Laurier #19 Amanda Mithrush away from the ball during the Gold Medal OUA Final Four soccer tournament game at the Matt Anthony Field in Ottawa, Sunday, November 4, 2012. Matthew Usherwood/ Ottawa Sun

A week on the Hill

This past week I spent every day on Parliament Hill in Ottawa photographing the events that would unfold daily. 

Here are my favorite frames from the week,

Sexapalooza and some Football

I had the opportunity to go and cover the opening night of Sexapalooza, it was quite the experience. I had to keep it PG for the paper so don't get your hopes up.

I also shot the Saturday Ottawa U Gee-Gees football game against the Waterloo Warriors.

 

Vanessa - Prana Quest

I recently did a shoot for Vanessa, she was looking for photo's she could use for her blog and asked me to help her out. Her blog is geared towards healthy living and simply enjoying life. Here is a link to her blog Prana Quest.

This was the first of two shoots we have planned, it was raining at the time of the shoot so we decided to move it indoors.

Here are my favorite frames from the shoot,

Pole dancing at the Bronson Centre

This weekend I was asked to go cover the Ontario Pole Dancing Championship at the Bronson Centre in Ottawa. I was super excited for this event and wanted to light it with a strobe because I knew the lighting in the building would be awful. I ended up just side lighting the dancers to give it a dramatic look.

Here are my favorite frames,

WWE Smack Down

This week I had the opportunity to go and shoot a WWE event in Ottawa. I've always wanted to see one of these events in person and I finally got the chance. I used to watch this as a kid when it was called WWF..... I was pretty excited about getting to go to this.

Here are some frames from it,

Heath Slater chokes his opponent during their WWE Smack Down match at the Scotiabank Place in Ottawa on Tuesday, September 11, 2012. (Matthew Usherwood/ Ottawa Sun/ QMI AGENCY)

Natalya performs her signature move, The Sharpshooter, on Alicia Fox during their WWE Smack Down match at the Scotiabank Place in Ottawa on Tuesday, September 11, 2012. (Matthew Usherwood/ Ottawa Sun/ QMI AGENCY)

Zach Ryder flies through the air towards Cody Rhodes during their WWE Smack Down match at the Scotiabank Place in Ottawa on Tuesday, September 11, 2012. (Matthew Usherwood/ Ottawa Sun/ QMI AGENCY)

Kane choke slams Kofi Kingston during their WWE Smack Down match at the Scotiabank Place in Ottawa on Tuesday, September 11, 2012. (Matthew Usherwood/ Ottawa Sun/ QMI AGENCY)

Kane stands over Kofi Kingston after winning their match during WWE Smack Down at the Scotiabank Place in Ottawa on Tuesday, September 11, 2012. (Matthew Usherwood/ Ottawa Sun/ QMI AGENCY)

Sheamus grabs Daniel Byran's eyes during their WWE Smack Down match at the Scotiabank Place in Ottawa on Tuesday, September 11, 2012. (Matthew Usherwood/ Ottawa Sun/ QMI AGENCY)

Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation memorial service

Yesterday I had the opportunity to cover the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation memorial service.  This ceremony is held to commemorate the firefighters that are killed in the line of duty every year all through Canada.

Here are some frames from yesterday's ceremony.

Firefighters walk past the new statue of a bronze firefighter, pointing his arm towards the granite wall containing the names of those who died in the line of duty during the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation memorial service in Ottawa on September 9, 2012.

A firefighter stands in front of the new granite wall which contains the names of those who have died in the line of duty during the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation memorial service in Ottawa on September 9, 2012.

A firefighter stands at attention during the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation memorial service in Ottawa on September 9, 2012.

Canada’s Governor General David Johnston (R) points to a name on the memorial wall during the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation memorial service in Ottawa on September 9, 2012.

Family members of the fallen during the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation memorial service in Ottawa on September 9, 2012.

Family members of the fallen during the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation memorial service in Ottawa on September 9, 2012.

Family members of the fallen during the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation memorial service in Ottawa on September 9, 2012.