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.

Casper

Today I spent some time with a street panhandler who calls himself Casper. He's a loving father of a young girl who tries to provide for his family in anyway necessary.  He's a construction laborer during the day and then panhandles during rush hour traffic.

Here are some frames from the time I spent with him today. I plan to go back and spend more time with him in the near future.