Illuminating Black Excellence: A Photographic Journey the First Ottawa Black Creatives Hub Performing Showcase
Explore the dynamic world of Ottawa's Black creatives in our captivating blog post. From soulful performances to insightful discussions, delve into the vibrant tapestry of talent showcased at the Ottawa Black Creatives Hub’s Performing Arts Showcase. Witness the power of artistry, resilience, and community as we celebrate Black excellence in the heart of Canada's capital.
In the heart of February, as we honour Black History Month, the Ottawa Black Creatives Hub's Performing Arts Showcase illuminated the city with a celebration of talent, culture, and resilience. Nestled in the backstage realm, my lens danced with hues and shades, capturing the essence of a night where artistry met diversity in its purest form.
Hosted by the dynamic Sammy Blanco, the evening unfolded with an array of performances that echoed the rich tapestry of Black experiences. From soul-stirring melodies to captivating spoken word, each act was a testament to the multifaceted brilliance thriving in Ottawa's artistic landscape.
At the helm of this grand showcase stands Sharlène Clarke, the visionary force behind Hors Pair Social. Recognizing the abundance of untapped talent in Ottawa, Clarke embarked on a mission to spotlight the diverse voices and narratives within the Black community. The journey wasn't easy, as Clarke and her jury board meticulously curated a lineup of 13 performing artists and two captivating short films, "Jayla" by Fitch Jean and "Surprise!" by Kiera Meeks.
As a photographer navigating the challenges of capturing the magic from the back of the house, I was met with a kaleidoscope of lighting, each hue presenting its own set of obstacles. Yet, armed with knowledge and passion, I embraced the challenge, harnessing the interplay of colours to immortalize moments of raw emotion and artistic prowess.
Amidst the artistic splendour, organizations like the Ottawa Arts Council and The Framework, Youth Action Now stood as pillars of support, fostering an environment where creativity flourishes. The Ottawa Arts Council's commitment to advocacy and representation, particularly through initiatives like the Mandala Project, underscores the importance of amplifying marginalized voices within the arts. And then there's Framework founded by local icon Kingsley Swim - The Framework is a polymathic agency dedicated to the art of storytelling. Through grant writing, publicity, and strategic partnerships, The Framework embodies the spirit of collaboration, bridging the gap between vision and execution with finesse and ingenuity. Ottawa Music Coalition also made an appearance speaking to their artists being represented and how they advocate for fair pair for musical artists.
Amidst the vibrant performances, Stéphane Alexis, representing the Ottawa Black Art Kollective (OBAK), graced the stage to shed light on the collective's mission and vision. As an artist-directed initiative, OBAK is dedicated to promoting the diverse work of Black artists in Ottawa, providing a platform for their voices to be heard and celebrated. In addition to showcasing artistic talent, Stéphane took a moment to address the importance of mental health within the creative community. His words resonated deeply, reminding everyone of the significance of self-care and well-being, especially in the pursuit of artistic expression. Through his advocacy and openness, Stéphane exemplified the spirit of unity and support that defines OBAK, leaving a lasting impact on both the stage and the hearts of those in attendance. Furthering the curation of Afro, Black and Caribbean ancestral talent - Curator Yanaminah Thullah also spoke detailing her transition from Public Service work into a curatorial practice intending to uplift and make space for Black, Afro and Carribean-descended artists within the fine arts context and institution. She also spoke of the guest currated exhibit she worked on with OBAK title We do not dream of labor.
As my lens continues to reflect the vibrancy of the Ottawa Black Creatives Hub's Performing Arts Showcase, let us remember that beyond the pixels and frames lies a narrative of resilience, empowerment, and the boundless possibilities of creative expression. In celebrating Black History Month, we honour not just the past, but the living tapestry of stories that shape our present and inspire our future.
To kickstart the night, a panel featuring Rose-Ingrid, Patrick Cormack, and Axandre Lemours took the stage, delving into their creative journeys here in So-called Ottawa. They candidly shared the challenges they've faced and offered insightful solutions for not just surviving but thriving as creatives in an ever-evolving world, particularly as Black artists. Their stories resonated deeply, echoing the struggles and triumphs of many in the audience.
Now, let's shine a spotlight on the 13 other remarkable artists who graced the stage with their exceptional talents:
Grey Brisson, an emerging singer-songwriter, mesmerized the audience with tracks from his EP "Nobody!", accompanied by the electrifying energy of fellow rockers, the Lionyls. N'nerjie's soulful performance commanded attention, channelling the spirit of vocal legends. Sommer Knight captivated hearts and minds with her insightful spoken word performance, seamlessly weaving conversations about identity and reflection into her words, eliciting audible snaps of agreement from the crowd.
Malaïka Urbani's commanding operatic performance left a lasting impression, showcasing her formidable vocal prowess. Chloë Bonnet dazzled with her high-flying dance routine, demonstrating unparalleled technique and dynamism.
Miss Mcleod's impassioned and resonant performance showcased her brilliant control of the stage, solidifying her status as a star in Ottawa's artistic constellation.
Christjay transported listeners back to an era of soulful melodies, reminiscent of classic records by icons like Marvin Gaye and Eddie Holman, infusing contemporary lyricism into his soundscape seamlessly.
King 509 ignited the crowd, inviting everyone to celebrate Black History Month with a reflection on Ottawa's vibrant Haitian community, with even Sammy Blanco joining in the festivities.
Noni delivered a rooted and subdued performance that packed a punch, with Iman's beautiful guitar accompaniment adding depth to the soul-stirring experience.
Rapper Mxzy embraced the challenge of opening the night with gusto, delivering an energetic and entertaining performance that set the tone for the evening.
Olivia Onuk unpacked complex emotions with her powerful poetry, exploring spiritual relationships and introspection with poignant sincerity.
The Carleton Afro Dance Crew (CADC) brought the house down with their explosive performance, igniting cheers and wild applause from the crowd throughout their electrifying showcase.
Jacqui Du Toit used her talent for allegorical storytelling to deliver a teachable moment, encouraging reflection and appreciation for our differences while embracing our collective strengths.
The Lionyls took the stage for the closing act, infusing the venue with their signature blend of rock and soul. Their performance was a captivating display of raw energy and undeniable talent, captivating the audience from the first chord to the final note. With electrifying guitar riffs and soulful vocals, they brought the night to an unforgettable climax, leaving the crowd in awe of their musical prowess
Each artist brought a unique perspective and a touch of magic to the stage, collectively painting a vivid portrait of the Black experience through the arts. Their performances were not just entertainment but a testament to the resilience, creativity, and diversity thriving within Ottawa's creative community.
As a Black photographer in Ottawa, documenting and showing up to community events like this showcase is not just about capturing moments but contributing to a living record of our cultural heritage and artistic expression. It's about amplifying voices, preserving legacies, and empowering future generations to embrace their identities and tell their stories unapologetically.
How I Got The Shot: Tarzan & James
Short blog on how Adrienne got the Tarzan & James image.
March 5th, 2019
Lighting Schematic for Tarzan & James ©2019 Adrienne Row - Smith / Strast Media
Normally, my favourite images are high contrast with an accent of colour. I like to do larger than life production photographs, however I prefer their technical setups to be minimal. However, I wanted to try my hand at emulating a big production and lighting photograph to just see how far training my eye via the Algonquin Photography Program has gotten me.
The image that I wanted to Emulate was David LaChapelle’s American Jesus: Hold Me, Carry Me Boldly (2009). However, before even going into the studio I had a lot of prep work to do. Firstly, I needed to understand the lighting (as much as I could get through the camera).
Tarzan & James ©2019 Adrienne Row - Smith / Strast Media
Initially, I was under the impression that there was a hair light and kicker in the background that helped give the ‘Jesus’ of the image his glow. However, based on other lighting around the bodies, and after further consultation with others it was decided that the best route would be to use medium strips off to the side and pointing at the subject. Then, I decided to use a beauty dish up high, and a parabolic with a 3 degree grid down below to help create a harder shadow while also still ensuring light filling in on the subjects. Finally, to make sure that the subjects had enough even lighting, I decided to enclose my set with white v – boards. During shooting I realized that the Beauty dish was a little too harsh and hot (meaning that the subjects were having very bright spots landing on them overexposing certain areas) on the subjects – that I decided it would be better to bounce the light back into the white v – board to diffuse it a little bit more. And not to forget, I included an orange gelled snoot shooting through my background, to create the illusion of the sun setting.
Once I had the lighting figured out, I need to go get supplies. I found the greenery that “Tarzan” was sitting on at Michael’s, and then found the leafy flooring (which was actually a wall trellis) at Lowe’s. However, the most challenging part was creating the background. The background was printing on vinyl, after I found a royalty free image online. Once I had all these pieces and lighting together it was time to head to the studio and tie it together.
After shooting with my models (shout out to Lucas & Jesse for being great sports!) I then imported the images into photoshop from Phocus (Hasselblad specific software) and began to put it all together for the final image you see below!
Why Printing is More Important Than You Think
In the digital age, printing is as important as ever. Check out Strast Media’s blog post as to why we think printing is vital in the wake of the digital age.
Printing in the digital age appears to be a topic of great disccusion, with some emphasizing its importance while other feel that printing is becoming a dying industry. However, at Strast Media we beleive that printing is still an important asset. Here at Strast Media, we believe that printing helps to enhance the vision of our clientele while also showcasing our work in its best light. Thus we want to elaborate on the importance of printing and understanding the process it takes to print!
Experimenting with test printing helps you to better understand which of your images look great with texture, less colour or even a colour cast!
The upside to the digital age in regards to printing, is that now, printing is fairly accesible and afforable for photographers and creatives of any level. But if you’re new to printing it can be a daunting endeavour to wrap your head around. Especially with the varying degrees of textures and colour boosting papers that can be accessed, it’s difficult to know where to start.
So let’s start with the basics, you have the perfect image completed edited and ready to print - but how do you know paper is going to best showcase your efforts? Will be something with a bit of texture? Or a paper that has a colour cast to it? The questions and options are endless! That’s why photoshop or any editing software with access to ICC profiles is a great way to experiment and start. For those that don’t know what ICC Pofiles are, they are a set of data that characterizes a colour input or output based industry standards and can be set by the user based on their needs. In short, ICC profiles allow for the user to digitally mimic an output for printing in order to get a closer picture to what the image will look like when it is printed.
With that in mind, a user can use ICC profiles to see what the potential outcome of their print will look like without having to spend money and time on paper and printing! However, at Strast Media we believe that this is a helpful step, it is always better to do test prints to get an accurate picture of what an image will look like.
The upside to this is that multiple stores like Henry’s and Vistek offer paper packages that allows you to experiment to see the physical differences that paper can have on your images . At the end of the day, printing helps to give your clientele a concrete example of what you’re capable of ,and helps to drive home your abilities as a creative! So be sure to try printing out and give your brand a better representation of your vision.