Anne Brown at her home near Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta on June10, 2010. Anne Brown is an intervener in an Energy Resources Conservation Board hearing on a proposed new bitumen upgrader in the area by France's Total oil company. Photo by Jimmy Jeong

Dubbed Alberta's Industrial Heartland, Fort Saskatchewan (an Edmonton suburb) residents are faced with the construction of another bitumen upgrader. This one by France's Total Energy. The construction in the area has brought jobs and wealth to the region but the story is more complicated than that. So, you really should read the Globe And Mail story to get a grasp of everything involved. The thing is, it might affect more than just the residents in the area.

Potatoe farmer Wayne Groot stands on one of the fields he farms across from the Shell Scotford upgrader near Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta on June10, 2010. Photo by Jimmy Jeong

 

It just happens that this industrial heartland is also considered very fertile farmland. How close should refineries be allowed to be built near our food source?

Barb Collier stands at her mother and grandparents' home near Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta home on June10, 2010. Barb Collier is testifying in an Energy Resources Conservation Board hearing on a proposed new bitumen upgrader in the area by France's Total oil company. Photo by Jimmy Jeong

 

 

Seba Beach, Alberta - June 26, 2010 -  Ashley Thompson, 13, who has attended the camp for several years, plays with Cetiva Rymer, 7, and sister Shawna Thompson, who has attended the camp as a camper's companion. They are visiting Camp He Ho Ha's (health, hope and happiness) 50th anniversary. The camp is Alberta’s first summer camp for people with disabilities and the only facility in the province that accepts individuals regardless of the type or degree of their disability. PHOTO BY JIMMY JEONG

At one time, 50 years ago, it was called the camp for crippled children. There were no paved roads and resources were scarce. Today, the camp is more like a resort with skilled staff, a boat, a huge and scary climbing wall and political correctness. After spending the day with people like Ken Thomas, who was there for the opening of the camp, one thing that hasn't changed is that the camp is this wonderful place for so many people. Like other camps, it gives these kids those great camp memories. And lets kids feel like kids.

If you get a chance read the Edmonton Journal story by Mariam Ibrahim.

The Technical Stuff: Whenever I work on longer piece stories I travel light. One Nikon D700 with a 70-200mm lends and a D3S with a 50mm f1.4 (One-point-four, can't ask for more. Just a saying I used to say). Ok, maybe that's not super light. But that combination allows me to shoot from a distance to capture candid moments and then come in for more intimate glimpses into people's lives (something a bit wider can help with this). And if people can sense that you're an honest person they will open right up and share a part of themselves with you.

 

Five members of the Wandering River Fire Hall pose for a photo on a blocked off part of Highway 63 two hours north of Edmonton near Breynat, Alberta on June 7, 2010. The volunteers are Maureen Hagan, Jennifer Batiuk, Trisha Hatch, Sheri Johnson and Janet Snydmiller. The Wandering River fire hall is threatening to close down due to the high calls of traffic incidents on highway 63. Jimmy Jeong For The Globe and Mail

Speeding semi-trucks on highways scare the shit out of me. So imagine how I felt, lying flat on my stomach on one of Alberta's most dangerous highways. I just kept telling myself that the perspective would be better (see second photo) and that it will be worth if for a more compelling photo. It's about angles, right? The road actually rumbles and shakes when semis drive by. I kept thinking that they might pass back into my lane, not see me, and then run over my camera and my head along with it. One of the firefighters, Sheri Johnson, saw I was feeling nervous and then asked me to imagine what it's like for them when they answer a call on a pitch black highway and there's only two of them.

Good thing that these volunteer firefighters are a lot (lot) smarter than I am. They had a friend, Terry Wilkinson, with his AMA tow truck steer the traffic and close off one lane of a two-lane (passing) stretch of the highway. Seeing the fear in my eyes, one of the firefighters, Maureen Hagan was also kind enough to put a lot of flashing cones down. I kept insisting that she place more down.

I really think that they should do a reality show on this group. Even the Globe writer, Josh Wingrove, was saying that he could write so much about each of them. Here is the article that was written. And if you get a chance, please visit my website and let me know if you think I should add one of these photos to my portfolio.

The Technical Stuff: The first and third photos were shot using two Nikon SB-800 Speedlights on either side of the group. As usual, I first metered for the ambient light so that the scene would be about 2 stops darker to get richer tones especially in the sky. And then I brought up the lights on the portrait subjects. One eye on the group, one eye on the road.

 

Friends leave the scene of a homicide in Edmonton's Ritchie Neighbourhood. Photo by Jimmy Jeong

Tragic stories I photograph do have an effect on me. Sometimes the emotions overcome me as I hide behind the camera. Some stories take a day or two to sink in after I've taken another look through my photographs. This past Sunday, I recorded precious few minutes of an event that will forever effect friends of Apichat Sudsaneh as they came to visit the site of his slaying just half-a-block from where they were living. According to the Edmonton Journal story by Conal Pierse, Apichat Sudsaneh was stabbed to death while rushing to the aid of two friends who were being attacked by a group of young men in the Ritchie neighbourhood. Apichat Sudsaneh was celebrating his going home party that night.

I never saw this moment as this man walked by. This 1/320th of a second as the mirror on the camera raised and he walked by was only studied after as I was editing the photos. But I do remember that his face was red and that his eyes were full. And all I could say to him was, "I'm sorry."

 

 

 

Premier Floyd Roland of the Northwest Territories sits down for a portrait at the Westin hotel in Edmonton, Alberta on May 25, 2010. Photo by Jimmy Jeong For the Globe and Mail

I have to admit that sometimes, rarely, a subject for a portrait can be intimidating. But this is the first time I've met a sitting political leader who had actually dropped the gloves and got in a hockey fight (in his B-div beer drinking hockey league in Yellowknife) during their tenure. I wonder if other Canadian premiers or Prime Minister Harper now thinks twice before opposing Premier Roland in the political arena.

The Technical Stuff: I really wanted to isolate the premier from the environment so that he would be the only focus of attention. The shoot took place in the hallway of the second floor of the Westin Hotel in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. So, I gridded all the lights. I started by setting my camera settings (Nikon D700, iso 100, f5.6, 1/250th of a second) so that basically if I took the photo without lights the frame would come out black. From there I built up the lights. There are two strip lights (long and narrow) behind the premier on either side. These are both gridded, which controls any spill from the lights and makes a much more narrow beam. I then made use of the reporter (thanks Josh) and had him hold a Nikon SB900 with a Honl 1/8 grid pointed at the face of the Premier. The strip lights add a rim of light around the subject and chair (you will also notice the angle of light on the floor because the lights were up high pointed down) which separates the subject from the black background. And then the punch of light on his upper torso brings back the detail in his face.

Edmonton - May 16, 2010 -  Two-year-old Maddox Flynn with parents Mike Flynn and Nicole Champagne at their home. They expect Maddox to have surgery in New York on Friday for a severe facial malformation that has affected him since birth. PHOTO BY JIMMY JEONG / EDMONTON JOURNAL

Sometimes a great story comes along and it reinforces my belief that I'm part of a noble profession. To be able to share real stories about real people. Last week I was assigned to photograph the heart warming story of two-and-a-half-year-old Maddox Flynn and his adoring parents who just wanted the best life for their child. Maddox was born with a rare lymphatic disorder called cystic hygroma on the left side of his face. His mother Nicole told me that she loves him for who he is but has already seen how other children react to him.

The family has found a doctor in New York city who may have the answer that Canadian doctors have not been able to solve. According to the Edmonton Journal story Maddox may now get the treatment he needs due to the incredible support and donations from Canadians.

Being backstage for any type of event is always extremely interesting. You see the preparations but also the emotions before the actors/models/singers go on stage. They get to be real and themselves before they take on their stage personas. I really commend anyone that can go on stage and perform or present for a large audience. I would be shitting myself. But, I guess that is why I tell stories from behind a camera.

As always, please write me a quick comment. BTW, it was super cool to see so many photographers gathered in one place shooting an event.

The Technical Stuff: All the photos were taken using a Nikon D700 full frame digital camera. My favourite lens to use for this was my 50mm 1.4 which gave just beautiful shallow depth of field and allowed me to shoot in near darkness for some of the shots. The other lens was a 14-24mm lens. But the best advice I can give when shooting something like this is to be approachable and to let people know what you are doing. Oh, and find the most important person at the event, and make sure you talk to them first.