Friday, June 11, 2010

PERSPECTIVE: 2010 BCHS Track & Field Championships

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(Runners at the 2010 BCHS Track & Field Championships. © 2010 Benjamin Luk.)

In early June, a colleague of mine filled me in on a promising project to shoot. The 2010 BCHS Track & Field Championships were happening at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, BC; practically a stone's throw from where I live. Jumping at the chance to add more to my limited sports photography portfolio, I agreed to the project and found myself awake at 7 AM last Friday en route to Swangard.

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(A pole vaulter from Oak Bay, standing in front of his record-breaking score. © 2010 Benjamin Luk.)

We shot for two days, covering every event we could. The photos produced from our assignment will be published next year in the 2011 BCHS Track & Field Championships event program. Out of the 900+ images I shot, I can't wait to see what will be published. Shooting for them again next year remains a possibility. Special thanks to Colten Warne for bringing me on board.

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(A student of New Westminster Secondary prepares for his javelin throw. © 2010 Benjamin Luk.)

Benjamin Luk Photography is available for assignment at BenjaminLuk.com.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

PERSPECTIVE: A Portrait of the Artist as a Hung Man

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(Local artist Owen Ellis, photographed on the set of our latest project. © 2010 Meg Bourne.)

Owen Ellis and I met in late January while working for NBC during the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games. Over the course of the games, we got to know each other and discovered that we were both young artists with similar ideas. Fast forward a few months later and we were both on the studio set of our first collaborative art piece together: "You're Alive!"

Without giving up too much information, it's a piece questioning why we celebrate the things we celebrate and why we mourn the things we mourn. Oh, and it has nooses. It has a comedic edge to it too, but you'll never get to see it unless you come down to The Cheaper Show No. 9 on June 26th at the Storyeum building in Gastown (142 Water Street, Vancouver). 200 artists are exhibiting 400 pieces of art, each priced at only $200. You could walk away with a limited edition 24" x 36" print of "You're Alive!" for only $200 if you show up! Isn't that insane?

For further incentive, no version of "You're Alive!" will ever be posted anywhere online. The only way to view it is by showing up. So do it.

Benjamin Luk Photography is available for assignment at BenjaminLuk.com.