Famous Creatives Amongst Us: Michael Tung

In this third instalment of FAMOUS CREATIVES AMONGST US we meet Michael Tung.

Michael Tung works at SAATCHI & SAATCHI.

He is a FAMOUS CREATIVE AMONGST US.

I photographed him on the north west corner of Yonge and Bloor near the entrance to The Bay

in Toronto.

A lovely woman apparently named "I Can't Say" was walking along when, upon learning that Michael Tung was a FAMOUS CREATIVE AMONGST HER, became coercively compelled 

to be photographed with Michael Tung.

The lovely woman named "I Can't Say" stood close to Michael Tung!

The lovely woman named "I Can't Say" held Michael Tung's hand for approximately seven seconds!
Overwhelmed, she left briskly the moment being far too much for her to digest all at once 
but what bravery!

Bravo indeed! 

May the meaningful gestures continue!

Who will be the next FAMOUS CREATIVES AMONGST US revealed? 

Famous Creatives Amongst Us: Niall Kelly

In this second installment of FAMOUS CREATIVES AMONGST US we meet Niall Kelly.
Niall Kelly works at TAXI.
He is a FAMOUS CREATIVE AMONGST US.

I photographed him on the southwest corner of Wellington and Portland near 
Victoria Memorial Park in Toronto.

A lovely woman named Jen was walking her dog when upon learning that Niall Kelly 
was a FAMOUS CREATIVE AMONGST HER was instantly, shyly compelled 
to be photographed with Niall Kelly.

Jen and her dog Molly stood close to Niall Kelly!
Occasionally Jen made eye contact with Niall Kelly! 
Jen even gave Niall Kelly permission to pick up and hold Molly!

Molly was thrilled and gave Niall Kelly an undocumented kiss (a meaningful gesture certainly).

May the meaningful gestures continue!

Who will be the next FAMOUS CREATIVES AMONGST US revealed? 

Famous creatives amongst us: a series of revealing portraits.

It is FAMOUS CREATIVES who are AMONGST US!


See, there was nothing to fear at all!
However you might even pass a FAMOUS CREATIVES AMONGST YOU  walking down the street and yet wouldn’t know it.

It doesn’t seem right does it? 
It is time the world knew and embraced these FAMOUS CREATIVES AMONGST US  (for they are embraceable!) 
But if full body embracement is too much for some, perhaps a small yet meaningful gesture
such as holding hands, standing somewhat close to them or even gazing at them meaningfully would suffice.

If even these quaint gestures are too much you could approach one of the FAMOUS CREATIVES AMONGST US and say,

“Hello. Thank you FAMOUS CREATIVES AMONGST ME.”

Is that too much to ask?

Case Study 1: David Tupper

David Tupper works at Y&R (Young & Rubicam).

He is a FAMOUS CREATIVES AMONGST US.

I photographed him on the northwest corner of Yonge and Bloor in Toronto.

The two lovely ladies, upon learning that David Tupper was a FAMOUS CREATIVES AMONGST US were instantly, powerfully compelled to be photographed with David Tupper.

Dolly, the brunette who was missing her two front bottom teeth, even gave David Tupper a familiar squeeze and back caress!

May the meaningful gestures continue!

I invite other FAMOUS CREATIVES AMONGST US to reach out to me and let your face be known to the world, nay to the World Wide Web!

Who are amongst us?

They are all around us.

Here and there.

Amongst us. 
Often obscured in our every day lives.

What are these creatures I'm talking about? Stay tuned for my next series.

Keep your eyes peeled or at least open!

I slept in Annie Liebovitz's bed.

While traveling in Portugal, a number of years ago, I checked in to a Pousada, Portugal’s version of a quaint B&B. Exhausted from a long, crowded flight, I flopped myself onto the bed and happened upon the room’s guest book.

Opening it, my eyes locked onto the last 2 signatures on the page:

A. LIEBOVITZ & S. SONTAG

“Annie Liebovitz and Susan Sontag had just stayed in my room! In this bed!" I thought to myself.
Before allowing myself to look up and read their entry, I thought of all the meaningful things they could have possibly written.

"The camera makes everyone a tourist in other people's reality, and eventually in one's own."

S. SONTAG

"A thing that you see in my pictures is that I was not afraid to fall in love with these people."

A. LIEBOVITZ

And then I read the thoughts that these two intellectual giants had left in the room's guest book...

“What a beautiful room. And wonderful people.”

A. LIEBOVITZ & S. SONTAG

Not exactly the moment of enlightenment I was expecting to receive but I suppose that even these two photographic monoliths are entitled to like a comfy room too. But as the years have passed, Annie and I have crossed paths again as I have had the honour of being accepted in this year's very prestigious American Photography, for the following series.

Past winners include: Mary Ellen Mark, Edward Burtynsky, and of course, Annie Liebovitz. Which is what made me recall our Pousada interlude. And no one can prove that I rubbed this camera all over those sheets for luck. No one!

Camera that was on the same sheets as Annie and Susan.

The Man Behind the Tire

Lately it seems, a week doesn't go by before Canadian Tire is back in the headlines.

But who isn't a little curious about Canadian Tire? It's in our Canadian DNA.

At least it's in mine. Growing up in Welland, ON, my brother and I both worked there. My brother's true ambition however was to be a Gas Jockey. He thought the ladies would be enamored with a man who knew his way around the pump. Nowadays, who would know that feeling better than Canadian Tire CEO, Stephen Wetmore.

When I shot him for this month's Report on Business magazine, I had to know:

Who is the man behind the Tire?

ROB: How to Fix Canadian Tire

Unfortunately, I can't say he imparted much on me personally. But I do think some of these shots say more about the man than I'll ever really know.

One thing does remain clear. With all the self-service stations around town, we all have become Gas Jockeys now. Haven't we dear brother, haven't we?

A Tom Feiler True Story: Danger Bay

I recently made a trip to my friend Joe's cottage.  It’s been years since I was there last and taking some new images I noticed, nothing much has changed. Which is all right by me. 

Nostalgic, it reminded me of a story that happened out on this very lake. Joe’s cottage was always a place that we looked forward to going to in high school. It meant nature, independence, some old Stock Ale and for me, a canoe trip with my friend Rudy.


These canoe trips would most often lead to us simply getting lost. But on one particular trip it lead to…danger. At this time, I think it's important to note that a Ouija board did once reveal to me that I was very close to death. 


I won’t trouble you further with all the details. But I would like to impart some very important lessons.

1. Never cross the middle of a lake in an aluminum canoe during a thunderstorm. Even if you think it would make a shorter trip.
2. River otters can hypnotize you if you look them in the eyes. 
3. Finally, when you’re in the middle of the lake, during a fast approaching thunderstorm and you happen to see people are on the shore waving… never use your paddles to wave back.

The Ouija board never lies.

Photographer. Director. Babysitter.

In these ever changing times we all have to be open to reinvention in our careers. Using myself as an example, I am a photographer, a director and now a baby-sitter for famous people.

Recently, I shot Chantal Kreviazuk for her upcoming concert DVD. While Chantal was in make-up, her littlest one, Salvador Daniel was hanging on to her chair trying to spin her around (apparently this is dangerous while applying mascara). 

So I asked Sal if I could take his picture. Sal agreed, made me sign some release forms (he is barely 4). Next, Rowan the eldest came around the corner with his other brother Lucca John. So I shot them all. The shots are all very sweet, all very real and all without a touch of my signature quirk.

Kids are great to photograph. And the more I've been shooting and directing them, the more I like it! So bring me your famous people. Bring me their kids. And maybe even their dogs! But wait, that's another story for another time.