Matthew Looks
John is available for photographic assignments. Contact me at john@johnwmacdonald.com or 613-821-5501 with details. Photo FAQ
Megan came home tonight!
Her twin sister, Kelly Louise, is still vacationing on the 4th floor of the Civic Campus of the Ottawa Hospital and is due home any day. Here's a pic to tide you over.
James "The Collar" Traub speaking to an audience at the Ottawa International Writers Festival.
from the Ottawa International Writers Festival blurb:
"Poet and critic Zachariah Wells figured it was high time for an update on that dusty tome. In Jailbreaks, Wells has gathered 99 of his favourite sonnets written by Canadians, from the 19th century to the present day."
www.writersfestival.org
Damon Galgut on stage at the Ottawa International Writers Festival. It feels like you're listening to a 19th century author. Not that I've listened to an actual 19th century author. But I hope you get what I mean. A classic voice to listen to. Smooooth.
I thought this would be a nice photo to end my photographic coverage of the Ottawa International Writers Festival this year.
I will probably post several more photos in the coming days and weeks, however.
I love the tender gaze of Glen Nuotio and (especially) that of Justin Rutledge towards Kyrie Kristmanson. They all played a lovely informal musical set which ended the literary festival on a perfect musical note.
I wish to say a big Thank You to the folks at the Ottawa International Writers Festival for allowing me to (hopefully gently) intrude into the writing life once again to make some photographic memories. Cheers!
Relit 2008 Winners: Roberta Rees, Gillian Wigmore and Gil Adamson Hosted by Kenneth J. Harvey. Photo taken at the 2008 ReLit Awards ceremony and readings.
This year’s winner for Short Fiction is Long After Fathers by Roberta Rees (Coteau). The Poetry Award goes to Soft Geography by Gillian Wigmore (Caitlin), the Novel Award to The Outlander by Gil Adamson (Anansi).
Ottawa International Writers Festival
www.writersfestival.org
I particularly like this photo or rather the context in which it was taken. It shows Ottawa International Writers Festival director, Neil Wilson (center) flanked by author Joseph Boyden signing a book for a fan after the reading. I say context because the look on Wilson's face says alot of this moment.
Seconds after the reading finishes and applause dies down throngs of well-wishers crowd the stage attempting to get their personal moment with the author and to get their books signed. It's Wilson's role to try to intercede (for lack of a better word) and escort the guest to a waiting table outside the venue for a formal book signing. Most times it's too late and people unwittingly pen the author in and he politely signs as many books in the interim.
Wilson, at this point, uses his discretion and patiently waits to cue the author to step outside to be greeted by the other hundeds of equally eager guests. It's potentially an awkward moment but Wilson deftly does this dance with aplomb as all he can do is wait. This is that moment.
Not since John McDonald's 2006 impromptu Axl Rose (Guns N' Roses) dance electrified an Ottawa audience until Joseph Boyden made his moose calls on stage. A man of many talents. One day I'll put the audio online and we'll see if any moose in the area are influenced to come out of hiding.
Stephen Henighan, Terry Fallis and Bill Gaston with Ottawa International Writers Fest host Sarah Dearing.
Pictured here is Fallis (Leacock Prize winner) showing us all how to position the hands in order to look like an intellectual while answering questions. Funny guy.
Winner of the Prix Medici Étranger, Sahitya Akademi Award and the Pushcart Prize, Amitav Ghosh makes his Ottawa International Writers Festival debut with the Booker Prize nominated Sea Of Poppies.
www.writersfestival.org
Mark Frutkin discusses his latest book, Erratic North: A Vietnam Draft Resister’s Life in the Canadian Bush at the Ottawa International Writers Festival. www.writersfestival.org
Ed note. The foyer is lit with some crazy colourful gels making the subjects look like they're straight from the pages of a comic book.
Bill Gaston, winner of the Timothy Findley Prize and the ReLit Award, reads aloud from his latest novel, The Order of Good Cheer. www.writersfestival.org
Rawi Hage Rawi Hage, winner of the Prix des libraires du Québec and the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, graciously took a minute to pose for me after his Ottawa appearance along with fellow writers Bill Gaston and David Bergen. www.writersfestival.org/
Governor General’s Award winner Nino Ricci on stage reading from his latest book, The Origin of Species at the Ottawa International Writers Festival.
www.writersfestival.org/
James Laxer reads from the stage of the Ottawa International Writers Festival from his latest book, Oil. www.writersfestival.org/
Andrew Nikiforuk, winner of seven National Magazine Awards, read from his latest book, Tar Sands: Dirty Oil and the Future of a Continent at the Ottawa International Writers Festival. www.writersfestival.org
Maggie Helwig on stage at the Ottawa International Writers Festival read from her novel, Girls Fall Down. www.writersfestival.org
MacLean's magazine ran my photo of Heather Mallick in the 13 October 2008 edition. It is my debut photo in this magazine. Ms. Mallick's words got her in some hot water recently with some people south of the border (and the CBC) with her choice words describing VP candidate, Sarah Palin. The rest of the details is in the caption.
Metcalfe Fair
www.metcalfefair.com/
(fair warning: fairly annoying fair music when you click the above link... sorry for the puns.)