As I put my camera away the man in white looked really angry (and frankly, really high) and screamed “DID YOU TAKE MY FUCKIN’ PHOTO?” to which I put my best innocent face on, saying “gosh, no. I was just taking a picture of the sign. I grew up here and wanted the memory”. He nodded and let me pass.
September 1, 2010
Picture I took at the Toronto FanExpo, which was fun but exhausting.
August 23, 2010
(this is cross-posted on to my food-related blog The Hungry Bitch. For more updates on this topic go there)
So long, dairy! So long, bread! I’m taking you off the menu. It’s been great and really, I think you’re wonderful. But I’m thinking that we’re at a point in each other’s lives where we have to find new things.
Well, for a month anyways.
So yeah, as part of an experiment, I’ll be going off of bread and dairy products for a month. In the meantime I’ll be recording the results as well as the progress and failures I’ll have throughout. There are a few reasons why I want to do this, the primary one being “just to see if I can do it”. Another reason is that I’ve felt inspired by the increasing amount of vegan friends I have and their creativity with recipes that don’t involve anything from our friend the moo-cow. The list goes on, one including freeing myself from addictions that got some snickers from my vegan friend Cheryl, but the big thing is just to see if I can do it.
At first it seemed to me that getting rid of dairy would be the easy part and bread would be harder. After all, I don’t really eat that much bread at home, I’ve been drinking soy milk for two years and have a slight intolerance towards certain cheeses. But for the two weeks leading up to the launch of this experiment, I realized just how much of the two I consume on a regular basis and it suddenly became much more of a daunting task. It’s amazing how much of a product you can eat without realizing it.
Right now, Day 1, I’m just getting used to the small changes. Grapefruit for breakfast instead of a bowl of cereal and toast, I’m thinking a chickpea vegan curry from Fresh might be on the menu for lunch AND dinner (Such huge portions they serve) and some Sweet Chili Triscuits and hazelnuts as a snack. A bit of a change since I normally have a burger, hot dog, sub, pizza or any other kind of meal featuring bread and cheese for lunch and bread with honey as a snack.
WHAT I EXPECT TO GET OUT OF THIS
Hahahaha what?
The most I’d expect to get out of this is some health-related results that I can write up, print off and throw on J. Jonah Jameson’s desk with a defiant smirk because HE FUCKING DOUBTED ME.
Or you know, maybe just some results. Good or bad. That would be nice.
CHALLENGES
I’ve come to terms with the fact that I am going to fall off the wagon on this a couple of times, either accidentally or intentionally. Going off something cold turkey is something I’ve failed at in the past and I recognize that this is going to be a bit of a transition and I will at some point, give in to the sexy allure of a double-cheese pizza or the seductive wink of a cupcake with cream cheese frosting. But I’m going to try my best not to succumb to these temptations and will also try not to be discouraged if I do.
WHAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT FROM ME
Because you just have to fucking expect something of me, don’t you?
At the very least you should expect a weekly update. Either it will be accounts of going through withdrawal or more likely recording the alternatives to bread & dairy I’ll be having as well as a recipe or two. Perhaps some update on general well-being as well. We’ll see where it goes.
So yeah! Here we go…Wish me luck!
August 18, 2010
The month of July (and some of August) have actually been really freakin’ productive for this smalltime Toronto lady. Here’s what’s happened and what WILL be happening.
- Took some wonderful promotional photographs for Ottawa-based singer/songwriter Lynne Hanson. Even got a very touching review from her (“You made picture taking actually fun instead of a chore!!”). It was an absolute treat to work with Lynne. We had a great time shooting and the first thing I did after I submitted the photos was buy the same bag as her, a CBC press bag that I fell in love with when I first met her. It will make a fine camera bag.
- Jo Hikk’s latest album THE GAME, which has my photography all over the cover and back cover and inside and on the CD itself was released last week followed by a pretty good sized ad campaign on newspapers and television (the latter even edited by myself). Couldn’t be more proud to see my photos on the album. Considering the shoot started out as a quick little thing to get some shots for their newsletter, it’s been amazing to see it all escalate. With a little luck, this will mean some more work in the future.
- My shots from the Mariposa Folk Festival have been getting some attention. A feature on Roots Music Canada brought forth a hell of a lot of attention and has spawned a couple of print requests. I also got word that some of the shots I took MIGHT be in a biographical book on a couple of certain music artists. Nothing solid yet, but I’ll keep you updated.
- Comic project with the incredibly talented Neil Struthers is happening. Just you wait.
- Looks like I’ll be taking photos at the Toronto Fan Expo next weekend. If you’re there and you spot a wild Robin, say hello! Bonus if you have any Ghostbusters related stuff to show/give me. Just sayin’.
- I’m going to be in New York City for NYCC and for fun from October 8-17. Would love to meet up with New York friends and will be contented to take as many photos as I can on this trip. If you’re a model or just want to hang out. Let me know!
- Need to have conference call with a really talented musician regarding promotional pictures. Exciting!
- I sent my first large print (12×18) to Bram from the amazing site Weaponizer. Have gotten a taste for printing out large sizes now. I need more orders like that. MOAR.
So yeah! Exciting stuff! It’s kind of amazing how much this photography thing has taken off. I’m starting to feel that this is something that I Want To Do With My Life. I don’t know. We’ll see where it goes.
That’s all for now, folks! I’ll keep you updated on stuff as it happens. For real this time. Promise. What the hell, make it a pinkie swear.
July 22, 2010
First time messing around in the darkroom for the hell of it. We’ll see if I improve on Monday.
July 20, 2010
I Think You’re Sauceome, a webcomic by the very talented Sarah Becan (also creator of Short Pants Press), is one of those comics where I can’t seem to stop re-reading the archives of. As a creative gal who is struggling with weightloss and getting over things regarding poor body image (and who loves a damn good dark beer now and then), it’s easy to relate to these comics. DAMN easy. It’s also proving to be something of an inspiration and a couple of her habits (reducing weigh-ins to once a week, keeping track of all that has been consumed during the day) are leaking in to my routine.
Check it out. www.sauceome.com
July 15, 2010
Above: Little Miss Higgins on a boat. Quite an amazing show. Especially when it started to rain.
One of several shots I took at the Mariposa Folk Festival. The whole set can be found here or you can check Roots Music Canada, in which the set has been featured here.
This shoot was a lot of fun! Especially since I haven’t been to a field music festival in…Christ, must be ten years.
July 9, 2010
Coming to stores some time next month, it’s Jo Hikk’s “The Game” Featuring album photography by me.
July 7, 2010
Today my mother, Ann LeBlanc (or Anya Wilson , depending on who you ask) has turned 62. And she doesn’t look it. And for the love of GOD, don’t tell her I mentioned her age.
My mom so far has had a hell of a life. She worked with David Bowie during the Ziggy Stardust days, worked with Iggy Pop during the Cutting Myself With A Broken Bottle days and thought that a little known band called T-Rex might have been on to something. Tony Macaulay, who she dated at the time, wrote the Foundations song “Baby, Now That I Found You” about her. She referred to Lemmy as a disgusting-looking gremlin after his manager told her that Lemmy asked to bring her up “backstage”. What’s more, she managed to charm the hell out of my father and they had ‘little ‘ol me somewhere along the line.
I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to have such a friend with enough experiences to fill several books in her. We’ve had many moments where we went out and did stuff or just sat at home, got drunk and went through youtube so she could show me her old boyfriends playing Top Of The Pops or any other show they were on. She’s an awesome lady, cool as all hell and I’m really glad that she’s my mom.
Happy Birthday, Mom.
June 28, 2010
Toronto Steampunk Society, originally uploaded by robinleblanc.
I went on a shoot with the lovely Toronto Steampunk Society today. Ended up getting some great photos for it!
Full set here
