During the Summer of 2006 I did a test shoot with Rozalind MacPhail. Most photographers nowadays use the term “test” shoot as another way of saying, “shooting for free”. It used to be called T.F.P., (Time For Print). I on the other hand use the term in it’s full meaning. I literally don’t know if I’m going to get along with the person who I’m working with. Now most people can be shot well, given a good make-up job, a nice hair do, some nice cloths, great location, and some killer lighting. I look more for the connection between me and my model. Even using the term model is a stretch for me. The people I work with are my inspiration. I would even go so far as to say my reason for doing photography in the first place.
I had known of Rozalind, and her music for years, and have always wanted to shoot with her, but never got around to it. Then one day I find out she’s leaving Ottawa!!! So I jump on the chance to work with her. I had to know if we had that vibe. To me, the results of this shoot, are extraordinary. I’m just in love with her style, her look, her grace. Sadly, most don’t share my view of these shots. But in the end, it’s about how satisfied I am with the work I do.
Rozalind and I did end up doing another shoot a year later when she was passing through Ottawa, but you’ll have to wait for those.
Take the time to listen to some of her music on her MySpace page HERE, and then check out the full set of photographs HERE.

Back in the Summer of 2007 I did some work for a company called “Bolandi Classics“. Over two days, (one day was a night), together with model Samy Osman, (of Angies Models), we got some really amazing shots. Bolandi has now released there Spring 2008 Campaign complete with some of my unique work.
Working with the guys over at Bolandi was a great experience and really brought out the part of me that like to work clean and to the point. As I often work from the hip, with little prep. Yet even though we organized every button, every thread, we were still able to capture the life, the style of the suits. Testament to the great communication the crew had. What I love most about working with people here in Ottawa is the drive and determination to make a difference designers and models have. Of course not all have these qualities, but I always seem to end up working with people who I develop long term working relationships with. You can be sure to see more work from me and Bolandi, as well as from Samy. So here is the shameless plug. When in Ottawa, and your heading out to a major event and are in need of that luxurious style, head over to Bolandi, and tell them Jef sent you! Oh, and if you need a young hard-body male model who killer Calvin Klein looks will win you award, well, then Samy is your man!

So I’m watching Season 8 of Law and Order SVU, (Special Victims Unit). I’m at episode 12 and across the screen flashed this face I thought I recognized. Sure enough I do! It’s Pooja Kumar! Who is she? Well a few years back, (2004) I did some photo work with JoSH on they’re Baan Far Kay music video, (shot in Montreal). You can check out those pictures HERE.
That’s when I meet Pooja, she was the star of that video. During the breaks in shooting I did interviews with everyone, (including Sugar Sammy). Pooja and I hit it off right away. Literally with 5 min left in the break Pooja and I snuck out back to the alley way and did a mini photo shoot. Believe it! You can see one of the pictures here. Simply amazing. So the years pass and all of a sudden she’s in Law and Order! How cool is that! Congrats Pooja! You can see the Baan Far Kay video HERE.
And I know I’ll get in trouble for this, but here is the little known interview video with Sammy and Pooja.

As a canadian, and someone who has there own material out in the public, I find myself obligated to share this not so tiny news items that has caught my attention today. The Globe and Mail is reporting that “The government of Canada is preparing to attempt to bring a new DMCA-modeled copyright law in Canada in order to comply with the WIPO treaties the country signed in 1997. (These treaties were also the base of the American DMCA.) The new Canadian law will be even more restrictive in nature than the American version and worse than the last Canadian copyright proposal, the defeated Bill C-60. Among the many restrictive clauses in this new law, as Michael Geist explains, is the total abolishment of the concept of fair use: ‘No parody exception. No time shifting exception. No device shifting exception. No expanded backup provision. Nothing.’ Geist provides a list of 30 things that can be done to address the issues.”
Please continue reading.

The Mutter Museum has a historic archive of medical photographs, most of which have never been shown publicly. Blast Books have published a book of 200 images originally taken to illustrate medical and pathological conditions. As editor Laura Lindgren says, “Many of these photographs document unusual, sometimes nearly unimaginable, challenges of disorder, disease, and injury. A great many of these photographs are disquieting, yet they are equally moving in their portrayal of how these people endured their fate. A few photographs demonstrate the limited relief that medical science at the time was able to offer and thus show how very far medicine has advanced.”

Mutter Museum Historic Medical Photographs (Hardcover)
by College of Physicians of Philadelphia (Author), Laura Lindgren (Editor), Gretchen Worden (Introduction).