Nick Ballon is a London-based photographer who takes delight in capturing the quirks of everyday life, and suspending its idiosyncrasies and minutiae in his work. [His work is] coloured by a fascination in location - or rather a curiosity about the hidden stories behind his locations. This has taken Nick from the from the motor-way [...]

I own up: I really thought much of the entire continent of Africa (with the exception of South Africa), revolved around civil wars, overpopulation, famine, bloated malnourished children, widespread AIDS, and, of course, safaris. Surely a place so ravaged by misfortunes could not foster and nurture the needs of a contemporary photographer - one who [...]

I really do not know much about Jessica Eaton’s work, other than the fact that this series looks absolutely smashing! It just goes on to show that experimentation, abstraction and randomness can be compositionally compelling, especially when viewing her body of work in the whole and relating it to subjects that we can easily discern [...]

As I age, I find myself getting increasingly more interested in history. I didn’t grow up in Vancouver, so the only history I know of it is through textbooks. However, textbooks do not offer personal accounts, of which I am even more interested in. Living life, especially through years before I was even born, through [...]

“Shinichi Maruyama’s work is subconsciously influenced by a Japanese sense of beauty. This sense of beauty can be found in the concept of “wabi-sabi,” referring to the beauty of imperfection and understated elegance. Additionally, this beauty is also expressed in “ma,” the use of negative space, found in the art of calligraphy as well as [...]

Apart from an irrational fear of cancer, I have other more realistic and common fears. For many of these fears, I just try to block it out of my thoughts. While they do not consume me, I know I would have a great deal of trouble coming to terms with them should any one of [...]

I remember the first time I ever went on a plane very well: I was seated at the window (of course!) aboard a Qantas plane headed to Sydney. Excited with glee, I remember being told to suck on my mint to counter the effects changing altitude pressure. I also remember the courtesy peanuts and safety [...]

Many times, after watching a movie, I’d wonder about the long process of creating the final product. A film project inevitably involves a multitude of talents, each contributing to the look and feel, narrative process, emotional content, amongst other facets. With so many people and so complex a workflow, it is unsurprising that I find [...]

My parents are advancing in age. Just a few years ago, they looked to be in their 50’s, but it is amazing what tiny lines can do collectively to age a person, with the aid of gravity - they look their age now. And in a few years’ time, they will have entered their 70’s. [...]

As a Canadian, I am ashamed to say that my knowledge of Canadian history is shallow. In my defense, I have only lived in Vancouver for 10 years. Take, for instance, Downtown East Side (DTES). It is one of Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhoods and the historic heart of the city. The City hall, the courthouse, Woodward’s [...]