House in Perth, Ontario
March 2, 2024A Cottage in Portland, Ontario
March 2, 2024Ottawa VIA Train Station
December 28, 2023My car died.
It was 4:15 pm three days before Christmas and there I was, stranded.
But not for long.
Call to Enterprise. If I got there by 5 pm I could have a rental
UBER App: 6 minutes later my driver was there. And at 4:45 i was driving a rental.
The next morning I had a tow truck bring my car to Smiths Falls for the dealer to work on.
And I had a car for the week.
I returned the rental yesterday and needed a way to get home.
VIA
Because I live in Smiths Falls I can get anywhere in Canada by train. I had some time before departure and knew I wanted to photograph the station, the sun had set, and the misty drizzling rain and the busyness of the station made me feel like my car was meant to break down so that I could make these pictures.
Perth Chamber of Commerce Gala Event at Codes Mill
October 24, 2023The Stanley Cup
October 5, 2023Toronto Streets
October 5, 2023Zak’s Diner and LIVE on Elgin
September 20, 2023“You drink the label.”
I got to use the phrase at the LCBO yesterday and I’m not sure where I first heard it.
Did I read this phrase in one of David Ogilvy’s (or in one of the countless branding) books I’ve read? Or did one of my Advertising profs at Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology (Terry, Bill, Al, or Nick?) share this truism?
To me, the Zak’s and Live On Elgin storefront is the label.
The logos/wordmarks all work in concert with the in-your-face details and nuances of the original facade, each expresses the unique character and anticipated memorable shared experiences of the individual and the many.
Elgin Street has always been cool to me, from being the place I went to see movies as a kid to being the Red Mile, I am so glad that the Elgin Street Renewal project kept the character of the street while making it better.
P.S. While, in this case, “Drink” is a metaphor for “experience” my visit to the LCBO was to find out if Anchor Steam Beer was available in Ontario again. It turns out that Anchor Steam ceased operations in July. When I got home I did some research into the downfall of this “original” craft beer, the new owners of the brewery decided on a rebrand and changed the label in 2021. Many bar patrons blamed that label change for the demise of their favourite beer. While it’s never just one thing (a huge increase in competing craft beer brands, the local economy, and the pandemic were cited as reasons) the change of the label put gas on that lit fire. Changing the label changed the experience.
Teachers College and Ottawa City Hall Park areas
September 20, 2023Pimisi LRT Station in Ottawa
September 18, 2023Ever since I first glimpsed the initial plans and witnessed the ongoing evolution of Ottawa’s LRT system, it has held a deep fascination for me. Last week I received an email that inspired me to investigate the challenges of photographing the Confederation line with a photo reconnaissance at Pimisi Station.