In the past month, I've had the privilege of making photos of two leaders who inspire me. The first is of momentum-building NDP leadership candidate, Peggy Nash.  The second is of Vancouver's progressive and loved mayor, Gregor Robertson. My goal was to capture the strengths of these unifying leaders.

The photo of Mayor Gregor Robertson is from my cover shoot for Spacing Magazine (Canadian Magazine of the Year). It hits shelves soon. Here's the cover, be sure to check it out.

I hope you're having a fun holiday season.

May your 2012 be a year of prosperity, joy and adventure.

Happiest of Happy New Year's,

 
Mischa Bartkow 

I couldn't do this without the help of my husband Dan Dumsha, 
he's the idea man, the inspirer and
the "it's time to send the email!" guy.
Thanks Dan. 

This photo was made at the entrance to the Old Havana Cigar Factory. It's a good reminder to not take the holidays too seriously.
 

A big thank you to all of you that ordered the Image&This Community Cause calendars.  This year we raised over $900 for Vancouver's Urban Native Youth Association. UNYA supports and empowers First Nations youth living in the city and moving here from reserves. Their work is important and inspiring.  Congratulations and thank you for your support.  We hope you enjoy the calendars!

A bridge is a connection between two solid points, joining a pathand connecting above the chasm. Bridges are often metaphors for solutions and compromises.

A crisp fall night stroll in Vancouver's Athlete's Village brought me to the edge of this foot bridge. The beauty of the bridge, especially at night, inspires me to wonder what bridges I can build in my life.

We're so pleased to announce our 2nd annual calendar. 
This year 100% of proceeds will go to support Vancouver's Urban Native Youth Association.

UNYA provides jobs training, counselling, organized events, housing support and a link to community resources for First Nations youth.

I believe it's our responsibility to support First Nations youth in achieving their full potential.  I hope you will join me in supporting this important cause.

Our stunning calendars are spiral bound on professional grade paper, so your calendar will look like art on your wall for the full year.  12 never-seen-before images from Cuba, Hawaii, Ontario, British Columbia and more will have you sneaking peeks at the months ahead. 

CAD $30 each $4 flat rate shipping, no matter how many copies you buy
taxes already included.
($10 shipping outside Canada)

CLICK HERE TO BUY - SECURE PAYPAL LINK

250 limited edition prints. Last year we sold out within three weeks.
Each copy is signed by the photographer.

These make thoughtful and beautiful gifts.

BUY NOW. THEY WILL SELL OUT.
CALENDARS SHIP ON DEC. 2nd.

for more info about the Urban Native Youth Association visit their site at www.unya.bc.ca

As we celebrate the 50th issue of Image & This, I find myself reflecting.  I keep coming back to the great responses and feedback from all of you in this photo-based dialogue. Image & This is a conversation about the world we share.

This photo is a reflection too.  What you see are the autumn leaves and sunset in Ontario's famed cottage country, reflected on the water of Jack Lake near Peterborough. The photo is untouched and unaltered, it was created by the pure colours of autumn at dusk.

Thank you for reflecting with me for the first fifty issues of
Image & This.

Yesterday my hero Jack Layton* passed away.  He is my hero because he worked tirelessly to make the world a better, more caring place.  He listened, he strived to understand and he was genuinely interested in improving quality of life for all Canadians.  Regardless of your political stripes or what country you live in, I ask you to be inspired by Jack to make positive change around you.  What can you improve? Who can you stand up for?  We can all do something to help those who are suffering, those who are afraid, and those who are not heard.  Jack, we will carry on in your memory, your work was not in vain.  Here's to a life well lived.

Good bye and thank you.

Candlelight vigil for Jack Layton at the Vancouver Art Gallery 

ME Wedding Photography is made up of Mischa Bartkow & Elisha Clement, the world's most famous brother-sister photography duo.  Visit us at www.me-photo.com

On the side of a road in Maui, Hawaii someone with a marker had an epiphany. A sign warning of danger was transformed into a positive statement about love. This sign reminded me that we travel to fall in love. Maybe we're there to fall in love with someone else, fall in love with our own sense of adventure, or to fall in love with a little corner of our vast world. Sometimes we even travel to fall in love with what's waiting for us back at home. Whatever the reason, get out there and fall in love, all over again.

Maui, Hawaii

Considered one of the most beautiful drives in the world, driving the Road to Hana is a right of passage for travellers to the Hawaiian island of Maui. The daylong trip, takes you through winding valleys, high along plunging cliffs and past so many waterfalls that some might start to take them for granted.  Here you'll find tight bends, rocks, potholes and mud all hugging the cliffs, afraid to lose their grip and crash into the water below.  With a peek into my rear-view mirror I was excited to catch the view of this rainbow over our path. Leave lots of time for unexpected stops. 
 
Maui, Hawaii

Tabernash, Colorado is located along America's continental divide. Here, in the foothills of the Rockies ranch culture is a way of life.  Outside Devil's Thumb Ranch, a white horse stands stoically in the cold snowy air. 

Someone said to me that "if Fidel Castro was a young man today, he would start another revolution".  This week, Fidel officially stepped down as leader of the Communist Party of Cuba.  His brother and Cuba's President, Raul Castro also announced changes allowing Cubans to  freely buy and sell property and start their own businesses. Cuba is now officially on the cusp of a new era. 
                                                                                                                                                   Nearly every traveller I met, mentioned they had come to Cuba "to see it before it changes". That change is happening. As the youth of Cuba look forward to tomorrow, I wonder what they are thinking and what their future holds.  I hope to return one day to find out.                                          
 ---
                                                                                                                                                   Thank you for joining Image&This on our six issue tour of Cuba. 
 We appreciate all the great feedback.

Revolution propaganda murals are plentiful in Cuba. It's like a treasure hunt trying to find them.  Each colourful hand painted sign trumpets the accomplishments and heroes of Fidel Castro's communist revolution. My taxi driver said Cuba isn't so much a communist country but rather a "Fidel-ist" country. As Fidel's stronghold is increasingly affected by visitors from the outside world, these paintings and still-running 1950s cars are becoming symbols of a quickly fading era and way of life.

El Prado, Havana Vieja

Most Cubans I encountered were eager to have their portraits taken and it was amazing how they stayed real while posing. No apprehension, peace signs or forced smiles here. The openness of the Cuban people - in their homes, restaurants and on the street made it easy and fun to make authentic photographs. It's a great lesson on how to pose for a photo: just be.

Cubans love baseball. This eager kid on the outskirts of Havana, overtakes a fenced-in town square to whack makeshift baseballs. No bases, baselines or jerseys needed to enjoy this pastime that connects the entire country.

In Havana, it's common to pass elderly men and women perched on stoops selling random second hand items. Che Guevara t-shirts and bead necklaces are everywhere, but unique souvenirs can be difficult to come by. Head over to one of these friendly old-timers, make a friend, and pick up a mean pair of bright green flip flops or an old baseball mitt. Chances are, he'll also try to sell you the car.  A purchase with a human connection - that's worth remembering. 

Cubans take the idea of street life to the next level, literally. Crowds fill the busy streets and children play as horse drawn carts and bicycle taxis weave past. With a friendly feeling floating through the hectic air,  there's always something happening and everyone seems to be connected. It's common to be called from above when walking around Old Havana. The buildings may be ancient, but the gossip is fresh and word travels quickly by foot and friend. 

This family was eager to pose and laugh at me as I captured them with the Cuban flag.

¡Bienvenido a Cuba!  Welcome to Cuba! 

_ _ _

For the next six issues, Image&This will take you to Cuba,
a country that opened my eyes and sang to my heart. I hope you enjoy.

I recently visited a Vancouver classroom and asked the grade 4/5  students to help make a photo. Together we made a portrait of the future. The students created paper masks of themselves as thirty year olds and posed for the camera. The adult masks you see in this photo represent dreams, fears, and hopes.

The choices we make today, will affect the adults these kids become tomorrow. Let's choose wisely.

I've lived beside this sign for about six months now, eagerly waiting for the right opportunity to capture its hope with a photograph. Shining its optimistic message day and night, this beacon reminds onlookers to trust and enjoy. So, I waited.

Finally, this week there was a window of eerie light as a rainstorm rolled over from the mountains.  It's good to remember messages like this, especially as dark clouds approach.

Bob Rennie Marketing Building
Vancouver, Canada

Yesterday the world was a bit more purple.   Aubergine and lavender blanketed Facebook profiles and Twitter avatars.  Lilac and royal hoodies, puffy vests and scarves dotted our city streets.  Amethyst ties, turbans and pantsuits jockeyed in parliament.  Wearing purple was an opportunity to support the LGBT* community. Even Google and Hillary Rodham Clinton joined the long list of celebrities and general public spreading a message of hope. They were unified in reaching out to gay youth who struggle to picture a better future beyond homophobic bullying.  It was a simple, yet powerful concept: it gets better.

We are riding a tidal wave of change for gay rights in many countries and in many communities. However, this wave has not yet reached every shore.  Too many corners of the world still openly stomp on the lives and rights of gay people.  This has to change and it will.

Thank you for doing your part to end ignorance, for changing one person's mind at a time and for opening your heart.

I made this photo at the Vancouver Vigil for Ending Homophobic Bullying.

*Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender

I recently passed through the small town of Keremeos. The Okanagan area of B.C. is known for being dry and hot.  There, I discovered this fossil from the recent past. Rusting against the backdrop of sage brush hills, this fading car holds onto the clumsy charm of its heyday.

I was commissioned to do a series of extreme close-ups of muscle, fat, and tissue for the BRAVO! short film "The Run". After a visit to my local butcher shop, I set up my studio lighting, and got close. In getting closer, I observed meat as if for the first time. This shot is of tripe, the stomach of a cow. To me it looks more like coral under the sea or the inside of a flower.

On Thormanby Island, BC, I swam with hundreds of jellyfish as they pulsed through the warm shallow water. They are translucent and graceful, seemingly unaware of direction. As the sun set and the tide went out, several jellyfish were stranded on the shore. The full moon lit the death of these strange and almost mystical creatures. They were gone by morning.

The Celebration of Light fireworks competition is on again in Vancouver's English Bay. When I was a young boy, it was called Benson & Hedges Symphony of Fire.  The name has changed but the tradition hasn’t.  Vancouverites flow out of their summer routines to gather in throngs along the West End shores.  Sitting among total strangers, we "ooooh", "ahhhh", and applaud as the night sky fills with fleeting bursts of colour and light.

Events like these fireworks and other summer festivals, fairs and markets, bring us closer.  Even though we don’t always know each other we join together to share and build something bigger than us, our community. 

Be sure to get out there and enjoy!
_ _ _

On another note, we couldn't help but think that the fireworks are also celebrating our 30th issue of Image&This.  Thank you to all our readers for your continued support!

I've been considering sending you this photo since last August. Originally, I thought I would send this image and talk about new life or families. The meaning and significance of the photo has changed since I made it.

Last week my favourite beluga, the newborn Nala, died at the Vancouver Aquarium. I got quite sad when I heard the news, I used to love going to the Aquarium to watch her play. This photo is now part of my memory of Nala.

The passage of time is written on pavement with cracks. As hundreds of feet trek across this ground, the cracks slowly grow and connect. I like it when there are two distinct speeds captured in a photograph.

This is a significant month for South Africa.  In 1994, the scourge of Apartheid was finally defeated with the election of Nelson Mandela.  South Africa was welcomed back into the international forum and a long process of reconciliation began.  Now 16 years later, South Africa and the continent of Africa welcome us all for the FIFA World Cup.  This is a story of forgiveness and redemption.

South Africans are very proud to be hosting the world.  You may be surprised, as I was, how modern South Africa truly is.  Hopefully the spotlight will allow South Africa to shine and continue to provide opportunities for her citizens to flourish.  The townships in South Africa are still a place of despair and race relations are often still tense; however, many hope this event will be another step in the right direction.  We wish you luck South Africa.  GOAL!!!

I made this photo of the new Durban World Cup Stadium on a recent expedition to South Africa.  

As the sun dips in the sky, I watch the shadow of this budding tree dance across the wall of the Westin Bayshore Hotel in Vancouver. It's mesmerizing watching a shadow slowly glide across its canvas throughout the day.
<br>Shadows create fleeting works of art for those willing to stop and take a look.

When I found this wig shop in Seattle, I had to go in and check it out. Each of the plastic mannequin heads is the exact same as the next, yet the wigs give each one a completely unique personality.

I think the one that best fits my personality is the third from the right on the bottom.

A tunnel is a metaphor. A tunnel is a risk into the unknown, a journey towards a dream through the darkness.

What is the bright light at the end of your tunnel?

The Olympics brought Vancouver to life. The city is still buzzing as we eagerly await the start of the Paralympics tonight. This Olympic light show, over English Bay, danced in our view for the entire Games. Most feel like the Olympics were a blur and we've all emerged from the post-Olympic hangover prouder than before. Thank you to all those that made the the Olympics a smashing success. It was amazing to be part of the celebration.

Since I made this photo, the rig carrying these rings has moved and I'm not sure where. I'm guessing that the rings will reappear soon for the Olympics. Vancouver is buzzing. You can feel the anticipation in the air. Signs of the Olympics are popping up (and disappearing) everywhere! My mission is to find them again and send you another photo. Go Canada!

The spellbinding complexity of a scattering of leaves is dusted with frost on a brisk January morning. I made this photo on BC's Sunshine Coast over the holidays. This image shows beauty after life.

Matsapha, Swaziland. The shoppers in this photo are workers from a textile factory (seen in the background) on their lunch break. While digging in the long piles of second hand clothes, I could hear the shoppers whispering "shooter, shooter" when they saw me approach with my camera. Have you had a similar shopping experience this season?

This mighty elephant is running free in the Hlue Hlue Game Reserve near Durban, South Africa. My heart swelled with excitement when I saw this classic symbol of Africa hiding in the trees. The knobby and twisted trees seem to somehow be connected to this gentle giant. This photo is part of a series I made of wild elephants running, trumpeting and flapping their ears.

Much has been made about the odds of lightning. From time to time, giant electric bolts connect the sky to the earth. Catching lightning is a matter of perfect timing. I have been trying to capture lightning with my camera for about two years. This fork struck during a storm on my very first day in the African mountain kingdom of Swaziland, where I lived on a friend's dairy farm. It took me two years to prepare for this photo, and I had no idea that the payoff would happen on the other side of the world. Another reminder that bright pursuits will lead us to be in the right place at the right time, allowing luck to baffle the odds.

On my way to Africa I was lucky enough to have a layover in Amsterdam. Wandering the streets on that rainy afternoon, I found myself in the world famous Red Light District. There, women knock on the windows to try and get people's attention, but what got my attention instead were these sweet swans swimming on one of the canals. I couldn't help but think it must be quite entertaining living canal-level, watching the birds and boats float by. I wonder if the swans knock on the windows to get attention too.

I love when buildings are designed to interact with and celebrate their surroundings. On the deck of my new favourite building, the Vancouver Convention Centre, I caught the reflection of the sky, mountains, and ocean. The glass wall seems designed to pay homage to the mountains. This deck is one of the newest extensions to the seawall, and is open for all who would like to take a stroll along the water's edge in the city.

I stopped and hesitated before entering the park. The grass was green, the breeze was warm and the shrieks from kids on the playground echoed in the air. Do I "have" to stop? Then I realized, of course not - I'm in a park. Artist Michael Zheng intends to subvert the power of signs with this installation, as part of the Vancouver Biennale public art project. It makes me ask: if our society and our lives are governed by rules - which ones are stopping us from enjoying the park?

The smoke obscuring the sun at 4:30 in the afternoon doesn't stop my lovely subject from relaxing in this photo. In the Shuswap, where I was houseboating this weekend, smoke from a forest fire in the interior of BC, near Kamloops, blew onto the lake and created a day-long sunset. The golden shimmer on the water just matches her hat and heels - and yes, they are size 11s!

The beginning of the vast and open Pacific Ocean to the left. The beginning of the Canadian expanse to the right. With the salty sea mist in the air, the sand pyramids magically stand on the beach of Canada's edge. They are recent and ancient. Long Beach, in Pacific Rim National Park, on Vancouver Island is a great place to surf, camp, hike, and remember that this land has been here for far longer than this country.

p.s. The answer to last week's photo: The bikers were stopping northbound traffic by turning left at the end of the bridge, blocking both lanes. Thanks to those who asked!

Last week I rode along with the Critical Mass anti-car protest through downtown Vancouver. This moving protest of more than 3000 bikes jammed traffic around the city for almost three hours. Cars had to wait as drivers helplessly watched the colourful procession reclaim the streets. At the rally before the ride, the leader declared, "We aren't blocking traffic, we ARE traffic!" In this photo, the bikers have taken the entire Cambie bridge hostage. Can you figure out how the protest stopped traffic in the opposite direction?

Most people will tell you it is impossible for a single person to move a mountain. In this photo, my mom has turned a mountain completely upside down. We found the marble in a river along our hike in the Pemberton Valley. I had fun using the marble as an extra lens for the camera. Thanks for the hand mom.

At Seattle’s Pride Parade, I witnessed some very powerful clowning. In a creative response to a handful of anti-gay protestors, a troupe of clowns poked fun back at the pride naysayers. Happily, the anti-gay protest was dwarfed by the parade (500 000 to 6), and cream-pied by the sad clowns.

I recently joined an Earth Arts expedition into the depths of the threatened Burns Bog in Delta, BC. A bog is an underground lake with a forest on top. This aerial dance performance is a great expression of the bog: new life and hope springing from damp decay. I got stuck in the mud and had to search for my submerged boot. I've got to be careful on these muddy photo trips.

This car was parked at Spanish Banks in Vancouver this week. It’s the kind of car a superhero might drive. The tires lower down on hydraulics and the car body itself rests on the pavement. There was a crowd of onlookers from the time this beast pulled in until I wandered off. The tail lights just scream adventure.

Editing photos can be lonely work, until someone unexpected drops by. Four stories high and dangling from a rope, this window washer gets great views at great risk. The way he leans to clean the panes made his job look like an aerial dance. When I asked him what it's like to peek into everyone's home, he told me he never looks in, "All I see are the windows".

This week, as I drove through Scugog County, Ontario, this iconic barn stood so proudly that I had to pull over and make a photo. This image speaks to me about the heroism of the Canadian farming heartland and our rich history of rural life. Every city kid has dreamed of a barn like this.

In the beauty of a spring sunset, all of life's worries are momentarily silenced. For me, feelings of gratitude and awe bubble up as the sun dips away. I made this photo of one of my best friends on the coast of Northern California this past weekend. She is getting married in two weeks. Can you tell?

There is a man who walks around Vancouver's Stanley Park feeding the wild raccoons. He shakes his bag of food and throngs of these little rascals come waddling to gobble up the crunchy treat. It's very amusing to watch. I found these three close to Lost Lagoon on a glorious sunny day last weekend. My favourite part of Spring is how exciting it is to be outside as nature bounces back with full force. It seems like there are surprises around every corner. Happy exploring and Happy Spring!

Last week I was shooting Vancouver Fashion Week. I decided to poke around behind the scenes and discovered these models preparing for the runway. I was amazed by their poise and serenity despite the chaos of the preparation and the outrageousness of their coifs. You just can't be self-conscious if you're sporting a three foot hairdo. I think the trick is deciding to feel beautiful.

Hand turns crank. Crank pulls rope. Rope lifts pendulum. Pendulum taps lever. Lever yanks metal wire. Metal wire tugs string. String pulls metal circle. Metal circle hits bowl. Bowl sings.

We are all connected.

Will the boy eat the fish or will the fish eat the boy?

It is common to see these massive grouper fish and other curiosities in restaurant tanks along the oceanfront on the outskirts of Hong Kong. This is one menu I won't soon forget - thank goodness they don't serve beef.

This herd of mountain sheep wandered across the Trans Canada Highway to munch on some sweet motel grass in the town of Golden, BC. They were entirely unimpressed with the camera and continued to lounge around like they owned the place. Do you think they wonder why humans are always in such a rush?