Merima Mohammed - Winner Women's Ottawa Marathon

Merima Mohammed of Ethiopia was the first woman to cross the finish line of the Ottawa Marathon with a time of 2:28:19.

Arata Fujiwara - Ottawa Marathon Winner

May 30, 2009, OTTAWA – A new Ottawa Marathon course record of 2:09:33 was set Sunday by Japanese runner Arata Fujiwara. The previous best finishing time in the marathon distance was 2:10:35 set by David Cheriuyot in 2007. Fujiwara will take home a total of $23,000 US for his efforts.

Rick Ball - World Record Ottawa Marathon

Rick is the first single-leg amputee to break 3-hours! Congratulations Rick Ball!
Contact me for this and other photos of the Ottawa Race Weekend.

Lelisa Desisa 10k Winner - Ottawa

Lelisa Desisa - Men's 10K winner in Ottawa Race Weekend - Saturday 29 May 2010.

www.esmintl.com/athleteDetails.asp?id=147

Dire Tune 10k Winner - Ottawa

Dire Tune - women's 10K winner in Ottawa Race Weekend - Saturday 29 May 2010.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dire_Tune

Nuite Blanche Ottawa: Let's Do It!

See facebook.com's group for more information: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=112300608811759  Already around 700 members joined since a trial balloon was launched on facebook by Kel Morin-Parsons May 9th; it clearly shows a strong proof-of-interest in having a cultural all-nighter in Canada's capital city of Ottawa. I love this kind of grass-roots interest in promoting local artists and of course, having a good time doing so.  For a historical perspective on what's involved in a Nuit Blanche feel free to view:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuit_Blanche

Joanne Harris in Ottawa

Joanne Harris in Ottawa promoting her newest novel "blueyedboy". Here she is on stage having an entirely pleasant conversation with host and artistic director of the Ottawa International Writers Festival, Sean Wilson.
More author info on her web site: www.joanne-harris.co.uk/
A fun site, I liked her QAF page www.joanne-harris.co.uk/v3site/qaf/index.html where she poses the question, "So – how well do you think you know me?" and the humorous section "Common clichés and how to avoid them!".

Her next Canadian date is in Toronto:
19 May 2010, 7.30pm – event with the Authors at Harbourfront series

Reading and book-signing.
Brigantine Room, Toronto
Tickets and Information from the Box Office: 416-973-4000
Tuesday - Saturday, from 1:00 PM until 6 PM.
www.readings.org/?q=weekly

Amanda Molloy - Headshots

Amanda saw my photography portfolio online last month and gave me a call to do her headshots in Ottawa. We met up last weekend and did a variety of theatrical / legit, and commercial type of photos for her own actress/model portfolio. She chose three tops, three hairstyles, and did her own makeup. We were all finished within two hours. Very quick! The lighting is all ambient with use of refelectors.

Rabbit, Run - Rabbit at Rest

Rabbit, Run

Rabbit at Rest

Like Son Like Father

If you're thinking of purchasing a bubble mower (new or used) - do it! They're one of the best toys in my experience. Matt runs around and around and around with it. He thinks it's "work". I pay him for his time, of course. Straight to his piggy bank. I would never think of having him work for free!

Baby Robins

Baby robins in their nest

My three kids.

RIP John Hatfield

I was just informed that, sadly, bookseller John Hatfield, has died. A fine gentleman. Here is a link to my brief blog post from five years ago as his bookstore, Place Bell Books, at 160 ElginStreet, Ottawa was coming to a close and Mr. Hatfield thus began his retirement.
http://weblog.johnwmacdonald.com/2005/08/place-bell-books-closing.html

Among the many memorable conversations with him at the store, I recall his personal stories about wartime England, and the effect that rationing of foodstuffs had on recipes and the inevitable substitutions that had to be made, and his gardening experiences. Right in the middle of the store he would have two small sections of books: one the left - non fiction; on the right - fiction. There, he carefully placed special titles, sales, and most importantly, he rotated these titles often. Always something new to browse for frequent patrons. He would suggest books for me to read but not in that pushy kind of way. Always appropriate and subtle. That was back in the day where I would buy five or six books a week (prior to kids, of course, which has had a serious adverse effect on my current book-buying habits.) I would say he was primarily to blame for my acquisition of practically the entire collection of the Modern Library Food Series.

Timothy White on The View

via: http://stocklandmartelblog.com/2010/05/04/timothy-white-talks-match-prints-on-the-view
I just bought this book a couple of weeks ago, and it's fantastic. Pity Jim Marshall passed away just recently.

Louis Armstrong - Mack the Knife

Inspiration for an upcoming photoshoot.

Matthew & Shovel

Extraordinary Canadians Book Series

group portrait with Douglas Coupland, Adrienne Clarkson, Mark Kingwell, John Ralson Saul

more information on the series here: http://www.extraordinarycanadians.com/

Douglas Coupland

Midway through the event Coupland noticed a video camera on tripod in the rear of the Mayfair theatre. Suddenly in the middle of conversation he told them to shut it off (even though it was being filmed by the Ottawa International Writers Festival for promotional use on youtube.) Later on during the panel conversation he said he felt bad about asking the camera man to stop filming him. It was an awkward moment in an otherwise interesting rambling conversation among the guests.

Just as aside, photographer John Keatley has an funny story he shared on his blog when photographing Coupland for a piece in the New York Times Magazine here:
www.keatleyphoto.com/blog/archives/4116?utm_source=feedbu...

Wade Davis

Wade Davis on stage with Adrian Harewood (host of Ottawa's afternoon program All In A Day) at an Ottawa International Writers Festival event.

"Wade Davis is a noted Canadian anthropologist, ethnobotanist, author and photographer whose work has focused on worldwide indigenous cultures, especially in North and South America and particularly involving the traditional uses and beliefs associated with psychoactive plants." (Wiki)