Vancouver Canuck's mascot, Fin, at BCCHF's 2009 Childrun

During the holidays I was pleased to attend BC Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Holiday Tea Party with my family. I would like to thank BCCHF and their staff for the invitation. As a 2009 Circle of Courage donor ($1000+), this is the third straight year that I have supported this great cause on behalf of my company, Waxy Photography.

I began working working with BCCHF in the same year that my twin daughters (see photo below) were born in the adjacent BC Women’s Hospital. While my twin girls were born healthy, I know that many parents are not so lucky which is why I am looking forward to 2010 and partnering again with BCCHF who helps improve the lives of seriously ill and injured children.

Please visit the BCCHF website and make a donation to this vital local charity.

"Take a Bow" 2009

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"Placenta" from the 90th Annual Polar Bear Swim in Vancouver.

Today the sea washed onto the heavens, and back again. Water was everywhere. Those who came out were as wet as those who went in. There was no respite. Her water broke. Today we were all Polar Bears.

The City of Vancouver might not host the snow and ice as well as other Polar Bear swims, but the wind and rain swirling off the Pacific can be mighty fierce. Yesterday, on New Year’s Day, the Vancouver Park Board put on another successful edition of the historic Polar Bear swim. The official tally of participants has yet to be released but last year they numbered 1588. Like then, the brave souls, and raindrops nearly the size of Hawaiian pineapples, came out in large numbers. I’d like to thank each and every one of the participants for the challenging opportunity to take their photograph. I had a blast and hope you did, too. Happy New Year!

Please view The Water Broke.

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Several of his images are posted below with many more available at Burtynsky’s website and The Charles Cowles Gallery. Unfortunately, these small’ish web versions don’t do much justice to his work, and given the artist’s eye for details, a visit to Surrey is more than worthwhile. A few of these pictorial nuggets are visible in the video below from Burtynsky’s visit to CBC’s The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos.

Burtynsky’s film, “Manufactured Landscapes,” won Best Documentary at the 2007 Genie Awards. I’ve got it in my hands and I’ll watch it before visiting the show next weekend. The exhibition is part of Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad programming.

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Edward Burtynsky: An Uneasy Beauty – Photographs of Western Canada
January 17 – March 22, 2009
Exhibition reception: January 24, 2 – 4pm
Film Screening: February 1, 2:30pm
Artist Talk: February 12, 7pm

Surrey Art Gallery
13750 – 88 Avenue
Surrey, BC Canada V3W 3L1

Edward Burtysky's Rock of Ages # 1

Edward Burtynsky's Oxford Tire Pile No. 7

Edward Burtynsky Homesteads #29

Edward Burtynsky's Tailings #1

Edward Burtynsky's Nickel Tailings No. 35,

Thanks to The Scale Gallery for alerting me to the exhibit.

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"Do Not Enter" fromt he 89th Annual Polar Bear Swim in Vancouver

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