Joël Côté-Cright Photographs

France and Barcelona

2011-05-15T15:38:00.000-07:00

I have finally found the guts to put up the photos I took in France and Barcelona (Spain) while there in 2009. They are very different from what I usually show, but in reality, I take these kind of photos all the time. The images are simple moments, shapes, colors and grays. I looked at the Tourism industry, groups, elderly people, workers and my fellow travelers.

This is part 1.

See the images here.

Inspiration

2011-02-22T18:59:00.000-08:00

I'm slowly getting inspired for an upcoming corporate shoot.

My usual sources for inspiration include:

Platon
Art-Dept
Nigel Parry
Paolo Roversi
Jill Greenberg
Phillip Toledano (Days with my father)
Music videos (of Rihanna)
The movie Big Fish
And lots lots more.

But one thing you can obviously see in all of these photographers is that they all have a style of their own. It's nice to see that they can get hired to photograph whoever and whatever, always using that particular style. No need to be a generalist and convert to whoever might want this or that.

It is always a pleasure to work with clients who respect and appreciate the artist's vision. Anything I photograph will have a piece my own in it and that's why it is worth something. My work is full of experience and passion, pain and pleasure.

http://www.jccphotographs.com

Defying Mother Nature, with canons and water.

2011-01-23T18:27:00.000-08:00

While crossing over to Hull one night, it occurred to me that we had no snow on the ground, and Winterlude was supposed to be held in less than one month. If you're from the Ottawa region (or any other region for that matter) and don't know what Winterlude is all about, I suggest you head over to the NCC's website (National Capital Commission) for some info. Here.

It seems to be that year after year, the same story comes up around January: will it be cold enough for the Rideau Canal to open for skaters? One story not often heard is how the organizers get all the snow for the great big slides.

I'm talking lots of snow, more than 30 000 cubic meters of snow. That's the equivalent of half of the average ski-resort snow-making production in one season. In about three weeks, the team of Snö Innovation turns green into white and I went there to photograph the man behind it.

Jean, Hull (Québec) 2011

Snow-making canons, Jacques-Cartier Park, Hull (Québec) 2011

Go play outside.

Joël

Updated on the website

2010-11-29T08:28:00.000-08:00

I've been pretty busy recently, working with different photographers from here and Toronto.
First, I worked with Joseph Jeremie Roy. We photographed kitchens for Copperstone Kitchens.
Then I worked with the amazing architectural photographer, Brandon Barré, from Toronto and finally I assisted John Narvali, also from Toronto.

I've updated my website with my latest images from the Alexandra Bridge construction site. I certainly plan on making more photographs that will go with the series, not necessarily on a construction site, but always in the Trades industry.

See the new website gallery here.

I also changed the Weddings part of my website... It has now more photos with different styles. Weddings here.

Getting there!

2010-11-10T07:51:00.000-08:00

I'm still working on photos from the Alexandra Bridge construction site here in Ottawa.

Here are selects:

Iron Worker


Carpenter

Carpenter


Steel plates

Iron Workers

Pedestrian boardwalk detail

Concrete Finisher

Concrete Worker

Painting foreman

Iron Worker

Editorial in Ottawa Citizen Style magazine

2010-09-28T09:19:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago the issue came out. I still have to receive it by mail but it's available online.

I collaborated with Tony Martins (Editor of the super-cool Guerilla Magazine) on these shoots. Tony asked me to collaborate when we met at SPAO over the summer during an exhibition. I had never collaborated with another artist for a shoot and I have to say it was quite interesting. We were both sharing ideas for photos, he did more of the directing and I did more of the technical stuff like shooting and lighting.

We definitely came out with some great photos. I'll post my selects from each shoot here, along with the link to the article in the magazine. Here we go:

- Sharp Dressed Men

Jonathan Browns, in his art-full house

James Parsons, in his study

Claude Marquis, on his 20 y.o. canoe in his Chinatown yard


Claude Marquis, in front of his garage

Ilias Cagiannos, at Harry Rosen, Rideau Center

Ilias Cagiannos, photographed at Harry Rosen with his tailor in the background

Jonathan Watson, office with a view on Parliament Hill, photographed on Canada Day

Jonathan Watson, in his office

..................

The Dancer, a man called iamrurik

iamrurik, shot in the alley next to La Petite Mort Gallery

iamrurik (spiderman?), in the alley next to LPM


iamrurik (angry?), still in the alley next to La Petite Mort Gallery

........................

The DJ, her edge is her mix

Jas Nasty:

Jas Nasty, in the Style magazine although she's really just about the music

Jas Nasty

Alexandra Bridge continued...

2010-09-24T09:45:00.000-07:00

More on the Alexandra Bridge worker portraits:

Denis Pouliot, Foreman, Painting operations, Alexandra Bridge, 2010

Samuel, Iron Worker, Alexandra Bridge, 2010


Carl, Concrete Worker, Alexandra Bridge, 2010

Concrete Finisher, Alexandra Bridge, 2010

Iron Workers at Alexandra Bridge

2010-09-13T10:13:00.000-07:00

These two guys are Iron Workers. When I was at the site last week, they were cutting down old guard rails and soon they will be building new ones. They are also responsible for building (in part) the observation platform under the bridge, new guard rails, etc.

I love the heavy duty cotton work-wear that construction workers sometimes have. Especially when grinding, cutting or welding is involved, when heat generated and sparks can damage pretty much any piece of clothing if it's not super-tough.

Here are Miguel and Ivan.

Miguel, Iron Worker, Alexandra Bridge, 2010

Ivan, Iron Worker, Alexandra Bridge, 2010

Ivan, Iron Worker, Alexandra Bridge, 2010

........................

I just received the new catalog from Simons. Simons is a mega store in Québec City and Montréal selling all kinds of clothing and accessories for men and women.

I have to say that sometimes I wonder about the photography that is used in some ads and magazines. This time however, actually I've seen many times, Simons has an amazing team behind them and their fall catalog is simply beautiful. Unfortunately it doesn't mention anywhere who the photog. is...

Check it out online. Simons.

Work Work Work

2010-09-07T06:15:00.001-07:00

I've been wanting to post this for a while, but I was very busy this summer making money. Now I'm starting to spend all that money on a project.

Even though the project has started last spring, I have finally gotten access to the construction site of the Alexandra Bridge. The bridge, connecting the provinces of Québec and Ontario is more than a century old. Major rehabilitation are underway, including:

strengthening and retrofitting the steel structure and piers, and increasing their seismic capacity;
replacing the 575-metre-long centre lane concrete deck and guardrails;
replacing the wooden boardwalk and railings;
installing inspection walkways; and
installing damping mechanisms to reduce the vibration of the structure.

While I document the work, my major focus will be about producing portraits of the workers that are involved in the project. I am interested in their job, their titles such as "Iron Worker" and "Concrete finisher", the tools they use and the clothing they wear.

Construction sites are such an omnipresent reality in the Québec landscape, especially during the summer when roads are repaired after the winter.

The constant sight of workers everywhere has practically developed an obsession, wanting to know who they are and what they do. I am at this point now.

Keep coming back for updates and photos.

..............................

For now however, since it's been such a long time, I thought I'd post photos that have been making giving me fabulous money.

For Ottawa Magazine, June issue:

Cons. Rob Corzato, Street Crime Unit, Ottawa Police

Sgt. Rob Drummond, Major Crimes Unit, Ottawa Police

Const. Lila Shibley, Ottawa Police

Staff Sgt. Don Sweet, Robbery Unit, Ottawa Police

Chief Vern White, Ottawa Police

................................

Some wedding photos:

See more Wedding photos here

......................

And finally, some crazy cool drum sets that an old friend of mine does. His website will be up soon, a link to the website will be added when it's up. His snares are make from solid, exotic wood species and assembled in 22 pieces to create a unique and super cool looking drum.

Now in Gatineau/Ottawa

2010-01-08T08:28:00.000-08:00

I'm finally back in Gatineau. I have a new phone number and it is: 819-210-0304.

I also have a page in this month's "Cool!" magazine, with photos from last year's Défi des Neiges, from FitSpirit. I will be covering the Défi des Neiges in Stoneham (Québec) on Jan. 22nd.

L'actualité

2009-12-21T18:23:00.000-08:00

I'm really happy to have two photos published in the January issue of L'actualité.

I'm spending the holidays in Quebec City, until December 27th. I'm available for family photos and portraits in Quebec City, and back in Ottawa after the 27th.

Happy Holidays!

Joël

What's new

2009-11-25T09:22:00.000-08:00

I'm moving to Ottawa (Hull) next week.

This is a series of photos that I'm working on at the moment. I took those while travelling in Europe this summer.

Montreal Fashion Week

2009-10-21T12:25:00.000-07:00

Last week was Montreal Fashion Week. I spend the three days covering the backstage and hair & make-up area. It was a very interesting experience, rubbing shoulders with lots of great designers, models, celebrities and all the amazing staff. Here are a few photos that I took on the third and final day, during Denis Gagnon's show.

Montreal

2009-10-08T19:18:00.000-07:00

Some images require text, other don't. I felt like this one did, and I knew that it would as I was producing them. Acutally them, is only one now. I used 20 year old slide film, and this is the only one of two that turned out anything usable.

So, a little inside on my situation in Montreal. It's become my office, nothing more. I spend enough time in Ottawa, not working seriously with enough great and awesome distractions that when I come back to Montreal, it's to work.

Now I've been working on lots of "real" work recently, interiors, assisting, etc. I also went through all my trip photos, lots of work to be put into that. I'll keep you posted when that's done.

Joël.

Untitled #5, Montreal (Québec), 2009

Visa pour l'Image, Perpignan, France

2009-09-27T09:06:00.001-07:00

Sunday, a good day to post an over-due post.

I came back from France one week ago, one week early than expected. I didn't feel like travelling at this time, I felt as if I was waisting my time and money while away. I'm trying to build my business right now and I think it's a really important time to focus on the task and get it done. Overseas, I couldn't do that, so I came back. Now hire me.

In Perpignan, I had two things to do. Keep up with the group of 16 kids from seven countries, visiting, meeting, and learning about the Catalan culture. I also went to Visa pour l'Image, an international photojournalism festival. I met with agencies, editors and photographers for reviews to offer my services.

Well the kind of review I got was at the same time positive for the technique, but in terms of photojournalism, which is what agencies and editors were looking for, I wasn't up there. Most said that, for my Tree Planters series for example, I had many parts missing in order to make up a complete reportage. At the end of the festival, I was inspired to work and get going.

For the group thing, with the other kids, I did a few photos of the houses and of a Gypsy woman in Perpignan. The last photos are of the exhibitions that were a big part of Visa. Exhibitions in all kind of venues, from castles to military buildings to parking lots.

Soon I'll start scanning all my 10 rolls of 35mm b&w film that I took, for a personal series paying homage to the photographers of the 30's, 40's and 50's that took to the streets of Paris. I also took a close look at Tourists, hating to be one of them, but without being able to escape that reality, and how they interacted around big attractions.

Have a good week.

The other man in Parc Lafontaine

2009-07-28T12:44:00.000-07:00

Hello,

First of all, thanks to Jean-Aymeri for posting my photo of Pierre Destin on his blog: montrealstateofmind.com

This is the other man that I photograhed that day. I could only post the image today because he hadn't signed the release before. I went to his Bed and Breakfast, gave him a print, then he signed the release.

Have a nice week!

Joël

Bob Finkelstein, Montréal (Québec), 2009

Parc Lafontaine and inside

2009-07-21T22:34:00.000-07:00

Hello,

On July 12th, I went to a nearby park in Montréal and decided to photograph some people. I had no specific purpose in mind. I wanted to feel it, observe and approach some random people that I found interesting, for a reason or another.

I don't usually do this (just like the rebates... humm), but here's a little inside into how and why.

Joël

Pierre Destin, Montréal (Québec), 2009

New work

2009-07-19T19:08:00.001-07:00

Hello. Here is what I've been working on lately. Lots of work that is personal, some friends and self portraits. I'm just about finished on the wedding also.

No news about work though. I want to work, either assist, or photograph. I really don't want to have to resort to working in a coffee shop.

Have a good and enjoyable week !

Joël

Wedding:

Since the beginning of 2009, everytime I photograph someone, I take one tight headshot as the last photo. This is mostly for archival purposes. I did this for both families and the wedding party.

Personal work, in Montréal:

And finally, this self portrait, taken around April 2009. This photo is all about the rebate. I don't usually print with rebates, I find them distracting.

However, like most of my work, the focus is not on me. I want you to look at what's on the image and what's different. I had the chance to get some 20 year old film given to me and to my surprise it was written "Safety Film" on the rebate.

Just last year I was looking at many older photographs that had the 'Safety Film' markings and I wondered what it was. Turns out it was just a safer type of emulsion and film base that had less chance of catching fire, especially with motion picture film running through the projectors.

For those who want to see more, check out my website here.

2009-07-06T15:44:00.000-07:00

Juliette, Montréal (Québec), 2009

Audrey, Montréal (Québec), 2009

Karen, Montréal (Québec), 2009

Wedding, Photo Life

2009-06-11T19:06:00.001-07:00

Lately I have been working my ass off, post producing wedding photos. I photographed my first wedding a few weeks ago. It was a very humbling experience, I take my hat off to the true wedding photographers out there. Read again, true, wedding photographers. Here is a photo of the wedding. I will post more later.

Yesterday, after being told by a gallerist that I should do a BA if I want to show my work in galleries, I got an email telling me that I will have a photo published in Photo Life Magazine's September issue. This one:

I take both of these with a grain of salt. I sometimes wonder if it means anything to get acknowledged as an "Emerging" photographer/artist, because in the real world, it doesn't seem to make a difference at all. It's not a matter of who is good or not, it's who can last the longest in the race.

Finally, check out "Likeness" at SPAO . I will have a piece (the one below) there until September.

Soon.

2009-05-29T23:58:00.001-07:00

Perpignan, France

2009-05-15T10:19:00.000-07:00

At my recent graduation from SPAO, I was selected to participate at the "Visa Pour l'Image" in Perpignan, France. "Visa Pour l'Image" is a festival of photo journalism held every year. I will attend conferences, exhibitions, ateliers, and more. A link on the French Embassy's website: here

The images that I entered in the contest were the portraits of my father, grand-father and grand-mother and a self-portrait. Here is my artist statement as well:

I decided to take the theme of "Future Parfait" straight forward. I asked my father, grandfather and grandmother to think about and answer this question: If something, in your Future, could be Perfect, what would it be? I personally responded to the question by relating it to photography. Evolution is expressed with photographs of three generations of the Cright family. Their answers were:

Donald and Blanche Cright, my grandparents: A healthy life, so they can live together for as long as possible. Donald and Blanche are photographed in front of their Gatineau house, owners since 1963.

André Cright, my father: A life without worry, where it rains only at night and the sun shines during the day. André is photographed in front of his temporary winter garage, crushed by the snow.

Joël Côté-Cright: I want to use photography to document society, reach out to people and shine a light on communities that matter. Joël is photographed with his photography gear. The winding road and electrical wires represent change to come, with a soon-to-be move to the city of Montréal.

Bate Isl., Ottawa.

2009-05-01T12:11:00.001-07:00

Here in Ottawa, there is a small wave where kayakists go to play and surf. I went to the wave a few months ago to do polaroids of these guys and girls, but the water was too low and nobody was there.

So, I went back about one week ago and these are the first photos. Two out of three models didn't want to sign the model release, hence the white box...

Exhibition No. 4

2009-04-25T11:53:00.000-07:00

This is the work of the students that were on display at the School of the Photographic Arts: Ottawa from April 17th to 24th 2009.

Friends

2009-04-22T07:35:00.000-07:00

A few photos that I did for some friends.

Move

2009-04-07T09:34:00.001-07:00

To anyone interested in knowing, I will be moving to Montréal (Québec) next month (May).

With the amount of cultural diversity that is found in Montreal, I will continue my hunt at documenting Canada's working class while trying to understand my role in it and how I can contribute, without being a slave of the system.

check out my work here:

www.jccphotographs.com

Joël.

2009-04-01T14:23:00.001-07:00

Living room.

2009-03-27T17:06:00.000-07:00

2009-03-24T20:32:00.000-07:00

Did you know ??

2009-03-21T18:44:00.001-07:00

I shoot sports too !? Check it out !

www.jccphotographs.com/Sports/sect1.html

Polaroids

2009-03-20T17:05:00.000-07:00

Not very much to post lately. I've been shooting polaroids for a little while. Trying different tools once in a while is quite fun. Soon I'll be shooting and posting new work, for some school projects. "Future Parfait" That says anything to you ?

For now however, here are some polaroids of the ottawa river, some (not very) fishermen and a lousy hockey game that U of Ottawa lost 7-0 to McGill. Yikes.

New Paper

2009-02-24T08:13:00.000-08:00

So I plant trees to harvest forests and to avoid cutting old growth forests. Then, many years later, these harvested forests are cut, the trees turned into toilet paper and distrubuted to us. Here's another way to use that toilet paper.

This dress was made by Elise Bourque for a design contest held by 'Cashmere'. The model is Dijana Kresic.

New Website

2009-02-18T13:44:00.000-08:00

I'm glad to finally be able to invite you all to my new website !

www.jccphotographs.com

Thanks to my friend Martin Leduc who built everything.

---

Je suis fier de finalement pouvoir vous inviter à voir mon nouveau site web en-ligne !

www.jccphotographs.com

Merci à mon ami Martin Leduc pour la conception du site.

La Bourgeoisie, part deux.

2009-02-15T09:57:00.000-08:00

La Bourgeoisie; part un.

2009-02-04T16:32:00.000-08:00

What I've been working on, and missing class for. First part of my new portfolio to be called "La Bourgeoisie", here are the Ice-Fishing Cabins (Ice Huts as artist Catherine Opie calls them).

Don't quit your day job.

2009-01-27T22:00:00.000-08:00

Guy. Ice fishing. Masson-Angers.

Jan. 2009.

Katrina

2009-01-26T20:46:00.000-08:00

At SPAO Studio.

Outtake.

2009-01-22T09:18:00.000-08:00

I need a new camera. And a Rep.

Anyone can hook me up ?

This is an outtake from the Sunday shoot.

I was supposed to photograph Catherine today, for a Beauty shot. She's sick with the flu so we called it off. Kinda pointless if she looks sick to do a beauty shot.

Tomorrow I'm photographing Katrina, finally.

Fashion

2009-01-19T20:04:00.000-08:00

Here's the first few photos from my shoot yesterday.

Model: Dijana Kresic

Dress: Elise Bourque

2009-01-16T16:20:00.000-08:00

It's been a slow year at SPAO. After the Tree Planters series, here's what I've been doing so far this year. Lots more to come my friends.