RSS Feed

‘Working Life’ Category

  1. This Is What Monday Should Look Like

    April 29, 2013 by Gail

    a better way to spend a Monday afternoon (than being in an office)

    a Monday in Central Park, New York City

    This was a rather big-news sort of Monday, as Mondays go. It’s also hellishly (freelancing) busy on top of the newsworthy items, which means I could really use a relaxing picture. I input the word ‘Monday’ into the search field in my Flickr archives and this one popped up. The original caption: a better way to spend a Monday afternoon (than being in an office)

    It’s from a Thanksgiving Monday in 2008 spent wandering around Central Park in New York with my camera and a friend. I remember being pretty relaxed that day, just people watching and photographing random things. If I could bottle that leisurely feeling to consume in times like this, I would. The next best thing? The pictures.


  2. Getting Winter Out Of The Brain

    March 22, 2013 by Gail

    High Park

    This phrase popped into my head tonight after deciding it was time to organize my freelance life, and later found its way into an email. I was having a meal with one of my second-shooters and the idea came to me in a flash over baklava. When it came time to leave I had formulated a plan, and by the time I got home I’d put the plan into motion.

    Maybe it’s because this is the second time this week I’ve been out with other freelancers, that I really notice the differences in conversation between the two groups of people. I am in both groups equally, and I identify with the demands of being self-employed and being an employee. Anyone who works in a creative field can also commiserate on another level about what working life is like when you are making a business out of art.

    Freelancing can be very alienating, and oftentimes working for yourself in isolation becomes a form of self-imposed social hibernation. Getting out of the house when there is work to finish feels like playing hooky. Next thing you know, months have passed by and friends start asking where you’ve been. You feel torn between productivity and personal enjoyment. The work/life balance is completely out of whack, but isn’t freedom of choice the main reason to be self-employed in the first place? It’s a real juggling act, and it’s not easy to explain the downsides to people — even friends — who have never had to juggle this way, who see only the freedom.

    The freedom is great, but the burden of responsibility is great, too. If you have an employer, it’s not your responsibility to drum up business unless you’re in sales. But even if you’re in sales, you’re not responsible for the accounting — there’s a whole department in charge of that. Vacation is paid, employers are required to give you a certain number of days off. Freelancers need holidays, too, but when your business is new or in a busy cycle, taking a holiday can be impossible. Working through illness is the norm. There are all sorts of decisions freelancers must consider or agonize over (“Do I take this client?”) that come with major consequences. Sure, you can’t be fired or laid off, but what if a client doesn’t want to pay you? Do you really want to spend valuable time and money in small claims court?

    Freelancers are a tough breed. You have to be, if you want to survive. If you want to thrive, you have to be tougher and smarter than the average bear. A bear that doesn’t hibernate at at all!


  3. Trying To Remember Photography As A Hobby

    January 20, 2013 by Gail

    Chinatown, Toronto (Spadina Ave)

    It’s the end of a working weekend.

    Otherwise known as a contradiction in terms. Aren’t weekends for NOT working? Oh I wish. I was going to post yesterday, but I just wanted to pass out and I did.

    At the risk of sounding like I’m complaining, I’m just going to say that I’m having a hard time remembering a time when photography was just a hobby and not something that squeezed blood, sweat, and tears out of me. When was that? And why am I doing this for a living? I think all freelancers have these conversations with ourselves. And other people. And the internet.

    Enough of the rhetorical questions, let’s see some pictures. I need to break up the recent spate of mobile phone shots. I also have a big week ahead of me (see latest Turning 40 Series update), and maybe that’s why my brain feels a little barbecued.

    Chinatown chooks (Spadina Ave)

    All of the photos in this post were taken around Chinatown and College Street towards the end of May, which I realized when viewing my photos around then was a NUTTY, NUTTY time. That explains why these photos only got as far as Flickr and not to the blog, because I’d shot a reception and dance event, drove to New York City for another shoot, flew in a helicopter for David’s birthday, then went to Mexico to shoot a wedding. And that was just in ONE WEEK.

    I have to post non-work photos to remind myself why I love to shoot, to remind myself that — when I have complete freedom — holding a camera turns my creative crank. I have to remind myself why, why, why do this at all… and then I think of musicians who slog it out as buskers, in small venues for free, and yes, doing wedding gigs, too. And I think of how much the creative community out there pours their collective heart and soul into making things for other people, often for a pittance, and often for free. I think everyone periodically gets burnt out and disillusioned and ready to walk away from the administrative burden, demanding clients, and frustration of delivering something that isn’t appreciated or understood by everyone.

    And that is when, I think, it comes time to remember when it was a hobby, to recall the excitement of when it manifested itself from an idea to something I can say I made.

    I always wanted to be more of a creator than a consumer. I admire prolific people, those who have a steady output of content (books, films, articles, shows, whatever) and create a body of work over long periods of time. I’m sure Woody Allen is going to be making films until he’s on his deathbed. Of course, at any rate there will be a range of quality from bad to mediocre to pretty good to stellar, but nonetheless the idea is to just keep going.

    Start as you mean to go on, as the Brits say.

    And then just keep plugging away…

    Vipul on College Street

    College Street, Toronto


  4. The Great Escape

    December 20, 2012 by Gail

    camera-shy squirrel in Mt-Tremblant, Quebec

    camera-shy squirrel in Mt-Tremblant, Quebec

    Do I ever need an escape right now. Two and a half months in the city, without a road trip, working every weekend, is making me… wait for it…

    SQUIRRELLY!


  5. Vision Verdict At 40

    December 11, 2012 by Gail

    pyrex distortion, Corning Museum of Glass (NY)

    pyrex distortion, Corning Museum of Glass (NY)

    I last wrote about my vision two years ago, and before that was five years ago. Five years ago my astigmatism was worsening, and two years ago my vision had actually improved. Could I hope for an even better result this time around? Is this a positive trend?

    I went for my full eye exam last Saturday, and braced myself for bad news after observing the optometrist scribbling rapidly on my chart and saying nothing. Also, it felt like there were more tests this time. I even had to do the dreaded eye pressure test TWICE in each eye to get proper readings.

    After all was said and done, it turns out my vision is stable and the astigmatism in my left eye has improved slightly. Hallelujah! It’s not enough of a difference to chuck my current toric lenses but I’m just relieved the warnings of bifocals and reading glasses have not yet come to pass — especially after how much I stare at computer monitors and peer through a camera viewfinder for hours and hours at a time. I rely on my eyesight for a living, and without it I would be forced to revamp my entire career.

    Eye exams: can’t study for them, but I’ll take this mark.


  6. The Sleeping Season

    December 9, 2012 by Gail

    light waves

    With these long nights and short days, it’s no wonder sleeping climbs to the top of the activity charts. The longest day of 2012 is nearly upon us, and that means we can begin to look forward to more sunlight.

    Take yesterday, for example. Sure, I had a shoot but it was only a couple of hours, not all day. By about eight o’clock I was ready to pass out. I have a big work week ahead of me — two large editing projects — so I’ve finally booked two massages to limber myself up for sitting in a chair in front of a computer for many hours. Ah, modern life, you’re killing me.


  7. ‘Tis The Season

    December 6, 2012 by Gail

    Duck Charlotte

    Duck Charlotte

    crispy lined egg bread filled with duck confit, roasted apple-lingonberry jam, foie gras ice cream, red wine reduction

    Crevette et Coquille Saint-Jacques

    Crevette et Coquille Saint-Jacques

    seared large bay scallops, tiger shrimps, duchesse potatoes, buttered vegetables & lobster mornay

    Beef Tenderloin

    Beef Tenderloin

    crab béarnaise & veal reduction, creamy mash

    Chicken Ballotine

    Chicken Ballotine

    smoked bacon wrapped breast filled with cranberry stuffing, sweet potato mash, vine tomatoes, pomegranate & veal reduction

    Caramel Lava Cake with maple ice cream

    Caramel Lava Cake with maple ice cream

    No, I did not eat all of the above by myself. The shots were taken at random between my plates and others’ nearby. These aren’t my shoes, either, (or my wine) but I’m not above borrowing other shoes that look like they should have their photo taken, even if it’s just with the phone camera.

    Toronto Hunt

    Toronto Hunt