HONORED

"She was there through my incarceration, I wanna show the nation my appreciation. Girl you're my angel your my darlin'..." Oh Shaggy you crack me up. You probably think I'm weird, well you're weird, okay. Go listen to Angel by Shaggy right now and if at the very minimum a slight chuckle doesn't erupt from your person then well... I guess I am weird. Seriously though it's funny,  like Fran Drescher and Bob Marley ran into each other on a hot Jamaican night, Bob played some reggae and Fran laughed, Bob played some more just to shut her up. A few rum based beverages and cannabis laden cigarettes later their two bodies would become one without a raincoat. Afterwards Bob probably got out of bed and put all of Frans belongings outside. Not because he'd do something like that, but because a lot of people would, I mean c'mon she is pretty annoying. Nine months or so later the first baby to ever come out of the womb singing Caroline was born. By the way this has absolutely nothing to do with me or my blog, I was listening to this song today and well yeah here we are.

Anyway on the photo and snowboard side of things, all is pretty peachy. As you can see in the pictures above my name appears rather largely as do two of my photos (note: not the cover photo, I wish but no not mine, that is Oli Gagnon's photo). The one on the left is of Eiki Helgason doing a method in Whistler and the other is of Max Baillargeon (that's a mouth full) with a nosepress.

I was fortunate enough to be asked by the photo editor if I would be interested in being apart of the Photographer Check Out feature, their first one for Slash Snowboard Magazine, obviously it was an honor I could not refuse. I wrote the little piece on the left and it was translated into French as the magazine is based out of Quebec, but once the issue leaves the stands I'll put the translation up here, until then you will have to go grab it at your super duper favorite retailer of printed magazines.

Again a big thank you goes out to Oli Gagnon, Etienne Tremblay and Etienne Gilbert for allowing me to be apart of this feature, hopefully I was a good guinea pig. 

There is more news including German translation, photos in galleries and more, now that I have the internet again I will update a lot more frequently. Stay tuned.

Photo of the Phortnght

Gaetan Chanut - Half-Cab, Pemberton Backcountry - Un-published.

As of late I've been posting a lot of photo's that have been published, but this Phortnight I've decided to change it up for a couple of reasons.

For starters I like this photo and secondly it's a little tribute to the snowboarder in this frame, Gaetan Chanut.

Although this was the one and only time I've been fortunate to shoot with Gaetan, it was a treat to say the absolute least. He is one of the most (if not the most) talented snow athletes in the backcountry that I've ever witnessed. 

The day that I snapped this image was a complete bust until the wee hours of the afternoon when Gaetan decided to drop the hammer on this cornice drop. My snowmobile died (literally, one of three pistons seized... buh-bye) 10km's into a 40+km ride and Gaetan doubled me the rest of the way. I feel that it's important to note here that I am not the smallest or lightest human around, so again kudos to Gaetan.

When we finally arrived to the Alpine (above the tree line) it was the slimmest of pickings regarding spots to snowboard, and when we did find something the wind picked up and ruined it. After some diligent searching and a huge 30+ foot Indy cliff drop that he stomped like a maniac... first try no less, Gaetan radioed to us that he had found something worthy. 

We pulled up on our snowmobiles and Gaetan was ready to drop, he asked the filmer what he should do, "A Half-cab" was the response. To the non-snowboarders/skaters out there that is a switch frontside 180. So, Gaetan dropped and stomped this bad boy and we went home. Gaetan beat us all down to the trucks that day... he had a massage appointment to keep, while I was bumping around like the head of a bobble-head on the back of Reno Belisle's sled. So a big thank you goes out to Gaetan for putting on a show that day and to both he and Reno Belisle who carried my not so small rear-end around the Pemberton Backcountry.

Bahama Mamma

The Bahamas, ah the Bahamas, a sun drenched, hurricane protected, white sanded, turquoise colored water paradise. I'm not exaggerating, not even a little bit... everyone has been to the beach, hell I've been to beaches in about 20 different countries but the Bahamas takes it to a whole different level. It's the best beach you've ever been to... on crack.

 The sun shines virtually everyday, the water is the most beautiful color blue any pupil has bared witness to and they have some crazy wildlife. Barracudas, dolphins, curly tailed lizards, geckos (way cooler than the one in those damn commercials), I think some kind of grouper fish (can't remember the name, but it's big, ugly and tastes amazing) and pigs that swim. You read correctly, pigs that swim. While I never actually saw this local phenomenon, I did see photos and to be honest it gives me just one more reason (among many) to return.

The locals are ridiculously friendly with smiles adorning their faces at every turn, hard to imagine why... HELLO, you live in the Bahamas. I was fortunate enough to spend five days in this Caribbean paradise and every time I get a flashback, a picture in my mind of one of the most beautiful places I've ventured to, I want to throw my shorts, flip flops, sunnies, a hat and the trusty SPF 30 into a small bag and return... never to return. 

My girlfriend and I stayed at the Four Seasons resort on the island of Great Exuma in the Bahamas, granted not as visited or popular as Nassau/Paradise Island, but that's one of the best parts. It was one of those vacations that you don't need a vacation from, there was no hustle bustle, no schedules, no tours, just relaxation in a tropical paradise. Picture a deep tissue Shiatsu massage... this time on Blueberry Cush, trust me it's relaxing. 

We took a boat ride to the island where they filmed parts of the Pirates of the Caribbean movie series and where just a year previous the Victoria's Secret Swimsuit catalogue was photographed... now that's a gig I need to get in on. We snorkeled, went for a swim on/in the Tropic of Cancer, drove the one road that traverses the island and took a water taxi to a small island where they cook up the aforementioned super ugly fish and drench it in butter, SO GOOD.

Having visited over 25 countries and countless cities, this is the most beautiful destination I've stepped foot on. Hopefully these photos will provide a small amount of proof.

This is the actual Tropic of Cancer, check the longitude/latitude, it's legit. We swam here, white sand, turquoise colored water... this place is WHERE IT'S AT!

This curvaceous palm tree was right outside our patio at the Four Seasons, on an unrelated note, the fact that my girlfriend worked for the Four Seasons did amazing things for our hotel bill.

On our drive we took a random turn up a dirt road and stumbled upon this old cannon, would not have sucked to man that bad boy back in the day... what a view.

This is a shot of the pool at the resort, taken on our last night in paradise.

This is the island where they shot the Victoria's Secret Catalogue, it's also where we ate steak and lobster on the beach, toiled with curly tailed lizards, snorkeled with giant starfish and a very curious Barracuda, which we later found out are not harmful to humans... unless they're bigger than you are, WHAT?

Photo of the Phortnght

Alex Cantin with an up-hill in-run Frontside 5-Oh in Nelson, B.C.

Published in Snowboard Canada's 2009 Buyers Guide Pg.  207

What can I say that I haven't already said about Alex Cantin, he's a quiet killer, a snow stomping machine whose nickname is the mountain lion. This was taken on the trip I organized and fulfilled for Canada's national snowboard rag, the last feature of the trip and a rail that required a tow- in by two people with shovels... definitely not the most ideal of settings but that didn't stop Alex from executing this picture perfect Frontside 5-Oh.

Photo of the Phortnight

Jesse Delgrosse - Backside 720 on the infamous 1080 Gap.

Published in Snowboard Canada magazine Pg. 195 and in Whitelines Magazine (UK) Pg. 24-25

As the backdrop shows the Whistler Backcountry can be a dangerous place to play. On this particular day I was perched next to a mini-van sized piece of ice and snow, the remains of an avalanche a few days previous. Hearing and seeing smaller avalanches all around me I snapped this photo of Jesse getting inverted in one of the most peaceful yet perilous destinations I have yet to spend time in. 

Photo of the Phortnight

Justin Van Der Poelen Log Ride Backside 180 Out.

Published in the Gallery of Snowboard Canada's Fall 2007 Issue Pg. 209

VDP as he is known is a really fun snowboarder to work with, we met up on a beautiful spring day and went up Blackcomb mountain specifically to hit this feature. I had never seen it before, but as soon as I did I was sure we'd get something special. The session lasted for about an hour and a half and we got quite a few shots, this was the banger though and I was ecstatic that the former Snowboard Canada Photo Editor Colin Adair agreed. This was my first published photo in the Gallery of a major snowboard magazine.

The Callout

Recently I was asked to provide a company with a photo for an advertisement in Snowboard Canada for the hefty sum of nothing but some used equipment. The snowboarder doing the asking had been told by his team manager at Sessions that if he could get the photo for free, he would appear in a Sessions advertisement in one of the magazines upcoming issues, pack your bags... we're going on a guilt trip.

The company as I mentioned is Sessions (which was recently purchased by mega-company, Samsung) and on their website claims that "... the Sessions brand remains synonymous with the authentic core sports lifestyle and culture." Apparently at the cost of the snowboarders it supports/sponsors and the photographers who work with them. By asking this of their sponsored rider they are bribing them in order to get a product (in this case my work... my photo) for free so that they can advertise their product to the masses that comprise Snowboard Canada's readership at the lowest possible cost to them.

It is not the first time a company has tried to 'low-ball' me on the price for a photo, Rossignol and retailer Pacific Boarder also join the list of companies that preach about cost cutting, lower budgets and how badly they want to promote the snowboarder in question... if they could only get a deal on the photo that will be used to market their product.

As a business there is a cost that accompanies advertising/marketing your product in order to sell it, these companies believe that putting my name on my photo and the exposure that comes along with it is sufficient payment. So let me get this right, I get exposure or promise for future work and you get my product which will in-turn help your company make money... but I get exposure? The last time I tried to pay my rent with exposure, the land-lady laughed in my face and asked me for the rent money. 

If a company intends to use my product to market their product, to sell their product, to make money from their product, shouldn't they pay for my product? These companies claim to be core and claim to support the riders and the industry, but in reality they are just out to make a quick buck... your hard earned quick buck all the while screwing over the hard working people they claim to support. 

This next part is important and needs to be understood, not only by the snowboarders I work with but by Joe Public as well. I enjoy working with the people I get to work with and I truly want to see each of the riders who perform in front of my lens succeed, but unfortunately I am unable to do that at my own cost. It will be impossible for me to attain my goals, to stop serving drinks at a bar or fishing Nike's out of a storeroom if I give my work away for free.

Bribing a snowboarder with the promise of a full page advertisement if he gets the photo for free is ridiculous and to prove it the team manager didn't even have the balls to ask himself. By the way if you're wondering who it is, I won't name names... you know who you are.

Another reason that companies conduct business in this manner (aside from the usual bullshit reasons of recession, lower budgets etc... did I mention that Samsung now owns Sessions, I'm pretty sure they have money) is because they have gotten photos for free in the past from other photographers/hacks who just want to see their name in a magazine. Ego-maniacs that couldn't care less about the integrity of the business, as long as their photo gets used and their name appears alongside, they're happy even though they don't get paid for it. As someone who is trying to make a living selling my images and the words I type it disgusts me to think that there are other photographers giving away their photos and wondering why the industry treats us with so much disdain. If my photo is good enough to be used in an advertising campaign, then it should be paid for... instead if I say no, they go to plan B and use a B grade image because it's free. Again I will not name names, those people know who they are and as much as they may think so, their futures aren't that bright. Afterall it will be very hard to make money from your images when you keep giving them away, once you start it's hard to stop, if they know you give away your work, why would they pay for it?

As I'm sure you are no doubt aware, I said no and I'm sure Sessions will use another photo from a photographer they will exploit in order to make their money, a photographer who deserves nothing more because they accept it. 

Next time you head out to by some new snowboard gear try to keep in mind that not all companies that claim to be core... are, that not all companies who claim to support the riders and the industry... do so. That at the end of the day, companies like Sessions, Rossignol and Pacific Boarder only want your money and they will tell you whatever you want to hear in order to get it. Don't believe the hype, buy something else.

The Grind

Loyal followers and occasional visitors to my blog may have noticed a substantial drop in the amount of content located here, but don't worry I'm not going anywhere. 

I've been working two jobs in an effort to try and save up enough money for a very productive '09-'10 winter and also working on a pretty secretive new project. Needless to say I have been one busy human being.

Working in the retail and the restaurant industry gives my mind the necessary time to wander and while I'm not grabbing a fresh pair of NIKE kicks or blending up massive fruit ladened daiquiri's I'm thinking about this new project. 

While I can disclose very little at this point in time, I just wanted to let you - Joe Public (and Joan Public) - know that while there may be a little gap in the content here at Pearlman Photo, I am still grinding away in an attempt to continue doing what I believe is my sole purpose in life.

The Photo of the Week has now changed to the Photo of the Phortnight (intentional spelling error) and my interviews although still being conducted will be put on hold for the time being.

I am extremely open to comments and critiques from anyone and everyone so if there is something missing on here that you would like to see, or a way in which you believe I can make this blog better, I implore you to leave a comment or five. My goal is and always will be to bring you the content you want to view and read about.

So until next time, this is Pearlman Photo letting you know that I am still on the grind in every possible way, climbing my way to the top with your help and trying to entertain the masses with photos and words.

Pearlman Photo out.

Photo of the Phortnight

Brian McClatchy Switch Front-side 50-50 180 Out.
Published in Snowboard Canada's Buyers Guide '09 Pg. 201-202

Brian was one of the first snowboarders I got to work with on a regular basis, and also happens to be one of the happiest people in the industry. With a perennial smile on his face from ear to ear, he rides a snowboard better switch than most do regular. The rumor mill has been churning lately and apparently Brian has hung up his board and boots for greener pastures. Regardless of how understandable that may be, it would still be a shame. If anyone knows what Brian is up to, feel free to leave a comment.