Yan Tan Tethera

Yan Tan Tethera :

It's meaning is ancient and simple.It is pre-roman english for : one-two-three.They would count the sheep, and put a notch in their stick to keep track of them.
Like the yarn and hats themselves,ancient yet modern.From a time that wasn't.An old method.A new twist.
One,two, three.Count the sheep.One two three.Count the stitches.
No pattern, each one unique .A bond between two species,spinning and dancing..one,two three.

   Artist statement excerpt  from Jane Ellerington of Yan Tan Tethera

photography by gina-rae horvath
Model   A.B.

Trevor "loaned" me this boat at Ford cove

One freezing cold March day I went to Ford cove for a coffee,  and I saw this great little boat.I wanted to know who owned it,so I started asking around about it. A few folks wondered why I was so interested in this particular boat. I explained that I really wanted it for a photo-shoot ..hopefully that day.

Trevor asked me to show him the boat I wanted..so I pointed it out to him.He said "sure, by all means.enjoy your shoot.just put it back when you're done".  "Great,thank-you so much" I said.

Angel-Blue patiently suffered through another cold day shoot for me.

I put the boat the boat carefully away, and took my model back to the "cove" store for some hot chocolate.

Trevor was still there sipping his coffee, so I thanked him profusely for the use of his boat.

He smiled broadly and told me that it wasn't his boat.

Everyone laughed. I think of Trevor every time I look at those small boats down at the "cove".

I still have no idea who owns this boat.And I still miss seeing Trevor down at Ford cove.

Small island stuff that makes me smile..

With so many e-things in the hands of children,it makes me happy that this crappy old bike tire brings so much joy.

245 Carlaw...24 years ago..It was empty

 I had the first Studio in that building.You see, one time I broke into the place to find a cool location to do a shoot.I was wandering around when I bumped into Adam Krehm,and Jonathon,the owners.After reprimanding me for about two minutes ( because I sort of busted  a window ),Adam and I started to chat.He couldn't believe that I loved the place so much.He  offered to build me a studio, but only if they could show it to future potential renters.  So...in the fairly deep pigeon shit, we drew out a 40x40 studio plan..And it was built.I moved in .The building  was completely empty except for myself ,Randalls' Fine Art black and white lab, and a bunch of pigeons.. At night it was a bit scary to be  there.Sometimes if I left the windows open the pigeons would fly in to nest..I liked them sitting behind me on my half-wall.Then they started shitting on my prints.It took about a year for them to move on.And then I missed them.

One time when the upper floor was not being heated ,the water pipes burst. I came home to find fire trucks out front  and  a fast river running down the stairwell to the front entrance.I ran in while the firemen yelled at me to STOP.I ran up the stairs ,knee deep in water to rescue my newly purchased  lighting  gear.The idea of loosing it to a burst pipe was too much for my young mind.Fortunately the concrete floors were about 100 years old and had been heavily used .There were gentle pathways that somehow coaxed the water to flow away from my studio doors.

My studio and contents were safe and dry.

After that the entire building was heated normally.  245 Carlaw became a creative hot-spot for the next 20 years or so.It was full of commercial photographers, and a few fine arts types.Then it became a bit gentrified and many moved on.I stayed in that building till 2002.It was a wonderful time.

Fairy-Tale imagery leaked into my commercial work frequently...

It's hard to say exactly when I began shooting the Fairy-Tale series.It appears to be a long time ago.These are a few out-takes from the Juans'. Advertising 

campaign.I loved shooting for this company because they always wanted me to move beyond the commercial a bit.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Designs and styling by Pam Chorley of Fashion Crimes.Hair and Make-up by Rocco Campanaro and the creative team at Axcess.The cute white pony was brought in from a farm  for the day... that little pony probably hated Toronto now that I think about it.He was such a friendly little guy,and all the models fell in love with him.We were so sad when he happily stepped into his trailer to go home.

Still Love Black & White..

I love having to see differently when I shoot b&w.
Sometimes the transformation in my seeing is so complete,I have only black and white memories of the day.
It can take awhile to see in colour again.
I enjoy both colour and b&w...because they require such different approaches,and that is interesting to me.

                    

Old-school Photography

I don't really like photo-shop.I don't want a mountain lion 'shopped in after the fact.I want a real mountain lion.I have always enjoyed the magic of a beautifully produced shoot. I sometimes linger long after  I've got the shot...just to sip in the magic for awhile.

It was old-school that grabbed my heart many years ago...and still it moves me every time I pick up my gear.