I stopped by the University of Calgary over the weekend to photograph some incredibly talented kids. The kids were competing in a gymnastics festival put on by Kyle Shewfelt, a Canadian (and Calgarian) who won the first medal ever by a Canadian in an artistic gymnastics event when he took home gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics. The lighting was tough, the kids moved quickly, and along with dropping my Canon EF 17-40mm lens and shattering my 77mm Hoya Pro1 Digital UV filter, the day went fairly well.

Find out more information about the Shewfelt GymFest at kyleshewfeltgymfest.com, or on Facebook and Twitter.

Quick photo: My friend Chad, dressed in camouflage clothing while smoking a cigarette, shot for iStockphoto.

I was at Espy Experience yesterday in the neighborhood of Inglewood photographing some models as they were getting fitted for a clothing auction that is taking place later this week. The auction, which is happening this Thursday at a Twitter fundraising event known as a Twestival, is being held here in Calgary on March 24th where clothing from Espy will be auctioned to guests. Instead of a silent auction, guests will bid on the clothing right off of the models during the event.

Garth Johnson and Patrick Lor were also there shooting on behalf of Fotolia, and with help from Megan Szanik (owner of Espy), Ashley Barber (stylist and MUA), and Laura Wettstein (Fotolia), we set up two shooting locations inside the store using Westcott Spiderlites. I generally shoot with strobes, so using the continuous lighting of the Spiderlites was a new experience for me. I had to shoot a bit higher ISO, but we all managed to create some great images with help from our Creative Director and store basset hound, Bruce. Ok, he mostly just slept and occasionally had a look around at what we were doing, but he just looked so damn cute!

I’ll be at the event this coming Thursday grabbing more photos, so get your ticket and come down, walk the red carpet, and say hello. For more information on the YYCTwestival, visit their website, calgary.twestival.com.

Espy Experience on Twitter – @espyexperience
Calgary Twestival on Twitter – @yyctwestival

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of photographing, for the second time, one of Calgary’s… no… one of Alberta’s top fashion shows. The show is called PARKSHOW and was put on by PARK, a network of young Calgarian’s eager to promote and support fellow emerging artists. If you recall my post from last year’s event, PARK stands for “Promoting Artists, Redefining Kulture.”

I really enjoy photographing runway shows and overcoming the challenges that each one presents me. In my post titled “Tips on Photographing a Runway Fashion Show”, I explain the steps I take in order to produce the best images I can to represent the event. There were quite a few photographers at this year’s PARKSHOW, so I needed to make sure my images were top-notch in order to stand out above the many others.

This year’s PARKSHOW was fabulous. Approximately 500 people packed the Arrata Opera Centre and with Ian Keteku on the mic and talent from Sophia Models gracing the runway, the show was one of pure success. Lacey Taylor from The Little Vegas Dance Company had everyone squirming in their seats as she kicked off the show with a stimulatingly seductive burlesque performance. From my perch atop a step stool with my shoulders tight against my fellow photographer’s, I think I heard more camera shutters going off in the media pit for Lacey’s performance than I did during the rest of the entire show. We were so tight, in fact, that a few of my images caught the mic of my friend Paul Spenard‘s video camera.

The show’s amazing posters and other creative imagery were produced by Studio Coalition, the duo of Derek Heisler and Joey Camacho. I love their photographic work and regret not introducing myself at the show.

Ok, enough jabber and on to the images. Below are the collections that were presented by each designer. Click on any of the collections to view all of the images larger on Facebook, where I encourage you to comment on them and tag any of the models you recognize.

If you are one of the featured designers or models from the show and would like more information on obtaining copies of my photographs, send me a message on Facebook or email me at photo[at]ianharding.com

Alecyn Lea with Cat’s Eye Vintage (jewelry by Alecyn and clothes provided by Cat’s Eye Vintage)

KARA by Kara Chomistek

Apiana Que by Ashley Quan

Chantel Traub

Emogene Couture by Michelle Baynes

MaNoKin Design by Marsina King

Light And Soul Apparel

Madame Wolf by Jenna Etcheverry

N.R.T. Fashions by Nicole Rita Tomney