CAPITAL CULTURE.

I was recently featured in Canadian Geographic along with two other great Ottawa photographer's: Tony Fouhse and David Trattles. Senior editor at Ottawa Magazine, Sarah Brown, wrote the article for the national magazine. The story is about culture in the Capital and features photos from all three of us. They chose to showcase my Kiss Fans photos from Bluesfest a couple years back.

The article mentions my recent Vimy project and more precisely the photos I had displayed during my One Night Stand at La Petite Mort gallery. Here's an excerpt from the story. (full article here)

Snapshot number three: Rémi Thériault, a rising star on the local photography scene, is a transplanted Acadian Prince Edward Islander. At a springtime “One Night Stand” displaying eight photos at Ottawa’s La Petite Mort Gallery, Thériault had space to hang just two photos from his ongoing “Vimy” series. It was a battle that defined Canada as a nation — and for three years now, Thériault has travelled to France to visit the Canadian National Vimy Memorial site, documenting it in summer and winter, at dawn and dusk. The winter series, in particular, has a haunting beauty, the site desolate, a dusting of snow on the picturesque ridge that was once a churning war zone of mud and death.

CULTURE DAYS.

I'll be taking part of Culture Day's in Ottawa on the weekend. Check out the link, cause there's a lot happening in town. I'll be doing my best at checking some really interesting venues, but also showing two photos at EBA's Shaken, but not stirred show.

SHAKEN, BUT NOT STIRRED
Enriched Bread Artist
Friday. Sept. 30 6-9pm
951 Gladstone Ave
Ottawa. ON

WHAT HAPPEN THIS SUMMER.

The website will be welcoming new photos. Here's a little sneak peek at what what this summer and what might get added to the website.

2 DAYS OF BEING NERVOUS

I'm waiting for my flight in Paris heading back to Ottawa. Yesterday was a particularly slow photo day, considering I didn't have much film left and I had scouted the location on day 1. I did manage to squeeze some leisure time going to watch local favourites RC Lens play Amiens. Game had a couple highlights include Amiens bicycle kick goal 20 feet away from our front row seats! That was exciting. RC Lens did end up winning so the night did have a happy ending even though we couldn't find a place to purchase beer. Wouldn't see that in Canada.






Why 2 days of being nervous? I was on edge the first day not really knowing where I would be heading and where the photos would go. I did like that feeling and I wanted to be open minded on what could happen. I felt comfortabl rather quickly after arriving having the chance to scout a couple locations and mapping out some destinations. The morning of photo day 1 went rather well and the rest just kept rolling.

But now? I'm sitting at the airport with a bag full of film: 50 sheets and 5 rolls. I'll have to wait probably till the weekend or early next to have a real idea of what I shot, from the time the film is processed and being able to scan everything in front of a very busy September for work.

I'll probably end up sharing a few teasers for those who have following but it'll be late fall before I can have something substantial to show. For now it's fingers crossed.

ACADIAN LUNCH.

Taking a small break for lunch to a very Acadian meal, fricot aux palourdes - which could also be translated to clam soup. It's not really a chowder because there's no milk or cream involved, also no vegetables. Don't know about those Acadian, but they didn't have much vegetables in their stable meals, at least the ones that are still recognized as stables. I'm not hear to give a culinary history lesson, back to photos.





Yesterday was spent in Belgium. First thing I found interesting was a small cemetery in the middle of Burtenne Farm. Couple of horses grazing near the brick wall surrounding the cemetery. There was one Canadian soldier burried there. Cemeteries are sometimes located in the most random places. There could of been an important battle years ago, but now people and the town have moved on. Well not totally moved on because these cemeteries are well kept.

Next stop was in Tyne Cot where I had a close encounter with a cow, let's just say she wasn't camera shy. I didn't want to photograph the cow so I waited until it moved away.




Then made my way to Paschendale photographing the field where Canadian soldiers faced German gas attacks. We also went to Hill 62, Hooge, Ypres and St-Julien during the day. Notably finding remote memorials along the way. I generally photographed at the memorial looking at the battle fields where Canadians would of fought. We finished the day at Flanders field where still stands the dressing bunker where Colonel John McConrae wrote his famous poem.

Long day, but able to stick to my plan: 10 photos a day. I did use my Hasselblad quite a bit, especially at Hill 62 where the commercialization of war was much more apparent. In France most places are free and you could walk up and visit the sites yourself, on the contrary Hill 62 was filled with shops trying to make a buck on WWI: see a crater here, walk in a trench there.

BOMBS AWAY!

This afternoon I made my way to Loos En Goelle. This is where important battles at Hill 63, Fosse 14 and notably Hill 70. The main difference with today is that mom set us up with a guide. Knowing that you're standing in the middle of a field where 9000 Canadians died is something else. I had a similar feeling when I traveled to Normandy in 2006. Can't really explain what's it's like to stand in some of the places I've been.

I decided to use my Hasselblad a little more today. On top of 10-12 photos on the 4x5, I shot two rolls of 120. To say I almost didn't bring the camera on the trip. It was difficult to edit while the guide was talking cause everything was interesting and of course it got better as we went along. The Blad allowed me to keep shooting and discovering. Don't get me wrong still a 4x5 project but I still have three days which include visits to Paschendale, Flanders Field and Vimy again.

Mom got quite excited too. She found her first bomb. My parents have been living in France, mom getting a job here two years ago but finding a bomb just doesn't happen everyday. Well she did today and we dug it up. It's actually sitting in the trunk of the car. Dad also found some bullets and a belt buckle.

Photo of the bomb and my dad trying to take a photo of the guide and I with my iPhone.

SNAILS, SPIDERS, LADYBUGS...AND SASQUATCH?!

I didn't photograph all these magnificiant creatures but I did have close encounters with all four. Well maybe I didn't see a real Sasquatch but I did take a photo of my dad walking through the woods that remininded me of the famous BC photo.



I did have a good morning, maybe too good. I've been shooting a lot and trying to limit myself will be difficult. Spent the morning in the Forêt Dominiale de Vimy. Really hard to describe the landscape and even photograph it. Lugging my 4x5 over my shoulder like Ansel Adams, I tried to make my way up 20 foot hills and walk through old trenches. The rain from last night made it a little more difficult to navigate and I can't imagine how it would of been terrifying 95 years ago with loaded army gear while under fire.

I did find the Sugar Factory although had some difficulties to negotiate taking a photo there. Did have better luck at Beaumont-Hamel.

Here's a photo where the sugar factory used to be another of my dad climbing down a hill. (he didn't fall, but it looks like it)

SUGAR FACTORY.

I arrived yesterday in France. Got to the airport at 6am local time and waited for my dad who was kind enough to pick me up. Once at the house, dad made breakfast and we had coffee which was great, although it was 2am on my regular Ottawa schedule. I decided I read a little more about WWI and see what important areas were close by. I found out that the first battle won by Canadians was at Courcelette, a little village near my parents residence. The Sugar Factory was an important strategic take over for the Canadians, that where I'm headed this morning. I'll also be traveling to Beaumont-Hamel in the afternoon. Another tough battle for the Canadians that didn't end so great, the 1rst Newfoundland Regiment lost all but 68 of it's soldiers on July 1rst 1916. Of 800 men, 324 were killed and 386 were injured during that deadly battle. The British had lost 60 000 men during that day, which is known as the worst day in British military history.

VIMY PART II.

I'm headed to Vimy to hopefully complete a projected I started almost 2 years ago. Visiting my parents in France during Christmas time, I take a chilly and foggy morning to photograph the Vimy landscape. I was intrigued by the local scenery and WWI history.




If I had spent 3 hours taking 8 photos in -20 weather last time, I'm going a little more prepared. I'll be spending 6 days in and around Vimy learning about the history of place. I'll be interested to see how much evidenece is left of WWI and how modern society grew from it. I'll be keeping an open mind on how this project can develop. Having scheduled a couple of meetings with local historians, I hope for surprises.

I'm Mostly interested in the 4x5, brought 50 sheets of film, but also have my Hasselblad in case I wanted to do a quick portrait. I'll try writing everyday about what I found and what I photographed. Cell pics will be all you get till I'm back. For now, here's what my gear bag looks like.

ONE TO WATCH.

Got a call this summer to photograph Denise Ramsden, the fastest Canadian lady on a bike under 23. She bikes over 100km in her races in a couple hours. The story was for Up Here Magazine out of Yellowknife. Actually, had the pleasure to work for them twice this summer, shooting stories in and around Ottawa. Also check Denise Ramsden's blog about traveling and the cycle tour.

Featured photo in Up Here.

Here are some outtakes from the shoot.