RETROSPECTIVE: Montecristo Jewellers' Chinese New Year for Montecristo Magazine

(Lucy Ye and Emma Ma, photographed at Montecristo Jewellers' Oakridge Centre boutique. One of seven shots published in the Summer 2010 issue of Montecristo Magazine. © 2010 Benjamin Luk.)

Back in February, Benjamin Luk Photography was brought onboard by Montecristo Magazine to photograph Montecristo Jewellers' Chinese New Year event. I was asked to photograph a number of their distinguished guests and take note of their names for later publication. I also shot for them an elaborate Chinese fan dance and numerous product shots for their sponsors, which included Burmester, Hennessy and Voss. In total, seven shots were published on page 70 of their Summer 2010 issue, which is available now at any Chapters location in Greater Vancouver.

Benjamin Luk Photography is available for assignment at BenjaminLuk.com.

PERSPECTIVE: 2010 Surrey Canada Day

(2010 Surrey Canada Day attendees were delighted to be part of the largest July 1st celebration in Western Canada. © 2010 Benjamin Luk.)

On July 1st, Benjamin Luk Photography was hired to cover the 2010 Surrey Canada Day festivities at Cloverdale Millennium Amphitheatre. Much like the Surrey 2010 Celebration Site in February, the city of Surrey was offering a family-friendly environment for both young and old to be out celebrating in the community.

(The celebration grounds at 2010 Surrey Canada Day. © 2010 Benjamin Luk.)

Multicultural entertainment as well as many popular bands were performing, and it was my job to capture both the performers and the celebration attendees. It wasn't as difficult to wrangle up families for group shots as I initially thought, and I came back with many images that would look great in a City of Surrey brochure.

(Bhangra dancers performing on the Chevron Main Stage. © 2010 Benjamin Luk.)

I was more selective this time in what I was shooting, so I came back with 500+ high-quality images, which I then edited down to the 134 I ended up delivering. Each selected photo underwent standard colour correction and tonal adjustments to make each image as eye-catching as possible.

(Families came out in full force to enjoy the festivities. © 2010 Benjamin Luk.)

Special thanks to Jon Benjamin Photography for handing me this gig. Please be sure to check out Jon's photography by clicking on the link.

(Surrey mayor Dianne Watts giving her opening speech. © 2010 Benjamin Luk.)

Benjamin Luk Photography is available for assignment at BenjaminLuk.com.

PERSPECTIVE: 2010 BCHS Track & Field Championships

(Runners at the 2010 BCHS Track & Field Championships. © 2010 Benjamin Luk.)

In early June, a colleague of mine filled me in on a promising project to shoot. The 2010 BCHS Track & Field Championships were happening at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, BC; practically a stone's throw from where I live. Jumping at the chance to add more to my limited sports photography portfolio, I agreed to the project and found myself awake at 7 AM last Friday en route to Swangard.

(A pole vaulter from Oak Bay, standing in front of his record-breaking score. © 2010 Benjamin Luk.)

We shot for two days, covering every event we could. The photos produced from our assignment will be published next year in the 2011 BCHS Track & Field Championships event program. Out of the 900+ images I shot, I can't wait to see what will be published. Shooting for them again next year remains a possibility. Special thanks to Colten Warne for bringing me on board.

(A student of New Westminster Secondary prepares for his javelin throw. © 2010 Benjamin Luk.)

Benjamin Luk Photography is available for assignment at BenjaminLuk.com.

PERSPECTIVE: A Portrait of the Artist as a Hung Man

(Local artist Owen Ellis, photographed on the set of our latest project. © 2010 Meg Bourne.)

Owen Ellis and I met in late January while working for NBC during the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games. Over the course of the games, we got to know each other and discovered that we were both young artists with similar ideas. Fast forward a few months later and we were both on the studio set of our first collaborative art piece together: "You're Alive!"

Without giving up too much information, it's a piece questioning why we celebrate the things we celebrate and why we mourn the things we mourn. Oh, and it has nooses. It has a comedic edge to it too, but you'll never get to see it unless you come down to The Cheaper Show No. 9 on June 26th at the Storyeum building in Gastown (142 Water Street, Vancouver). 200 artists are exhibiting 400 pieces of art, each priced at only $200. You could walk away with a limited edition 24" x 36" print of "You're Alive!" for only $200 if you show up! Isn't that insane?

For further incentive, no version of "You're Alive!" will ever be posted anywhere online. The only way to view it is by showing up. So do it.

Benjamin Luk Photography is available for assignment at BenjaminLuk.com.

PERSPECTIVE: Hawkes Martial Arts, Part II

(Cody Hawkes of Hawkes Martial Arts. © 2010 Benjamin Luk.)

Last Thursday, Benjamin Luk Photography found our way to the Hawkes Martial Arts dojo to finish the project we started the week before. We took headshots of all the main instructors, shots of the classes in session, and eventually got to the point where we could play around with shooting various martial arts stances, resulting in the shot you see above. Hawkes Martial Arts asked us for 8 to 12 images for their website. We're delivering 44 final shots for them to choose from. Another example of how we love to go above and beyond for our clients.

In other news, our videographer Chuck Ibey gave us this from our shoot last Sunday! Check out his work and if you ever require the services of a videographer, get in touch. We'll pass you on to Chuck.

Benjamin Luk Photography Promo from Chuck Ibey on Vimeo.

Benjamin Luk Photography is available for assignment at BenjaminLuk.com.

PERSPECTIVE: Hawkes Martial Arts

(Hawkes Martial Arts hired Benjamin Luk Photography to shoot for their new website relaunch. © 2010 Benjamin Luk.)

Earlier today, the Benjamin Luk Photography team was again at Iona Beach Regional Park, this time shooting for local karate school, Hawkes Martial Arts. Our aim was to completely redo and modernize their website (which is still under construction) to stay current with the times, and great looking photography is part of that process. We shot for three hours in splendid weather, going through a variety of martial arts poses and stances. This coming Thursday, we shoot for Hawkes Martial Arts again, but in their dojo, rounding out the full set of photos we need for their site.

We also had videographer Chuck Ibey on site for the very first time, capturing some behind-the-scenes footage for a series of BLP promo videos we intend to make. In the meantime, check out the video work he did for fellow photographer Cole Benoit at Chuck Ibey on Vimeo.

Benjamin Luk Photography is available for assignment at BenjaminLuk.com.

PERSPECTIVE: Benjamin Luk Photography Weddings

(Benjamin Luk Photography Weddings launched on May 12th, 2010. © 2009 Benjamin Luk.)

Earlier this week, it was decided that I needed an entirely separate website to showcase my wedding photography. The simple fact of the matter is that wedding clients look for wedding photographers, and my main website caters to a more commercial clientele. So, with a lot of help from Magnetude Media, Benjamin Luk Photography Weddings was born. We still operate under the name Benjamin Luk Photography; we just needed a different online presence for our wedding work.

Be sure to check out the wedding shots we have online so far at BLPwedding.com, and if you're currently in the market for a wedding photographer, be sure to get in touch at info@benjaminluk.com or (604) 649-5635. Personal consultations are free and coffee's always on me. I still have plenty of dates available for 2010 and 2011.

Benjamin Luk Photography is available for assignment at BenjaminLuk.com.