PERSPECTIVE: Fighting Chance Productions' "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum"

(Peter Stainton as Senex, surrounded by courtesans. © 2011 Benjamin Luk.)

Early in October, I was tasked with shooting the dress rehearsal of Sondheim's "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" by Fighting Chance Productions. My job was to provide them with images they could send out in reviews of their show. I took that to mean I got a free show all to myself with the ability to photograph as I pleased. I still can't believe I'm getting paid for this.

(Cameron Dunster as Hero and Elyse Malloway as Philia. © 2011 Benjamin Luk.)

Reviews from [Re]View From The House and The Georgia Straight can be seen from the links provided. Fighting Chance Productions will remain a repeat client of mine for the next few months, as they hire me again to shoot their production of "The Temperamentals" and possibly promo work for their 2012/13 season. As a closet theatre nerd, I couldn't be more excited.

(Michael Wild as Hysterium and Ryan Mooney as Pseudolus. © 2011 Benjamin Luk.)

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

PERSPECTIVE: The Best Revenge CD Release

Young Nihilists' Gun Club from thebestrevenge on Vimeo.

I was a founding member of The Best Revenge before I departed in 2010 to pursue other projects. Many of the drum parts were ones I wrote. They're releasing their first album Young Nihilists' Gun Club at The Railway Club on October 14th, 2011. This is their promo video.

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

PERSPECTIVE: Janell & Aniket's Wedding

(Janell and Aniket, photographed at Eagles Estate in Burnaby, BC. © 2011 Benjamin Luk.)

One of the many reasons I love what I do is that I get to meet interesting and lovable people all the time. Janell and Aniket are prime examples of that. As animators based in France, I knew their artistic eye would be tough to please, but I was ready to rise to the challenge. I first met the couple over breakfast with Janell's family and it was immediately obvious that there were real connections between them. Their family was so tight-knit and so caring that sitting elbow-to-elbow with them and asking them to pass the potatoes felt natural. I struggle to recall another time when I felt so welcomed.

(Janell cozying up to Aniket at Burnaby Art Gallery. © 2011 Benjamin Luk.)

Because Janell and Aniket were in France leading up to the wedding, most of the planning I did was with Janell's mom, Amandah. In an extensive preproduction phase, we worked out schedules, shot lists, locations, etc. Armed with all the information I needed, this turned into one of the few weddings I've shot that actually ran on time. It's for exactly this reason we now request an information package from our wedding clients to keep as on schedule as possible.

(The wedding party channelling their inner rocker. © 2011 Benjamin Luk.)

Janell and Aniket were one of my favourite couples to shoot in 2011. Affectionate, playful and goofy, we were able to capture something really special of both their personalities. And unlike most relationships where one person clearly wears the pants, Janell and Aniket came across as real equals, friends before lovers. There is no doubt in my mind they'll be happy together for a very long time. I wish them the best for a bright and hopeful future. Besides, I may need a couch to crash on if I ever wind up in France again.

(Janell and Aniket taking their first steps together as husband and wife. © 2011 Jonathan Evans, Benjamin Luk Photography.)

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

PERSPECTIVE: Amber & Lindsay's Wedding

(Amber and Lindsay chose to signify their vows by quite literally tying the knot. © 2011 Benjamin Luk.)

Amber and Lindsay are an unconventional couple, not because they were entering into a same-sex union, but because their love of all things weird and geeky led them to throw a wedding with references to Final Fantasy, Charlie the Unicorn, and Lord of the Rings. In one of my first meetings with them, they told me upfront that if I wanted reference images to see what they were going for, I should look up The Tudors. I think it was that moment I knew that I loved these guys, and also that I'd add to the event by coaxing assistant Jonathan Evans and intern Lauren Mulcahy into showing up in full medieval costume.

(Amber and Lindsay with their decked-out wedding party. © 2011 Benjamin Luk.)

On the day, as the schedule ran long (as is not uncommon with weddings), we came to face some difficult decisions about the direction of the wedding photography. With the light quickly fading, did we want to capture the conventional wedding portraits, or did we want to embrace an edgier, more Tudors-esque mentality? Did we want more shots of Amber and Lindsay kissing and holding each other, or did we want to bust out the swords? I think we all know what happened here. These aren't your typical wedding shots, but we never intended them to be. With Tyler Branston's expert post-production help as I dive headfirst into the 2011 wedding season, I'm proud to say we can stand behind our work, difficulties and conventionality be damned. I hope you like what you see.

(Amber with her dad and great-grandmother. © 2011 Benjamin Luk.)

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

PERSPECTIVE: Lauren Mulcahy, Intern

(New intern, Lauren Mulcahy. © 2011 Benjamin Luk.)

In the past few months of our wildest wedding season yet, there have been people working behind the scenes to make sure everything at Benjamin Luk Photography runs smoothly. One of those people is our latest intern, Lauren Mulcahy. In addition to putting up with my requests for personal chauffeuring, she's also been involved in promotional work, equipment testing, post-production and photo assisting. In return, I'm helping her along to become a successful professional photographer on her own terms. If you've hired us recently, know that Lauren has been integral in making sure you receive the best product we can provide.

Check Lauren out at her website here and follow her on Twitter at @PandaAteMyFace.

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

PERSPECTIVE: Fighting Chance Productions' "The Awesome 80s Prom"

(Girls love cozying up to exchange student Feng Schwey. © 2011 Benjamin Luk.)

Fighting Chance Productions has always been a great supporter of Benjamin Luk Photography and vice versa. You may remember them donating an entire season's worth of tickets to BLP Christmas 2010. Their production of The Awesome 80s Prom was a chance to finally collaborate and create some art together. In the previous two months this has been going on, myself and assistant Colten Warne have been running their photo booth.

The Awesome 80s Prom is an interactive theatre event much like Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding. However, instead of an Italian-American wedding reception, guests are treated to Prom Night 1989 at Wanaget High. Prom characters like spaz Kerrie Kowalski or Asian exchange student Feng Schwey wander amongst the audience, interacting with improvisational gusto. If you haven't been yet, it's quite the experience. Dates left include Friday, April 1st, Saturday, April 2nd, Friday, May 13th and Saturday, May 14th.

All our photo booth shots are photographed on a 21.1 MP Canon EOS 5D Mark II. A disc of all your images can be purchased for $20 CAD and will be sent to you by mail within one to two weeks. I look forward to seeing you at the prom.

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

PERSPECTIVE: "Talk to the Pro" at Van Tech

(Guest lecturing for a bunch of high school students at Van Tech. © 2011 Benjamin Luk Photography.)

Kids have mad talent. In fact, both pictures you see here were shot on my camera by students at Vancouver Technical Secondary School during my guest lecture two Thursdays ago on March 3rd, 2011. Assistant Colten Warne and I showed up with our gear, gave a short presentation, then answered questions from the small but enthusiastic after-school group. Some were keen on me teaching them the basics of composition and settings. Others were interested in internship. It didn't take much to get the students excited about photography as a legitimate career option. All I had to do was mention the possibility of world travel, getting paid thousands at a time to create art, and how fulfilling a life of creativity really is.

(Assistant Colten Warne examining a student's black-and-white negatives. © 2011 Benjamin Luk Photography.)

From what I saw of them during my brief presentation, it wouldn't surprise me if there were at least one future professional photographer in the group I lectured. If any of them are reading right now, I offer mentorship programs for youth and, in the future, hope to establish a charity foundation to develop photography programs in elementary and secondary schools. I look forward to making that dream a reality.

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