This year the theme of the festival is Drone — The automated image and it is guest curated by Paul Wombell. I’ve been going to this festival pretty much since it started and the exhibitions are almost always laden with experimental (less conventional) photography and themes that require reflection. If you’re looking for more conventional photography (beautiful landscapes, still lifes, street photography) you normally won’t find it at this festival.

Although Le mois de la photo is a photography festival, many exhibitions will be video based and some will feature installations. I always find a few exhibitions that I really like and will report back on my faves.  Feel free to check out the exhibitions here.

I’ve added a new category to the blog called Montreal art, photography and culture and I’ll use it to cover some of the cooler events in this festival city that I call home. Even if you can’t make it to Montreal’s world class festivals, hopefully this new photography blog category can turn you on to something new.

This week the world famous Montreal International Jazz festival is in town and it features hundreds of world class musical acts and street performances. The Jazz festival is one of the best festivals in our city and I attend almost every year. This year a friend of mine, Montreal Culture Guy Chris ‘Zeke’ hand, invited me to see a 30 piece Chicago Hipster marching band called Mucca Pazza. They were so fab that I saw them twice. Had I had more time I would have gone again.

This band INSTANTLY makes you smile and makes your brain release endorphins. Just try not to smile when you see them, I dare you!  Instead of taking Prozac, just watch Mucca Pazza.

The music is a jazz-based fusion to my ear and is performed extremely well —  in  ‘we do not take ourselves seriously for even a nanosecond’ disco meets the civil war costuming. The choreography is crazy fun as well with cheerleaders literally thrown into the mix. Did I say this is the most fun I’ve had at the  Montreal Jazz fest in years? Well it is!

Mucca Pazza at the Montreal Jazz fest

Mucca Pazza at the Montreal Jazz fest

Mucca Pazza at the Montreal Jazz fest

Mucca Pazza at the Montreal Jazz fest

Mucca Pazza at the Montreal Jazz fest

From Hand to Mouth, 1993. Installation view, The American Center, Paris, 1995. Photo: Jeff Guess. Courtesy of the artist

The above photograph (and this is one of the many exhibitions that I personally visited) is a great example of ‘alternative photography’ and‚ thinking outside of the box. The goal of this exhibit is not simple, it requires thought; active thought. People will experience this exhibit in a personal way. Some will like it, some will hate it, and others will scratch their heads and go “Hmmmm”. Personally, I dug it big-time. I like things that are different. I like to think and feel. I’m not into McDonald’s and their freakishly annoying mainstream clown.

Here’s the ‘official website’ write-up on Guess’s exhibition:

With From Hand to Mouth (1993), a 22-metre long photographic series, Jeff Guess treats viewers to an original visual experience. The piece takes the form of a circular panorama hung from the ceiling of a darkened room. The artist assigns a particular place to viewers, who are invited to step into the centre of the installation. Without a privileged viewpoint that would make it possible to take in all the images at once, the work invites viewers to move about, to circulate. From Hand to Mouth is shown with a single, isolated photograph, Fonce Alphonse (1993).

This exhibition is just one of many that make up this year’s Mois de la photo. So get your shoes on and get out there this weekend to see the work before the exhibition is over. Bring an open mind, your brain but leave your cash at home. The exhibitions and mental stimulation are free.

Yesterday as I walked through my new favourite location (Parc Lafontaine), I spotted 2 lovers in a hammock and asked if I could take their portrait. They agreed and I think I captured the feelings they have for one another. This was shot at about 6pm with no flash or reflector, only ambient light.