Alyssa Bistonath Photography: Of Life After 24,

Alyssa Bistonath Photography

Archive for the ‘Personal’ Category

Concept Still

I’ve been thinking lately that I want to make a short film.  I used to make them back in my teens and even early twenties, but I haven’t made one in ages.  I’m not sure what it will be about yet, but I’m experimenting with how I’d like it to look.  Perhaps the story will develop from there.  I think if it’s black and white I’d like it to look like this photo of Emily.  

This Collage Life

FreedomalmostprivaGodGirls and GuysFridgeChristChinaMessageHide

The other day I was hanging out with my friend Yulanda.  We recalled the visual journals that we started keeping at school and how important they are.  Mostly because I LOVE collage - it’s how I like life.  Little bits of past, present, and future all mashed up together.
The visual journals (the Goodbye Books) act as a detailed non-linear timeline.  Above are stills of a recent book (the 7th!).  I’ve also added in photos of my bulletin board, wall and fridge where the collage has spilled out.  If you’d like to see them larger - just give them a click.

Yeah yeah yeah…

I’m sitting in the living room listening to the new Yeah Yeah Yeahs album (Dar lent it to me though she barely just got it).  The window is wide open but I’m boiling hot because I’m wearing EWBJ’s hoodie (he doesn’t even know it!) and am covered up with the throw my Mum tucked into my bag the other day.  I’m thinking about 1 Corinthians 13 (someone read it aloud at church yesterday after we had crooned a Hank Williams song).  Those two (yeah you know who) are in the kitchen cooking up a fish concoction, and I can’t wait to taste it.  I’m patiently sipping cold tea (chocolaty chai!) and I am learning how to round corners in photoshop.  I’m trying some new things just for the heck of it. The acoustic version of Hysteric comes on and I look down at this photo of Lisa and suddenly I am filled with so much optimism I might just burst.  Doesn’t Lisa look optimistic? Thank goodness life isn’t boring.

Texture Time

I’ve been really inspired by my favourite graphic designers and photographers laying textures over their work.  I’ve experimented with it in the past, but I thought I would try some simple textures over some shots I took on my Mum’s birthday.

These are best viewed larger, so give them a click.

Alisa?

Lisa pointed out that her name plus Ali’s name equals my name.  This pleases me because I LOVE Ali and Lisa.  Heck, it’s overdue that they show up on this blog.  So here they are.  Ali on the left, Lisa on the right.  I shot these (impromptu) on Thursday evening as GLORIOUS sunlight was pouring into my living room.

Grace

This is my brother Curt.  When we were kids we fancied ourselves ninjas. We ran around with black t-shirts pulled over our heads and spied on unsuspecting family members.  Once I jumped off the lazy-boy and karate kicked him right in the stomach.  It knocked the wind out of him pretty good, but he was gracious about it. He’s also pretty gracious about being in photos. I shot the above photo on Easter in my parent’s backyard while he was having a smoke.
This is the first photo I can ever remember taking.  I took it of Curt on the night of his 8th birthday party.  I remember telling him to pretend he was drowning in the wrapping paper.  I think he did a pretty good job.

All Growed Up!

1967 - age 14:  That’s my Mum in the middle.  Now you can see where I get my big hair from.

(left) Check out those ringlets!/ (right) Look at that collar - look familiar?

My Mum grew up in Guyana and moved to Winnipeg (Canada) with my father when she was 19 years old.  She was the first in her family to get married, and by the time she was my age (26) she had two sons and was a successful banker.  She’s a smart woman with a huge heart.  She also is the only member of my family who can beat me at Monopoly…
I’ve recently realized that whenever I get into trouble it’s because I’ve forgotten half or all of my Mum’s wisdom, “Remember who you are, and whose you are.”  She has sent me off on many an adventure with those words echoing in my ears.  My Mum is perceptive, she knew I wanted to be a photographer  long before I did.  She bought me my first camera years before I would admit to anyone that I loved photography, and has supported me non-stop since this whole journey began.
Happy Birthday Mum. I love you.


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