Alyssa Bistonath Photography: Of Life After 24,

Well friends, it’s been a long road - but today’s the day! I’m so happy to announce that the Untold Stories is opening tonight at the University of Toronto. The show exhibits photographs taken by myself and two of my fellow photographers at World Vision: Paul Bettings and Andrew Goodwin. We’ve selected photographs and stories that you typically would not see in World Vision media - particularly stories of people who have made a lasting impression on each of us during our travels.

I hope that you’ll join us tonight from 7PM-10PM to learn about the world that we have seen and the work that we do. There will be a Q&A at 9PM.  If you can’t make it out tonight be sure to check it out during the month of May.

University of Toronto - New College
May 6–June 3, 2010

Opening
May 6, 7:00–10:00 pm

45 Willcocks St -
Spadina Entrance.
Toronto, M5S 1C7
Mon-Sun 8am-9pm

I like this photo though I think it is a bit odd. Emily thinks it’s dark. Dar thinks it’s cool.

Do you have a place that you never tire of? In recent years it’s been the meadow behind my parents house for me. Even though today was hectic Dar and I still managed a little jaunt to snap some photos. Soon the water will rise and we won’t be able to go back there - but for now it’s home. More photos to come (with Dar actually in them!)

Above you’ll see a shoot I did for the Report on Business last month right before I went to Mexico.  I was really excited to work on this project because it involved multiple environmental portraits shot with a tilt shift lens.  Usually I shoot landscapes this way and it was a fun challenge to add a person in - I’m definitely proud of the result.  It’s so nice when you’re hired to take photos that you would take anyways.  You can see the whole spread here and you can read the article here.

It feels like winter just whizzed by this year. None of the usual lazing around pasting things in my journal and shooting tons of creatives.  I shot a plenty of stills I love while in Mexico - and since I’ve been back I’ve been happy to let my camera be while I’ve been processing and captioning.  I’ve discovered over the years that it’s creatively constructive to take extended breaks from one medium and pour yourself into another. My spare time (which has been sparse) has been poured into drumming and making lovely music with neglected friends - it has been incredible fun.

So that’s it.  Goodbye winter! Stay tuned friends - the spring includes two exhibitions, a feature for World Vision’s magazine and a return trip to Mali.

Two days before we left for Mexico Emily and I were stopped on the street by an elderly lady. She asked, “Where did you get that?” pointing at a ribbon-shaped pin I had on my jacket. “World Vision” I replied. She asked me where to buy one - she’d been looking for something like it for years. When I took it off and gave it to her she grabbed me and kissed my cheek. She told us that she had been in Canada for 25 years and that no one had ever given her anything for free. Looking back I consider this the beginning of our trip. The first of many women to tell us little bits of their stories and shower us with affection and grace.

Mexico was different than my other trips. First, travelling with Emily was a wild ride. I haven’t travelled internationally with her since we were 19 (she was with me the first time I travelled overseas). Also, the first time I travelled independent of an organization was to Mexico City. That was 7 years ago. I was desperate to see the world. I remember being on a tourist bus driving out to the pyramids looking longingly out the windows at the communites that whizzed by. I would have rather explored those communities than the pyramids.  I wanted to meet people - to talk to them and hear their stories,  but I didn’t have the means.

Returning to Mexico City under the banner of World Vision was a dream. The communities that I had longed to see years before were amazingly the ones that I had been sent to photograph. I finally found myself on the other side of that bus window eating and visiting with the families that lived in those communities. This time I was equipped with experience, support and time. I’m constantly amazed (and choked up) at how passions get placed and when the time is right you get brought back to them - to experience them fully.

As many of you already know Emily and I are in Mexico City collecting photos and words for World Vision’s magazine Childview. I have to run (back to those mountains) but here is a quick video of Emily sitting in the rain outside of the World Vision office in the suburbs of Mexico.

Much love,
Lys

I took this shot of Gerry Sheff (left) and Ira Gluskin a couple of weeks ago for the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business Magazine. Every photo shoot is an adventure. You go prepared and with an idea of what you want to capture—and then you go and make it happen. You meet the most fascinating people, and for a day or two, you get to glimpse their world. It’s always interesting to head down to the financial district and take a look around (though I have to remember to turn off my headphones in the echoey elevators and not rumple my crisp shirt).

You can find the full article here. And shout-outs to Clare Jordan for the gig—amazing fun.