I had the pleasure to volunteer for the Vanouver International Film Festival a number of times.  I talked so much they always had me out front the main theatre in the heart of the entertainment district- just where I wanted to be.

 

     The film festival in 2012 unfortunately was home to the final year at this magnificent Granville 7 theatre.  The theatre had been around for decades and held one of the last real 35mm film projecting theatres in Vancouver.  I was always asked why I didnt bring my camera when I was selling tickets, info magazines and meeting people from all over the world.  I replied, I will- but on the last day..

 

     I wanted the photo-series to be journalistic and from an outside point of view.  The final day was raining, so I grabbed a bag threw it over my Nikon and with my manual 35mm lens only fought against a plastic sleeve in front of my eye fiddling for focus.  My favourite shot came when I saw the man with the white umbrella and top hat.  He passed by quickly as he saw me taking photo's so close to people and although he came out with this look seemed oddly shy.  As he walked past me I immediately started walking backwards and fired a few shots. In that moment of fighting for the focus and my settings I nailed one of my favourite shots to-date.  If you've noticed, the series also begins wide- in color and then turns to black and white as an homage to the dying breed of film- in this case cinema film.

 

     When I had enough shots to leave (I only shot for about 15 minutes) I left and headed home to search if I got gold in the rain on that gloomy day on the West Coast.. I'll let you decide.

                                                                                                                            -William Yianni Binks @2012