Zach est un Appareil-Photo

We've Moved!

2010-01-14T21:56:00.000-08:00

This blog has now moved over to tumblr! Please update your bookmarks!

Full portfolio online here

Sad Day for Puppets

2009-11-29T13:35:00.000-08:00

Today's band of the week is "Sad Day for Puppets" hailing from Sweden. They've got an amazing melodic, longing and distant sound. Check out some of their tracks below:

Sad Day for Puppets - Anne Says

Sad Day for Puppets - Last Night

And here's an interview with the band, borrowed from The Line of Best Fit:

What was the first song that really caught your imagination?
A Swedish lullaby called ”Byssan Lull”.
What was the music your parents liked and do you think it’s influenced you at all?
My mother listened a lot to Bangles, Cyndi Lauper and Kate Bush when I was a kid, and I still love that music. Yes, I think it has influenced me.
What posters did you have on your wall as a kid?
Kiss, W.A.S.P and Motley Crue.
Which songs or albums would you play at a party?
I’d just play Surrender by Cheap Trick, over and over again.
Which songs remind you of a rainy day?
Almost any disco song.
Which album do you seek solace in when you are feeling sad?
Milk & Kisses by Cocteau Twins
Which album would you play when you wanted to get down to some lovin’?
I wouldn’t play any Cannibal Corpse-album.
What music was, or would be, the “first dance” at your wedding?
Mother by Danzig.
What was the first gig you went to as a paying customer?
Neil Young. I was fourteen, it was an outside venue and pearl jam was the support act.
Name the one song you think everyone should hear.
Plaster Caster by Kiss.
Which one artist do you think not enough people know about?
Television Personalities.
What’s the best thing you’ve heard recently?
MGMT. I really love the album, it’s full of great songs, and live they’re one of the coolest rock bands I’ve ever seen.
Dead or alive, what 5 acts would you have play with you at a festival?
Alice in Chains, The Cure, Kate Bush, Bette Midler and Neil Young.
We’d like you to make us a mix-tape. Pick five tracks with a theme of your choice.
Finest vocals ever:
Blind Melon – Soul One
Hole – Violet
AC/DC – If You Want Blood
Aerosmith – Cryin’
Joan Jett – Bad Reputation.
And finally, who would win in a fight: a stoat or a goat and why?
The goat, because of his advanced military training.

Where is my mind?

2009-11-13T15:43:00.000-08:00

The song of the day today is by the wonderful Emmy the Great. Check out here cover of one of my favorite Pixies tracks below:

Emmy the Great - Where is my Mind? (Pixies Cover)

And another cover by another great band, Little Big Adventure

Little Big Adventure - Where is my Mind? (Pixies Cover)

Dawn

2009-11-12T11:39:00.000-08:00

briar

2009-11-08T14:26:00.000-08:00

Nature Pictures

2009-11-03T09:16:00.000-08:00

pop

2009-10-29T10:44:00.000-07:00

All that time,

2009-10-28T12:11:00.000-07:00

Band of the week -- Blind Pilot

2009-10-21T15:15:00.000-07:00

Today's band of the week Blind Pilot hails from Portland, Oregon. Listen to an amazing live version of their track "Two Towns from Me" below,

Blind PIlot - Two Towns From Me

Some postcards from the band below --

Shadowplay

2009-10-16T16:33:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be part of a wicked fashion week show at Toronto's own Carte Blanche next Wednesday. I'm showing a few pieces I shot with Michael Mercanti of Speech, stay tuned to check out some of the shots online next week!

Check out the info below:

Carte Blanche has selected influential members of the young Toronto fashion and art communities to present the S/S 2010 collection from their internationally acclaimed in-house line Pink Cobra.

Images featuring pieces from the collection will be presented in large format print at SHADOWPLAY, an in-store event/opening that coincides with Toronto’s LG Fashion Week.

Participants are:

Karen Roze & Shan Sarwar
Justin Borbely & Richard Autio
Miguel Jacob & Dwane Kennedy
Zach Hertzman & Michael Mercanti
Kristie Muller
Hannah Sider & Sarah Blais
Kavin Wong
Lauren Burns-Coady
Corey Goodyear & Brian Richards
Carly Bangs

Toronto Bands
GIVE US THE DAGGERS
and
MODERN SUPERSTITIONS
will be performing music inspired by the collection!!!

LBC & BALLER play mp3s woooo yeah

Come join us for the unveiling and get down on some Belvedere Vodka, RedBull, some Amsterdam Beer, some wine, some schnapps... whatever.

OH! and CARTE BLANCHE will be screening a film shot for Pink Cobra By Carly Bangs featuring the collection's muse Darling Nikki You don't want to miss that!!

PLUS you can purchase an amazing tote bag custom designed by Corey Corey (teenagecrimewave.com)!!

AND you can take the works home with you in a zine designed specifically for this event and available exclusively at this party.

See you there!

Questions? email: lbc.baller@gmail.com
daniel@shopcarteblanche.ca

Song of the week!

2009-10-12T19:33:00.000-07:00

It's that time again! Get ready for the song of the week / day / whenever I feel like it,

Talking Heads - This Must be the Place

Andrea

2009-10-11T19:59:00.000-07:00

Check out some frames from my shoot with Andrea. She's an amazing artist, doing amazing things with plastique - check out some of her work here,

More at www.zachhertzman.com

Just an afternoon

2009-10-06T19:51:00.000-07:00

Woodpigeon

2009-10-05T21:57:00.000-07:00

Check out my favorite band of the week, Woodpigeon.

Reminds me of sitting in the snow, reading books in the hallway at school, eating crisp apples right off the tree, dreaming when you're really young.

Woodpigeon - Knock Knock

Woodpigeon - I Live a Lot of Places

More Mer

2009-10-05T19:40:00.000-07:00

Christina Ledang

2009-10-05T18:55:00.001-07:00

This is from a shoot I did for a Montreal based designer Christina Ledang. We shot in a fire station around Atwater Market, and I even got to slide down the pole! Too much fun...

New fall, old fall

2009-10-04T20:31:00.000-07:00

Mer

2009-10-04T20:30:00.000-07:00

Just in time for fall...

2009-09-27T21:21:00.000-07:00

Mary

2009-09-22T16:43:00.000-07:00

More Banff

2009-09-18T13:34:00.000-07:00

Mary

2009-09-15T19:53:00.001-07:00

This series is still a work in progress, the finished piece is going to be amazing...

Seabear

2009-09-15T19:29:00.000-07:00

Band of the day, Seabear

A very mellow and whispy band from Iceland

Listen to their track Cat Piano here

and the track Arms here

And check out more of their wonderful music here

You can even join the club =>

Belle

2009-09-15T07:21:00.000-07:00

Check out these shots I did recently for a great local Toronto designer, Sacha Belle,

MusicMusic

2009-09-09T09:50:00.000-07:00

Band of the day, Forest City Lovers

Check out the track Oh Humility, recorded live in Toronto

Banff

2009-08-30T20:05:00.000-07:00

I recently took a trip up to Banff, Alberta and got some amazing landscape shots. It was my first time seeing any real Canadian landscape outside of Ontario and Montreal and I was simply blown away, and can't wait to get back out there and really explore the west coast. Check out some of the shots below =>

We were driving back one night and saw this amazing Elk right off the road. We lit it with the headlights of the car and got some amazing frames,

Contact

2009-08-25T10:14:00.001-07:00

Meredith

2009-08-25T10:12:00.000-07:00

New Website!

2009-08-19T19:30:00.000-07:00

I have just finally launched a new awsome amazing incredible website! The start of many things to come!

To celebrate, here's a picture I found that has all my favorite things: stacks of cash, guns, brass knuckles and cards.

Enjoy.

www.zachhertzman.com

boom

2009-07-21T20:43:00.000-07:00

Collaboration with Mo G
Styling by Michael Mercantii

Another day

2009-07-20T20:22:00.000-07:00

Collaboration with Mo G.
Styling by Michael Mercantii

Katie

2009-07-17T22:17:00.000-07:00

Shot from a road trip to Montreal with Katie and Mo.

Brooklynn

2009-07-17T18:01:00.000-07:00

Over at the studio we just finished doing some really cool conceptual design and prints for a new bar that just opened up on Queen West in Toronto called Brooklynn. (1186 Queen West, one block south of the Drake)

We got out of the city and found an old abandoned farm to shoot at, and went with a really cool retro / vintage / kaleidoscope look for the prints. We created some really amazing giant murals for the bar, so make sure to stop by and check it out!

And a huge thanks to Michael for styling and to Solvera for letting us use her amazing car!

Also, Michael is doing a weekly night there Tuesdays downstairs called Dead Beat, make sure you check it out,

Song of the Week: "Somewhere Around Here"

2009-07-17T06:50:00.000-07:00

Today's semi bi-annual monthly song of the week goes out to Chairlift, with Somewhere Around Here

A really simple, and beautiful track,

Download here

Speech in Toronto Life!

2009-06-16T23:23:00.001-07:00

Speech by Michael Mercanti just got a nice shout out in Toronto Life, read it here

Check out some of my shots for his new summer line below =>

Photos of: Studio and the Drake Hotel present Quick Fix: The People's Paparazzi

2009-05-23T18:53:00.000-07:00

Here's some of my favorite shote from the 'People's Paparazzi' Contact photo event at the Drake last week. A big thanks to Vanessa for putting the whole thing together and to the other photographers that came out!

Love this one below=> a shot of him, watching himself on the screen,

old but good

2009-05-21T21:33:00.001-07:00

Here's another one I dug up from ye olde hard drive. This is from a shoot I did with Marie Jane back at the good ship 4428 St. Denis in Montreal

the island

2009-05-21T21:06:00.000-07:00

A fun victoria day spent on the island with some friends and a camera...

Mango Studios Gallery Opening!

2009-05-21T11:42:00.001-07:00

Check out this video of our gallery opening, shot by Sasha from our cinematography affiliate, Samo Films.

And once again, thanks so much to everyone who made it out to the opening and for all your kind words and support!

Mango Studios Opening Night from sasha moric on Vimeo.

Here's some fun candids from the night:

We also got a nice shout out in the Toronto Sun celebrity and event blog, here's some of their shots below,

This is Tara Spencer Nairn of Corner Gas and her husband Josh Glover

Studio and the Drake Hotel present Quick Fix: The People's Paparazzi

2009-05-10T20:37:00.000-07:00

This friday don't be afraid of the camera because I'm going to be taking photos at a contact party / performance at the drake! Here's the info below:

Are you camera friendly or camera shy?

The People's Paparazzi: A photo-blogging event that aims to illustrate how the presence of a photographer (or many!) can transform the nature of the event.

Curated by Vanessa Gronowski

ART FOR YOU: Every week Drake gives away 100 works of art. This week its a piece by ZACH SLOOTSKY, come early so you don't miss it!

Featuring local paparazzi:

Brandon Sprouse, SmilenPose
Carl William W. Heindl, Eroder
Carlos Weisz, Kinetic Form
David King, Salacious Sound
Elyse Connery
Hudson Hayden
Luis Mora
Neil Domingues
Patrick Estebar, DSRNR
Zach Hertzman
Zach Slootsky, Take More Photos

The 10 best photos of the night will be printed and exhibited for sale at the Drake General Store.

$4 Creemore Draft
$26 bottles of wine

DJs General Eclectic in the lounge and Shit La Merde in the undrground

Presented in part with the CONTACT Toronto Photography Festival www.contactphoto.com

Quick Fix: spontaneous performance art and other cultural happenings. Every Thursday at the Drake.

Here's one of my favorite recent part shots, it's from a Primary Colors show. I think Romo Roto was playing and whoever this guys is, (I think he was one of the people responsible for the venue for the night, bartender, owner, etc) I'm pretty sure I caught that omfg moment of dread when he realized what he had gotten himself into by hosting one of Alex's shows

Be there on friday... and maybe this could be you!

Check out the info on facebook here

Christina Ledang

2009-05-07T21:14:00.000-07:00

This is a cool frame I shot last year for the now London based designer, Christina Ledang. There's a cool article about some of her clothes here

Mango Gallery Opening!

2009-05-06T09:01:00.000-07:00

Get your dancing shoes ready, because the date for our new gallery opening is finally set! We'll be having the event Wednesday May 13th, and we hope to see you all there!

shirleyann

2009-05-01T14:32:00.000-07:00

new website!

2009-04-25T23:07:00.000-07:00

New website address! Tres exciting.

www.zachhertzman.com

Just a new splash page for now, I should have a whole new site up soon,

In celebration, I typed 'celebration' into google images and this is one of the first images that came up. Quite fitting:

new mango logo

2009-04-20T16:19:00.000-07:00

We just got a new logo designed over at the studio! Check it out below:

And check out the designer, Eric Kass here.

He's based out of Carmel, Indiana and is doing some really amazing work,

more ssspeech

2009-04-19T21:19:00.000-07:00

www.ssspeech.com

shay

2009-04-18T22:55:00.000-07:00

more to come... stayed tuned!

go team!

2009-04-16T12:09:00.000-07:00

The mango team!

Some fun shots of mo, nancy and I at the studio...

new studio!

2009-04-15T08:37:00.000-07:00

Check out some quick teaser shots of the new studio! Its been months of hard work, moving, and renovations, but definitely worth it. The new location is amazing, located steps from Queen and Spadina.

Stayed tuned for info on the opening!

www.mangostudios.ca

hannahhannah

2009-04-12T18:55:00.000-07:00

Speech website launch

2009-03-25T21:04:00.001-07:00

At long last the new Speech website is live! I did the photos for Michael Mercanti's new 2009 collection, Hardware. Check out the site here:

www.ssspeech.com

I was so excited to hear the news (and possibly hungover), that I mixed up the Velvet Underground track that plays on the site with a song by Dylan.... eeesh. Sorry Lou Reed. To make up for it, here's one of my favorite Velvet Underground tracks , Heroin.

Velvet Underground - Heroin

Check out some shots from the shoot below =>

the paint movement

2009-03-21T16:22:00.000-07:00

I recently did some photos for a local toronto band, The Paint Movement. We shot down by the beaches, and even though it was freezing cold, we got some great frames

And thanks a lot to Laura for putting the whole shoot together. This is her =>

da doo dee da da

2009-03-21T15:08:00.000-07:00

old new york

2009-03-17T19:43:00.000-07:00

Check out some of these super sweet frames of Leila from a shoot in new york last april we did for Naomi Laliberte's upcoming brand, Bourgeoisie.

Leila also has a blog, Love is a Battle Droid, check it out here comrade.

more steph...

2009-03-04T21:58:00.000-08:00

Some more shots from my shoot with steph...

life lounge

2009-03-04T20:39:00.000-08:00

My wonderful cousin Alison, one of the triumvirate behind the Montreal fashion blog The Pregnant Goldfish, recently found a cool feature about me on the website, Life Lounge.

Check it out here: Zach Hertzman Picture Taking - Dark and Dreamy

cherry beach

2009-03-02T21:25:00.000-08:00

Some photographers hibernate for the winter - at the first sign of snow they pack away their gear until the first rays of spring light break through the gray darkness.

Others, like myself, are just insane. Today being a prime example.

The studio I work for, Mango, has just moved into a brand new location right off Richmond st. steps from Queen and Spadina. The new place is amazing (pictures to come soon) but for a gallery, the walls right now are a bit... empty.

We're having a big gallery opening soon and I decided to do some new work for the show. My idea, location (cherry beach), model (elaine) were all good to go, and then I checked the weather - minus 15, but with the wind from the water, more like minus 25.

Suffice to say, it was very, very cold, but very worth it. Elaine, you're the best!

coconut records

2009-03-02T21:05:00.000-08:00

Coconut Records has recently released their new album, Davy, and it's pretty sweet. Listening to it almost gives me the same feeling as hearing Weezer for the first time way back when.

Check some tracks out below...

Coconut Records - Microphone

Coconut Records - Any Fun

Coconut Records - This Old Machine

Coconut Records - This Old Machine (Alt Version)

je t'aime

2009-02-28T16:03:00.000-08:00

I rented the most amazing thing of my life for the weekend, the Canon 90mm tilt shift lens.

Isn't she a beaut? And they say you can't buy love.

After I picked it up I was out for some delicious greek food and snapped this cool shot to test it out. It has such a unique, ghosty look to it.

It really gives you a strong control over your point of focus and background blur. I'm taking it out on sunday to do a promo shoot for the 'The Paint Movement,' a really sweet Toronto band, check them out here

new hardware website...

2009-02-28T09:49:00.000-08:00

Just in time for fashion week the new Speech website is almost up, featuring some new product shots by moi, conceptualized by Michael Mercanti. Check it out the teaser page for the site here

on repeat

2009-02-24T20:27:00.001-08:00

I've been listening to two amazing songs on repeat over the last few days that really seem to have lodged themselves into my head and don't seem to be leaving any time soon.

The first is "So far around the bend" by The National, who released one of my favorite albums of last year, "Boxer"

The second song was much more profound. Definitly one of those moments where you think "whatthefuckhowcouldigomywholelifewithoutlisteningtothisbandespeciallysincetheyvebeen

aroundsincethe80s."

Anyways, suffice to say, definitely one of those art changing life moments. The song is called "Gentle Hour" by Yo La Tengo. I don't think anything captures the feeling of falling over backwards while being pleasantly confused and astonished by the world so perfectly.

Check out some tracks below:

The National - So Far Around the Bend

Yo La Tengo - Gentle Hour

Yo La Tengo - Sea Urchins

nycpictures

2009-02-20T21:58:00.000-08:00

While I was down there I did get some cool travel shots which should be up shortly - just as soon as I get my life back together.

Here's a teaser for now...

Matthew Williamson

2009-02-20T21:14:00.000-08:00

While I was down in NYC I met up with my friend Leila who is one of the editors at Surface magazine. We met up last sunday night and headed out to the Matthew Williamson store opening that was happening during fashion week.

The place was full of photographers, the media outside, and event shooters inside - all of them were packing top gear, and unfortunately, at the time, all I had was my 50mm 1.4. I must say, I did experience some lens inferiority issues at the time (definitely would have loved to run back to my bag and grab the 70-200 2.8 L) that prevented me from taking too many shots, but I did get a few that worked out...

This man was great. He's from London and thinks Leila looks like a flower.

This guy, definitly not too happy to see me.

After that we headed down to the Carlos Campos party which was pretty cool, and then ended up at 'home sweet home' with some new friends where I don't even remember taking this:

I also met a really cool fashion and beauty photographer, Jamie Nelson, who I'd probably like to be when I grow up. Her work is eerily beautiful. She was wearing a dress with large white buttons, which sadly, I have no picture of.

All in all, a fun night

new york, new york!

2009-02-14T21:57:00.000-08:00

So I'm down in New York city this week for a photoshoot and tres excited. I just got in around 11 tonight and snapped a few travel / night time shots along the way. Nothing too exciting, but the best start I can do after a crazy day of packing and traveling.

I'm staying at the pod hotel and I did get a really nice surprise when I walked in my room and opened the window only to see a rather large old women sitting naked by her window in the building next to mine. I shut the blinds, opened them about 10 minutes later - and she was still there. Not exactly the kind of sights I was planning on seeing, but a good start nonetheless.

Three of Hearts

2009-02-10T23:47:00.000-08:00

I recently did an interview for one of my favorite Toronto blogs, Three of Hearts. It was a great chance to talk a bit about my work, and definitely refreshing to get to look back on what I've been working on over the past little while.

Check it out here

5d mk II

2009-02-10T23:36:00.000-08:00

So I recently got a new camera, the Canon 5d Mark II, and if they say that people must be compensating for something with their camera gear... well, then I must be compensating for a lot.

Just check out all those buttons...

Check out more at www.zachhertzman.com

Merk

2009-02-10T23:29:00.000-08:00

Sarah

2009-02-10T23:24:00.000-08:00

Miss.

remipenny

2009-02-10T23:04:00.000-08:00

Remi & Penny at the good ship 4428.

Zoe

2009-02-10T22:51:00.000-08:00

Zoé Gagnon Paquin. My old roommate in Montreal and often time subject. Keep your eyes peeled for her in the burnside basement at McGill.

Dance / Jump

2009-02-08T17:22:00.000-08:00

More cool stuff from a night in Montreal...

More Ssspeech

2009-02-08T17:01:00.000-08:00

Here's some more shots for Michael Mercanti's new jewelry line, 'Ssspeech.'

You can check out the website for the line here . It should be updated with the new collection within the next few weeks. Also, there's a great article about the line on Dazed magazine's website. Photo's by yours truly. Check it out here.

Sophia

2009-02-08T16:36:00.000-08:00

Here's a cool shot I did from Sophia's modeling portfolio. Her mom Kathy Dolgy is an amazing painter working out of New York and actually used to teach at OCAD. Check out some of her work here.

Bourgeoisie

2009-02-08T15:29:00.000-08:00

I was digging through the old hard drives again and found these cool shots from last year. These were done for the Montreal based clothing designer Naomi Laliberte for her line 'Bourgeoisie.' We shot at this really cool boutique hotel in old Montreal and got some really great material.

Rebecca

2009-02-08T15:26:00.000-08:00

This is a cool shot I found of Rebecca from last year from a really fun shoot we did at Jesse's loft. Really makes me miss mtl...

Catl

2009-02-08T14:59:00.000-08:00

I did a shoot last week for local Toronto band called Catl. The show was at the Silver Dollar which they filled to capacity, making for a crazy, sweaty, and grungy atmosphere which was absolutely perfect for their seductive mix of rock of blues tunes. You can check them out online here.

We did some promo shots before the show in the empty bar, and it was such a treat to get to shoot in there. The Silver Dollar is such a unique Toronto location, and it definitely has an eclectic character all its own. Check out some shots from the night below:

Ssspeech

2009-02-08T12:05:00.000-08:00

Mo and I got some really amazing shots for Michael Mercanti's new jewelry line, 'Ssspeech.' His new collection is called 'Hardware.'

We did the shoot at the old Spin gallery down on Queen West and got some amazing material in the big empty space. We were especially lucky with some really nice natural light, and only had to break out the strobes towards the end of the shoot.

I can't post all the shots yet, but here's a teaser - much more to come!

You can check out the website for the line here . It should be updated with the new collection within the next few weeks. Also, there's a great article about the line on Dazed magazine's website. Photo's by yours truly. Check it out here.

Orange Orange

2009-02-08T11:37:00.000-08:00

I did a really sweet shoot with Steph last week. It's been so cold recently and clearly impossible to shoot outside, and I was lucky enough to find this crazy location right on my doorstep.

I was walking down to the parking lot in the building where my studio is and saw this amazing blue of the walls and right away knew I had to shoot something in there. Il est exquis.

Steph also designs and makes really cool clothes that you can check out here on facebook. Some pics below as well.

Zach est un appareil-photo

2009-02-08T11:05:00.000-08:00

So yes, I present another attempt at blogging. This will mainly be a photo blog chronicling my young life as an emerging photographer in Toronto. A peek, if you will, into the crazy high glamorous existance of my overly dramatic and hopelessly romantic inner self.

Or something like that.

Enjoy.