While the TTC doesn’t always make headlines for the most positive reasons, one heartwarming photography project reminds us that there are still plenty of wholesome moments worth appreciating throughout the transit network. 

Happy2Find, co-created by Matheus Martins Lourenco and Gabriel Gomes, has amassed over 178,000 followers on its Instagram page and over 100,000 subscribers on YouTube. 

Almost every video begins with Lourenco standing on a TTC subway platform or train and candidly photographing a commuter. The photographer then goes on to edit the photo on his tablet, print it out, and present it to the transit rider. 

“We chose the TTC as our primary setting because it is a unique place where the entire city comes together,” Lourenco, who moved to Canada in 2018, told blogTO. 

“Everyone on the TTC is just going through their daily routines, often without much thought. When we saw how our project positively affected people, we realized the deeper meaning behind what we were doing. While we also make videos in other locations, we decided to focus more on the TTC because it tends to bring a diverse cross-section of the city together.” 

Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Lourenco says photography has been his passion since a young age. While attending school for a completely unrelated topic, he continued photographing as a hobby and eventually landed an office job. 

It wasn’t until September of last year that he decided to pursue photography and become an artist full-time. After beginning to create content for his social media, Lourenco reached out to his friend, Gabriel, who was also developing a keen interest in videography and cinematography. 

Joining their passions, the duo co-created Happy2Find, with Lourenco being out in the field and taking the pictures, and Gomes staying behind the scenes to edit the videos. 

“Over time, we drew inspiration from other creators who made videos of photographing cars and leaving the printed photos on the cars. We began creating similar content, but as time passed, we realized we wanted to do something more impactful—something that could truly touch people’s lives,” Lourenco told blogTO. 

The photographer currently resides in Mississauga but has plans to move back to Toronto soon. Gabriel is still working from Rio de Janeiro, where the duo met during elementary school, but has plans to relocate to Toronto so that they can work more closely to develop Happy2Find. 

“It’s incredibly rewarding to have so many people reach out to us and share how we’ve motivated them to return to their craft and how our project has impacted their lives,” Lourenco explained. 

“I’m particularly touched by the reactions of the people I photograph. Often, we don’t realize what others are going through, and something as simple as gifting a photo can have a significant impact. My favourite memories are definitely the moments when I get to know these individuals and hear their life stories.”

Lourenco also emphasized that Happy2Find is much more than just a photography project. 

“It’s about capturing genuine moments and stories that resonate with people on a personal level. Through our work, we aim to celebrate the diversity and everyday experiences of individuals in Toronto, showcasing the beauty of human connection and the power of photography to bridge gaps and foster understanding,” he told blogTO. 

“I hope our project inspires others to see the value in small gestures of kindness and the profound impact they can have in our communities.”

The winning images from the Royal Entomological Society’s Photography Competition have been revealed.

The annual competition showcases the very best amateur insect photography.

This year’s overall winner is Yorkshire-based Luke Chambers for his image ‘Sleeping Cuckoos’, which shows two cuckoo bees taking a break on a blade of grass.

RES photo competition 2023 winners

Caddisfly Larvae In A Jelly Egg Sac by Tim Jonas

Over 18, second place

Natures Jewels by Nikita Richardson

Behaviour, specially commended

Clever Girl by Luke Chambers

Behaviour, specially commended

Fatal Attraction by Rosemary Haleem

Behaviour, specially commended

Flying Termites by Sirsendu Gayen

Behaviour, specially commended

Junk Bug by Rosa Dunbar

Behaviour, specially commended

Conifer Wasp by Steven Mahy

Portraits, specially commended

Fading In A Brown World by Panagiotis Dalagiorgos

Portraits, specially commended

Les Fleurs Du Mal by Panagiotis Dalagiorgos

Portraits, specially commended

Look Into My Eyes by Pete Burford

Portraits, specially commended

Neuropteran Embedded In Burmese Amber by Enrico Bonino

Portraits, specially commended

Picasso Bug by Robin Backhouse

Portraits, specially commended

Portrait of Jumping Bristletail by Tim Jonas

Portraits, specially commended

Robber Fly by Steven Mahy

Portraits, specially commended

Spoonwing by Katarzyna Bukowska

Portraits, specially commended

The Hornet by Pete Burford

Portraits, specially commended

A Forest Gem by Alexander McKerracher

Environment, specially commended

Tranquility by Gustav Parenmark

Under 18, first place

Robber Fly Breakfast by Jamie Smart

Under 18, second place

Taking a Break by Thomas Roberts

Environment, specially commended

Sleeping Cuckoos by Luke Chambers

Over 18, first place

The 2024 RES Photography Competition is now open.

More majestic photography

This artist’s indispensable archive of queer and Latino life on display at MoMA PS 1 leaves us intoxicated by the energy of a world too long under the radar.

On Tuesday the June 11, I pulled my car out of the driveway while listening to the song “Africa” recorded by the American rock band Toto. I don’t even remember how or when that song became my travelling song, but I always play it when I drive off on any long adventure from home.

This trip to my childhood home in Salt Lake City, Utah was a quick decision. I hadn’t been there in 24 years, so I thought I was long overdue for a visit to my family.

I wasn’t sure if I would have time for photographing the city, but I packed my camera bag anyway. I brought two cameras, my main DSLR and my Infrared camera. For lenses I had my favourite travelling lens, a 24-120mm, also a 16-35mmm and the 20-40mm that works so well on my IR camera. I included my kit with ND and polarizing filters, and of course my tripod.

My photo-pal Jo has been pushing me to make this trip to see my family for some time and, of course, take her with me. Jo’s camera bag included her DSLR with her 14-24mm and 28-300mm lenses and her tripod.

The trip included hours of driving and we spent one night on the way in Missoula, Montana before arriving in Salt Lake City in the late afternoon.

Jo and I had talked about walking around the city centre with a stop at the Mormon Temple. The Salt Lake City Temple was completed after some forty years of construction in1893.  I remember many enjoyable occasions walking around the interesting temple grounds and my class of 1965 High School Graduation Ceremony was held in the tabernacle, an accompanying building originally built to house meetings for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

So, one can understand that I was disappointed that the temple and temple grounds were closed for a massive remodelling and seismic renovations that are expected to take four more years. And to make matters worse for a visitor, the downtown city itself seems to be undergoing construction everywhere making it impossible, or at least, really hard to park a car and wander with a camera. Oh well, maybe I can start planning another trip in four years.

Fortunately, our second choice, the architecturally beautiful Utah State Capitol building located on Capitol Hill was an easy to get to with plenty of parking and a perfect place to take our cameras and tripods for night photography. 

The capitol building overlooks downtown Salt Lake City and was built back in 1913 and I read that it took over eight hundred railroad carloads of a granite-like stone called quartz monzonite from a nearby canyon to build it.

I always liked that white stone place that is always lit up at night. We used to be able to see it from miles away, but now there are many tall buildings and large trees on State Street that block the view. State Street is a wide 17-mile-long street leading almost straight south from the steps of the Capitol Building through the city and out to neighbouring communities. Nevertheless, and in spite of the steady breeze that was welcome after the punishing 100 plus degrees we had to endure during the day, we were able to get great photographs as we walked around the Capitol building grounds at night.

Our serious photography was limited to that night on Capitol Hill and only a few shots of Utah Lake. The family photos were left to people wielding cellphones.  I would have liked to drive south, but I was told that June has become one of the most people-packed times to visit the Utah canyon lands and the parks now all require permits that must be reserved.  Gone are the days when a bunch of us would jam into our cars and go anywhere in southern Utah without worrying about camping fees or park entrance permits.

Oh well, I was really there to visit and spend time with my family, and after that happy reunion we gathered our gear said goodbye, and I pointed my car east toward Wyoming and began the five-hour drive to Yellowstone Park.

Stay safe and be creative. These are my thoughts for this week. Contact me at www.enmanscamera.com or emcam@telus.net.

Fotografiska Shanghai sits nestled into a green corner of the Chinese city’s Suzhou Creek. Designed by AIM Architecture, the building shows off its layers of history, transformed from a former bank warehouse to a hub of art and culture for Shanghai residents and beyond. The structure, which brings together old and new, blending period patina and 21st-century styles and needs, in a building that was designed not as a conventional cultural space, but as ‘a poetic immersion into the realm of visual narratives, woven through the lens of photography,’ the architects explain.

Fotografiska Shanghai by AIM Architecture

The AIM Architecture team sought to restore and reimagine the previously neglected building in a considerate way. Its original structure was kept and cleaned up, revealing its bare bones. Original brickwork, concrete beams, and industrial details were unveiled and reused, creating a rich, multi-layered environment.

Beyond the project’s flexible and generous exhibition areas and gallery halls, the new Fotografiska Shanghai also features a wealth of options to socialise and relax. The on-site restaurant, bar, retail space, and ice cream shop blend old and new features and offer culture lovers the opportunity to take a break, sit and discuss.

Two original, grand staircases in bare, textured concrete form the complex’s main circulation cores. Their dual role means they are ‘not only serving as navigational elements but also creating a dynamic light experience through movement leading guests from one display to another,’ the architects write.

The top floor exemplifies the open and surprising nature of this multi-functional cultural hub. The highest level contains an open rooftop garden that combines open air and enclosed areas, including a bar, a cosy lounge, an exclusive VIP room, and a terrace with panoramic views of the Shanghai cityscape.

More opportunities to visit the building lay in its rich programme of activities. The architects add: ‘Fotografiska Shanghai is not just a museum, it’s a cultural hub. Beyond exhibitions, it will host workshops, lectures, and events, fostering a community of artists, enthusiasts, and curious minds who share a passion for photography.’

The recently completed Fotografiska Shanghai by AIM Architecture is now open to visitors.

The use of AI offers the ability to create almost lifelike images. This has nothing to do with photography. However, AI can also be used for removing unwanted parts of a photo. Is this feature making us lazy, taking less care while photographing? After all, we can easily fix it in post.

It’s not really artificial intelligence, far from that. It’s just computational power and smart algorithms that can create something based on a learning process by reading a lot of real images. These images are the photos we have placed online, shared on social media, and can be found in many other locations.

Obtaining the source for these AI learning routines is subject to a lot of protests regarding copyright and ownership. Many people object to the use of their images for learning purposes, but at the same time, they eagerly make use of AI-generated content to remove unwanted items or even make complete AI-generated images.

I don’t want to dive into that rabbit hole of AI-generated images. But it has become normal to use AI generative tools for repairing photos in lots of different ways. I only have experience with the AI generative fill that comes with Photoshop, and recently Lightroom. But other software manufacturers probably have their own versions or will introduce these options soon.

AI Generative Content Is Not Always Needed

AI generative tools are easy to use and the results are often quite good. Although the new content that is generated is not the reality, in most occasions it’s indistinguishable. It’s tempting to use it every time because the results look so good. On the other hand, it’s not always necessary to make use of AI generative content. After all, we were able to remove small distracting items before AI was available as well.

It might be wise to use AI-generated content for small repairs sparingly. Not only because the photo will get a tag on social media saying it’s AI-generated, but also because of the upcoming costs involved with the use of AI-generated content. Adobe already announced a system of points for using it, and although this already led to a lot of angry reactions, I predict this will become the standard for every AI-content provider.

There is another way of preventing the use of AI-generated content. I’ve been looking at the way a lot of participants in my workshops work. Some of them are becoming less accurate in building up their composition. Yes, they will search for a subject as they are supposed to do, they will choose the best possible location in the frame, but they often neglect to address any disturbances in the frame or even the spacing between the elements in the frame and the borders of the frame.

If you point out any of these issues in the field, they often refer to the post-processing workflow and mention how they will make use of AI generative content to remove the issues. What’s frustrating about it is how easily these small issues could be avoided in the first place. Just a small change in position, perspective, or focal length can be enough. These photographers are perhaps growing lazy because AI can fix everything.

Situations When AI Generative Content Can Be Avoided

I have a couple of examples that I have encountered in the last few months. However, I must mention that the photos I used to illustrate the example are taken from my archives.

Unwanted Elements at the Edge of the Frame

The most common issue with framing is unwanted elements that stick into the frame. Although it can’t be avoided every time, in most occasions it can be done easily. Always check the edges of the frame for these unwanted items and change your position, perspective, and focal length. This way you don’t need to use any kind of removal tools, let alone AI generative content.

An Element That Is Blocking the View

If you run into a situation where something small gets in the way, try to find a solution for that. Often a step to the left or right can be enough; in other situations, it’s possible to step closer. There might be a situation when the disturbing elements can be used to your advantage by incorporating them in the composition.

People In the Frame

You often see examples of AI-generated content with public places where all people are removed. If that is the wish, perhaps it’s possible to wait a few minutes until the people are out of the frame. You can even ask people to wait a second before walking through the frame. However, if that’s not possible, it’s perhaps better to have these people in the frame. After all, that’s how reality is.

The Framing Is Too Tight

A common problem in composition is tight framing. If it works, it’s okay. However, if you need to correct for a tilted horizon, you might get into problems if the framing is too tight. This can be corrected with AI generative content, but it’s much easier to make the framing not that tight in the first place.

This also applies to the wrong framing. Changing a photo from a vertical orientation into a horizontal one by adding AI generative content can be avoided by taking different photos in a range of compositions and orientations. You can crop afterward.

Small Items That Don’t Need AI Generative Content

Many unwanted items are often small in size. This can be a sensor dust spot or small objects that attract negative attention. These small items often don’t need AI generative content. A simple cloning brush will suffice with excellent results.

AI Generated Content Can Be Helpful

Although I try to avoid the use of AI generative content, it can be helpful at times. I enjoy the possibilities it offers, but only if the other options fail.

What do you think about the use of AI generative content? Do you believe there is a risk we will grow into lazy photographers? Let me know in the comments below.