Saturday, September 15, 2012 • 5:58 PM •

Shooting in the Rain

Usual weekend activities of mine include drinking excessive amounts of coffee, chatting and laughing in the comfort of my home. I was doing just that yesterday night with my good friends Melissa and Yannick, when we noticed that a massive storm hit our city out of the blue. Buckets of rain, lightning, more buckets of rain, strong winds and dark skies filled the view from my Mile End apartment window.

We had just gotten back from the restaurant and considered ourselves lucky to have arrived home before this mayhem began. I thought back on Yannick’s hilarious video in the rain and laughed. I don’t know why, but I watched the entire video and was completely intrigued the whole way through. There’s something about Yannick’s “WOOO!” cries, heavy breathing and the unsteadiness of his camera as he runs through the streets that is highly entertaining to me.

“You should totally run out now and make another rain video!” I told him.

”Really? Well…I guess I could. Umm alright, yeah sure.”

“Nahhhh, I was just kidding, we’re about to watch 21 Jump Street and you’ll be soaking wet and super uncomfortable while you’re shitting your pants laughing. Korean Jesus wouldn’t approve.”

Okay, so I didn’t actually say that, but it would have been cool.

I then remembered some of his amazing city shots in the rain (This kid must really like rain, eh?). I suddenly had the urge to create something awesome, and what better person to ask than Yannick, a happy, talented and spontaneous guy with a camera for a right hand, who is able to find beauty in absolutely anything that crosses his path?

“Do you wanna do a quick shoot?”

“You wanna? Okay, LET’S DO IT.”

“Are we doing this? Okay, let’s go!”

“Okay hurry up guys, it’s gonna stop raining!” Melissa squealed in her cute high-pitched voice (Haha sorry Mel, I couldn’t help but use the verb squeal). Mel stayed behind to play with her iPhone as Yannick and I proceeded to get ready as fast as possible so as to not miss the storm.

I grabbed my super bullet-embellished fishnet cut-out leggings by Rehab and my Urban Outfitters navy and gold branches tank that I wore to the bar the night before. In the accessories department, I knew that the only option I had in order to complete this seriously edgy look was my pair of Costume National Lace up Combat Booties and my favourite necklace, a chunky gunmetal-coloured chain from Loft Couture.

Out we go, and 15 seconds later we are already SOAKING WET, and I`m FREEZING COLD. Yannick is protected by his anorak and he’s got a grocery bag over my Olympus PEN1. People are running every which way with umbrellas and coats, looking for shelter. We start shooting.

Stares of passers-by add to my discomfort as I attempt to pose in this crappy weather. “Okay, so pose like you’re cool. You’re a bad girl in tights and you are the shit. Yeahhhhh,” I tell myself. LAME, right?

“You look like a zombie in these pics,” Yannick reluctantly states.

“No, I look like a prostitute…”

“Yeah…you do. You do look like a prostitute.” Ugh.

The rain calms down and we realize that this is just not going to work out. Our intention was to go edgy, but the dark streets, lighting and amateur poses took us passed that fine line we were riding and instead produced something really sketchy.

“OHHH WAIT! THE THEATRE!” Yannick yells out. Genius. The Rialto theatre was perfect. The colors and lights helped achieve that rock star vibe we were seeking, and as the density of people lessened I was able to comfortably pose for the camera.

A combination of daring style, talent and spontaneity (not to mention a good camera and lens, makeup and Photoshop) made this shot possible and I am proud to share with you the result of having some good honest fun!

“Some people feel the rain, others just get wet.”

-Bob Marley