flee.w/courtneylee.

The Best Job in the World

fleewithcourtneylee — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:38:05 +0000

Life becomes more of a reality check with each passing year. We fall in love and fall out of touch. We question decisions past and worry about the ones to come. Where are we going becomes more important than where came from. In this time of the twenty-somethings and thirty-odds, we are constantly (and hopefully) on an uphill battle towards our goals.

The philosophy of building a career is something I could talk about for ages. The ideas that come from my friends about life as an artist or life as a business or life in a suit or life in limbo life lifelifelife.etc.etc…. always surprises me. Women I always thought to be hard-headed entrepreneurs in the making, divulge how much they can’t wait to settle down and decorate their homes and future children. Men also confide the same intentions, in a different description of course. Still, the same emotions always rise, regardless of gender.

These times are ‘the-make-it-or-break-it’ ‘s. The ‘travel-now-or-you’ll-regret-it-later’ ‘s. It’s when the fear of failure isn’t years away but in the shadow of tomorrow.

I hope that for whatever path it is that you are choosing, dear reader, that it is one that makes you feel, at least once a week (let’s not get greedy, every job is stressful at the end of the day), but yes, at least once a week, you say:

I Have The Best Job In The World.

The Balconies interview. Hyatt Rooftop NXNE 2011

Cults interview 2011. Gladstone Hotel, moments before a pissed off guest emerges from his room to tell us to leave.

DFA1979 at the Sound Academy.

Edgfest 2011 at Downsview Park. The day of getting tattoos on a whim and needing a special pass to LEAVE backstage...what?

Dirty Beaches performs during NXNE 2011 and I felt alone in my obsession.

Hands and Teeth's spends a magical evening in the Beaches with me.

One of my favourites from a photoshoot with Alright Alright.

That time I got to camp on a mountain in BC with my best friends deserves a book rather than a caption. Tall Tree Music Festival, 2011.

Deadmau5 announces the Juno nominees for 2012.

Now that festival season is about to begin, and an adventure to California and Vancouver is also in the works, I can’t wait to see what else music in North America has to offer. I can only hope that these parts are as hospitable as Toronto has been to me. Without PinkMafia (Thank you Anna), BlogTO (Thank you Tim, Brigitte), The Take Media, (Thank you Genny), Sticky Magazine (Thank you Pete), Audio Blood Media (Thank you Sari), and the one that started it all, Bring Back the Boom Box (Thank you Diego, Kieran). I felt I had to really say thank you to everyone who really helped be able to say: I Really Do Have The Best Job In The World.

January 2012: Promise

fleewithcourtneylee — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:12:33 +0000

It’s a little later in the month, but maybe I will have resolutions after all. Why has it become trite to set goals for ourselves? Why are we told the jobs we love are in too competitive of fields? These dreams are too hard to attain? We’re not only physically lazy, but ambitiously lazy. Maybe we’re simply uneducated in this future ~~we’ve~~ our parents created for ourselves.

I look around me some days and all I see is greed, jealousy, boredom. I’m no pessimist by any means, and I do often see love and compassion, but those too are often shrouded in vanity. We’re living in a nation where the biggest past time has shifted from sports, to recreational hobbies, to creating online versions of ourselves and documenting our ‘best angles’ on facebook and twitter. We’ve edited our personalities down so much I can’t help but wonder what’s been left on the cutting room floor.

I raise a glass to myself, my online self, my professional self, the self you meet at bars, and the one you hang out with in the park. I make myself a promise, and a resolution. I can only hope to surround myself this year in the positive yet productive energy of others. I want to learn the act of patience all over again and master the crafts that define me. I want to instill vivaciousness in my everyday, not slothfulness (it’s a word, really), never boredom and stillness only when needed.

Cheers.

Now it’s your turn.

An Americanadiana Holiday

fleewithcourtneylee — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 04:15:08 +0000

Découvrez Vancouvrez

fleewithcourtneylee — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 00:38:02 +0000

Once upon a time there lived a girl who lived in a beautiful cave of lights and exciting taverns where the people constantly bustled and hustled, became famous and infamous all in one breath, all in one tip of a hat, all in one patter of fingertips on keyboards until one day she realized that when she knocked on a westward cave wall it made an echo, for it was hollow so she swallowed and punched and kicked until it broke down and suddenly there was light, real light, unlike anything she had seen before and it beckoned her our of her beautiful cave of comfort and she stepped into an open field of …

Somewhere over Manitoba and some place in the middle of Friends With Benefits

Ian & Kayla's sweet pad

I swear I found this like that

Oh hey mountains just chillin' over there, you look nice.

Mason jars > pint glasses > mugs

A pretty superior salad.

If you haven't had, find now, and eat.

this man was the friendly mascot gracing the Old Dutch Cafe menus.. loving the winter jacket and pedo-grin.

A little back seat band shoot

Salut a L'Atelier

Ms. Kayla Goffe

Best dinner ever?

sea urchins do not look delicious

even the lobsterman tweets

Jon Lee being hilarious and probably knowing it.

Salmon chowder can actually taste amazing

Food instilling wonder

Cara's first encounter with iPhone maps

Looking at Vancouver from North Van

'til next time xo

Alright Alright

fleewithcourtneylee — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 19:12:22 +0000

I had the great pleasure of shooting up-and-comers Alright Alright this past month. Despite the crap weather, these guys had a great energy that was super easy to capture. They were up for anything! Including a sneaky tour of OCAD and a dangerous ride on some dollies…

Here are a few B&W shots from our Pho filled day.

You can find out more about the band here: http://www.myspace.com/alrightalrightband

All images © Courtney Lee Photography 2011

Don’t Do It In the Park

fleewithcourtneylee — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 19:55:19 +0000

Recently The Galley catered a gorgeous four course gourmet dinner in Trinity Bellwoods Park.

I was lucky to capture behind the scenes as they used and beautifully abused our kitchen.

For more info on The Galley, visit http://thegalley.tumblr.com/

A New York Photostory: Part Two

fleewithcourtneylee — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 19:00:32 +0000

Buskers in NY are so much better

Nothing like new friends in a new city

Mr Songs & Cigarettes himself

Hostess with the mostess

Open Art house in Brooklyn, didn't catch the name of this duo, but I was pretty floored.

5 Leaves makes darn good coffee, and employs only babes.

My stop for the weekend.

Having lunch at the Seaport Market

How are there poffertjes?! Best breakfast ever.

Beer at a farmer's market? Yes please.

"Taking photos of cucumbers Courtney? What would Freud say?" - Thanks, Carole..

BEST italian.

Naho.

Booger

Sasha

Snoop

View of NYC from our "luxurious" hotel at JFK airport

This is what you saw if you looked down.

New Yawk. Pawt One.

fleewithcourtneylee — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 01:51:00 +0000

I knew today was going to start off right...

I think I took about 100,000 photos over the weekend in New York. I can probably attribute that to the fact that this was one of the first times in a long time that I hit a new city completely solo. It was a strange feeling having that plane land at JFK, Friday morning. Only a measly 1 1/2 hours from home, and I’ve never been such a nervous wreck. Here I thought myself a true world traveler, and I’m freaking out about a little weekend away from the comfort of my neighbourhood.

Once in Brooklyn, The Five Leaves coffee shop was the first place that caught my eye. Actually, it was more of a “the first place I see that sells coffee, I’m crashing,” situation. Sitting at my little table pour un, I felt strange and comforted at the same time, and it wasn’t just the caffeine. Any of these good-looking, hip young patrons could have been freshly plucked from the Trinity Bellwoods catalog except I didn’t know a single soul. The barista here isn’t Anne, and she doesn’t get started on my double shot the moment she spots me from across the street. No, here I am a complete stranger, only my luggage as my date, staring blankly back at me wondering why I brought him all the way here in the first place.

I ramble. I guess if there’s a reason for everything, then here are my reasons. Part 1 of 2.

NYC/ Williamsburg/ Greenpoint Day One

#1 crush, circa 1999

a little bit embarassed of this one..

Marcia, the lovliest of hosts.

My tour guide for the first day, Mr. Sam Campbell

Amen.

split horizons.

the happiest moment ever to have happened in life, ever.

Toronto friendos are the best comfort.. Kelly J.

and OE is the best thing to toast that to..

Full Photo Set: Tall Tree Music Festival 2011

fleewithcourtneylee — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 18:45:25 +0000

Breakfast of Champions

First morning wake-up on Brown's Mountain. The View > My Hangover

Mel & Cait working hard.

I carried Stumpy all the way up that damn mountain - not to be confused with Stump the dog -

Scottie and his amazing record lanterns for the pop-up saloon overlooking the ocean.

Steven in his home away from home/ leather workshop.

The most gorgeous shoes I've ever seen.

Cleaning up ciggy butts and empties.

Birds of a feather.

One Epic Reunion.

Lindsay Hunter, you are just hilarious.

Sam & Laur

I could have used that warning sign in so many other scenarios.

The best bar in town thanks to carpenters Evan & Ryan

Ryan

Evan

Farley

Getting our feather headbands from Steven

Victoria's Ska Fest Van, which is going on this weekend.

Stefania's amazing Nori Wrap spread

Carrot, Watercress, Tahini, Sprouts, Parsley - tastes a lot better than it sounds, veggie haters.

Safety first Angie

pm4life

Steve's evening jacket.

Radio Contact

Ricky & Scottie manning the bar.

Watermelon head was kind of a dick.

Max Power, only briefly spotted in the helicopter above Tall Tree, then back into his shroud of mystery.

I'd yell "wrong way bud!" but he's just so darn happy.

Panda-media-m

Eagles

such a babe!

Incher! Whatareyadoinhere!?

Vodka in the mouth = good, vodka in the eye = not good.

Ian

Johnna

Sammie

What is it? A unicorn? A pegasus?

That's MR Camel Toe...

Eva

Homeward bound. Sneezing dirt for days.

All photos © Courtney Lee Photography 2011

Original Article via Pink Mafia

NXNE 2011

fleewithcourtneylee — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 09:00:47 +0000

Jer Tompkins

Heather Kelly

Rae

Audio Blood Showcase @ The Bellevue

Andrew Seale

Dave Lock

Megan Bonnell

Michael Small

Brian O'Reilly

Library Voices

Buds

Brandon Scott

Jeffrey Innes

Eric Wichman (and Megan)

Mike Juneau

Kate Millet

Slapback BBQ @ Analogue Gallery

lovers & other strangers

un-bbqable-but-still-delicious

Darren Tarbat

Lola & Kate

Maximillian Mazzuca/BBQ Master

Fabulous life of patio drinkers

Allie Hughes #popupnxne interview

Kay & Allie

Circle of life - Live in Bellwoods, Juneau, Whale Tooth, TPC, my future career (far right)

ifeltcreepytakingthis

#ABDOESNXNE - Aaron Harvey

Rob Janson - SVC

Jeff Pinto

Bobbu Kweebly

Stephen Neville

Anthony Menecola

Freeloaders, love it.

Matt Meyer

Jacquie Neville

Sari Delmar's bitchin' rooftop

Matt Meyer sans drums

Declan & Sari

Hands & Teeth #popupnxne

Nathalia Pizzaro

Max & Akira

Heather Kelly & Yours Truly

Dirty Beaches - friggin dig

The Balconies #popupnxne

Stevie Nicks

Alex Cairncross

Indian handcrafts #popupnxne

Killing it

Chains of Love #popupnxne

Kensington music love

I'm so happy this is my front yard - Bobby Kimberley & Live in Bellwoods just crushing it.

Loom #popupnxne

Cults

Fans

Braids, YOU'RETHEBEST

Chad Vangaalen

Best seats in the house