Montreal In Pictures

August 29 2012

In what was likely inspired by the Play me, I’m Yours public art installation that has been touring the globe since 2008, piano’s appeared yesterday at 2 locations on Le Plateau.

The “Play Me, I’m Yours” art installation was conceived by British artist Luke Jerram and began with 15 piano’s being distributed around Birmingham, England. The idea caught on and piano’s have been invading streets of major cities around the world. More than 600 pianos have now been installed in 26 cities across the globe, reaching over 2 million people.

In Montreal, the piano installation was organized by local merchant organizations and is called “Piano des villes, piano des champs“and has no connection with the “Play me I’m Yours” tour.

Having no piano skills whatsoever, I am restricted to being a casual observer of those more musically minded than myself. Yesterday, local musician Patrick Watson was on hand to inaugurate the piano.

The Plateau installation runs until September 27 with piano’s located on the corner of Marie-Anne/Saint Denis and Casgrain Ave/Saint Viateur Streets.

I only had time to go and quickly check out the piano on Saint Denis street today and unfortunately no one was there playing it at the time – I will need to go back at a time when it’s more likely someone will be playing.

The artwork on this piano was done by local artist Nadine Samuel.

Piano des villes, piano des champs
ISO 100 – 12mm – f27 – 1/20 sec

Piano installation on Saint Denis/Marie-Anne
ISO 100 – 17mm – f5.6 – 1/250 sec (-2ev/0/+2ev)

Piano installation on Saint Denis/Marie-Anne
ISO 100 – 14mm – f4.8 – 1/500 sec (-2ev/0/+2ev)

Piano installation on Saint Denis/Marie-Anne
ISO 100 – 14mm – f4.8 – 1/350 sec (-2ev/0/+2ev)

Another attempt at zone focused street photography

Walking back along Saint Denis I saw this guy concentrating on his mobile and with the camera down by my side and lens pointing behind me I discretely grabbed a shot without stopping. I liked how the sidewalk was blurred from the camera movement while he remained in focus, as if to say “the rest of the world continues moving while you’re transfixed to a tiny screen”.

A suit and a mobile
ISO 100 – 10mm – f9.5 – 1/20 sec

Despite not getting a shot of some famous pianist playing on a street piano, the day was pretty good with 2 photo competitions entered (Capture the Colour and Objectif:Plateau), sold some prints, licensed a couple of images and picked up a framed print that will be going to a special client…hoping tomorrow will be as good.

To view images in gallery format, simply click on one of the images below.