Creating promotional images for Air Guitar Canada's National Championship, which rocked the Velvet Underground in Toronto on May 25th, 2024, was an absolute blast! This quirky event, partnered with the Air Guitar World Championships in Finland, brings together the finest air shredders from across Canada to compete for a shot at international glory (Air Guitar Canada).
This year's champion, Ichabod Fame, not only won the coveted title but also scored big with a generous prize of $500 in free poutine, courtesy of Smoke's Poutinerie. Yes, you heard that right—Ichabod will be air guitaring his way through an endless sea of cheese curds and gravy! The runner-up coming in only .4 of a point behind Fame was the equally talented DanaSaurus Rex!, who gave an incredible performance and you may recognize from Season 4 of Canada's Got Talent.
Air Guitar Canada is all about having fun while making a difference. This year, the proceeds supported theGord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund, promoting reconciliation and healing through awareness and education (Air Guitar Canada). It’s a great reminder that you can rock out for a good cause.
Capturing the spirit of air guitar—full of energy, humor, and sheer joy—was a blast. These high flying photo were shot in my Toronto studio on a large trampoline, adding a dynamic and energetic feel to the photos. Using gelled lights and a hazer/smoke machine, I was able to create a vibrant, rock-concert-like atmosphere that perfectly captures the spirit of air guitar. From dramatic riffs to high-flying leaps, every shot tells the story of a community that embraces the playful and the absurd.
Competition judges:
Troy James: professional movie monster known for Hellboy, The Flash, Scary Story to Tell in the Dark and many more.
Christa Couture: Award-winning Indigenous performing and recording artist, non-fiction writer and broadcaster.
Aurora Browne: best known as one of the creators and stars of the sketch comedy series Baroness von Sketch Show
Advertising photography team:
Photography, Art direction: Kristy Boyce
Assistant and digi tech: Alex Russel
Styling: Nyree MacPherson
Models:
Jaime Shane
Ichabod Fame
El Gordito Bonito
Jeff Christenson
Glittur Dunn
Shot using Capture One software, Profoto strobes and Nikon cameras
Event photography:
My former student Tristan deBrauwere came to town to shoot the event and made some great images you can check out here:
https://tristandebphoto.com/canadian-national-air-guitar-championship
Partner & sponsors:
The Downie Wenjack Fund "Inspired by Chanie’s story and Gord’s call to build a better Canada, the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund aims to build cultural understanding and create a path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Our goal is to improve the lives of Indigenous people by building awareness, education, and connections between all peoples in Canada."
Learn more about the Downie Wenjack Fund here.
Venue: The Velvet Underground
For more details on this fantastic event and future competitions, check out Air Guitar Canada. And remember, when you're wielding an air guitar, you're embracing pure, unadulterated fun!