#edmontonam

[facesofedmonton]

Shayne Woodsmith is the photographer behind the project Faces of Edmonton. He spoke to host Mark Connolly about his new book.

Had a lovely chat with Mark Connolly about the new Faces of Edmonton book and what my year spent wandering the streets of Edmonton, talking to strangers and taking their photos, was like. 

[facesofedmonton]

"You have fantastic hair. Do you go to Barber Ha?"

"Thanks. I used to but the hairdresser I used to see left. Now I go downtown."

His phone is on the ledge beside mine; it buzzes every few minutes, and I feel paranoid that it's my phone, and it's ruining the interview. But it's not, and he's not too concerned about the buzzing.

[facesofedmonton]

My view from behind the mic across from Mark Connolly in the CBC studio. The booth is like a sensory deprivation chamber, silent, peaceful, still. I look at Mark and lean forward to ask if I can take his photo, but, before I can ask, he starts talking into his mic, responding to a voice coming in through his headphones.

[facesofedmonton]

I sit behind these two lovely people, waiting for my turn behind the mic. These are the folks, behind the curtain, working the levers of the Great and Powerful Oz.

He pulls off the two finger point like a rockstar. I have no idea what he is pointing at—it must be a radio thing—but I have to snap a photo.

Her eyes bounce from screen to screen and board to board. Her hands move like a pianist's across the switches and dials in front of her.

[facesofedmonton]

Shayne Woodsmith is on a quest to take as many pictures of Edmonton's inhabitants as possible and hear their stories.