I recently got an email invitation to attend a webinar in person at 500px, which is on Duncan Street, Toronto. The title of the event was ”Life After Likes: Falling Back in Love with Photography” and addressed social media concerns for photographers. These things usually have about 10 old guys and girls in the audience, so I figured I’d fit right in. I got my ticket and checked into the event.

There were 2 beautiful young women at the door of 500px, who scanned my QR code and said, “Well hello Len… welcome to the show.” I was feeling pretty good then and even better when I encountered the free beverage setup by Collective Arts Brewery, a Hamilton brewing company. Collective Arts isn’t my favourite brew… a little too hoppy for my taste, but free beer…? Also, their cans are beautiful. And there was a popcorn machine and free timbits.

When I heard the big bass hip-hop beat, I felt like I was back in East Berlin, and I started wondering if I was at the right place? Then I entered a room with at least 50 hipster millennial types. Shit, even my kids might feel old here. Should I leave right now?

But no, I stayed, even though I was the oldest person in the room. And I actually met someone I knew… Graeme Roy, who’s the director of News Photography for the Canadian Press. His son was one of the 5 panelists. We’ve been on a few photo walks together and chatted a little and I thought that now he made me feel safer! So much so that I chatted with a few of the other attendees.

Many photographers, especially professionals, get hung up with getting “likes” on social media. Many pros seem to lose their love for the art because they’re so busy chasing the buck. All that’s ok for awhile, but sooner or later, creatives have to get back to the art if they want to survive.

I stayed for the entire show, picked up my SWAG and left, then spent a couple of hours walking around that part of the city to try to capture some of the nightmood.

[Click on any photo for the slideshow. Please leave comments at the bottom of the page]

Like After “Likes”

Like After “Likes”

Like After “Likes”

Like After “Likes”

Like After “Likes”

Graeme Roy

Like After “Likes”

Like After “Likes”

Like After “Likes”

Like After “Likes”

Like After “Likes”

Like After “Likes”

Toronto After Dark

Toronto After Dark

Toronto After Dark

Toronto After Dark

Toronto After Dark

Toronto After Dark

Toronto After Dark

Toronto After Dark

Toronto After Dark