September 15, 2009

When Karen and Curran asked me to write the Note from the Editor for this month's issue, I was quite surprised. Why was I surprised? They just asked the freakin' photo editor to do it. And that's why I love Steel Bananas so much - although our Moose of the month is a big part of it too. I can't think of any other publication out there (aside from maybe, a photography magazine) where a photography editor would write the Note from the Editor. But hey, photographers use words too.

This was a pretty interesting issue for me, I have to say. First, I went deep into the heart of Nerd at Fan Expo with King Frankenstein. I have to admit, I'm not really into the whole gaming and anime scene, so I had no idea what to expect going in there. That's not to say I shun everything nerd. I'm a big Star Trek fan (except for DS9, it doesn't count), but I've usually shied away from publicly professing my love of nerdy things.

Being surrounded by thousands of people dressed in Storm Trooper, Super Mario, and Ghost Buster costumes had me feeling a little, well, confused. Should I embrace the call of Nerd emanating from every square inch of the Convention Centre around me, or curl up into a ball in the corner between the Soup Nazi and Lando Calrissian. Needless to say, I embraced my inner-nerd and all went well.

Taking photos was a whole other story. But I won't get into that here. A melee of thousands of superheros trying catch a glimpse of the Tron Bike or sweaty and smelly gamers vying for the possiblity to touch Victor Lucas does not make for the best shooting conditions.

Next, a brief conversation with contributor Sarah Beaudin at our monthly nacho filled Sneaky Dee's editorial meeting led me to the task of photographing something to go with her story, Pass the Toilet Paper: An Exploration of Washroom Etiquette. Not an easy task.

Her story is all about the do's and don'ts for females in the bathroom. Men have the good 'ol keep at least once urinal between you, keep eyes forward and don't talk rule, but what do women have? I certainly don't know, and I'm certain I wont find out. I really wanted to come up with something for this article.

From the get go, I envisioned a long landscape photo of a row of bathroom stalls. Two of the stalls would be occupied, one of the occupants would be passing a roll of toilet paper under the 3/4 wall. Perfect. But could I find two willing models? No. So I'm still looking, trying to make this shot, 12 hours before Steel Bananas goes live. Update: the mission was unsuccessful.

This is a great issue, probably one of our best yet. We're got a cool retro comic book cover this month to go with our coverage of Fan Expo '09, a rad interview with Great Lake Swimmers, cheese sleuthing with our SB Foodie - and new copy editor, congrats - Ted Killin, and a fantastic D.I.Y. guide to silk screening. Just promise me you won't go all Andy Warhol on us, please?

I have reached the end of this Note to the Editor, and in true Karen form, I am filled with absolute joy. Joy, not because I have just finished writing, but because it means that in a few hours, Steel Bananas #11 will go live, and we can all bask in the greatness that is the September Issue. Good Job everyone who worked on this month's issue, its been grand. See you next month? Definitely. Sorry, I think left this out: BOOSH!

Matthew Filipowich
Photography Editor
Steel Bananas