June 2005

Alex vs. Alex: The banner under which this photographic duo creates. The name implies the similar way in which both Alex’s came to love photography as well as the similar tastes in subject matter. On the other hand, the vs. implies the stylistic differences between each photographer as well as the friendly competitiveness that pushes each Alex to excel.

Alex Gray: Born December 26th, 1982. Alex Gray began taking pictures as a hobby. His images mostly consisted of interesting people who walked the streets of Toronto. The elderly were a common theme among Alex’s images because of their style, the way they walked, the way they dressed and their demeanour in general. However, his raw photography style also had a place for the hilarious. Comedic juxtapositions, and overall out of the ordinary subject matters were what caught his eye. Over the past year, however, Alex has come to embrace the power of studio photography. The ability to create his own environments and to accurately capture the essence of his subjects had great appeal. Today his images are a more refined and creative presentation of the people he finds interesting and unique. Combining the subjects whom caught his eye on the streets with the control and professional look that the studio provides. This stylistic fusion is what drives Alex Gray’s photography.

Alex Ioannou: Born May 28th, 1983. Much like Alex Gray, Alex Ioannou’s first images were taken on the streets of Toronto of the ecclectic people that populate the city. His passion for this documentary style photography was greatly enhanced by the work of the famed Magnum photographers, the prime photojournalism agency created by such greats as Robert Capa and Henri Cartier-Bresson. The idea of documenting different countries and peoples is the driving force behind Alex’s photography especially after his trip to Japan in the summer of 2004. However, the opportunities that the studio provides has not been ignored by Alex. His studio work could be considered documentary portraiture in the sense that he tries to capture people for who they are, raw but sometimes comedic.