Author Archives: Michel Botman

About Michel Botman

Michel Botman was born in Belgium, where visual arts have always flirted with the limits of reality. In the eighties, Michel Botman started exploring the first tools to manipulate images though computers. For about 15 years, Michel Botman worked throughout Europe in the emerging field of Computer Applications for the Graphic Arts. Extensive experience in Digital Imaging allowed Michel to move into the field of computerized systems for Diagnostic Imaging. As VP Sales & Marketing for eSys Medical and later with Eclipsys, Michel Botman always remained dedicated to the creativity and innovation that are at the heart of his career. At the present time, Michel Botman is refocusing his life towards graphic arts. “I studied photography in Europe, but never had time to practice it enough. Life took me on other paths towards computer technologies and running a business. I enjoyed it very much, but I also love art. I always keep my eyes open for exciting opportunities and people that touch my heart.” Michel Botman lives in Toronto with his wife Lindy and son Noah. Above Gravatar pictures are of Michel Botman, his wife Lindy Amato and his son Noah Botman.

Do not ask what freedom can do …

Posted on February 25, 2016

To women in Paris, New York, Brussels, London – or Ottawa on “Hijab day” – who lawfully claim the freedom to wear the burqa or the niqab, I would say: Think very carefully, not only about your individual rights, in … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Events, Islam, Society | Tagged Burka, burqa, Burqua, Hidjab, Hidjab day, hijab, Hijab day, human-rights, Islam, Michel Botman, Nikab, niqab, Niquab, Ottawa Hijab day, Religion, Women's Rights | Leave a comment

Islamism, Feminism & Defiance

Posted on October 7, 2015

Few stories could be more heartbreaking than the story of Lisa Borch, the tragically misguided teen from Denmark, victimized for years by Muslim men twice her age, abused, manipulated, brainwashed and ultimately programmed to kill. The story of two victims … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Events, Islam | Tagged Burka, burqa, coran, Democracy, discrimination, Education, femen, feminism, free speech, gender equality, Islam, islamism, Michel Botman, sharia | 2 Comments

Let’s Start a Country!

Posted on July 13, 2015

A Wimbledon Final of the spoken word.

Posted in Current Events | Tagged Al Lafrance, Gerard Harris, Holly Gauthier-Frankel, Jeff Leard, Let's Start a Country, Michel Botman, Michel Botman photographe, Michel Botman Photographer, Michel Botman photographie, Michel Botman Photography Toronto Fringe, Tarragon, Tarragon Theater, Tarragon Theatre | Leave a comment

La mémoire des Hommes brûlés

Posted on April 24, 2015

— C’est une histoire de grands hommes. Une histoire triste qui se murmure. Une histoire comme d’autres qui font l’Histoire. Comme celles qui soufflent sur les braises et sur nos âmes. Comme celles qui font craquer les digues à Scheveningen. … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Holocaust | Tagged Clabecq, Clabecq Belgique, Déportation, Holocaust, Michel Botman, Michel Botman photographe, Michel Botman Photographer, Michel Botman photographie, Michel Botman Photography, Rue de la Déportation Tubize Belgique, Tubize, Tubize Belgique | Leave a comment

Memories of a Shabbat Goy (part 1)

Posted on April 21, 2015

Commentaries on the all-so-important theological article published in The Times of Israel on April 17, 2015: Is kosher switch really kosher for Shabbat?

Posted in Israel / Judaism, Religion | Tagged anti-semitism, antisemitism, discrimination, goy, Goyim, infidel, kafir, La question Juive, Michel Botman, Michel Botman photographe, Michel Botman Photographer, Michel Botman Photography, Shabbat goy, shabbat switch | Leave a comment

It’s my country …

Posted on February 17, 2015

I travelled through Ecuador with my friend Gary a few weeks ago. On the bus from Otavalo to Esmeralda, a young man was sitting alone on the bench right in front of us. In his early twenties, short hair in … Continue reading →

Posted in Travel | Tagged Ecuador, Michel Botman, Michel Botman photographe, Michel Botman Photographer, Michel Botman photographie, Michel Botman Photography, north49exposure, north49exposure.com, Pollution in Ecuador | Leave a comment

God’ma & Dogma

Posted on February 7, 2015

After resisting for years the song of the sirens, I reluctantly took the plunge on facebook yesterday. Isolation from distant friends and family “de la vielle Europe” got the better of me. I longed for the bond, although virtual and cyberspaced. As I duly filled … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel / Judaism, Religion | Tagged dogma, espacegallery.com, Judaism, Michel Botman, Michel Botman photographe, Michel Botman photographie, Michel Botman Photography, Michel Botman self portrait, Michel Botman's religion, north49exposure, north49exposure.com, oz Moses | Leave a comment

This is not a Pipe … or a Prophet …

Posted on January 10, 2015

What is the punishment for drawing pipes?

Posted in Current Events, Islam, Israel / Judaism | Tagged Ahmed Merabet, Amedi Coulibaly, anti-semitism, antisémitisme en Europe, antisémitisme en France, antisémitisme français, antisemitism, antisemitism in Europe, antisemitism in France, Charlie Hebdo, Charlie Hebdo massacre, Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack, Clarissa Jean-Philippe, Elsa Cayat, François-Michel Saada, Franck Brinsolaro, Frederic Boisseau, Georges Wolinski, Je suis charlie, Je suis Elsa, Je suis François-Michel, Je suis Georges, Je suis Johan, Je suis Philippe, Je suis Yoav, Johan Cohen, Kouachi brothers, Kouachi terrorists, Le Monde, massacre au super casher, Michel Botman, Michel Botman photographie, Michel Renaud, Mustapha Ourrad, Paris Kosher supermarket massacre, Paris massacre, Paris terrorist attack, Phillipe Barham, Phlippe Braham, Rene Magritte, Soren Seelow, the two terrorists, Yoah Hattab, Yoav Hattab, Yohan Cohen | Leave a comment

It’s life and life only

Posted on September 28, 2014

Earlier this year, I was diagnosed with a small cancer. Nothing major at all. Nothing grand. A pesky malignant nodule, the size of a shriveled plum, sitting insidiously over my Thyroid was surgically removed. It took a bit of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Events, Family, Society | Tagged Michel Botman | 1 Comment

Histoire pour Noah

Posted on January 26, 2014

Sometimes, one goes back in time, searching for memories. This 15-year old story is for Noah:

Posted in Family | Tagged Michel Botman, Noah Botman | Leave a comment

A few words on my favorite Canon L lenses

Posted on January 9, 2014

Since I often get questions about the equipment I use, I have decided to embark on a quick practical comparison of my favorite Canon L lenses; the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM, EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM, and EF … Continue reading →

Posted in Photography | Tagged Auto-focus problems with Canon 100mm 2.8 Macro, Auto-focus problems with Canon 100mm Macro, Autofocus problems with Canon 100mm Macro, Canon 100mm 2.8 Macro, Canon 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, Canon 100mm macro, Canon 100mm macro does not focus properly, Canon 24-105 f/4.0L IS USM, Canon 24-105 zoom, Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM, Canon 70-200 zoom, Canon L lens review, Canon lens review, Canon Zoom lens review, Michel Botman, Michel Botman photographe, Michel Botman Photographer, Michel Botman photographie, Michel Botman Photography | Leave a comment

Mandela

Posted on January 7, 2014

A few weeks ago, on the way to school, Jesse, one of the many bright kids in our carpool, and our son Noah were discussing Machiavellianism. Jesse made a particularly interesting and surprising comment on human nature and political systems.

Posted in Current Events, Family, Photography, Travel | Tagged Apartheid, Cape Town, District Six Museum, Mandela, Michel Botman, Michel Botman photographe, Michel Botman Photographer, Michel Botman photographie, Michel Botman Photography, Nelson Mandela, Noah Botman, Robben Island, Robben Island Cape Town, South Africa | Leave a comment

iPhonography

Posted on December 2, 2013

The invisibility of the ubiquitous I have started exploring the iPhone as an on-the-go option for personal documentary work. I recently took a couple of interesting images with an iPhone 5, roving the Bowie and Ai WeiWei exhibitions, at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Photography | Tagged AGO, Art Gallery of Ontario, Bowie, Bowie exhibition, Bowie exhibition AGO, Bowie exhibition Toronto, David Bowie, David Bowie exhibition, David Bowie exhibition AGO, David Bowie exhibition Toronto, Documentary photography, Hipstamatic, iPhone photography, iPhonograhy, Michel Botman, Michel Botman photographe, Michel Botman Photographer, Michel Botman photographie, Michel Botman Photography, Photographie, Photographie documentaire | 1 Comment

“Arribada” – Rescuing Sea Turtles in Costa Rica

Posted on September 11, 2013

By Noah Botman In July 2013, I was fortunate to travel to Costa Rica with my family to experience the incredible biodiversity in one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

Posted in Family, Noah Botman, Travel | Tagged Costa Rica, howler monkey, Michel Botman, Michel Botman photographe, Michel Botman Photographer, Michel Botman photographie, Michel Botman Photography, Monteverde, Nicoya Peninsula, Noah Botman, Olive Ridley Sea Turtle, red-eyed frog, Rescuing sea turtles, Rio Verde, white-headed capuchin | Leave a comment

The Frozen Moment

Posted on August 18, 2013

By Noah Botman. Although I had never been there and then, at that moment, that was exactly where I was. I stood there, locked in time, the tears still suspended in the air, inches beneath the battle hardened soldier’s red … Continue reading →

Posted in Holocaust, Israel / Judaism, Noah Botman | Tagged anti-semitism, antisemitism, Auschwitz, Birkenau, Holocaust, Holocaust remembrance, March of the Living, MOL, Noah Botman, Poland, the march of the living, Yom HaShoah | Leave a comment