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 currently lives in Toronto, Canada. Above Gravatar pictures are of Michel Botman and his son Noah Botman.

Love in the Time of Corona

Posted on May 18, 2020 by Michel Botman

“The symptoms of love where the same as those of cholera” – El amor en los tiempos del cólera. Gabriel Garcia Marquez. A photographic déambulation from Thailand to Cambodia and Vietnam in the early months of 2020.

Posted in Photography, Travel | Tagged Battambang, Cambodia Photographs, Cambodia Photography, Documentary photography, Floating village, Ho Chi Minh City, Kampong Phluk floating village, Michel Botman, Michel Botman photographe, Michel Botman Photographer, Michel Botman photographie, Michel Botman Photography, Phnom Penh, Saigon, SE Asia photographs, Siem Reap, South East Asia Photographs, South East Asia Photography, street photography, Thailand Photographs, Thailand Photography, Vietnam photographs, Vietnam Photography | Leave a comment

Herejes

Posted on May 16, 2020 by Michel Botman

Hommage à Leonardo Padura et mes amis Cubains … “… Il se trouvera toujours des illuminés disposés à s’approprier la vérité et à essayer de l’imposer aux autres …” (1)

Posted in Photography, Travel | Tagged Casablanca Cuba, Cuba, Cuba photographs, Documentary photography, Havana, Havana photographs, La Havane, Michel Botman, Michel Botman photographe, Michel Botman Photographer, Michel Botman photographie, Michel Botman Photography, Photos de Cuba, Social Photography, street photography | Leave a comment

The Panama Paupers

Posted on May 15, 2020 by Michel Botman

A collection of photographs taken in Panama in June and July 2019.

Posted in Photography, Travel | Tagged Documentary photography, Michel Botman, Michel Botman photographe, Michel Botman photographie, Michel Botman Photography, Michel Botman Photography Toronto, Panama, Panama City, Panama photographs, Portobello Panama, Portobelo Panama, Social Photography | Leave a comment

Sesenta años de soledad

Posted on April 13, 2018 by Michel Botman

The Republic of Cuba was born following the ousting of the US-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista in January 1959, a year of particular personal significance. Since then it has endured sixty years of diplomatic isolation under US embargo. Sixty years of … Continue reading →

Posted in Photography, Travel | Tagged Cienfuegos, Cuba, Cuba photographs, Documentary photography, Havana, Havana photographs, Havana pictures, Michel Botman photographe, Michel Botman Photographer, Michel Botman photographie, Michel Botman Photography Toronto, Photographie, Photographie documentaire, Photography, Photos de Cuba, Santa Clara, Soledad, street photography, Trinidad | Leave a comment

Do not ask what freedom can do for you …

Posted on February 25, 2016 by Michel Botman

“Do not ask what freedom can do for you, … but what you can do for freedom!” To women in Paris, New York, Brussels, London – or Ottawa on “Hijab day” – who lawfully claim the freedom to wear the … 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

Let’s Start a Country!

Posted on July 13, 2015 by Michel Botman

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

Islamism, Feminism & Defiance

Posted on July 7, 2015 by Michel Botman

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

La mémoire des Hommes brûlés

Posted on April 24, 2015 by Michel Botman

— 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 2)

Posted on April 21, 2015 by Michel Botman

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 by Michel Botman

A photographic bus ride throughout Ecuador 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 … 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 by Michel Botman

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 by Michel Botman

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 by Michel Botman

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 by Michel Botman

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 | 1 Comment

A few words on my favorite Canon L lenses

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Michel Botman

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