Bombarded by pics of post-rehab Lohan we occasionally forget that life extends beyond the borders of Tinseltown.

Get a powerful dose of reality at the World Press Photo exhibit presenting the best photojournalism of the past year. See 2009 winner Pietro Masturzo’s image of discontented Iranian voters on an evening rooftop, casualties of drug wars in Colombia, and George W. Bush’s last days in office.  While many are haunting, there are lighter moments like the extreme skateboarder flying over a 27-meter mega ramp and the determined face of a 99-year-old table-tennis player in full swing.

Will Lindsay’s pout make the cut next year? Only time will tell.

World Press Photo 10, until October 3, Just for Laughs Museum, 2111 St-Laurent Blvd., Montreal, 514-845-4000, www.worldpressphoto.org

Ever wonder where your baby drifts off to when she falls asleep?

Mommy blogger Adele Enersen creates whimsical scenes around her napping daughter Mila, and photographs them for her imaginative blog Mila's Daydreams.

Sweet dreams indeed.

http://milasdaydreams.blogspot.com

Annie and Ansel aside, it’s tough living off the avails of one’s photographic art.

So we’re rather impressed by Montreal snapper Arold Blanchet, who’s making his name selling limited edition prints in miniature. His series of black-and-white prints are displayed around town in portable kiosks and feature Montreal-centric scenes like bikes in the snow, café culture, lonely parking meters and back alley graffiti. At just $4.65 a pop, collect them all and you’ve officially become a patron of the arts in a snap.

At Papeterie Nota Bene, 3416 Parc Ave., Montreal, 514-485-6587, www.nota-bene.ca and Boutique Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, 185 Ste-Catherine St. W., Montreal, 514-847-6906, www.macm.org

Between blogspots and Twitpics, we believe there’s a little paparazzo lurking inside all of us.

With the launch of Lomography’s snap-and-shoot Pop9, we’re getting in touch with our inner Perez. This fantastical 35mm gold-encased camera (US$40) has multiple lenses creating a wallpaper of nine identical images on the same print. But unlike the paparazzi, you’ll just have to show zen patience while it’s being processed the old fashioned way.

Snap snap.

At www.lomography.com/pop9

So your kid grows up to be the next Damien Hirst. You'll want to be able to point to the evidence that was there all along.

While you may be honing little Lilly's art portfolio and photo-documenting young Allistair's every quirk, you'll never have the time to put it all together in an interesting way.

Enter visual artist Scott Morgan, whose new Kid Grids are the ultimate in artsy anthropology.

He'll set up a mini-studio in your house, sequester your youngsters, and get them to be themselves with all the stuff they love, be it crafts, clothes, toys or, who knows? Sharks in formaldehyde? Here's hoping.

Shoots available in all major Canadian cities. Learn more at www.scottmorgankids.com

We never thought we’d be quite so enamored by musk oxen, but so it is.

Enter the animal kingdom at Etat Sauvage, a tented exhibit of 130 National Geographic photos on display across from the Bell Centre. From necking Tanzanian giraffes and singing Kenyan hippos, to leaping lions from Botswana and packs of Russian reindeer, the oversized images and subtle sounds of wind, snow and birds is a walk on the wild side.

Etat Sauvage, tickets $12, until September 7 under the big tent, De la Montagne, south of René-Lévesque Blvd., Montreal, www.etat-sauvage.com

It’s been said that a picture is worth a thousand words, and nowhere is this more true than in press photography.

Since 1955, World Press Photo has been awarding prizes to the very best photojournalists around the world. Gleaned from 80,000 entries, this year’s crop of winners include a series about retired Polish circus performers, and an eerie black-and-white shot of Benazir Bhutto adjusting her headscarf.

While not always technically perfect, the images capture moments in time that are fascinating, at times upsetting, but most definitely unforgettable.

World Press Photo ‘08, until September 28 at Just For Laughs, 2111 St-Laurent St., 514-845-4000, www.worldpressphoto.org

It’s pouring buckets and your sunny patio plans have, quite literally, gone down the drain.

Instead of moping inside, stroll in style with a pretty parapluie.

Forget staid black and basic beige, Magenta Studio will print your favourite photo on an elegant, full-size umbrella ($135). Get creative with vintage fashion magazine shots or a picture of yourself puddle hopping age six.

See? No one rains on your parade!

Available at Magenta Studio Photo, Rockland Centre, 2305 Rockland, T.M.R., 514-739-9966, see more locations at www.magentaphoto.com

Explore your inner Diane Arbus at Montréal’s annual photo festival.

All this month the city is awash with beautiful pictures at the 10th edition of Le Mois de La Photo. Photographers from Canada, the United States, South America and Asia will be represented in 30 exhibits around the city.

We’re captivated by the works of Montreal’s own brothers-in-art, Carlos and Jason Sanchez. Their hyper-real photos on display at the Parisian Laundry are like stills from meticulously art-directed film sets.

All exhibits are free of charge.

Le Mois de la Photo , September 6-October 21, www.moisdelaphoto.com