Thursday, November 20, 2014

B&W Challenge - Day 5

Sunrise over Snow

Well, it took me more than 5 days but I did finish it.  To anyone who wants to challenge themselves to black and white photography by all means, pick up your camera and go make some images.  I will do black and white photography again but it's not my main love.  My main love is colour.  I'm not sure I always get it right but it's what I like to see.  Black and white feels old.  Black and white feels dead.  Black and white feels empty.  Colour is where it's at for me - most of the time.

Sunday, November 16, 2014

B&W Challenge - Day 4

Sunday Drive
Thanks to Gary Grout for reminding me that I had forgotten to finish this thing but challenging me again.  I'm not starting from scratch though, I'll just pick up from where I left off.  So, here is day 4 of the B&W challenge.

This morning I took a few people from the Sackville Photography Club out for a mentoring session on street photography.  Or at least my take on it. :)  We had fun and finished the morning up with some panning experimentation.  Of the dozen or so I took for panning practice, I liked this one.  The sense of motion is very nice and the person and the car are in pretty good focus.  Also, it works as a really nice B&W.


Tuesday, October 21, 2014

B&W Challenge - Day 3

Day 3 of the challenge is one I got on Day 3 if we start counting on the evening of Nocturne. I was heading to the bus stop when I noticed the almost sunset light filtering through the trees in the Old Burying Grounds on Barrington St.

The sun was back lighting the headstones and I just thought it was  just such a lovely moment.  I'm not sure my landscape skills can do it justice.  It was quite pretty.


Sunset Cemetary

B&W Challenge - Day 2

Day 2 is kind of a cheat, I think.  I believe the challenge is designed to get you out and shooting and I captured this one on the same night I was out for the Day 1 challenge shot.  This fellow was sitting reading the newspaper and I just loved the way he was back lit.  Sorry I didn't post this last night but Monday's are busy for me.  If you missed the reason for this challenge go visit the Sideways Glance blog post that started it all.



Sunday, October 19, 2014

B&W Challenge - Day 1

A fellow photographer, Grant Dixon, over at Sideways Glance issued a black and white challenge (link) the other day.  I decided I'd step up to that challenge and here's my first B&W challenge photo.  Only four more days to go!

Rocky's BBQ

Sunday, August 03, 2014

The Slade Family

I volunteered some time as an auction item for the United Way auction we were having at work. I had offered up a portrait session with two or three 8x10 prints and one of my co-workers won the auction.  I have to admit that I was a bit surprised when he said he wanted a family portrait session.  I thought I'd be doing a one on one.

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Finally, weather and schedules collided this weekend and I did my first ever family photo and I really enjoyed it.  The Slade's were an awesome family to photograph as they did their best just to let me do my thing while they simply enjoyed each other's company.

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I realized I have a lot to learn in this particular world as photographing kids was not something I'd had much practice with and they really just don't stand still for very long and they are not necessarily the best at taking direction so you have to take your shots when you can get 'em.  Also, I had a few technical issues which I have noticed that I will work towards fixing on my next outing.

Overall, it was an excellent experience and I can't wait to do it again.


Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Getting Social

I recently blogged about needing a change and I think I have figured out my next photographic adventure.  I've decided that I want to improve my skills at photographing people and that means that I need your help!

Here's how it is going to work:

I'm going to ask all of my followers to meet me somewhere in the Halifax area for a photo shoot.  We'll spend a minimum of 10 minutes together and I'll do my best to create a portrait of you that you'll be able to use on Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, or any other social media site you want to use it on.

Dress in the clothing you want to be photographed in and I'll do my best to make it work.  You can wear your Sunday best or you can dress down and dirty for the street.  I will not have any assistants to do hair or make up so you'll have to take care of that before you show up.  It'll just be me and you and the camera.

I've created a form for you to select where you would like to be photographed and the time of day you would like to be photographed.  I'll do my best to accommodate everyone but I reserve the right to select only the most popular locations.

There are no warranties express or implied and why would you expect one when this will cost you nothing but time.  I will only deliver the best portrait I can create for you and I promise you will get at least one image for you to use.  I'll deliver it to you via email so if you hate it you can choose not to use it.

Please let me know where and when you would like to have this done by filling in this form

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Telling a Story


I always try to tell a story with my images and I work hard to capture the "right" moment.  Sports photography can be exceptionally difficult but every once in a while you time it just right.  I think I selected an excellent moment here and I think the story leaps out at you in this image.  You can see the intensity of competition on his face.  The referee in the background is making a call.  On top of that you can make out our club crest on his arm so it works as a decent promo shot as well.  For me, this was the best shot of the day.

Friday, May 09, 2014

Embrace the Change

Morning Tracks

I went for a drive a couple of weeks ago to head down to Point Pleasant Park to get out and go for a walk with the camera after a long winter and the scene above caught my eye on the way down so I stopped and captured this image.  I really enjoyed spending the morning out.  But I didn't realize that things were about to change.

I think this past winter really affected my photography.  I feel like everything I do sucks.  I think I need a new adventure, a new challenge.  Time for something different.  I don't know what it is but I look forward to figuring it out.

Stay tuned and I'll share the results. :)

Sunday, March 02, 2014

"The Best Camera is the One You Have With You"



The title of this post is a quote from Chase Jarvis and this photo is proof of that statement.  This past winter I have left my dSLR at home on most of those days when I'm walking to work simply because I don't want to add it to my backpack when I never pull it out to actually take any photographs.

It's that time of year again when I feel really down in the dumps about taking any photographs because the weather sucks.  I'm tired of winter.  I am very much looking forward to spring.

On this particular day the only camera that I had was the one on my Blackberry Z10.  It was, however, all I needed  to capture the above image of a frosty and snowy morning. I really liked the way the snow had settled on the tree branches as well as everything else.

Hopefully, spring will come soon and I can get back to enjoying photography.  Until then, I just keep playing it one day at a time.