Horses!

I decided to do a bit of exploring by car today ... started off in an area where I thought I might see sign of elk, but nothing doing ... followed this little side road, got a little lost ... what a treat to come across this chap and his friends!


I would LOVE to get into equestrian photography ...

Merry Christmas!

Here's wishing you and yours everything of the very best this holiday season!

May it be a safe and peaceful one for all!

This photo taken at our local Home Hardware, where a tuba band played Christmas carols a few days ago ... where else would you find a tuba band?! ;-)

Photo-Journalism

This is definitely not a field that I imagine myself ever becoming interested in as a career ... I just can't picture myself (excuse the pun) shoving a camera into a "newsworthy" (read "bad news") event on a regular basis!

However, since I became more serious about photography and started turning my hobby into what I hope will be a career, I have found myself thinking "Where's my camera?" as soon as I see something that might be notable.

I walked out of my front door this morning, on the way to go grocery shopping, and could see this scene from my front stoep. This was one of the rare times that I didn't have my camera with me - I usually take it everywhere! So I rushed back in, grabbed my bag (which is always ready to go!), and drove a little closer.

Strangely enough, the instant I saw the accident scene, I knew exactly where I was going to go to get the shot! These photo's taken 150-200m from the scene.

They're not as sharp as I'd like ... I think the falling snow threw the auto-focus off a bit ... one day soon I'll add focus to my arsenal of manual settings!

Ski Race Training at Panorama

I managed to get up to Panorama for a couple of hours yesterday.

It is amazing how different the weather was up there ... where Invermere was dreary and foggy, Pano was sparkling clear!

I got a few decent shots of racers practicing their technique, but the images are not as sharp as I'd like. Never mind - I don't mind practicing - I thoroughly enjoyed myself up there despite frozen fingers and toes!


I got a couple of other shots that I liked:

Deer @ Dawn

I dashed out with my camera, coatless in -5C snowing weather, wearing just crocs on my feet, looking ridiculous with my jeans tucked into my socks (after having worn Sorels to walk my dog earlier), when I spied this buck wandering by in the waste ground beside our townhouse complex this morning.

I had to have the iso set at 3200 to get any type of shutter speed, so the sharpness after noise-reduction isn't what I'd like it to be, but I'm pretty pleased with the outcome:

Cold Snap!

Yikes, but it's cold out there!

With night time low temperatures in the mid -20's Celsius, and daytime highs barely getting into the high teens below, getting the simplest things done (like laundry - downstairs pipes are frozen!) becomes a serious challenge!

Even at midday, it's too cold to be out much longer than half an hour, even if you're walking!

Poor Taela, short walks until this is over ...

Needless to day, having a regular photography outing, let alone a daily outdoor shoot, in these conditions is difficult! You know you're not going to be out long because batteries just won't stand up to the cold!

Here's today's photo, at -22C just as the fog banks were clearing:

First Triptych

I really like this photo and thought it would be a good candidate for a triptych.

This is my first effort at this technique in Photoshop ... no doubt there's a list a mile long of things wrong with it ... but for now I'm really chuffed with it!

I hope you enjoy looking at it!


And here's my third triptych:


Nov 17: Here's a vertical triptych - had to see if it'd work - I quite like it but not sure anyone would have such a large wall! What do you think?

Just when you start to lose faith ...

... a stunning shot presents itself!

ALWAYS have your camera with you!

New Location

We've just moved from western BC to eastern BC (about 10 hours' drive).

It takes time to adjust to a new location, finding places where the shooting's good ... I know that. Nevertheless, I'm getting depressed with what I've found around here so far. It seems so dry, dusty, and drab.

That said, we walked down by Windermere Lake over the weekend ... it was blowing a gale but presented some interesting photo op's and I got one worthy of sharing.

Wildlife Photography

Being outdoors, photographing the wonders of nature ... animals, plants, landscapes ... is one of the things I most enjoy doing!

One day, I'll get a longer, faster lens to extend my "reach" ... meanwhile, I'm having a blast with what I've got!

This isn't perfect, but it is the best squirrel shot I've got so far!

Pet Photography

This is a discipline of photography that I definitely want to get into ... today was the first time that I had the courage to take photo's while I chatted with other dog owners in the park and the dogs played.

Usually talking to the other dog walkers is no problem. It's just that I am still a bit self-conscious taking the camera out, and actually taking pictures "in front of strangers", you know?

Taela


Lady


Bob

Some Days ...

... the photography gods favour you!

This morning at dawn, I headed to the Callaghan Valley, hoping to catch a few bears before they turn in for their winter sleep. I saw three bears. The first two were really skittish and disappeared almost as soon as I saw them. But the third was very obliging and hung around so that I could get some pretty good shots:



While in the Callaghan, one gets a lovely view of Black Tusk, just as the sun is coming up:



On the way home, I glimpsed some rowers on Alta Lake, so got ahead of them and pulled into Rainbow Park to take advantage of the photo op:



While at the park, some Canada geese were grazing at the water's edge, with the fog hanging over Alta Lake, and the mountains towering above:



And just as I turned to leave, the fog started lifting and a dawn ray illuminated it in front of the dark massif of Whistler Mountain:

Clouds

Tricky to catch them as one's eye perceives them ... here are two I took today ... once again, very personal as to which you prefer!

Reflections

It seems that opinions are split on whether composition "rules" apply to reflection photo's.

I think it's such a personal and subjective thing, and that people's preferences vary from person to person, and opinions change depending not only on the individual's mood but also on the subject matter!

I like seeing both versions because they can evoke very different responses: Sometimes having reality and reflection in the same shot really works, other times having the mystery of the reflection alone works better!

Here are a couple of shots (one of each type of reflection!) I took in the beautiful Whistler Valley yesterday. What do YOU think?

No Bikers Or Bears Were Injured ...

This is why I take my camera with me everywhere - you just never know what's going to happen!

And sometimes it's just a matter of being in the right place at the right time!

I was sitting on the patio at Black's Pub in Whistler, enjoying a cool, late afternoon beverage with good friends ... where else could one view large wildlife, watch live action sports and kick back with a drink in the warm late summer sun, all at the same time?!

This scene was too far away for the capabilities of my longest lens, but I just had to capture it! Apologies in advance for the poor quality.

Glorious Fall Day

Today is one of those amazing days - crystal clear, cool air, warm sun - the camera loves being taken for a walk on days like today!

This photo I thought might be good for an upcoming project for my course (haven't done the relevant lesson yet, or read the project requirements, but have heard others discussing it). Love it, either way!


Another glorious fall scene ...

2010 National Geographic Photo Contest

I just entered this photo in the "Nature" section of the NatGeo contest for this year!

Wish me luck!

Photo Assignment Reviews

Got my reviews on my first photo assignment back from NYIP yesterday. Seems they're all pretty good. Only issues are ...

... Panning Motion: Instructor couldn't tell that the zipliner was going right to left - he thought left to right - so suggested I crop the other way. Non-issue, really.

... Blur Motion: Seems the printing process cut off the horse's hooves ... I didn't notice before sending the shot in! Oops!

Started unit 2 theory in earnest yesterday ... read the business booklet for this unit, and also the lesson on Image Capture. Wow, dry stuff ... might have to go through the lesson again this morning to make sure it's clear in my head!

Encouragement

Now and then, when I catch a great shot, it is always good to hear a few encouraging words, particularly when they come from sources that one respects!

I'm trying, in my small way, to do the same thing for others, too!

Family

I am so lucky!

I have the most supportive husband, who will forever hold my heart, my admiration, and my thanks. With him at my side, I have the courage to boldly follow a less-traveled path!

I have two younger brothers, both of whom I have great pride in, and love for. Despite the different challenges they've experienced, they're making their way through it all in an honest and honourable manner.

And I am very grateful that both of my parents are still with us. Their unconditional love and support throughout has been the bedrock on which I built my life. The foundation they gave me, and continue to give me, holds me up.

Thank you.

Equestrian Photography

On Saturday I had the opportunity to spend a couple of hours at a horse show in Chilliwack, the National Youth Championships.

I just wish I could've spent more time there ... not only do I need the photography practice, but it was SO great to be around horses again!

The arena I photographed was indoors with a combination of some natural light and electric lighting. It was rather dark but I wasn't keen to use a flash in case it disturbed the competitors. Of the 300+ shots I took, I think a handful might come out well enough to share. I had my iso set at the highest it would go. Of course, not being an "official" photog, I couldn't get as close to the ring as I'd have liked but hey, I worked with what I had.

I'll be keeping my eyes open for another equestrian opportunity!

Education & Practice

As I mentioned, I am currently working on a pro photog course through the New York Institute of Photography. It is an indepth program with six modules. I've finished the theory and test for the first, but am still working on the photo project for this section.

I've got two images showing motion (panning and freeze action), and I've got one each to illustrate both shallow depth of field, and distance. I need one more motion picture, one that has the background in focus but the subject blurred by movement.

This last shot I'm hoping to get this weekend. We're heading down to Chilliwack where we'll be visiting family. A big get-together of the immediate clan, which we haven't done in many years - and a long time coming! My father's visiting Canada from South Africa, my mother and older-younger brother who live in Chilliwack will be there of course, and my younger-younger brother will also be visiting from Panorama, B.C. Very excited!

Anyway, back to photography. There's an equestrian event going on nearby, so I'll be heading there for a couple of hours on Saturday morning to see if I can get the last shot for my photo project. And, of course, indulge in my passion for horses - haven't been around them in years - looking forward to that, too!

Needless to say, now that I'm the "photographer" in the family, I'll be tasked with the family portrait/s ... should be good practice!

And yes, I know this is a photography blog ... I'll get to posting some photo's soon! Meanwhile, I've got a photography group on Facebook that you're welcome to join if you're so inclined!

Jasmine Star = Dynamo

Now, I'm not even remotely interested in going into wedding photography, so that's not why I'm watching as much of this free online course as I can!

It's more about managing time, and people, breaking into the industry ...

If you want to join it's free to watch the live version ... and the video of the event will be for sale afterwards.

I'll be following Jasmine's blog in future, too, because she has a very engaging and honest writing style and is unusually generous about sharing her experience, both personal and technical.

If you (or someone you know) are in the market for a wedding photog, and have some $$ to invest in the ONLY tangible memories of the Big Day, Jasmine Star is a great candidate. She works mostly in California, but will travel.

I wish there were more photog's like her out there ... it seems that the more established photog's in any field are very territorial and aggressive about defending their turf!

Starting Out

I've always loved photography, but only really got into it once the digital age was firmly established ... no way I could've afforded it prior to that!

I've taken a handful of short online courses on photography through the College of the Rockies ... they were ok, and I definitely learned stuff ... but the biggest thing I learned was that I wanted MORE! Now I'm into a Complete Professional Photographer course offered by the New York Institute of Photography. The course is pretty intense but I can go at my own pace (home study), so should be fine. Unit 1 of six almost complete ...

In my 40-somethings, I'm undergoing a career change after over 25 years in various aspects of the tourism/travel industry. Life sort of forced the change on me (long story), I had no intention of switching callings until about a month ago ... but since it's happened, I'm actually RELIEVED! I didn't realize I wasn't happy in what I was doing, until I knew it was over ...

Scary? Yes! Scared? Yes! Exciting/excited? YES, VERY EXCITED! And having SO much fun in the learning process!

I love taking photo's of pets, landscapes, wildlife, people enjoying sports ... not even a slight inkling towards something as stressful as weddings ... but with so much still to learn, I'm not sure what direction, if anything specific, my photographic career will take!

Oh yes, I live in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, (aka Paradise), with my incredibly supportive husband Paul, and our treasured toller-dog, Taela.