A Dry Spell

I've barely picked my camera up in the past couple of weeks. I miss it, but I have not been feeling inspired. It must be the onset of winter ... the colours are gone, and the weather's not exactly encouraging outdoor excursions (it never crosses my mind to shoot indoors, for some reason) ...

And now that I'm finished with my NYIP course (at least, I think I am ... I passed the final exam and have mailed in my last project photos - just awaiting my last evaluation and hopefully my graduation certificate!), I'm not feeling pushed towards anything in particular.

It's a frame of mind I really want to get out of because looming large on my horizon (although it may seem like ages away to someone else) is the wedding that I've committed to shoot in early May!

True, in the past month I've stepped outside my comfort zone quite a bit, having done two portrait sessions: One for my photog friend, Shawna, and my brother and his fiancee's engagement shoot. Those were terrifying, nervewracking, stressful and exciting ... but it feels like they were ages ago.

The only real shooting I've done in the past couple of weeks is this:

Sunrise over the Purcell Mountains (more & larger images are available on my Smugmug page):

And a slow drive around our backroads yesterday. I was hoping for some tumble-down cabins and/or barns, but all I came across was this barely-standing place (see Smugmug for more & larger images). I couldn't go any closer because of the strongly worded No Trespassing sign on the gate that mentioned something about Removal by the Officer OR Prosecution ...

Oh well, I have heard that the ski teams have arrived in Panorama for race training, so that's going to be my next destination, I think!  ;-)

My First Solo Job

A wonderful occasion ... my brother and his fiancee's engagement photos.

No pressure. And, omg, was I nervous! I don't think my hands were actually shaking visibly, but inside I felt like a leaf in a gale!

We spent a couple of hours at several locations, chosen by Rob & Kathryn, in the lovely Panorama Mountain Village, between 4pm and about 6pm, just as the sunlight was leaving the valley.

Toby Creek Crossing

Riverside Romance

Sixth Sense

If you'd like to see more of Rob and Kathryn's engagement photo collection, please visit my Smugmug page.

Another Step Forward

Not too long ago, I blogged about being stuck with my CS5 skills.

It happened to be on the same day that I was scheduled to shoot my brother and his fiancee's engagement session - my very first solo job. (Blog article and photos to follow soon!)

No wonder my brain wasn't kicking in ... I was nervous as all heck!

Happily, I had a huge Photoshop breakthrough the very next day.

So, I've now (re)processed all Shawna's photos. These were taken with a specific purpose ... she wanted more professional images of herself to display on her photography business website. I certainly hope that these fit the bill:

The whole collection is available to view on my Smugmug page. I'd love to hear what you think!

Golden Larch - The Evergreen That Isn't

 Larix lyallii

At least, that's what wikipedia calls the species of golden larch that populates our area of the Canadian Rockies.

In the fall, these evergreens become golden ... it's quite a sight to behold!

It is as if the usually dark green waxy leaves light up from within. The contrast between the yellow glow and the dark branches and trunks is striking.

The gold colour varies from a rusty bronze through a bright yellow to an almost neon green.

These photos were taken earlier this week, in the Toby Creek valley, between the Columbia Valley town of Invermere, and the alpine resort of Panorama Mountain Village.

To see full size views of these images and others, please visit my Smugmug page.

Sneak Peek: Shawna & Family

In a couple of hours I'll be doing my very first SOLO shoot - my brother and his fiancee's engagement shoot in Panorama Resort.

I think I'm more nervous that I'll admit to myself.

I need distraction.I've been trying to find it all day:

So ... a few days ago I had the pleasure of shooting with my friend, Shawna.

This time, the object of the exercise was to get some decent portraits for our websites - she'd shoot me for mine, and I'd shoot her, and Shawna with her daughters, for hers.

I've tried several times to get some decent post processing done, but just can't seem to achieve anything I like. Here are a couple of examples:

I've tried watching various episodes of the recent CS5 course I took. Everything makes total sense ... until I try to apply it to my own photos! Aargh!

Next Day: Must've been the stress of the day ... PS breakthrough first thing this morning! Woohoo! (Can you hear the relief?!)

Dog Photography

I love photographing our dog, Taela ... wonder if it will be as much fun to take pictures of other people's pets?

Taela

Click either image to enlarge photo

We walked on the golf course today ... such a pleasure to walk there, after a summer of road-walking.

These photos are actually the same shot ... the top one's just a crop version of the second. I didn't get a chance to take many photos, and considering that madam doesn't like having the camera pointed at her, I am pretty happy with what I got!  ;-)

One day I'll have the guts to our local pet store and vet clinic, to introduce myself as a pet photog and leave some business cards ...

Pay It Forward Blogfest - A Blog Hop

 

Here are some of the blogs I enjoyed today:

Greetings from Monmouth County

Jasmine Star Photography Blog

The Imperfect Photographer

You're next! Click here to enter!