The Young Couple

A friend of mine whom I have known for years was finally offered a ring not too long ago. Of course, she was thrilled, and immediately accepted. Then, of course, the long planning process begins of making the wedding actually come to pass.

Thankfully I was honured to be able to take some engagement photos for her and her fiance. Complicated somewhat by them living out in Ontario, but nothing insurmountable. We arranged to meet up when they were visiting her family over the Christmas holidays.

It wound up being a beautiful day, too, but none of us wanted to spend much time outdoors, all bundled up in winter jackets. It wasn't THAT nice of a day. So off to Muttart we went for as much variety of background as you could find.

All kinds of beautiful growing things to act as backdrops and props, and even some really weird things in the feature pavilion.

Fun was had by all, but I really had driven home to me the importance of making sure that your models feel comfortable. Apparently her fiance is never really comfortable getting his picture taken, and it really came through on a  lot of the shots. I found that many of the really good ones were the ones where, later, I found out they had no idea I was shooting.

We had hoped to also get in to some of the buildings at the University, as they can have some really neat interior architecture, but it happened to be a holiday for the staff, so all of the interesting buildings were locked and inaccessible. That was alright, though, as after wandering around the University for a little while, we were all pretty tired and it was starting to get late.

Electric Love Song

A few months ago I went to Lyve on Whyte (now closed!) as I was invited to come and check out a band. It was a local group called "Electric Love Song" and I thought I would take the opportuntiy to practice some of my concert and musical photography.

I was pretty happy with what I came up with. The lighting, as always for a musical event, was horrid but I think I managed to adjust fairly well in post-processing.

I found that a lot of it was about location, as in the above image where I get to frame the guitarists head with some background lighting...

...and timing, as in this case where I catch a moving strobe just as it passes by to give me some hair highlights and a lens flare. Often enough those lens flares are undesirable and kitschy, but I think it works out pretty well in this instance.

One thing I have to work on is figuring out how to photograph a drummer. I can't seem to figure it out. I do take photos of them, but none of them come out looking at all interesting. I think there are several problems working here... specifically that they are always at the back, far away from where I will typically be standing and they have to move their hands quite quickly, making for a lot of blur given the longish shutter speeds that I have to work with.

I really need to learn to get up closer and use my prime (non-zoom) lenses. I feel like I shouldn't be on the stage, though, and I get annoyed when I see other photographers getting that close.Intellectually I understand that this is acceptable (with permission, of course) but on a visceral level I really don't want to get in the way of the audience.

A Blast from the Past

This was one of my earlier, and funner, experiments in off-camera lighting.

I for some reason was quite taken with the idea of taking some shots in Film Noir style. That old, gritty, 1940s PI type feel. The sort of thing that needs a Maltese Falcon somewhere nearby. Thankfully I had a roommate who was in to that sort of thing, and had all the appropriate clothing and accoutrements to go along with it.

I tried experimenting with a few different things. One flash, two flashes, sometimes blocking the light, sometimes not. Always aiming for a very stark, somewhat uncomfortable feel. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want to be caught in a dark alley with somebody that looked like this!

And to think... I was living with him!

I would love to be able to do something like this again if the opportunity presented itself.

A day to remember

Remembrance Day has come and gone, with all the usual fanfare. I had my pick of which events to attend this year, and I decided to attend the 21-gun salute at the Legislature grounds. In previous years I have stood at City Hall, watching a parade of soldiers and thought perhaps I would change things up this time.

Boy, am I glad I did!

I have never before seen an artillery salute, and it was certainly something to behold. Most of my shots looked like the one above, with a huge cloud of smoke after the shot was fired. I did get a couple others, though....

Notice the barest beginning of the muzzle flash? I was quite astonished to have been able to catch that.

Perhaps the most impressive of all. A very graphic display of the power behind these machines.
I wonder if it would look any different when they are not firing blanks?

Still, as fascinating as artillery and other military machines are, the entire point of the day is to remember how awful their use is. I will admit that a part of me is attracted to the idea of joining and having the opportunity to blow things up but I, at least, remember all the lessons that have been given to me all these Remembrance Days, and want nothing to do with war or conflict. If such a thing has to happen, I hope that my role can be confined to documenting and recording for posterity, so that perhaps we don't forget again.

With that grim thought, I will leave you with a couple other Remembrance day photographs that I have taken in previous years that I am rather pleased with.

A Creature Feature

Hello there everybody.

I just recently registered a business name for "Timely Moments" and started up this blog. I thought I'd open it up with some recent animal photos that I took. I am hoping to be able to take a lot more animal photos in the coming days as a volunteer for the Second Chance Animal Rescue Society, but in the meantime we get to see some animals that know me all too well:

Angus seems rather alert

Prince, looking much more handsome than usual

Tazer loving the attention. Any attention.

 My own cat, Sushi. Up close and personal.

I will be adding more photos from various events and sessions I have done, or will be doing soon, as well as a periodic steam-of-consciousness on photography as inspiration hits me. Stay tuned.