in honour of hummingbird604

Santa Barbara, CA

These guys are really fast, small and hard to capture.

but here are a few basic tips.

"Stop motion" is the key here, so if you're using a digital camera on manual you'd want to:

-use a flash

-be sure to have a high shutter speed (using a high ISO to increase censor light sensitivity will allow you to jack up your shutter speed)

-shoot at at least F11 to make sure you get the whole bird in focus (unless you are incredible at panning and focusing)

-Use a tripod for ultimate stabilization

perspective

I was waiting in line impatiently to view the Eiffel Tower-- once I got up there, the people waiting in line were the most fascinating aspect of the tour.

(They're so small) ;)

RULE OF THIRDS

I wish I was doing this today.

Ahh Spring. I'm staring out my office window at the mountain tops, the birds flying by and the hodgepodge of motor vehicles and people walking on the pavement down below; I'm having flashbacks from elementary school days. The Coooold Alberta winters made spring days like this all the more appealing. I remember shaking in anticipation...watching the clock for recess so I could get outside.

I'll settle for opening a window right now.

This image was made in the seaside town in western France, Les Sables-d'Olonne. Literally right below this cement wall are hundreds of sun bathers (some of which were topless...now how akward is that with your 11 year old nephew?), umbrellas of all colors and patterns, children building sand castles and a herd of young adrenaline hooked men plunging into crashing waves (in speedos).
This woman hardly depicts the scene at hand and perhaps that's what compelled me to capture her image. In fact, I had intentions of getting a sea of umbrellas...and I did get that image, but as it turns out more often than not, the image I'm looking for isn't always the image that moves me the most. There are no limits with the camera--there are only limits with a closed minded photographer!

geeky photography talk:
Another issue to address about this image is that it sort of breaks the rule of thirds.
to learn more about the rule of thirds check out this helpful link:
http://digital-photography-school.com/rule-of-thirds
Generally, I rarely compose an image with the subject in the center of the frame--for some reason, it often creates a bit of an awkward feeling for the viewer. But hey, rules are meant to be broken right?
In this case, I allowed myself the option of cropping in post production, but chose not to. For one thing, though the bike is not really the subject, it throws her out of the center of the frame just enough.
I feel that this composition contributes to her story...
She is the center of her world.
She is so engulfed in her book--her moment.
In my opinion, this composition works because it emphasizes the void around her.

PARALYMPIC HOCKEY

PRINCE EDWARD attended the game (secure between two men in black )

Tied 1-1, the game went into "SUDDEN VICTORY"




CZECH VS KOREA VANCOUVER 2010, March 19 UBC Thunderbird arena


The only disability in life is a bad attitude.”
-- Scott Hamilton

CAMEL LOVE

THE GREATER VANCOUVER ZOO--in the rain
shooting the animals is fun! --sounds so wrong hey?

Camel ~ Bactrian
http://www.gvzoo.com/

Ok...this shot really might seem completely random...and it is! However, I've always loved this shot because they remind me of an old married couple. I imagine the female (I'm guessing on the left) is saying (with long drawn out vowels),
"Look Charles, those creatures are so fascinating!"
and then he says
"Ohh Darling, you can't be serious. Stop gawking...it's not dignified."

When I lived in San Diego, one of my favorite pass times was walking their incredible zoo with my camera. It was a sort of meditation me in the sense that generally I shoot with studio lighting...or I can influence my subject to give me certain expressions. When I'm out and about with my camera--be it on the street or at the zoo, I must surrender all control to unpredictable animal/human behavior and weather conditions. That's why it's always soooo rewarding for me when I come across a scene like these guys...I couldn't have posed them better myself!

Happy birthday Curtis!

PICTURES FROM PRISON

Alright, well I've never actually been to prison...not even the drunk tank...not even to visit or pick someone up from the drunk tank. Whew...Dad, if you're reading, rest assured. :)
However, one experience that I will never forget is my visit to Alcatraz Island. Who would have thought that a prison would become an American National Park?

Now generally I'm not big on cheesy guided tours, (I usually bypass and let my lens lead me) but this was a good one. Imagine stepping into a cell with concrete walls, a steel frame for a bed, a toilet and a sink (what I consider the only source of relief in such a place). Now it wasn't the production value of eerie voices echoing in my rented headset that stirred me. Seriously, if there are Ghosts...they are thriving here.

I hang this sink in my washroom. Every morning I am thankful for my freedom.

TWO THEORIES, ONE STONE

A SHORT FILM --Unpaved Productions
http://www.unpavedproductions.com/

Written and Directed by Aaron Houston
Produced by Aisla Webster
Starring Graem Beddoes & Alastair Gamble

I shot some promo stills for them a few months ago and now I'm having fun watching them take off!
This short film was just premiered at CINEQUEST film festival in California. It's been getting great reviews and noteriety for their marketing tactics... such as their "Douchebag blend of coffee (which is pretty cool because it features one of my pics on the label!).

check out this article :
http://www.starksilvercreek.com/2010/02/indie-film-marketing-douchebag-blend-wins-me-over-cinequest-style.html
READ THE REVIEW --
http://www.movingpicturesmagazine.com/Reviews/tabid/59/Default.aspx?tag=Two+Theories+One+Stone
WATCH THE TRAILOR --
http://www.twotheoriesonestone.com/2Home.html

Watch for upcoming productions from these guys!

Paralympic medalist LAUREN WOOLSTENCROFT

Lauren Woolstencroft, Paralympic alpine skier

SOOO COOL! As I'm blogging I check out her event dates and status to post for you guys...Guess what!!! She's currently ( and I mean as I type) in GOLD MEDAL standing for Women's Slalom as of her first of two runs! YAYY!!

She'll be competing in a total of 5 events during the games.

This shoot was for TORCH, The University of Victoria Alumni magazine and I highly recommend that you read the Article...this woman is a total Inspiration!!
http://web.uvic.ca/torch/torch2009f/feature_2.htm

"Her trophy case was filled with more than 50 medals, including five Paralympic medals and eight world championship titles.....
She was born missing both legs below the knee and her left arm below the elbow. She uses only one pole, but the way she moves you’d swear she carried two."

You can check out her event schedule and status here: http://www.vancouver2010.com/paralympic-games/paralympic-alpine-skiing/athletes/lauren-woolstencroft_ath3001514qc.html

Jeremy Wotherspoon

JEREMY WOTHERSPOON
Ok...so I know the Olympics have long left Vancouver and now the Paralympics are underway, but personally I'm just starting to feel normal again after that self inflicted Olympic hangover and Olympic cold-- I swear I can pin-point the exact moment of viral transaction... by high-fiving a maple leaf adorned "Oh Canada" sreeching hard core hockey fan on Granville street minutes after the big Gold win for Canada. I remember thinking to myself.."geez, I bet he's touched a lot of hands today."
Anyway...on the mend and having lots of fun looking through images that I made during those two weeks.

This Image of Jeremy was taken at the Richmond Oval during Men's 500 on February 17th