Thursday, October 31, 2013

Wilted

Wilted. It’s a word that aptly describes my inspiration as of late. I haven’t been shooting much and I have not been feeling very creative or motivated. The last month or so has been a struggle.

This shot of the wilted flowers nicely sums up my photographic expression these last couple of months.

Wilted

I will persevere, things will improve.

Keep shooting.

Monday, September 30, 2013

More GlobalFest 2013

Last week I finally got through all my pictures from GlobalFest 2013. It took quite a bit of time.

I shot nearly 2000 images during GlobalFest and I narrowed it down to just 185. Along the way I rediscovered some images, like this one of my partner Jen getting her face painted.

Face Painting

Or this one of a photographer lining up a shot.

GlobalFest 2013

GlobalFest is a lot of work but it is my absolute favourite event of the year and I can't wait for GlobalFest 2014.

Keep shooting.

Saturday, August 31, 2013

GlobalFest 2013

I worked as a volunteer photographer for GlobalFest again this year. It was my second year participating in the event. I absolutely love doing it.

This year I really tried to interact more with people to get the shots I wanted. Getting the perfect candid shot is pretty tough. I suspect you need a keen eye and really quick reflexes. I think my eye is decent but I typically miss the perfect frame by a second or two. Instead of ruing about the missed shots, I decided instead to approach the subject, give them a little direction and get my "candid" shot. The effort paid off and I got a lot of great shots like this one, which I felt really captured a bit of the spirit of GlobalFest.

GlobalFest 2013

Keep shooting.

Ice Cream + Bike = Awesome!

I love ice cream and I love bikes. The two together make a perfect combination for me.

I set up this picture for a friend who needed some shots for a poster to promote her "Ice Cream Ride" to race money in support of the Sears National Kids Cancer Ride. Jen and I took turns posing for a few shots and then I asked some other people if they minded posing with their ice cream and my bike or theirs. I ended up with some really great shots, including this one.

Bike + Ice Cream. Anything Better?

Keep shooting.

Finally, A Good Fireworks Shot!

I shot a bunch of fireworks pictures this year. I shot Canada Day fireworks, I shot Stampede fireworks and most recently I shot the GlobalFest fireworks but I really had not been happy with any of them.

Until this one.

GlobalFest 2013

USA provided the fireworks on this particular night and they put on a truly amazing show. It got me out of my self-proclaimed fireworks slump.

Keep shooting.

Friday, July 5, 2013

Come Hell or High Water!

Only two weeks removed from some of the worst flooding in Calgary's history, come hell or high water has become the unofficial theme of the 2013 edition of the Calgary Stampede. Today the 101st Stampede kicked off with a parade and things went off without a hitch.

Stampede Parade!

For the next ten days this city will take a break from the flood cleanup and blow off some steam. Awesome!

Keep shooting.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Canada Fireworks 2013

I picked a new spot to shoot Canada Day fireworks this year, right on the Centre Street Bridge where they originate.

I liked the idea of having downtown Calgary in the background but I was not so keen on the one streetlight in the foreground. Composing it out of the frame was possible but I thought the shot lost a lot of context. It wasn't the greatest location but you have to try it in order to find out.

Canada Day

What I did like though was after the fireworks display ended I took pictures of the crowd dispersing and walking back up Centre Street. It produced a really neat effect with the longer exposures.

Canada Day

Keep shooting.