My Life in (no longer) Paris

Goodbye to Stanley Park

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 07:53 +0000

In one more day I will hop in the Miata and drive down to San Francisco to start a new life. I am terribly excited, but there are many things I will miss. This photo is a tribute to all the early morning runs I have done around Stanley Park over the years. I always said I would never have stuck to running if the running paths weren't so inspiring. Here's to looking forward to new inspiring running routes in San Francisco. Goodbye Stanley Park.

Brendan contemplating

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 02:18 +0000

Another shot from the studio session. Critique from the review class: needed a little fill on the top right so his hair doesn't sink into the black background. I agree - tougher to do with one light source but I could have worked with the reflector a little better. My instructor also wasn't keen on my off balance composition, cropping part of his arms, but I really like the composition. So we can agree to differ! There's no real wrong or right in art. Any other opinions on the composition?

Playing with pearls

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 02:07 +0000

This model had the most beautiful, expressive hands. The moment I saw her with her soft, warm skin tones I knew that the pearls I had brought were the perfect prop. I can only dream of looking this graceful on film!

Brendon Halcrow, exploring his darker side

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 21:30 +0000

More studio portrait stuff. This was using split lighting, with bright light thrown from the left, using the dull white side of the reflector for just a touch of fill on the right side of Brendon's face. I flagged off the light spill of the key light from the background, to allow for the dramatic black.

Brendon was a lot of fun to work with - he took direction well and also continued to offer up poses that lead to great results. The lighting dictated the mood and the poses, it felt rather "evil psycho killer" to me, so I played that up. I ended up with quiet a few great shots from this series.

Matilda Nilsson

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 21:51 +0000

I'm currently studying photography through night classes at Langara College (highly recommended!). This shot is my favorite from the natural light portrait session. Matilda is a great model. She was posing for another photographer, facing towards the light coming from the window. I realised I could get some great, unposed shots from the side. Note - giving models props (or anyone in fact) can give them something extra to work with to produce great photos. Yes, that's my summer hat!

Sunset at English Bay

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 19:45 +0000

I was cold and grumpy at the start of this shoot, and saw clouds rolling in; so was doubtful if there would even be a decent sunset. Glad I waited. Patience, patience, patience. Then snap, move, snap, move, snap... and then the light is gone. The photo before this of English Bay was also on the same shoot, taken a few minutes later than this one.

English Bay at night

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 06:57 +0000

A night shoot at English Bay. The different colours of light made it challenging to white balance - there is no "correct" white balance for this photo due to the natural light, tungsten and fluorescent. I like the still feeling of the photo - like there is no one around but anyone could walk through the path a moment later. It was a rather mysterious sunset.

Night time at Mont Saint Michel

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 07:22 +0000

I cannot believe how many photos I took at Mont Saint Michel. I was obsessed with photos but they cannot begin to approximate the feeling, the experience. I wanted to take away the essence but I discovered it cannot be done. Just go there, ignore all the touristy stuff and walk all the way up to the monastery. That's where the experience starts. The dramatic cloister overlooking the ocean was truly spiritual (and I am not religious).

Under the bridge

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 19:06 +0000

I spent about an hour and a half scouting the Granville Island waterfront by the Granville Island Market, and then waited...waited...waited (taking test shots) until the night sky was lit up perfectly. A 30 second exposure at 200 ISO. You hope and hope, but never know if the shoot will be worth the wait. This was.

Sunrise mist by Second Beach

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:38 +0000

My first early morning shoot back in Vancouver. Yes, adjusting to Vancouver wasn't easy, but I have to remind myself that this is a beautiful city too, with its own merits. And one of the best things about Vancouver is its natural beauty that surrounds us. This shot is taken in Stanley Park with Second Beach directly behind me. I took some pre-sunrise photos on the other side of Stanley Park and then swung around to shoot this. I had spotted this scene while doing my morning run along here a few days ago and knew I should come back with my camera and tripod to try to capture the quiet stillness. There was a little necessary garbage removal to make it a truly pristine shot, but here it is.