Lake Tahoe Sunset
Here is a blast from the past, a sunset photo on a stormy night at Lake Tahoe from a 2004 trip to photograph the Cal-Neva Resort for Expedia.com. The Cal-Neva crosses the California – Nevada border, and has a casino in the Nevada side of the of the main room. The Swimming Pool has the state border painted down the middle. The Resort was a favourite hang out of the Rat Pack back in the day.
A photo of the Cal-Neva pool from their Website
Mixing Work and Pleasure – a Shoot in the British Virgin Islands
My last couple of posts have been about shooting for pleasure. So is this one, but it is something a bit different.
I got a call in February from my good friend and accomplished Lifestyle Photographer Randy Lincks. Randy has done quite a bit of work for sailboat charter companies in the past, and every year or two he makes a trip to an exotic place to shoot some Sailing Promotion photography.
Either after years of bugging him to take ma along, or out of a genuine need for a bit of a hand based on the size of the project I was invited along to do some shooting, image management, and some general helping out.
Hooray! Off to the BVI!
We spend 5 1/2 days shooting all around the British Virgin Islands, and the schedule was pretty intense. We had a crew of 16, some professional models from Florida and England to represent the clients demographics, and a flotilla of 7 38-56 foot luxury yachts. The shot list was long and varied.
Although it’s hard to complain, we worked A LOT. Up early, and going pretty much non-stop all day. But given the subjects, the location and the weather, no matter how hard we were working we couldn’t help but have a good time. I am very fortunate that I have associates like Randy, and that I get the opportunity to work for incredible clients, and even occasionally in exotic locations. I am even luckier that throughout the busy schedule we still found time for an occasional dip in the ocean, and a cool rum cocktail after the daily wrap. I count my blessings!
Here is some of the work from the project. Some images are mine, others are Randy’s. When we work together we make a pretty good team.
Shoot in the Rain, and Shine!
About a year ago I got a call from the local TV station. One of their reporters saw a small gallery show I put on locally and asked if would do an interview for their focus on locals segment called “The Express”. Never one to turn down a bit of free publicity, I said yes. When the day came to shoot the segment, it was cold, overcast and raining. One of the things they wanted to do was film me shooting some personal work, and then include a few shots from the actual day in the segment. The weather was miserable, YUCK!
Still I did not want to disappoint, so on a day when I would not have even considered taking a camera outside, I forced myself to find something to shoot. Here are a few of the results.
Is this my best or favourite personal work ever? Not particularly, but I managed to do something creative on a day when I would have otherwise stayed home and stared at a computer screen. I think the takeaway is simple: Doing something is always better than doing nothing. You can take interesting and creative photos in the rain, or snow, or at night, or in whatever circumstances. Just go out and do something creative.
If you would like to see the finished local TV piece, it’s after the jump
Personal Photography – Shoot Something for the Pure Joy of Photography
Sometimes I get a bit busy with post processing and office work (read taxes!) and get in a bit of a slump. The weather this time of year around here is a bit dull and rainy. Taking a break for a couple of hours and going out to shoot something completely for pleasure usually helps to get my creative juices flowing again.
A few years ago I decided to take my dog and my camera for a walk in the forest, and partially by accident came home with this shot.
My first ‘Living Forest’ image
I am always impressed and relaxed by the forest, and I wanted to capture more than just a static shot. I wanted to communicate the life and energy I feel in the forest. Read More…
Ski Action Photography – Last day on the Slopes 2012
Every year I am lucky enough to spend a bit of time with my friends up at TLH Heliskiing. Fortunately this year was no exception. I get a chance to rack up an impressive amount of vertical, while hanging out with great, fun people. And those circumstances usually conspire to create the opportunity to set up some great ski action photos. Here is a selection of some of my favourites from my last ski day of the season in the South Chilcotins.
Vancouver Time Lapse at Night – Robson and Burrard Streets
Here’s a quickie Time Lapse.
I have been working on a project for the Sutton Place Hotel in Vancouver, BC. During a couple of day shooting last week I set up my Nikon D2x with a wide angle lens to shoot a frame every 3 seconds for about 45 min to create a little 15 second time lapse. Shot through the glass of my hotel window at the Sutton Place. I use my older D2x for time lapse because it had a built in intervalometer, but you can always use an inexpensive one like these from an online auction site. Use a manual settings on your camera so each exposure is the same to prevent flicker. To prevent reflections, don’t forget to turn out the lights in your hotel room!
Photography and Beer!
It’s been a while since I posted, and I was planning on something today when like magic in my inbox came This article from DesignTaxi about photography and beer!
Joachim Linkemann is an imaging sensor scientist, and in a presentation on digital sensor technology he uses several pages to describe digital sensor noise using a comparison to refilling and then emptying a glass of beer (one of my favourite things!) And it’s a great analogy because with beer near and dear to my heart, I was able to grasp the concept rather quickly. His presentation covers a lot of other interesting and technical information about imaging sensors, It you are a techno photo nerd like me it’s a pretty interesting read. Check out his PDF here!
Also, subscribe to DesignTaxi to get half a dozen interesting techno/art/design inspirations in your inbox every day.
A Place I Love – Tyax Lodge
I just got the call I wait for every new year! For the past 9 years I have worked with TLH Heliskiing shooting advertising images, and take home memories for their guests. TLH operates out of Tyax Resort in the South Chilcotin Mountains of British Columbia, a place I have come to love winter and summer. I will make the 5 hour drive on windy mountain back-roads many times in the next few months. It’s an arduous task getting there, but the reward at the end of the road is so worth it!
A Long and Winding Road
I’m looking forward to what the new year will bring. Twists and turns, challenges, up-hill battles, and cruisey downhill coasting. Skate Skiing is something new that I am doing to get outdoors and stay in shape. A quick shot from one of my trips to the Whistler Olympic Park Nordic Center in the Callaghan Valley near Whistler, BC
New Years Revolution – I’m not looking back
Over the years I found that how quickly time passes depends on what you are remembering. A vacation can seem like it’s lasting forever, until you start thinking about how few days you have left before you head back to your daily grind. 2011 was a long and short year for me some things flew by, others dragged out. But I’m not looking back! Read More…
