New Directions, both in art and science

ART:

For the rather, somewhat inaccurate, "longest time" now, I've been writing in this blog sporadically. Whenever I felt I had found a topic to discuss. I love photography and I enjoy pulling out my XT, 5D and more recently, my iPhone (4s!), which I have found quite a few little 1x1 type photography apps that I have come to love and loathe.

Of particular interest here are the following two:
LEME CAM
and
RETRO CAMERA

Both are fun little apps that give you that oh-so-wonderful retro 1x1 look. Sometimes, the results are not that great, but given that these apps are programmed to mimic the very same thing that made some "toy" cameras so popular, one should expect less than desirable results.

Only downside to these two apps... NO FLASH! [Although, flash is mimicked in 1 or 2 of the modes within either]

I like the iPhone for the freedom it has afforded me in terms of photography. I use a MEC Sling Bag - which an acquaintance was quick to point out last night, I usually overload. Taking the 5D, 70-200, both flashes and possibly some other items, can weigh me down a lot. In some cases, it can aggravate my shoulder (which I injured 2x different times many years ago).

Still, I plug away with all three options at my disposal. Perhaps in the near future I can consolidate down. But given that the iPhone apps have awoken within me, a love for the stupidity that film can produce, I may just finally add the Minolta to the bag.

SCIENCE:

I've been somewhat aimless as of late and decided that I needed to do something with my life, to make it better. I've decided that enough was enough, and working in client support for the Investor/Public relations’ field was something I no longer wanted to do. As such, I enrolled myself into a Communications and Public Relations course at the local community college, which incidentally, is my Alma matter, if that means anything. Centennial College is conveniently down the road for me, and taking this course means that I will be able to move into a new role, and be the guy that sends the information for guys like me to send out to the wires.

Lacking any real usable skills outside of my former vocation, made me make this decision. I have all the basics already to succeed in CCPR, and I'm hoping that I can take this one on and walk away Dean's listed. The only time in my life I ever made the Dean's list was in my first 2 semesters at Centennial, the first time around.

Given that I'm 30min walk away from CC's East York Campus, have basic skills already, and the course being an intense 2 semesters, I think I can do this. I know I can do this. I WILL do this.

So, what's that mean for Bringing The Light? Perhaps more posts - more regular posts - more, well written posts with proper grammar, spelling and such. ;)

I like writing... I just never get around to it. With what looks to be on the horizon, I'm gonna have to start loving writing, for the sake of my grades.

*crickets chirp*

Hi there, intrepid travellers, readers and assorted others.

As you can no doubt notice from my previous entry, I haven't been here in a long while.

I haven't forgotten about this place. I have just gotten weary of the difficulty it takes for me to sit down and think of what I want to say and so on, so forth.

Suffice to say, i'm not shutting down. I'm re...developing.

I'm heavily considering a migration to another blog system and once there, chances are my aims will be vastly different from here. In other words, I'm thinking of changing the focus of my blogging joie de vie. [is that the right expression?]

Now, I still shoot, and I hope all of you out there do too. I haven't changed anything up much, gear wise - though, I have rented a lens or two along the way. I have a new love, in all things Canon... the 24-70mm 2.8L. It's a heavy piece of machinery that is ungodly versatile for people like me. If i had the money, I would have two full frame bodies with the 24-70 on one, and a 70-200 on the other. All other lenses would be shamed.

It's april...

It's April... it's spring!

It's Camera-walkaround season!

Happening soon will be Cherry Blossoms and Magnolias. Be sure to charge up the batteries and clear out your memory cards!

CIAS 2011

I'll make this quick...

before doing a photo shoot, one must always
a) check their batteries
b) offload photos/format memory cards
c) give their lenses and sensor a quick cleaning and;
d) be prepared to shoot like a fiend, with the intention of weeding out or culling photos out of the final collection.

I failed to check the battery on my Rebel when I was getting ready for the autoshow. As a result, I didn't have it as a back-up. Mind you, this wasn't necessarily a bad thing as the crop factor doesn't help in a realm requiring wide-angle shots. However, it is nice to have it ready to go for when you don't want to switch lenses.

Nevertheless, I had a good time and met up with 2 fellow photographer friends - one of which is well known for his club photos, as he freelances for Nocturne in Toronto.

All in all, I shot something on the order of just south of 300 pictures, and via culling, thought 190 were good enough to post. If i was a super-picky professional, that number would be more like 19-20, as the sensor was not clean and a hair decided to muck up some of my better pictures. [and wouldn't you know it... i can't find my damn rocketblower...]

Anyhow, having said that... here's a few personal favourites. All of the following were shot with my Canon 5D, and a 3 different lenses... 70-200, 50 1.8, Yashica 28.

























While I love german cars for the most part, BMW has the biggest soft spot in my heart. Sadly, because BMW's space was rather tight and full of other showgoers, I found it a bit difficult to snap pics the way I wanted to shoot them. I even found it somewhat difficult to get decent pics of the Mini's, but that was mostly because of how close they were to each other and other objects. Gotta love that weird art-car though...


Not sure what it was supposed to all be about, but it was interesting. My guess is that it was supposed to be a generic city scape scene, but Toronto-influenced (there's a CN Tower looking thing on the passenger side of the car.

I think it's worth mentioning that I have never ridden a motorcycle. But more to the point, I've sat on only 3 in my life... all of them BMWs.



At the end of it all, I must say Kudos to BMW, Mercedes, Hyundai, Infiniti and GM, for lighting their cars very well. Some manufacturers, had their sets lit-up in rather weird ways, with some cars 3-4 feet to the side of where a spot was falling (i'm looking at you Nissan!).

Only personal disappointment here was, completely missing Kia. But that was because they were next to Saab and Volvo - two manufacturers that have consistently failed to catch my eye.

Oh well... there's always next year! But I should mention here now... I *really* need to get myself a wide-angle lens for my 5D.

Kaput!

I was running a fan page on Facebook for photography. But it seems that Facebook has decided to kill that page.

After doing a quick bit of reading, I think I'm going to opt for a Facebook Group, as a way to revive my personal space for the photography

There are definite advantages and disadvantages to either. Allfacebook.com has this nifty graph outlining them. Problem is, deciding which is better for my photography.


I think i'm gonna give the Facebook group thing a whirl. See where that goes.