Time with my son
This Christmas, my son got his first camera. He had expressed an interest sometime ago and I felt it was time to get him a more serious camera and see how he took to the art. He has done real well. Hes not afraid to experiment nor use the camera. He has had to learn how to use the camera, RAW files, Photoshop and more. Its been a ton to learn, but he is a natural. (I like to think that he gets it from his old man).
Today was the second time he and I had been out since getting the camera. While he does go take a few pictures on his own, he and I enjoy the time together to talk, answer questions and see the world around us from a more artistic perspective. On this outing we went to Mt. Rainier National Park near Crystal Mountain and took some deep forest shots. The shot below is one of mine from the outing. I have a thing for Birch trees and how they look in deep contrast. The detail of the bark along with their bright bark coloring make them really nice against the dark forest.
Time with my son
I used to get picked on about my tree shots. Apparently I take a bunch of them. But, when you live in the Pacific Northwest its hard not to take a picture with trees in it.
As with all of my shots, I encourage you all to leave comments and or Feedback.
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2 Close 4 Comfort
Taken in late 2009 from the balcony of my place in downtown Vancouver. To the left is a parking garage and car dealership. To the right a grass lot ready for something new to be built on it. The walls in between the two houses are actually finished and painted (how, I have no idea). These are the only 2 houses on the entire block. The houses themselves were built in the 1940’s as was many of the structures in this general part of town. The old Architecture of Vancouver is very interesting. The new Architecture ALL looks the same. Glass and concrete. These older structures offer more texture and personality.
2 Close 4 Comfort
The intimacy of these two homes is what really caught my eye.
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A new year’s self portrait
Like many photographers I HATE having my picture made. It is really a painful experience. On most occasions I will gladly volunteer to take the pictures if it means I don’t have to be in them. When I am in them I usually frown, make a face or look like someone just told me my dog died.
This, being a new year full of new challenges and opportunities I thought it best to do something a bit different and take a self portrait. I was REALLY impressed with the style of portraits used in the new Star Trek movie posters and wanted to mimic that style. So, with the help of my son, I set up a soft box, my D700 and my Nikkor 105mm lens to take this shot.
Me... 2010
As can be expected, I did a B&W. I really don’t care for many color images and prefer my B&W work and as a result, my own likeness is devoid of color and just the way I like it. Rich blacks, to pure white with some texture. (thanks Ansel)
Comments and feedback are always appreciated. All my best to my friends and family in this new year. I hope everyone takes a moment to do something they normally don’t do or try something new this year. It was fun.
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Telephone Line
So, recently I have been spending a ton of time in Vancouver, BC. One of the things I have noticed there that you dont see as often in the states is that there are phone booths. There are the real totally enclosed ones and these street ones. I had been driving past this particular booth for months. Its on East Hastings in a REALLY bad part of town. I liked the color of the shot as well as the texture of the booth itself. So, one night I went out and decided to suffer the cold and the wind and take a shot. In this particular shot there is a bus going buy. It was a 2.5 second exposure so I could get the color while not overexposing the shot and losing the detail.
Telephone Line
As always…. comments and feedback are appreciated.
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A night with my son
This Christmas my son got a new Nikon Camera. Much like religion, the age old favorite tool of photograph has been passed down. On the 28th my son and I went out to the Seattle International Airport and shot the new mass transit station and the SeaTac parking garage. We were out, shooting at night and loving every second of it.
The following are the two pictures I took while out.
The SeaTac Parking Garage Ramps
The SeaTac Parking Garage Ramps
And two from my son
The SeaTac Parking Garage
SeaTac Sky Bridge
All in all this was a great night. We had a blast (FROZE!!) but it was fun. I am really looking forward to what it is he is going to take next.
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Vancouver City Hall
I was recently commissioned to shoot an architectural shot of the Vancouver City Hall Building in BC. Designed by Architect, Fred Townley, the building was started (and finished) in 1936. From an Architectural style perspective this building is very “Art Deco” with hints of the Modern Architectural movement that Corbusier founded seen throughout the structure.
I was real happy to be commissioned for this shot. Had my clients not asked I would have never seen this excellent example of Architecture from this era.
Vancouver City Hall
The shot itself was hard to get. The building is on a very populated corner with a great deal of construction going on. Naturally, anytime you shoot a public structure (during your lunch hour) there are people that will wonder in and out of the frame. The building is nicely situated on its site and offers many interesting views. However, there is a great deal of signage, cars in front and sculpture in front of the building. Since editing these items out would take a LONG time, I decided at the last minuet (well… once it started raining really) to get a close shot. So, I walked back 15 feet from the main entrance and laid flat on my back with a 17mm lens and shot virtually straight up. The goal was to capture the essence of the Architecture and let the trees frame the image to compensate for what was a blown out sky.
I think it works…. what do you think..?
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Harbour Centre
This last week the good folks at Harbour Center in Vancouver, BC gave me roof level access to shoot some panoramic photography. Now… let me start off by saying I AM SCARED TO DEATH OF HEIGHTS… but this isn’t the first time I have attempted to conquer my fear and go some place ridiculous to get a good shot.
This shot was taken from the roof of the building. I used a 400 mm lens, so the full height of the tower isn’t fully appreciated in this shot, but the view and unobstructed access over the tops of many other buildings is what makes this shot work.
Harbour Centre - Man what a view !
Vancouver really is a beautiful city. The people are great, the country is fantastic and there is some absolutely beautiful scenery to take in while there. As always, comments on my work are SINCERELY appreciated.
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More of the coast
Another shot taken out on the coast of Canada in Vancouver, BC. This is the complete image which was a five second exposure.
The Coast of Canada - 2009
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Oh Canada
So… I finally got out to take some pictures (its been over a month) and this is the first shot I felt was good enough to upload. While I am on the road, I dont have access to my normal post software and hardware, so I will re-edit this one when I get home.
Comments are always welcome.
Taken near UBC in Vancouver - Nikon D700 28-70mm
Personally the much larger image looks better. I think this looks terrible reduced as its too small. There is a lot of detail that is lost in the reduction.
This is a 5 second eposure behind a ND filter (8) and a Graduated ND filter (Cokin System Sandwhiched). This allows the water to move and to give it the milky white appearance.
The Canadian Coast - 2009
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The Murry Hotel
My Favorite shots of the Murray Hotel in downtown Vancouver, BC. The textures and the tone are what get it for me in this very simplistic Architectural shot.
I was walking home from work and noticed this small space between the two segments of the buildings. The operable windows are large enough that if opened from each side they would hit each other. With only a meter of space between the two sides (hey… its a metric country… when in Rome) you can literally reach across and touch someones hand on the other side.
The other thing that was odd/fascinating was that the space between the windows is made up of metal flashing instead of the stucco or exterior concrete finish. This made it stand out quite a bit and give the building a rustic appearance. This was the side that had a building right next to it as the exact opposite side of the building is clad in brick. I just liked the textures and the tones as well as the shadows cast on the building from the trees behind me.
The Murry Hotel, Vancouver, BC - 2009
The Murry Hotel, Vancouver, BC - 2009
The Murry Hotel, vancouver, BC - 2009
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