its been such a long time. such a busy time. but I think I discovered the secret to keeping up the blog.

JUST DO IT.

so even now when I should be working on bass tracks….. i’m uploading pics to share. this is what i’ve been up to these last 2 months

These kids were so much fun to capture…… and they had SO MUCH ENERGY!! ;

I did a fun shoot with local singer/songwriter.. and ex-housemate Kassie Tyers for her upcoming album. I tried to make the shots as cool as she was.

headed down to the states for a bit…. stopped into Chicago for the first time ever!!! But I only had enough time to wander the streets, grab a bite.. and see “WICKED”!!!!

good times indeed.

its been a busy few months…. I haven’t really been focusing on updating the blog.

became a father

working on a few projects

did a few gigs here and there

did a bit of travelling

but I’m back…….

Since I have been focusing more on photography, I have been enjoying going on photo-dates with my wife. She loves being in front of the camera… and I love being behind in. It truly is a match made in heaven. These are a few from the last preggo shoot that we did. It was so fun. Actually these are some of the few that didn’t make the shortlist. For others, hop over to my “flickr”.

Today, after paying a speeding ticket, and grabbing some streetmeat on the way back to work… one of my co-workers and I decided to go on a little photo excursion during the remainder of our lunch break.

It was good to just be creative and capture some images. It was also good to see a part of the city that I haven’t seen thus far. So for me… I had to choose one lens only….. (and I picked a wide angle lens) and had to create and compose shots accordingly. Normally i would change lenses to suit the idea i had in my head… but instead… i had to make do. Simply making the best with what I had.

The outcome….. well.. not sure about the pics… but I loved the experience. These assignments… (as simple as they are) are meant to  expand my technical skill and my creative depth. This one was a great way to really kickstart that growth.

Locations: St. Boniface Catherdral and the Esplanade Riel, Winnipeg

sitting at work. eating a late lunch. decided to share some of my fave quotes.

“There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.”:: 
Ansel Adams

“The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.” 
:: Dorothea Lange

“The Equipment you’ll leave at home, you’ll need the most. You’re always out of film when you’ll have the best opportunity.”:: Murphy’s Rules

“Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever… it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.” :: Aaron Siskind

“She glances at the photo, and the pilot light of memory flickers in her eyes.” :: Frank Deford

“Not everybody trusts paintings but people believe photographs.” 
:: Ansel Adams

“It takes a lot of imagination to be a good photographer. You need less imagination to be a painter, because you can invent things. But in photography everything is so ordinary; it takes a lot of looking before you learn to see the ordinary.” 
:: David Bailey

“Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still.” :: Dorothea Lange 

“Look, I’m not an intellectual - I just take pictures.” :: Helmut Newton

“There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs.” :: Ansel Adams

“Photography is truth.” :: Jean-Luc Godard

“There is only you and your camera. The limitations in your photography are in yourself, for what we see is what we are.” :: Ernst Haas

Flew to Toronto for the weekend. Without business cards. Not really the smartest thing… and I was reminded of that even on the plane ride down. As a group of us in our section began chatting about my lack of self-promotion skills in the fact that I do not have cards made as of yet. It was a very good reminder.

It wa awesome to be in Toronto again. Had the wonderful opportunity to be a groomsmen in my buddy Curtis’ Wedding. On Friday night we sat around debating religious topics and conversing about music alongside old friends and loved ones. Then Saturday was celebrated him and his wonderful wife Kathy. It was a great time.. and of course I had to capture some of the behind the scenes moments of the day. It was interesting trying take pics without pissing off the ACTUAL photographer.

On Sunday I did a little photoshoot for my singer/songwriter friend Sarah. And while she posed and I fiddled with settings and buttons, we passed the time singing duets of Brooke Fraser songs. Definitely the quirkiest shoot I have done… but it was so much fun. Many laughs! Really looking forward to hear the final product of her record. I am sure it will be brilliant.

On Monday I made the long trek back to PEG CITY. Not sure when I will be able to visit Toronto again. Hopefully very soon. One thing I learned: take shots of everything. I found myself ignoring the impulse to grab a few shots. I need to embrace that feeling more.

~

(good times indeed)

Just moved the blog over to a new site with a new template. Last week I got a new toy camera. This are the first few pics. Lots of new stuff on the horizon.

Been thinking bout how to go about “expanding” my skill. I never had training. Was never really taught the Do’s and Don’ts. I’ve always been in a situation where I’m thrown into it and learn by experience…. (which is also how my music experience has been). I just don’t want to get in a place where I am not growing. Even tho I started this quite recently…. (this month is my 1 year mark)… I still want to be intentionally trying to grow and strengthen my art, learn more tricks…. just better myself.

So I’ve been seriously thinking bout giving myself bits of homework to do every week. Which could be very tricky. Life is busy… and is bout to get much busier in the next few weeks. But I think if I proactively plan and creatively map out these assignments, this can really be enjoyable.. while I’m pushing and stretching myself thru a growth process. 

So this afternoon during my lunch break I scanned thru a few sites looking for some ideas that were both fun and challenging. And now…… I have decided…. I’m gonna do it.

Now I just need to choose the first assignment.

hmm……

I had to do it.

I felt inclined to create a specific blog for my adventure in photography. Mostly just for myself. Right now as a journal of pictures and thoughts. Perhaps down the road the journal will be shared.

For now: a digital scrapbook of thoughts and images. And so it begins.

______

I’m hoping to begin doing weekly photo assignments. And I say “hoping” because this will require some discipline to really make this work and to see the benefits. I’m going to scour the internet to find some unique ideas… and I’m eager to see what comes out of this.

~db~