A Quick Portrait

I would like to get to a comfort zone where I could rattle off portraits along with the likes of Joe McNally and David Hobby, people like that. So I have to get used to the idea of using the environment or creating it. Today I got Jenn to participate again. She is so patient with me. 

 Taken with the 50mm 1/60th sec f5.6 (See doesn't all have to be 1.7) iso 100.  Had a flash through an umbrella directly behind her, and one from the front directly above the camera. 
 

Just Take a Picture Damnit!

Quick! Take a picture! Of what?? I don't know, anything! That thing over there! Okay.... Sure am glad I don't have assignments, no one says "Hey Brook why don't you do this subject today?" I can pretty much do what I want. Going for dinner to see relatives I realized I had done nothing for the blog today. They all went out to the Dollar Store, or the Casino, or something after dinner so I rushed home to get the camera and ran down to the local playground. The sun had gone behind some haze so the light was going quick and I almost walked back home. Thought I'd give it a try though. 

 Taken with the 50mm 1/400th sec at (say it isn't so) f1.7 iso 100
 

In One Alley, Out The Next

Walking in an alley.I had been taking photo's in a hard area of town. A place where you always have to be a bit on edge, where people struggle just to get through the day. I was walking in an alley and could suddenly hear music, someone playing a trumpet. I came across this fellow leaning against a wall practicing. I asked if I could take some photo's and he said "Sure, thanks for asking". I spent about 15 minutes taking pictures then showed him some. He was appreciative, we thanked each other and I carried on. Into a bright street where the people were all happy and smiling, taking pictures of each other, drinking coffee drinks and the like. 

I took this with the 100mm macro, 1/640th sec at f2.8 iso 100. I think it really was the better choice.

Cobblestone Streets

I remember as a teen going downtown in the Gastown area and seeing old cobblestone roads showing through the asphalt. I think back then in some places there were still streetcar tracks on some roads. Those are all covered with asphalt but there is still cobblestone showing in some places. If you go to the 400 Block Hamilton st the whole block is cobblestone. Rattles the teeth if you drive on it but interesting to see. This particular spot is in the East lane of the 200 block Carrall in Vancouver. A very old and interesting part of town. 

Taken with the 50mm 1/800th sec f1.7 iso 100

Mother Nature Peeks Through

This makes me think of nature shows where trees and plants break and crumble rocks. If I come back in a thousand years will I find a pile of crumbled cement and bricks with ferns all over them. I am sure over the past several years I have seen these same ferns on this wall. This wall actually looks like the plants could be crumbling it.

 Shot with the 50mm 1/100th sec f1.7 iso 100

The Sunrise(s) On the DTES

There is a store in the DTES called "The Sunrise Market". They are very popular in the area for inexpensive produce. They keep it in bins on the sidewalk so is pretty accessible to the shoppers and photographers. No real story here beyond the picture here. Unless you want to hear about the parties on the roof parking lot used to happen years and years ago. No. you don't. 

S

I shot this with the 50mm (of course) 1/500th sec f1.7 iso 100

Meet Charlie

While in an alley in the DTES I came across a lady moving along 2 shopping carts full of property. She said "Hey you want to take my picture? I don't mind". I was a little leery, I had already been accosted by a woman with mental health issues and followed by a guy I figure was looking to rob what he thought was a tourist.  We talked for a bit, she told me she had been a writer, a photographer, and is an addict. She said she isn't happy to be an addict and wants to quit, just hasn't been able to yet. She's proud of how she has lived her life in spite of that. I took a few pictures of her and we carried on our separate ways. It was nice to talk to her. 

 Taken using the 50mm, 1/3200sec f1.7. iso 100

Looking On The Other Side Of The Coin

A little while ago I went to downtown Vancouver on a rainy day and took some nice (I thought) photo's of things to see. Yesterday I went to the Downtown Eastside which isn't as nice an area. I used to work in the area about 10 years ago and I can say since then it has got worse. I hadn't been there half an hour before I was accosted by a mentally ill woman and followed by a guy who I figure at first thought maybe I was a lost tourist and wasn't intent on giving me directions. There were people like that before, there always have been, just not so many. Still there are things to photograph. The area has a lot of history and I will go back again. 
I start with a door. When I worked there I went through this door almost daily to go for breakfast, or lunch, or dinner. I see now they have it locked. Times change but it looks almost the same as it did when I started there about 30 years ago. It was old then.

I used the 17mm at 1/125th sec f3.5 iso 200

I remember the slogan on their receipt. "Good food, well prepared. The taste will tell and the flavour will convince you"  It was right out of the 50's.

I took some close up studies of the back wall here. I will show those over the next while.

See? I Told You!

Question: When do you stop telling someone they should let you take their picture. Answer: I don't know because I just keep wearing them down until they finally say yes. Case in point. I had been bugging my good friend Nicola to take some pictures for some time now. Yesterday we went for coffee and when she sat down I pulled out the camera. She was stuck now. She had to sit there in the middle of a crowded Starbucks while I clicked away. I figure she may let me take more pictures in future. 

  The 50mm (of course) 1/80th sec at f2 iso 200. Sitting at a window seat natural light only.
By the way, Happy 10th Nicola.

If Your Little Girl Gets Inked, Is She Still Your Little Girl?

Damn right! So she went and got herself a tattoo. I stormed around the house a bit, complaining and whining like only a dad can and said "Well, you're all grown up now. We better take a picture." So here it is in all it's glory. 

 She's already talking about her next one! In the meantime I took this with the 50mm at 1/80th sec f5.6 iso 200, flash off camera laying on the couch to camera right with the LumiQuest Softbox III

The Weather Is Here

Hey come on out, the sun is shining, it's warm, and the radiation levels are down today. Here is another shot of (Peter) Nick when he was in his survival phase. We were out at Iona Beach on the jetty, middle of summer and he insisted on wearing this get up. I'll never forget the lady in her group walking the opposite direction looking at Peter (Nick) as she went by, stepping up to me as she watched and said. "Is there anything I should be concerned about?" 

 Shot with the 24-85mm at 24mm 1/60th sec f14 iso 200. Messed around with the colour a bit to get the post apocalyptic pink sky.

Just Remember To Push The Button

Sometimes the moment creates the photograph itself. The photographer just has to remember to push the button. When I was at the Sweethearts event my two second cousins twice removed on my wife's side or whatever wanted their picture taken together. We took a few photos where they were smiling into the camera when Sam decided to give Miranda a kiss. The moment caught my eye and ended up being my favourite.  Lucky I remembered to push that button I think.

I used the 50mm 1/80th sec f1.7 iso 200. Flash was angled up with a Stofen omni bounce on it.

They Were Bigger Than Life

Outside the PNE grounds in Vancouver there is a statue which commemorates the "Miracle Mile" or "Race of the Century" at the1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. It is a statue of Roger Bannister and John Landry running at the end of the race when Bannister passed Landry. I was surprised to find out that this was not where the 4 minute mile had been beaten. Bannister had done it first earlier in the year at Oxford in England. Landry did it a short time later.This particular race was a race between the 2 fastest milers. Landry was actually the record holder for the fastest mile at the time. So much for the history lesson. My aim here was to photograph this statue which is a well known piece and take something from it to make my own. Like I attempted with the horse statue in a previous post. So I hope you like it.

  I used the 50mm lens at 1/1600th sec f2.2 iso 100

All Your Ducks In a Row

So What if they're geese.

The Roses

So you're thinking "Brook there you go with the past their prime flowers again". These Particular ones I was happy to see though. There are several rose bushes around the yard and My Mom loved them all but I think these 2 were her favourites. They were about 5' tall and quite bushy. She always cared for them and when she couldn't anymore someone else would take over the task. A couple of years ago there was a severe winter and I was sad to hear they had been killed off. The stumps had been there since and no one had gotten around to dig them up yet. While wandering around taking pictures the other day they caught my eye and I thought someone must have replanted. I found out it was actually the original rose plants. They came back. Isn't that nice?  

A Trip Down Memory Lane, If You Will

Our family has been in this spot on Okanagan Lake for 46 years. There are a lot of memories here for a lot of people. Not just family but friends as well. Some of them are gone, some have just recently arrived.  For all of them there are things here to remind them of what has been.

This the view from the deck. The view where people have sat for first coffee in the morning, had a barbecue dinner, celebrated someones birthday, grieved someones passing. The view has changed some, but if you had been here 46 years ago and came back today you would remember.

Please take the jump to see more photo's

Talk About a Holy..... Moment

Driving along and you see a fire. What do you do..... Take pictures of course. I came across this car fire this afternoon. For a change rather than stand around with my jaw agape I brought the camera out. Of course I made sure there wasn't anyone in the truck and fire department had been called. Then I started taking pictures.

Sometimes we aren't looking for quality of a photo as much as telling a story. I think this is one. Trying to get my blog up with some new technology for me. So let's hope this works.

Good Music, Good Food, Good Wine

Today I went to "Sweethearts" a wine tasting fundraiser. I took a lot of photo's for them and took a couple for here too. Let me just show them because it's almost midnight and I have to get this uploaded. Ha ha. 

Just one more.

 

Some Great Music

The PNE is coming up. Made me think of the Gypsy Kings concert we went to there last summer. We got there a couple hours before it was to start and the crowd was getting pretty big even though it was early. The group came out and started playing. It was great! Everyone was cheering and dancing and waving their arms. The crowd loved them. All of the sudden they stopped and all walked off the stage. Oh, it was the sound check.

 This was shot with the trusty old 70-210 (beercan) 1/50th sec f5  400 iso

In The Dark and the Light

I Managed to take my camera to work and then managed to get out on my lunch hour and take some pictures. I was at an unused tunnel that the local skateboarders have over the years built their own little Place. They have jumps and obstacles all through it and tag the the walls to their hearts content. There is some pretty amazing art there and it is always changing. While I was there a couple fellows showed up and were making their own little video. They said they didn't me taking some photo's so I clicked away. I was looking for the silhouette look with the bright sunshine behind. This is one I came out with. 

 I used the 50mm 1/320th sec f8 iso 200. I think I am going to revisit this tomorrow. Do some things different. 
Also there is always the unexpected. Take the jump to see what I mean. 

Dark Horse

This is a photo I took of a statue downtown. I don't often take pictures of other peoples art but I think I was able to capture something from this and make it my own. 

Taken with the 50mm 1/600th sec at (wait for it) f1.7 iso 200. 

I think that's it for this little run. Think I will drag my camera to work and see if I can work up the energy to take it out of the bag. 

Hi. If you get notifications from my post you may have got 2 tonight. I accidentally posted tomorrows. Doing one day ahead right now. I pulled tomorrows down and will put it back up later.

Why? Beats Me.

The other day I talked about seeing the little things that you normally may walk past and think nothing of. This day I had my camera eye on and was looking at all the little things as potential photos. I love concrete that looks carved. I don't know why, I just think it's cool. 

 I used the 50mm 1/640th sec at (you guessed it) f1.7 iso 200. Just adjusted the histogram a bit and used the unsharp mask to sharpen it some.

The Theory of Chairs, Colour, and Rain

Someone put these chairs and others in various locations along Granville Mall. While I mention Granville Mall, it is currently closed off to all vehicular traffic and still 99% of the pedestrians were walking along the sidewalk when I was there. Anyhow, I spent a lot of time with these chairs taking pictures, reflecting on the arrangements and positioning. While I was taking these photographs I developed a theory. These chairs are very wet. If you sit on them your bum will be very wet too. I am still trying to fit the colour part in.

I put the 17mm on for this one. Shot at 1/50sec f7.1 iso 200. All that was done with this photo is saturate the colour some and use the unsharp mask.

Let it Rain

I shall be getting as much mileage out of my rainy day in downtown Vancouver yesterday as I can. It was a pleasure to go there and see how it has changed over the years. I keep wanting to go on about how Vancouver has changed over the years and yet remains the same and all that, but I was there to take photo's. So I spent a lot of time gawking at all those buildings that weren't there the last time or the fancy restaurants that used to be warehouses. When it came to the pictures I found it fun to find the little things you might normally walk past and think nothing of.... or maybe wonder about for a fleeting moment. 

 Took this using the 50mm 1/2000sec f1.7 (see a trend here?) iso 200

A Little Ray of Sunshine

Today for the first time in a while we got some regular Vancouver weather, namely rain. After so much sun I think it might have been a bit of a shock. The plants sure needed it. It made the roads pretty slippery and it cooled things down. So, if you were out there, underdressed and getting soaked, slipping and sliding on the road in your car, or if you got blisters on your feet.... This is for you a little sunshine back to in your day.

I took this on the wet and wild streets of Vancouver today. Used my 50mm 1/2000sec f1.7 iso 200. My camera got pretty wet today. Seems to still work though.

All Things Must Pass

These miniature roses have always had a struggle in their awkward little spot. Neglected, often mowed over they don't always get to bloom. This year they they got left alone enough to grow some blooms. I had tried a few times to take some photo's of them but never seemed to get it quite right. Now they are drying up and fading Cathe suggested I try again. I was out the last night, almost getting it but still wasn't happy. This morning I happened to be up somewhat early. While enjoying a cup of coffee I looked outside and thought with this light I can do something. I went out with the camera and it all seemed to come together. The light, the framing, the exposures. I felt good about what I was able to get today finally. The flowers are going to continue to fade and dry up. Sometime soon they'll be gone. I suppose I could clip them but I think I will just keep an eye on them for now and see.

Next Year they will be back. Maybe I can try again then.

This was taken at 7:28 in the morning with the sun up behind the fence. I used my 100mm 1/50th sec f7.1 iso 200

Today Jennifer came home from her friends with her bangs cut. I said "Hey! Special occasion! Let's take some pictures!" So after a careful application of make up by Mom we went out of the back deck and took some pictures of, her bangs. I have to admit this is one of those rare cases where everything came out just as I expected. I was only looking to have one photo to post but things went so well I got quite a few. Today I will show two.

Both were taken with the 100mm macro 1/30sec f2.8 iso 100. I had the flash about 8 inches from her face with the Lumiquest Softbox III  attached. Here is a little thing. If you want to know what lighting a photographer is using, look in the models eyes. In this photo you see a little spot of light in the middle of her eye and a rectangular reflection to the left of that. The rectangle reflection is the softbox and the spot of light is the on camera flash that triggered it. Cool huh? Check it out in fashion mags. You'll see umbrellas, softbox's, light bars, all kinds of stuff. 

I do go on sometimes.  

Almost forgot, I have another photo to show. Please take the jump below, I have something else there too. 

Once Upon A Time

Do you remember when Granville Island was basically the Market, some boat sales places, a big cement plant, and some empty warehouses? Of course you don't. That's a whole other century. I used to wander around there quite often taking photos. Believe it or not I once spotted a Sherman tank in a warehouse. I took a lot of pictures using a few different cameras trying out a different ideas. A lot of the photos are gone, lost in many moves or wrecked in a flood. I still have a few around that happened to be in the right place when disaster struck. This was one of them, I think it survived because I liked it and kept it separate with my favourites. I look at a lot of those old favourites now and sometimes wonder what the hell I was thinking. I still like this one though. 

This photograph was scanned from slide film. The exposure unrecorded. 

I have heard there was even a time when there was no market there. Ha ha. 

When In Doubt, Drink

That is just because I couldn't think of a better one however it does relate. A glass with some liquid in it, which is actually booze. Not very good stuff, I couldn't even drink it after. 

 Taken with the 100mm macro 1/125sec f8 iso 200.  I used the flash off camera with the Lumiquest III softbox on up against the glass facing forward. The picture is cropped somewhat.

Monster Date Behind the Scenes

Yesterday I showed you some photo's of the characters in the short film Monster Date which was shot yesterday. I spent the day with the make up artists and film crew taking pictures through the whole process. I really admire the long hours and hard work they did to create these characters. As you can see from the previous days pictures the results are fantastic. I'd like to share with you some of the background photo's I got to take. 

This is Key Make Up Artist Susan checking her work on the zombie character. 

More pictures if you will follow the jump.

I Was On a Date with MMMMONSTERS!!!!

Today I got to work as a stills photographer for a short film called "Monster Date". It was another great experience for me and I got to watch some really skilled people at work. I spent most of my time running between the make up room and the set. This was a student project done at the Vancouver Film School.  So having taken lots and lots of photo's today I naturally want to show you. 

 Um, these aren't the monsters. They are left to right assistant director Stephen, editor James, writer/director Elsa. Bottom row is camera operator Chester, and writer/director Amy. 

If you dare, take the jump to see, some real monsters.