Photography School Week Two

Here I am at the end of week two and so far I am surviving. I think school is tougher than dealing with clients! Take for example the shoot I did at Vancouver International Airport last week. I had to submit three, and only three submissions - no opportunity for a second presentation either. In my case I over thought what to submit. I was shooting for the Photojournalism class so I decided to submit two images that 'said' Airport. I know they conveyed airport as a place but my instructor critiqued them as too contrived. Having seen other students submissions and hearing the comments I am proud of my peers, and I take nothing away from them, however I could have stood in much greater light had I chosen other images from my shoot. Alas there is no second chance. Had I been presenting to a client I could have come back with the more appropriate selection, but such is not the case in class, what I gave is what it is, no chance of redemption for that assignment. I guess this is why I am in school, to learn.

My YVR shoot has flown, so I will leave you with a few street shots I took this past week.


One of my classmates making pictures.



Whale Watching.




Freighter Watching from the Spanish Banks.

School Week One

After a whirlwind of activity and application form overload I have finally made it here to Vancouver for my Professional Photographer Program. I haven't found a permanent address yet but I have found somewhere to lay my head.



Home Away From Home.


OK, I am only kidding, but if it doesn't rain out this could do in a pinch!
Actually I have been staying at Hostel International Vancouver, Jericho Beach. It has been a great place to start out, being close to school, close to the beach, and quite affordable. The hostel is kept clean and is occupied by a bunch of really decent people. The photo below is one I took while on a cycle tour of the beach walk, only moments away from HI Vancouver.


In Front of Spanish Banks Cafe


As I was typing this blog entry I received a phone call about a room for rent only five blocks from my school and no hill to climb. I am really beginning to like it here. School is revealing itself to be hard work but then again I didn't expect it to be anything other than hard work anyway. All this going on in my life makes me happy as a rose bloom (Sorry, couldn't resist!)


Happy Flower

Going To School

It's true, I am returning to school at 52 years old!

Frustrated from my unfruitful attempts to locate suitable employment since my injury I decided that I would see if I could obtain funded career training. I went to The Employment Place in Salmon Arm where a wonderfully helpful client counselor listened to my story then made some suggestions. In the middle of August I attended a two week self exploration career decision workshop known as Implicit Career Search, conducted by Stepping Stones Consulting in Salmon Arm. Back at The Employment Place we decided together that we could build a case to endorse preparation for a career as a professional photographer. Bowman Employment Services agreed that mine was a case they could get behind, and I start a ten month diploma program at Focal Point Academy Of Visual Arts in Vancouver this Monday!

This has been a whirlwind and many thanks are due. You know who you all are. May God bless you abundantly.


The other day I traveled around with a mandate to shoot only at 18mm. The light was lousy but I didn't care for my sole intent was to capture compositions using only the widest angle I had available to me.


My bike parked behind the library



Reflections at Salmon Arm Wharf



Looking through the railings

Kayak Adventures

My wife and son have been active kayak enthusiasts for the past ten years and have tried to get me interested for as long. Well this year they finally succeeded, and all I can say is, What took me so long?

Fishing On Hidden Lake, Enderby, BC

1/15 sec. (hand-held) f5.3 230mm ISO 1250

Mallard Duck and My Son on White Lake, Salmon Arm, BC

1/400 sec f14 55mm ISO 800

Levi Performing An Eskimo Roll

1/1250 sec f8 55mm ISO 800

The Ducks Like Levi!

1/1250 sec f8 55mm ISO 800

Cats Afternoon

Kress, eight week old female Scottish Fold


George, eight week old Scottish Fold male, straight ears


Mr Chin, male with folded ears, giving George a pat on the head.


Kress soaking up the heat from my desklamp, keeping me from work.

The Kittens Are Growing

The following pictures were taken about a week ago, when the kittens were seven weeks old. Today the kittens turned eight weeks and the first one to move out has found an excellent home with our son in sunny Kelowna. These cats are wonderfully socialized and will settle well in whatever home they go to.


Mother Sophie with the awesome Mr. Chin

1/60 sec f.5.6 60mm prime ISO200


Beautiful, brilliant and bursting with energy, this little lady we call Kress

1/60 sec f9 60mm ISO200


George, the Littlest Holstein. That gray between his paws is the last of his first mouse capture!

1/60 sec f8 78mm ISO800


Ems is sticking her tongue out and George is reaching out. Whatever it is it must look tasty.

1/60 sec f9 60mm ISO200

Color Valuing (Temperature) Photographs In Post Production

Today I would like to offer three versions of the same photograph in order to illustrate a simple yet visually appealing option in post-production, color valuing.

In truth, all three images are the same photograph. The different look and feel of each image is a result of the visual / emotional impact of the color values perceived. A simple adjustment of the temperature value slider and, Voila', an entirely different photo!

The original picture is shown first. It has not been edited in any way, it has only been converted from NEF (Nikon's RAW Format) to a reduced dimension JPG.


Personal Water Craft On Shuswap Lake - Original

1/6400 sec f.8 400mm ISO400 Color Temperature 4696

PWC - Warmed Up ...emphasizes the Golden Light...

1/6400 sec f.8 400mm ISO400 Color Temperature 8000

PWC - Cooled Down ...truest to the minds rendition at "Cheese" time...

1/6400 sec f.8 400mm ISO400 Color Temperature 3800


Please use the comments to state which you prefer and why. Any other comments and/or feedback is also welcome.