Canon Fest: The Nikonian

So our Canon fest was going great, until we go interrupted by the arrival of an alien species.  We later learned that these species, are affectionately called The Nikonians.  To tell the truth The Nikonian wasn't so bad, as a lot of people would have you believe.  Yes they do speak a different language, and over all are a little strange, but all in all they are very nice. I was a little fascinated by the strange behaviour of The Nikonian, and I did manage to capture some of this behaviour in pictures.  Here they are.  Enjoy!

Canon Fest: Nina

Here is Nina. Enjoy!

Canon Fest: Marriam

Continuing with my Canon Fest pictures.  Here is Marriam.  Enjoy!

Canon Fest: Elisha

As our Canon Fest progressed, we moved from downtown Edmonton, to the ever familiar Alberta Legislature grounds.  Everyone was paired up with a model and went to take wonderful pictures.  Everything was going very well until.... but that's for the other post, but here is Elisha.  Enjoy!

Canon Fest: Danailya

Canon Fest?  Yes, a real Canon Fest.  Well at least that what me and my two friends called it.  Me, Randy Pond, Travis Forsyth and Jenn Townsend-Plant decided to create a a first in Edmonton, Canon Fest.  Travis actually came all the way from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan to join our little get together.  Since we all are happy Canon DSLR users, we organized some aspiring models and hit the town.  To be continued....

Big Photo Outing: Outtakes

Every photo shoot this size has to have some behind the scenes photos.  Enjoy.

Big Photo Outing: Renee

Big Photo Outing: Jodi

Big Photo Outing: Michael

Here are more photos from the big photo outing from about a month ego.  Enjoy.

Big Photo Outing: Jena

Yes I've been slacking in the posting department.  I sincerely apologize for the sporadic postings lately.  My excuse is, that I went back to normal work, and being away from it for almost 2 months, makes it a little challenging to get back in the groove.  I do have lots of photos to show you.  Lots.  So with out further ramblings here is Jena who was part of a large group photo shoot at a secret location somewhere in Alberta.  Enjoy.

Road Trip! Last Part: The Storm

On the way back home, after an awesome trip and really good time, we spotted this huge cloud formation on the horizon.

I think it was the most interesting thing I have seen in a very long time.  The clouds were changing their formation by the minute, and it was steadily growing.  Luckily it passed us by.  I would not want to be driving through this.

Road Trip! Part 4: People

Besides seeing a lot of local fauna and flora in the Banff National Park, you always meet the other type of fauna.... the tourists.  On a nice day like this there were a lot of them.  Which in a way is good, because it provides great shooting opportunities.  I just wish I had some business cards with me, so people would be able to get some of the images I took of them.  Next time I will be ready, for now I'm just an anonymous dude with a camera.  Enjoy.

Wedding on the sidelines.

I really enjoy photographing people.  Specially when I can sit on the sidelines, and just observe.  This is what happened on the weekend.  While I was at the Legislature Grounds there was a wedding photo shoot going on.  So I sat on the sidelines and observed the photographer, and from time to time I shot my own.

Didn't want to disturb the photographer, I mean it's his bread and butter, and it's his gig.  So I just sat there with my long lens and snapped away.

I don't even know who the happy couple were.  At some point I was noticed by the bride (I guess it's hard not to notice a big white Canon lens), but I wasn't harassed or asked to leave or stop taking pictures.  All I got was a lovely smile.

The beauty of this sideline shooting is that people usually do not pay attention, and just continue to be themselves.  This is where they are at their most interesting.  This is what I love to capture.  People being people.

While waking away from the wedding party, I have noticed this beautiful sleek machine sitting there and just smiling.... I had to take a photo of it.

I was curious who it belonged to, and it was the bride and groom who eventually got into it.

Still at the end of the day, I have no idea who this couple were.

Road Trip! Part 3: PostCards

Now what would a good road trip be, with out some postcards.  Postcards from the mountains.  Enjoy.

Bill Cowen Working hard.

Spent a very nice afternoon at the Legislature Grounds, with my family and a good friend.  Kids had lots of fun in the open public wading pool, and me and my friend hunted people with our cameras.  Legislative grounds are very popular wedding picture destination, and usually you can find at least a couple of weddings fighting for space.  Today not only I got to shoot some wedding photos from the sidelines, but I got to meet Bill Cowen.

You have to understand that Bill is a legendary figure here in Edmonton.  Not only is he a host of a morning radio show, but a comedian and a great photographer.  I actually did introduced myself, and got to spy on him working with a couple.

Road Trip! - Part 2: Fauna & Flora

One thing you see on the road trip is an abundance of flora, and if you are lucky you will see some fauna as well.

We got lucky, as well.  It was the first time I ever saw a bear in the Banff National Park, and it was a Grizzly.  It looked young from the distance, but still I would not like to be near it :)

More pictures to come soon.

Road Trip! - Part 1: Road

So a couple of weeks past few friends of mine and I decided to go for a little photo trip out to the mountains.  Since if one wants to get to the mountains from our lovely Edmonton, it's at least 4 hour drive, we decided to leave around 5am.  So at around 4:30 we piled into my friends big R-Class Mercedes, when I noticed this on his license plate.

He got this made a few weeks back.  You have to be a fan of the british motoring show called Top Gear to understand this :).  It put a smile on my face and it felt that the trip is going to be great.

The morning walk up foggy, but the sun soon warmed and peaked over the horizon.

Once we arrived in the Banff National Park we were passed by these guys.  We didn't argue.

More in the next post.

Suzi X and Effie Ether

A few weeks ago, my very good friend Randy Pond asked me if I wanted to test my strength and go on a little photo shoot with him.  I agreed, but was a little apprehensive if I could carry my equipment, or at least part of it.  Randy arranged everything, the models the place to shoot, he even picked me up from home.  He is one cooool guy.  Here are some shots from that little outing.  Enjoy.

New toy and Elk Island part 2

Shooting with the Canon 1D Classic is a pleasure.  I really like how it feels in my hand.  It's big, heavy and solid.  The shutter button compared to my 5D is a little sensitive and I found myself firing shots by mistake.  Also adding a  70-200mm lens with a canon 2x extender adds a lot of weight.  Shots at 1/100 shutter speed become challenging unless on a tripod.  Still I did manage to get a few good shots handheld.  Here are the last shots from my trip to Elk Island.

I know I'll be showing my ignorance of the animal kingdom.... but I think this is Elk....

What is the best way to finish off a picturesque trip to Elk Island?  With a beautiful sunset of course :)