In a past post on MobileMe’s gallery potential I talked about how easy it is to now setup a great looking portfolio and now we’ll dive into a bit of how you can now use that to let your clients proof great images quickly and efficiently.

First as a recap - We need to remember that you no longer need the iLife suite to upload images to create the great albums, all you need is a MobileMe account. You can organize, rearrange, sort, even select whether you allow users to download the images, etc.

Another great feature to the MobileMe suite is it’s iDisk and how it allows users to upload large files to a server for download by clients, friends, family, etc. and with that large bandwidth limit per month, you don’t have to worry about your website being bogged down or server crashing because of large uploads and downloads. 

It’s turning out to be a great package for the average user and the photographer on a budget wanting a clean simple solution. If Apple continues to beef up the service with reliability and more storage, they’re going to start having an amazing tool set online. Did I mention it offers amazing “push” style capabilities for my iPhone with my contacts, calendar, and email? Another bonus of keeping track of clients while on the road.

Spread the word, all the proceeds go to four amazing causes. Did I mention they make great Christmas presents? (Sorry I had to)

A couple of weeks ago a great website launched called Wallblank.com. It’s head up by a few people whom I know, so I will get that out in the open at the start. 

The basic premise of the website is to allow layman (normal people) purchase great art to fill their rooms, homes and offices. On a usual print they will have a limit print run, approx. 100-200. Once those are sold out then you’re out of luck so you have to act quickly. A great aspect to this startup is it’s focus on the artist, which I am always gun-ho about. They, unlike other nameless sellers don’t keep 99% of the profit from the prints, they allow the artists to afford something better then a PB and J sandwich. They also run non-profit Fridays (which I will hopefully be involved with on a regular basis) that raise 100% of the profits from the prints and send them to a select organization of the artists choice.

So now that you know, buy a print, support an artist and I will keep you posted when a print of mine comes up and you can support me or a non-profit organization that I will supporting. Let me eat better then PB and J, please!

I’ve often felt that we as photographers don’t care. We get involved in creating a masterpiece, a something, anything, that we completely lose our human touch of interaction and involvement. We’re often viewed as “snoops” stealing moments from others.

At this moment we, as photographers, need to finish being inhuman. We need to learn that putting down the camera is sometimes more important then using it as a barrier between us and our subjects. That our “subjects” are just as human as us, hurting, joyful, kind, wanting to share a story and feel a true intimate connection. Realizing that our cameras are nearly a means that we use to tell a story but the true connection happens when we put down the lens and interact. 

We need give before we expect others to relinquish their sense of personal barrier and stare down the barrel of camera. I believe photography is a tool to break down barriers, alas it has been used as form of personal “right” that allows the user to poke their noses into the lives of others without any questioning of whether it is an uplifting thing to do. 

Use this art form as a tool to build connections with others. The more I dive into photography the more I begin to realize it’s less about how technically good you are and more about how vulnerable you are with others. When you become vulnerable with others, they open up to you, and a connection is formed.

First learn to be human, then learn your craft. Stop and be more human.

Two juniors campers fly down the screamer.

As one young guy clings on to the ropes, the others are feeling the thrill of the ride.

With the recent weather around the Cowichan valley it has been ideal conditions for the leaves to turn a brilliant yellow, orange and red color. 

Download HERE!

Thursday was a bit of a lazy day here at Kaleo so some of us decided to take a hike to the point. With the seasons changed and the colors beginning to really change the view was amazing, walking beneath a sunlit canopy of warm yellows.

Every once and a while I get a smidgen of inspiration to make a tilt-shift style image. This particular image was shot from the top of Mount Maxwell overlooking the sound end of Saltspring Island.

Lately I have been struggling with where my passions lie and where I should be investing most of my time. To let you in on a bit of how this is happening here is a bit of an explanation.

Many of you know that I am working as an intern in the Kaleo program (an adventure based first year bible college program based out of Camp Qwanoes). Within this role I am basically asked to throw my life at these students, love them, care for them, have fun with them and watch them grow. It takes a lot of time, a lot of will power and a lot of patience - patience beyond what I can bare sometimes. 

On the other side of things is this passion, my photography. I am barely going a day without thinking about what I will be doing with it in the come years. It as well takes a lot of time, practice, patience and will power. 

Here is where the two worlds collide. Both allow me to do something which I have a joyful passion of doing, making a meaningful difference in the lives of others and in this world. Sounds like both fit, right? They do. So why am I struggling with this? I don’t know. 

Professionally I want to go all out for my photography. I want to dive into this crazy vat of glue called this world and get all sticky. I want to go out there and tell the stories that need to be told. I want to tell the stories of children around the world. Most of all, I want people to have their hearts broken for the issues tackled in my images. I want a child’s smile to warm a heart, a personality to speak through an image and attack a persons conscience to the point where they want to act. Most of all, I want to bring hope and love in a new unique way. 

Are you passionate for something? Do you struggle with a balance? How do you tackle the battle in your heart? 

I’m excited for the future and more excited for the now.

Just recently there was a great app. released for the iPhone called “Camera Bag“. This app allows the user to stylize the images that you take on the iPhone, from Holga effects to B&W’s. Here are a few samples:

Once again, these images aren’t about supreme quality but rather content and effectiveness of conveying good stylized images. I have been very impressed with how this little program allows the user to take a so-so image and transform it into an well post-pro’d image. I am excited to see what the future holds for the camera software in the iPhone and hope to see some more customization in the future.

So now that it’s Thanksgiving, why not take a break and spend time with your family and loved ones. Appreciate the smells and old familiar aromas of the season. Take a walk and admire the colors. Make some coffee and read a book. Slow down a bit, and be thankful that you have the ability to appreciate these things, you have the ability to see what others do not see, and the ability to capture them. It’s a gift that could easily go away.

Download it HERE!

Download It Here!

Yes, that is excitement you read there, excitement about a camera strap. I never thought that I would ever get excited about a camera strap either, but these are so different from any other out there that they deserve some face time. Now most will look at the strap - like I did - and just see your usual strap without much difference from another. What actually sold me was the video they had posted, while it is corny, it explains how it works and why it is so revolutionary. Watch the video HERE.

These are fairly expensive for a camera strap, but I feel that they allow the user to hold your camera in such a different and better way that it’s worth it. I’ve ordered two and will have a quick review of them once I get them.

Today I decided to drive some of those gravel roads, capture those rolling hills and understand the atmosphere. Here are some of the images that came from the trip:

What differs from Super-Duper to ChronoSync is the fundamental differences of what type of back-up it is. Super-Duper will makes a clone of your entire drive (including the errors!). While ChronoSync will back-up and sync just the files on the drive that you have selected. It has automatic back-ups and allows the user to even make sure specific files types aren’t backed-up. 

I have yet to have any errors or issues involving back-ups. It has run flawlessly for over 7 months now and you become accustomed to hearing that wonderful “DING” when the back-up is successfully finished. 

It costs $30 to buy and has a 30 day trial as well. I would highly suggest any photographer who uses a mac use this software for backing-up their photographs. It can even back-up your files to MobileMe on a consistent basis, a feature which I use daily on an auto back-up.

Download It Here!

As well, since I have been home I have been re-interested in the place that I once grew up at. I have been capturing the landscapes and the details of the Alberta Prairies. This will be an ongoing project throughout the next couple of years. You can check that sequence of images in the “Prairies Project” section.

QUICK UPDATE: Yes I am still working on the September wallpaper. It has taken me longer then expected to get around to it. Hopefully within the coming days it will be out.

Canon 50MM F1.2L

Sandisk Extreme III 8GB x 2

Western Digital 250GB Passport x 2

I have been in need of a few good high volume memory cards for a while now and since Sandisk has updated their Extreme III to 30MB/s from 20MB/s and kept at the same price (and possibly going down) it was the perfect time to purchase some nice CF cards. 

I have been wrestling over which lens I should be buying this fall for a while now. But after handling the 50MM f1.2 L and taking a few snapshots with it I immediately fell in love with it. Slapped down the cash and have been having a lot of fun with it all afternoon. Here are some samples:

Lastly, I heard that Costco was selling Western Digital 250GB Passport HD’s on sale for $99.99 and I couldn’t pass that up for some cheap back-ups. Their USB 2.0, and completely bus powered which is great for those on the road back-ups.

As I posted yesterday, this will most likely be my last summer as the photographer at Qwanoes. It’s been an amazing three years working in this position. Over the years I have been able to really see how simply getting out and shooting can dramatically improve your shooting. As well, the constant search for a more meaningful image has driven me to places I never thought I’d go. I am excited for the future and have some dreams that are making me really excited for the future. 

Thanks to all who have supported me in my journey this summer. It has truly made a difference. If you haven’t already done so, go over the qwanoes.ca and check out the summer galleries, there you will find 150+ images from the summer.