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Archive for September, 2010

Shooting 50mm

24 Sep

When I go to a party, I often like to bring my camera and bring only one lens: my 50mm f1.8 prime lens.

I use that lens for two reasons:

  1. When I have a fixed lens at 50mm I am forced to find interesting angles and I am forced to move to get the kind of shot that I might want. The picture ends up being either pretty good or really bad; there’s rarely a so-so picture.
  2. It’s often pretty dark at a party, so having a lens that can bring in as much of the ambient light as possible is best. The f1.8 is great for that; it allows me to take great pictures without the need of a flash going off…and when you are trying to take pictures of people when they are acting natural, it’s important that they don’t know you’re taking pictures. Most people are camera shy.

A few weeks ago there was a bit of a reunion of sorts at the Daigles house. Danny, one of my old high school religion teachers, was in town and wanted to get everyone together. Danny is actually the reason I decided to get my Bachelor of Education; he inspired me by his way of teaching and passion for youth and their development. He inspired a lot of people, actually….and he still does while teaching at St. Andrew’s High in Victoria BC.

Here are some shots I took at that party. They really capture some moments and give you an idea about what the party was like.

 
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My Style

23 Sep

I was trying to think about what kind of pictures I like to take and it got me thinking. Do I have a  style? Can my friends look at a picture and say, “I bet Andrew took that” ?

When I have time to make a picture the way that I want to, I think I have more of a style than when it is a real-time situation that I need to capture (couple saying their vows, kids playing soccer, baby playing with a toy, etc). When I have time to setup a shot I think I tend to try to make things look epic. Not dreamy, not blown out, not contrasty or moody, but epic. Colourful, vivid, sharp, and epic.

Here is a contrasting example: the first picture is a natural light shot….it’s posed, but it’s the kind of shot I would take if I didn’t have time to setup the shot the way I wanted. The second is a 2 minute setup and some adjustments on my camera to get what I want.

Both pictures are good in their own right, but the second shot is the kind of shot I like to take. It’s just cool.

When I don’t have time to setup a shot exactly how I want it to be, I have to take what I’m given and work with it…and that’s when I take photos that are a bit more “artsy” and stylized because I have to manipulate what I’m given to try and get something cool. I think most of the time when I am taking photos at events, I’m thinking in the back of my mind “you need to get the kind of pictures that other people can’t get”. I still get the safe shots first, but then I try to see things from a different angle, try to find an interesting framing of a subject, or try to capture a moment that others might miss. If I can get the shots that no one else can get, then my pictures are worth something because they are unique.

I’m sure my style will develop more over time, but that’s how it is right now.

 

Prince George Winter Games 2015

22 Sep

I’m actually really excited about the Winter Games being hosted in Prince George in 2015. It really is going to be a huge boost to our city both in infrastructure and in finances. I just wanted to share the video that the City of Prince George produced for our bid to be the city to host the Winter Games. It’s very well done and has a lot of shots from around Prince George that really show what we have to offer. PG really is an outdoors town, and the video does a great job at showcasing that.

The video also makes me excited about the coming of winter…something I’m usually not that excited about…but being reminded of all the great winter activities that are here in PG makes the coming of snow and cold a bearable experience.

 
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