Taking a Picture of the Parking Lot at Night...Just because.

© 2010 FalconRose Photography,
1/15, f/1.8, ISO 800, NR on, and noise reduction with PhotoScape.

Possible New Gear in a couple of Months...

Well, it seems like I will be getting the minimum amount of gear that's required to do wedding photography. My mother's leaning towards that and making sure that I have a "piece of paper" that indicates that I know what I'm doing with regards to photography. Being self-taught doesn't translate well to customer confidence with regards to photography skills. Thanks, Mom. I owe an incredible debt of gratitude to you for doing this.



This camera is the D300s (yeah, yeah, I know the photo says D300, but trust me, the D300s is pretty much the same thing with movie function). It is what is known as an advanced amateur/semi professional camera and because the D3s and D3x (which are professional cameras) are severely out of my price range, I'm going to go with this particular camera. It is 13.1 megapixels (13,100,000 pixels) and coupled with a MB-D10 battery grip/EN-EL4a combo, I can boost my frame rate to 8 fps (frames per second) crucial for nailing the shots of the recessional and processionals. . This will become my primary camera. My D50 will be my secondary for candids that won't be blown up any larger than 5" x 7". Keep in mind that its the guy behind the camera and not the equipment that produces the picture. If the equipment was the key element in a professional photography, you could stick the Nikon D300s into the hands of a baboon and he'd be able to be a professional photographer. It is still the brains and the skill that a professional photographer possesses that outputs a professional grade image.



This will be my workhorse lens. The Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII. This is the long-range lens that will enable me to keep out of the way of the ceremony while taking pictures that the bride will remember for the rest of her life. It'll also be the workhorse that I use to take pictures of the first dance and the bride's dance with her father. Plus slap that on the walk down the aisle and I don't have to follow the bride and her father down the aisle to give her away. That way I'll be able to stay out of the way of the flowergirls traipsing down the aisle as well.



This is a DX format Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 Di II VC (Vibration Control) lens for wide angle shots of the interior of the church. With this lens, I can stand in the balcony of the church or give it to my photographer second and tell him or her to go shoot the crowd at the wedding ceremony from the upper balcony. This also works for the semi-formal group portraits of both the bride and groom's wedding party. When you can prescout out a location for the semi-formals then you can get the bride and the bridesmaids into a group shot and the groom and groomsmen into another shot. The 17-50mm range is ideal for that. Ideally, I would love to have a super-wide, but as far as I'm concerned right at the moment, this gear will get me going.

Ideally I would have liked to have kept all my lenses Nikon, but unfortunately, with the 14-24 f/2.8 and the 24-70mm f/2.8 both running $2000.00 CDN each, I would prefer to be making money with the Tamron and then upgrading when I have enough money.

For the first dozen or so weddings, I'm going to work as a photographer second to the primary photographer as I have a friend who does this. This is essential in learning the pace of the wedding and getting an idea of where I have to be situated to get the shots that I need to record the happiest day of a woman's life.

Missing My Dad - Photography in a Black Mood

Really missed my Dad today. So I pulled out my camera, set his old jacket that he used to like to wear on a chair and took a photograph.


Defining Sorrow #1 (RIP Dad) An Empty Chair
© 2010 FalconRose Photography

I also reworked a photograph from our graveside visit and made it darker and inverted the colors to signify my mood.


Defining Sorrow #2 (RIP Dad) Contemplations over a Grave
© 2010 FalconRose Photography

Copyright and your right to put up pics on Facebook...Where do you stand?

I'm getting a little concerned with the proliferation of my school friends and online contacts putting up "pro-pics" (photographs taken by professional photographers) of their weddings, their children, their engagements...etc. I'm hoping that all my friends have taken the time to read the contracts that they signed at the start of the photo shoot that they have had. As much as I love seeing the photographs of the friends that I've known for many years, especially when they're done up so superbly, I also wonder what the professional photographer is thinking when he/she sees their work displayed all over the place without recompense. As a photographer myself, I know that I wouldn't want my photos displayed all over the place without a limited use disclaimer for the end-user (that is yourself...) When I did photography for my friend from college, I gave him "limited use rights" for his own Facebook page/website and for his own promotional materials (as he is a professional orchestral/soloist trumpeter/trumpet teacher). That's why you see his photos on both my blog as well as his Facebook. But unless you have that disclaimer in writing, you tread on very thin ice.

Back in the days of film, you either had to get a film print directly from the professional photographer because in those days, none of the commercial photo-developers would touch a professional print with a ten foot pole. The copyright infringement implications were too great. And despite web-media nowadays, the laws are even stricter. Not only are there monetary fines, but there are also jail terms for copyright infringement. That's a scary prospect; just for putting up a professional picture on your Facebook account.

Canadian Copyright Laws:
http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/resources/legislation/canadian_law/federal/copyright_act/cdn_copyright_ov.cfm

US Copyright Laws:

http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap5.html#501

The penalties under US Copyright Law:

http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap5.html#504

(b) Actual Damages and Profits. — The copyright owner is entitled to recover the actual damages suffered by him or her as a result of the infringement, and any profits of the infringer that are attributable to the infringement and are not taken into account in computing the actual damages. In establishing the infringer's profits, the copyright owner is required to present proof only of the infringer's gross revenue, and the infringer is required to prove his or her deductible expenses and the elements of profit attributable to factors other than the copyrighted work.
(c) Statutory Damages. —
(1) Except as provided by clause (2) of this subsection, the copyright owner may elect, at any time before final judgment is rendered, to recover, instead of actual damages and profits, an award of statutory damages for all infringements involved in the action, with respect to any one work, for which any one infringer is liable individually, or for which any two or more infringers are liable jointly and severally, in a sum of not less than $750 or more than $30,000 as the court considers just. For the purposes of this subsection, all the parts of a compilation or derivative work constitute one work.
(2) In a case where the copyright owner sustains the burden of proving, and the court finds, that infringement was committed willfully, the court in its discretion may increase the award of statutory damages to a sum of not more than $150,000. In a case where the infringer sustains the burden of proving, and the court finds, that such infringer was not aware and had no reason to believe that his or her acts constituted an infringement of copyright, the court in its discretion may reduce the award of statutory damages to a sum of not less than $200. The court shall remit statutory damages in any case where an infringer believed and had reasonable grounds for believing that his or her use of the copyrighted work was a fair use under section 107, if the infringer was: (i) an employee or agent of a nonprofit educational institution, library, or archives acting within the scope of his or her employment who, or such institution, library, or archives itself, which infringed by reproducing the work in copies or phonorecords; or (ii) a public broadcasting entity which or a person who, as a regular part of the nonprofit activities of a public broadcasting entity (as defined in subsection (g) of section 118) infringed by performing a published nondramatic literary work or by reproducing a transmission program embodying a performance of such a work.
----

So when you go in to see a professional photographer, please do your due diligence homework and get yourself a limited use rights release allowing you to put your "pro-pics" up on your website, on your Facebook. After all, putting up your pics for everyone to see is worth it, but getting dinged $30,000 or more up to an amount of $150,000 is not worth it to the pocketbook. Please be careful, my friends.

You need to have fun sometimes...

I would have to say that some of my photography ventures into the avante-garde. Taking pictures of lights and other objects, just because they're there or the light is falling on them a certain way or just some stroke of "mad genius" (substitute "genius" with "fool") hits me.

Some may not understand "why" I took a certain photograph. Others may find it quaint. But to each their own. I shoot photography not because someone else likes it, but because I want to. An innate need to do something that can't be voiced other than by visual means. So if you like this: that's great. If you don't like this: Good for you too. Everybody is entitled to their own opinion.

I enjoy photography, it's a hobby as well as an occupation for me. Everyone sees the world through their own eyes. It just means that my perception differs from yours. There is no wrong way to do photography so long as the meaning of the image comes across if there is any "deep" meaning. You can even play around with exposure as long as you convey what you wanted to convey. That is the essence of photography.

Here are three pictures with no other meaning than: "I wanted to take a picture of whatever that was in the picture...so I did..."


© 2010 FalconRose Photography


© 2010 FalconRose Photography


© 2010 FalconRose Photography

As I said...there's really no meaning other than "I wanted to take this picture". And let me end this post on a note: If you're not enjoying photography anymore...THEN you're doing something wrong." Don't let anyone take the joy out of your photography. After all having fun behind the viewfinder is the most important thing.

Happy Shooting...

The Perfect All-Weather Photographer's Jacket for Vancouver; Thanks Dad!

When my father passed away in December, I inherited many of his clothes that my mother felt would fit me. Of the many clothes that my father wore that she passed down, one of them would prove to be one of the most useful jackets that I have ever seen. This was an angler’s jacket; a fisherman’s jacket. When my father passed away, my mother gave me his "angler's jacket". He never went fishing...he wasn't a fisherman; he wore that jacket just once because my mother bought it for him and it was cold and wet. Then it got passed down to me after his death. And he didn't know it, but I'm going to be able to make great use out of this jacket.

With Vancouver’s rainy weather, it is not surprising that Vancouver is listed as one of the worst places to do photography in unless you have a weather resistant camera like a Nikon D200/300 or pro-grade D3/D3X camera. I think the Canons are also weather resistant as well, but I’m not as familiar with that brand as with my Nikon cameras.

Many people talk about photographer’s vests: those tacky looking vests that have dozens of pockets to put stuff into like batteries, memory card cases, AA battery cases for one's flash...etc etc etc, your remote trigger cords, filters (in their cases)...and what not. Well up here, a photographer’s vest isn’t enough with the copious amounts of rainfall that we get in the Lower Mainland (it’s raining right now as I write this).

As you can see from the photos, it's got all sorts of pockets on the interior for keeping the spare batteries warm on a cold day as well as exterior pockets for keeping other equipment on your person. That way then you don't have to take a huge day pack, you can get by with a camera bag that's lighter than usual, because your jacket's carrying the rest of your stuff.

The jacket exterior...



The two right pockets (exterior)



The two left pockets (exterior)



These next two sets of pockets are perfect for 2 batteries a piece. So frankly you could potentially have two batteries (EN-EL3s or BP-511s) or one EN-EL4a in each internal pocket (staying warm for use).

Interior pockets (left side)



Interior pockets (right side)



Thanks, Dad...I'll always be remembering you when I'm wearing this jacket during my outdoor shoots.

Central City Night Shots - January 05, 2008

I had the opportunity recently to take my Manfrotto 190XB up to Surrey Central Station and take some shots of the SFU Campus building (long exposures between 4 & 8 seconds).  This made the building itself visible to some extent and I did enjoy the ability to be able to take those shots because then I was able to while away the hours between my arriving from Joyce Station at Surrey Central and the 321 arriving by taking photos.  



This first shot shows the curve of the building really nicely which gives the building a nice open feel.  The wide open rafters that you can somewhat see in the building also makes for a very airy view.  



This second shot shows the westward side of SFU-Surrey Campus and shows a little of how the light plays with the angles of the building.  I kinda feel fond of this shot because it's the first time I've actually taken a really long-exposure shot.  I'd like to try at least a minute on my next nite architecture shot, but I find that it may cause a lot of glare in the lamps.  I'm going to have to take a good hard look at this before I start doing this to make money because I do want to specialize in night-architecture photography. 

Photos from the Archives #6

Welcome to Part 6 of my archived photos...the ones that I never got around to editing until now. This is the last archival post until I get some more edits done to my other archive photos.



Foutains by Canada Place © 2007 FalconRose Photography



False Creek by Cambie Bridge© 2007 FalconRose Photography



Through the Lens Hood © 2007 FalconRose Photography



Looking Up Howe Street (digital watercolor) © 2007 FalconRose Photography



Canada Goose (Lensbaby effect) © 2007 FalconRose Photography



False Creek Water Taxi Approaching © 2007 FalconRose Photography



Zoom Airlines Airbus A320 © 2007 FalconRose Photography



Waterfront Station Terminal © 2007 FalconRose Photography



Vancouver Panorama from SkyTrain # 2 © 2007 FalconRose Photography



Vancouver Panorama from Sky Train # 1 © 2007 FalconRose Photography (a black & white)



United Airlines Boeing 767 © 2007 FalconRose Photography



North Shore (panorama) © 2007 FalconRose Photography



Lufthansa Airbus A340 © 2007 FalconRose Photography



FedEx Airbus on Tarmac © 2007 FalconRose Photography



The View from Canada Place © 2007 FalconRose Photography

And there we are...that's all the photos that I have edited so far from the Archives.

Photos from the Archive #5

Welcome to Part 5 of my archived photos...the ones that I never got around to editing until now. Just a few more posts until I'm done.



False Creek at Dusk (panorama)© 2007 FalconRose Photography



Storm Clouds at Dusk © 2007 FalconRose Photography
(taken at Vanier Park)



Last Glow of Twilight © 2007 FalconRose Photography



Clouds over West End © 2007 FalconRose Photography



Granville Island Public Market Sign © 2007 FalconRose Photography



Playtime at the Beach © 2007 FalconRose Photography

Definitely a bit cold that day.

Now here comes a whole series of Bald Eagle Shots which were shot at Vanier Park. This is where I wish I had that 400mm f/2.8 or 600mm f/4.



Bald Eagle at Kits Point # 4 © 2007 FalconRose Photography



Bald Eagle at Kits Point # 3 © 2007 FalconRose Photography

There were several photographers clustered around the tree the nest was in, and that poor male bald eagle was pretty antsy. This next picture almost looks as if the eagle is asking "When are you idiots going to go away???"



Bald Eagle at Kits Point #2 © 2007 FalconRose Photography



Bald Eagle at Kits Point # 1 © 2007 FalconRose Photography (a black & white)

1 more post with 15 photos comin' up.

Photos from the Archive #4

Welcome to Part 4 of my archived photos...the ones that I never got around to editing until now. Unfortunately, there are more of them that I still haven't gotten around to editing yet. I guess I'm just a little lazy on that account...



The False Creek Water Taxi Turns© 2007 FalconRose Photography

Some other pictures of White Rock from when we went the last time.

Noisy damned seagull!



Yap Yap Yap © 2007 FalconRose Photography


White Seagull on Rock © 2007 FalconRose Photography
(don't know if it's the same seagull as the previous pic)



The White Rock © 2007 FalconRose Photography



Looking down White Rock Pier © 2007 FalconRose Photography

White Rock Pier © 2007 FalconRose Photography


Sailboat at Dusk © 2007 FalconRose Photography



The Amtrak Train © 2007 FalconRose Photography

(end White Rock Photos)



Watching the Storm Clouds Roll In © 2007 FalconRose Photography



Tranquil Pond © 2007 FalconRose Photography (a black & white)

With this post that means I've still got 2 more posts with the last being 15 photos.