I recently had a image of mine featured across @ExploreCanada's social networks. The image was taken at the Rogers Centre (AKA The Skydome) in Toronto during my first Blue Jays game. The image isn't actually a single image, it's actually about 9 images stitched together using photo shop to give the appearance of an ultra-wide angle lens. I did it all handheld and surprisingly it worked out. This will be a great technique moving forward as a Photographer. Sometimes the scope of a scene is too wide to capture on my go to 24mm lens. It will be a great fallback plan if I can't quite fit everything I want into my frame.
HERE is a link to the photo on @ExploreCanada's Instagram page.
AND here is the photo if you don't feel like clicking on the link above. Hope you enjoy!
BEFORE & AFTER
Like almost every photographer ever, most of the time I try to get images correct in camera. I want to be happy with an image directly from camera. Despite this, there is obviously so much value in using post-processing to create a look and feel on an image. I've been using Photoshop for a while now and I figured it would be a good time to take my photo-editing game up a peg. I've been practicing and adding new editing techniques to my repertoire. Here are some images I've recently edited using these new-to-me photoshop tricks. I've included the untouched image so you can see the difference. Click on the images below to view in their full-sized glory.
Canadian Geographic and Narcity
I was included in a Canadian Geographic publication "150 Ultimate Canadian Instagram Photos" and a Narcity list "15 Manitoban Photographers Who Will Make You Love Manitoba" .
Here are the photos they used.
HAPPY CANADA DAY!
I feel like I really won the bio-geographical lottery being born in Canada. Such an amazing diversity of people and landscapes. So much to see and do. We really are so lucky to live here. I take great pride in calling this beautiful country home. It may not be perfect, but I love it all the same.
Happy 150th Canada!
Catch Me at the Beach...
Finally, I have found a home and work in Toronto!
I haven't been shooting much recently because I've been giving myself some time to get to know Toronto. I want to make sure I experience the city through my own eyes, and not through my viewfinder. As a photographer I feel it's important to give yourself some time to get to know an area rather than running into the unknown spraying the scene. I like to sit and people watch, get a sense of the rhythms of the neighborhood and really listen to the sounds. It's easy to just come in blasting off shots, but when you do that you might miss out on some of the subtleties of what you are shooting. It might be tempting to bring your camera everywhere, but I feel it's easy to miss the true scope of the world around you when you are peering through a 2x3 window. It may seem counter-intuitive for a photographer to choose to put their camera down, but it is for this reason that I've been leaving my camera at home.
As for work I've recently got a job as a EFP Videographer with Woodbine Entertainment. I'll be doing a lot of different things there, anything from shooting races and promos, to features on jockeys and musicians that come through. A lot of the content I'll be shooting will run on TSN as well as in house. I loved the run and gun nature of being a news photog, but I'm excited that in this role I'll be able to spend a lot more time on getting shots right, and making them look really pretty. I've only been at Woodbine for about a week now, but it feels like it will be a great place to work and stretch out the creative muscles. Also I think through work I'll officially be getting my drone pilot license. SO STOKED!
It's been a couple weeks since I've been in the Toronto now, so you can expect to see more from me soon. For now here are a couple shots just down the street from my place. If you can't tell, I'm currently living in "The Beaches". I'm really digging the area. It's a nice mix of big city, and beach town here. I really couldn't ask for a better neighborhood to live and I can't wait to get even more familiarized with the area.
CLICK TO VIEW FULL IMAGE
Bruce Peninsula Blues
It's that time of year here in Canada - time to dust off the tent, sharpen your axe and head out into the woods to enjoy the beautiful weather. Last week my lady and I decided to get out and do just that. We headed to Bruce Peninsula, purely based on the fact that it was the nearest National Park. Not sure what to expect, we packed our stuff and rolled out.
When we arrived we set up our campsite and took a stroll to "The Grotto". After a short hike through the forest we came up to an opening in the trees. What was just beyond the trees was a bit surprising... Were we suddenly teleported to the Caribbean? The water was a shade of blue that you would expect to see at a tropical destination, however we weren't standing on the beach of some all inclusive resort, we were standing on the edges of Georgian Bay, right here in Canada. The rhythms of the crystal clear waters breaking on the shore in combination with the gentle breeze and fresh air made for perfect moments of relaxation. Winding trails through plethora of ancient cedar trees, some of which were apparently 100's of years old! Not to mention the wildlife they have in the region. Black bears, rattlesnakes, owls and more. Who needs the Caribbean when you have access to a National Park such as this one just a few hours away. I can ramble on about what makes this area so special but it is something that is difficult to put into words - It is something that is best experienced in person.
If you can make it out here I would highly recommend it. I'm already itching to get back. In the meantime here are some of my images from Bruce Peninsula and the surrounding area. Click to view the full image.
