Raise The Roof | Calgary Alumni Game

This afternoon I had the pleasure of shooting the Crossfield "Raise The Roof" fundraiser with the Calgary Alumni Players. It was a lot of fun and everyone had a great time. I am definitely not a hockey photographer as this was the second time shooting on ice. It is a sport that takes a lot of time to develop and experience to make a good image. I did manage to get a few decent images like the one here of Crossfield's own Chris Schulze stopping Calgary Alumni Archie Henderson (who is 6-6' and 220 lbs).

Til Next Season | Insomniac Night Photographer

Click on the image for a larger view.

I was excited to finally get out a few days before full moon especially on such a clear night. I couldn't get into the location I wanted as it is now fenced in (need time to get through that one) so on my way back to town I stopped near a few old buildings and grain bins. Turns out they are still in use and the equipment that was parked there was in perfect position.

This shot was taken at 10 pm at night with an exposure of 40 seconds. The WB is set to tungsten as it gives a cool tone as opposed to the muddy red from the auto WB. Everything else was also done in camera. It gives a weird scene, almost looks like daytime with the shadows but nothing in the shadow side is filled in. And hanging out in the dark with the 'yoties gets the blood pumpin.

Deja Vu | Canadian Adventure Photographer

I knew I had been here before, maybe years ago but the feeling was rushing through me like hot acid in my veins. All at once the familiarity combined with the fear that I was way off route and this may not have been the first time caused my knees to almost buckle. But I couldn't lose it right now, or it would be a 90 foot fall on to an 80 degree rock face with the rope only good for retrieving my body. I yelled down to Jordan that I was off route (he agreed...) and there was no way to down climb or pass through the featureless roof above me. I tried to stay calm and focus on the task at hand, I needed to get some protection in (an anchor of any kind) as soon as I could. Strangely the familiarity I felt was nagging me to look about 6 feet to the left below the wall so I gave in and leaned as far as I could. as I leaned out I began to see a piton creeping out past a small flake so I quickly and deliberately side stepped a dime sized crimp and moved within reach. It felt good to clip that sling to the pin (piton) and then clip the rope and especially for the blood to rush back into my extremities. I could now move past the simple 5.6 bulge with confidence and some classy moves. Keeping my shit together again made a potentially bad situation manageable.

At the next belay I reflected on what happened and remembered I had been off route there before when I had done this climb (East Face of Chinaman's Peak, 13 pitches 2100' face climbing) with another partner about 7 years before. Maybe that was a good thing as in the back of my head I knew there had to be a pin close by. I also thought about how far my run-outs seem to be since the plane crash and wondering if it is just confidence, the need for speed (fast is safe), or an appreciation for the risk. Not sure right now but it turned out to be an amazing climb and it was great to get back in to that vertical world where everything in my life gets put into perspective. I always appreciate that focus when I am up there and I think maybe I even need it.

A Thin Veil | Canadian Adventure Photographer

Tonight I pulled out my camera for just a couple of minutes. I was at the ponds in Crossfield with 7 students that were taking my last lighting and creativity workshop and we were just lighting for the last few minutes of light.

As usual on the prairies in our area the skies were amazing. Another Chinook day and a little bit of wind to break up the water along the pond. I was a little sad as I shot this, knowing that we have had an even longer fall than usual and being spoiled by that, I knew it will be gone soon. Like a little gift as someone you have had the pleasure to get to know for the last few weeks is leaving but wants you to remember them until next year. It's been a beautiful fall here in Crossfield, and the romance of life has revealed itself even if just for a moment. More than enough to appreciate, for this moment, I am content.

Rundle On Fire | Calgary Adventure Photographer

This morning I left Crossfield about 4:15 am in hopes to get relaxed before shooting sunrise at Vermillion Lakes in Banff. Well I hadn't been there for 5 minutes (6:45) when I saw the sky beginning to light up and the fire-red highlights glancing the bottom of the clouds.

Normally I move around a bit a try something different but as the sun started to hit the horizon the clouds just burst with a brightness that almost looked neon. I just recomposed this shot and took frame after frame in order to get the fast moving clouds in the right spot. Love it.

It's great to have time for my personal work and even better when I can spend it with people who are just as passionate about photography as I am. It's been a few months since I last saw Paul Zizka but every time we get together it's like I never left. He pulls over, parks, says, "hey!" and runs off to start shooting, knowing there will be time to catch up later when we go for coffee. What a great morning!

Edmonton | Creative & Lighting Workshops

Our host, Tammy Deren during the last minutes of light on day two.

This weekend I spent two days in Edmonton with a handful of extremely talented photographers. And by handful I mean 10 very fun ladies who are not only bursting with energy but very creative and passionate about their business.

Tammy Deren (Smiley Eyes Photography) was our host as well as Hope Walls who provided a wealth of experience in the business of portrait photography. Tammy and Hope were a lot of fun and their circle of photog friends made it enjoyable to teach and work over the two workshops.

Although this will be the last of this kind of workshop, I look forward to getting back to Edmonton to work with the girls on other projects and potentially some other types of workshops. Thanks again guys for having me up there, you created a lot of beautiful work with your new mad-skillz!

Pure White | Calgary Adventure Photographer

Here a two of my favorite images from our trip to the salt. I have been switching my camera color space (in camera) to monochromatic when I am shooting in bright open daylight and I love the results. In this case I shot the bobber from behind facing out on to the speed track with some sky in the back ground at an almost natural exposure. What I got was a simple scene that relies on the limited tonal range and contrast between the pure-white sand and the bike and sky. It is simple and that's what I love about it. The image becomes a simple graphic with a simple story.

In this shot with the European team riding their sidecar back to the start area, I wanted something a little more artistic but once again, simple. I decided to drag my shutter a little to get some blurr out of the sand to show movement but I also over-exposed the shot by 2 stops. What you get is the blown-out highlights taking over in the frame and with very few mid tones, the white contrasts with the black. All this done in camera with no photoshop, it still makes a stunning image when it is so far from a natural color exposure. It is nice to still make an interesting image so far from the generally accepted technically perfect settings in camera.