As you can tell below - it's been awhile

Haven't used this blog in a long time (I had to remove a "myspace" link - ack).

For latest thoughts/samples/contact info please see my main site SpeersPhoto.com

Thanks for visiting,

Neil

New business - Portrait Photography in Calgary

After much thinking, working, looking, and considering - my business is going about a slight change in direction and will have a new name. I've registered the name Alberta Portrait Inc. and will be concentrating on Family portraits, personal portraits, baby and maternity photography, as well as my standard business portraits and head shots.

You can learn more at my site AlbertaPortrait.com

Up in the sky

Just a few shots of construction photography from 8th Avenue Place in Calgary - fun doing industrial photography like for clients like SuperMetal - the company doing the structural steel for the building. This is the second time up here - at least they had an elevator this time. Carrying all my gear up to the the 38th floor wouldn't be fun.

FTP for Mac - Transmit is the only answer worth looking at

I've been using Transmit (by Panic) and have always loved it. Of course, its Mac only - which is as good a reason as any to get a Mac; being able to use this for FTP. Now they've released the latest revision - Version 4 - and I'm really impressed.

Okay, if you're not technical - FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol, which is the most common way for web designers to get files into a web site.

For those who use FTP - this version is the "feline's posterior"; if you get my meaning. Version 4 added the ability to use the Mac desktop as the interface for logging in and transferring files (and manipulating them too) even when Transmit isn't running. I've seen other utilities that try to do this - but Transmit is the first I've found to make the process truly transparent.

Once installed, you can have a simple icon in the menu bar that shows your favourites. Pull down to the site you want to work on (it has to be in Transmit's favourites first) and it opens up as a folder, just like it was ON your computer. I modified a page on my site (SpeersPhoto.com) with my html editor just like I do on my computer. Saved the file, closed the folder, all done. Sweetness.

There's a few great features with the full program as well, including being able to use Transmit's built in text editor to work on files on your site, as well as being able to use any html editor on your site for editing. There's also syncing files in a folder on your computer with those online - great if you make changes on your site locally, and then want to upload those changes once you're done making changes rather than risk making fatal mistakes on your live files.

There's a bunch more this program will do, all good. And the interface is really nice. I really pity PC users who have to deal with all those really badly done FTP clients - I've dealt with a bunch of them over the years, nothing I've tried comes close to the ease of Transmit for the Mac.

Its only $34 for the full version, and $19 for the update. Worth every penny either way.

Encana building photo

While I was dropping off something at a friends place, noticed all the lights in the Encana building being built in downtown Calgary.

Teresa - business portrait

I got a call recently to photograph mortgage agent Teresa at her home. We did a series of shots - but we both really liked this informal looking photo taken in her dining room - looking into the kitchen. Turns out she was also a Calgary Flames fan. Had a great time doing photos of her and her sweet little dog.

Posing for the "photogencially challenged"

Just did a video and article on Posing for the Photogenically Challenged for my Portrait dedicated site - the premise is that when people were young, they didn't really care about the camera and were naturally photogenic. As they get older, some people become shy and awkward as they become overly self aware in front of the camera. This is a learned habit, and if it can be learned, it can be unlearned. This isn't a definitive guide to posing, but just some first steps to learn to relax and be natural in front of the camera, plus a couple of ways to just look better. You can read the full article at: www.albertaportrait.com/articles.php

Posing

This is a pretty funny video of Kelly Ripa "posing" for photos, and yet there is some truth to what she says here. I'm not really a fan of her's, just came across this one as I'm just about finished a video and article on "posing for the photogencially challenged."

Ashley in a box

I was fortunate to work the other day with model Ashley on a short video production and photoshoot (more on that in an upcoming post.) Playing around the warehouse we found this cabinet that I thought would be a fun place to put her for a shot.

We did this strobist style using a 580ex II (hotshoe style flash triggered remotely) on her, and another one pointed towards to the roof to pull some detail.

Christmas Day - pictures of ice and water

Christmas day 2009 - decided I needed to go for a walk and see what pictures were waiting for me. I live in Calgary near the Bow River and that's where I headed figuring the ice on the water always makes for something interesting to look at. While I was wondering around beside the river, one of the many people out walking their dogs through the area stopped and asked "What are you seeing?" Interesting question - not "what are you shooting."

I replied that I was seeing "shapes and forms, shadows and textures, stillness and movement - I like the contrast of the still ice and the motion of the water."

A few executive portraits

Had the pleasure last week of photographing RBC Investment Adviser Warren Armstrong and his assistant at the their downtown Calgary offices.

Cantaloupe shot

A piece of cantaloupe, a martini glass, a hammered aluminum bowl - grab the camera and see what comes out. Nice photographic diversion in the afternoon.

Family shots

A couple of shots from a recent family session I did in their home. They loved the shot of their son hamming it up. Very fun working with each of them - which I knew even before taking out the camera.

Kiva.org

I just did my first loan through Kiva.org to help a woman in Cambodia to buy seeds in order to become self sufficient. You too can help entrepreneurs in developing countries to move forward through these micro-loans.

Erin in the studio

A couple fo the shots I did this weekend with Erin who is studying contemporary dance and ballet.

Business portraits - three looks

Worked with recent MBA grad and entrepreneur Loreen Sherman to get a new look for her for a variety of uses - great to have the time to work with someone so willing to try things out of the ordinary for their business. The top shot was your straight up headshot done with soft box and rim light. The second was done using a hotshoe flash on a stand and set to very tight light, while the third was natural light in a corner of some space I'm using - strong backlight. So far that is everyone's favourite.

Busted watch

I was out doing some family portraits the other day, everything went pretty well, got lots of nice shots of them. Packed up my gear and was headed home when I checked my watch - I have no idea how or when this happened. It was fine on my way there, I checked the time to make sure I wasn't late. I don't remember hitting anything while I was there or getting back into the car. Must have tapped it just right on the edge of some furniture and it just smucked my poor watch. Sad. Really liked this watch - not the most expensive in the world, but did spend a fair amount on it at the time.

Thoughtful words

While I'm not a religious person as a rule, I did find this quote to be very good advice and something we should all aspire to:

A portion of John Baillie's A Diary of Private Prayer . . .

Teach me, O God, so to use all the circumstances of my life today that they may bring forth in me the fruits of holiness rather than the fruits of sin.

Let me use disappointment as material for patience;

Let me use success as material for thankfulness;

Let me use suspense as material for perseverance;

Let me use danger as material for courage;

Let me use reproach as material for longsuffering;

Let me use praise as material for humility;

Let me use pleasures as material for temperance;

Let me use pains as material for endurance.

Music promo shoot - behind the scenes

Did a little taping of my shoot with AMP Radio's Rockstar 2010 winners Frankie McQueen. In the back of my Yaris, I fit a suitcase with three mono-lights (a White Lightening and two old Elinchroms), a "golf club travel bag" that I use to haul all the stands, soft-boxes and umbrellas, a backdrop stand, my camera backback which holds my 5D, spare body, 5 lenses, two flashes, cords, etc., a bag of reflectors, a bag with the drop cloth I used for the background (which blew out by the lights) and a bag for the camcorder, and still had room in the front seat to pick up my friend and assistant for the day - Dave.



These are a couple of shots from the day.



Loved the arc of skylights at the top of the atrium.

Wisdom by Andrew Zuckerman

Gorgeous photos and essential wisdom from those who've experienced life and have made a difference, photographed and produced by New York photographer Andrew Zuckerman.

We should all take these lessons to heart - and for the photographers, be inspired both by the photography and scope of this book, which includes a DVD with the interviews.


The Trailer:








Also see the web site for the book if you want to learn more and see the "making of" - great for us photographers. www.wisdombook.org