I’ve been shooting concerts lately at The Danforth Music Hall here in Toronto and this has turned out to be a fun outlet from the day to day norm. The plus side I get to see some pretty good shows, and while I have the freedom to do what I want, it does have its challenges. Most times I have to shoot from the back of the house or the sides as I don’t think the folks paying for front row centre would appreciate my six foot four inch 250 pound frame blocking their view. From time to time if it’s a rockin show, the crowd stands and I can get up front and personal to take some shots. I shoot with the Nikon D700 and the two lenses I use primarily are my Nikkor AF-S VR 70-200mm F2.8 and 24-70mm f2.8 (and I’m pretty much at f 2.8 all the time). If the stage lighting is bright enough I will attach my Nikon AF-S TC 20E II 2x teleconverter to the long lens when shooting from the back of the house (lower level) on my tripod. ISO varies between 1600 and 2500, again, depending on the stage lighting. In terms of shutter speed, well, that varies with the lighting and where I am standing. Not knowing what the lighting guy has in store for each song makes the situation always fluid.

I love being put in difficultsituations. It makes you think and work harder for the shots. You learn something new with each assignment and that to me is always great.

Attached are some shots from a recent concert "The Avett Brothers". Excellent show, I became a big fan of these guys after the first song. Also some shots of Steve O from a couple of months ago.

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Since I’m now shooting video (as well as putting photo's together on video) I thought I’d make a post about what I am using in terms of video editing. I was working off my PC for editing but moved to Apples iMac. I won’t get into the whole PC vs. Mac thing as both have their pluses and minuses, and I still use both. With the iMac I started with Final Cut Pro 7. Now this is a great program but the learning curve was more than where I wanted to go. I haven’t the time nor do I want to be a full time professional editor. When FCP X came out there was a lot of screaming from the Pro’s. In some cases they were right to do so, but for the majority of us who do not play on their level, FCP X is the way to go in my opinion. It is a lot more intuitive and has a smaller learning curve. Some have called it iMovie Pro but I believe it goes way beyond that. Either way, a great program for the cost. It is somewhat limited in its effects though and again, I don’t have time to try and figure out how to create them when on a deadline. Luckily, I stumbled upon a nifty plugin site. It’s called FCPEffects. These gems have saved me a lot of time and I’m not pulling out the last of the three hairs I have left. These cool plugins have made my life a lot easier and didn’t break the bank. So if you’re using or looking to get FCP X, check this site out. It’s worth the time spent.

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It's been quite a while since my last post so I apologize for my tardiness (don’t you hate it when life gets in the way). From location scouting, my photography and now shooting video, life has been a bit hectic. The best part though is that I’m busy shooting. Stills or video, I’m creating something, good or bad. The point I guess I’m trying to make is just get out there and do it. A camera in hand with a smile on your face beats sitting on the couch wondering, if only.Grab your friends, family or pet and get out there. The photos here are of friends of mine. Some are pro’s, most are not. Either way we had fun just playing around the city and it was a great time hanging out. Time of year or time of day doesn’t matter, if you look for it, you’ll find the shot.

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The point is, if you're in a funk don't be afraid to call a friend. They may or may not join you but they may help to open your eyes to what is right in front of you. What's that old saying, can't see the forest for the trees? It happens. 

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I was working on this job with Victoria’s Secret last week. Not as a photographer (even though I did take some shots) but as the location manager for a helicopter landing. My job was to get a permit and manage a helicopter landing in the downtown core of Toronto for the Grand opening of a new VS store. After weeks of preparation and meetings the day finally came and wouldn’t you know it, Mother Nature decided she was not going to cooperate. High winds prevented the landing at the chosen site which left us scrambling at 6:00am to find another one, a safer one, and we did. We were to land in and amongst some tall buildings which would have been visually amazing but safety always comes first. My point here is that no matter how beautiful the shot is, how skilled you think you are, your life and the life of others are more important than any photograph can ever be. The pro’s I work with all know this. It was a great team from Victoria’s Secret including the helicopter pilot, Dave, from Four Seasons Aviation. Because in the end and as always in this business we get our shots. It may not be from the best location or vantage point, more importantly though, we do get to go home to our loved ones and talk about it. So be safe out there.

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I live a double life, one as a location scout and manager for TV & Film and the other as a photographer. I must admit it can be a bit taxing but in the end, very rewarding. I travel around and see things most people never do from beautiful landscapes, great architecture to odd looking structures in the strangest places. I have the pleasure of meeting all sorts of people from all walks of life and I can say with ease that only a few I could have done without. Whether I’m taking pictures or getting permits I take a moment to enjoy where I am. I guess that’s what I want to get across to you is that whether you get a shot or not, take that moment and enjoy the people and your surroundings. To me that’s half the pleasure of doing what I do. Those experiences and wonderful conversations you will have can last a life time. It can also change how you feel about the shot you were thinking about. One moment it’s just a chair, the next it has meaning. The shot above is just a bus shelter; I took it from inside my jeep on a very rainy evening while out scouting locations with a director I was working with. After we had driven around and talked about it (and many more) he got me thinking about coming back and reshooting it properly (instead of on the fly at 6400iso). You see, now I had some stories to add emotion to the shot. This lone shelter in a desolate area now has meaning. Whether I shoot it at different times of day or seasons I now can tell a story about it all because of a simple conversation.

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In my last post I mentioned how much I loathed being a paparazzi, but this past weekend I thoroughly enjoyed photographing a rodeo. It was only my second time at one and I must say the people there (including the folks putting on the show) were wonderful. But photographing sports is not easy. High shutter speeds, high ISO’s when shooting indoors and catching the action takes practice. I admit I haven’t done a lot of action shots before so it took a bit of getting used to. On average you have four to ten seconds to get your shots when the action starts. Yes, using your motor drive helps but doesn’t mean you’ll get the shot. Over the course of two days I began to anticipate how the action would play out and knowing the sport also helps. Picking the right spot for each event was important but the action can change in a different direction and away from you just as quickly as it starts. You’ll have to get used to panning with the action and keep panning while pressing the shutter or you’ll end up with blurred photos, especially indoors. I didn’t use a flash as I had to keep my shutter speed around 1/500sec. All in all it was a great time. Rodeos may not be for everyone, but I sure like it. 

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Now this is a job I wouldn’t wish on any photographer. During TIFF week (Toronto International Film Festival) a friend of mine asked me if I wanted to hang out and play paparazzi, and silly me, I accepted. For five gruelling days, 9:00am to 11:00pm, we ran the streets chasing the stars. Now aside from the fact that this was a dumb idea, I did find that getting the shot was a tad more difficult than imagined.  You see, finding the stars were one thing, but the changing light conditions were another.  One moment you can be shooting into the sun and the next into a dark tunnel or a moving vehicle with tinted windows all the while standing in the same location. They could be two meters away or twenty. Knowing how to make quick adjustments on the fly was crucial as these stars weren’t sticking around for you to think about your settings. They flew past at lightening speed (Some grumbling a few four letter words no doubt).  Red carpet photos are easier; a few test shots have you good to go. Not all stars stop to say hi, so be be ready. On the streets though you better know your stuff or you’ll be shooting a lot of silhouettes, have blown out faces or blurred subjects. Being a paparazzi is a very fast pace when it’s happening, and most times you’re not alone. At the red carpet you have all the other pap's pushing and shoving for the same shot. When the stars aren't there, the rest of your time you’re surrounded by hours of sheer boredom.  Would I do it again? I think having a root canal or being stung by a hoard of bees would have been a more pleasant experience.

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On those rainy days when you just don't feel like getting wet, don't put your camera away just yet. There are many creative things you can still do to get a great shot. The photo below was taken on a miserable winters day and I was itching to shoot something. So instead up moping about I set up a black background, a couple of strobes, tripod and started searching the house for something to photograph. Now if you don't have any strobes, don't worry, use what ever lights you have. Two table lamps will do, be creative. Still searching I lit up a cigarette (yes I know, my last bad habit since I don't drink) while I was thinking of what to shoot and thought, hey, why not shoot it. I stood it up on end, took a quick couple of shots to adjust the power of my strobes and F stop and my 3rd shot was this. I dumped the shot onto my computer and opened it in Photoshop. As I stared at it I started to laugh as it looked angry with the mouth and one eye. So with some quick cloning I added the second eye and nose, and viola, one angry looking cigarette that speaks for the habit itself. The point is, don't let the weather get you down, just be creative and have fun. There are many objects around your house to just waiting to be shot.

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Everyone loves a waterfall, but how many in the Toronto area knew that Hamilton was waterfall central (http://waterfalls.hamilton.ca/default.asp?id=1)? Thats right, Hamilton. It has 90 of them and only 45mins away from T.O. The one thing you should always check out before heading out though is the water flow. If it hasn't been raining (even some good ones are rain dependent), chances are they will be dry as a bone. Albion Falls and Websters Falls in Hamilton are usually a safe bet. Another favorite is Inglis Falls in Owen Sound (Pictured & Video) (http://www.greysauble.on.ca/ca_lands/inglisfalls.html). This one mind you is a 3 hr drive but definitely worth it and not rain dependent. For more Ontario waterfalls check this list out  http://www.start.ca/users/mharris/waterfalls/mapindex.html. For the non hiker, some of these falls are a bit of a trek to get to. Make sure to wear the proper footwear, bring water, a bite to eat and don't forget your tripod and Polarizing Filter. Enjoy.

The video below I shot with my little Canon Power Shot SD 4000. I use videos like these for reference when I'm planning another trip to back to the area.

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One location I always enjoy going to is Kensington Market in Toronto. The big reason is that it`s colorful. From the people, the shops, the alleys and lane-ways there is aways something different. You might even question if you are still in Canada at times. I love this place and you are into urban photography, you will too. Theres also a great coffee shop on the north east corner of Augusta Ave and Baldwin St. called the Casa Acoreana. Just ask for Ozzie, he`ll look after ya.

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One of my passions is photographing nature. I love to spend weekends just driving around Ontario and getting lost on some country road (one led me to a very nice waterfall). Oh, and thank goodness for GPS because sometimes I get so lost on a backwoods trail I have no idea how to get home. Anyway, not that I will do this often but to explain nature photography better than I ever could, may I suggest you pick up this magazine...Outdoor Photography Canada (http://www.outdoorphotographycanada.com). It is a wonderful magazine with amazing nature photographers who do their best in their articles to help aspiring shutterbugs as well as pro`s in photographing the great outdoors.. I had the pleasure of attending one of their workshops in Jasper B.C. a few years back and met nature pro's like Darwin Wiggett, Mike Grandmaison and Kelly Funk to name a few. Each has their own style but all their shots are beautiful. The publisher (Roy Ramsay), is also a great guy. A nature buff who not only loves to present how beautiful Canada is but the outstanding Canadian talent photographing it as well.

The one tip I will give you if you`re into landscape and nature is to buy a tripod if you don`t already own one. Its the next best tool in your camera kit next to a raincoat.

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Having talked about cameras in my first post I probably should have talked also about just getting out there and shoot, and by that I mean everything. After you've done that, go out there and do it again, and again, and again. By doing so you will probably find out what you are good at taking pictures of, and what you are not. Not every photographer is good at shooting everything. Some have a better eye for people, others for architecture and still others for landscapes. This is not to say you won't shoot anything else once you've found your passion, you will, you just have to work a little harder at it. In other words, practice.

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I'm starting this blog to talk about my experiences while out taking pictures. I hope to pass along tips as well as nice places to go that I found along the way.

This first post is about cameras. Now I don't have the best but also not the worst (I shoot with the Nikon D700). The one thing I've learned though, its not the camera that takes a great picture, it's the person behind it. You see, people come up to me all the time and say, wow, great camera, you must take great pictures with that. So with a smile on my face I tell them that to be honest, I also take bad ones too. There isn't a photographer out there (including Pro's) even with the most expensive gear who hasn't cringed at some of their shots. What it comes down to is experience, creativity and knowledge of the rules and not the pricey gear that has us taking less bad ones. All photographers are always learning. Whether it be by our own mistakes, books, courses, online tutorials or other photographers, we keep our minds open to new (even old) ideas. I've seen many great shots taken with a point and shoot or an iPhone. It's composition, subject matter and lighting (and or shadows) that are important. First learn the rules of taking a great picture, once you know them and be creative, you can bend them to your tastes. You'll be surprise at how good you are with what you have.

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