Let me know what you think!
Friday, February 29, 2008
Night Shooting
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make Improv Comedy these past couple days to test the camera in that environment, but I did make it out night shooting tonight. Here are a couple of the better shots.
Let me know what you think!
Let me know what you think!
Monday, February 25, 2008
New Camera!
The wait is over; my Nikon D300 arrived today! With childlike glee, I took the camera for a spin, snapping shots of anything that moved (and some things that didn't). I'm pleased to say that it lives up to the hype, and it performs amazingly well in any level of lighting. Here are the shots.
Unpacking the camera. Minty fresh.
This was the first shot I took, featuring my brother Paul. It's become a sort of tradition that he winds up being the first thing I shoot with a new camera. This is an unedited shot, automatic at ISO 3200. Basically, the camera is awesome in poor lighting.
This is Chris Fader's cat, aka Mini Panther. Note the feral gaze. This shot was also taken at ISO 3200!
A few leaves still clinging to the branches, having survived winter. This was shot at the more reasonable ISO of 200, and I've touched it up a bit in photoshop. I was really pleased with the colours in this.
It's a sign! Again, ISO 200, and edited in photoshop to pull more out of the colours and add sharpening.
I shot this one in 14-bit RAW (a step up from the usual 12-bit RAW), but so far I haven't seen much of a difference moving up. I'm pleased there are different qualities for RAW in the camera, though. Also ISO 200.
So far, so good. I'm sure you'll be able to see a big improvement in the semi-weekly improv comedy shots. I can't wait for Wednesday!
Unpacking the camera. Minty fresh.
This was the first shot I took, featuring my brother Paul. It's become a sort of tradition that he winds up being the first thing I shoot with a new camera. This is an unedited shot, automatic at ISO 3200. Basically, the camera is awesome in poor lighting.
This is Chris Fader's cat, aka Mini Panther. Note the feral gaze. This shot was also taken at ISO 3200!
A few leaves still clinging to the branches, having survived winter. This was shot at the more reasonable ISO of 200, and I've touched it up a bit in photoshop. I was really pleased with the colours in this.
It's a sign! Again, ISO 200, and edited in photoshop to pull more out of the colours and add sharpening.
I shot this one in 14-bit RAW (a step up from the usual 12-bit RAW), but so far I haven't seen much of a difference moving up. I'm pleased there are different qualities for RAW in the camera, though. Also ISO 200.So far, so good. I'm sure you'll be able to see a big improvement in the semi-weekly improv comedy shots. I can't wait for Wednesday!
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Wednesday, February 20th
It was a good show at Gallagher's tonight. My brother Paul and I showed up, and since the videographer Josh wasn't able to show, the improv guys stuck Paul on the camera. Paul had never seen a video camera before, but he was able to figure out the workings of said camera, and he filmed the show.
Paul operates a video camera for the first time ever.
I, meanwhile, wound up sitting way off to the side for the first half, and so my first batch of shots were from an interesting angle. I captured a bunch of fun shots that were really up close and personal, most of which I cannot post, but here are a few that are safe for web.
A really flattering picture of Jeff hosting the show.
After the break, I relocated towards the back, and got a few shots which involved more than one improviser.
Once again, Brad's enormous beard got in the way of many of the shots. Instead of putting up way more shots of Brad than anyone wants to see, I compiled the best shots into this Beard Montage TM.
Frightening, isn't it? And yet we can't turn away...
Paul operates a video camera for the first time ever.I, meanwhile, wound up sitting way off to the side for the first half, and so my first batch of shots were from an interesting angle. I captured a bunch of fun shots that were really up close and personal, most of which I cannot post, but here are a few that are safe for web.
A really flattering picture of Jeff hosting the show.
After the break, I relocated towards the back, and got a few shots which involved more than one improviser.
Once again, Brad's enormous beard got in the way of many of the shots. Instead of putting up way more shots of Brad than anyone wants to see, I compiled the best shots into this Beard Montage TM.
Frightening, isn't it? And yet we can't turn away...
Thursday, February 14, 2008
The Power of Beard
Table 23 Comedy Improv on February 13th was one hell of a show. Here's some of the hundred or so shots I snapped.
To make things even crazier, it was Silvia's birthda!
To make things even crazier, it was Silvia's birthda!
Monday, February 11, 2008
Synchronized Travel
My friend Sean came to me with an interesting idea. His sister is in Montreal at present, and Sean and I are both in Vancouver. Each city has a 'University' street. Each group took a set of identical directions and in two seperate cities, we followed the steps, taking a photo at each location.
These are my results from UBC.
1) The first stage is your starting point
Simple enough. I decided to shoot the street itself.
2) Walk in any direction for 50-100 paces, and then turn 180 degrees
Sean and I walked down the street in the direction I'd shot earlier, and we turned 180. This was my shot, which was almost identical to Sean's.
3) Continue walking in that direction until you see something blue
At this point, I was beginning to worry that our directions would wind up being finished within five minutes or parking. Immediately to our left was something blue, which I shot.
4)Make a left turn and walk 50-70 paces
This was a little better. We began to put some distance between our parking spot and ourselves. We walked along and came to a nice seating area. I shot an individual bench with a cool reflection in the puddle.
5)Walk in any direction until something that either is or looks like
the number 7 or 11
This instruction allowed us to move away from our starting point and to explore the UBC campus a little. We went up some stairs, along a path, and then we spotted a couple of 11-shaped objects. Here's what I shot.
6)Take the first left, and continue walking until you find somewhere to sit
We weren't going to sit down with it raining the way it was, but we found a ledge that would make a good seat. I played with this photo a little more than I usually do in editing, dropping the saturation until there was only faint colour remaining.
7)Choose any direction and walk for 25-50 paces
This step was easy enough. We followed a path in towards one of the UBC buildings a short way, and looked for something to shoot. I found the girders set in the building quite interesting, especially when shot with a telephoto lens. You can really see the shallow depth of field on this shot.
8)Continue walking until you see an unusual colour, shape or texture.
Turn 180 degrees
This thing had both unusual shape and colour, so it was an easy shot to take. I wish I'd taken the time to line this up a little better, since the shot feels a little crooked.
9)Keep walking in any direction until you see an archway or an unusual
architectural feature
We walked along to the UBC library for this one. I spotted an arch over a doorway, and I shot this through a gap in a gate. I particularly like the cold and warm tones in this shot, in addition to the nice arch.
10) Head for home, but continue looking for anything that catches your eye
This was our parking garage. Again, the play of cold and warm in this photo was fun to capture.
So those are my shots for our synchronized photography. It was fun to get out and shoot despite the weather. There's been some consideration towards making regular photo trips, perhaps with mutliple groups following the same instructions except heading off in different directions from a common starting point. We'll see what shapes up.
These are my results from UBC.
1) The first stage is your starting point
Simple enough. I decided to shoot the street itself.
2) Walk in any direction for 50-100 paces, and then turn 180 degrees
Sean and I walked down the street in the direction I'd shot earlier, and we turned 180. This was my shot, which was almost identical to Sean's.
3) Continue walking in that direction until you see something blue
At this point, I was beginning to worry that our directions would wind up being finished within five minutes or parking. Immediately to our left was something blue, which I shot.
4)Make a left turn and walk 50-70 paces
This was a little better. We began to put some distance between our parking spot and ourselves. We walked along and came to a nice seating area. I shot an individual bench with a cool reflection in the puddle.
5)Walk in any direction until something that either is or looks like
the number 7 or 11
This instruction allowed us to move away from our starting point and to explore the UBC campus a little. We went up some stairs, along a path, and then we spotted a couple of 11-shaped objects. Here's what I shot.
6)Take the first left, and continue walking until you find somewhere to sit
We weren't going to sit down with it raining the way it was, but we found a ledge that would make a good seat. I played with this photo a little more than I usually do in editing, dropping the saturation until there was only faint colour remaining.
7)Choose any direction and walk for 25-50 paces
This step was easy enough. We followed a path in towards one of the UBC buildings a short way, and looked for something to shoot. I found the girders set in the building quite interesting, especially when shot with a telephoto lens. You can really see the shallow depth of field on this shot.
8)Continue walking until you see an unusual colour, shape or texture.
Turn 180 degrees
This thing had both unusual shape and colour, so it was an easy shot to take. I wish I'd taken the time to line this up a little better, since the shot feels a little crooked.
9)Keep walking in any direction until you see an archway or an unusual
architectural feature
We walked along to the UBC library for this one. I spotted an arch over a doorway, and I shot this through a gap in a gate. I particularly like the cold and warm tones in this shot, in addition to the nice arch.
10) Head for home, but continue looking for anything that catches your eye
This was our parking garage. Again, the play of cold and warm in this photo was fun to capture.
So those are my shots for our synchronized photography. It was fun to get out and shoot despite the weather. There's been some consideration towards making regular photo trips, perhaps with mutliple groups following the same instructions except heading off in different directions from a common starting point. We'll see what shapes up.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
The First Show at Eclipse!
I was on hand for Table 23's first show at Eclipse Bar and Grill, and I had the camera with me. Unfortunately, the lighting in Eclipse is far darker than Gallagher's, which meant I was forced to shoot with a flash. I only took a few shots since using that flash is far more disruptive, and I wound up with a few grainy, ugly, red-eyed photos.
Enjoy the flash photography!
Enjoy the flash photography!
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