Inflexible

ADFH Practical Exam #1

Photographing the Festival Du Voyageur was quite the experience. It was bloody cold outside which made it difficult sometimes. It seems that no matter how warm you dress, eventually, the cold will get to you. Other then that, the experience of it was pleasant. I liked the pea soup, I liked the music, I liked the sculptures, but most of all, I really liked capturing all the festivities on my camera's. I discovered just how well I work under pressure, and how you can get the most beautiful pictures of something that's not so interesting by just looking at it from another point of view. Don't get me wrong, I already knew that, but most people photograph things because it's interesting, or memorable for them. When you are photographing a job, sometimes it's not a scene that you would usually grab your camera for, but because it's a job, you have to get a good image, so you have to find one, and that's what I mean by looking at it from a different point of view.

The most challenging part of this whole experience was asking people to sign waivers. I am a little shy with strangers, so it took alot of courage to ask the first person, but the more you do, the easier it gets. The easiest part was just being there and shooting away. I love what I do, so that alone makes it easy and fun. I took about 1000 pictures over the duration of the festival and now have over 600 photos added to my collection, that clearly grows rapidly. I think I would have had less good shots turn out with out White Balance, and the lenses I had.

A couple of weeks ago I received a Univex Mercury camera from 1938, and I loaded it with film in my bathroom (you have to do it all by hand in the pitch black), and brought it out to the festival and learned how to use it. I got some pretty awesome shots from that. I suppose when I print them in the darkroom we'll see just how good they turned out...fingers crossed. Other then that, I was shooting with my digital. My batteries didn't last that long because of the bitter cold, but luckily I never ran out of power. I also had 3 different lenses with me, a 50mm (which I borrowed from school), a 24-85 mm, and a 75-300 mm. I was mostly thankful for the 50 mm because of the lighting conditions in some of the tents. I NEED to buy one of my own.

All in all the experience was very positive and I will go back again next year. Maybe the weather will be warmer.

My cat, Catface!

Catface's favourite things...

Catface loves boxes. All boxes.
Catface loves drinking the water from the tuna can. He won't eat any other foods except for his cat food, and my Dad's mashed potatos.
Catface HAS to be in the bathroom with you if you are in the shower or in the bath. He MUST sit on the side of the tub, and if your in the bath, he bats water around, and once in a while reaches out and scratches you just because.
Catface doesn't like it outside, not even in the apartment hallway, and he especially hates it if you put him on a leash. Although, once in a while he will sneak out of the apartment and lose himself on one of the 4 floors until I find him. That is usually hours later, so he will come back inside shaking with fear...but don't worry, he'll try it again a few weeks later.
Catface likes to play hide n' seek/chase.
Catface will hide behind corners and attack you from whatever hight he's at for no reason.
Catface always needs a cuddle first thing in the morning. He MUST be under the covers and head on my pillow.
Catface will climb anything, even if that means he has to break a few items on the way.
I heart Catface.

Manitoba Bisons vs Regina Cougars

The Manitoba Bisons get off to a great start in the playoffs, beating Regina 69-52.

More Festival Du Voyageur

Festival Du Voyageur

I spent the weekend at the Festival Du Voyageur, I will spend the week there as well, and I will continue to post more pictures. Just click on these here to view them bigger.

A Little History...

Speed Graphic cameras were in production from 1912-1968. They were the dominant portable professional camera used by thousands of news photographers, studios and amateurs from the 1930's until the early 1960's. It's known as America's first and last great camera.

This camera here is the Anniversary Speed Graphic model and was in production from 1940-1947. It weighs about 5lbs, and uses 4x5cm sheet film loaded into the back. The lens is attached to the bellows, but in this specific model there wasn't that much flexibility, it was on a track, but you can't tilt or swing the lens. There wasn't a huge range of shutter speeds on this model. The fastest shutter available was 1/200s, and the slowest was 1/25s. And because you can't get any slower, the flash allows you to "start your picture-shooting when the sun goes down." The flash is my favourite thing about this camera. The bulb in that flash looks like a normal 60watt household bulb. I suppose it has quite the power, and that is why it was used for the press. This was also the primary World War II still camera, they made some versions in olive drab. (If you have seen the film 'Capote', you should recognize this camera.)

This camera was originally on the market for $250.00 in 1947. By the late 60's, they were going for $500, and now you can find them from $150-$500.