I am so happy with the latest equipment I got

So this week has been a little different.  I traded in my Sony a7R Mark II, Canon Vixia HF G50, Sony FDR AX53 for a Sony RX100 Mark VII and a Sony FDR AX700B.  The Sony RX100 Mark VII I’ve had before.  Purchased it I think a year and a half ago and then traded it in for some other equipment.  Funny how things work out that I end up with the same camera again.  About 4 years ago, when I was in Calgary I traded in some photo equipment for the Sony FDR AX100b.  Awesome camcorder as well.  It came in very useful when I was out there in the mountains doing landscape videography.  Funny now in 2021, I’m still doing photography and videography with this amazing equipment.  I’m just so happy with the photo and video equipment.  

I ordered the 2021 Apple iPad Pro with the 1TB of storage and 16GB of RAM and the M1 processor.  I can’t wait to get it in the next two weeks.  My ecosystem will be complete.  I don’t plan on upgrading any equipment in the foreseeable future.  This hardware is very mobile for a single run and gun shooter like myself.  After work today, I’ll go to Mud Lake here in the west of Ottawa.  Apparently there is an Ospray that has been hanging around and is apparently close to shore.  I also want to do another talking head type video as well.  I can’t wait for September this year.  I’m still planning on going out west to pursue my photo/video career.  

On a side note, editing video in LumaFusion is tremendously easy.  Colour grading the Sony FDR AX700B footage is just a joy.  I honestly can’t wait for the new iPad Pro to come and see what Apple does with WWDC this year.  Hopefully we’ll get a Pro type operating system on the iPad Pro.  That would be just an amazing dream.

The 2021 iPad Pro life

So this week has been very exciting.  I sold my Sony a7R Mark II camera, my Sony FDR AX-53, my Canon Vixia HF G50 and a few of my point and shoot cameras.  I purchased a Sony RX100 Mark VII for a second time in about a year.  I also purchased a Sony FDR AX700B camcorder.  I wanted to really downsize my equipment while keeping up the quality of the equipment in my possession.  Both new cameras are able to shoot HDR stills and video.  So that’s exciting because the weather has gotten much warmer this week and it’s actually sunny so I’m spending more time outside doing photography and shooting videos.  I am also a day closer to getting the new M1 based Apple iPad Pro with the 1TB of storage and 16GB of RAM.  I already have the new 2021 magic keyboard in my possession.  The new iPads are supposed to be released this coming Friday, May 21st 2021.  I hope that is true.

I was going to cancel my iPad Pro order today as it’s been processing the past 2 and a half weeks.  Than I was editing some 4K videos today and I was thinking to myself; “Screw it, the Windows 10 Pro based Dell XPS 17 9700 laptop is loud when it’s editing 4K video.  I use LumaFusion on my 2018 iPad Pro and no noise whatsoever.  And it does it faster than the Windows 10 based laptop.  The 2021 iPad Pro is supposed to be 50%+ faster than the 2018/2020 iPad Pro using the M1 based chip with 16GB of RAM.  I honestly cannot wait. I hope to get it soon.  Waiting for new tech sucks.  I have 2 Toshiba T5 external SSD’s that I will be using for external storage.  I cannot wait for the iPad Pro to come out.  Have I said that already?

I hope Apple releases some pro apps like Final Cut Pro.  That is the one piece of software I am looking for.  If Apple charges a yearly subscription for Final Cut Pro, I’d be thoroughly disappointed and I will not purchase a subscription based program.  That is why I quit using Adobe products.  

I have my current 2018 based Apple iPad Pro paired with the magic keyboard, an Apple Magic Mouse and the Apple  iPods Max and they really sound fantastic for the price.  I also have the Apple Pencil for the iPad Pro.  I am a very mobile photographer/videographer.  That is my stated goal with my equipment.  Now I just need to move out west to Calgary and actually start doing my landscape photography.  

I cannot wait for the 2021 Apple iPad Pro (12.9”) with the M1 processor, 1TB of SSD storage and 16GB of RAM to be in my hands.  I think it’s gonna be a huge game changer.  The SSD is apparently twice as fast as the SSD hard drive in the 2020 iPad Pro.  It’s gonna be amazingly awesome to work on the 2021 iPad Pro.  I cannot wait to use it.

Photography only with the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max

I am basically done with carrying around a mirror less or DSLR type camera.  I’m also done editing in Photoshop, Affinity Photo, Lightroom CC and such software.  I can do shoot everything on the iPhone 12 Pro Max and edit everything in Apple Photo and Pixelmator Photo on the iPad Pro.  I can use my Apple Watch Series 6 as a shutter release.  I carry the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max and my Apple Watch Series 6 with me everywhere I go.  No more lugging around bulky and expensive cameras.  Why would I do that when I can shoot on the iPhone 12 Pro Max that fits in my pocket.  I can sharpen, colour correct and de-noise all my photos and videos in Apple Photos and enlarge and colour correct them in Pixelmator Photo.   I can get 25MB to 60MB photos out of the original PhotoRaw photos shot on the iPhone 12 Pro Max.  I’ve submitted them to Adobe Stock and most do get accepted.  I say most because some of the photos I have submitted weren’t properly edited.  That’s on me.  My fault.  I’m just waiting on a batch of photos that I reworked.  We’ll see how many of those Weill be accepted.  

A few years ago, I wouldn’t even touch iPhone photos because of the crappy quality. But now.  They’re just as good or better than a shot taken with a DSLR or mirror-less camera.

Is there even a point?

Is there even a point to having a full fledged DSLR or a mirror less camera at this point?  I’ve been using my Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max with 512GB of internal storage as my go to camera for the past couple of months.  I shoot landscape photography 100% of the time.  I do sell a lot of photography on various micro stock websites.  All of these require at least a 5 megapixel sensor.  The current iPhone has a 12 megapixel sensor which is more than enough for micro stock and even for my personal website where I sell photography as well.  The hardware and software is there to make a living with just the iPhone.  The equipment and software will only get better.  

There is absolutely no point in lugging around a mirror less or a full DSLR with you all over the place.  I think I will be selling all my photography equipment once the new 2021 Apple iPad Pro comes and just shoot with the iPhone and edit everything on the M1 based Apple iPad Pro.  I can use my Apple Watch (v6) as a camera remote.  Yes, the Apple Watch can be a remote to my iPhone 12 Pro Max.  I can edit everything on the 2021 iPad Pro. I can also have everything backed up to the 4TB of iCloud storage and never have to worry about losing a photo to a dead external hard drive.  I cannot wait for the 20201 iPad Pro to come in a month or so.  

I’m currently on a contract with another government department. Probably my last one here in Ottawa as I plan to move out west in September.  With or without the fiancée.  I know my heart and soul belong out in the mountains.  

Since the iPhone 12 Pro Max can and does shoot ProRaw files, I can create up to 30-40 megabyte files out of a 12 megapixel sensor.  Yes, you can do that with an iPhone.  Since it is such a small sensor, I want to try it early in the morning and in the evening to see how it performs.  I have to see it for myself.  I want to see what I can create and how the iPhone 12 Pro Max handles in low light situations.  The only worry I have is the performance in low light situations.  I shoot the majority of my shots between 7am and 7pm during the summer anyways.  Another worry is reach of the lens.  The longest the iPhone can go is 70MM as far as shots go.  But with Pixelmator Photo running on the iPad Pro, I can increase the resolution and crop closer.  So I guess that solves that issue.  :) 

IOS 14.5 on an Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max

channel

So I haven’t posted in a while.  A few weeks at least.  A lot has changed since the last time I posted.  I am no long with Shared Service Canada.  On my own doing a YouTube channel.  Personal debt is all cleared up except for the vehicle.  Credit score has vastly improved to the positive.  A new Apple iPad Pro is on the horizon and will be purchased this week on April 30, 2021.  IOS 14.5 came out today and all the current devices are updated.  The plan to move out west is in the works.  Most of the jobs I am being offered now are all remote or work from home.  No point in staying in Ottawa if all the jobs are work from home.  I can work from home from anywhere.  

I don’t know why I purchased the Dell XPS 17” 9700 laptop.  Well, I didn’t really know that Apple would be upgrading the 2021 Apple iPad Pro so dramatically.  I guess the reason I got the Dell XPS is to use it as a device for work.  So it will remain a device for work.

I’ve been using the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max and the 2018 iPad Pro as my daily drivers for a while now.  With the new iPad Pro coming out later this week, it’ll be more of a reason to use the new iPad Pro and iPad OS as my daily driver for my own personal work.  I started a YouTube channel earlier this month.  Please check it out and if you can, subscribe and hit the notification icon.

I’ve been getting a lot of job offers.  A lot of them are remote, work from home types of jobs.  I think this is more proof I can get a job anywhere and work from home.  Time to move out Calgary.

So done with Shutterstock

 On June 1st, 2020, Shutterstock pretty much screwed over their contributors.  I used to make a minimum of $0.36 a download for any picture.  I used to make a minimum of $15-20 for a video download.  Now, it's $0.10 for a photo download and $0.34 a video download.  So basically getting screwed.  Under those new sales figures, I'd cash out maybe once every six months.  If I was lucky.  I disabled my portfolio immediately on June 1st.  Shutterstock basically became iStock which won the race to the bottom.  I even made a video which is published on YouTube.

If you are a contributor on Shutterstock, please consider disabling your portfolio until Shutterstock reverts its payment plan to contributors.  I had 15,600+ photos and 1,560 video clips.  6 years of hard work shooting, editing and uploading.  Shutterstock needs to understand that I do this as a passion. I love photography.  I love shooting video.  If Shutterstock doesn't change, I hope they go down in flames.  In the meantime, if you need photos, you can go to my Adobe stock portfolio.  If you need video, you can go to my Pond5 portfolio.

Some weather rolling in

 

Shot these photos off of the balcony on the 9th floor of our building.  We were supposed to get heavy rain and tornadoes but not even a drop of rain.  The sky was rather interesting non the less.  Both shots were shot with the Sony a7RII handheld.  Both will be available for sale on my site soon.

Long Exposure photography with the GOBE 10 stop ND Filter

I really, really enjoy using this GOBE 10 Stop ND filter.  The above shots are ISO 50, f16, 13" shots of the 5 span bridge in Pakenham, ON and the waterfalls are located in Almonte, ON.  If you asked me to do this 15-20 years ago, I'd tell you it's impossible to shoot a 13" shot in the middle of the day.  But now with the 10 stop ND filter in front of the lens, anything is possible

I hope next year, my fiancee and I could go to Florida and see a SpaceX rocket launch and I could shoot the launch with the ND filter during the day.  This is one of the many reasons why I love photography.  I.T. can suck it.  LOL

Comet NEOWise

Got this photo last week off my 9th floor balcony looking northwards over Gatineau, Quebec.  Hopefully this Saturday it will be nice and clear so I can go out of town to get a better photo.  I want to go to Moosecreek and get better photos and videos of the comet.  The photos are available for sale on my own website.  It’s also available for sale on my Adobe stock portfolio.  Since this is my only form of income right now, please consider purchasing something from either site.  Thank you and I appreciate it.

The perfect setup. For me.

So I’m sitting here at work waiting for my computer to get setup and finally getting my access to the network.  I brought by 2018 Apple iPad Pro with me today to watch some videos and do some light reading.  I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my computer setup and my photography setup.  I have the 2 terabyte backup plan with Apple.  I’ve had it for several months now.  I think I’m currently using about 270GB worth of data.  Most of that is my photography backup.  I am really happy with the Apple ecosystem.  How simple and easy it is to access pretty much everything.  

My current photography setup consists of a Sony RX100 Mark VII, a Canon Vixia HF R80 camcorder and an Apple iPhone 8 Plus.  My contract with Freedom Mobile is almost up.  Actually May 2020, I’ll be free of Freedom Mobile.  I am not entirely happy with Freedom Mobile.  Their network coverage is absolute garbage.  I could be right down town here in Ottawa and be on some other company’ network or I could have 1 or 2 bars.  The reception is absolutely horrible.  I honestly don’t like Bell or Rogers.  They’re overpriced and their customer service is atrocious.  Mind you Rogers’ network is pretty good.  They’ve had to up their game with the amount of data they give to customers having gone from 4GB a month to 10GB a month. They are about $20 more expensive a month.

What I’m trying to say is that I’m looking into the idea of just using my 2018 Apple iPad Pro and the Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max (256GB) model to do all of my photography and all of my computing needs.  I don’t use Photoshop or Lightroom on my iPad Pro.  Just use Pixelmator Photo on my iPad Pro to edit all of my photography.  I could use the iPhone as well to shoot all of my footage.  The iPhone has excellent video quality and it takes excellent photos.  All of this with a phone.  All my stuff would be backed up to the cloud and be accessible via WiFi with my Apple iPad Pro.  Something definitely to look into.

My new Sony setup for everything

My new vlogging, footage and photography setup consistes of a Saramonic SmartMic, Sony GPVPT1 Grip trip and the Sony RX100 Mark VII.  I'm in no need of a full frame DSLR or any DSLR camera.  The thing that changed my mind was when I was out in Calgary, Alberta back in 2017.  I was in the mountains carrying three camera bodies with three different lenses.  I also had a camcorder with me.  It was about 30 pounds of equipment on my back. 

About 4 years ago, I had enough Aeroplan loyalty points to get a Sony RX100 Mark II point and shoot camera. It was a great little camera.  I thought I would use it for street photography when I was in the city.  At the time I didn't think it was capable of doing much of anything.  It didn't shoot 4K video.  The photos were really good.  The tech in the camera was good for 2015.  

Fast forward to 2019.  I'm using just the Sony RX100 Mark VII for pretty much everything as far as photography goes.  With the f2.8-4.5 24-200MM lens, I can go and photography anything, anywhere without being noticed.  I've shot fireworks with the Sony RX100 Mark VI at ISO 100 f9 and roughly 24MM aperture.  I don't get any noise in the photos.  They're super sharp and the colour is awesome.  I have to say that it's not as good as Canon's colour science but with a firmware update or two, it will be.

A few years back, I didn't do footage.  Hated it.  Than for poops and giggles I shot some footage of a coyote at Parc Omega and uploaded it to Shutterstock., Pond5 and Storyblocks.  It sold within two weeks on Shutterstock for $120 and I was hooked on shooting footage.  With my recent experience with working for the government, I sense it's futile to try and get any more contracts with the agencies to try and get in with the government.  My past three contracts have been an utter disaster.  From being mismanaged, lied to about my job description, I've pretty much given up on working for the government.

Once Apple iPadOS comes out I can ditch the Windows 10 laptop and just work off the 2018 Apple iPad Pro.  Apple hasn't updated it's RAW photo software yet so that I can work on the Sony RX100 Mark VII photos.  You cannot import the footage from the Sony RX100 Mark VII to the iPad Pro.  Can't stand Apple for that.  Apple finally listened to its customers and we'll be able to transfer RAW photos and footage files directly to an external hard drive.  We'll have mouse support as well which is going to be awesome.

I am honestly really sick of working for the government doing the I.T thing.  I'm just not enjoying it.  I'm 43 years old and not living the life I want.  I hate where I live.  By that, I mean the province.  Not the apartment.  I love my girlfriend to bits.  I would rather live the nomadic life doing the photography thing.  You know, shooting landscape and real wild life photos.  I think by this time next year, we'll be out in Calgary doing something completely different.  Or at least I will be.

I honestly cannot wait

Apple typically releases a new operating system every September.  THis year, a “new” operating system is coming out specifically made for the Apple iPad.  Two of the most important things within iPadOS are going to be external hard drive support and mouse support.  ON a lighter note, dark mode is also coming.  See what I did there?  ;) 

I will no longer need a laptop wether it’s Windows or MacOS or Linux.  Not that I used Linux before but it’s hardly used for photography or editing videos.  You can do it but 99.9% of the people I know use either Windows or Mac.  I cannot justify spending a minimum of $4500 on a MacBook Pro where the keys are crap and the O/S is buggy.  MacOS used to be good under Steve Jobs because Steve actually took quality control seriously.  Tim Cook, not so much.

Once iPadOS comes out in September, I am thinking of lightening my load with my camera gear.  The Sony A7II is a great photographic camera.  It’s a 24.4 megapixel full frame sensor camera.  But it is kind of heavy with the battery grip and the 24-240MM lens on it.  I am absolutely in love with the Sony RX100 line of cameras having owned the RX100 Mark II, IV, V and the VI.  I am thinking of trading in the Sony A7II camera, the grip and lens for another Sony RX100 Mark VI.  I’m also thinking of getting rid of the Canon Vixia HF G40 camcorder as it’s too big for me size wise for me.  I have the Canon Vixia HF R800 camcorder as well.  I mainly capture wildlife with the Canon Vixia HF G40 and I don’t video much at night so the Canon Vixia HF R800 is good enough for me.  It’s also about half the size of the G40.  I know the G40 has a lot more controls on it so I may just keep it.  I just want to do a lot more travel this year and next and I don’t want to carry around a lot of equipment with me.  Shoot me a quick email or leave a comment telling me what you think or giving me suggestions.  

But yeah, time to think over the next two to three months to see what I will do once Apple iPadOS comes out in September.