2021 Apple iPad Pro (M1, 1TB, 16GB RAM), Apple iPhone Pro Max (512G), iPods Pro

April 30, 2021.  Remember that date.  That is the date computing changed forever.  That is the date, the Apple iPad Pro with the M1 processor was released by Apple.  That will be your computer from now on.  No more desktops.  No more laptops.  Just the iPad Pro.  This is the first generation of iPad Pros with a desktop type processor and 16GB of RAM.  You can have up to 2TB of internal storage.  I am currently typing this on a 2018 iPad Pro with the magic keyboard from Apple.  I ordered the M1, 1TB, 16GB of RAM version of the iPad Pro on April 30th, 2021.  I ordered a Dell XPS 17” 9700 laptop back in January.  I will be selling it as soon as I can as I will not be using a Windows/Intel based laptop ever again.  I am hoping that WWDC 2021 hosted by Apple June 7-11, 2021 will migrate iPad OS to a full fledged tablet operating system.  We now have pro hardware running a lack lustre operating system with apps that cannot take the full advantage of the M1 based hardware.  We need pro apps like Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Xcode to run on the iPad Pro.  I would gladly pay $200-300 for Final Cut Pro to run on the iPad Pro.  I already have Affinity Photo running on the 2018 iPad Pro which is an amazing photo editing program.  LumaFusion is an amazing video editing program on the iPad Pro but it’s missing some features that Final Cut Pro has.

Please, please Apple, release Final Cut Pro for the iPad Pro.  Bring back Apple Aperture for us photographer!!!!  I need to more mobile.  I’m using the iPhone 12 Pro Max with the 512GB of internal storage to shoot all my photography and videos.  Please, please bring Final Cut Pro to the iPad Pro.  I’m an extreme Apple product user.  All I ask is for Final Cut Pro to come to the iPad Pro.  Please Apple, listen to your customers and do the right thing.

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.

I miss the Rockies

I miss the mountains.  I was in Calgary, Alberta back in 2017 for work for the National Energy Board.  Came back in July 2017 and since then I've had a need to go back.  I miss the mountains.  I miss the lakes.  I miss the rivers.  I miss the forests.  I miss the mountains.

Yes, I'd miss stuff in Ottawa.  Friends and stuff.  Going to Parc Omega occasionally.  I think I've only been there a few times this year.  It's basically gotten to the point where it's unphotographable with all the fencing and the new design of the park.

I need to be out west.  Like yesterday.

July 2, 2019

I spent this morning at Parc Omega.  I left the park at about 1:15pm.  It was so hot out today.  About 27 degrees Celsius.  I paid $35 to get into the park.  I remember paying $26 a day to get into the park just a few years ago.  It was a lot cheaper and a lot better back then.  They’ve increased the prices and pretty much made the park unphotographable with fences everywhere.  The other people coming into the park drive like they never took a driving lesson.  The park is located on the Quebec side so that’s one reason why it’s harder and harder for me to go there.  Summer is really not a good time to go to the park because it’s so damn hot out.

I have basically decided that for the remainder of this year I want to pay off my credit card debt so I can do some travel next year.  I want to actually move out west in April of next year.  I am so sick of Ottawa and Ontario.  There is nothing to do here and it’s so damn expensive to do anything.  I have also decided not to sell my Sony a7ii and my Canon Vixia HF G40.  Next year I want to upgrade my drone to something better than the DJI Spark.  It’s an ok drone but it only shoots at 1080p/30fps and photos are only shot in JPEG.  So no Raw photos and no 1080p/60fps or 4K on the drone just because the sensor on the drone is so small.  I think the drone I want is about $2030 before tax.

I have everything I want as far as vehicle goes.  I have the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport AWD which I can sleep in and have enough room for all my equipment.  I am saving some money as well.  I’m putting $50 a paycheque into my TFSA.  All my photography money is staying in my Paypal account.  With the new job I’m starting tomorrow, I’ll be making some good coinage to pay off my debt.  We just have to stop going out to restaurants every second day.  I want to also start eating healthy.  I want to lose at least 50 pounds by April 2020.  I also want to restart reading my Affinity Photo book and learn Affinity Photo.  For my Apple iPad Pro to say the least.

My favourite photo from the last 2 years

I can’t believe how time flies.  2 years ago, I was in Calgary, Alberta ready to come home.  Not knowing I was to be extended for another month on my contract for another month and I wouldn’t be in Ottawa until July 2017.  My girlfriend was going to fly out from Ottawa to Calgary and we were going to drive back to Ottawa together.  We were gonna go through the northern states and see some of the National Parks in Montana, Oregon, South Dakota etc. That didn’t happens as I got extended by a month.  Honestly I really miss Calgary and being in the mountains.  I remember getting a smile on my face every time I headed out to the Rockies from Calgary.  It was only about a 45 minute drive.

I took the gondola up the mountains when I was in Banff, Alberta one weekend.  I remember the wind was howling up at the peak of the mountains.  The light wasn’t good as well.  The sun was to my left casting a shadow over the centre mountain.  It had blown out the sky and clouds.  I didn’t think much of the shot at all.  Certainly not one of my favourites at the time.  I decided to turn it into a black and white and throw it up onto Shutterstock thinking it would be rejected.  If it was accepted, it would never be bought.  It would just get lost in the millions and millions of photos.  As it turns out, I sell it once every 2-3 days on average and it’s turned out to be one of my very photos.  I’ve been told by acquaintances that it’s their favourite photo of mine.  You can purchase it here here from my Shutterstock portfolio or here to hang on your wall.  I would really appreciate your support.

My girlfriend and I have pretty much decided that next spring, probably in April, that we will be moving to Alberta permanently as neither of us speak the French language and it’s virtually impossible for us to get permanent government jobs here in Ottawa, ON Canada.  With everything that’s going on with federal politics, and if the current guy in charge federally, we believe, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta will eventually separate from eastern Canada as the two are so different from each other.  But that’s another story.  

2018 Apple iPad Pro

I cannot be more happier than I am right now with the 2018 Apple iPad Pro.  I’ve been using it for almost three weeks now and I haven’t even thought of using my Windows 10 laptop or my Apple MacBook Pro.  The iPad Pro does everything I need from photo and video editing to writing my blog to any and all media consumption.

Even though it’s lacking external hard drive support, which I expect to come with iOS 13 or iOS 14, the iPad is magnificent.  The screen is a fingerprint magnet but I can clean it and once my Papermate comes in, in a few days that issue is to be resolved.  I don’t even miss my mouse as I either use my fingers or the Apple Pencil 2.  I use my fingers 99% of the time.  I bought the Apple keyboard folio and although it is not backlit and does not have any speciality keys like you get on a regular PC or laptop keyboard, I have not missed those keys whatsoever.

I have edited photos from my Sony RX100 Mark VI.  They get imported into Apple Photos and I can edit the photos in any application such as Affinity Photo, Snapseed or Pixelmator.  I use the Shutterstock app to upload said photos and I can even use Apple Safari if need be.  I haven’t shot any videos yet and I haven’t had an opportunity to edit short clips on the iPad yet.  This weekend, the girlfriend and I are headed to Niagara Falls, Ontario for a short trip away so I will be taking my Sony RX100 Mark VI with me to shoot photos and footage.  Editing video on the new iPad Pro should be interesting, if not new.  I will report on whatever happens when it happens.  

I may also start vlogging with the iPad Pro using the Camera App that comes with the iPad Pro.  I can attach my Yeti mic to the iPad and use it for audio recording.  I still hate appearing on camera as I do not feel comfortable on camera.  I really have to get over that

I wanted to

I wanted to go to Parc Omega every Saturday till April.  But I've been sick since last week and I just had no energy or will power to get out of bed this weekend.  The cold definitely kicked my ass this weekend.  So just stayed in bed, watched some Youtube and football and relaxed.  Today I am feeling much better.  Although I think I'm at about 90% back to being normal.  I'm back at work for the week and this coming weekend I will definitely be going to Parc Omega with the girlfriend or alone.  Whichever it is.  

We're in our typical Canadian January deep freeze this week with lows in the minus thirties celsius during the night.  It's too damn cold to do any photography in that kind of weather.  Just looked at the weather forecast for the weekend.  High of minus thirteen celsius and 30% chance of snow.  So good enough weather to go to Parc Omega and use the Sony RX100 Mark VI.

Windows 10 or any Microsoft operating system

Versus Linux, Mac OS, Unix, the Windows 10 operating system is a dysfunctional disaster.  It's a disappointment.  On my early 2013 MacBook Pro, the fans hardly ever ramp up.  Only when editing 4k footage, would the fans ramp up and run hot.  With Windows 10 running on my Asus laptop, just running Firefox the fans ramp up.  I can't wait to edit footage or photos on the laptop.  Windows basically is crap on a hard drive.  

I work with Windows 10 all day with my full time job.  It spies on you sending everything back to Microsoft.  It's the Google Android of the laptop/desktop computer market.  I've never had a problem with editing photos or 1080p footage on my MacBook Pro.  I cannot wait to get my Apple iPad Pro.  I think though with the bendgate problems with the iPads, I'll wait for the next itineration of the Apple iPad.  I can't justify a $2000+ product coming out bent out of shape from the factory.  No company is perfect but come on Apple.  The iPad comes out bent and it's a part of the manufacturing process.

I actually don't know if I even want the Apple iPad.  I have two decent laptops that can edit photos and footage pretty well.  Actually the MacBook Pro with Final Cut Pro X is pretty amazing.  I think this weekend I'll wipe the machine and do a clean install of Mojave on it.  Install all my regular programs and just use it to edit photos and footage.  Thankfully I got rid of the iMac.  That was an eyesore if I ever saw one.

I honestly don't know what 2019 will bring.  I know by April I do not want to be in Ottawa and Ontario.  I want to be in Calgary and be living close to the mountains.  I want to take two weeks and head down south thru Montana, Utah, Colorado to Arizona, up thru California and see the coast.  I would love to do photography and shoot some footage out there.  That is my goal for next year.

December 2018 = BME this year

December 2018 has so far been my best month this year.  The month and year are not over yet but I've sold more this month than most months combined.  Thanks to a few video sales this has been a pretty good month.

I am looking forward to 2019.  I think there will be a few massive changes.  I'm going to start looking for a job out west.  I cannot stand Ottawa and Ontario any more.  There is nothing to do here.  I loved being out west in the mountains.  I love nature and I love being out in the mountains.  The air is so fresh.  I love the mountain landscape.  I want to do some astrophotography in the mountains..  One of my goals is take a week or two off and just travel down to Arizona to do some road trip photography. I cannot wait to get out there.

That is all for now.

Some good news. Some bad news.

So I have a friend from high school who works as the finance manager at a local Jeep dealership here in Ottawa.  Hopefully on Monday before three in the afternoon I will get a good news phone call from him telling me I got the 2018 2 door Jeep Wrangler.  The only thing that's not good news is this past year I co-signed a loan for my girlfriend for a 2015 Jeep Patriot.  Her ex really did a number on her credit and now it affects me.  Maybe I shouldn't have signed it but I thought it would be better for her to not pay 20% interest on a loan.  Instead we cut it down to 8% I think.  Now it affects me which totally sucks.

I do hope I get the Jeep Wrangler.  I totally hate the Hyundai Elantra.  It's not good for my body anymore.  I find it difficult to get in and out of the vehicle.  After driving my girlfriend' Jeep Patriot I enjoy the SUV much more.  We shall see on Monday.

I was hoping to do some photography today but it's just so cold out.  It was -14 degrees celsius this morning and now it's -7 degrees celsius.  I think I need to do more photography at Parc Omega which I can do from the warmth of my car.  I haven't been to Parc Omega in a month.  The girlfriend doesn't like doing the photography thing.  That is not good for the relationship as I love photography and shooting footage of nature, landscape and animals.

Head west middle aged man!!!!

I have pretty much made up my mind to head out west in the spring of 2019.  I've been living in Ottawa since 1983 I absolutely despise living here.  The winters are harsh and the summers are short. I realize it's pretty much the same in Calgary weather wise.  Ottawa is located in eastern Ontario in a valley that spreads pretty far and wide.  So you get damp winters with lots of snow and a lot of rain in the summer which turn out to be hot and muggy.

When I was in Calgary last year, I loved it from the start.  I could see the mountains whenever I wanted.  They were a 45 minute drive.  I'd spend every weekend travelling the mountains exploring what I could.  Photography and shooting footage was an incredible experience.  

I did not make any friends when I was out in Calgary as I was basically working all the time and travelling on weekends.  If I was at home, I'd be FaceTiming with my girlfriend.  I wasn't going to the gym then as I am right now.

I am planning on going to Calgary in late March 2019 or early April 2019.  Hopefully I will have a job in Calgary by then.  I hope the NDP is out of power by then so the economy will pick up and people can start working again.  My plans are to work, work out and get healthy and do more photography and shoot more footage.  That would make me really happy.

October came in like a lion

October came in like a lion and came out like a kitty cat.   A few video sales at the beginning of the month raised my hopes for a good month of October.  But its been just subs (subscriptions) for the rest of the month.  Nothing but $0.36 sales.  Seems like anything of quality sales is hard to come by now on any stock site.  I haven't sold a video on Pond5 or Storyblocks in months even adding a few hundred to each site this month.

We are moving at the end of the month so for the next couple of days, we'll be packing up all our stuff and we both get to work during the move so it's going to be long days and no opportunity for photography or to shoot footage.  We got our first snow last night so winter is pretty much here in Ottawa.  I still have my all seasonal tires on until November 5th.

I think it's time to go for breakfast.

And I thought October would be a good month

And I thought October would be a good month on Shutterstock.  3 videos sold in a span of 2 days and now we're back to one or two photos a day at just thirty six cents a day.  Luckily the month isn't over yet and isn't even a third of the way done.  I hope that I sell a few more clips on Shutterstock and a few more on Pond5 and Videoblocks.

After work I took my drone out to fly for about half an hour.  Got the footage and shots I wanted.  It was actually a pretty good day today to take photos and videos.  It was very foggy this morning and I got a few shots I wanted including the parliament buildings in the fog.  I just have to edit and upload them to my three favourite micro stock sites tonight so they'll be available for sale in the next few days.  

On a side note, I'll be going back to my previous employer starting next week to finish off a contract. I honestly do not like working where I am right now.  The red tape is just amazing there.  You can't fart without having a meeting about it.  

The girlfriend and I will be moving at the end of the month and saving up money.  April 2019 our plan is to move out of Ottawa.  Neither of us speak French so getting a descent job is out of the question.  Last year, I was in Calgary on a contract and I fell in love with the Rocky Mountains.  I think our plan is to either move to Calgary or Kingston, Ontario.  I prefer Calgary as there is hardly any French out there and the mountains are 45 minutes from the city.

So if anyone needs a full time photographer and you pay well, let me know.  ;) 

Out west

I really, really want to move out west.  Not to Bring Cash British Columbia but somewhere near Calgary, Alberta.  I was there for four month last year on a contract and I fell in love with the ruggedness of the province.  From Calgary, you are about 45 minutes from the mountains.  I absolutely love the Rockies and the lakes within the mountains.  Calgary is also much closer to the American southwest where I was in 2016.  I totally love the wilderness of the western U.S and Canada.  Being in Ottawa is crap.  I've been here for 35 years.  I am so bored here.  There is absolutely nothing to do here.

 

The girlfriend and I will be looking for a place to live and of course jobs out there.  I would love to get a full time photography gig out there.

My most popular image

My most popular image so far has only been online for just over a year.  I shot it in Banff, Alberta while on a weekend.  I've been doing micro stock for about 4 years now and this image just keeps selling on average every 3 days.  At first I thought it would be a throw away image when I shot it and looked at it on the computer.  Then I had the bright idea of turning it into a black and white image.  It got accepted and I keep selling it.  You can find the image here.