More Parc Omega photography with the Sony RX100 Mark VII

So I took a day off from work last week to go to Parc Omega for the day.  We got our first snow fall of the season and I wanted to photograph some animals in the fresh snow.  I’ve been trying to convince myself that I need a full frame, high megapixel camera and a really fast computer to do landscape and wildlife photography.  That just isn’t true.  I’ve been using my Sony RX100 Mark VII camera and a 2018 Apple iPad Pro with the 12.9” screen and a 512GB hard drive for the past six months to do all my computing and photography work.  If I didn’t say what equipment I was using no one would know unless they asked and I told them what I was using.  It is not the equipment, but rather the photographer.  Photography is pretty easy to learn.  Anyone can shoot decent photos.  You just have to have an eye for it.  You have to see the composition.  You just have to take the camera with you.

The above photo was taken at Parc Omega in Montebello, Quebec.  It was taken with the Sony RX100 Mark VII, edited on a 2018 Apple iPad Pro in Pixelmator Photo.  Literally just one click and voila.  Does not take much.

No more Parc Omega

After today, I am not planning on going to Parc Omega any time soon.  Lousy customer service, over priced and lack of photographic opportunity.  The animals were inactive today for the very first time.  The wolves and coyotes were sleeping all day.  I've been to the Timber wolves twice since they've moved them from one en-closer to another.  There are physically no angles to photograph the timber wolves at all.  You either have glass or fencing in front of you.  You also have little kids pushing in front of you and the parents aren't any better.  

Parc Omega has increased their prices on admission as well.  The food portions are small and extremely over priced.  Five dollars for a hot dog.  Three dollars for a warm pop.  It's almost like going on vacation in Cuba.  I've been going there for almost eleven years now and I've found the last four years, the photographic opportunities have been cut by seventy five percent.  The fences are high and the animals seem not to be as healthy as they used to be.  They are not as accessible as they once were.  My Shutterstock portfolio is mainly animals/nature shots.  Some of the photos and videos are my best sellers.  I think it's time I start photographing another subject.

Some shots from Parc Omega

Just a sample of my day at Parc Omega this past Tuesday.  Wish I could get out there more often but work gets in the way.

I need to move

It's going to be Parc Omega time again on Saturday.  Whether I go alone or not is not my choice.  But I need to spend time with the animals.  Especially the wolves.  After the month I've had on Shutterstock, I need to shoot more videos of animals.  I'll take my Canon Vixia HF G40 camcorder with me this time.  I've been using the Sony RX100 Mark VI for video but it doesn't have quite the reach of the Canon Vixia HF G40 as far as digital reach.

With the polar vortex weather we've been having, going outside to do photography is just plain nuts.  I need warmer weather.  Maybe I'll take a day off during the week and just spend the day by myself.  I need a rest.

Thrilled to have the Sony RX100 Mark VI

So today I finally upgraded to the Sony RX100 Mark VI.  It doesn't have the apps from the Sony Play Memories App store.  Which is OK because I have all the apps on the Sony RX10 Mark II.  I have to buy an adapter to attach filters to the lens.  Which is OK again because I don't think I'll be upgrading cameras for a while unless I upgrade to the Sony RX10 Mark IV.  I think the next item on my wish list will be the 2018 iPad Pro with the 512GB hard drive.

Today is December 31, 2018.  Last day of the month and year.  I am looking forward to 2019 and see what the year brings.  The girlfriend is sick so we shall see if she comes to Parc Omega with me tomorrow.  We were going to go to the movie today but I think that's out of the question.  In mid February, I'll start looking for a job out in Calgary.  I cannot stand living in Ottawa anymore.

Tomorrow I am looking forward to using the Sony RX100 Mark VI at Parc Omega.  I have a 128GB card in the camera so that should be enough for all the photography and footage.  I just have to bring a few batteries with me.  That's the only thing that I'm not impressed with, with the Sony RX100 Mark VI.  Battery life is atrocious with Sony cameras.  We shall see tomorrow how many I will need for a day of shooting.

I am also looking forward to moving out west to Calgary.  I do miss the mountains.

So the new year is coming

2019 is here in a couple of days and I cannot wait.  I haven't done much photography this year but that is changing.  I've told the girlfriend every Saturday this year is mine and mine alone to do what I want to do.  So I will be doing photography every Saturday this year.  No matter where it is, it will be photography.  I'm planning on going to Parc Omega every Saturday until the end of March until we leave for Calgary.  Even out west, every Saturday will be mine to do photography.  It will be luckily in the mountains out west.  

I need to do more photography for my sanity.  It's the only thing that brings joy and peace into my life.  I work all week and don't do much on weekends.

This past Saturday

It was snowing lightly.  The weather wasn't cold or warm.  It was just right.  The girlfriend and I went up to Parc Omega.  We usually go in the fall and winter as it's too hot in the summer and the animals aren't as active due to the heat.  But when it's snowing and the Canadian winter starts to set in, that's when the animals are active.  They get their majestic winter coats and are more playful.  It is a good time of the year for both animals and humans.

Photographers also enjoy this time as they get to spend more time with these majestic animals.  I uploaded my shots to my Shutterstock portfolio.  I am still editing the footage from the day.  They should be done by the end of the week and uploaded by the weekend.  Hopefully they'll get approved soon as well.  I hope to go back to Parc Omega soon as we're supposed to get 10cm worth of snow tomorrow and another 6cm worth of snow on Saturday.

What is happening????

So more work related news.  The guy who was supposed to start with me today appears to be a huge moron.  He requested he be paid upfront for work he hasn't done yet.  He was supposed to start with me a few weeks back but got "another" job.  I'm assuming he asked the same thing from his other employer who told him a flat out no as well.  We assume he contacted my employer and asked for the same thing.  Who asks for money up front for work that he hasn't completed?  I can see a as a photographer to ask for a deposit to make sure your client and your photographer are set for that date.  Typically I would charge 25% of my fee up front so my client knows that I will not take on another photography gig on said date.  It also pretty much guarantees that my client will not flake out on the date as well if they find a cheaper photographer or something goes wrong in the relationship and the wedding doesn't happen.

For a contract that is multiple months long with possibility of extension, you do not ask for your fees up front.  You get paid every two weeks just like everybody else.  

I'm currently editing photos and videos we shot this past weekend at Parc Omega.  It was pretty much the first snow fall of the year so we wanted to go see the animals in the new snow.  It was really nice out.  High of two degrees celsius and low of minus one degrees celsius.  So it wasn't cold and it wasn't warm.  It was just perfect.  The park was not busy at all with a few moronic drivers who don't obviously know how to drive.  I'd say most were Montreal drivers.

I'm using ON1 Photo Raw 2019.  It just came out today so I bought it and upgraded to the new system.  So far, so good.  It's very easy to use and export the photos.  I have to edit the 4k footage as well at some point.  Maybe do that on my 5k 2015 Apple iMac later in the week.

I really, really enjoy Parc Omega and all the animals.  I'm at peace there.  It's really awesome during the week when it feels like you're the only person there with the animals.  I am really going to miss the park when we move out west.  But out west you have the Rocky Mountains and real wild animals.  I really miss the mountains.  I used to go to the mountains every weekend when I was in Calgary on contract last year.  Hopefully I will get more contracts or permanent work out there when we move at the end of March next year.  I look forward to travelling the west and the Rocky Mountains.

Back at Parc Omega

I went to Parc Omega over the weekend and got some good shots.  They are upgrading some areas of the park.  It's still not as good as it was when I first started going there.  The fences are higher making photography more difficult.  I don't like having fences in my photography.  It distracts from the animals and footage I am trying to photograph.

This upcoming weekend, the girlfriend and I are heading up to Algonquin Park to see the tree leaves turning colour.  It's going to be a gong show with all the tourists from the Toronto area.  I've been going there for the past three years and it's always a gong show.  This year I want to bring my DJI Spark to get some arial footage of the trees and the natural beauty of the park.

One of my better shots

A lone Arctic Wolf showing its fangs.  I absolutely love wolves.  My favourite type of wolf is the Timber Wolf.  Their fur in the winter is just amazing.  Absolutely love wolves.

Parc Omega

It's been a while since I've been to Parc Omega.  Last time the girlfriend and I went was probably in March of this year.  With the heat wave we've had this summer it's just not worth going.  The animals just hide in the forest to get away from the heat.  Today I did photography with maybe a dozen or so footage shots.  I did not take my camcorder with me.  Only shot 4k a few times today.  The next time I go, I will be going during the week and alone so I can concentrate more on composition of my nature shots.  We left the house around 10am and got back around 9pm after visiting the park and going for dinner after.  Let's just say it was a long and exhausting day.  But we had a lot of fun

I think this week I'll be going back to Parc Omega by myself with the Sony RX10 Mark II and the Canon Vixia G40 to do some more photography and more footage shots.  I shouldn't have taken any 4k footage yesterday.  It's just takes too much space and too much time to edit and upload.  That's why I like shooting with my Canon Vixia G40 camcorder.  It's great 1080p/60fps footage.  I also like the colours of all the Canon products.  Much better colour reproduction.  

I wish fall was here

This summer has been too damn hot.  I can't wait for the fall cooler days and nights.  The trees changing colors.  The smell of cool winds.  And I'm gonna be going back to Parc Omega practically every weekend to get my animal footage and photography.