I am pretty sure...

...this will be my last contract in the I.T. field.  With the current contract, I am not getting any help whatsoever.  They want it done by December 20, 2018 but there is no way I am getting it done alone. I love doing photography and shooting footage.  I'm probably going to sign up for two evening classes at Algonquin College for the winter semester.  Both are dealing with how to shoot and edit movies in an NLE type program.  

I just checked the Algonquin College website and it looks like I have time to sign up for the courses I want.  It's a three course program and the Video Composition and Audio Production classes run on Saturdays and Tuesdays which is perfect.  I can take both classes at the same time.  I've already taken and successfully passed the Photography Techniques course at Algonquin College.  I've pretty much learnt Apple Final Cut Pro X on my own but I know I've barely scratched the surface of the program. I need to learn more.

I regret not keeping up my skills with Photoshop.  For 99.9% of my photography I just used to use Adobe Photoshop Lightroom.  In Photoshop I only used the Camera Raw portion of the program and then use some of the presets to sharpen the image and run the Denoise option.  I've forgotten how to do lets say a sky replacement.  Thankfully I can look up pretty much everything on YouTube and follow a tutorial there.  I know it's not the best way of doing things but it's better than nothing.  I don't want to do so much to my image in Photoshop or Affinity Photo so I try and get the image right in camera rather than Photoshop.  

I basically am a minimalist when it comes to photo editing.  I do landscape and wildlife photography and shoot landscape and wildlife footage.  I don't apply much to my image and footage.  Just some colour correcting, noise reduction.  Remove any glaring things that take away from the image.

On a side note, I haven't sold one video on Shutterstock yet this month.  It's uncommon for me not to sell at least one video on Shutterstock.  I sold one this month on Pond5.  Storyblocks has been quiet for months.  I've added and added footage and photos to all my sites but video sales are non-existent this month and have been for quite a while.  I am hoping it picks up pretty soon.  

I don't know why...

...I shoot in 4k.  I've only ever sold 3-4 4k files amongst the hundreds I have online.  My most popular clip is of a coyote that I shot at 1080p/30fps that I shot with a Canon EOS 6D and a Sigma 150-500MM lens back in 2015 at Parc Omega.  My late 2013 MacBook Pro is ok at editing the footage but it just takes forever.  I don't want to buy a 2018 MacBook Pro just because of the price.  I can't believe I'm saying it but I'm looking at getting a Windows 10 based machine.  The Macs I own are long in the tooth now and they need to be replaced.  When I do get a new machine, I am going to miss editing in Final Cut Pro X.  That is one fantastic piece of editing software.  It's so easy and intuitive.

But back to shooting footage.  I want to shoot all my stuff in 1080p/60fps.  So back to shooting with the Canon Vixia HF G40.  I love that camcorder.  It's so versatile and so easy to use.  I love the colour that comes from the camcorder.  It's sharp as well and focuses quickly.

New domain for my other site

So in keeping with the .photos domain name top level domain names, I purchased a new domain to go with my Fine Art America account.  You can visit http://josefpittner.photos to see the website where you can buy prints, wall art, clothing, posters etc.  I've sold a few items on there.  Enough to pay for the domain and the $30 fee it costs to get the premium features.  I don't upload as much on there as I do to Shutterstock.  But the photos I do sell, typically sell for $30 to $70 which is better than $0.36 for a small digital photo.  I have not sold a video this month on Shutterstock which is kind of out of the ordinary.  Typically I sell one to ten videos a month.  I sold one on Pond5 this month which I got paid for already.  Fine Art America has not sent me my $70US yet but I'm expecting that this afternoon at some point.  Once they do, I'm a quarter of the way there to getting my Sony RX100 Mark VI.  So if you need some stock footage, you can go to my Shutterstock footage portfolio and purchase some footage.

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.

It's mid month

I've sold 1 video for roughly $260.  I got about $130 for that.  Other than that, I've sold maybe 40 photos for roughly $0.36 each on Shutterstock.  Shutterstock is somewhat disappointing this month.  I think there's been one or two months where I haven't sold a video on Shutterstock and it really hinders sales and payouts.  I'm not losing hope yet as we're only half way through the month.  After Fine Art America and Pond5 pay out what they owe me, I'll be about a third of the way there to get the new Sony RX100 Mark VI.  If a the Sony RX100 Mark VII comes out in April or May, I'll wait to buy that camera if it's worth it.

I am still editing photos from the trip to Parc Omega this past weekend.  Took a lot of phots and videos so it takes time.  I'm using ON1 Capture Raw 2019 to edit the photos.  It's a new program for me so I'm learning the ins and outs of the program.  So far so god.

I am getting the Sony RX100 Mark V fixed tomorrow.  The latch that holds the battery in the camera broke on me a few months ago while I was doing some astrophotography with it.  It's about time I get it fixed.  I'm conflicted somewhat about getting the Sony RX100 Mark VI as I do have the Sony RX100 Mark V.  The only new feature would be the 24-200MM lens.  It would mean I'd carry around one less camera as the Mark VI would be good enough to shoot stills and footage.  I'd just have to carry around a light tripod with the RX100 Mark VI and that's pretty much it.  I don't shoot headshots for people.  I focus mainly on landscapes and wildlife.  I'd like to get the Sony RX10 Mark IV for wildlife as it does have a 24-600MM lens on it.  It would mean I could sit back at a good distance and not disturb the wildlife.  That I think will be my next purchase with my photography money.

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.

I am finally...

...getting some help at work. I've been back to my current employer for a month now and they've provided me with no help so far.  I was supposed to get help a few weeks back but the guys that they hired bailed on them.  I'm supposed to have a team of five but it's been just me.  I'm finding that working for the feds or quasi feds like the department I work for are getting worse and worse as tech and people go.  They're getting worse people with worse technical skills.  It's this multi-cultural, politically correct crap that is killing western society.  Companies now are hiring, not based on knowledge or merit but race, ethnicity or the sex of a person.  I know I don't know everything.  That's why I keep learning.  

I am totally sick of working in the I.T field now.  Companies are not helping you achieve success.  Everyone is after the Almighty dollar in the short term.  People and companies are looking just six months ahead or to the next fiscal quarter end.  I'm studying Affinity Photo more and more.  I'm saving up for the Sony RX100 Mark VI.  I also want to get the Sony RX10 Mark IV along with the DJI Mavic Pro 2.  

Having the Sony RX100 Mark VI, the Sony RX10 Mark IV and the DJI Mavic Pro 2 would be potent tools for me to get out on my own and actually push my photography business.  That is why I'm saving up my money.  That is why I'm studying Affinity Photo.  That is why I'm going to the gym to work on my health.  I want to concentrate on Affinity Photo and my health in the next five months so by March 31, 2019, I can move out west with my girlfriend and start a new life.

Affinity Photo

If you know how to use Adobe Photoshop, you'll know how to use Affinity Photo.  I think I paid $60 for Affinity Photo several years ago so I don't have to pay a subscription fee every month to a company to rent their software.  Companies like Adobe and Microsoft charge subscription fees for their software which I find unfair to the user.  It's a complete ripoff.  If and when Seriff, the maker of Affinity Photo release a digital asset management software it'll take a lot of people away from Adobe.  At least photographers.  For video, I use Final Cut Pro so again, I don't have to pay a monthly subscription fee to Adobe.  It's a one time cost and Apple provides new features and makes the software more stable and faster with every release.

On a side note, my leg feels great.  No more pain.  Next Thursday, I have to go to Canadian Camera located in downtown Ottawa to get my Sony RX100 Mark V fixed.  The EVF won't pop up and the spring holding the SD card in its slot busted on me a few months back while I was doing night photography.  I hope it doesn't cost an arm and a leg to get fixed.  I don't think it should cost that much to get fixed.  We shall see.  

It's a long weekend here for some of us with Sunday being Remembrance Day (Veterans Day) so I have to go get my car fixed on Monday.  The rear breaks are apparently metal on metal which is not good for the breaks.  I don't know how long they've been like that.  I don't think it's been long since the car breaks fine.

I haven't been able to do any photography in the past several weeks with us moving and now the car getting in the way.  We're supposed to get 2cm worth of snow tomorrow.  I'm hoping to get out this weekend with the girlfriend and the Jeep.

So today I forgot...

...my wallet at home.  All my ID's are in my wallet along with my bank cards, credit cards etc.  I'm all in a panic that I don't have any money today.  Or anything.  Than I look at my phone beside me.  And I think to myself.  I do have access to cash.  My Apple iPhone 8 Plus is going to be my valet today.  Who needs cards when you have your phone?????  Today I am also seriously starting to study Affinity Photo.  I know photography has to be my go to career now.  I have to pave my own way.  I cannot do the I.T. thing anymore.  I can't work only contracts.  Hire a photographer!!!!  Today!!!!!

Wow!!! What a...

...workout.  I found muscles I didn't know I had.  Just got home and relaxing a bit before I watch a few Affinity photo tutorials.  I stopped at Costco and picked up a salad for lunch tomorrow.  I really need to lose about 50 pounds before March.  That's my goal physically.  Intellectually I want to keep learning Affinity Photo.  If you have any good tutorials for Affinity Photo, please post it in the comments.  Thanks.

Today at work so far...

I've deployed one computer.  Imaged three computers.  Brought up some Surface Pros to the third floor for the DSS team and I cleaned up my work area which consisted of packing laptop bags into one big pile.  I have one more deployment at two today and I get to image that one computer after I deployed the new one to the client.

I brought my personal MacBook Pro to work so that I can actually, maybe, possibly work on my own stuff.  I'm being interrupted by my boss and a couple of the on site technicians but it's all good.  I enjoy the company.  Us on site/deployment guys are pretty much the same.  We share the same mentality.  I was supposed to get a new coworker today but he bailed out last night.

I am taking a bit of break from photography.  I'm busy with life I guess.  Work and exercise always seem to get in the way of what I want to do.  Like I've previously stated, the next couple of months are going to be life changing.  I really, really do not want to live in Ottawa anymore.

My precious hard drive

My Seagate hard drive.  The 6TB Seagate hard drive.  The one storing all my footage for the past several years.  Is dead.  At least 99.9% dead.  It will not wake up.  I can feel it spinning.  It turns on.  I just cannot access the hard drive.  It will not come up.  It got damaged in the move.  I set up my big Apple iMac last night.  Everything is setup again but this particular hard drive will just not come up.  I hope I can get it working as I don't want to lose all the footage.  Thankfully I got the majority of the footage online on the various micro stock agencies.  But it's a pain in the rear end if I cannot get it up and running again.  5 years of footage on the drive and it's pretty much done for.  I have to stop buying Seagate hard drives.  That's the third hard drive that's died on me in the last two years.  I don't have warranty on it anymore I don't think.  I'm hoping there's a way I can retrieve the footage from the drive.  I have all my stuff from Parc Omega, Arizona/Utah, Calgary, Vancouver, BC, Washington and all the other places I've visited in the last decade or so.

I absolutely hate...

...moving.  We just spend the last week moving.  Boxing up our stuff.  Getting a storage unit.  Moving into a storage unit and moving the rest of our stuff that we actually need and use to our new place.  And we'll have to do this again in March.  To boot, I think we'll be moving cross country in March to Calgary, Alberta.  I moved myself to Calgary last year for a 4 month contract.  It wasn't that bad but I did get stuck in North Dakota for two days because of a 2cm snow storm with 95kh/h winds.  Visibility was non existent.

Monday is becoming exciting.  I get a new coworker tomorrow.  That means I can offload some work on a newbie finally in months.  I haven't had a chance at all to do any photography or shoot any footage.

It's Monday morning and I've done one deployment so far.  I'm trying to update the TPM settings on these Toshiba Portege Z30-B machines and it's nothing but a frustrating pain in the rear end.  From now until March 31, 2019, I am studying Affinity Photo after work.  I really, really need to switch career paths.  I am frustrated with the I.T industry.  Nothing ever works right and I feel like I'm way behind in everything.  One person tells me to do one thing and the next one tells me to do another.

I have to do what I want to do with my life.  Do whatever it takes to get my life to where I want it to be.  I have to make myself happy and not someone else.  This is probably going to be my last I.T. contract as far as I'm concerned.  

No social media except...

...my blog, my online media portfolios and maybe a Youtube Channel.  I use Google' Blogger platform only because Wordpress is a nightmare to configure, use and secure.  Wordpress gets attacked hourly because it stores your credit card numbers on its platform for payment and such.  I will not use it just for that.  With Google, they spy on you and use sell your data.  I no longer use the Google search engine personally.  Duckduckgo all the way.

Twitter was completely worthless.  A lot of photo and footage theft.  You can only put low quality stuff on there so you couldn't get any sales on there.  90% of my followers were other photographers who would steal your stuff and call it their own.  Instagram was full of spammers.  I'd say 99% of the users are spam accounts.  Everybody was asking for iTunes gift cards which is a total joke.  I hardly use a Google product.  I just permanently closed my Facebook account which should be done in 30 Facebook days.  

So all I have now is my blog.  I can control the content on the blog.  The size of the photos and footage is limited but better than Twitter or Instagram.  Facebook is crap as well.  Looks like the whole media companies are banning conservatives or anyone with an opposing or different view point.  Media companies are not good for western democracies anymore.  Most are socialist or commie type establishments.

People should support small entrepreneurs and artists like myself.  I saw a quote on the web years which in effect stated that you shouldn't support a CEO of a company to buy his/her new jet but instead support a small business so the owners can support their families.  It may be more expensive than Walmart but you're helping a family business.

And a new month begins again

The month has started off somewhat descent.  3 early morning photo sales from the Far East and Europe.  No video sales yet.  Thankfully no $1.80 footage sales.  The one footage sale for $1.80 was insulting enough.  I don't care how big your client is, you don't ripoff your contributors like that!!!  Shutterstock should know better.

On a side note, we're pretty much packed up and ready to move.  Maybe spend an hour tomorrow cleaning up and packing the tv and other big items.  We'll be moved quickly.  Have I mentioned I hate moving?  

Last month I sold about $150 worth of photography and footage.  $150 closer to getting the Sony RX100 Mark VI.  Next pay I get the Sony RX100 Mark V fixed.  Shouldn't be too expensive I hope.  This fall I am focusing on studying Affinity Photo, more photography and footage and going to the gym to get rid of 50 pounds before we move out west.  In February, we'll start looking for jobs out west.  Ottawa and Ontario just isn't for us anymore.  The weather sucks.  The economy for English speakers here is awful.

Luckily I have a good place to work now with a good boss.  As long as I get my work done, he doesn't care what I do which is fantastic.  And now I gotta go image a laptop.