It is time for some minimalism

 

I don't photograph weddings.  I don't photograph people.  I tend to just photograph the world around me.  Cityscapes, landscapes, wild life.  Anything but people in general.  I'm usually in bed by 10pm.  Up in the morning at around 6am.  I have not touched my Sony a7R Mark II in weeks.  I have not touched my Sony or Canon camcorders in much longer.  Not that I have lost my interest or love with photography.  I've been back to work now for several weeks now.  It's just hard to bring all that equipment with you all the time.  I've ordered the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max with the 512GB of storage.  I literally bring my phone with me everywhere.  It's either in my pocket, my hand or right beside me.  I think the iPhone 12 Pro Max with the 512GB of storage will be the right device for me.

I need a severe location change.  I am so unhappy here in Ottawa.  Not that Ottawa isn't a great city.  It is.  It's very beautiful here in the summer and winter.  You can be in the country within half an hours drive in any direction.  There's a lot to do if you have a family.  I've been here for 37 years.  I've done all there is to do in Ottawa.  I've photographed most of it.  I've seen it all.  I need a location change.  I need to move out west to Calgary or even further west.  But east of British Columbia.  B.C is very expensive.  And as nice as B.C is in pictures, the people are not for me.  Not that I'm not a people person, I would rather just be by myself with my camera out in the mountains or by a lake in the mountains.

I think after this contract is finished in March 2021, I'll head out west.  I don't mind doing the camping thing in the SUV for weeks at a time.  I just would need the Canada/U.S border to open up in the winter so I could go down to the States to do photography.

I think once I get the iPhone 12 Pro Max and start using it for my YouTube channel and if the channel grows as I hope it does, I can just live off the YouTube and photography money.  I don't do the donation thing.  I would rather people buy my photography and support me that way.  I want someone to get something of value instead of just giving me money.  I would rather live off my work than live off someone else's hard earned money.

The most popular iPhone in history

I have gone to two Rogers stores and a few Best Buy stores and they cannot keep the new 2020 Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max with the 512GB internal storage on their shelves.  This phone cost $1949 before taxes here in Canada.  It is the most expensive phone you can get off the shelf in the Apple line.  I ordered mine from the Rogers online store this past weekend and it said it would take 3 to 4 weeks for the phone to be delivered.  Since I don’t have any patience to wait 3-4 weeks, I thought I’d go take a look around the various Rogers and Best Buy stores to see if I could get one earlier.  Even during the epidemic, you cannot get a $1949 iPhone.  So I guess I’m going to have to wait for a bit for the phone.

I’ve been looking at YouTube videos of folks walking around making videos with the HDR and Dolby video turned on and it looks simply fantastic.  Just amazing quality of video that you can get out of a phone.  I’ll be patiently waiting for the ProRaw update in iOS 14.3.  Than the phone will be a literal photo and video beast.

I have something coming in 3-4 weeks

So I ordered the 2020 Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max with the 512GB internal hard drive.  When IOS 14.3 comes out and support ProRaw, I think I’ll pretty much drop all my other photography and videography gear and just use the iPhone and iPad Pro as my two main devices.  I shoot Raw photos on all my cameras.  The iPhone support 4K/60fps which is another reason I am getting the iPhone 12 Pro Max with the 512GB SSD hard drive.  4K/60fps takes up a lot of space.  The 64GB iPhones fill up within half an hour with 4K/60fps data.  Now that the iPhone 12 Pro max will be able to shoot Raw natively in the Camera app, I won’t need my Canon point and shoot.  From the details I saw, the photo file size will be at about 25MB which is more than enough for photos to be uploaded to sites like Adobe, Shutterstock and other websites where you can sell your photography and videos.

I basically won’t need a physical laptop to edit my photography and videography.  I can use my 2018 Apple iPad Pro with the 512GB hard drive.  Three years ago, you couldn’t shoot and edit anything on an iPhone and iPad which would be usable.  But now, the hardware and software are so good and getting better, that a DSLR or a mirrorless camera are not needed.  Especially for YouTube or sites like Adobe Stock, Shutterstock, Pond5 or any of the online photo and video selling sites.

I used to photography a lot of wildlife at Parc Omega.  I’ve been to Parc Omega maybe twice this year.  The reasons I don’t go anymore is the pricing to get in is just ridiculous.  Way too expensive.  The last time I went, there were more people than animals.  Parc Omega is far more commercial than an actual natural habitat right now.  It used to be good up until about 4-5 years ago.  It wasn’t that well known but at the same time it was.  Now it’s way over commercialized.  It’s not fun anymore.

I think in March or April of next year, I’ll end up moving to Calgary, Alberta.  Since I got back in July of 2017, I haven’t been the same.  I miss the mountains.  I mill the lakes.  I miss the fresh air.  I miss being out in actual nature by myself.  COVID-19 has definitely proven that I don’t want to be around 99% of the people on this planet.  I would rather be out on a hike somewhere with my camera, away from the majority of the people on this planet.  I think that’s why the iPhone 12 Pro Max with the 512GB of internal storage will be such a good device for me as a person and a photographer.  Shooting in ProRaw will help a lot.  It will have to get better throw as this will be first generation software on the camera.  Eventually, probably in the next year or so, it’ll get much better with software and hardware upgrades.  Apple by far is doing a much better job on its hardware and software than any other phone manufacturer.

I think the iPhone 12 Pro Max paired with the Peak Design aluminium travel tripod will make an awesome photographic tool to take amazing landscape shots out in Alberta and British Colombia.  Once the border opens up, I’ll be able to travel to the western United States.  All I’ll need with me as far as photography goes will be my phone, iPad Pro and my lightweight tripod.  I don’t take portraits, I don’t do weddings.  I just do landscape and cityscape photography.  With ProRes and ProRaw on the iPhone 12 Pro Max and the ability of the 2018 iPad Pro to edit ProRes and ProRaw files, I’ll be able to do a lot more photography in the future than I can right now.  I can be total stealth.  

More photos for sale

 

Last night, someone bought a picture of a timber wolf I took several years ago at Parc Omega.  Fine Art America just paid for itself and then some.  Thank you to the buyer in Colorado.  

 The above photos were taken in the Ottawa Valley on October 10, 2020.  No one around and it was very peaceful.  Even went out for dinner.  Considering Ottawa is in another lockdown, we had to go out of town to get something to eat.  Gotta love the draconian levels of government in Canada. 

Both pictures are available for sale here and here.  Hopefully they'll be approved on my Adobe stock portfolio and my Deposit Photos portfolio.

Finally found the music site

So I finally found the site to get free music for my YouTube channel and it was right in front of me.  I hate the sound of my voice and I hate being in front of the camera.  So I’ll be creating videos for YouTube that I shoot and just put them together and add the music.  I have a few videos on my YouTube channel and they seem to be doing ok.  I have just one subscriber right now but I’ve only been adding a one video a week for the past couple of weeks.  I think I’ve been doing the YouTube thing half-heartedly for the past couple of weeks.  Now that I’ve found the right songs for my videos, I’ll be adding more and more videos to my YouTube channel and hopefully it’ll grow.  So check it out and subscribe here   

Fall is here

 

I went to Mud Lake today to do some photography.  Also needed the walk.  This was the only usable photography I got today.  I was just thinking about setting goals and finishing goals.  I don't want my life to be meaningless.  Just like a leaf in the wind.  Just set one goal at a time and complete it.  Don't worry about the money.  Money will come if you enjoy what you're doing.  75% of people hate what they do for a living.  I am one of the 75%.  Photography is what I love to do.  I saw a very inspiring video today by a former California governor.  I think he's a RINO but this is not about politics.  It's about setting goals and finishing your goals.  It's a short video.  Worth your time. 

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.

Why I love Sony mirrorless cameras

 

I've been shooting waterfalls the past couple of outings.  Ever since I got the 9 stop ND filter, I've been shooting long exposure waterfalls.  And I love it.  All my shots are taken during the day.  At least 6 second shots a ISO 50 and higher than f9.5.  Gotta love it.

Shooting long exposure photography

 

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.

Time to go back

The above shot was taken last week at the 5 Span bridge in Pakenham, Ontario.  It was a warm and sunny Friday with a lot of people out cooling down in the water.  I was hoping there was no one there but there were maybe about 75-90 people there cooling off in the water.  Today is a hot and sunny Monday.  But it’s a Monday so I’m hoping I’m there alone so I could take photos of these little waterfalls from a different angle.  I really like shooting with the Sony A7R Mark II and the Sony f3.5-6.3 24-240MM lens and the 10 stop GOBE ND filter.  I can take really long exposure photos during the middle of the day and get the silky, smooth water.  The above photo was shot at ISO 50, f16 and an 8 second exposure.  Long enough for the water to freeze in motion.  Today I am hoping I can be there alone and take my time to find better compositions.  I’m hoping I can vlog it as well.  I hate being on camera and doing it in front of people whether I know them or not.

What are your Pro Photographer moves?

So what are some of your pro photographer moments?  Forgetting the lens cap on your lens?  Dead batteries in the camera? Forgotten batteries at home?  Full SD card?  You forget your SD card at home?  It’s all happened to everyone at some point.  Part of the job right.  Tell me what else has happened to you while you’re out with the camera.

The above shot was taken with the Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max.

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

Rainy day photography

I wanted to do some more long exposure photography with the GOBE 10 stop ND filter.  Today was a dark and dreary day.  Perfect weather for some long exposure photography like the picture above.  This small waterfall is located in Britannia Park located in the west of Ottawa.  I had forgotten about this park for about 5 years.  Rediscovered it a few weeks back Nd I wanted to photograph it again.  It’s really a small, beautiful and pleasant park with not too many people around.

I’ve had pretty much nothing to do since I can’t go back to my job because of the Kung Flu virus.  I’ve uploaded both of the above pictures to my own personal website.  Both pictures are available for sale there.  I’ve also uploaded both pictures to my Adobe Portfolio.  They are waiting for moderation. What I like about both shots is how crisp and sharp they both are.  I used ISO 100, f8 and a 30 second exposure.  Both were shot with the Sony a7R Mark II, the Sony f3.5-6.3 24-240MM lens and the GOBE 10 stop ND filter.

Hi If you are located in Ottawa or in the Ottawa Valley and would like to learn how to use your DSLR, give me a shout here.  I charge $50/hour.  If more hours are needed to learn your camera, we can come out to a deal.  I started doing pro photography back in 2008.  I graduated from Algonquin College as a pro photographer in 2012 and I’ve been shooting ever since.

Gobe 10 stop ND filter

I’ve been wanting to do some long exposure photography during the day with my Sony a7R Mark II camera for a while now.  I’ve been looking for a neutral density filter that is reasonably priced and does a solid job.  I found the Gobe 10 stop ND filter on Amazon. I bought this filter for $60 Canadian and I am extremely happy with this filter.  It arrived within 4 days and I got to test it this past weekend.  The above shot is shot at ISO 100, f16 and a 6 second exposure.  You read that right.  Six seconds shot at roughly 4:30pm on a really sunny day with some nice clouds in the sky.  The above shot is of Calabogie Lake in Calabogie, Ontario.  There are a few waterfalls in the Ottawa and Ottawa valley that would be nice to photograph during the day and evening.  That will be my goal for this week.