I joined a bunch of local photographers today for a strobist shoot which turned out quite well.  We set up a couple of different stations and all rotated through them sharing each others lights.  Here is the first of a few that I will be posting over the next few days.

Storbist
SB600 1/4 in EZYbox @ 5 o’clock
SB600 1/8 through umbrella @ 9 o’clock
SB800 1/16 through grid 2 o’clock

I can’t believe how fast they grow up!  I think every parent has said or thought that on more than one occasion as they watch their children grow up.  It just seems like just yesterday when we would take the kids to Mcdonalds to play in the ball room and to them that was the best thing in life.  As much as  I can’t wait to see them become the people that they are going to be, part of me really misses the younger years.

I’m sure most of you have experienced this at least once in your life when you were a kid but probably do not remember it.  If you have kids you will now better understand how tragic something like this is.  To see your child in total bliss and then in a heartbeat switch to the spawn of Satan ,with turning head and everything, is quite a sight to behold.  The only remedy for such a disaster is replacement of the balloon expeditiously!

In honor of the announcement today about the future release of the new Apple ipad I took a shot of the front window at the Apple store here in town.  Can you believe I don’t even have an iphone yet and now they bring this baby to life.  Now I just have to convince my wife that this is a need and not a just a want.  This new device truly is going to revolutionize the way we surf the web.  You just watch, a year from now it will look like a scene out of Star Trek with every one carrying their tricorders and communicators.  What’s next, a cell phone that clips to your chest and you tap it to make a call – oh we kind of already have that but it is small enough to fit in our ear.  Crazy times we live in.

My poor kids have to put up with being my models more often that they like, I’m sure.  Hopefully they will look back at this as time well spent with their father – ya right, not in these teen years.  I am blessed to have two beautiful and perfect daughters in every way, or should I say cursed?  I love them both to pieces, oh ya and my boys too.  They all mean the world to me and I’ll shout it on roof tops at every chance I get.

Love Dad!

Strobist
SB800 though EZYbox 1/64ish @ 7 o’clock
SB600 with pink gel and goboed through a tree 1/64 @ 11 o’clock

The poor smokers these days have to go to hell and gone to have a puff.  This town was serious about their smoke free environment so they make all the smokers drive 20 KM out past the town limits before they can light up.

Spark em if you got em!

I guess I should stop calling my kids babies especially now that she is a teenager.  I think they will always be my babies though.  It turned cold again today with a bunch of snow last night.  I’m sad to say that I passed on my dislike for the cold to my kids, so no winter Olympic athletes here.

Strobist:
SB800 in EZYbox at 1/64 @ 9 o’clock

I have no idea why anyone would want to do this for sport, to feed you family I understand but for sport.  My feelings about this may have something to do with my hatred for the cold but I shouldn’t impose that on all the ice fishermen out there.  What ever floats your boat I guess, well not on those waters – lol.

Blog: edmontonweddingphotographers.nakedeyephotography.ca/
Website: nakedeyephotography.ca/

I’m not a big morning guy even though my wife thinks I am.  I shot this on the way home from driving the kids to school the other day.  In the summer I never see the sunrise and I’m OK with that, I get enough of them in the winter.

212/365

I was at the mall looking for some bokeh (obsessed much) for today’s shot and I came across a lingerie store with this crazy looking mannequin just standing there with nothing else on but a tank top.  To top it off there was some bokeh hiding in the back of the store.

HBW Everyone.

Strobist:
SB800 1/128 pointed at a mirrored column behind me so I guess that would be @ 6 o’clock

A couple of months ago I told you all how much I hate winter and the cold.  Well I took matters into my own hands today and started my attack on the snow.  If Mother Nature can’t melt this stuff any faster, I’ll just give her a hand.  These heaters kick out quite a bit of heat so I figure at this rate I’ll be the only one on the block to have no snow in about a week.

Strobist:
SB800 snooted 1/128 @ 7 o’clock
SB600 snooted with red gel 1/64 @ 3 o’clock

I was saying goodnight to the kids tonight and while I was in my son’s room I noticed their old Micky Mouse ears and I all of a sudden I had a craving for some Disney.  The Incredibles was one of my all time favorite movies and the fact that it was a cartoon just makes it that much better.  I have always like cartoons, new and old school.  I’m about to date myself here but when I was a kid I couldn’t get home for lunch fast enough for a little Flintstones action, now they actually have stations that play cartoons 24 hours a day – crazy hey!

Strobist:
SB800 snooted 1/128 directly above (I need some grids, I had to adjust way too much to get an even spread that wasn’t too harsh)
SB600 snooted 1/64 at 2o’clock for rim.

Knowing how much I like Coke, my sister got me this puzzle for Christmas.  I’ve been meaning to shoot it for a while but I had to figure out how to put it together first.  Thanks Sis for making me use the side of my brain I obviously don’t use enough.  I better not mention that my kids put it together in about half the time I did – Do’h

Strobist:  SB800 in EZbox 1/128 @ 7 o’clock and the SB600 directly overhead through umbrella 1/64 via my Wife (VAL)

Sheesh, can’t a guy take care of business without someone shining a spot light on him.  A guy’s gotta do what a guy’s gotta do, even if he is just an action figure.

Strobist:  SB600 fired at the ceiling with red gel – 1/64 5 o’clock, SB800 snooted 1/128 3 o’clock

No bokeh were hurt in the making of this shot, however if you look closely I did spill some.  You know what they say about not crying over spilled bokeh, but you don’t have to waste it either.

Today was the grand opening of the first Starbucks in Bokehistan.

Have a great weekend everyone,

Strobist:  SB800 snooted @ 1/128 – 8 o’clock and SB600 snooted @ 1/64 – 5 o’clock

Thanks Elaine for going out of your way to get me the cup. Who knew that Starbucks doesn't like to give up their cups for free?

#206/365

I always had a tough time understanding why a handbag, especially one with a “Name” meant so much to my wife.  Oh sweetie, don’t they look amazing – I would look amazing with that bag on my shoulder.  To which I reply – HOW MUCH?  You gotta be kidding!  Well talk about eating crow.  It wasn’t until I got back into photography that I now get it.  You all know what I’m talking about, I mean how many camera bags do we really need?  However, we are always on the hunt for the perfect bag, as is my wife.  However, I still think mine is all about function and not looks, even though she doesn’t buy that for a second.

Owen

Some how I don’t think Master Chief has any intentions of teaching anyone to sing in perfect harmony.  Hopefully I’m not the only one that remembers Coke’s advertising jingle from the 70 or 80’s. Oh yeah and what’s better than a coke but a coke with just a hint of bokeh – yummy!

HBW everyone.

Strobist:  SB800 snooted @ 1/128 4 o’clock. SB600 snooted with red gel @ 1/64 3 o’clock

I shot this on the way home when i stopped to get gas.  One of the things I love the most about doing my project 365 is that I am forcing myself to always look at a scene and wonder what it would look like as a still.  There are times when I find myself begging for some inspiration and then out of the blue when I least expect it I am given a glimpse of hope.  I encourage any photographer that sees this shot and takes the time to read my rambling, to embark on some type of photo challenge.  If a 365 is too daunting then do a project 52 or how about a 50/50 – anything to get your creative juices flowing.  I haven’t decided if I will start a new 365 come June when this one is completed but I know one thing for sure, doing something every day photography related can’t be a bad thing especially if you are learning something new along the way.

Owen

Two reasons for this shot today, I didn’t have time to get out and shoot so I had to pull one out from the vault and my wife is getting her spring travel itch.  Every Spring Break for the last 7 years we have taken off for a second honeymoon.  We are blessed to have such a great family who will watch the kids for us as we recharge our batteries.  This year we are not going back to our favorite place on Kauai but hopefully we will find ourselves somewhere on the Islands come the end of March.

Aloha, Owen