100 and countining

Wow 100 posts.This years Shooting from the Hip has reached many milestones and this is yet another.Now That I am trying to post every day it is a quick run to 100 posts.
Yesterday I shot for an hour or two and today I am editing them and moving the images into digital backgrounds.The more I use the digital backgrounds the better I get with them.I did two that I am really proud of.

A New Day

It a Saturday morning and the sun is peeking over the horizon.A new day is dawning and with it brings a weekend of photography.I am pumped about this weekend.I plan to shoot the whole weekend.hopefully I blog through it.Oh yeah and the other passion in my life,racing,has the 24 hour of Daytona endurance race.Wow what a weekend.

Back to the Future

Well almost a year to the day I once again got a call from my district manager.A year ago he asked me to take some photo's around the town and send them to him for a presentation that he was preparing for the entire head office staff.That's what started the blog.It was a way to document the going on of my photography.Today he wanted more photo's and once again I am feeling like a new start.I have been getting the word out about doing portrait work.I have several people that are interested in some digital backgrounds that I have.Lets hope I change them from leads to customers.

A Year In The Life

Well Shooting from the Hip hit a milestone today.We are one year old and hopefully it has been a year of discovery.There have been a lot of photographs and lots time pondering what they me to me.So here is to another year of photographic discovery.

Bacground Information

It amazes me that you pretty much can download any information,image or media clip that you can ever want.Tonight I downloaded a number of digital backgrounds for free.I also watched a movie on how to remove a solid background color out of a picture and have a digital background come through.I can even read an e-book on photoshop all for free.I use use a free software program called gimp to do my photo manipulations.What a great way to run a business.

In the Background

Today I down loaded some new digital backgrounds for my photography business.I am trying hard to get the business started and so far it has been up hill all the way.Problems with my computer,my wife's computer has no CD ROM drive.I have started to be able to shoot the high key images that you use to do the cut in gimp or photoshop.Then using layers you add what ever background you want.
here is one example.

A long Weekend

The best laid plans of man never seem to materialize.I had planned to spend the yesterday shooting a mother and baby shoot.It was going to be a present for an employee of mine who just had a baby boy.That employee was schedule to work on Saturday.Instead of showing up ,working and then coming to the studio with his girlfriend to do the shoot,he decided to stay home.That caused me to be called in to work and made for a very long day.
The days was filled with a lot of time to think.A lot of time to think of my future and my desires.I have been spreading the word about my photography.Trying to drum up some business to help the whole getting started process along.So far no takers.I guess I have to re think the approach.

The Dragons Den

There is a great TV program on CBC in Canada called The Dragons Den.The show is about budding entrepreneurs that try and get venture capital from some rich and successful business owners.The show is great and it is inspiring.I have been trying to generate some leads for my own photography business.I am trying to follow the marketing plan that the program recommends and hopefully we will generate some cash.

Craetive art

Once upon a time a picture didn't lie,or did it?There is a famous picture from the war photo journalist Robert Capa of a man dying in battle called Loyalist Militiaman at the Moment of Death, Cerro Muriano, September 5, 1936 that we now believe may have been staged.This would be an early attempt to fool the mind into believing something that we think is real isn't.In this day and age we are bombarded with images from all sorts of sources.Some are real and some are not.

Point of View

Every one has their own point of view.It is how we see the world.How I see the things around me may not be as you would see them.That's what make us different.A photographer can only hope that his or her vision is one that pleases others.Many artist talk about simply making art for them selves but there are very few artists that I have met that doesn't love it when some one has an opinion on their work,be it bad or good.
Many of us have a hard time taking criticism.It is hard to listen to some one else analyse something that you have put so much work into.I wonder how ever what it is like on the other side of the fence.It must be hard to make ones living giving ones opinion on the quality of anothers work.

He Shoots he Scores

I spent most of the day doing two of the things I love best.Watching the NFL playoffs and shooting portraits.Today I wanted to shoot some high key images.I bought a bunch of digital backgrounds and by shooting on a high key white background I can use Gimp to separate the picture from the background then paste it on a digital back drop.The results can be quite stunning.I hope one day to use this in my own photography business.

Stuff Happens

Well it finally happened.Yesterday I finally missed the opportunity to post to this blog.Excuses aside I still managed to take some photos yesterday.Not the most interesting photo's but at least the lighting is good.I plan to spend today completing an assignment that is part of Tips from the Top Floor website forum.The challenge this week is red.My pre-viz is to have my model in a red team Canada hockey jersey.I hope this will provide enough red.
Here is Yesterdays Pic.

A head by a foot

It getting close to racing season and I cant wait.As a photographer I love any thing that involves machines and speed.Last year I was hoping to shoot at the Indy in Edmonton but alas it wasn't to be.This once again I hope to return to the oil city to shoot one of the greatest sports I know.
Here is my photo of the day.

A day in the life.

I love the music of the Beatles.The images that they created with the lyrics really inspire me.The create a world of color and characters that were larger than life.I have for a long time wanted to create a live person interacting with the Beatles characters.Maybe with the the techniques that I have learned with the digital background work that I have all ready done.May be some digital art that includes Lucy And The Sky With Diamonds.Well tonight's photo is as psychedelic as I can get right now.

Smile and the World SmilesWith You

When you are down and out and you believe that life is at its roughest,take a lesson from my little girl.You see that my daughter has CP.She is four years old and cannot walk.She can not dress her self or even use the toilet with out help.She see the other little girls and boys walking and running but she never complains.She always has an infectious smile.So when ever I struggle with a shot or a lighting issue I look at her and she gives me a smile and all is well again.

Eyes Wide Shut

It amazes me how many people can look at an object an fail to see everything there is to see.Recently I have been noticing lately that more and more people tend to look right past the simple beauty in nature and only look see what they need.A shadow that lays across an object or a wisp of fog that hugs the lake.These are the very things that many people wish they can get away from there hurried lives to see when many times there is the same beauty right in front of them.
Here is my picture of the day.

It was 40 Years ago.

40 years ago I was 3 years old and a brand new show came on TV.It was the buzz of the land,child programing with friendly monsters ,a lovable frog and many more Muppet's.It was an innovative and creative way to educate children.The episode was always brought to you by a letter and a number.Well 40 years later they are going strong with many of the same friendly monsters still going strong.
Why is this important?Well not only did I get to share some of that magic with daughter the other day but the number that the show was brought to us was the number 2.It stuck with me till i was looking through my lens and low and behold I saw the number 2.I immediately thought of the two headed alien that use to go rinngy dinngy on the Sesame Street.Happy birthday Sesame Street.
Here is my ode to the Number 2

Week End

Well here I sit on a Sunday night wondering were the weekend went.It seems fly past quicker and quicker every week.I so look forward to taking time to do some serious shooting but just the act of living gets in the way.I did manage to shoot some creative this morning.More of the look at the snow hill out the window.The shape is constantly in a state of change.As the wind moves more snow around now a third mound of snow has started to develop.Here is one of the shots.

The Weekend

Well when I got up this morning I thought I would spend the day shooting.The weather here in the north is as unpredictable at best and when I look out the window I saw snow .I knew going for drive in the car was out as the weather quickly turn nasty.Even a trip to the store was a challenge and I only live a two minuet drive away.I spent most of the day indoors and cleaning.How ever my four year old at least gave me some photo ops.

At the end of the day

Well the first week of the new year,the new decade and so far I have managed to post every day of the year.I have also manged to take a photo.Some of them more creative than others but I believe that is due to the time i have to actually take the photo.I work from eight in the morning till past six at night.They are long days.When I come home I try and find something to shoot.something that catches my eye.Tonight is no different.It is the end of the day and I am dog tired but still my sons ipod caught my eye.

Opportunity Knocks

When opportunity knocks I hope I am around to answer it.
Today,first thing this morning I receive a call from the head office of the company that I work for asking me to take some promotional in house photos of the restaurant that I manage.There is no extra money in it for me but once again my photo's will be seen by hundreds of people.
I am trying to find some sort of work in the photography industry but it difficult.There not a lot job listed.There is always the self employment road.I grew up in a small business.I saw the good times and the bad.I saw the great times of wealth and the slow times when times were tough.It scares me but at the same time it excites me.
Here is my photo of the day.

Goals

Every one needs goals.It helps guides one life.Well like most people on new years I set a few goals including trying to add to my blog every day along with taking one decent photo.I have read articles on how with in 3 months one should see improvement.I am hoping that I can improve my portrait work and flash photography.
Here is too hard work.
Today photo is of my son .

Red ,White and Gold

As I sit here and watch team Canada play for the gold medal in the world Jr's hockey,I am thinking of color.I love black and white photography.I am not sure if it is because it was my first introduction to photography or the the dramatic contrast of a well done black and white photo.
I can still remember the first self developed photo I saw.It was a friend of mine who was so proud of what she had created.I was hooked.I couldn't wait til I was old enough to get into the dark room.

Being what they would today call hyper,I struggled in school and a school councilor gave the opportunity to put my energy into a hobby that now has been with me now for the majority of my life.I can close my eyes and still smell the chemicals of the dark room.I can see the image as it miraculously appears on the paper.

In my quest for a photo a day I am using as many skills and styles as I can.The challenge so far is deciding what photos to use.I struggle to let my self judgment allow my self to say "hey that is a good shots". Are all these master pieces ,no ,but they are good enough to display.
No gold for Canada but here is a little Red and White.

Documenting Life

This morning as I continue with my quest for a photo a day,I read an interview with Unnikrishnan Ravendranathan a photographer that is part of an unique project called Black Boots Inc.The project is a group of photographers that are documenting life in Mexico,the States and other countries.It is a gritty series that documents street life.The quote is from an interview with Unnikrishanan on the Black Boots Ink web site.

Quote "I believe making a photograph is a challenge, to watch the play of light, fixing the composition, being in that location at the right moment and to release the shutter on time to capture the perfect moment are some basic challenges in making a remarkable photograph"-Unnikrishnan Ravendranathan

I love this philosophy of making an image as simplistic as possible.In these day of high tech gadgetry it is nice to see the art of photography being boiled down to a simplistic thing.
Here are the links to the interview and black boots ink.
Interview
Black Boots Ink

Missed Shots ( The Best Camera is one with You)

Chase Jarvis is Seattle based professional photographer whose style I really like.Not only is he a great photographer but he is a teacher,videographer and aps developer,and blogger.Chase has developed a ap for the apple I-phone that is called the best camera.The point being the best camera is the one that is with you.That lesson was not better proven to me than this morning.As I strive to take one decent photo a day I was confronted with one of the most stunning scenes that I have witnessed since I have been in the Arctic.The moon was still out and was full.There was enough light to make the scene as stunning as Ansel Adams`s Moonrise, Hernandez and as I was staring at this beauty laid out before me I realized I had no camera.This revelation has me thinking that indeed the best camera is the one with you.
Here is the link for Chase Jarvis blog and my pic of the day.

Pic of the day

As I mentioned before my New Years resolution was to take more photographs and to try and blog more.I have challenge my self to get one good photo a day.So far I have managed to get a decent shot so far.The test will come as I return to work.It will be tough to do work but I know in the long run it will help develop both my eye and my style.
This shot reminded me of the keys on the piano.

Another Sunrise

As I sit here by the window enjoying a morning cup of coffee,I cant help but wonder what the future will bring.I am currently looking for work in the photographic field.The pickings are slim and I wondering if I am wondering down the right path.
I have began to challenge my self by trying to take a picture of the day.Maybe I can even do a post here in this blog a day.Oh well here is yesterday shot.

Chaseing the Moment

Tonight I just finished watching a TV show all about the impressionist and their work.The story was told through the eyes of Monet.There was a quote from Monet that he spent his career chasing the moment.Chasing the light.
As photographers that is what we do .We chase the perfect light.We use our equipment to capture a single moment in time and we hope that others will enjoy our vision.Some pictures tell stories others just effect our emotions.
Here is my first photo of 2010.

2010

Well its a new year and with that brings new challenges.Looking back at the year that was,i am happy that I managed to keep this blog rolling a long.We are coming up on the one year anniversary of Shooting from the Hip and we will have been able to achieve over 52 post.Not every week but at least some content.

It has been a challenging year as I have rediscovered the photographer inside me.I have document many photo walks both here and in Winnipeg.I have document high times and low.

So have a Happy New Year.And wishing you and yours a very safe and sound d 2010