Crazy Times

The mall display is looking good, we only had one problem frame that did not want to stay on the wall, replaced, and all is well. Funny that the frame has been hanging on our wall at home for the last 8 months and as soon as it was moved the wire let go...weird. It also fell on some old Brownie cameras, but nothing was damaged.

The viewmaster display is working better now that I have them aligned and closer to the window. I wish I would have had more time to get some other shots around town, but the Vimy Memorial is all I had time for. Still cool for people to look through. I have one set up at a kids height and one for adults.

Some other cool stuff: 'Help-Portrait' is a way for photogs to give pictures instead of just taking pictures. The Saskatoon version of this is put together by my friend Krystian Olszanski. I'm going to try and make it out to 'help', but I may have a conflict on the 4th, so, well see. If you can help in anyway, time, hair, nails, make-up or a cash donation to help with the printing, give Krystian a shout or tweet. Good to see this get off the ground, I tried last year and was going to this year, but got side tracked. 'Pat on the back' for Krystian and all his helpers!!

*** For whatever reason, the question is NOT read on the podcast, must have been a time issue ***   

photofocus  -  I recently sent in a question to Scott Bourne's podcast, and he will be reading it on the 59th episode set to air Dec. 5th, 2010! Scott's online magazine and podcast have answered alot of questions I've have about photography. He's also teamed up with Skip Cohen to bring you 'GOINGPRO 2010'  If your going to make the jump or just getting all the info you can before you do, this is the podcast / blog to keep an eye on.

So check out the mall display and order your prints before the Christmas rush!

One other quick note: The last class for the 'Saskatoon Community Police Academy - 12' has just wrapped up and grad is next week (plastic guns & badges??) I will be talking about the course in my next blog. I highly recommend going through the academy when they offer it again next year. There is also a youth academy for grades 11 or 12.



Just a reminder, with the Christmas season on us and all the party's to attend, don't drink and drive -  cab, bus or call a friend please.

Center Mall

Hi everyone  -   Janet and I have a display going up at the Center Mall in Saskatoon starting Sunday Nov, 21 until Jan 4, 2011. There was just so much stuff to choose from it was crazy. We took a little of everything to display. We will have several cameras on display including a 'Viewmaster Stereo Camera'. You may remember these from when you were a kid. 8 very small images on a disk which you put into a viewer and pressed a lever on the side to see the next picture. I have a working camera model and took some shots downtown, if it all work's out well, you will be able to see them at the display.

The other standout crazy item I found I have, is a 'Keystone 8mm Movie Camera' This same model was used at the JFK assassination in 1963. They reviewed the film which caught the 6th floor window, but never really said much about it after that. Very, very interesting fact.

If you make it by, please let Janet and I know what you think. Comments are always welcome and are treated with the attention they deserve, now back to our regularly scheduled blogs.

Bruce

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As winter sets in

Well the time has come for winter in Saskatchewan. The temperature has fallen and the little rain we're getting is going to turn to the "S" word in the next few days. I've winterized the bike and placed it under it's tarp in the garage for another long nap, kind of like a fair weather friend I guess.

I've never been much of of winter person, and yes, I did pick the WRONG place to live. I should move back to the coast where it's much warmer, or at least the Okanagan valley somewhere. Janet could make her own wine and I could search for 'Ogopogo' for the next 50 years.  You just never know what life will bring..

Image Making -  We're ready for the WDM show & sale on Nov. 13 & 14th in Saskatoon. Make sure you get out to see all the artist's work that's for sale. The show is a great way to get some new pieces for your collection and to support the Boys & Girls Club in Saskatoon.

We've finalized the shots we're putting on display in 'The Center' mall starting on the 22nd of Nov. We selected more than we really wanted because you never know what will fit and what will look out of place. We plan on keeping it on the smaller side and only having about 6 items each plus a main piece.

Janet had to cut her first list down from 30 images and I had over a 100 to weed out, not easy when you love them all. As I try to shoot everyday, there was more stuff that I wanted to add just from my Sunday evening walk that did not make the cut....this time! (click or see bottom of blog for Flickr feed)

Remember, comments are always welcome. If you see something you don't like, tell me and when you see something you do like, tell me that as well.

Enough about Janet & I, some photog stuff...

Here is a site that I have used in the past when I have come across a problem and was unsure of how to take the shot or make the camera see what I see.
"Digital Photography School" has over 525,000 subscribers and once you sign up (free) you can plow through the forms and have just about every photo question answered. If you what to send in some shots to have critique, you can do that has well. I receive weekly "Digital Photography Assignments"  and "How I took it" emails, these really help if you are feeling uninspired.
I have not tried everything on the site, but my experience so far is fantastic and I highly recommend joining.


Have a great week folks,

Bruce

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Retail Pt 2

As you read earlier, I used to work in retail for many years. If you've worked in that industry you'll know what I'm talking about. In my current employment situation, the same thing's happen, but no where near as crazy.
The Head / Home office visit!

So the district / regional / area manager or some other type of 'suit' is coming to your store to check it out.  I never got excited about this very much and here is why..

Store cleanliness -  The people that pay the bill's are the people that come in everyday or so, the regulars as it were. Is your place clean and welcoming? It should be because those are the people that really count. Your establishment should be clean for them, not the guy that stops by once a year. If you feel it's good enough for your everyday customers, then it should be good enough for the 'suit'.
It always drove me bonkers the managers that would bring in extra staff and run around cleaning every nook & cranny just for this person. Suits don't pay the bills!!

My retail rant, next time 'Customers'  hahahaha

Image Making - The Boys & Girls Club of Saskatoon are holding their 32ND Annual Sask. artists show and sale on November 13 & 14th.   This will be held at the Western Development Museum in Saskatoon. The show is open 10:30AM -8:00PM on the 13th and 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM on the 14th, located in the Saskatchewan Hall. I will have 3 images for sale and the club gets 50% of the sale price of my prints. Its a great cause and I hope to raise some money for them, please stop by to see some fantastic artists work.

Janet and I will also have a display @ The Center Mall , Jade Gallery from Nov. 23rd to Jan 2. I hope you can all stop and have a look and even order a print for Christmas. (Toys cost money!!)

Other stuff -  Each time I write, I'm going to try and include a site, podcast or blog that I have come across that I enjoy and think that you may too. Whether it has to do with photography, Halloween or the matting rituals of Pheasants, if it's interesting, I'll pass it along.


I got an email form a co-worker telling me to check Clark's site out. WOW, WOW and then I said WOW 40 more times. It always amazes me what lengths photogs will go to get that shot. (I know, I (with Henry James) have put myself in some crazy places) These are fantastic, take some time and watch the video as well.

http://bit.ly/bsv6EC

So that's all for now, have a great few days and remember comments are always welcome. Don't forget to check out my 'flickr' feed at the bottom of the blog as well.

Thanks

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I don't miss the set-up

Nov. 2, 2010.
I worked in retail for more years than I care to count. Most of the time was with Woolco - Wal-Mart and then some smaller chains. As usual, several thing's amazed me, which I will try to explain to you now...
No order, they all seemed to be #1 at some point.

Christmas set-up.

Up until the 2000's it was November 1st, this never changed, you knew this was the day, the lights went up, the decorations were hung and the dreaded songs on the PA system would start. I remember the first Xmas I worked on the sales floor in sporting goods @ Woolco. I was so excited, Angela had just figured out the big fat man in red brings cool stuff to play with. It was fun to sit on Santa's knee with her, I was so into Christmas!! 
50 days later I could have killed the next jerk that wished me a "Merry f'in Christmas". The week before the big day, I was not a happy elf. Between the music ALL day long, the 'happy and resonable' customer's and the ad's that broke a week before the stock arrived, I could have been 'Santa the serial Slayer'.  That was a big lesson in the world of retail, the store is 2 months, at least, ahead of reality...   Just because you put out the bikini's and tents today, does not change the fact that you still have to walk across a snowy and frozen parking lot with your 10lb jacket and toque.

Seems to be now, some of the stores are trying to start even earlier than Nov. 1st. The chase for the buck is alive and well, which really, is good for all of us.........

I will have another in the next few days  (The Head office visit!)


Image Making -
I hope everyone is getting out to shoot some of the great fall colours, Janet and I did get out a bit and were happy with the trips we took. Were looking at the new Nikon D7000 (OK, not really looking, buying as soon as I can crunch the numbers so Janet will not crunch me  LOL) it has some very cool features that I think will take our photography up a notch. I have yet to touch one and the Saskatoon price my be a bit high, here is a great site for camera gear price comparision.

The next 'clinic' at the SCC is 'junked' My first thought is along the car or house kind of thing, I have a 2nd thought that would work very well but very hard to shoot ... damm. Any ideas for 'junked', please pass them along.

Have a great after Halloween week, DONT LISTEN TO THE CHRISTMAS MUSIC  (yet) and all will be good,

Bruce

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Halloween 2010

Another Halloween is in the books. We had allot more kids out and the weather was great. I hope everyone had a safe and happy Halloween!!

Janet, after helping all day, bailed out to see the musical 'Momma Mia' with Marcus and Angela. The all had a great time. Janet made it home just after everything was put away, timing........hmmmmmmm

It's getting harder and harder to set this up in a day or so, we may have to move to a three day set-up event.

Have a great day folks,

Bruce

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