Gettin' Busy

The the "Silly Season" of emotions upon us, it's getting busier. Christmas party's and charitable events are the one's taking up most of the time. I love to be at all of them, if only there were a 36 hour day!

Saskatoon Help-Portrait
Janet and I helped out this year and had a BLAST!!! It was fantastic to see some old friends and photogs, although, most we're younger than us.  We met so many new friends, it will be hard to keep track of them all.

As I understand it we gave away a little over 100 packages ( 8X10 - 4X6 ) to family's and individuals that could not afford them, but the smiles that we received back were 10 fold in comparison. There is no price tag that you can put on watching a persons face light up and the self-esteem it builds when they open that envelope and see their smiling face.

Thanks to Krystian and Aleksandra Olszanski for their hard work and organizing skills. They did their best to keep us organized no mater how disorganized we got. All the volunteers did a bang up job no matter what their assignment was.

I look forward to being a part of this for as many years as possible. The skills I learned by listening, watching and doing were fantastic and will come in handy as I progress down that path of making images.

Be sure to log on the the Help-Portrait web site to keep informed about next years event.

A little something I wrote, enjoy....


Saskatoon Help-Portrait, 2011



'Twas the night before Help-Portrait and all through the city,
photog's were buzzing, some would say gitty.

Their batteries all charging so they would be ready,
to power a day, they'd give back to their city.


With Manfrotto's & Gitzo's all cleaned and quite steady,
the family's would see that we were really quite ready.

The Spiders and Aliens were ready to beam,
the hot lights are gone, or so it would seem.


The backdrops all hung with much care and concern,
just maybe smudged out with a dodge or a burn.

On manual, on shutter, on aperture or auto,
we must get it this right, that is our motto.


These setting's are mad and are starting to blur,
will I ever get ahead of that dam learning curve.


On Nikon, on Canon, on Pentex, on Fuji,
all the new camera's, they all look so pretty.


With hard drives a drivein', and printers a printin'
the editors will make the pictures ass kickin'


The help and support ol' Krystian drummed up,
he knew all along Saskatoon would step up.


To everyone that's pumped and ready to go,
there's only one thing that you really must know.


Look to the right, and the person you see,
maybe unsure with a little unease.


Grab their right hand and shake it with care,
you just made a friend, aren't you glad you were there

- Bruce A. Johnson, 2011

__________________________________________________________




Janet & I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas & Happy New year. Be safe this festive season and remember to count your blessings, there's many, many more than you think!


f\16

A monthly blog, now that seems manageable....so far.

What's new?

Grabbed some new equipment a few weeks thanks to Steve Hiscock. Although I'm still mucking about at night, I wanted a better way to control some of the flash's. I decided on the Pocket Wizard setup. This, I thought, would have two advantages. 1. No 'line of site' BS or the "work one second but not the next" attitude the Chinese ones seem be built with. 2. When I do the odd wedding / portrait setting I have the right tools for the job, or at least well on my way to getting them. I also bought another SB900. Next is a lens, but I'm still on the fence about which one.

I was spending way too much time with an on-line game and had to break that off. MOHSH is a first person shooter that sucked me in .... again. Joined a clan and the whole bit. After several months I realized that I was spending 2-6 HOURS a day playing... WOW!! Tossed the CD in the garbage, which may have been extreme, but there's no going back, and I have a life to live.

The new Journey is doing Ok in the snow. I'll have to get some winter tires for it and with the AWD, it should go through almost anything. Still have yet to say the Journey is better that the Jeep Oliver, need's more time to grow on me I guess.

Help-Portrait News

All the info is here. We are still working out some details, but if you what to help out your more that welcome. Photog's, hair & make-up, runners, etc are always needed. We're still working on a plan to have everything printed on the spot. I think that will be the big obstacle in the whole set-up.

Any ideas are help you could give, please pass along a note on the FB page.

Well, thats all for now,

"Everyone has a photographic memory, some just don't have film! "


Bruce

Opps, its been awhile

Hi everyone. Sorry about the long delay, really no excuse, just lazy sometimes.

It's thanksgiving weekend here in Canada, time to spend with the family, in laws, outlaws and friends. Janet put on a fantastic spread as always. I have learned over the years that it's best to stay out of her way, but I must always help when asked. A kind of "be seen but not heard" thing. Not that she doesn't want help more of a "I don't want to screw it up" thing.

So whats been going on.......

It's been a bit of a slow time for the photography end of things. Janet and I have been mucking about with off camera flash stuff and it's working quite well. I'm impressed with the results so far. I think we're getting the hang of it and I will be posting some of the images to the website ( http://www.leddycreekphoto.com/ ) in the next few days.

The website is getting there, I still have some adjustments to make and some rewording of things, plus I want to add Janet to the mix. She is becoming a great photographer in her own right. She out shot me the other night while shooting the northern lights.

_________________________________________________________


We had to say good-by to Oliver last month. He stepped up to the plate every time I asked him to. My daughter pushed a bit too far once and he needed some help to recover from that, however, it was a minor thing. My son did a number on his face, but that did not even make him quit, he bounced back in a week or so and was it it for the long hall.

The last straw was a beating he had. I could not even begin to count the number of hits he took, there were so many. Made his body look like a golf ball really, even cracked the windshield in two places. The last hail storm of the season and we were in the thick of it. I was very worried this time out.

Oliver the Jeep served us well and now sits in a salvage yard, sad ending really. Mechanically, he is fit as a fiddle, body wise, not so much. We're looking a getting him back for a photo-cruiser, but we'll have to wait to see what the price is.

Fare-thee-well my friend.

________________________________________________________


I decided not to join the Saskatoon Camera Club this year. I think I can put the money toward some new books I've been looking at. Scott Bourne and Scott Kelby both have new ones that look very interesting. I'm leaning toward the Kelby book for now and pick up Bourne's later (Maybe a Christmas present!!) Still going through RC Concepcion's  book on HDR and having a blast.

I've also been looking at a new lens or another SB900 and a set of Pocket Wizards. So many items to add to the collection. We'll keep you posted on which way that go's.

_________________________________________________________


We're off to Mexico in the new year, Janet loves her hot holidays. I love the photo-ops, so it works out well. First time we've been to Mexico, so it will be a new experience. The Cuba trips (4) were fantastic, but it's time to change it up a bit.

_________________________________________________________

I think that's all for now, I'll be back as soon as I can...

Bruce

Some Updates.

A few updates from my world:

Scott Kellby's World Wide Photo Walk for Saskatoon is set for Oct 1, 2011. I'm hoping for nice weather and some leaves still on the trees. Scott Prokop is the leader this year and has chosen the U of S area for the walk. Really looking forward to it and seeing some of the other photog's from around town. Sign up soon, only 50 spots total and 15 are gone already. It a fun time no matter what level your at or how much you shoot.

Started a new Smug Mug account. "leddycreekphoto.com" will get you there. Still mucking about with the sections, but it seem to be working well. Another BIG learning curve, it never ends. I hope you enjoy your visit. Some old, some new stuff and the latest in lightning shots. Had a great spot and a fantastic show. Thanks to Mark D & Lisa G for the use of their place.

Holidays were spent in Banff, Jasper and LaCombe is August. Janet and I had a great time geocaching and and riding the gondola's. Banff's was soooo much better than Jasper's and we both recommend it highly. Got some great shots which I will post on flicker / leddycreek soon.

Off to Vegas the first week of Sept, should be a blast. Just the 'boys' so remember, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas"....except I'll have pictures Hahahah. Some photo stuff, ATV ride and "other" stuff, it will be a grand week.

Getting ready for the "family" bbq next week, 30 - 40 people in the house and yard is always fun. We'll have a great time catching up and a good story as always after.

My son has left the nest as it were, so now I have a spot for the drums I took up last fall. It's right below my computer / photo room. Thinking of installing a pole so I can just slide down...... that would be cool. Janet picked the colours (more or less) so think of the "Partridge Family" bus and it looks similar. Love it.

The Saskatoon Ex is on now. If your going out don't forget to stop by the arts area and look for some fantastic shots from local photog's and, of course ME. You can vote for the one you like the most as well. Janet did not enter this year as we were a little disorganized to say the least.

I did have one shot "rejected" because of content. I really thought it would be because of the "family" show which is fine. It's just a reminder that people are not always comfortable with what is happing right in front of them everyday and if they can't see it, it doesn't exist.

That's all for now, I keep try to stay up on this blog thing, but it's more difficult that I thought. We'll keep trying to be a bit more consistent for you.


Have a great August and we'll be posting again soon.

Bruce
f/16

I kind of "What would you do?"

Sorry about the wait.

So first we'll start with some photog news:

I've been a member of the Saskatoon Camera Club for a few years now, I enter some shots here and there, but not alot of stuff. Last year ( '10 - '11season) I made sure I had something entered for each clinic. I received and HM (Honorable Mention) for all but one of my 6 entries, that image won print of the month, cool. It also won "Best Traditional Colour of all Clinics" It was another one of those 'spin the Jeep and drive' events with Henry & Jim. You never know when you'll get the 'shot' so always have the camera ready.

Sunday I was asked to help shoot the 'Saskatchewan Marathon' The good thing is that it's a paying gig, bad news is I was having some issues with my camera. A smart person would have a back up, I did. A dumb, really dumb person would keep mucking about with the first camera and 'making' it work as best as possible instead of switching body's. Grrrrrrr, I'm so pissed for not thinking. I did get it to work properly with about a 1/2 hour in the race left. 1100 images, if a third are usable I'll be surprised. I'll keep you posted when I hear. Can you hear the voice of experience  ..... YELLING!!!!

Other stuff:
Janet and I spent the May long in the foothills of Alberta with some great friends camping. Well, RV'ing I guess. All the comforts of home that's for sure. The fire ban made the nights a little dull, but that's why Bruce carries camera gear and a telescope for fun. Got some decent night shots and showed some of the kids Saturn. We also found five and hid three 'Geocaches'. Only two got published because of proximity to each other. I thought they had to be 121 meters apart and it turns out 161 meters, so the middle one was not published. Brenda may go out in a few weeks and move it. (Photo's)

'What would you do?"
Situation: Your charged with a task. You have 3 months to complete it. A week after it's assigned and you start, your questioned on how your are going finish it. You explain you have some time to research the subject and will take the best combination of the results and write up a recommendation. Your intelligence is then insulated by a rude comment. Your then asked again what are you writing up and the details of how your looking into it.

Question: How many times would this conversation have to go around in a circle before you put a stop to it?



I'll let you know my answer next time........

The 'DDP' is in town in July or Aug, join the face book group to see the details of where. I hope the weather will be good, last year was such a blast. (photos)

Have a great week everyone;

Bruce
f/16

Thing's not to dwell on

    Well it's been a year since I had brain surgery for an aneurysm. There were two places, one was fixable and the other one is too small....so far. The list of people to thank is endless really. Janet and the kids for being there, are of course, number one. Dr. M.Kelly and his staff were amazing at what they did and I can never thank them enough. Dr. Fro that first saw me in the ER is a hero, he kept pushing to get tests done because he felt it was more than just a headache. Family, friends and co-workers, too numerous to mention, my deepest thanks go out to you all.

    I find it strange that the farther I get away from the event, the more meaning it has to me. I guess at the time your put into this type of situation you have no real choice about how things will unfold. Kind of a helpless feeling and the same time knowing that your in very capable hands. So, not to dwell on it any longer, I want to thank you all for being there.

    Watch for the next edition of the FASD (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder) magazine issue coming out this spring. They selected one of my northern lights shots for the cover. An honorarium and a few copies will be sent my way, I told them to keep half the honorarium as a donation. (Karma are you paying attention??)

    I've been trying to figure out how a contact on Flickr, Wes Whaley, has been doing some night photography and light painting. I had the general concept down, but the fine tuning was a bit harder. Watching this video with photography by Denis Smith sure helped and I hope to try some of it Sunday night. I love Denis's life story as well.

    Work this week was, for the most part, a daytime drama show. Yes, I did add to it. I was a little pissed at one person's incompetence and total disregard for clients and co-workers, and I let them know it. Kind of like a shotgun blast, a few staff we're in the area a caught some of it as well. I apologized to the two people that were collateral damage, but not the person who started the whole mess.  Now that she is running at the mouth to anyone who will listen (not many), how I yelled at her and adding crap that never happened, she can kiss my ass if she thinks she getting any sort of conversation out of me. Polite is all I have to be.
     Sorry about the rant folks. I just see this girl as a user, everything that happens in her life is someone else's fault, never her own. Never admits she screwed up even when confronted and always the first to deny any wrongdoing. Gerrrr, grow-up.

     That felt better :)


    May 1st. is National Lemonade Day in North America. This is the first time in Canada with Saskatoon being the launch city. You can read all about it on the link above. Sooooo for the BESTEST Lemonade in Saskatoon on Sunday, stop by 5 St. E in front of George Ward pool and Marcus will serve up the finest in toontown. Also speaking of Marcus, he will be on the next space shuttle flight as well!  OK, OK, just a picture of him really. NASA is doing a 'FACE in SPACE' where you can upload an image, and it will ride  with the next mission. You'll be able to print out a 'Flight Certificate' after the mission. There are only 2 missions left for the shuttle program, so get it done now.

    The bike is ready to go, so just waiting for the weather to smarted up. I think we'll get out today on it and maybe get some shooting in as well.

   Have a great week everyone,

   Bruce


PS  Happy Birthday Janet






  

Spring is here???

     By about this time, in years past, Janet and I would have the ice cream ruck 'Mister Tasty" ready if not on the road. This year the cool weather is sticking around a bit longer that normal. I don't miss the truck, I do miss the cash and people (yes, that order). Seeing Saskatoon neighbourhoods from that vantage point is so much different that just driving down a street at 50km.  The "Fuggy Bear" (OK then) as it is called now, as yet to be seen on the street since the new owners took it, I wish them luck.

     Photography Stuff: Summer is fast approaching and with that we can get back to a more normal routine of shooting. We've got a few things planed / booked and I'm sure there will be lot's of unplanned trips as well. We'll be hitting "The Rock" in late July to catch a music festival in St. Johns', NL. Great Big Sea is opening on the 28th. The photo opportunities will be fantastic throughout the trip. I have an uncle who is from there and allot of his family is still there, should be fun getting off the tourist track and into some small towns.

     Now with the bathroom reno's complete it's time for clean-up and getting the house back to 'normal' as it were. Alan is moving out on his own in the new few weeks. I will miss the kid being around, but his room has been taken over. My Pearl drum kit is in the living room which takes up some room. (Janet hates when I play and she watches TV)  Alan's old room will now be a 'Music' room minus the piano (no way am I moving it down stairs) So we'll put up some sound barrier and in no time the new "Partridge Family" will be born. (Of course I'm David)

     Janet got a new computer after she decided to give her old one a 'drink' of water. I can mouse around and everything works, except the keyboard. $80 to $150 repair on a 5 year old computer...hmmmm not sure about that yet. The new machine is complete with Blue-ray and 3D glasses, we'll have to check that out. Windows 7 is another bit of new stuff as well, but well figure it out as always.

     Now to go and change the winter tires over. Pain in the butt, but a few years ago my friend convinced me to try them for a season. I always thought 'All Season' was good enough. WRONG, after one winter, I'll never use the not-so-all season tires again.

Raises finely come through at work, now waiting for the back pay....... can you say "D7000" :)

    

Time to write

It's been awhile for this blog, it seam's the harder I try, the less I post.

The last few week has been interesting to say the least. I have been invited to join several other well respected photogs for breakfast every week to 'talk shop' as it were, that's cool. Missed a few weeks, but will get back there this week.

The other major time consumer is reno's to the house. We we're quoted between $4 & $6,000 to renovate our bathroom. I thought it would be a challenge, but not undoable. I have a great list of friends that have some expertise when I would run into an issue, game on.

The demo was the easy part. Old house, new sizes and codes...great...    It all as worked out for the most part, a couple of mod's here and there because of my stupidity which should work out fine. My finish date has been pushed back twice, ounce because it was allot more work than I realized and the second because I was felling 'under the weather'. I will have a bath with 'Lu' & 'Ann' this Friday, April 5th, 2011. ( LU & Ann are rubber duckies that our friend Luann bought for the new tub, thanks Lu :)

On photography notes: Sold a print today, not that big a deal. This is the type of customer I love. She took some time and really thought about where she was going to hang it, what type and size of frame she needed. I fell bad when people just order whatever size they think will work, just to find out it's too big or small for their need.

Nikon announced a new camera yesterday, D5100. Looks interesting, but waiting for some reviews first. Cheaper that the D7000 which is what caught my eye.

Children's Wish "Exile Island" is gearing up again, just starting to 'anoint' the head Kahunas. It's a great way to get to see some the the very cool boardrooms in this town.

That's it for now, have a great week everyone,

Bruce

February

I really don't mine this month compared to other months on a general basis, this year, however, it just seems to be dragging it's heel's. I don't really know what it is, but let's get it over already. It may be a bit of cabin fever, Janet and I have been getting out a bit, but it always end's up at a store or mall. We need some warmer weather. Could really have used that winter vacation this year I guess.

We will be heading to 'The Rock' this summer, which should be a blast. The photo ops and music will be fantastic, looking forward to that. The farthest East of Saskatoon I've been is Hull, QC. Fly and rent a car for a week then over to Nova Scotia for a few days, drive to Monton, NB and catch a flight home. Should be fun!

Signed up for a photo class that's making it's rounds through the country. 'Shoot it right - by Booth Photographic Ltd' The class is held on the 20th of March, for the full day. My good friend and photog buddy, Sandy Lockhart is going so I figured I would give it a go. It's a seminar, so they don't want you to bring your camera. It's has a bit of everything, so although I don't have a studio at this point, the future may be different.....

Janet and I, or more Janet decided that we should make our own valentine cards this year. We never buy anything for each other on Feb 14, because of the expense and the silliness of it all. So with a 2 days to figure something out, I came up with this image and a card.... no noodles we're used

The card she gave me was fantastic and well done. after about 32 years of mucking about with each other, it's a new adventure almost everyday. Happy Day Janet :)

That's all for now, I hope everyone has a great Valentine's Day, but don't sweat it, it's just like any other day.

Bruce

f/16



Winter Hump

I'm thinking that we have to be over the hump and the weather is going to get better, then it go's to -43°C and blows that idea out of the water. I don't mind the winter really, it good to have change.

As most of you know I was part of the 'Saskatoon Police Academy - Class 12' last fall and learned a bunch of stuff about the service that I, and most citizens of Saskatoon, don't know or think they did but were wrong.
A recent article in the 'Saskatoon StarPhoenix' by a reader complained about the high cost of policing and that the 'tank' the SPS was looking at was not needed here and was a waste of money, as was a new police "palace". After having taken the SPA course last fall, I think I was informed enough to give my two cents, as it were. My opinion can be read here.http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/todays-paper/Police+critic+informed/4229486/story.html

Not that it's going to my head or anything and I know your all keeping track anyway, but I will still give you (and my ego) update....
CTV Newscaster, published photographer 1 & 2, Radio star and now published author(See link above)
Hahahahaha.......

Your comment's are welcome as well.

The drumming and lessons are going well, better that I had hoped really. I may have a knack for this after all. So far it's been allot of fun, especially trying to figure out when to practice. I think I've gotten it down to the early afternoon, at least it's working for now. Janet is away for a few days, and how I miss her, but now I can bang away day AND night  Wooooo Hoooo!

Photography is a little slow right now, but it always is in the winter. I did get some fantastic shots a few weeks ago when it was -43°C out, see   here  or  here. Fredrick Van Johnson has a new series of blogs called 'Shut up and Shoot'. I have yet to go through them all, but it looks good so far. I have a few ideas for shooting in the next few weeks and then the world will wake from it's winter nap and colour will be with us once more. :)

We're still waiting to get Oliver back (Jeep) The auto body shop said last Monday, then Tuesday, then maybe Thursday.. told me on Friday they would get back to me as soon as they knew what was happening THAT day, its now Sunday...... enough said.  This will be discussed more after Oliver is returned.....stay tuned.


I hope everyone has a warm and fantastic week and we'll talk soon.

Bruce
f/16

2011

I was originally trying to write a '2010 - Year in Review'. It's done up until July, but I'm finding it's harder to leave things out than add things. This blog thing is a work in progress that's for sure.

The weather has been a mixed bag for the last few weeks. Normal -15°C then to -43°C and now it's 2°C. I got out at the lower end of that to get some great shots of downtown Saskatoon in the cold.  Comments are always welcome.

Janet and I spent new years at Vangelies on Broadway, celebrating and shooting the band 'Spent Penny'. Had a fantastic time, tried a 5hr time lapse. Worked out really well, the band was quite impressed. I also did some video on a little hand held Kodak device. Worked out very well for my first go.

I've been taking drumming lessons for the last few months and it's working well.. I think. I'm having a blast, so that's all that matters really. Working on a song or two. Janet let me buy my own kit, which makes practicing so much easier. What a great girl, even though it tough on her head. 

Spent my birthday at Foxy's on Central Ave. Darrin & Pam are always great hosts and they came through again this year. There maybe some crazy pictures out there so I hear.

That's the update for now, sorry about taking so long.

Bruce
f/16

Sorry.... Again

I'm really trying to get another post out, however, this dam life keeps getting in the way...

So I  promise, very soon, Like Sunday  k! ?