2021- The Year That Was

     So Christmas is over for another year and I'm sitting in my office staring at a blank computer screen trying to come up with an idea to sum up the year that was. For the record, my ''office'' is really just my bedroom in my home. I call it my office because it really is more of an office than a bedroom. The laptop that I'm writing this piece on shares space on a work table with a large Canon Pro-100 printer. Behind that is a smaller Canon printer on a smaller table. To the right of that is a shelving unit loaded with boxes of photo paper and ink cartridges for the printers and various smaller bits of photo gear. To my left is my old wooden desk with a bookshelf and my older laptop, the hard drive of which contains more than 25,000 digital images which need to be edited, deleted or saved to an external drive. (It's an ongoing project!) My camera gear is stored in two Domke camera bags on a chair near the desk. https://refractivereasoning.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-camera-bag-conundrum.html A bedroom it is not. It's a photographer's office. It also happens to have a bed and a dresser!

     It's been a hell of a year. Like others I know, I've experienced some personal loss in my life. The covid pandemic is still with us with the potential for even more restrictions with the new Omicron variant. The effects of global warming are getting worse with various ''natural'' disasters occurring all over the world. Due to inflation, the cost of housing and just about everything else is on the rise. Billionaires are building rocket ships for trips to space instead of using their vast resources to improve things here on earth and.... well... oh yeah... I got a new camera body for Christmas. Excuse me for a moment while I quiet my conscience.

Conscience: ''WHAT??  YOU GOT ANOTHER ##@!!###!!# CAMERA??''  

Me: ''Yeah, but..... ''

    I got a Fujifilm X-T3 body. It's very cool! The X-T3 model was Fuji's first attempt at making a camera with some serious video capability. Long known for their appeal to still photographers and street shooters, Fuji cameras were always a bit lacking on the video side. The X-T3 changed all that. In terms of video, it put Fujifilm in the same league as the best offerings from Canon, Sony and Panasonic. It's a camera that lets me shoot video with the big boys while still retaining the awesome still photography stuff for which Fujifilm is famous. I'm heavily invested in Fuji gear for still photography, so the X-T3 fits in perfectly with my system. 

The two heavy hitters in my photo kit,
the X-T1 and the X-T3

    In addition to the better internal wizardry of the camera, it also has a few external features I like. Dual card slots let me dedicate one SD card for stills and one for video. Or I can dedicate the second card slot for backup if I'm doing a serious pro shoot where results are crucial. The camera is weather sealed. Although I can't go swimming with it, it's tough enough to withstand a light rain or snow when I'm out and about. I like that the articulating screen at the back works in both horizontal and vertical format. The X-T3 uses the same battery as the other cameras in my Fuji kit which makes things a little more convenient when I am travelling or just out and about. 

    The X-T3 camera model is about three years old and has since been replaced by the newer X-T4. As such, the X-T3 can be had, brand new, for about $500.00 less than it's newer counterpart as retailers clear them out. Also, one of the endearing traits of the Fujifilm brand, is that they don't leave  photographers already using their gear out in the cold when they bring out a new product. As much as possible, they offer free firmware updates that improve the performance of existing gear. I've already downloaded the latest firmware update and uploaded it to the new camera. As a result, the performance of my X-T3 is very close to that of the newer model for about five hundred bucks less. Bit of a bargain I'd say.  

Me: ''Take that Conscience!''

Conscience: ''(grumbling)''

    So I have a new piece of camera gear that should keep me going for a long time.

Conscience: ''A VERY, VERY LONG TIME!''

Me: ''Shut up Conscience! Well... Okay, I'll give you that one!''

    So as the year winds down, really all we can do is hope. Hope that this damn pandemic goes away or at least settles down enough that we can resume normal lives. Hope that the greedy bastards with all the resources realize that maybe everyone deserves the right to live with dignity and a degree of comfort. Hope that the powers that be realize that this planet is a beautiful place and maybe we should stop trashing it. I know. It's a tall order. But there's always hope.

    Despite everything, I have to admit that I'm truly blessed. I get to live in a beautiful community and create images of it. Thank you to all the people who hit ''like'' or comment on the pictures and blogs that I present. Creative folk can be an arrogant lot. We like to pretend that your appreciation and approval doesn't mean anything to us. It's a lie. If it didn't mean anything, why would we put the work out there in the first place? Thanks for your kindness and support. It means a lot to me. Thanks to all the creatives who continue to make amazing images and stories and share them. I can't help but be inspired by your passion.

Some members of the Paris Photo Collective
l-r  Haether Coombs, Gord Barker, Tammy Doogan, Ryan Eltham, Dean Ellis
Photo-walk Sept. 18, 2021
Hopefully, we can all get together a little more often in the New Year.

     Special thanks to all the members of the Paris Photo Collective. We might be the craziest little photography group on the planet, but damn, we crank out some awesome pictures! Keep the passion alive! 

    Best wishes to everyone for the Happiest New Year!

                  ...more later 

    As always, if you like what you see here, feel free to hit ''like'', comment, subscribe or share to the media platform of your choice. 

    

    

    

    

    

        

Cross Pollination

    Well, it's the end of November, arguably the lamest month of the year for outdoor photographic pursuits. I mean, most of the fall colours are gone. The temperature is getting colder and the winds are stronger and more relentless. Often my days off consist of weather that encompasses all the above conditions, along with grey skies , cold rain, sleet or snow. Despite all of that, I'm in a pretty good place creatively. In all honesty, I've never felt better as a photographer. Things are kinda happenin'.

    One of the things that I'm slowly getting into is video production. It's early days yet, but, I have been out a few times shooting some clips. The handheld stuff is pretty shaky but I do own a fluid head for my trusty old Manfrotto 190 tripod and subsequent clips are looking better. My son is an avid gamer and has been editing gaming montages for himself and his friends in that community. So far he has mastered colour grading, timing transitions and synching action to the beat of a musical soundtrack. He has also started shooting some live action stuff with my old Canon EOS M3. I will probably exploit his editing skills and in return, help him with some camera work. Some interesting collaborations may be in the works. You know the deal, apple....tree. Only in this case I'll be learning from him as much as he learns from me!  

 

My son, Greg. Looking every inch the street photographer.
Scruffy street style look.......Really nice camera! 

                                                                                                                       Never fear, however, I am and will always be first and foremost a stills photographer. In my last post to this blog, I talked about expanding my horizons a bit and pursuing a more open street style approach in my photography.     https://refractivereasoning.blogspot.com/2021/10/changing-it-up.html  I've found this newer approach to be kind of liberating. When the reaction of my viewers is no longer my first priority, I can explore any number of different approaches in creating images. It keeps the creative juices flowing.

 

    So it's the end of November and almost everyone is gearing up for the Christmas Season. I'd like to wish everyone all the best for this festive time of year. That being said, I've decided to suspend the ''Photographic Friends'' feature for the month of December. And, as the last Saturday in December is Christmas Day, look for my last post for 2021 to appear here 

Dec. 30, 2021.

     

                          ...more later

As usual if you like what you see here, feel free to ''like'' comment and share to the media platform of your choice.

 

    

    

    

Photographic Friends - Heather Cardle

    Heather Cardle is a damn good photographer! Years ago, an older photographer told me the  difference between a photographer and someone with a camera. He said, ''A person with a camera takes a picture and hopes it will work. A photographer takes a picture and knows it will work.'' Heather definitely falls into the latter category. I first met Heather at a meetup of the Paris Photo Collective. We were at a local coffee shop and she sat down  and put her camera on the table, a Canon 1DX with an ''L'' series 24-105mm lens. Some serious gear. Camera nerd that I am, I noticed the camera first. ''Nice camera.''  I then looked up and introduced myself to the owner of said camera.  What I found was a lady with a great sense of humour and a passion for photography that is matched only  by her passion for life itself. She truly digs what she does.

     Heather Cardle is a freelance photographer and blogger who currently makes her home near the small town of Tweed, Ontario. She shoots a wide variety of genres including nature and wild life, event photography,  portraiture and weddings,  architecture, commercial work and just about anything that catches her eye or peaks her interest. The remarkable thing is that she does it all really well. She has that enviable capability to capture the spirit or essence of whatever subject is in front of her camera.

Rural Scene
Photo by Heather Cardle, All rights reserved 

Canada's Hockey Dad, The late Walter Gretzky
Photo by Heather Cardle,  All rights reserved.

    Heather started in photography in her teens with a Miranda film camera, borrowed from her father, with which she photographed a trip to Scotland. However she didn't get into photography in a serious way until her mid forties when the craft proved therapeutic in helping her through some personal turmoil. Since then, she hasn't looked back. Mostly self taught, she took an online course and picked up knowledge from other photographers she met along the way. A member of the Paris Photo Collective, (We're claiming her, whether she likes it or not!) she also spent a few years in the Brantford Camera Club learning what she could and honing her skills.

    Heather markets her work online through her website and has had showings at various art shows and the Robertson Gallery in Brantford. Her work was selected for a critique by artist Robert Bateman as well as being used in a book celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Sanderson Centre in Brantford, Ontario.

Check  out out her website here. https://www.heathercardle.com/      

Check out her Instagram page here.https://www.instagram.com/heathercards/

     In addition to being a very capable photographer, she's one of the most prolific people I know. She publishes a photo feature, "ChicPicotheDay" daily on her social media sites. It started as a  365 project, where a photographer takes and/or publishes 1 picture a day for 1 year. But it has morphed into a commitment of almost 10 years and over 3,626 pictures! In addition to that she also publishes a blog every Friday. https://www.heathercardle.com/blog    I mean, damn! I love photography and blogging too, but I sure couldn't keep up with that kind of output!

    What else can I say about this dynamic lady? She creates images that make me go, ''Wow! I wish I took that!'' We both write blogs and make photographs. Although our styles are quite different we're kindred spirits in a way. I know that she has always been supportive of  me as well as other photographers we have met on this image making journey. In my interview with her I asked what aspect of photography brings her the most happiness. Her response, ''Taking the image, capturing moments, people I've met because of my love of photography.'' May that spirit keep her producing great images for a long time to come!

       ...more later 

    

Changing It Up

     This may be a strange post to write in the height of the fall colour season. Yes, I know that the fall colour season is actually winding down, but, due to an unseasonably mild autumn, the colours locally haven't really reached their peak as of this writing.

    I love the fall colour season. Scenes that I've photographed dozens of times  seem to take on a fresh dimension simply with the advent of glorious colour. Like the brilliant foliage that surrounds me, I too, am going through some changes.

    I once complained to a good friend that ''All I do is live in a pretty little town and take pretty  pictures.'' In retrospect, that statement may be a little harsh. But, to some degree it expresses a restlessness in the content of the images that I'm creating. For me, there's kind of a disconnect. Essentially, what I'm doing is pandering to the viewers of my work. I'm giving them what they want. Pretty colour pictures of beautiful scenes are what sells in marketing prints and postcards. They garner the most "likes" and comments on social media. I'd be a liar if I said that I didn't appreciate the attention they provide.   Another friend once asked if I considered myself an artist.  I just gave her my stock, self deprecating answer. ''Nah, I'm just handy with a camera.'' However, to my mind, that's not good enough. If I'm to consider myself an artist, or, at the very least, a student of the arts, I should be able to articulate something a little more substantive than ''Look at this. It's pretty!''

      For some time, I've been fascinated by the work of photographers like Garry Winogrand,  Robert Frank, Walker Evans, Vivian Maier and a slew of others. The power of their work goes beyond basic pictorialism to a more powerful expression of each photographer's view of the world they photograph. In exchange for  ''Look at this. It's pretty!'' one gets,  ''Look at this. It's interesting!''  The latter statement describes more  the direction I want to explore photographically. It's not necessarily a "street photography" aesthetic but a more comprehensive view that goes a bit beyond the "pretty picture".

    This is not to say that I'm abandoning whatever style of photography I do now. I will always have an appreciation of beautiful light illuminating a picturesque landscape or scene. Furthermore, I see nothing wrong with sharing the beauty of a sunrise or sunset with friends on social media. I just want to take a step beyond the conventional assessment of beauty. It's a new direction, not an abandonment of the old one. Stay tuned. This could be interesting!

                ...more later

         As usual, if you like what you see here, feel free to hit ''like'' and share it to the media platform of your choice. Also, stay tuned for my ''Photographic Friends'' feature appearing here in two weeks. It's going to feature a bit of the back story and some beautiful photos from the awesome photographer, Heather Cardle. 

 

    

    

Photographic Friends Dean Ellis

    On July 19 of this year, I sat down with Dean Ellis to interview him for this post which was supposed to be published on Aug. 15, 2021. Unfortunately some circumstances intervened in my life and I'm only now able to present the post. Although I've only known Dean for a few years, the ''interview''  was really just a long conversation between a couple of old shutterhounds. Dean acquired his first camera (an Ansco twin lens) from his grand mother at the age of 5. I bought my first camera with grocery store coupons (an Imperial Instant Load 126)  at the age of 9. Together, we have a combined experience of more than a hundred years behind the camera. That's a lot of memorable photographs, a whole pile of cameras and lenses and an even bigger pile of stories and crazy experiences to share.  I recorded our conversation on a small digital  recorder and the conversation ran for more than two hours! Yet, we still have  stories to tell, some  great photos to share and some even better photos to take in the future. Hell, we're just getting started! 

Dean Ellis Photo by Heather Cardle

    There are people that you meet in life with whom you feel an instant connection. They may be about the same age and have similar interests and experiences. In talking with them, you can completely relate to what they're saying. Case in point, when interviewing Dean for this  post, he talked about canoeing in Algonquin Park with a Mamiya RB67 mounted on a low tripod, in the canoe with him. That statement probably wouldn't mean much to most photographers these days. To an old school photographer like me, what Dean was talking about was impressive. To begin with, the RB67 is a beast of a camera! It is a large, all metal, medium format camera that used 120mm roll film versus the more common 35mm film format of the day. It made images on roll film that were 6X7 cm (60X70mm). By comparison, a 35mm camera made images that were only 24X36 mm. Weighing in at over 2kg for the body alone, (minus a lens and film back) the RB67 was one of the largest roll film cameras made. It was so big that, to make a vertical (portrait mode) image, you didn't turn the camera, but rotated the film holder at the back of the camera! Hence the camera name, RB (rotating back)  67(6X7cm image size on negative.)

    So why would anyone use such a large camera? Quite simply, the much larger negatives it produced required much less enlargement to create an equivalent size print. Medium format negatives could provide substantially better resolution and image detail in the final print. The fact that Dean used such a beast of a camera in a canoe is no small feat and is a pretty solid indication of his commitment to making high quality photographs. 

     When he told me that he had used an RB 67 in a canoe in Algonquin Park, that's all he needed to say. I knew exactly what he was talking about. When you've been at this game as long as we have, you can communicate in shorthand. 

     Based in Brantford, Ontario,  Dean is not only a photographer, but a prolific artist as well. For him, the camera is just another tool for creative expression.  Creativity runs through him like a primary component of his bloodstream. He is a member of the Paris Photo Collective and has had showings of his work at various galleries and venues including the Crawford Collective, the Robertson Fine Arts Studio and Gallery and the McMaster Art in the Workplace Exhibit at McMaster Innovation Park in Hamilton, Ontario. He also regularly has work on display at the Paris Bohemian Gallery in Paris, Ontario. You can see more of Dean's photography here. https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=dellisartphotographix                  You can also check out more photography and his artwork here  https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=dellisart%20studio

    Dean got his start in photography at the ridiculously young age of five when he acquired his first camera from his grandmother. Since then, photography has always been a big part of his creative productivity. His first influences were his mother and grandmother, both talented artists. An interest in art has been a constant in his life. He holds a degree in fine arts from the University of Guelph. Photographically, he has been influenced by the work of such notable photographers as Ansel Adams, Robert Mapplethorpe, Georgia O'Keefe as well as Edward and Brett Weston.

    Dean's own style in photography is eclectic. He photographs whatever interests him or catches his eye. He often will combine a series of his photos and present them as a collage.

    Formally trained in visual arts, he is well aware of the rules of composition and will use them if they suit his purpose. But, he is never encumbered by them. He doesn't pander to his viewers but allows himself complete freedom to create as he sees fit. In his words, ''A true artist doesn't really care what other people think about what they're doing.'' He will alter his photographs in post if it suits to enhance the mood or message he is trying to portray, but he is never heavy handed about it. He also has a fascination with other photographers making photographs.  If you're out for a photo walk with him, chances are there's a picture of you peering through a camera on the internet somewhere. Trust me. I speak from experience!

A recent get together of some members of the Paris Photo Collective
L-R;  Haether Coombs, Gord Barker, Tammy Doogan, Ryan Eltham, Dean Ellis

Me setting up the above shot.
I'm using my camera bag as a makeshift tripod.
Jim Domke would be proud!
Photo by Dean Ellis 

    In spite of his formal training and the accolades he has received as an artist and photographer, he is never arrogant about what he does. For Dean the joy is found in the act of creation. He is generous and helpful with his time and resources when it comes to helping other creatives. I can remember a couple of meetups of the Collective where we got into moving light photography. Dean walked patiently back and forth  dozens of times swinging a string of lights or spinning a flashlight on a string. The rest of us locked open the shutters on our cameras to catch the patterns of moving light. As of this writing, I still have a Russian made Helios 58mm f2 lens with a Fuji X adapter that he leant to me to try out. That should make for some interesting shots! If you're involved in doing anything that's visually creative,  he's a great guy to have in your corner. 

      I've noticed at meetings of the group or when we're  out making photographs, that Dean almost always has a smile on his face. He's like a kid. He's playing with stuff. He's trying out an idea, he's expressing a visual concept. He's creating. Even if the group meetup is nothing more than a bunch of us sitting around a table at a local café, the smile is still there.  He's in his element. He's talking with people who love creating stuff almost as much as he does. It's that intensity, that artistic honesty, that joy found in the act of making art that is the very definition of the man. The creative world is a much better place for having  a man like Dean Ellis in it.

...more later

        

    

      

    

    

    

    

         

I'm Back

   So it was Sunday morning and I was sitting by the dam here in Paris, Ontario. I had taken a few photos that I planned to post on Facebook a little later. I was thinking of taking  the short mosey downtown to treat myself to a nice breakfast. The air was cool and the reflections on the river looked great.  I know that I've done similar shots to these in the past, but I don't care.  I just wanted to capture the whole vibe of the morning. 

   

    The vicissitudes of life tend to interfere with creative endeavors. Or, in other words. ''How do you make God laugh?  Have a plan.''

    This past summer has been a tough one for me and, unfortunately, I needed a break from some self imposed pressures, including this blog. I apologize to my regular readers for not publishing a post or the ''Photographic Friends'' feature for the month of August. But I guess that, in some shape or form, I'm back. It's past Labour Day and like most of my fellow shutterhounds, I'm looking forward to the autumn colour season. I mean if you can't make a decent  photograph in the fall, perhaps it's time to scrap the camera and take up macramé!

     Last Saturday I went for a short photo walk with some members of the Paris Photo Collective. The walk was organized by Haether Coombs. Haether is a relatively new member of the group. I met Haether and her friend, Tammy Doogan, earlier in the Summer when they were doing some wildlife photography at Jedburgh Pond near Ayr, Ontario. I was travelling light that day. (well light-ish!) so rather than wildlife, I just managed to get some nice reflection shots of the pond. 

 

Members of The Paris Photo Collective
Photo-walk Sept. 18, 2021
l-r; Haether Coombs, Gord Barker, Tammy Doogan, Ryan Eltham, Dean Ellis

    

    Since then, both Tammy and Haether have become members of the group and have been posting some excellent pictures on the Facebook page. We were joined that morning by veteran photographer and artist Dean Ellis and a new member to the group, Ryan Eltham. Ryan just recently bought his first serious camera and is already doing some pretty amazing photography. As is usual in this group, there were a lot of laughs, some exchange of photo knowledge and some very good photographs made.

Dean and Ryan in action
Paris Photo Collective
Photo-walk Sept. 18, 2021

Tammy and Haether
Paris Photo Collective
Photo-walk Sept. 18, 2021

     What has always amazed me about the Paris Photo Collective, is the sense of camaraderie and joy we all take in sharing our love of the craft. Right from the beginning, every meetup of the group feels like a get together of old friends. There's good conversation, some good natured kidding, and then the cameras come out and things get a tad more serious. Even newcomers to the group are quick to pick up on the vibe. Just an awesome group of people who happen to dig making beautiful images. In my experience, I've never seen a camera club like it! Hopefully as things loosen up, we'll be able to get together on a more regular basis. 

     So that Sunday morning, sitting by the dam, I reminded myself for the ten thousandth time of how lucky I am to live where I do and make the pictures I make. Best of all, I get to do it all with the encouragement and support of some really good friends. 

I'm back. 

         ...more later 

P.S. The long awaited Photographic Friends post featuring Dean Ellis will be published on Saturday, October 9, 2021.

     

Black and White In The Digital Age

     It seems most of my photographic friends are heavily enamored with nature photography. I guess that it kind of goes with the season. Summer is an awesome time to be outdoors enjoying the abundance of life. It seems every time I open a social media feed, I'm inundated with a plethora of bird pictures, wildlife images, flower pictures, and photos of nature in general. 

     Don't get me wrong. I have a tremendous appreciation of the wildlife and nature genre. I know how much dedication and skill is required to photograph wildlife and the beauty of the natural world around us. I am seeing some amazing work from some highly skilled shooters.

    Maybe it's the rebellious streak in me, I tend to zig when others zag. I've been shooting a lot of black and white lately. While most of my photographic compatriots are trekking down trails and paddling lakes and rivers to capture the abundant colour, wildlife and overall beauty of the summer season, I'm hitting the mean streets of Greater Metropolitan Paris, Ontario (among other places) to capture the gritty life of the urban jungle! Yup! I'm a tough-ass street photographer in small town Ontario! On the plus side, I'm usually not too far away from a really good cup of coffee.

    

    Like I said earlier, I've been shooting a lot of black and white lately. I honestly believe that every photographer should spend a good chunk of time shooting predominantly in black and white. Perhaps six months to a year at least. I did my first tour of black and white duty back in the dinosaur days of film and, in some ways, I'm still doing it. By eliminating the saving grace of colour, my visual acuity opens up. I no longer have the pretty colours to save what would otherwise be a boring picture. I'm forced to start utilizing other visual elements. Things like composition, contrast, shape, form, line and texture.

 

      One of the questions I ask myself when looking at a colour photograph is, "It's a nice shot, but would it hold up in black and white?" It's not necessarily the main criteria for judging a photograph, but it's a good place to start. Here's an example. 

    Regular readers of this blog will recognize the above photo. It was featured in a blog post from March of this year. https://refractivereasoning.blogspot.com/2021/03/on-photographic-expression.html  

Here's the same shot in black and white.

        In my opinion, the colour photo has a little more impact simply because it features the beautiful golden colour of the light against a dismal overcast sky. However, despite the lack of colour, the visual elements are still there. We've got the contrast of a blast of light coming through an overcast sky, the reflection of light on the wet pavement and concrete bridge rail, the roadway, sidewalk and bridge rail all providing depth to the image and functioning as leading lines to the buildings downtown. The black and white version still stands on its own. Some viewers might even prefer it to the colour shot.

    Here's an even more radical example.

    Ok it's a sunrise photo. It's absolutely gotta have the beautiful gold and orange colours right? Not necessarily. Again, good composition comes into play.                                                                  

     The silhouette of the tree is placed almost perfectly on the line of the rule of thirds and the quilted sky in gray still provides enough interest to engage the viewer. Admittedly it doesn't have quite the impact of the original in colour, but it still stands on its own as a very good shot.

    The beauty of digital photography is that achieving a good black and white look is easier than ever. I've completely made the switch to mirrorless cameras and I've never been happier. Most mirrorless cameras feature an electronic viewfinder. So if the camera is in a black and white mode, I can see the subject or scene in all its monochromatic glory before I even trip the shutter. 

     Also I shoot Fujifilm cameras. They have digital film simulation modes that actually allow me to achieve results that are as good if not better than what I could produce after spending hours in a darkroom in the days of film. That huge gulping sound you may have heard is a whole lot of film photographer/darkroom tech pride being swallowed. I don't care. Photography is a results oriented activity. In the words of American photographer Garry Winogrand, "It's about the work. It's always about the work. "In the words of Gord Barker, "No one cares how you got the shot as long as it's a good shot!" Not entirely true. I care about how you got the shot. But, then again, I'm a full blown photofreak!

      Working in black and white is akin to learning a new language. Someone once told me that you know you're becoming fluent in a new language when you begin to think in that language.  I'm kinda getting that way with black and white photography.  I used to look at a scene through the camera and think ''I wonder how this would look in black and white.'' Now, much of the time the camera is preset to black and white when I put it to my eye and I think, ''I wonder how this would look in colour!'' For me, black and white is as much  a default go to as colour is. 

Ok so this shot was taken in Cambridge not Paris but you get the idea

    So while my compatriots are out in the boonies, composing lovely photos of wildlife and nature, I'll be working the hard gritty streets of small town Ontario. You know, where the denizens do such strange things as eating ice cream, sipping iced coffee on outdoor patios, chatting with passersby and walking very friendly dogs. 

    Wish me luck, It's a jungle out there!

                                    ...more later

     

     

    

       

    

    

     

Photographic Friends - Luvern Mornin

    Don't ever tell Luvern Mornin that she can't do something! She will prove you wrong nine times out of ten. Case in  point. I remember the two of us getting together for coffee and some  photography. For us, those two things always seem to go hand in hand. We don't do ANYTHING without coffee!  We grabbed a couple of take-out coffees and she asked,  ''Where do you want to go? '' I responded with something like ''I don't know. Let's just see what's out there." We ended up in her car, cruising the backroads, looking for an interesting scene or something ... anything... to photograph. Late afternoon light turned into golden hour. As we crested a hill in the road, she pulled the car over to the side. ''I want to get this'' She grabbed her camera and got out of the car. I got out too.

    The light was beautiful. Golden late afternoon light was reflecting off the pavement of the road and the power lines stretching off in the distance. We had parked beside a gravel quarry. To our right was a short slope to the edge  of the property. It was festooned with a seemingly never ending line of ''No Trespassing'' signs. Without a second thought she started to climb the slope and walk a little ways past the signs. I called out, ''You probably shouldn't go in there!'' She pretended not to hear me. I contented myself with taking a few nice shots from the relative security of the shoulder of the road near the car. 

     When we got back in the car, we used the back screens of our cameras to compare our pictures. My pictures were pretty good. ("Pretty ain't good enough!) Her's were great! I had photographed a beautifully lit road. By working a little harder and finding a better angle, she had photographed the same road but in context to the scene through which it travelled. Her photos were more dynamic. They had more depth. Where I had taken a couple of shots, she had composed a photograph! I asked her if she was concerned about going a bit  beyond the "No Trespassing" signs. Her response was something to the effect of "Nah. What's the worst that could happen? They'd throw me out?"  The lesson was not lost on me. Sometimes you've got to take a chance and work a little harder to get the shot. As a photographer, I used to think that I knew how to work a scene. Then I met Luvern Mornin.                                                              

     Luvern Mornin is a freelance photographer and journalist currently living in Brantford, Ontario. She is a founding member of the Paris Photo Collective and also serves as co-chair of the group.   (full disclosure; I am the other co-chair.) She has photographed and written  extensively about the comedy scene in Brantford for BScene Magazine. She has had a successful  showing of her personal work at the Boho Gallery in Paris, Ontario and has displayed her photos at other venues in the Brantford area. She is also  known for her work as an advocate for the homeless in Brantford and has published a series of interviews with them on her Facebook page, Back Of The Room Photography.   https://www.facebook.com/Luvernn.A.Mornin

    Luvern got her start in photography literally on the job. Fascinated by the burgeoning comedy scene in Brantford, she borrowed a friend's Nikon D5100 to photograph the performers doing their acts in various comedy clubs. In 2016 she acquired her own Nikon D5100 as a birthday gift from her father. The performers liked her pictures and began using them for their own promotional purposes. They were different. Not the usual headshots that were used for promotions.  It wasn't long before she was picked up by BScene Magazine to write a column and photograph the comedy scene. She also did promotional photography for the magazine and its advertisers. 

    Luvern 's photographic brand, stemmed directly from her work shooting in the comedy clubs. Her style, when photographing the comedy performers, was to stay at the back of the room utilising a fairly long lens. It allowed her to photograph the comedians without being too close to the stage and interfering with their interaction with the audience. Photographically, it takes a lot of skill to shoot in the low light levels of a comedy club. You only have the stage lighting (if that) to illuminate your subjects. Using a flash would be too distracting.   When looking for a way to brand her work, she created a Facebook post asking for suggestions. A friend who knew her style of shooting suggested, ''Back Of The Room Photography'' and the brand was born.  

     Regarding her work as an advocate for the homeless, Luvern was well aware of the problem in Brantford. Most people, when encountering the homeless, just try to avoid eye contact and walk on by. At best they might stop long enough to shell out a buck or two to help them. Luvern decided to take steps to actually help  them. Marshalling her skills as a writer and photographer,  she met with individual homeless people one on one to interview them and get their stories. She wrote up these stories and published them on her Facebook page. (See link above.) The pictures she published along with the stories were not of the homeless people themselves, but rather of objects or scenes that helped illustrate their situation. Her aim was to provide them with a voice and not exploit them.                                                                

    She often volunteered her time at soup kitchens or drop in places. She used her car to help get people  to medical appointments and counseling sessions. She sometimes used her own resources to help them find temporary accommodations.    

     In talking with Luvern regarding her work with the homeless, she related a story. On a cold winter's day she had volunteered to work at a drop in centre. When she got there she found that a large pot of coffee had been brewed. She noticed that most of the homeless people were milling about but no one had coffee. Although the coffee was ready, no cups had been provided. The homeless people,  already in dire straits,  were in no hurry to experience the further indignity of having to ask for a cup. Luvern asked the paid staff member if she could provide some cups. She received a noncommittal answer.  Eventually Luvern located the supply cupboard and put out the cups herself. It's an insignificant story perhaps, but it is indicative of the huge disconnect that exists between the resources available, and the relatively simple steps needed to administer them. I mean a large pot of coffee is pretty much useless unless cups are provided to serve it! It applies to all aspects of the work in aid of the disadvantaged. 

     It is that disconnect. That "us and them" mentality that caused Luvern to take a hiatus from her advocacy work due to a degree of frustration and burnout. However,  there can be little doubt that her efforts made a difference. I mean just the stories themselves are a powerful testament. 

     Luvern is a very dynamic photographer. Going on a photo walk with her is always an experience. One minute your walking along, chatting amiably, and then, within seconds she is gone. Something has caught her eye. You look around and spot her crouched down, her signature Nikon D5100 up to her eye. She's working the scene or subject in front of her, finding the best angle, using her skills and camera to create an image that satisfies  her eye. She shoots with intent. She has mastered the photographer's dual mindset of single minded purpose , getting some good shots, coupled to an open minded approach to the photographic possibilities of all of her surroundings. When she is shooting, she is completely in the moment and, invariably, that moment is successfully captured in her camera.                                      

 

     It was bit of a no-brainer  for me to pick Luvern for this first "Photographic Friends" feature. (Thank God she agreed to it!) She exemplifies both aspects of the title so well. She is a very imaginative and capable photographer as well as a caring and steadfast friend. She is one of the most dynamic people I know and more than once has (figuratively) kicked my butt to get me out of my doldrums and back into creative action in the practice  of this  photographic craft we  love. 

....more later 

     

 

  

Gear-Centric

     I had an interesting experience a while ago while out and about.  I was at our local drugstore picking up a few essentials of existence. A trio of young ladies (well, younger than me) were in the store as well. Two of the three were carrying vintage cameras.  One had a very nice looking Canon FTB and the other had an Olympus OM-2. I complemented  the owner of the FTB on her camera and mentioned that I used to sell those cameras back in the day. She asked if I could help her. She had taken the lens off the camera and was struggling a bit to re mount it properly on the camera body 

     There's a trick to putting  the original Canon FD mount lenses on the camera. On the original  FD mount  lenses, there is a mounting ring at the back of the lens that needs to be locked into position before mounting it onto the camera.  So, swivel the ring til it locks. Line up the red dots on the camera and lens and give it a twist. Voila!  I'm a photographic hero in a drugstore! Big deal. So I have a vast and intricate knowledge of vintage camera gear. That and a couple of bucks will buy me a cup of coffee. (Mmm..coffee...I'll  be right back.)

My old Canon TX.  Roughly the same vintage as the Canon FTB. They don't build 'em like this any more! Note the silver coloured ring at the back of the lens where it joins to the camera body. That ring has to be locked before mounting the lens to the camera. This camera was given to me by my good friend Kaitlynd, a very talented artist and designer. Check out her Instagram here. https://www.instagram.com/kaitlyndwaffles/

      I come by this knowledge of old photo gear quite honestly. For a good chunk of time, early in my photographic journey, I worked for several different photo retailers in the dinosaur days of film. It was both a good and bad experience. Good, in that working in a camera shop  is probably the best place anywhere for learning the nuts and bolts of  photography. To sell photographic gear, I had to learn how each piece of equipment worked and also how specific pieces of gear applied to specific situations and processes. Hey, it's nice to know what you're doing. Bad in terms of not learning the anesthetics of the craft due to too much focus on equipment. To this day, I'm a self admitted gear junkie. 

     As I stated in a piece I wrote a while ago, ''You would be hard pressed to find a creative activity that relies more on technology than photography or filmmaking.''  https://refractivereasoning.blogspot.com/2021/02/its-all-about-camera.htm  However, having some really nice camera gear and the knowledge of how to use it, will only allow me to achieve some nice,  properly exposed, sharp, boring pictures. There's 

more to it than that. Ultimately, photography, at its best, can convey a vision, an emotion, a story or a personal aesthetic. It can evoke a visceral reaction to a scene or situation captured by the photographer. As the incomparable Henri Cartier Bresson said in a 2000 interview with American journalist Charlie Rose, ''Lucidity doesn't come with words all the time.'' https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=henri+cartier+bresson 

Hanging flower baskets downtown.
Summer is officially here.

                                                                                                                                                                

Morning Conversation

Nith River Bridge

Ladies By The River
Cambridge, Ont.

                                                                                                                                                           

    

    There are  communicative aspects of photography that can't be learned in a camera store. They are the aspects of the craft that are currently my centre of focus. (Pardon the pun.) I've got the gear, I've got some skills. The question is,  "Do I have the vision? "  Time will tell. 

...more later

     

 

     As usual, if you like what you see here, feel free to like and share it on the medium platform of your choice.

Special Announcement: I know a lot of people who have an interest in photography. Everyone from full time pros with decades of experience to beginners just starting out. I've decided to add an additional blog post each month with the feature entitled ''Photographic Friends.'' It will include  interviews with people that I've met on my photographic journey as well as featuring some of their work along with links to their websites or social media pages. I think it will be interesting to hear from other practitioners of the photographic craft and celebrate their work.  Hey, it shouldn't just be about me all the time! 

    The first ''Photographic Friends'' post will be published on July 10, 2021 and will continue to be published on the second Saturday of each month after that.  My regular blog posts will still appear on the last Saturday of the month. Stay tuned. I think that this is going to be a very interesting project!