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