A photo of the Cal-Neva pool from their Website

I got a call in February from my good friend and accomplished Lifestyle Photographer Randy Lincks.  Randy has done quite a bit of work for sailboat charter companies in the past, and every year or two he makes a trip to an exotic place to shoot some Sailing Promotion photography.

Either after years of bugging him to take ma along, or out of a  genuine need for a bit of a hand based on the size of the project I was invited along to do some shooting, image management, and some general helping out.

Hooray!  Off to the BVI!

We spend 5 1/2 days shooting all around the British Virgin Islands, and the schedule was pretty intense.  We had a crew of 16, some professional models from Florida and England to represent the clients demographics, and a flotilla of 7 38-56 foot luxury yachts.  The shot list was long and varied.

Although it’s hard to complain, we worked A LOT.  Up early, and going pretty much non-stop all day.  But given the subjects, the location and the weather, no matter how hard we were working we couldn’t help but have a good time.  I am very fortunate that I have associates like Randy, and that I get the opportunity to work for incredible clients, and even occasionally in exotic locations.  I am even luckier that throughout the busy schedule we still found time for an occasional dip in the ocean, and a cool rum cocktail after the daily wrap.  I count my blessings!

Here is some of the work from the project.  Some images are mine, others are Randy’s.  When we work together we make a pretty good team.

    About a year ago I got a call from the local TV station.  One of their reporters saw a small gallery show I put on locally and asked if would do an interview for their focus on locals segment called “The Express”.  Never one to turn down a bit of free publicity, I said yes.  When the day came to shoot the segment, it was cold, overcast and raining.  One of the things they wanted to do was film me shooting some personal work, and then include a few shots from the actual day in the segment.  The weather was miserable, YUCK!

Still I did not want to disappoint, so on a day when I would not have even considered taking a camera outside, I forced myself to find something to shoot.  Here are a few of the results.

 Is this my best or favourite personal work ever?  Not particularly, but I managed to do something creative on a day when I would have otherwise stayed home and stared at a computer screen.  I think the takeaway is simple: Doing something is always better than doing nothing.  You can take interesting and creative photos in the rain, or snow, or at night, or in whatever circumstances.  Just go out and do something creative.

If you would like to see the finished  local TV piece, it’s after the jump

A few years ago I decided to take my dog and my camera for a walk in the forest, and partially by accident came home with this shot.

My first ‘Living Forest’ image

I am always impressed and relaxed by the forest, and I wanted to capture more than just a static shot.  I wanted to communicate the life and energy I feel in the forest.  I was pleased with the results (This image now hangs as a 2×3 foot canvas print on our bedroom wall) and wanted to explore the idea a bit more.  I played with the in camera technique a bit more, and started creating images that I become memorized by.  I can look into them and get lost in the forest.  Here are some of my favourites…

I have some of these prints hanging in my home, and I have sold a few. It’s something I came up with when I took a break because I was burned out.  I still use this technique to create new forest images when I am traveling or I see interesting trees.  I continue to refine the technique and try to create original but predictable results.  Forcing myself to go out and shoot for pleasure has given me a niche photo hobby within my photo experience that I can play with and enjoy for pure pleasure.  If other people like the images great.  If not, that’s fine too.  For me it’s an exciting experiment, and it takes my mind off the everyday drudgery of office work.  And, that’s what personal work is supposed to be, Photography for the pure joy of it.

   Every year I am lucky enough  to spend a bit of time with my friends up at TLH Heliskiing.  Fortunately this year was no exception.  I get a chance to rack up an impressive amount of vertical, while hanging out with great, fun people.  And those circumstances usually conspire to create the opportunity to set up some great ski action photos.  Here is a selection of some of my favourites from my last ski day of the season in the South Chilcotins.

     I have been working on a project for the Sutton Place Hotel in Vancouver, BC. During a couple of day shooting last week I set up my Nikon D2x with a wide angle lens to shoot a frame every 3 seconds for about 45 min to create a little 15 second time lapse. Shot through the glass of my hotel window at the Sutton Place. I use my older D2x for time lapse because it had a built in intervalometer, but you can always use an inexpensive one like these from an online auction site.  Use a manual settings on your camera so each exposure is the same to prevent flicker.  To prevent reflections, don’t forget to turn out the lights in your hotel room!

Joachim Linkemann is an imaging sensor scientist, and in a presentation on digital sensor technology he uses several pages to describe digital sensor noise using a comparison to refilling and then emptying a glass of beer (one of my favourite things!)  And it’s a great analogy because with beer near and dear to my heart, I was able to grasp the concept rather quickly.  His presentation covers a lot of other interesting and technical information about imaging sensors, It you are a techno photo nerd like me it’s a pretty interesting read.  Check out his PDF here!

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I just got the call I wait for every new year! For the past 9 years I have worked with TLH Heliskiing shooting advertising images, and take home memories for their guests.  TLH operates out of  Tyax Resort in the South Chilcotin Mountains of British Columbia, a place I have come to love winter and summer.  I will make the 5 hour drive on windy mountain back-roads many times in the next few months.  It’s an arduous task getting there, but the reward at the end of the road is so worth it!

Over the years I found that how quickly time passes depends on what you are remembering.  A vacation can seem like it’s lasting forever, until you start thinking about how few days you have left before you head back to your daily grind. 2011 was a long and short year for me some things flew by, others dragged out. But I’m not looking back!

No new years resolutions for me this year. I’m not going to make a specific promise like eat healthier, or exercise more. Instead of living in the past or even worse, the future (hey it’s 2012 the world might end any day now!)   I have decided to live better now.  I am adopting a philosophy that I will try to apply to everything I do and each decision that I make.

In 2012 I promise to:

• live better
• work smarter
• dream bigger
• laugh louder
•  love stronger

Than I have in the past.

What’s your New Years Revolution?