Editing Luke

Remember to Breathe by Travel Alberta

2012-02-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

Growing up in this province, it's easy to become jaded when you think you've seen it all before. The truth is, Alberta is a pretty incredible place to live and this recent promotional video from Travel Alberta features some absolutely stunning footage that helps to explain why. I honestly can't wait to rediscover some of the sites closer to home this summer, especially now that I already have plans to drive my Jaguar through the mountains in July.

Evolution of a Rooftop

2012-02-13T09:00:00.000-07:00

For those who don't know, I've used an image I shot of a rooftop in downtown Medicine Hat as the backdrop for my opening production credit, as a design element in various forms on this blog, and even on my business cards - since shooting the original photo in 2006. Recently I returned to the roof of the parkade downtown to shoot a new variation of the image only to discover what you can see in my comparison shot directly below. The middle building has been demolished!

I can't say I blame anyone for doing it, as it looked like it was about to collapse when I took the first picture. It brings a new level of infamy to my original however, now that it can no longer be recreated. The old air conditioner has also disappeared, and it doesn't make for quite the composition it used to. Since I was there already I decided to shoot a few new images of what, for me, has become a fairly meaningful place.

A Conversation Between Film School Buddies

2012-02-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

All of my friends from Regina have moved all over the place since my film school days, so it's not always easy to stay in touch. I'm no longer in Regina myself so meet ups often require some strategic planning to coordinate visits. Jen and I in particular have been playing facebook message tag for the last few weeks trying to work out a time to Skype with one another. Last night we finally got the chance.

Things are going well. Jen and I shared our stories about work, about leaving Regina, and about the continuation of our post-university ambitions. I'm here in Alberta, Jen is out in Toronto, and despite how different our daily lives are, we still seem to relate to things like hardly any time has passed. It was actually refreshing to be reminded of some of those film school hangouts and how we're still finding ways to reinvent and conquer the goals we had back then.

Skype has become a regular part of my life these days, and I love it. My friend Tyler and I (also buddies from film school) Skype often just to pass the time and have a couple of beers. Despite the distance, it's great knowing that it's easy to have some face time with your good friends and share some of your stories outside of the everyday bubbles we're each in.

The talk Jen and I had last night was fun, and I guess it seemed noteworthy because it feels like the start of something new again. Of course, a conversation between film school buddies wouldn't be complete without referencing one of the random projects we made in class together. Ladies and gentlemen, Hip Hop Ninny Shoe Satisfaction.

RCMP Heritage Centre: Part 2

2012-02-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

A continuation of images from the RCMP Heritage Centre in Regina, Saskatchewan.

RCMP Heritage Centre: Part 1

2012-02-10T08:00:00.001-07:00

During my time at film school in Regina, SK, the RCMP museum got a massive overhaul. I remember going when it was located in a small and cramped building on the Depot Division compound. The difference between that and the impressive new RCMP Heritage Centre is night and day.

The RCMP Academy is actually located in Regina, so the brand new heritage centre was a multi-million dollar investment intended to create a new tourist attraction and historical showcase for the city. I saw the new centre in the summer of 2007 when my parents came to visit. I always get inspired by historical stuff like this, and I figured it wouldn't hurt to share a bit of Canadiana.

Experimental Film Course Syllabus

2012-02-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

For a long time I've had it in my head that I'd share some of the notes that I've held onto since film school. Given that all of these assignments have now been uploaded, I figured the syllabus from Film 486: Experimental Film Production, was as good a place to start as any. Check out the list of projects we were assigned in the fall semester of 2006, and then check out my links below to see what I did for each one.

Video Collage

For this one I took it upon myself to bring new meaning to time travel. Check out The Other Time Machine.

Formal Film Project

Shot on 16mm and presented at the Sask Film Pool, for this assignment I created X.

Media Diary

My goal with this assignment was to create a photographic quilt of my past using cropped images and textures from my childhood. What I made was, from 84.

Adventures in Corporate Video

2012-02-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

Over the last couple of weeks I've started working on a new video project with Stream Media. What makes this one noteworthy however, is that for the first time in months it looks like we're going to get to create something that won't feel so obviously corporate. If our meetings so far have been any indication, it's actually going to be a lot of fun to pull this off.

Between rough storyboards, discussing techniques for shooting with a DSLR, sharing music, and fine tuning our concept, I'm finding myself wading more in the creative end of production for a change. Part of it is that our message isn't as didactic as other projects we've done either, so there's room to play and make something that actually feels more cinematic.

My role in acting solely as an editor has been changed up given the nature of this project. Like I said, I've been involved a lot more in the pre-production and concept than I usually am, and will play a significant role in how our promo is shot. It's been a few years since I've been reminded of so many different film school exercises.

I don't want to give anything away while we're in production, but I thought it would be nice to mention that corporate video isn't always as cold as it's sometimes made out to seem. And while I feel it's always been a creative outlet, it's not quite so often that I've felt like we get the chance to make something with some art behind it. Who couldn't use a bit more work that doesn't feel like work?

X (2006)

2012-02-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

Presented with the challenge of shooting (and manipulating) an experimental short on film, X was the result of a few late nights spent scratching my reel and coloring individual frames with a red sharpie. I can't say I had much of a plan during the process, but it was fun. This experimental film class also resulted in some of my other random edits like, The Other Time Machine and from 84.

What made this project stand out was that we each presented our films at the Sask Film Pool in downtown Regina at the aptly titled, Terrible Film Festival - a regular event each semester for those taking the avant-garde class. It was a pretty casual affair where some films played on a loop, others were screened traditionally, some in make shift tents, and some overlapping each other. The entire exercise was really about playing with film, not just from behind the camera, but actually working with it, splicing it, and in some cases, tearing it apart. I remember my friend Tyler actually tried burning a piece of his film and it sounded like cooking bacon when it played through the projector.

I kicked things off with my film on a loop, and a last minute decision to use a mirror to reflect the projection around the room. My entire idea really centred around 'X marks the spot' because I figured so many of the films would be just as busy and nonsensical as mine, but at least mine would have a red X throughout to give you some place to look. It kind of worked.

At the very least the evening was something out of the ordinary, and it created a more lasting memory for a project that would have otherwise just stayed packed away. Our professor, Gerald Saul captured highlights from the evening and gave each of us a DVD of our short films.

Looking back at it now, this was one of those stereotypically ideal film school situations that I'm glad we were forced to take part in. And I couldn't forget it if I wanted to, as that mirror I was using ended up broken in the back seat of Tyler's car and stayed there for my remaining few semesters in university. See my experimental film below.

Educated Detours Snapshots

2012-02-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

A collection of photos from my 2006 short, Educated Detours.

The Luke Behind Editing

2012-02-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

This blog is always changing, and often it happens in fairly dramatic sweeps. My about page is no more given how redundant it seems with my sidebar description and portfolio, but given all the work that went into writing this initial bio I felt I'd share it in a blog post for posterity.

My name is Luke Fandrich and I'm a video editor and photographer by trade.

Growing up in the small city of Medicine Hat, Alberta I suppose the idea of making movies was as much about escape as it was, ironically, about learning how to appreciate where I came from.

As an adolescent I saved and bought my first camera, a used Sony 8mm that helped turn a hobby into the inspiration for a potential career path.

Throughout my teenage years short projects both in and out of the classroom helped me establish a reputation as somewhat of a film buff - or a great partner for video projects anyway.

How does a kid from the Canadian prairies chase a dream of making movies though?
I loaded up my old '89 Buick and was off to Saskatchewan . . .

Enrolled in the film program at the University of Regina I dabbled in a range of experiments and techniques that in the moment opened my eyes to a world of possibilities, but ultimately left me questioning if I was actually going to get a job.

Simple assignments soon became memorable challenges, and I can now see how my frustration as a film major mixed with the stress of developing projects under such strict timelines, locked me in a creative pressure cooker that really ignited my independent ambition.

In 2005 I took my first shot at a film festival and ended up winning the Audience Choice award. The momentum created by gaining that extra confidence resulted in my first international film festival screening in Toronto later that year.

Soon after, festivals, screenings, and contests became my real motivation. Assured now that I wanted to be an editor and filmmaker, I saw these various opportunities as a realistic way to create a name for myself while disconnected from that idealistic vision of a Hollywood career.

From 2006 onward I found my interest in the classroom slip as my work was recognized abroad.

From a nail-biting National Film Board of Canada competition to a digital media festival in South Korea, Youngcuts in Montreal and a surprising Sasktel Cell Phone video contest, my work was traveling further than I ever had and was inspiring some honest recognition.

As I considered myself less and less of an actual student my video work was recognized by the Dean of Fine Arts at the U of R and even by the Premier of Saskatchewan.

My 6 year gig as a struggling film student came to a close.

In mid 2008 I returned to Medicine Hat with my share of student debt and a plan for bigger things. In the meantime I began to work with a local production company as a videographer and editor creating commercials and promotional material.

The opportunity was all about showcasing my strengths, and it helped me establish contacts and a reputation that to my surprise was allowing me to pay my bills entirely with my editing work.

As the economy cooled in 2009, the lack of projects coming in forced me to look for more work elsewhere. I took a copywriting position at a website, hired on the basis that they were interested in getting into video themselves.

The position soon transformed and I was establishing and running the in-house video and photography department for the web retailer - an opportunity which continues to show tremendous potential.

After only a couple years back in the Hat, I found myself to be an increasingly rare commodity. With full-time video work and contract edits on the side, it's a wonder that I ever stressed myself out about finding video work (not that I take any of it for granted).

Sure enough, I've ended up creating positions for myself in companies that were willing and ready to take a chance on someone who was confident enough to say they could do it. It's an exhilarating feeling.

Every day is now a new plot point in a personal story that continues to surpass and challenge my expectations. Never did I think I'd be creating my own unique editing jobs in a small city in the middle of the Canadian prairies - but at the moment, it seems like the perfect fit.

There's still so much I strive to do, but if my time out of film school has shown me anything, it's that good things come to those who go looking for them.

Exploring Canada Olympic Park

2012-02-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

I have yet to be to an Olympic games, but in the summer of 2006 I explored Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta - the site of the 1988 Winter Olympics. We walked up to check out the bobsled run, and I climbed up a set of terrifying open-grated stairs to get a picture from underneath one of the ski jumps. It's still a world class training and athletic facility to this day.

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close Review

2012-02-03T08:00:00.002-07:00

Slowly but surely I've been crossing nominees off of my Oscar screening list. A few nights ago, Andrea and I went to see Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, one of the nine nominees for Best Picture this year. I'll be blunt about this one, it wasn't very good.

The trailer for this flick had me excited, sort of the way I felt after seeing the trailer for United 93. I was imaging an emotional, but heartfelt picture about an innocent kid and his soul searching quest to find meaning against the backdrop of 9/11. It looked genuine and fresh.

The problem I had immediately with the film was the kid, to be honest. Part of his back-story is that he has some kind of social disorder or disability (never really defined in the movie) that makes him awkward and emotionally abrupt. He was always on the verge of a panic attack or he was flying off the walls with rage. In the first thirty minutes all I kept thinking was, what is his problem? How am I supposed to relate to him if he's so aggravating to watch? And, really? Someone thought audiences wouldn't find it annoying to centre such a sensitive story around a character who is already this disconnected from reality to begin with?

Like I said, I expected an emotional story, but the kid overwhelms every aspect of the narrative. His ticks and commentary seemed so gratuitous and heavy handed that I was actually relieved when some of the supporting players finally got a bit of screen time.

The thread of the film is the quest to find a lock for a key that is found in the father's closet after he dies during the attacks. I actually really liked the concept, but was scratching my head again when it wasn't really explained why the key should be relevant to begin with. Even the close relationship between the father and son didn't really justify that this seemingly random find would be worthy of scouring the city to find answers for. I suppose it could be argued that the quest to find meaning in some of these traumatic events is a hopeless search, but I still found myself thinking that wouldn't the kid be more content to search out a part of his father's actual history? Something that he already knew was important to his father?

I know in my own experiences in dealing with loss that I'm not looking to give random items more meaning. You end up looking to expand on the things that you already knew meant something - unfinished business. The proposed scavenger hunt in Extremely Loud didn't seem grounded enough in many aspects.

When all is said and done though, I would have overlooked so many of the film's flaws if the kid was more relatable, a bit more innocent, more wide-eyed, more raw, and just far less stunted. In a story that was genuinely full of compelling connections and human stories, why have the main character fight against all of those naturally inspiring encounters instead of adding to them? Why distract us with painfully enigmatic narration and a kid who you have to will yourself to even root for? In short, it was the perfect recipe to continually disconnect from the plot.

It may be a bit harsh, but this flick isn't anywhere close to being one of the best films from 2011 and certainly shouldn't have been nominated in my opinion. If you really want to watch a powerful film surrounding 9/11, there are literally ten other flicks that I could recommend to you - United 93 for starters. Do yourself a favor and embrace the trailer for Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close and then move on to the other nominees.

15 Years of Fandrix

2012-02-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

Creating a production company as a kid is no big deal when it's expected that you'd pursue any whim that pops into your head. However, sticking to that name and using it on all of your projects for 15 years seems worthy of noting. It's true that all of my film making ambitions began 15 years ago in February of 1997, when my first project, Ernie the Spaceman, opened with a Fandrix Productions credit made out of construction paper.

The evolution of a name (or a logo) was never the main focus, but it was always there in the background. As I got a bit older it just started to gain more meaning, like a common thread that linked all of my various movie related ambitions and experiments. I went into more detail about fandrix in a blog post I wrote a few years ago titled, Why Fandrix Productions?

So here I am at 27 years old, 15 years in to this journey, and the name has only become more deeply ingrained. Fandrix not only still introduces my videos, but now it's on my business cards and it's the location of my portfolio. The history is all too apparent as anyone who has seen one of my projects can claim they've witnessed part of the evolution - and I love that!

Below I've posted a video sampling of some of my opening banners over the last 15 years. Just as I've grown up in that time, so to has this name. Fandrix, more than ever, is symbolic of my persistence, my history, and my passion for film and video. As I said before, it's all a work in progress, but it doesn't hurt to take stock every now and then.

Layover in Shanghai

2012-01-31T08:00:00.001-07:00

On route home via Singapore in 2010, we had a drawn out layover in Shanghai. Numerous passport checks, security checks, a passport stamp (despite not leaving the airport), and hang ups at the boarding desk were made to feel endless due to a painful hangover I'd acquired celebrating our final night in the Lion City. Our stop in Hong Kong on the way there seemed relaxed, but Shanghai seemed overrun with make-work checkpoints. Oh, China.

All of those magnets I bought in Singapore also got me a private room for my luggage to be searched. It was all kind of entertaining to be honest, and I had fun snapping pictures of our time chilling out in the airport.

Salton Sea History Museum Closed?

2012-01-30T08:00:00.001-07:00

About a week ago I was contacted by a man putting on an exhibition about the Salton Sea who wanted to know if I could provide scans of the vintage postcards that I'd shared on my blog. I suggested that he could probably contact the Salton Sea museum, which Dave and I got a private tour of on our visit in 2010, and acquire the real ones for his exhibition as they are actually genuine postcards that were on sale in the Salton Sea Yacht Club in the sixties.

Sadly, he informed me that the museum had recently closed and was no longer there. I was happy to send scans of my postcards, but was disappointed by the news. In fact, a bit more research confirmed that the museum had been unable to secure a lease agreement with the Yacht Club.

I'm still fascinated by how much has changed around the Salton Sea since my first visit in 2009, however the recent developments seem far from a surge of prosperity. It was announced on the Museum's facebook page that they will be relocating to Mecca, CA and reopening on February 3, which is great for the sake of sharing the history, but it's not the Yacht Club. There were plans to relaunch the speed boat races also (like the ones they used to have in the sixties) but those plans have been postponed due to lack of sponsorship now.

It's two steps forward and one step back at the Salton Sea.

Inspiration Boards

2012-01-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

I'm all about collecting. If someone leaves me a cool note, if I like a picture, or if someone sends me a postcard, it's just one of the many opportunities I take to cycle inspiration around the bulletin boards above my desk.

I think it's important to surround ourselves with things that trigger memories, influence our thoughts, and remind us of our aspirations. My boards are busy, but purposely so. I like that I can still look at them and see something in a way I might not have before. It's a simple concept, but I like inspiration that comes cheap.

Here are some of the items on my boards at the moment.

My Week With Marilyn

2012-01-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

The Oscar nominations came out on Tuesday and so, like I do each year, my goal of screening as many pictures as possible before the broadcast is officially underway. My Week With Marilyn just opened at the Monarch Theatre last night and so it was the perfect opportunity for Andrea and I to head down and check it out.

First things first, Michelle Williams is spot on in her portrayal of Monroe. You might expect something shamelessly camp, but what's delivered is vulnerable, emotional, and intelligently nostalgic. It's a well earned Best Actress nomination for Williams, and her performance alone is a strong enough reason to see the film. Thankfully, the supporting cast is no let down either and I was thoroughly engrossed throughout.

What I've always found fun about the Oscars is the variety of films that you can discover if you're willing to take a few chances. I had a good feeling about My Week With Marilyn to begin with, but there are several flicks I know nothing about this year. When you've grown up addicted to movies, sometimes it's just fun to find more ways to feel connected to them.

The Monarch Theatre remains a great venue for watching smaller, more dramatic films. It was packed last night because it was 5+5 Wednesday - $5 ticket and $5 pop and popcorn. If you live in Medicine Hat, you really should visit the Monarch. They still have some of the best theatre seats in town.

Ernie the Spaceman (1997)

2012-01-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

Like a lot of kids do, I created my first videos using my toys. At 12 I took what little savings I had and put it towards a used video camera that was for sale in the newspaper. It's what makes these videos special now, the fact that I actually planned to create these and had it in my head that I wanted to buy myself a camera because I knew I wanted to make movies.

Ernie the Spaceman was actually an Ernie key chain, a mascot from Expo '86, a World's Fair held in Vancouver, BC. He seemed just unique enough to not be recognizable, and before I started creating my own characters a year or so later, I got a feel for my camera by creating random episodes about the adventures Ernie would go on. Once he crash landed on a planet full of Mr. Potato Head's, another time he had to rescue an alien princess, and plenty of times he was simply lost in space.

I created scenes using everything from strings of Christmas lights, to old Star Wars toys, construction paper and poster board, and remote controls as spaceship consoles. The production value couldn't have been more bottom of the barrel, but the fact that I found ways to work in music, that I printed off my credits and taped them to the walls, and that I took the time to create miniature sets at least proved how much fun I was having. It was only '97 after all and it wasn't like I had a computer to edit on or a digital camera to make things easier.

I only really shared the ten or so episodes I created with my friends, and for the sake of preserving my nostalgia that's the way it's going to stay. Ernie the Spaceman is special only because it kicked off what I already knew I wanted to pursue as a kid. It was my amateur directorial and editing debut, and the work I put into those shorts really lit a fire in me that set everything else in motion.

Looking back at it now and thinking about the setups that I'd build in the basement makes me realize how formative those experiences really were. Without knowing it at the time I was exploring framing, composition, basic editing, and generally priming myself for the digital revolution that was just starting to hit. The fact that I'd share my creations and get to see everyone's reactions only boosted my confidence.

The results were a long way from perfect, and they were even more embarrassing to watch after I'd gone through puberty, but it's that imperfection that seems so meaningful to me now. I had no notions about how I was making something, it was nothing more than creative exploration. Fifteen years later though, through a film school education, having had my work screened at numerous international venues, having over a million video views online, and having edited for a handful of big name clients, it's a rush to be able to trace it all the way back to this.

Ernie's haphazard and clumsy adventures may have only been a blip on my timeline, but it sure felt epic in the moment. At the very least, it was an exercise in persistence.

The original title card from the Ernie the Spaceman episodes.

Lenovo Ideapad 32GB Review

2012-01-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

So a few weekends ago I began doing some research about e-readers and inevitably found myself looking at tablets. Some will argue that an iPad is the clear front runner in this category, but on price point that's far from the truth. What I eventually decided on was the Lenovo Ideapad Tablet with 32GB and Wi-Fi. Here's why I came to that decision and what I've come to really like about my tablet in general.

1. Value for Money - A quick scan of tablets will show how competitively priced the Lenovo is (compared to other tablets and laptops). I ended up spending about $350 for a tablet with 32GB of memory, a 10.1" screen, a front and rear camera, a stylish design, and that is easily customizable in terms of the display, apps, what widgets go where, etc.

2. More Than an E-Reader - I was really just after an e-reader to begin with, but found it hard to pass up the ability to freely surf the web, watch YouTube, check facebook, download from the Amazon Kindle store, or scroll my emails (all at the same time). The point is that this tablet is a lot more versatile for not much more money.

3. Portable and Convenient - I found it cumbersome using my laptop in bed when I just wanted to check blogs or read web pages and a tablet is the answer to that. The Lenovo is comfortable to hold thanks to the rounded edges and although it may be a bit on the heavier side for tablets, I still find it quite light.

While I haven't taken it on the road with me yet, I also like the idea of having my maps downloaded and having a large screen to view them. Navigating maps on my iPod Touch hasn't always been the most convenient and now I don't necessarily need to bring my laptop on the road with me either to stay connected.

4. The Show-Me Factor - How often do you have someone over and end up talking about a funny YouTube video or webpage? The tablet is quick to launch and easy to pass around for moments just like that. It's also what makes the tablet a great presentation tool, and it was really convenient to pull up my portfolio and scroll the pages when I had people over.

5. Adaptability - What I love about my Lenovo Ideapad (and a tablet in general) is the way that you can continue to change it based on how you use it. There are plenty of apps to play with and explore, and the Lenovo Ideapad has 5 pages that you can flip through and customize however you want. I'm sure I'll continue to find more fun ways to use it as I play around a bit more.

In my personal opinion having used this product for a couple of weeks now (in addition to my regular PC, laptop, and iPod Touch) I'd give the Lenovo Ideapad a solid 8/10. The only areas that I'd really make improvements to would be the speaker, which could be a bit stronger. The tablet could also be a bit lighter, and I'd like to see more apps for Android products. For the time being though, this is a more than adequate product for a casual user like myself and it's exceeded my expectations.

For more specifics check out the review of this product on PC World.

Best Oscar

2012-01-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

Ten years ago for one of my final projects in Art 30 we were tasked with creating something out of clay. Being the humble movie lover that I am, I saw this as the perfect opportunity to craft an Oscar for myself before leaving for film school in the fall. This was the result.

The top half and base were created and fired in the kiln separately, and I spray painted the top half gold and rubbed the base down with shoe polish for a really deep black. The two pieces were then attached with super glue, and it's held up ever since. For an art project that I had in my room in high school, in my various dorms, back in my parent's basement, and now in my own place, it's become a symbol of my own successes in moving forward with my own career.

I couldn't be more proud of this little art project, and it actually contributed to a real achievement at the time. I received a scholarship from the Art program at Hat High for having the highest mark in the program that year - which was actually more of a reflection of my willingness to experiment with every medium they'd let me try I think.

In any case, the nominations for the Academy Awards come out tomorrow and I'll be ready to check out as many of the films as I can before the broadcast. In the meantime I'm going to continue working at completing my faux E.G.O.T. A few months ago I found a gramophone statue at Value Village that looks just like a Grammy. Emmy and Tony here I come!

Life in the Age Booth

2012-01-21T16:00:00.000-07:00

Last night we had a small family gathering to celebrate my Mom's birthday. We had Chinese food and a treatzza pizza from DQ, and had fun shooting the breeze with one another. My aunt and uncle were also over, which was a nice surprise as we didn't get a chance to see them over the Christmas break. All around it was a fun evening.

As I've done for most of our family gatherings over the last year, I brought my iPod touch along to snap some pictures. One new addition however, was the Age Booth app that I purchased under the encouragement from my friend Tyler while I was visiting over the New Year's weekend. As it turns out, getting older can be pretty entertaining (if not a bit unflattering when done in 30 year intervals with the help of an app).

Me.

My Sister.

My Uncle.

My Dad.

Enough To Do Something

2012-01-20T12:00:00.000-07:00

I saw the new movie, The Descendants starring George Clooney the other night. It was a great flick about embracing ones past and the future it presents, and there was a quote that stuck with me. When Clooney's character is discussing inheritance for his kids, he says something along the lines of, "I want to give them enough to do something, but not enough to do nothing".

That's a brilliant way to think about it.

These days (and as a goal for this year in fact) I find myself in want of doing and experiencing more things. I want to go places, see things, and I'm not even referring to grand vacations necessarily. I want to go to several museums in Alberta this year, I want to go to a car show, it looks like I'll be going to the Rockies a couple of times this summer too. The idea that we should be content to stick to a routine or adopt entirely predictable habits is a bad one.

Having enough money (or time in a lot of cases) to do something is just as important as the personal time to do nothing. However, the goal shouldn't really be to do nothing at all, the goal should be to have the freedom to do a bit of everything as you see fit. Rich or poor, it's easy to be lazy. Finding new ways to be passionate about life takes work.

The lesson perhaps, and what I took away from that quote, is that we should feel accountable to the decisions we make in the pursuit of our own happiness. We should feel a bit pressured to experience things while they're there to be experienced. Whether you realize it or not, your time is actually your own. And, it's enough to do something.

Flip Cam Wide Angle Lens

2012-01-18T08:00:00.001-07:00

Last Christmas I got my Flip Cam and was excited about the opportunity to shoot more home videos with it. I actually used the camera so much throughout the year that I began looking for ways to enhance it. I'd come across several wide angle lens adapters on Amazon, and this Christmas I finally got one.

The Rokinon lens comes with several adhesive magnetic rings that you can easily attach to your Flip Cam. The lens itself has a magnet in its base so attaching it is a breeze, and for any skeptics, the lens really does make a noticeable difference by increasing the field of view 0.45 times. The connection also feels very secure so there's really no fear of the lens coming off unless you want it to.

As far as simple upgrades for your video equipment are concerned, this is by far one of the most affordable options available for what's already a very consumer-friendly camera. Below I've posted a clip to give you a better idea of how the lens works and what the footage looks like. Pick up one of these lenses for a bit of added versatility when capturing your next home video.

Trainspotting

2012-01-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

After our ride on the historic 2816, my Dad and I took the opportunity to check out one of the modern Canadian Pacific diesel trains on display in the rail yard. As common as they are to see throughout the prairies, this was the first time I'd ever been inside one.

Stumbling onto all of these great pictures that I shot in 2006 has me thinking that I should do a bit more digging. There are a lot of stories and photo sets that I've never really shared with anyone, and I like the idea of posting them for posterity instead of letting them waste away on CD. I love rediscovering experiences like this all over again.

Canadian Pacific 2816 Empress

2012-01-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

My fascination with trains has been apparent since getting my first train set as a kid. My dad actually built a giant table in our basement with a paper mache mountain and tunnel for me to set it up with. Countless hours were spent playing there. There's obviously a big difference between those childhood memories and seeing the real thing however.

In August of 2006 the famed Canadian Pacific 2816 Empress came through Medicine Hat, Alberta and I went along for a ride with my folks. The train is a 4-6-4 H1b Hudson built in 1930, and has become a prestige project for the Canadian Pacific Railway ever since they spent over two million dollars to restore and debut it back in 2001.

I recently stumbled upon my ticket stub from the trip and was reminded of the pictures I shot. It's a shame that traveling by rail isn't very economical in western Canada anymore as it's a really cool way to see the prairie. Someday I'd like to travel through the Rocky Mountains by rail, or who knows, maybe return to Alaska to ride the White Pass & Yukon Railway again.