Taking pictures of the ones I love started early in 2017. I was taking street portraits of perfect strangers but I had none of the people close to me. Louise hated the idea and pushed back every times I asked her to pose. It would have looked tacky anyway. She was annoyed when I took candids but in time got used to it. I got few learnings from it.
One image could not capture what I wanted, people are not static. Doing a serie worked better.
Capturing those unguarded moments, expressions that make her who she is and why I love her took time.
I wanted images that look real, not posed but in some ways, the shoot was staged. I purposely sat her in a coffee shop, making sure the light from the window came mostly on one side. Don't ask how I got the look.
Serious Conversation – Canon 7D mkii, Canon EF 50 f1.8 STMThe Look – Canon 7D mkii, Canon EF 50 f1.8 STMFun – Canon 7D mkii, Canon EF 50 f1.8 STM
August 30, 2017
Mother and Child Love
Sony A7 mkii, Sony Sonnar FE 55mm f1.8 Carl Zeiss
August 28, 2017
Musicians in East Village
Musicians in East Village – Canon 7D mkii, Canon EF 50 f1.8 STM
August 12, 2017
Sunny Blonde
Sunny Blonde in East Village – Canon 7D mkii, Canon EF 50 f1.8 STM
Calgary's Langevin Bridge, named after one of the men behind Canada's residential school system, has been renamed Reconciliation Bridge.
The new name borrows from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which looked at the history of Canada's infamous residential schools and how to heal the wounds left in their wake.
Canon 7D mkii, Canon EF 50 f1.8 STM
February 28, 2017
CityScapes
Sony A7 mkii, Canon EF 70-200 f4.0 L Sony A7 mkii, Canon EF 70-200 f4.0 L Canon 7D mkii, Canon EF 70-200 f4.0 L Canon 7D mkii, Canon EF 70-200 f4.0 L
January 14 2017
Red Head
Sony A7 mkii, Canon EF 70-200 f4.0 L
January 7 2017
Cool Calgary
Sony A7 mkii, Sony Sonnar FE 55mm f1.8 Carl Zeiss
December 25 2016
Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park can seem unwelcoming, especially during the heat of summer. In fact, it is delicate and extremely fragile. Shaped by strong winds, sudden torrents of rain, and climatic extremes, rainfall is sparse and unpredictable. To the casual eye, it may appear defeated and dead, but within this parched environment one can find an intricate living systems waiting for the opportune moment to reproduce.
Two deserts, two large ecosystems primarily determined by elevation, come together in the park: the Colorado Desert and the Mojave Desert.
Sony A7 mkii, Sony Sonnar FE 55mm f1.8 Carl Zeiss Sony A7 mkii, Sony Sonnar FE 55mm f1.8 Carl Zeiss Sony A7 mkii, Sony Sonnar FE 55mm f1.8 Carl Zeiss Sony A7 mkii, Sony Sonnar FE 55mm f1.8 Carl Zeiss Sony A7 mkii, Sony Sonnar FE 55mm f1.8 Carl Zeiss
November 12, 2016
Red Turban
He looks animated but he was not mad, mostly talking to himself.
Canon 7D mkii, Sigma 50mm f/2.8 EX macro
October 23, 2016
Seaguls
Canon 7D mkii, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Canon 7D mkii, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Canon 7D mkii, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
July 8, 2016
Stampede Parade
Sony A7, Sony Sonnar FE 55mm f1.8 Carl Zeiss Sony A7, Sony Sonnar FE 55mm f1.8 Carl Zeiss Sony A7, Sony Sonnar FE 55mm f1.8 Carl Zeiss Sony A7, Sony Sonnar FE 55mm f1.8 Carl Zeiss Sony A7, Sony Sonnar FE 55mm f1.8 Carl Zeiss Sony A7, Sony Sonnar FE 55mm f1.8 Carl Zeiss Sony A7, Sony Sonnar FE 55mm f1.8 Carl Zeiss
July 6, 2016
If Rembrandt Models Had Smart Phones
This is a bit pretentious but if you have a better label, let me know.
Sony A7, Canon FD 135mm f/2.8
July 6, 2016
High Explosives
Sony A7, Canon FD 135mm f/2.8
July 2, 2016
A Book Reader
Sony A7, Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8
July 1, 2016
People Watching
Sony A7, Sony Sonnar FE 55mm f1.8 Carl Zeiss
June 29, 2016
Airdrie Rodeo
Canon EOS 50D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
June 26, 2016
Juvenile Wood Duck
Canon EOS 50D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Robin
Canon EOS 50D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Deer
Canon EOS 50D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Bohemian Waxwing
Canon EOS 50D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Hairy Woodpecker
Canon EOS 50D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
June 24, 2016
Mountain Blue Bird
Canon EOS 50D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
June 21, 2016
Sunny Day, Calgary 2016
First summer day, auntie was having a blast with her niece.
Sony A7, Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8
June 8, 2016
Lilac Festival, Calgary 2016
Sony A7, Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8Sony A7, Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8
June 8, 2016
Get the Eyes
Sony A7, Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8
June 8, 2016
Hang On
Sony A7, Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8
May 27, 2016
Merganser
Canon EOS 50D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Canon EOS 50D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
May 27, 2016
Canada Geese Goslings
Canon EOS 50D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
May 27, 2016
Blue-winged teal
Canon EOS 50D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
May 27, 2016
Red-winged blackbirds
Canon EOS 50D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Last month, I tried OC, OL, OD, OM as an exercise. It meant using one camera, one lens, one per day (or more) for one month. I did more like one every other day. But I stuck to the same camera and lens even when the 55mm felt restrictive.
Yesterday morning, walking on the path, I noticed the geese and the reflections. There is no way I would have capture this image before. It looks like the exercise had some value.
January 16, 2016
Sibbald Creek Trail – Frozen Trees
Sibbald Creek Trail, west of the City of Calgary, provides an alternate route to Kananaskis Country in Alberta. Also known as Highway 68, it begins at its intersection with Highway 40 and ends at Highway 1.
I prefer that road in the winter, less dusty than the rest of the year. It is nowhere as busy, we saw on ly 2 other vehicles during the 4 hours we were there. The weaher forcast was mix of sun and clouds. We got clouds, fog and snow. The temperature was -19 Celcius.
The light was more "difficult" than anticipated. But hey, at least the images do not look like postcards.
Sony A7, Canon EF 17-40 f/4.0 LSony A7, Canon EF 17-40 f/4.0 LSony A7, Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8Sony A7, Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8
January 5, 2016
Ducks from Above
Sony A7, Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8
Taken above the Reconciliation Bridge.
November 3, 2015
Reconciliation Bridge
Sony A7, Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8
Blue hour at the Reconciliation Bridge. The bridge is a through truss bridge in Calgary and connects Downtown with north-central Calgary communities such as Bridgeland and Crescent Heights, by spanning the Bow River between 4th Avenue South and Memorial Drive.
October 31, 2015
Lake Louise
Lake Louise is possibly the most iconic land mark in Alberta. Thousands come every year and take a picture or two. Like others, I can't resist when I go there to do the same, in spite of living only two hours away since 1988. Depending on the time of the day, the weather, the season, I always get something different. I was surprised when National Geographic picked one of mine.
Sony A7, Sony Sonnar FE 55mm f1.8 Carl Zeiss Sony A7, Sony Sonnar FE 55mm f1.8 Carl Zeiss Sony A7, Sony Sonnar FE 55mm f1.8 Carl Zeiss
Lake Louise is possibly the most iconic land mark in Alberta. Thousands come every year and take a picture or two. Like others, I can't resist when I go there to do the same, in spite of living only two hours away since 1988. Depending on the time of the day, the weather, the season, I always get something different. I was surprised when National Geographic picked one of mine.
August 9, 2015
Niqab
Canon 50D, Canon EF 100-400mm f4..5-5.6 L
I always found the hijab mysterious and exotic but taking street pictures felts intimidating or invasive. Fortunately for street photography, a festival is what a well stocked pound is to fishing.
May 17, 2013
Frank Lake (Alberta)
Canon EOS 50D, Voigtlander Color Skopar 20mm f/3.5
There are four lakes in Alberta named Frank Lake. This one is a restored wetland located 6 km east of High River, Alberta. The lake is controlled by Ducks Unlimited Canada for wildlife management purposes. It is an important bird area.
My day at Frank Lake was a photographer dream. The light, the weather, the birds, everything was perfect. I don't recall coming back from a shoot with so many keepers.
May 17, 2013
Yellow-headed Blackbird, Frank Lake (Alberta)
Canon EOS 50D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Canon EOS 50D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Canon EOS 50D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Canon EOS 50D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Canon EOS 50D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Canon EOS 50D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Canon EOS 50D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Canon EOS 50D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Canon EOS 50D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Canon EOS 50D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
With a golden head, a white patch on black wings, and a call that sounds like a rusty farm gate opening, the Yellow-headed Blackbird will get your attention. That one was in a prairie wetland, Frank Lake.
Frank Lake Conservation Area is an amazing place. There are several similar places in the area. It might have turned me into a birder.
December 30, 2012
Dog Sled Riding
Dog Sled Riding — Canon EOS 50D, Sigma 17-70 f/2.8-4.5 DC macro Dog Sled Riding —Canon EOS 50D, Sigma 17-70 f/2.8-4.5 DC macro Lake Louise — Canon EOS 50D, Sigma 17-70 f/2.8-4.5 DC macro
Minus 25 C, Lake Louise area, it was cool in many ways. I was told that those dogs burn up to 8000 calories every day. Scenery was fantastic.
December 2, 2012
Place des Arts, Montreal.
The pictures have been taken in Montreal, on a late rainy Sunday afternoon. The crew was finishing to install the Christmas light across the street from my hotel. Took my new Voightlander 20mm f/3.5 to work; the little pancake lens became one of my favourite lenses.
Canon EOS 50D, Voigtlander Color Skopar 20mm f/3.5 SL-II at f/3.5 Canon EOS 50D, Voigtlander Color Skopar 20mm f/3.5 SL-II at f4.5 Canon EOS 50D, Voigtlander Color Skopar 20mm f/3.5 SL-II at f/6.3 Canon EOS 50D, Voigtlander Color Skopar 20mm f/3.5 SL-II at f/4.5 Canon EOS 50D, Voigtlander Color Skopar 20mm f/3.5 SL-II at f/4.5 Canon EOS 50D, Voigtlander Color Skopar 20mm f/3.5 SL-II at f/3.5 Canon EOS 50D, Voigtlander Color Skopar 20mm f/3.5 SL-II at f4.5
March 26, 2008
Vermilion Lakes, Banff
Vermilion Lakes, Banff — Canon EOS 20D, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro at f/13
May 22, 2006
Badlands
Canon EOS 20D, Sigma 17-70 f/2.8-4.5 DC macro
Few kilometers from Drumheller you travel along flat prairies and then suddenly descend into a valley that provides some of the hottest temperatures in Canada, dinosaur bones, strange formations, Hoodoos, coulees and ravines. It is hard to picture this area was once covered by dunes for miles.
May 9, 2006
Okanagan Lake
Canon EOS 20D, Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-6.5
The Okanagan Lake is a 135 km long, between 4 and 5 km wide, deep lake in the Okanagan Valley BC. I always like this image, the colours, the boat, the mid morning light.
