August 12th, 2010 ,
Neville
I was invited to photograph a Polo match a couple of weeks ago, so this weekend I armed myself with a suitably impressive looking lens and headed to the Calgary Polo Club where Canada were to play Barbados. Tricky things polo matches, as the distances involved require a lens that will reach out and grab the shots that you are looking for. I actually used 2 on 2 camera bodies, swapping between them as the action came close and ranged further from me.
I also shot at two performances of the Millarville rodeo, which was great fun as always.
And another horse doing a different job………….
Three very different shots, different treatments all good fun and with enough detail that you can count the stitches in the Wranglers and the thread count of the Polo shirt.
June 27th, 2010 ,
Neville
A local business owner contacted me recently to get a shot together for advertising purposes - with specific dimensions required and room to overlay some text. We met and shot through some ideas over a couple of coffees and decided that a headshot type image would be best. I thought about it for a short time and presented my ideas to Chris. I wanted to show some context and give it a funky vibrant feel. Chris bought a few new frying pans and we fixed these to a shelf that was hanging on one of his restaurant walls using teaspoons and gaffer tape. He took the place of one of the pans against the wall, a couple of props and we’re good to go.
Using a ringflash gave the light a funky edge often found in fashion shots, some final editing and voila! One happy client. Cheers Chris!
June 19th, 2010 ,
Neville
So I recently had an assignment to shoot a feature for Routes magazine. Several in fact, but this image comes from the cover story about artist Paul Rasporich and his spritual journey. Hop over to Routes to check out the full story, or pick up an issue. In fact, why not subscribe if you live in the Foothills of Alberta. Routes magazine.
I had given some thought as to how I was going to approach this – after all he is an artist, much more used to depicting others than sitting for a portrait. Luckily he was absolutely charming and very accomodating, especially as the day of the shoot was his sons birthday………..
I talked my ideas over with him and began (as often) getting some “safe” shots before heading into more creative territory with a lensbaby. A lensbaby has one sweet spot of focus, the lens itself being constructed to allow you manipulate the out of focus areas (known in lensbaby circles as “bending”). I obviously wanted to include his artwork but still frame the shot so that it could be used as a cover without all the neccessary titling etc. intruding on the shot too much. There was a large window giving soft diffused light to camera left but unfortunately not in sufficient amount to give the depth of focus and shutter speed that I wanted, so I supplemented this with a radio triggered diffused speedlight bounced off the ceiling.
The finished shot made a nice cover, and hats off to Sandra Wiebe for choosing something a little left field for the cover image.
You can check out Paul and his work here.
June 10th, 2010 ,
Neville
Working with the latest gear, sweating over details, minute details, details people probably won’t notice. I love it. And this week I remembered why I love it. It was my daughters 3rd birthday and I found for her an old Polaroid camera on sale with 6 packs of very outdated film.
There’s no way of telling what the colour will be like. Or the contrast.
All you can do is try to get the subject in the very small frame so that the plastic lens can “focus”.
The picture is pushed out the bottom and develops in front of your eyes in a couple of minutes. It’s magic. I thought it was magic when I first saw this 30 years ago (or whenever it was). And I still do. Grace also thinks it’s magic. She can be a photographer just like her Dad, without waiting for Dad to develop a film, or download a digital file. She can push the button and she can make it happen. No exposure worries, no deadlines, no location difficulties, no manipulation, no lighting plans, just the magic of pushing a button and getting a picture.
Polaroid 600 camera with 6 packs of old film – $20
Driving to pick it up – $30
The look on my little girls face when her picture comes out – priceless.
June 6th, 2010 ,
Neville
I had an email a few days reminding me that I had entered a competition – the Calgary Stampede photo competition. My first year of entering and I had forgotten about it, so imagine how happy I was to learn that I had won my category and “Best of Competition”!!!!! Yeeehaaawwww!!!
Before the fall
July 31st, 2010 , NevilleTwo weeks ago I was at a rodeo in Arrowwood, Alberta, population about 250. Competitors come from all over however. It was a beautiful summer afternoon, Sunday 17th. The events passed, as they do, until the programme came to the bullriding, when everyone’s excitement level rises.
My bullriding friend Kayum from Manchester, England had already ridden one bull and had a short ride, so when there was the chance to do an exhibition ride on a spare bull at the end, he took it.
Three jumps after this one he was thrown to the ground and the bull came down with his rear hooves on Kayums torso. For about an eternity his body was rigid. The medics ran in and a small crowd of people jumped in to keep the bull contained at the other end of the arena.
I thought I had just watched my friend die.
He was airlfted to the Foothills hospital in Calgary where he was found to have internal injuries.
Two weeks later and he looks though he is going to be OK, although he is far from healed and in a lot of pain.
This is a serious game.
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