I am working on a new series of paintings called Happy Campers. This is Happy Camper number 3 and it's going to be available at Mixed Media on James Street North here in Hamilton.

Other Blog

I've been using my WordPress blog more often than this one but from now on I think I might keep up with both. The link is http://ingelbert.net/wordpress-newblog// so you can catch up!

Oh Yeah, my BLOG

Guess it's been a while. The summer flew by, my dog died .....and I got married, other than that not much else is new.

Sketchup Free, for 500 minutes

I downloaded the free version of Google's Sketchup but it gives me a limited amount of designing time. The program itself does not say pro but even if you download the free trial version it still installs pro! I did not want to start enjoying this fabulous program only to end up having to Pay $495 to continue designing.

I think this is quite deceiving on Google's part because it does not say anywhere that downloaded version eventually turns into the free one with less features. I tried it for 5 minutes and decided to purchase the non pro version but all it offers is Sketchup 6 pro. Google could explain that the free version is indeed free. I guess I'll find out how 'limited' the program is when my trial time is up. I would rather have had the limited version in the first place. They give you a choice in the download section but it's not a real choice! This is a Lie and Google should be held accountable. It is false advertising to get you addicted to the pro version.

So far it's thumbs up for the program and thumbs down for False Marketing.

Shame on you Google!

Video Blog 001

Canadian Content, A Thing of the Past

After 15 years on and off at CHEX television as a camera operator I developed a love for local content and how much a local television station means to a town. Part of my decision to move to Hamilton was CHCH television which always seemed to have a great connection to it's community with it's local news and, of course, Matt Hayes the weather personality that is so incredibly funny and witty. Matt worked at CHEX when I was there and I always looked forward to working with him. He was an excellent reporter always adding his brand of humour to stories and he was just as funny off camera. For many years Peterborough had Peter Fialkowski as a weather man and Graham Hart as the news Anchor and with Matt's reports as well as some of the other fine reporters it was a newscast that made you feel like they were family. My parents were great fans and so was I.
Through my 12 years in London I really never got too attached to the NEW PL. They had their moments but not like CHEX.
The CHCH newscast has been quite good since I moved here in September but the other programming was a real lunch bag let down.

Is there no such thing as Canadian content any more? With infomercials all night long and American programming all day with the E! Everything Entertainment network full of Hollywood Celebrity stories and tabloid type AMERICAN crap! I see more Canadian content on WNED when I stay in Niagara Falls NY. I really didn't think I'd need cable here in the Hammer and to be honest the NewPL and CBC was more than enough television to keep me entertained in London but here in Hamilton I have to give any station I can pick up here with an antenna very low ratings as far as being remotely interesting to watch with the exception of CHCH News.

A Brand New Year

Well here we are in 2008! Where did the time go. In the spirit of New Years blogging I've added a few more blogs to my collection. As if I wasn't tardy enough keeping up with this one.

One is called "CUTLINES" where I will post stories I cover for community newspapers in Hamilton http://ingyfeatures.blogspot.com/

The next one is called "URBANITIES" were I'm planning on posting telephoto shots of Hamilton almost every day. http://urbanities2008.blogspot.com/

And the third is called "Ingy's DINNER GUIDE" where I visit local restaurants in Hamilton and write of my experiences http://dinerguide.blogspot.com/

So at least there is something to else look at instead of the silly rantings I have on this blog!

As far as freelancing in this town I've written to several editors, with and without stories, but it seems they don't feel the need to respond. Aslo, many of the publications in this town are owned by Metroland West Media Group Ltd. and they, of course, have staffers and don't need freelancers or feel the need to send a polite NO THANKS as a response. It makes me miss London because editors were very polite and kind there. Especially The London Community Advocate and London This Week. Of course it took 12 years to get them to know me and MediaShots and in the earlier days that meant darkroom time, snail mail, and knocking on doors. I've decided to go solo with Ingymedia to simplify communications and invoicing. So the most of the neswpaper editors that don't write back are from these publications. Of interest is that on the websites that have a contact page they all have the same editor, Debra Downing, and they are for the most part running the same stories. How boring. Of course if Debra is the editor of all these papers and more the poor thing must be overworked as heck and that would explain why she hasn't returned my emails.

If you are an editor from one of these papers perhaps you could explain why I've had no response. I know your busy but I'm offering a service here. Below are a list of Metroland Owned publications:

AncasterNews.com | BurlingtonPost.com | DundasStarNews.com | FlamboroughReview.com | HamiltonMountainNews.com | MiltonCanadianChampion.com| NiagaraThisWeek.com | OakvilleBeaver.com | OakvilleToday.ca | Sachem.ca | StoneyCreekNews.com

Meanwhile, back in the Lab!

Well I'm back and it seems like all the stuff I brought has a place here in my apartment. The processor fit perfectly above the sink beside the Enlarger which is sitting on my baby posing table. It's such a sweet set up and it feels so nice getting back into the darkroom swing of things. I've had about 5 different lab setups in the last 2 or 3 years but this time I think it will be perfect for my Limited Edition plan.

I'm pretty excited about producing REAL limited edition prints I can frame, number, and seal. I've planned to do this for many years, especially now the world seems to have gone 99% digital. People can copy and download all the images, (which is stealing, same as shoplifting or break and entering or car theft), they want from my website but when the true value is in a limited edition series, with one of a kind of trademark mat and frame, your pictures become more of a collector’s item. I went to an opening in London a while back and the photog had all inkjet black and white. Really amazing photos too but I couldn't help but think they were produced on a computer and digital printer. Yes maybe some photoshop skill but most likely shot on automatic with a digital camera and then touched up in Photoshop. I believe if you are selling prints for $300 and up in a gallery they’d better be traditional because they're not worth $40 in my books if not. Now I do believe getting them sent to a lab that can produce these prints on traditional paper and then limiting them to a certain amount of prints before deleting the digital file would be a close second.

Now the beauty of it is that I can also produce digital work but sell it for way more affordable prices but let my customers know if you want the "real" thing, the value is justified.

Does this sound like an earlier post? LOL! I was reading a journal from about 1991 and it's almost exactly as written above. I figure if I keep trying, one day I'll hit the right combination and success will finally follow. I think that success will happen here in Hamilton.

Anyway I'm off to shoot some medium format film.

Another Road Trip

Last week's trip was a success in one form. I brought back my enlarger but the processor is still in London. This weekend's shoot was canceled so the money is tight but I need to go to London this time to get my Processor. And another, I got to visit Leena for a while and I also stayed in my other favourite little Hotel besides the Clifton Inn. At $40 including tax for a cozy little room with a fridge and microwave it's just too good a deal to pass up.

I never attempted to drive in to the park considering we were it by a snowstorm and my car rental was only 24 hours so there are no Deer photos to post but soon I will be posting a new series of prints I will have for sale along with my paintings. I plan on doing the NEW series in 11x14 hand printed Gelatin Silver black and white prints in 20x24 creme mats. They will be sealed in plastic so the buyer can pick their own 20x24 frames to keep the selling cost down. Framed prints will also be available and displayed.

A friend commented on my plan of traditional prints in this new world of digital and how much more work it is but the convenience of my fantastic negative scanner allows me to see my images digitally and know which ones to take in to the darkroom. I will also have smaller prints available in digital form printed in a professional lab to supplement the show and again have more affordable prints for most of my friends with limited funds.

The new series is going to be very limited edition in runs of 5 to keep their value high for the art collectors and a second run of 25 prints for those that sell. Once the 25 edition prints are made they will be sealed and the negs destroyed. I want these to be special and very limited unlike my digital images which are often copied and distributed without my permission from my websites. In this world of digital it is harder for the Art buyer to know they have an original limited print these days.

I believe another visit to Bijan's is in order especially considering there will be no bees to sting me at the counter.

It's 6am and I pick up the car at 8 but I can't sleep. LONDON, HERE I COME!

I am looking forward to dropping in to visit friends and also to see Thea who has a Christmas Box again for me this year from DUCA. It comes at a good time because this year I'm not living in an office, studio or car but a real apartment. I may have some extra cash flow problems but I feel quite thankful to have come a long way equipment wise and a real nice place to call home.

Unfortunately this is my first Christmas without my Papa and it's going to be hard to get through. I plan on having small Christmas times with my kids, friends and nephews when they come to visit so my tree might be up for a while this winter. I plan on spending the actual Christmas in my darkroom or out shooting. So for all of you reading my silly little TMI blog, Merry Christmas!

Small Road Trip

I'm renting a car to pick up my Enlarger from my storage unit in Niagara Falls. On the way I'm checking out a provincial park near Pelham Ontario where there is a huge Deer population that's out of control. I'll nap in the car during the night near there on the way home to wake up at sunrise to photograph some of the deer before they are culled by local hunters. Because it's so near the park there is quite a risk of hunters accidentally shooting hikers. I hope Friday morning is not the time they decide to do this. I've been nearly shot once before while doing nature photography on a trail in Apsley Ontario. Do I look like a deer? My mother thought so.

With any luck I'll have some pictures to show you when I get back.

I'll be glad to get my medium format cameras and my winter coat and boots as well which I'll need on the Hike.

Busy Summer

It's been as busy summer as you can see by my lack of posts. I'll be shooting a lot less gymnastics this season since there were contract issues between McNish's Action Photography and Gymnastics Ontario. I saw the new contract and it's impossible to fulfill. The nice thing is that nobody in their right mind would sign a contract like that so they'll be begging us to come back when they realize, no more pictures and folks start to complain.

I got myself a place to live in July and August with a really sweet couple in Fort Erie, Ontario.
My friends Nick and Shelley and the kids were great to live with but Fort Erie was in the middle of nowhere as far as not having a car is concerned. Living near the beach was fantastic too and my little local was called CBGB's and I had a few good times there.

Anyway I'm now living in a nice little apartment in Hamilton which is quite the central hub for getting to Niagara, Toronto or London where I do most of my business.

Watercolour illustrations seem to be my main business here since I sold one lately and there is so much to paint here. There is a great Artist community here and I'm getting to know a lot of people around here. Also my friend from London, Luke Mattar moved here six months ago and is opening a studio that I can shoot in from time to time and that should be where I do most of my photography once the weather is too bad.

Anyway that should catch you up a bit.

Chillen In The USA

I've spent the week in Niagara Falls New york after my weekend road trip. Cam and I photographed a Horse Competition and then I "thought" I had a wedding to shoot with Wendy in Brantford Saturday but I had my schedule mixed up. Oh well, I had a nice Easter visit and met her In-Laws, nice folks. I travelled around the streets of Niagara Falls Canada and surrounding area looking for an apartment. My 20D's shutter gave out Friday and Cam and I went to Canon headquarters in Toronto to bring 2 20D's and a 10D in for repair Tuesday. I heard from Canon today already and the 10D is going to cost $285 Canadian to repair. Not too bad I guess, I'm hoping the 20D will be about the same.

Back To Film,

Good thing I repaired the 2nd EOS1n body so I have a full kit again but this time I'm back to shooting film. It's amazing how more selective you are in what you shoot using film. When the light is gone I tend to put my gear away instead of throwing on a fast lens and keeping one body out although I seem to carry 1 body with a 20-35L lens indoors but do very little shooting because of low light situations. The best thing about digital is the capability of changing the ISO speed in low light situations. The low grain is amazing on my 20D in particular and I can't be bothered pushing film and keeping track of the pushed rolls. Man are we ever spoiled with digital.

I took some time and walked by the river today to shoot some nature with my new AF 300 2.8 lens. Leena now has my manual focus and my entire FD system. I saw lots of wildlife including this male human crossing my path. My friend Wayne is going to visit me in the falls which happens to be his old stomping grounds. I see him whenever I walk by the river because it's one of his favourite trails. I used to see him at the Honest Lawyer when Pedro was still a bartender but since he moved on we've both moved on to other activities. I still like to sit in a pub from time to time but I tend to eat more than drink these days. Guess I'm getting old.

Getting Better

February 23, 2007

Had to take a couple of sick days due to a bad hotel I stayed in Niagara Falls.

The closest hotel was the REX and I called to see if they had room. I grabbed a cab and checked in with the nice folks in the office and had myself a little room. It seemed colder in the room than it was outside but the heater came on so I figured they turned it on remotely somehow since there was no thermostat. I crawled under the covers and fell asleep until Leena and G showed up and commented on the cold. She brought my propane heater in from the car and we drove across the street to a really nice restaurant. I slept well that night but woke up too early and cold again because the fuel had run out and I didn’t have another cylinder. This room was very cold and there was no phone to call the office so I had a hot bath got dressed and packed for the days shoot. My throat was sore and I had a fever so I popped a LOT of vitamin C.

Oh well, we had a really good few days shooting In Burlington and I stayed at Leena’s after that where I could recover and get well.

We are leaving for London Soon so I can pick up some gear to bring to Brampton’s shoot and we plan on picking up G in the Falls and checking in to a hotel In Brampton tonight. I have Chris working with me tomorrow and Cam on Sunday. It should be a good shoot.

Cam is setting our laptops up tonight on his way back from Barrie and by then we’ll have all our gear from London and the Storage unit in Niagara to set up Saturday morning.

It’s already 12:10 pm so I guess I’d better get my ass in gear.

Catching up

February 15, 2007 9:30 PM

Sitting in a place called Ivan’s pub near Cam’s place in Niagara Falls waiting for Leena to pick me up. It’s been a long day after having one off yesterday and it looks like I’m working in Burlington all next week as well. I never made it back to London Wednesday because of a bad snowstorm that made it pretty dangerous to travel.
February 12, 2007

The other big thing in my life is I’ve been doing some Gymnastics photography for Cam McNish who Joe Todd at Forest City Image Centre connected me with. Cam and I hit it off and we’re making plans to open a studio in Niagara Falls. I’ve been quite busy with this and away from London for 3 weeks and need to get back to catch up on friends and work there. It’s also been quite expensive staying in hotels so I’m going to get a storage unit to keep the gear in while I cross the border to stay at Leena’s.

February 10, 2007

It’s been a wile since I posted and quite a lot has happened. My dad passed away quite unexpectedly, (I thought he had 6 months to live). He died peacefully in his sleep while having a nap with my sister Hannika sitting in a chair beside his bed. Before his nap he said he loved her. I phoned about 10 minutes before she realized he’d passed away and she suggested we drive around and have something to eat because he was sleeping so peacefully and that rasp from his throat was gone. I had a weird feeling so I went directly to the house and my nephew Tim walked to our car and said Papa was gone. He had a funny look on his face and at first I thought, (wished) he was kidding.

The funeral was one just like in those cheesy family story book movies. Our dear friends and family gathered to say goodbye and we all connected again. It was so good to see them all and they made me feel so close and loved. I feel so blessed to have such wonderful people in my life, friends and family. A common thing at Moraal family funerals is the laughter. At my Oma’s and my mom’s and my dad’s funerals the most treasured memories are the funny stories everyone told about events in their lives and how they were touched by all 3 in some humorous way especially in times of crisis. It goes to prove the Reader’s Digest quote that Laughter is indeed the best medicine.

Hittin' The Road again

Heading out on the 3:50 am bus this morning to the Falls to meet Cam and then be on our way to visit my Pa who is dying. He sure went downhill fast. If you smoke, quit. Simple as that cuz cancer is ugly. Lung cancer aint pleasent especially when it spreads. I am not looking forward to saying good bye to him. Like your kids or friends won't want to say good bye to you. Especially if you give them lung disease with your second hand smoke. Smokers are selfish bastards and they really bug the shit out of me when the smoke in lineups and bus stops. Smokers, stop poisoning my air or end up like my dad and deserve to die in pain.

Jeese I shouldn't blog when I'm tired!

New Studio Space

One of the benefits of moving next door was MORE SPACE! Think I could back up enough to shoot a group of 20 with my 200mm! The room has multi-use possibilities for my one-stop-shop idea where a band comes in for a shoot and leaves with a Demo CD, including photos, artwork, publicity photo, poster and high quality recoding mix. See my lil foldy bike in front of the white seemless?

Reconfiguring the Lab

I made some changes to my lab area and started shooting some B/W again. It feels good to get some rolls through and hanging up. I'm scanning them by strip and picking out some neat ones which I'll post from time to time. It seems like a common theme, shooting B/W while the rest of the world throws in Velvia or Kodachrome to capture the fall colours. The fall just seems like a Black and White time and it's best to get in the habit before winter hits. It's funny how someone asked me the other day about why there is not a lot of B/W work on my website. I guess I've really changed since going digital because I remember someone asking in an interview a few years ago if I had any colour work. I did actually have a wide body of colour but mainly portrait work and the stuff I showed was the stuff I loved. BLACK and WHITE!

Ohio Road Trip

It's almost 4:30 and I can't sleep. I'm tired but too much is on my mind. I have a lot of catching up to do before I head out on my trip to drive Amanda to her new school in Ohio with Catherine. I'm looking forward to being on the road again especially since I'm driving a van up there.

We had a pretty good trip and Amanda was settled in her dorm quite quickly. After a sad Mom and Daughter good-bye hug we were on our way back home.

I did get lots of chances to nap and explore the town and I got a new cable for my GPS that works a lot better than the old one. My new laptop didn't have a serial port so I needed a USB adapter. When I got home I was pleasantly surprised that the cable worked so well with the Uniden software for my scanners. I might bring one next trip so I can use more channels and load more common frequencies.

Rock the Park

I had a great time covering The Hawk Rocks the Park again this year and shot some of my favourite bands. I have a couple of magazines interested and am witing to hear what they say. I'll post a link when I find out.

Still Alive

44 and still kicking! Guess it's been a while since my last post. The hard drive crashed in my laptop (again) and I've been quite busy keeping on top of things. I keep reading my previous post and wondering if I should take it down. It sounds so negative but the one before is so contrasting to it and the subject obviously touched a nerve in me somewhere. Still does when I think about how a dog could attack a kid so easily and it shouldn't be that way. Perhaps I'll do another story on it.

SOME PITBULL OWNERS ARE IDIOTS!

The cover story in the London Free Press has a photo by Sue Reeve of Buster who tore open his owner's throat killing him in front of his horrified wife and a taxi driver. The photo makes this cute dog look so adorable and out of context it could have gone with a happy story. But it was a terribly sad story. Hopefully this was a good lesson for would-be pit bull owners not to adopt one. There are a few pit bull owners I know who I fear for because they have kids and it's only a matter of time till disaster strikes. I'm sorry but if you have kids and a pit bull you are an idiot and I hope the dog attacks you instead of your kids....ok, (a really painful bite that isn't life threatening so you can learn the painful lesson that you are a friggin idiot for owning one!)

This is why I aint a dog lover! I'm sorry but I believe pit bulls should be humanely dealt with and outlawed immediately. The common theme in these stories is that the victim didn't see it coming. There are too many of these stories and most of them involve kids. I was attacked by a German Sheppard when I was 5 and my jaw still doesn't close properly! I hate walking in my neighbourhood because there are a lot of dogs that lunge from their leashes and bark like crazy. If one of these dogs got loose they could really hurt someone.

New Note: Please be sure to read the comment by Andrew. I have to revise this story to Add Pomeranian, Germans Sheppards, and Hamsters to the list. If you have babies don't get a dog until your kid is at least 3 so they have a better chance of surviving an attack. I don't care what breed of dog. I've seen enough scars and attacks from dogs on innocent kids to form my opinion. However you obviously own a pit bull and taken my blog entry very personally. For that I apologize. I have seen my Pomeranian snap and attack with surprising speed and brutality it's those moments when I'm glad she's not a Pit Bull, German Sheppard or Doberman.

By the way I have stopped taking Aspirin as of NOW!

Andrew has an excellent Blog but almost everything I've read on it so far proves my point! The title of this entry has to do with the story in the free press. Why do these dogs hit the newspapers? Because they attack if you just look at them wrong. It is worth reading but did not convince me to change my mind. Yet. I'm attaching the link because he deserves to be heard.

Have a read http://andrew-rozsa.blogspot.com/

New Addition to the Perkins family

I 'aint' a dog lover by any means, but this lil pup is growing on me. Even though he's got sharp little needle teeth and likes to bite your toes. He doesn't bite hard though and it's something like a microscopic tickle that isn't intirely unpleasant but I can imagine when he gets some strength in his jaw. He won't be a biter though because Jeanie is a good trainer. This lil guy already sits and does little tricks.

Jake's Funeral

An old friend of mine died of cancer and her funeral is today. I have to work this morning and I can't get to Peterborough in time but her freinds and family are in my thoughts. Especially Angie, her best friend and my Ex, it would have been nice to see her, (3 husbands and 5 kids later). It said in the obit that Jackie was married for 19 years and her parents are still both alive so she did have friends and family around her during her illness and final departure from this world. If they have internet up there in heaven Jackie, I raised a glass or two in your honour last night and I'm sorry I never kept in touch. I'll see you when I get up there.

2BAD

I'm not sure if the number on this bus is a coincidence!

Even More Earth Day Photos

More Earth Day Photos

Earth Day 2006

Earth Day always represents Spring Cleaning to me and this crew did an amazing job in our Old East Village neighbourhood. These folks worked for hours and spread out all over to make everything look neat and tidy. We started off at Flavour's Diner for some made-from-scratch-muffins, coffee, juice and bagels and then marched over to the parking lot across from the Aolian Hall to gather tools, garbage bags and official shirts. After that I walked about 16 kilometers back and forth trying to capture these energetic people in action.

Studio Update

If you recognize these people don't tell their dad cuz it 'aint' his birthday yet! I finally did my first shoot in the mini studio and we had a lot of fun. I had great people to work with but the space is really small to work in. I've decided to bring the studio out in to the main area and turn the back office back into "The Back Office"

I spent Monday setting up the new studio and I will do post some pictures when I get back on Friday.

Happy Easter to all my friends

Happy Easter! We saw this guy on our way to the border. It was cool to see a biker with bunny ears celebrating easter. We went to my Sister's place and visited with my dad. It had been a long time and he was looking a lot healthier than he was during my last visit there.

Lydia and Woody

Jenny and I visited a wonderful lady named Lydia and her Seeing-Eye dog Woody. They make quite a pair and we had fun visiting.

Woody and I went for a walk and he actually smiled when I took his picture. I had fun watching Lydia's cable TV and eating cookies and milk. She told lots of interesting stories.

Toronto

I had a great morning once I got off the bus. When I was planning my trip on GreyHound.CA the schedule planned a stop at the Royal York Hotel but when we got close the driver was about to refuse to stop. She mentioned a $300 fine if she stopped there because of rush-hour laws. So why the hell is it listed as a stop on the schedule???? Anyway we made arrangements for the tour bus to stop there and pick me up so I was a bit pushy to get her to stop. Lucky for me a few other passengers wanted off there too. She finally stopped as my cell was ringing to tell me the Tour bus was delayed till 10:30. Now I was stuck at 7:30 am again with the "Nothing is Open" syndrome. I decided to go shoot my favourite building again and then check out the Saint Lawrence Market.

Turns out the Market didn't open until 10 either.

Studio Update

I finished my background system Sunday Night (Early Monday morning) and set up the lights and work staion. I threw some frames up which will contain my four favourite photographs taken in the new studio.

I had set a deadline to have the studio in working condition for Monday and that included my workstation so I could be ready for the web editing session with Susan Robson.

We ended up having a really creative time and redesigned her banner. Have a look at the website. It's www.susanrobson.com

Everything is Closed On Sunday Morning

I kept walking and thinking about where to have brekky and enjoying the light. Here are some pix I took along the way

I have a lot of happy memories travelling down Highway 4. Even if I was pressed for time I'd go through downtown to get north of the city.

I love apartment buildings especially with balconies. I was raised on a balcony.

I used to have quite a collection of parking meter shots.


This guy was up early. It would suck to have to work this early.



This poor guy has rips in his jeans. I wonder if he feels a breeze or the termites in the plywood.

....As I continued to walk I began to realize nothing was open, even with the time change. My energy was running low and the herring were swimming around in my stomach fluid. Plus I remembered I had a gig at the Wolf in the afternoon so I decided to crash for a few hours.

Spring Adventure

After the party I walked to the TD Bank in Wortley Village to get money for a cab. While on the way I met a new friend and had a good chat. I hung around in the warm ATM booth while Fritz did laps in the parking lot for a while. I decided it was a nice night and it was just too soon to go home so I walked towards downtown. The sun started to rise and I saw a beautiful view of the city through the trees and an inviting looking park down a very steep hill. I started to climb down but my knees weren't cooperating and I had to climb back up. While walking in the fresh spring air I decided to save up for a new backpack and canoe this summer and do a LOT of camping.

The sun was really starting to rise and felt good on my face. I pulled out the camera again to catch some of the nice early morning light on stuff.


I decided to walk down Dundas to the Studio instead of home and reward myself with a nice breakfast with the money I saved on cab fare.

The Cast Party

After striking the set and loading the truck we all went to the cast party. There were all kinds of food and goodies all over the place and I was even able to go home and get my 6 American Beers thanks to John Brain who dropped by the Wolf for a coffee and then drove me there.

Anthony gave us all a Kinder Egg, Sukie gave us yummy liquor chocolates and Jeff brought smoked herring which I can still taste in the back of my throat!

I met a lot of interesting people there and stayed until the very end.

I snapped a few photos during the night with the lens I bought on ebay with the scratch on the rear element. I really liked the soft focus effect it gave so I'm going to keep it.

Missing My Friends

I'm missing the folks from The Cherry Orchard. Whenever I work on a long running event at the Wolf I get attached to the folks in the show. It reminds me of my film days and what I'd go through after the shooting is finished. This group of folks was extra special and I really got in to the production. So many different personalities and huge talent yet they all shared a bond. I always thought that the actors made money and was very surprised to find out that they often don't. They are a lot like most photogaphers I know, (including myself), doing what they Love even if there's no or little pay sometimes. It's increadibly hard to make a living doing what you are passionate about. Everyone worked so hard night after night and never complained. Thenk God once in a while in both fields you get a break and a degree of success and then you have to ride the wave and go with the momentum.

Studio Update

I’m installing a background support for the new mini-studio. The drywall was too soft and I didn’t want to drill into the concrete so I had to go with good old 2x4’s. The wood was so soft and smelled like memories of my father’s woodshop. Some wood is a lot like chicken in texture and appearance and I am often tempted to taste a little but it’s a bit hard to chew. Anyway I used nuts and bolts and the saw I use for my framing mitres and had a lot of fun getting sawdust all over the place. I used bolts to push the top of the structure tight to the ceiling to hold it all up and now I can attach the background screens. My deadline is Monday for the studio to be tested and ready for booking customers.

I also redid the front window for spring with some of my watercolours.The Waiting Area is Waiting.....

Darkroom Update

I’ve been getting calls about the darkroom again so I’ve decided to get a better negative scanner to be able to provide exhibition quality scans from negatives of all sizes to my clients. This will allow me to proof digitally and then print orders by hand from the numbered proofs or contact sheets, possibly on prepaid rolls like they do with slides. I have also been doing some work at the wolf with an awesome group of actors and crew that are performing the Cherry Orchard.

One of the actresses wants me to do her publicity photos. That really got me thinking about the negative scanner. It goes so well with the decision to shoot Medium Format again as well as the work I’m doing in the mini studio on Dundas Street. It’s all coming together nicely if I can just stay focused. (Pun intended). You’ll see my progress here on the blog I hope.

Anne Eadie Retires

A few weeks ago my friend Anne Eadie, Western Fair Community Development Manager retired. The Western Fair people held a really nice retirement party for her. What a loved and respected woman she is and she's done so much for Londoners young and old. She always made sure I had access and passes to concerts and events I covered for Western Fair. I'm going to miss her!

Anne and Willy, shot Courtacy Western Fair Archives

Bus Ride to The Falls

Just got back from Niagara. I had a fun busride on the way there. We went through a lot of small towns between London and Niagara along Highway 3 and it reminded me of some of my favourite spots I used to do Glamour, Kid and Pet photos. We ended up going through one of the tunnels under the Welland Canal on the way too. There were only 3 people on the bus and I got to talk to the driver. He has a real passion for his job and the route he drives every Friday. Every bus we passed including school busses waved hello as we passed. I made sure to be early and get my faveourite seat right at the front. The Seat with the best view and knee room. I can't wait to ride that route again!