I celebrate the Vancouver launch of the newest Disney on Ice show by returning to the ice after 2 years of sedentary geeky activities and a week on the Wii Fit reaching “Yoga Master” in the weird tree pose.
If you want to catch all the glitzy, figure skating action, Disney’s High School Musical: The Ice Tour runs from Nov. 27-30th at Pacific Colosseum.
Hey Guys!
Another awesome bunch of entries for the second Mostly Lisa Photography Contest! It was tough, but I had to pick my top 8. And here they are:
“Heather” by ldsnately.
“Lucy” by Other Angle.
“Deep in Thought” by Scott Bradley.
“Margot” by DJSteen.
“The Red Turban” by Rob and Lauren.
“Sir Dylan Hollingsworth” by T Sharp.
“Brighton Photowalk” by Stephen Cotterell.
“Babe Kennedy” by Ron Davis.
& thanks to everyone who entered. I really enjoyed looking at all your photos. You rock! Keep shooting, join the Mostly Lisa flickr photo group, and watch out for next month’s competition: Macros!
I’ve added a poll plug-in so it’s super easy to vote and kinda fun!
Total Voters: 576
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100mm f/2.8 Macro lens, f/6.3, 1/40, ISO 400.
I try to rent different lenses for my dSLR as much as possible. I find it a great way to explore photography and keep myself inspired. I rented my first macro lens this weekend, the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro with the goal of DIYing a little macro studio and shooting some cool product shots. But, I really dropped the ball and ended up not having any time to shoot anything.
Plus, I was having some “bad creative days”. I sometimes have days where I have ideas, but I can’t completely visualize the end product, so I somehow talk myself out of even trying to figure it out. This endless circle of doubt just smacks my creativity in the face and wastes so much time, like my entire weekend.
So 45 mins before I had to return the lens to Beau Photo, I kicked myself in the rear and out the door with the goal of grabbing at least one decent shot. I poked outside my apartment building for something interesting to shoot and ran into this friendly spider.
At first, the shot didn’t look great. The sky was blah grey, there was no light, the spider’s web didn’t have any raindrops, it was all very bland. But, determined as I was, I crouched in a big mud puddle and angled the frame, so the spider was sitting in colourful background, instead of the grey sky. And bam! Something decent.
The focus on the spider was a bit soft in the final image, so I sharpened it in Aperture. I aslso amped the saturation of the yellow. The rest of the colours were just that vibrant. It’s not a shot I would ever dream of taking, but there it is.
The point is, even on your worst photo days, you can catch a great shot. Keep shooting, keep exploring, and stay positive about your photography. Just start shooting anything, inspiration will strike sooner than you think.
Mostly Lisa’s Macro Tips:
Feel inspired? Here are some more photo tips and shoot ideas:
For the holidays, The Vancouver Province is rolling out a special insert called “The Holiday Survival Guide”. It’s my job to pick the Top 5 Gadget Gifts. It’s basically a dream come true. The only downside is that there are so many awesome gadgets, which five do I pick? I have scoured gadget web sites, magazines, and my own apartment to find the best gadget gifts to recommend and I’m just not feeling my current list.
This is where I need your help!
What do gadgets do you want? Anything from a camera to a games console to a gorilla pod. I don’t want all the gadgets I recommend to be really expensive so that no one can afford them. I’m sure we’d all love the new Canon 5D Mark II or a brand new MacBook Pro, but those just aren’t feasible holiday “gifts”… unless your Facebook profile states “in a relationship with Kanye West”.
50mm f/1.4 lens, 1/100, f/4, ISO 400.
Looks harmless doesn’t he? Ha! Once this rabbit-sized squirrel saw that I had an open bag of nuts in my hand, he made a beeline for me, scrambled up my legs (youch!), and dove in my pocket searching for them.
Then, upon finding the cornucopia of nuts (we are talking like, elite trail mix, the good stuff), he pouched 10 of them and scurried off to hide them. His hiding system consisted of digging a small hole, dropping the nut in, and covering it with a fallen leaf. Fortunately for me, he did eventually sit still for a few shots, as he figured out his next move. Sneaky Sneakerson!
Ol’ Nutters, as I called him, actually broke the skin on my fingers with his vicious claws, so if I start to froth at the mouth, secure me in some kind of secret underground lab with bullet proof glass. It could be for the sake of human kind. Beware.
Have you been attacked by a furry creature in the pursuit of a great photo? Do share!
Revenge is bitter sweet for Bond. In the latest 007 flick Quantum of Solace, Bond is heartbroken and haggard, as he tirelessly pursues the evil villain who killed his recent lover, Vesper Lynd.
Instead of dealing with these complex emotions in therapy, Bond blows off some steam by chasing down evil villains in cars, boats, planes, motorbikes, and on foot, all the while maintaining an unflappable charm that makes the ladies swoon. But this time Bond isn’t interested in romance. Well, maybe a quickie just for good measure, but love is not in the cards this time out. Even the smoldering Russian-Bolivian temptress, Camille, might have a tricky time peeling Bond out of those skintight, dirty, bloodstained white slacks. Poor fashion choice Bond. If you know you’re going to get in a bloody battle, wear something darker, a deep mahogany perhaps.
Alas, Bond has less time for such sartorial considerations in this dark and gritty installment to the series. Not even a sixth martini at the bar is able to dispel the dark clouds gathered over our favourite super-spy, and that’s saying something. The Big Bad, a mysterious organization known as Quantum, is causing major problems for MI6, and at the heart of it is Dominic Greene, an evil rich guy posing as a philanthropic environmentalist. Let’s just say that Dr. Greene is the type of guy who might take his social responsibility to an extreme – actively recycling paper, plastics, and people parts on a daily basis.
Like Bond’s various nemeses throughout the history of the franchise, Greene takes his plot cues from the top headlines of today. This time, the global threat of peak oil takes centre stage over previous Bondian concerns such as Communist-controlled nuclear missiles, terrorist plots, the dealing of weapons/diamonds/drugs, or weapons that shoot diamonds with drugs in them. Okay, maybe they haven’t made a movie about that last one (yet), but this time the villain is an evil tree-hugger that is green-thumbing his nose at all things good and true with a plot that would leave the whole world at his mercy.
Any outing with 007 is sure to provide thrills, and this film doesn’t waste any time in packing a major punch of adrenalin. The action is fast, furious, and fantastic. Anything a person could drive and blow up was driven and then blown up at some point by our hero. Vroom, vroom, kaboom.
This is definitely the best movie I have seen all year. For my tastes it had a perfect balance of 90% action and 10% showing-off of sleek, fancy gadgets. Also, Daniel Craig is stunning in this movie and his unique physicality, brutish and elegant in turns, makes him the best Bond yet.
PS. I still don’t know why they didn’t cast me as evil Bond Girl Irina Secsibuti. What a mystery. I mean they even had a Canadian Bond Girl in Quantum of Solace. I bet her nun-chuck skills are rubbish.
50mm, f/4, 1/80, ISO 200.
Lurking around every corner is texture. You may not notice them upon first glance, but if you take a closer peek in the crooks and crannies of your neighbourhood, you will find a whole world of excellent textures to capture: Mossy rocks, rotting wooden fences, rusty hinges, chipped paint on window sills, and corrugated metal doors. It’s out there just waiting for you to shoot! And unlike people and animals, mossy rocks sit still for hours with little to no complaints.
You’ll want to shoot in the early morning or during magic hour (one hour before sunset) to get the best light for showing texture. Great light will help define the surface texture and bring out all the little details. Get up really close with a macro lens and magnify the subtle flaws of the texture. Or conversely, look for patterns in the flow in the texture on a larger scale. Think of the patterns created by hundreds of roof shingles, or miles of rippled sand.
If the texture is part of a larger scene like the rippled sand, try shooting a wider frame like the shot below. The contrast of the different textures makes the photo dynamic. Framing contrasting textures together, i.e., blades of grass breaking through a heavy concrete wall, can also provide an extra thematic layer to your photos. You know, struggle against oppressors and the environment and sustainability and serious stuff like that.
Even if you don’t see the covert symbolism, somebody smart will. When they tell you, just nod, smugly smile and say, “Mmm. Yes, that was exactly what I was trying to capture. Not many people catch that.” Even if it’s not true, it’s a double win. You seem like a deep artist for actually creating something with meaning, and they feel like an intellectual “art critique” for having their thematic analysis affirmed.
50mm, f/2.8, 1/80, ISO 100.
PS. Don’t be afraid of trying different angles, especially low ones, using different lenses, and experimenting with composition.
Let’s celebrate, be good to each other & finally give America a big hug! Obama!!!!
I believe.
I am 29 today! Uh. One more year til death. But, age ain’t nothin’ but a number though right? Grr. Time to pound back this life-size chocolate-chocolate cupcake at midnight whilst playing Wii tennis, Harry Potter vs. Severus Snape. After that I’m popping up so much popcorn and watching my favourite Buffy episode. Then I’ll probably cry a little, eat more cake, then watch something awesome like a Bourne movie or Alien or Transformers.
Either way, birthday celebrating and tomfoolery is required. Now if I can only sneak those cupcakes past Captain Foushad, I might get some more sugary treats tomorrow.
Happy Hip-hop-hippopotamus Birthday comments are much appreciated <3!
Fall is slowly fading away. The days are short, wet & cold, and the sky is one shade of monotonous grey. I don’t know about you, but I feel like completely hibernating.
Here are 5 photography projects to keep you inspired during the cold, soggy, rainy days:
50mm. f/1.4, 1/320, ISO 200.
Now is the perfect time to get raindrop covered plant life shots for your portfolio. The light is nice and soft on cloudy days, so you’ll get even light on your subject. Don’t be afraid of getting up close and trying multiple angles. Keep shooting until you find the best angle that makes those raindrops sparkle.
You’ll want to shoot with your Aperture wide open, so you can keep your ISO low and get loads of delicious bokeh. Bring your tripod along just in case you need some steadying. And wear some rubber boots, because you’ll probably be crouching in a huge puddle o’ mud the entire time!
18mm, f/5.6, 1/15, ISO 400.
Even on cloudy days the sun can make a brief apperance. And when it does, it’s usually spectacular. If you see the sun start to peak through the clouds during magic hour (1 hour before sunset), bundle up and head out to great landscape location. Winter skies are rich with colour. Add some thick clouds and you’ve got a great shot. There is nothing more magical than sun rays beaming through a dark and moody sky.
Get that flash off your camera and grab some gels and get creative. Set up a little studio in a corner of your place and shoot some stills with character. Check out Strobist for the 411 on off-camera flashes and cheap DIY projects to keep you inspired and busy on a gloomy day.
50mm, f/1.8, 1/80, ISO 400.
If you don’t have flashes or triggers, no fear! Make use of the lovely diffused light coming through your living room windows and snap a still shot of your tea time snacks, little toys, your little sister, sea monkeys, or whatever strikes your fancy. You probably want to set up a bounce or white board opposite the window to get some light on the subject.
50mm, f/2, 1/125, ISO 200.
Get a big cuppa tea and look though your old photos. As you go, mark or star the photos you think have promise. After you’ve gone through once, go back and pull your top ranked photos into a photo editor (LR, PS, Aperture) and really work on them. A little cropping, sharpening, saturating, some layers and masks and voila! Great shot. You never know what amazing shots are hiding in your archives.
If all else fails, just hunker down in your bed with a stack of DVDs and call it a day.
Lisa Bettany is a Canadian television and podcasting personality, professional photographer, and iPhone App developer based in Vancouver, BC & San Francisco.
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