Uncategorized – Creativescans

Egg sausage and potatoes for dinner!

I had 4 eggs I needed to use up so I decided to make scrambled eggs with Italian sausage and potatoes for dinner.

Cut the sausage into 1/4 inch pieces. Put aside.

Slice the potatoes into thin slices so they don’t take too long to cook.

Scramble the eggs.

Heat some oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the sausage. Cook the sausage until brown and almost cooked through.

Add the sliced potatoes. Cook until potatoes are cooked through.

Add the scrambled eggs to the pan. Mix together and cook until eggs are no longer liquid.

Enjoy.

Construction continues on YVR’s new Parkade and Central Utilities Building

Construction continues on YVR’s new Parkade and Central Utilities Building November 20, 2019.

Sport event photography

I like photographing all types of events but I really enjoy sports photography. Partly because I am a sports fan and partly because sports photography is challenging in its own way.

I wanted to photograph the Gastown Grand Prix bicycle races earlier in July but missed them. I didn’t see any commercials or interviews on TV about the event or see anything about the races on the social media channels I follow…Twitter or Facebook. Lesson learned. Luckily for me there was another set of cycling races 2 days later on Friday in Poco (Port Coquitlam) as part of BC Super Week.

On Thursday evening I went through my usual routine of making sure my gear is ready for a full day of shooting. I clean all my lenses (both ends) and make sure the camera sensor is clean. I also make sure all my batteries (4 of them) have a full charge. And I decide which lenses and other accessories to bring with me to an event.

The night before (or earlier) I also check information about the event. Where is it exactly, when does it start and when does it end.

I try to get to the event early so I can see the layout and figure out where I want to shoot the event. For a cycling event I try and get images from multiple locations around the track. Corners can be a great spot to get images of the cyclists leaning into the corner. Accidents are more common at the corners of bicycle races so there is a chance you may get images of a racing mishap as well.

As far as camera settings go, I used a variety of settings depending on a lot of factors. For the shots of cyclists at the start line (not moving much, if at all) I used full manual settings. For shots of the cyclists during a race I used full manual trying to get the fastest shutter speed I could. This meant higher ISO as the day went on and the light started to fade, larger aperture (smaller f number) to get a faster shutter speed (bigger number). For some shots I also tried to drag the shutter slowing it down to a longer exposure to blur the image to try and convey a sense of speed.

I also set the camera to “shutter priority” during some parts of the races. Set your focus priority (continuous) and ISO and the shutter speed you want and the camera takes care of the aperture for you. This comes in handy when you don’t have time to change settings when conditions or what you are shooting is constantly changing.

So there you have a few tips on photographing a sports event. Enjoy!

Faat action

At the start line

Corner action

Long shutter speed to blur the image and convey speed

Spur of the moment photo op…

On Canada Day, July 1, 2016, I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing two prominent broadcasters, Red Robinson and Chris Gailus. To have two prominent broadcasters in the same room at the same time is rare, so I took the opportunity to photograph both Red and Chris together.

I waited for an opportune moment to get their attention, introduced myself and asked if I could get a photo of both of them together and they both agreed. Before approaching them I made sure my camera was ready and had an idea of how/where I wanted them to stand for the photo. We were in front of a stage that was brightly back lit so I had them stand with the stage at my back and them facing the stage. If I had them in front of the stage back lit by the lights of the stage the photo would not have turned out the way I wanted.

Both asked for a copy of this photo and Red used it in his blog which you can see here. Pretty cool. Thank you Red and Chris for posing for the photo.

Photographing fireworks basics

If you missed the fireworks on Canada Day or July 4 or want try your hand at photographing fireworks you have another chance during the http://hondacelebrationoflight.com/ in the Vancouver area July 23, 27 and 30^th.

So here are some basic tips on how to photograph fireworks.

Try to scout out your location before the event. Know where the fireworks display will be and where you will shoot in relation to that location. Finding a location that will give you an unobstructed view of the fireworks is key. With popular fireworks shows there will be A LOT of people at the event so plan for this. You do not want to set up in a spot nice and early only to have people end up in front of you blocking your view. And it is best to get into your position as early as possible. I usually try and be at my spot at least 3 hours prior to the show starting.

As far as gear is concerned I use a Sony A77ii DSLR but you could use a point and shoot camera with manual settings or a “Fireworks” setting. No matter what camera you use, it is best to have and use a good sturdy tripod. The shutter stays open for relatively long periods of time when shooting fireworks and if you try to hand hold the camera you will end up with blurry pictures. Using a sturdy tripod can help eliminate camera shake and blurry pictures.

If you can, use a cable release to activate the shutter to take the photos. If you do not have a cable release or the camera does not support a cable release then use the self-timer function to activate the shutter. Using a cable release minimizes how much the camera moves to activate the shutter…your finger doesn’t touch the camera it touches the cable. Using the self-timer gives the camera time to settle down after your finger pushes the shutter button. Many cameras have a self-timer function that lets you delay the shutter by 2-3-4 or 10 seconds. I have used the 2 second delay with good results when I have forgotten the cable release.

The camera settings that I find work best for photographing fireworks are pretty straight forward. Most often I use shutter speeds of between 2 and 6 seconds, an aperture of between f7 and f11 and ISO of between 100 and 400. You will need to play around with the settings to see what works best for you and your situation but these settings can be used as a decent starting point. I will change camera settings during the show if segments of the show are brighter or less bright to try and get the best results but don’t get carried away with changing settings during the show.

Next tip. Shoot a lot. Especially when you are starting out. Don’t expect all your photos of a fireworks display to be award winners. If you take more photos you increase the chances of you getting some really pleasing images. Like anything else, if you keep at it and do it enough you will find that you will have more and more good images from each display you photograph.

A few words about composition. You can focus tight on the fireworks and that is perfectly ok or you can try and add other elements to the composition to try and give the photos a sense of place. If you add in your city skyline or maybe a prominent building or bridge to the fireworks photos it can really add something special to the final photograph.

There are other more “advanced” techniques to photographing fireworks but I hope these few tips help you’re your next fireworks photos a little better. Below are a few fireworks photos I have taken over the years.

SONY DSC

Canada day citizenship ceremony…

I attended a citizenship ceremony for the first time on Canada Day. I was surprised how emotional it can be just watching (and photographing) the proceedings. For the people getting their citizenship it must be a really emotional day.

From a photography stand point it can be a challenge to photograph events inside a large indoor space (one of the halls at Canada Place in this case) with low light, different colors of light, crowds of people getting in your shots as well as other photographers and media people jockeying for position to get good images.

On the plus side most everyone is in a good mood. And hey there was cake! And when there is cake it’s usually going to be a good event.

I hope everyone had a Happy Canada Day!

Canada Day citizenship ceremony 2016

Canada Day citizenship ceremony 2016 cake!

My horse placed 2nd…

One of my two horses, Merlot, ran in the 2^nd race at Hastings Racecourse this past Saturday and placed 2^nd in the race. It was a busy day at the track due to the Belmont Stakes being run in the USA but being shown live on the big screen at Hastings. A had a friend with me on this day but I still followed my race day routine. I get to the track early enough to pick up my free program and sign up for paddock access and chat with a few people I have met at the track. We then went inside and had a sit down lunch at Jerome’s where there is pub style seating. After lunch we walked around a bit, placed a small wager or two for a few races (including the Belmont) then watched the first race.

After the first race was over we made our way to the paddock along with several other owners to watch the horses get ready for the 2^nd race… me with camera in hand of course. Merlot was looking good pre-race so hopes were high for a good strong finish and Jockey Ruben Lara and Merlot delivered. After the horses left the paddock to go on the track we made our way to the finish line area to try and get a good spot near the finish line and near the winners circle just in case Merlot had won the race. Merlot didnt win the race but finished a good 2^nd place and came away in good shape.

I won’t be able to make it to the track this weekend due to other commitments but plan to be there next weekend where both of my horses, Merlot and Shooting Jacket, are scheduled to be running in the same race! Should be a very exciting day!

For more information about what is happening at Hastings Racecourse visit their website:

http://www.hastingsracecourse.com/

Merlot in the paddock before the 2nd race at Hastings racecourse

Jockey Ruben Lara aboard Merlot before the 2nd race at Hastings racecourse

Merlot (5) finishing a strong 2nd at Hastings racecourse

Sony A77ii camera HDR test

The Sony A77ii has a HDR setting so tried that feature out just to see the results. I rarely shoot HDR but wanted to see what the new camera could do. Below are a few images testing the HDR feature of the camera. The images are straight from the camera unedited except for being resized. Most of the menus are in the same places as the A77 but some have been redesigned so I am still getting used to the menus on board the camera.

HDR test on the Sony A77ii

My new camera arrived today…

The camera I ordered to replace my old malfunctioning camera arrived today. Here are my first very impressions.

The A77 and the A77ii are almost identical in design with a few differences that I have noticed so far. They have added a button you have to press to the center of the dial that changes shooting modes. If you do not push the button the dial will not move. Some of the menu layouts have changed. There is no more IF remote control. There is Wi-Fi. Oh and the flash hot shoe is now the traditional ISO type.

That’s all for now. Stay tuned for more information on the Sony A77ii and photos from out in the field using the new camera. Below are some photos of the new rig.

Sony A77ii

Sony A77ii with a 16-50 f2.8 lens

My horse won a race!

Over the weekend one of my two horses won a race for the first time. (For the story on how I became part owner in two race horses see my earlier post “So I bought a race horse…”)

I got to the track a little later than usual on Sunday, race day, so the first thing I did was make my way down to the winners circle area where the sign-up sheet for access to the paddock is located. (Our horse is entered in the 3^rd race so we get paddock access after the 2^nd race). With that done I went to the betting window to cash in a few winning tickets I had from last weekend and placed a small wager for the 3^rd race. Next, I watched and photographed the first 2 races of the day and chatted with a few people I have met and seen before at the track.

After the 2nd race was over I walked to the paddock, showed my racing license, and was let in to the paddock area. I watched all 6 horses entered in the 3^rd race walk around the paddock, paying special attention to number 6, our horse Shooting Jacket. As you learn how things work you get to know what may (or may not be) good places to position yourself to get good photos. Some of the horses were jumpy others more subdued and Shooting Jacket looked good and relaxed. On the final lap walking around the paddock the jockeys mount their respective horses and then are led from the paddock directly onto the track. After all six horses had left the paddock everyone made their way out to get a spot to watch the race or maybe place a quick bet on the race. I made my way to a spot along the fence close to the finish line. I wanted to be close to the winners circle if Shooting Jacket won and I wanted to get my own photos of our horse crossing the finish line no matter where he finished.

After the parade to the post, where the track announcer names each of the horses and each of the jockeys along with the horse owners and trainers and the odds of each horse, the horses made their way to the starting gate. Soon all the horses were in position and they were off and racing! Shooting Jacket started out a bit behind, tried to make several moves in the middle and outside but was blocked by other horses and had nowhere to go. On the back stretch he made his way to the inside and off he went steadily closing the gap on the leaders. Coming out of the final turn he was side by side with two other horses and down the stretch he clawed his way to the lead on the outside and won the race by a head!

There were a lot of other owners around the finish line (about 75) and it got very loud at the end of the race! We made our way onto the track beside the winners circle (it’s not big enough to hold that many people) for the winners photos. Everyone was all smiles and laughing and thrilled that our horse had done so well!

Below are a few photos from our winning race.

Shooting Jacket before his race in the 3rd

Jockey Ruben Lara aboard Shooting Jacket

Coming to the finish line ahead by a neck!

Crossing the finish line to win the race!

Winning jockey Ruben Lara being congratulated after a big win!