Archive for April, 2007
Last month we took the very photogenic Andrea & Scott out for their Engagement session and we actually ended up with two sessions.
First we went out to the Yaletown area. We started on Pacific Boulevard and took some really cool shots against the back wall of the RoundHouse. Then as it got darker we moved into the La Terrazza restaurant. The owners are fantastic and they let us take a few shots while we relaxed with some wine.
The second phase occurred while doing our pre-scouting at Swan-E-Set Resort and Country Club. Even though we’ve shot there a number of times, it’s always good to check in to make sure that they haven’t done anything drastic since the last time we visited. We did some cute stuff where Scott helped Andrea learn to golf (you know what we mean…) and managed to get them rolling in the grass - literally - even wearing nice outfits not traditionally associated with grass-rolling.
When a couple are very much “into” each other - it shows through in the photographs like a lightning bolt. On the engagement and wedding days, we help create these moments for the couples but the great photographs always require the couple to let themselves be into the moment and into each other. Andrea and Scott are the prototypes for this kind of couple.
We are really excited about their upcoming wedding - stay tuned….
April 29th, 2007
[Jeff]
So I’ve been a PC guy since forever. I actually started out learning how to program on Apple II computers back in high school when I was 13, but I’ve been exclusively working on PCs ever since then (over 20 years). Well, except for a stint when I graduated from university where I was coding for SunOS - but we’ll skip that part of the story. Oh yeah, there was also that university work semester where I was coding RPG III for an IBM AS-400, but again I digress.
Anyhoo, even though Mac computers are considered the de-facto standard in the design and photography industry, we’ve remained 100% PC. Photoshop is our bread-and-butter software and it’s identical on both platforms. In fact there are only a couple of useful applications that are Mac-only, whereas there are tons of PC-only programs - with the biggest one for us being Outlook.
Yes, there are Mac equivalents to Outlook (Entourage, Mail, iCal) but boy do they suck compared to Outlook 2007.
I also build our PCs, partially because its cheaper that way, but mostly because it allows me to get the exact components I want and because I take perverse pleasure in torturing myself at 3am when I discover that I’ve hooked up the audio outputs on the front of the case incorrectly to the motherboard (sigh).
So here Tanya and I sat, in a homogeneous environment of all PC computers and laptops, happy as a dog with two tails. Everything is tickety boo….
Then it’s time for us to head off to Vegas.
Except a couple of days before we left - Tanya’s laptop screen went blank. Essentially the light burnt out. Everything worked, but you couldn’t see anything.
And it was too late to get it fixed before we went down for the photography conference.
So what to do…
What to do….
What we dooed was to buy a shiny new MacBook Pro laptop.
What finally convinced me to go multi-cultural? To introduce diversity into our wonderbread home?
Well, it was the fact that the new Macs are also using the same Intel processors that PCs use. This means that they also have the capability to run Windows XP. So by running a special piece of software called Parallels, we can have the best of both worlds - a MAC and it’s simple-to-use interface, but with the ability to run programs like Outlook on top of it.
I’m hard to impress in the software world, but this had me impressed - and convinced!
Having a mixture of PCs and a single MAC does make the networking a bit more complex and there are other oddities to deal with - but being ultimately a tech-geek, I’ve always wanted the expertise of being fluent in both PC and MAC worlds and on the vagaries of getting them to co-exist.
When the fancy strikes me I may post more on my adventures of how to get a MAC to live in a PC family without always getting picked on. You know what its like when someone in the family is a little bit different and stands out - other PCs can be so cruel sometimes.
So during our adjustment period Tanya finds herself moving from feeling happy and oh so hip and styling, to frustrated that the shortcut keys are different. But she’s a trooper and has picked up on it quickly.
So whatever happened to our poor PC laptop with the broken screen?
It just arrived back by courier this morning - with a fresh new screen replaced under warranty. Haven’t figured out what it’s new role in the household is yet.
P.S. Best thing about the MacBook pro is the built in webcam and the PhotoBooth product that distorts your face. If you know someone that has a MacBook Pro, ask them to bring it to your next party for endless PhotoBooth fun.
April 29th, 2007
[Jeff]
Shout out to Isabelle’s Bridal in North Vancouver for being creative and showing that Canuck colours look great in even the most formal of attire.
BTW - the jersey here and the all blue away ones really rock. They kick major hockey pucks over the other versions of the uniform. Why don’t they make these the official jerseys? It’s what the people want…. (at least my peep’s anyways)
April 29th, 2007
[Jeff]
I came across a website that might prove useful to you future brides.
Wedding Mapper uses Google maps technology to help you create a free map that you can share with your guests.
Each location like your ceremony, reception, hotel, etc. can be marked on the map and the map emailed to your guests or printed out.
From their About webpage:
“Wedding Mapper goes beyond traditional wedding maps by:
> helping your guests see where everything is in relation to everything else, including hotels, airports, etc.
> allowing you to show your guests local attractions and places that are special to you.
> familiarizing your guests with the local area and letting them print custom driving directions.
> allowing you to upload photos and write interesting descriptions, getting your guests excited about your wedding!”
It looks very useful especially for out of town guests.
April 27th, 2007
Hey all,
We’re back from an annual trip to Vegas where we attend the WPPI convention and tradeshow. It’s one of the biggest photography conventions of the year, with over 10,000 photographers attending this year.
The conference is in Bally’s while the tradeshow is actually in Paris. The two hotels are connected, meaning you don’t even need to bother to step out into that nasty fresh air when they make it so convenient for you to spend all your time inside, breathing recirculated, recycled, stale smokey air.
I went out with Greg Dries from Australia to do some early morning Saturday shooting on the strip while Tanya was treated (by moi) to a deluxe pedicure at the Paris spa (which of course she loved). It wasn’t until Thursday that we even managed to step outside. Yup, more than 5 straight days inside. Why?? Well, we’re not quite sure how it happened, other than there were some late seminars, evening events, and the Tequila Bar where we and the Aussies tended to congregate each evening.
We thought we’d get out one evening to see a show. So we ended up going to see the local production of “The Producers”. It was a great show with the only problem being that it was held in the Paris. Another night without fresh air…..
But The Producers starred David Hasslehoff, who makes his first appearence in the play while wearing an outrageous dress. The hoffman in a musical comedy wearing a dress in Vegas. If that isn’t a good time, well then we just don’t know what a good time is then do we!!!
Oh, and a congratulations to our friend Tero Sade for picking up the award for best Bridal Group photo.
Though photo opportunities are there if we want them, WPPI for us is more about the seminars, socializing, meeting, drinking, socializing, learning, ummm….. all that. But we did manage to eek out a few images to share:
The balloon thing at the front of the Paris hotel, with the afternoon sun peeking through
Bally’s is just north of the Paris along the strip. They are actually connected hotels.
Coming down the escalator in the extremely colourful M&M candy store
Long outdoor escalator in front of Bally’s
The Eiffel tower peeking from behind the thing-a-ma-bobs outside the front of Bally’s
The serenity of the fountains outside Caesar’s palace
Stevie Nicks is headlining at Caesar’s Palace
Statue outside the Caesar’s Forum shops, with Harrah’s in the background across the street
The mirage
They say that Vegas can get a little wild at times. I didn’t realize they meant wildlife!! These little guys setup shop right outside the Mirage
One of the gondola’s available for a low-low price at the Venetian
A buddha statue in a chinese restaurant in the Venetian hotel (which is actually in the desert). Vegas is interesting!
Litter left behind on the strip after a typical Friday night in Vegas. If you’ve been to Vegas, you know what the litter is…..
Caesar pointing the way to Harrah’s for a cheap buffet dinner
Yet another shot of the Eiffel tower
Celebration drinks after Tero won his Bridal Group award.
Vegas beauties. Katarina, Dawn, and Tanya. Oh, and that’s John Garner from Bookcrafts in Australia. He’s a great guy and one of our Album suppliers. Though he’s looking a little red in the face. Must be the drinking ! 
Oh yes, and congratulations to Katarina and Jim (and 2nd shooter Ben) for picking up Best Album award in the multi-shooter category.
And if you’ve got this far, next time you talk to Tanya, ask her about meeting David Hasselhoff in the elevator
April 4th, 2007