I came across this random house while looking for something else. I didn’t go in, but of course i regret that now (my wife doesn’t). I have closer shots, but this is my pick of the lot.

I originally thought this to be the infamous “Double Rainbow” while driving down the highway. When I started pulling to the side of the road I realized it was a single, giant rainbow. 22mm on a full frame was how wide I had to go to get it all in. Some parts are faded, but it’s all there.

There’s a giant print of this hanging in my bedroom right now. I see the 2 structures as an old couple, sticking it out together, supporting each other through the years. I realize there is nothing spectacular about this image, but i’m currently obsessed with it. There is a definite X factor.

Here’s a random utility truck abandoned just off road within the city limits, but in an industrial developing area. Lots of graffiti on the side, tonnes of birds living in and near it.

ABOUT THIS SET

I’m happy to say this idea came entirely from a tweet! I asked where I should go shoot (last weekend) and received a couple replies, this is what I chose! I had been to Tom Campbell Natural Park before, (with film even!) but it had been awhile, and I only really shot the skyline.

TECHNOBABBLE

I am using a Minolta SRT-101 35mm film body, an MC Rokkor-PF 58mm f1.4 lens, an MD Tele Rokkor-X 135mm f3.5, and an MD W.Rokkor-X 28mm f2.8. All being shot with Kodak Ektar 100 AND METERED WITH THE ULTRA SUPER AWESOME SEKONIC L758DR!!

THE EXPERIENCE

Friendly faces, both human and K9! Though there’s a blatant disregard for picking up their dog poopies.

POST PROCESSING

At first, I headed to Vistek. After being told they were out of c41 process chemicals and i’d be a week I slummed it at Wal-Mart and had them developed in 45 minutes for 5$! That’s after they recently increased their price for a straight process (no prints) too, their old price was $3.14 but I think they’re wising up to me

RESOURCES

City of Calgary Info

ABOUT THIS SET

I had been to the King Edward School in Calgary for what I thought was my first and last time a few months ago. I was there, volunteering to do a series of stills for four small horror vignettes being shot inside. In case you’re curious, here’s day one and here’s day two. These thirty second clips would then go into part of an art gallery show.

During that weekend I snuck away when things were low and snapped off a few. I really enjoyed the atmospheare and felt like I didn’t shoot enough of the building.

A few weeks ago I was contacted by Deeter Schurig, who first asked how I got into the building. I explained my access was a completely legitimate photo experience and after a laugh, he goes on to explain that he’s the Coordinator for Art Space Initiatives, and is setting up a photo competition! A few select groups (and myself) will be allowed in at different times to capture the historic Calgary school before it’s gutted and renovated.

TECHNOBABBLE

Came in blazing with a speedlite and modifyers and didn’t even use them.

A Canon EOS 5D and an EF 16-35mm f2.8 USM, and a Canon EOS 650 with a Sigma 50mm f1.4. The film EOS is loaded with Ilford SFX 200 black & white 35mm. I also used a light meter and grey card to calibrate.

THE EXPERIENCE

I was familiar with the layout of the building, for the most part, as I spent an entire weekend there.

This time I only had two hours.

I started at the top floor and worked my way down. I scanned each room looking for interesting compositions. Most of my shots were super wide, and indoors, so I have a Manfrotto tripod and am shooting multiple exposures to merge to HDR later during post processing.

POST PROCESSING (MORE TECHYBABBY)

I have a bitter sweet relationship with HDR. There’s a large scale that goes from Ansel Adams to Harry Potter, and most of the time I stay on Ansel’s side. Adobe Lightroom 4 and Photomatix Pro 4 don’t seem to be getting along at the moment so I used Photoshop CS5 HDR Pro to bring my images together. My goal here is to enhance dynamic range, So what the camera records, and what my mind sees, are more cohesive. The grey card I used on most of my shots easily allows me to custom white balance, I then pull my whites and blacks to their peeks. Lightroom 4 has been really great despite issues with plugins. I’m not a plugin guy myself, so it’s had little impact.

RESOURCES

Transform King Edward

UPDATE 120404: Film shots added from the Canon EOS 650 and a roll of Ilford SFX 200. I love the punchyness of the SFX 200, almost like infrared!

ABOUT THIS SET

I’ve been a member of the meetup.com “Alberta Photography Group” for a couple years now and each time I go, I come back with at least one gem. Today, we’re taking a stroll from Olympic Plaza, to the river valley. The weather is overcast, with some scattered clouds near the end.

There’s really no form or function to this shoot, it’s playtime!

TECHNOBABBLE

I brought the following gear with me, and taken the liberty of crossing out what I didn’t use.

I have a Canon EOS 5D Mark I, with an EF 24-105mm f4 IS USM, EF 16-35mm f2.8 USM. I also brought a pocket wizard set, a 580EX II Speedlite, and a 5-in-1 Reflector. I also brought, 2 extra memory cards, a lens cloth and extra batteries.

I used external flash in a  couple shots. I slipped a flash inside the sign with the “A” as well, I lit one of the 20ft statues…sorry I just checked, TWENTY-ONE foot statues.

Post production was done in the spanky new (and hopefully bug free) Adobe Lightroom 4! This was my first start-to-finish workflow set with Lightroom 4. I’m quite happy with the results. My brain took very little time to adjust to the new detail sliders, and geotagging.

THE EXPERIENCE

A group of fifteen of us took a leisurely walk through downtown snapping as we went. There was plenty of smiling faces and good conversation. Those who are apprehensive about shooting downtown should consider joining a group like this. No egos, just enthusiasm! It was great to see everyones different setups.

RESOURCES

Alberta Photography Group

Lightroom 4

This wasn’t my first trip to Rowley. I had been there previously in 2008. No question there’s a lot to work with, if you like abandoned buildings, the old west or historic Alberta. During my last visit I got the full tour! The people in town have rallied together to restore some of the old buildings about ten years ago and the results are impressive. When you see three grain elevators, you’ve arrived in Rowley.

On this visit, it’s during the winter, on my quest to take more photos out in snow. It’s more challenging exposure wise if you’re using a reflective meter, so I skipped over that issue by using a handheld meter. If you’re working with a reflective meter, that is, the meter in your camera, you have to deliberately overexpose by one or two stops. This can by done by dialling it in, in exposure compensation, or bracketing your shots if you’re in a rush.

This particular day was not too cold. The Canon EOS 5D is good to -10C. Realistically I’ve had zero issues taking it out in weather up to -20C. In cases of colder weather, or more sensitive cameras, be sure to include an oversized ziplock bag in your gear, Place the camera in it before you get inside, and wait a couple hours….I know you’re excited, just pretend it’s film and it’s being processed.

TECHNOBABBLE

Here I am using a Canon EOS 5D, an EF 24-105mm f4 IS USM L Series lens and an EF 70-200 f4 USM L Series Lens. All my post production is Lightroom 3.6

(I also have a Canon EOS 650 film camera with a Sigma 50mm f1.4 EX DG HSM lens, loaded with Ilford SFX 200. Come back to this blog entry to see those images after they’re developed!)

THE EXPERIENCE

It was quiet.

Most of the snow was untouched by humans, only the occasional bunny track could be seen. That was a nice find, because I had smooth clean snow for a few critical shots. It also meant that I had to shoot my wide angle shots more carefully, as after I got in close, I left nice obvious tracks around the perimeter of most of the structures.

This time around I explored much more of the town, making a full circle around their main roadway, and really stepping back to have a look. It was cold, but it was beautiful, and smelled amazing. That’s what I love about Alberta, you don’t have to go far to get away from just about everything.

There’s one house in particular that fascinated me, because it looked as if it had been lived in sometimes in the last 30 years, but gave way to the elements. There’s a window at the back, and I leaned, very carefully mind out, on the edge, and took a few shots.

USELESS STATS FROM MY META DATA!

I took a total of 70 photos. 40 with my 24-105mm, 30 with my 70-200mm. My most used focal length was 24mm with 21 shots. My most used aperture was f6.3 and most used shutter speed was 1/640.

RESOURCES

Starland County Official Page

Pizza Nights in Rowley! (and one of these nights, I’ll go!)

I can admit when I am out of ideas or in a rut. It happens often. So awhile back I got in the habit of asking random people where I should go shoot, what’s there and why. Oh and sometimes people volunteer as well. That’s when a co-worker recommended The Calgary Chinese Cemetery.

TECHNOBABBLE

Here, I used a Yashica Mat 124 and Kodak Ektar 100 medium format film. This particular model has a busted light meter, so I also have a Sekonic L-358 to meter my shots. A fairly basic setup. The weather is cold, and there’s a heavy overcast. The plus side is I’ve got all my shadows softened out, the downside is I have less light while stuck at 100 ISO (ASA whatever!)

ON LOCATION

The tiny cemetery is on a slope, this let me get down low on a couple of my shots with a bit more ease. Much of the challenge here was looking for different angles and things that were out of the ordinary. One grave had an overturned flowerpot, and an overturned beer can. Another had more than a dozen flowerpots piled atop a dirt mound, likely a fresh grave.

A certain telecommunications company has a shop setup right next door, which gives an interesting contrast, I did however feel limited only having a 50mm equivalent lens to work with. When I revisit, I’ll definitely go digital. The cemetery itself is quaint, and quite humble. Some of the graves themselves have photos embedded right on them, a fascinating tradition.

POST PRODUCTION (AKA MORE TECHNOBABBLE)

I made a decision awhile ago that if I was going to shoot film, but bring it into the digital realms I should have a few boundaries. Only use lightroom to crop & catalog and only use Photoshop to remove dust spots and fine hairs. The ultimate goal is to get as much from, and as close to the film as possible using digital scanning methods, after having the film developed. Digital scanners are inexpensive, all the value comes in learning using how to use the advanced settings.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

- Someone else who shot it before me

While doing a scout at the Foothills Hospital I came across this interesting take on locking up your only means of transport.

I hesitated on whether or not to use this image, and actually, this is my second rendering of it, something I rarely do unless a couple years have passed.

In the King Edward School, which was recently named a historical landmark, on one of the upper levels is a boys washroom, and down the very end wedged in the corner is a small door, leading to this…mess.

It’s narrow enough where you wouldn’t be able to walk down shoulders out, and I never bothered to see if there was anything around the corner (I honestly thought the floor could give back there and I hate tight spaces!).

This was shot in HDR, at 16mm.

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