Doug Batchelor Photography Blog - Vancouver Wedding Photographers

Jennifer + Erik | Wedding Day Portraits at Stanley Park

2011-08-24T15:39:00.000-07:00

Our latest lovely young couple, Jennifer & Erik, were married earlier in the day and then came to meet us for some afternoon portraits in the park before heading off to Whistler for the weekend!

Vancouverites are always so friendly ... rock on newlyweds!
Jennifer & Erik by the seawall
Finding quieter romantic spots during a busy day
at Stanley Park can be a little tricky.
I love the lively shadows of dappled light and could shoot that all day.
Shooting through one of the hollowed out trees
that give Stanley Park part of it`s character
A nice little alcove in the forrest.
The Rose Garden is a great little place for photos.
Giant swing sets, another one of those things
hard to get in the studio. ;-)

Laura + Henry | Tea Ceremony

2011-08-01T23:23:00.000-07:00

When we first met Laura & Henry, one of the first things we found out is that they are now living in Ontario, so shooting our usual engagement session before the wedding was not in the cards. Luckily, their tea ceremony was a couple of days before the wedding, so we did have a nice chance to go to a nearby park beforehand and get them comfortable with the type of photographic attention they'd be getting on wedding day! :)

Laurie + Jon | Wedding at Stanley Park

2011-07-30T18:15:00.000-07:00

We love shooting in Stanley Park, and here's a sneak peek from Laurie & Jon's wedding last week where we went down to the beach since the weather has finally been getting better lately!

Laurie and Jon share a fun moment at the beach following their wedding.

Eva + Carl | Seaside Wedding near Britannia Beach

2011-07-27T17:49:00.000-07:00

We recently had the pleasure of photographing Eva & Carl's wedding!

The ceremony was held at a gorgeous little seaside location near Britannia Beach just off the sea-to-sky highway.

For a sneak peek of some images from the day, please use the scroll bar below.
Eva's aunt graciously loaned her art gallery for the getting ready portion of the day.

Lenka | Headshots in Yaletown

2011-04-27T23:47:00.000-07:00

Lenka needed some updated headshots and although it was a little cold outside, we decided to do the session in Yaletown since the sheer variety of locations makes for great headshot backdrops almost anywhere you go!

Joining an HDSLR Meetup

2011-04-20T23:07:00.000-07:00

Networking with local photographers and cinematographers is a wonderful thing. Through my friend Jordan, a local filmmaker, I had the chance to join their small group for a meetup where they were testing out some of the latest tools that they had picked up. As a still photographer, I was pretty mesmerized by all the goodies that they brought, like HD monitors that fit in the hotshoe of the camera and have many interesting features like false colour for measuring exposure and edge peaking to help with focus. Somethings, like the LED video lights are already being adopted by photographers as well. Jon (reluctantly) volunteered to model for us while we tested some of the gear. Here's my belated shout out to the gang for letting me tag along! Thanks guys, all of whom you can find on twitter: @jdog23 , @phoric ,@mattdrake123 , @stevetan , @klimlevene , @jonrawlinson

Lisa + Richard | Wedding at Stanley Park

2011-03-24T13:09:00.000-07:00

Lisa and Rich helped us start of the 2011 season earlier this year, after flying in from the States to get married in beautiful Vancouver ... except that Vancouver wasn't cooperating. Luckily, Lisa's radiant smile warmed things up and it turned out to be a great wedding!

I've also been trying out more collages lately.

Maya | Baby & Family Photos

2011-03-15T00:25:00.000-07:00

Maya has the big beautiful kind of eyes I could take photos of all day long. Such a busy family, it took a long time to organize our shoot, but the wait was worth it!

And as a bonus, the smoke from the hookah was perfect for testing my new pocket wizards, nice!

Illuminate Yaletown 2011

2011-02-13T13:58:00.001-08:00

It's been awhile since I last blogged, so I thought I'd get 2011 started with some colourful photos from Illuminate Yaletown. It was raining on Friday night, making photos a little difficult while holding my umbrella & monopod, but once you're into it then you stop worrying about your gear.

I've put a few favourites below, and I've got a few more on the Flickr set.

Here is the main website for more information about the event.

Great installations by all the artists involved!

Mexico City in January

2011-01-28T23:07:00.000-08:00

Most people head to the Mexican beaches to escape Canada's winters, but in Mexico City, it's still pretty cold there, especially at night. In fact, in can be colder than Canada in a sense because the houses don't generally have any heating ... 5 degrees outside equals 5 degrees inside, get those blankets out! The first 2 photos below are from the Coyoacan district, which became my favourite place to hang out - kind of a night market vibe with lots of good restaurants and tasty snacks.

We don't bring the big equipment when we go on vacation, but we still take almost as many photos as I do on a job. It would be a little crazy to blog as many as I'd like, so just a small sampling below.

Sharon & Cousins | Portraits at Holland Park

2010-11-01T21:47:00.000-07:00

It was a dark and stormy night ... in fact, it was Halloween when we got together with Sharon and her cousins for a photoshoot in Holland Park. It was such a fun group, we came away with a lot of great images, still with time leftover to go out trick or treating. :)

Eline + Mark | Wedding Portraits at Stanley Park

2010-10-10T02:37:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Eline + Mark! It was a perfect summer evening for some post-ceremony couples portraits at Ferguson Point.

We couldn't help borrowing some of the balloons leftover from the ceremony!

Rose + Voytek | Wedding at Holy Rosary Cathedral in Vancouver

2010-09-18T23:00:00.000-07:00

Sneak Peek from Rose & Voytek's amazing wedding last weekend!
With such a fun wedding party, you have to go for the jump!
Rose arriving in style :D
Penny for your thoughts ...
Holy Rosary Cathedral
We made time for some portraits at the church
Graffitti artist echoing Rose & Voytek's feelings :)
We hitch-hiked a ride in the limo
Rose letting the world know they're married!
Convention Centre Kiss
Voytek & his boys
Rose and her bridesmaids looking fantastic in b&w
... and colour :D
Getting back in to the limo, feeling and looking glamorous :>
Putting up with a certain photographer's crazy ideas ... part of the fun hopefully!
Playing with fire ... the concierge informed us this particular
escalator has caused havoc with bridal gowns in the past
We couldn't help playing a little more, even though they
wouldn't let us take over the lobby like we wanted. :D
Stealing a moment before heading up to the secret garden of the Four Seasons
Rooftop rest
Almost time for dinner
... and dancing
... and the honeymoon!

Mariana + Dan | Wedding at Northview Golf & Country Club in Surrey

2010-08-28T23:00:00.000-07:00

You may remember Mariana & Dan from our e-session earlier this year, and although their main wedding will be in Mexico, they had the civil ceremony here in Vancouver first! Congrats!

Camila + Eduardo | Wedding at English Bay

2010-08-16T23:00:00.000-07:00

Preview from Camila + Eduardo's wedding at English Bay, the moment right after they were married.

Congratulations!

Nancy + David | Wedding at the Marriott Pinnacle in Vancouver

2010-08-11T23:00:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Nancy and David, Mazel Tov! (For friends & family, the full gallery of wedding images is here.)

It was a real pleasure to have the chance to photograph Nancy and David's wedding recently. Although they are from Seattle, it turns out that thy originally met in Vancouver, and so they decided to have their ceremony here.

They chose the Marriott Pinnacle to host their ceremony and reception, and it was an inspired choice, from the intimate patio setting amidst the surrounding skyscrapers to the tasteful catering and delicious menu.

Rabbi David Mivasair performed a beautiful ceremony and was very kind to us in outlining some of the Jewish customs and traditions for us, including the signing of the ketubah, the Kiddushin, the 7 blessings and the breaking of the glass at the end. (In jest, it is sometimes said that this is the last chance for the man to put his foot down!).

Nancy & David, we wish you all the best in your life together and once again thank you for the opportunity to photograph your wedding! We're looking forward to seeing you again in December for a follow-up portrait session!

Tracey + Mike | Wedding at Bridges in Granville Island, Vancouver

2010-08-06T23:00:00.000-07:00

Great wedding with Tracey & Mike last weekend, and what a way to end it, watching the fireworks with a glass of wine in one hand, and your true love in the other! Montage video here!

Tracy's Dress

Venue: Bridges Restaurant

Rose + Voytek | Engagement at Granville Island

2010-07-31T00:42:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun with Rose & Voytek last weekend at Granville Island & couldn't resist putting together a little video montage.

Both were dressed in blue, so naturally we had to find a blue wall.

Rose was a natural!

but we had to warm Voytek up a little!

It didn't take long to find some fun spots ...

The price we pay for hot images ... it turns out there was a little tar on one of the posts behind Rose, but luckily we only got it on the hands instead of the dress!

Lately, a bird seems to find it's way into every session we do ... I consider this to be a sign of good luck :D

Granville Island is full of interesting walls ...

And we only had to kick out a few kids at the children's playground ... kidding! Poor Voytek though, not a lot of leg room in there.

Ice cream sounded great for a little break, but alas the place had just closed.

Colour is like candy to me ...

It's always fun with a lot of tourists watching your every move!

It was hot enough out there, almost tempted to run through the water. :D

Time to feed the geese ... actually they were too smart and knew we didn't actually have any food for them. ;>

Timing the traffic is always a fun game to play.

Time to wrap it up and head for a frosty draft ... can't wait for the wedding!

Philip McAlary | Headshots

2010-07-23T12:18:00.000-07:00

We met Philip recently after he became a top 10 finalist in the CNIB's iFactor singing competition. He's a great singer and very interesting guy - ask him to tell you the story of how he once became a famous singer in China with condo-sized billboards! Anyways, just a quick post to say congratulations to Philip and good luck in the final voting!

Lucy | Baby & Family Photos in Yaletown

2010-07-17T23:00:00.000-07:00

Lucy was such a treat to work with, very happy and playful as we explored a sunny day in False Creek for photos with her along with mom & dad.

More images still to come ... :D

Carolyn + Jeff | Wedding at UBC Golf Course in Vancouver

2010-07-13T14:11:00.000-07:00

Welcome back from your honeymoon Carolyn + Jeff, we had so much fun at your wedding! (Montage sneak peek of your images here)

The full gallery for family & friends is here !

Tyler | Newborn Photos at the Studio (Vancouver)

2010-07-12T10:44:00.000-07:00

Tyler's Parents found us via referral of one of our wedding clients, and it's always an honour to be chosen to capture a newborn's very first photo session!

Mariana + Dan | Engagement at Queen Elizabeth Park

2010-07-12T01:17:00.000-07:00

Usually it's the guys who are the big sports fans like myself, so it was quite a surprise to find out what a big World Cup fan Mariana was! I think all that face-painting she displayed on her Facebook page the last month paid off pretty well today, even though Spain was only a second favourite after Mexico! Felicitaciones España!

Rosy & I first met Mariana through our mutual friend Becky (an awesome hair stylist here in Yaletown) and it was great to hear she was getting married. The "big wedding" is planned for Mexico, but when they decided to have a smaller one here first, we were excited to get the call!

I don't know if it's our laid-back approach or what, but we seem to attract the best clients, just fun, affectionate & really happy to be together! I was a little worried that Dan might be a little tired after driving in all the way from Edmonton, but absence makes the heart grow fonder and in this case, they were just that much more excited to see each other. :D

Click here for a video montage from their photo session

Probably my favourite image from the day, I think the romantic in me likes the secret garden feeling of this one.

Tracy + Mike | Engagement in Yaletown and Jericho Beach (Vancouver)

2010-07-01T23:00:00.000-07:00

In looking forward to an awesome wedding upcoming with Tracy and Mike, I thought it would be fun to put together a little recap of our engagement session last year!

We started off in Yaletown and worked our way to Jericho Beach. They brought along Charlie, their black lab, and he definitely seemed to prefer the wide open space on the beach.

Video here!

See you soon!

1st Annual PPDUP Conference at UBC, Vancouver

2010-06-19T23:00:00.000-07:00

UBC was recently hosting the first ever PPDUP Conference (the acronym is definitely easier in this case, unless "Proteomics of Protein Degradation & Ubiquitin Pathways" rolls off your tongue easier than it does mine, hehe!)

I'm blogging this one not so much for the photography as the customer service aspect. I think we're a little proud of the fast turnaround time on this one! Due to the tight schedule of the attendees, we took the group photos in the morning during a conference coffee break, and then came back downtown to select, edit, design a 4"x8" postcard to commemorate the event, get approval and then get them printed in time to be able to hand one out to each attendee during the reception dinner that same evening.

Whew!

As for the photos, shooting a group of 80-100 is quite a bit more challenging than the average bridal party portraits, hehe. The fashion/posing element goes away pretty quickly and the main challenge was to be able to see everyone's face ... and despite the standard instructions provided to the group to "make sure you can see the camera, otherwise the camera can't see you", it's fairly impossible to simultaneously monitor 100 people shuffling about!

It was a sunny day, and the trees lining East Mall Boulevard created a mottled light in our originally intended location, which would have been too difficult to tame for a group this size. We only had 15 minutes to get the photos, so we couldn't have them wandering all over campus. We settled on a staircase on the shady side of a nearby building and thankfully, it turns out the scientists were a very cooperative and self-organizing lot. There were just enough stairs to spread everybody out and get decent visibility, but we also used a step-ladder to get a better angle. Perhaps a megaphone would have made my jokes a little more effective, haha, but things seemed to work pretty well. For the final image, we did use a little of Photoshop CS5's content-aware fill feature to remove the lamp post & blue sign that is visible in the photo below.

It wasn't on the agenda, but in the few extra minutes we had, I wanted to try an interior shot of the group as well, to test out the effectiveness of our Nikon ultra-wide angle @ 14mm. We put bare flashes on stands to either side of the camera and bounced them off the ceiling to get a little extra light on the group. There was no attempt at organizing the group of this shot, as the lectures got underway immediately afterwards.

Many thanks to The Printing House for helping to print the postcards so quickly!

Scouting / Photowalk - 1000 Block Parker Street

2010-06-17T02:43:00.000-07:00

So just when I was hesitating to post these scouting photos because they don't have a lot to do with wedding photography ... at a meeting today with a prospective client, they said "you know what would be cool, some edgier photos with graffitti and such in the background" ... hmmm, I said, I may have just the thing! Mind you, as visually interesting as this little area is, it's probably more suitable for some band photos than an e-session ... still, it's fun to imagine.

Next, we walked over to the train yard ... Kelcey was on a mission to find some textures that would overlay well for him in his work.

Little Flower Academy High School | Graduation at Renaissance Hotel in Vancouver

2010-06-07T03:16:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to all LFA 2010 graduates!

We had a great time photographing your reception dinner and taking fun portraits at the photobooth style station!

Here is a link to the full photo gallery:
http://clients.dougbatchelor.ca/lfa

Highlights video:

Orbis Pull for Sight 2010 - Vancouver (FedEx Area at YVR) | Richmond

2010-05-16T00:49:00.000-07:00

When I first heard about the Orbis Pull for Sight, the novelty factor of people pulling an airplane was quick to catch my attention! However, after reading more about the their organization - flying all over the developing world to assist blind and visually impaired children - that was really the impressive part! Perhaps it's just my own bias as a photographer, but I consider vision to be the most important of the senses and it's hard to imagine living life without it. I really admire the medical volunteers who help these kids!

So Rosy and I decided to make use of a rare wedding-season-Saturday without a wedding, by going out to Richmond to cover and blog about this event. It turns out there was already an official photographer and a fair amount of media coverage (we saw Global TV, Fairchild TV and a Canadian Press photographer among others) - a much bigger event than we initially expected!

Aside from being a lot of fun watching people's contorted facial expressions ad answering the question "how many people does it take to win a tug-of-war with an airplane" (20), it ended up being a great chance to check out an area that is normally off-limits to visitors, including the cockpit of one of FedEx's planes ... that doesn't happen every day(!) and the whole experience was a further chance to play with a new wide-angle lens (Nikon 14-24mm).

There was a Lion Dance team (from a local Kung-Fu club) to kick off the festivities ...

I narrowly avoided being attacked by the hungry dragon. :D

Security was tight, but this fine member had a couple of minutes to tolerate my photo opportunism.

The main event featured teams of 20 pulling the planes over a 4m distance as fast as possible (usually between 6 - 10 seconds).

Best team name ... the "Runway Models" ;D

Success!

Not all of the planes were so big ..

And some found other ways to pass the time ...

I didn't realize those pilot windows opened!

Well ... time to call it a day ;>

Photowalk: Lamorghini dealership in Vancouver

2010-05-11T14:53:00.000-07:00

So when I heard they opened a Lamorghini dealership in Vancouver ... I said "sure, why not, it would probably help get between photo shoots faster" :)

http://www.lamborghinivancouver.com/

And if you're out looking for luxury items anyway, you might as well stop by http://showcasepianos.com while you're at it and have your architect design a custom Fazioli piano. :D

Superman sighted in Yaletown

2010-05-01T22:27:00.000-07:00

So I was walking down the street ... when out of the corner of my eye, I notice Batman taking a break from his usual caped crusader duties ... just chilling out and chatting up the ladies. My hero! ... more pictures after the jump below.

Whatever ... Superman and the boys were feeling a little left out ...

So the Superman decided to make his move, but the B-man was having none of it ... "Cut it out man, I don't wanna fight" ...

Yeah c'mon S-man, relax ...

Yep, denied ... faster than a speeding bullet, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound ... but that doesn't necessarily mean much in the dating game. :/

Don't even think about it next time ...

That was painful!

I've got to get out of here ...

But no hurt feelings ... just having a good laugh about it with who else but the Joker

Time for group photos! ...

Wait a minute ... is the Little Mermaid a superhero?!?

Has anyone figured this out yet? ...

Ok ... something to do with comics ...

Yes! It was Free Comic Book Day!

A worldwide tradition since 2002!
Check it out ... http://freecomicbookday.com/faqs.asp

Photos courtesy of our guest blogger, intrepid reporter Jimmy Olsen.

English Bay Spotlights

2010-02-08T02:22:00.000-08:00

Wow, I can't believe how much fun I had tonight photographing the new spotlights at English Bay! Here's a quick preview, with many more to come. Go down and check it out, it's awesome!

Isabella | Newborn Photos at the Studio (Vancouver)

2010-01-14T08:14:00.000-08:00

Isabella is the newly born daughter of one of our wedding couples from last year, and she was so adorable to photograph!

Happy New Year, New Decade to all!

2009-12-31T23:28:00.001-08:00

Launch of Smugmug User Group (SMUG) - Hosted by the Bebbs

2009-11-05T23:50:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure what it is with me and photography groups, I guess I just love socializing with other photographers, hehe. After attending last year's inaugrual Pictage User Group, last night I was fortunate enough to attend the launch of the Vancouver SMUG.

Hosted by the amazing Steve & Jen Bebb, their energy really helped get the group off to a great start. They presented a very cool Animoto based slideshow of their work and passed along some good insights from their 10 very busy & productive years in the industry (500 weddings, wow!).

It was also great to have Jeff Jochum in town for the launch. It's not often one gets to hang out and chat with the CMO of such a well-known company.

It was nice to meet some of the other wedding & portrait photographers in town, and I know this group is going to explode once the word gets out! Especially now that Steve & Jen challenged Jasmine Star and her Orange County SMUG ... things are going to get interesting in a hurry, and we'll all be the better for it, pushing each other to raise our game. Follow #smug on twitter.

Quick catch of Steve at the end, just before the Lynn Valley library turned out the lights on us. That's Jen on the right, Candice Cunningham (of Camera Slingers fame I remembered later), and DGrin'er Ann McRae in the background. ;>

See you all next month!

Cal + Victor | Engagement at Van Dusen Gardens

2009-10-31T18:46:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure how we got lucky enough to pick the beautiful sunny day in between days of pouring rain, but Victor's attention to the weather forecast sure paid off! We spent a great afternoon with Cal & Victor at Van Dusen Gardens, taking advantage of the fall colours while they last. :)

Trying something new here ... posting a little slideshow instead of individual pics.

Steve Nash - Showdown in Downtown - featuring Baron Davis!

2009-09-19T19:46:00.001-07:00

No weddings today, so I had a chance to go check out the Showdown in Downtown where Steve Nash and celebrity friends were playing soccer at David Lam Park in Yaletown in his fundraiser benefitting children's charities on 3 continents.

Nice pick Steve!

Nice stretch Steve!

Steven Nash Sports Club is a great place to get in shape ... hmm, maybe I should join!

Hasheem Thabeet (Memphis Grizzlies)

Loving the soccer visors!

The kids love Steve Nash, no doubt about it! :)

Bonus - Baron Davis (L.A. Clippers) hanging in Yaletown!

Baron Davis going for the hail mary ;)

Laura + Brian take the plunge! | Wedding on Sunshine Coast

2009-09-15T19:51:00.001-07:00

Our wedding season wrapped up a bit earlier this year with our final wedding taking place on the Sunshine Coast. The Painted Boat Resort in Pender Harbour made for an awesome setting for an awesome couple! Laura & Brian were up to try mostly anything, including an impromptu 'trash the dress' session at the end of the night! Congrats you two!

Alejandra | Maternity Session

2009-08-26T01:12:00.001-07:00

We had an awesome time with Alejandra's maternity session, she & Erik are anticipating the arrival of Zoe any day now!

La pequeña Zoe casi lista para nacer y llenar de alegria a sus papis Alejandra y Erik!
We always like to start with a classic shot, but still a favourite!

We shot this session in their apartment instead of the studio
to keep mom as comfortable and relaxed as possible!
Alejandra was positively glowing!
We really just got there in time, the
bun in the oven was almost finished baking!
110 cm ... that's 43" ... wow, guys we have it easy!
Speaking of taking it easy, maternity sessions are a little special since you can't really be asking mom to move around a lot.
An extra 12 kilos in the tummy isn't exactly conducive to fashion model contortions. :)
Cute couple = cute baby for sure!
Another classic favourite, Alejandra in a quiet, thoughtful moment.
Rosy borrowed Erick to help on this one, and he was nice enough
to hold the softbox on a boom for a little different style here.

Frané de Nysschen - Headshot Session in Yaletown

2009-08-17T23:31:00.000-07:00

As busy as the weekends are during wedding season, I love to take time out during the week to work on portrait and headshot sessions. Frané moved to Vancouver recently from Saskatchewan and was looking for a headshot session to help further her acting career.

She's also planning to attend Emily Carr in the fall for the photography program, so we all ended up having a lot in common. Who knows, we may have already found an intern for next summer, hehe.
The shoot went really well, it was a partially cloudy day with lots of great portrait light, so we went out in Yaletown to explore the wide variety of background possibilities and play with different setups.
Frané has great eyes, both expressive and attention grabbing!

She also has a great combination of high energy and an easy-going manner ... contributing lots of ideas throughout the shoot.
We had to try the bright red lipstick that she brought, can't say no to colour!
Time to narrow down the most intriguing shots and get them ready for printing ... Rocket Repro awaits!

If you're reading this and have an opinion as to which shots you like best or that you think would most likely capture the attention of a casting director, let us know in the comments, thank you!

Shooting in Gastown

2009-08-08T01:16:00.001-07:00

I had a blast the other night, going out for an evening of shooting with photography friends Josan, Tom & Jan. We were working in Gastown, playing with a Sunbouncer and some off-camera lighting. We started off wandering the narrow alleys, looking for interesting locations that didn't require too much climbing!

I think Jan and I are more comfortable behind the camera, so Josan and Tom were gracious enough to act as models for the evening!

Yes, photographers are a little crazy ... but we had enough traffic scouts to avoid any injuries to Josan during the yoga-in-the-middle-of-the-street series.

Photographers are always msising headshots of themselves, so hopefully Tom can find a couple from his night in front of the camera!

Moving into the heart of the Gastown tourist district was a good move, lots of colourful lights to serve as backdrops.

Tom was pressed into service once again ... ignore the slight look of fear in the eyes, dodging cars gets trickier at night!

We approached Tristan, who was just walking by with her sister, and coralled her into a 2 minute modelling stint to help give us a bit of variety in our shots. Thanks Tristan!! It turns out she is also somewhat in the industry, working as a makeup artist on tv, film & weddings.

It was getting pretty dark by this time, but Josan was up for one more quick series in front of this cool iron gate.

See you all soon, and congrats to Jan & Roseanne on your move to the Island!

Critical Mass Bike Ride July 31, 2009

2009-07-31T20:15:00.000-07:00

There was a lot of publicity for this month's critical mass, and the street closures, combined with the opening of the World Police & Firefighters Games, made for a very busy traffic day! It's still pretty hot and muggy out there, so I just grabbed a few shots at the tail end of the ride.

Vancouver Thunderstorm

2009-07-26T01:27:00.001-07:00

It was fireworks night in Vancouver in more ways than one. In addition to the usual English Bay competition, there was a pretty awesome thunderstorm with tons of lightning passing through downtown.

We so rarely get them in Vancouver that they have always fascinated me ever since I was a kid. On this night I had to react quickly and I didn't have my tripod with me, or my umbrella for that matter!

But hey, being able to go out and shoot in this kind of weather is one of the main reasons why we buy professional camera bodies, isn't it?

View the film strip by scrolling below.
It's a long walk across the bridge, but who cares, the colours alone ended up being worth paying the price of getting soaked!
I wasn't lucky enough to capture one of the lightning strikes, but my lack of a wide angle lens didn't stop me from trying.
For obvious reasons, I couldn't really shoot for very long pointing up, but the orange lights against the purple sky had me trying to snag a couple of frames.
The colours in the wake of the storm just got better and better ...
and there was even a faint rainbow, starting near Science World ...
and ending near city hall
Once again, wet pavement + sunset = awesome colour!
I was soaked by this time, time to heading back towards downtown .
These colours are straight out of camera, in muted portrait mode no less. This is exactly how it looked out there tonight.
Yaletown condos silhouetted in orange
Some passerby had umbrellas, but most of the crazies out on the bridge were soaked.
It was kind of a warm rain, like you would get in a tropical place so it didn't bother me too much.
Remnants of a bridge party it would seem ...
Shifting from orange to pink now ...
Hiding at the bus stop, letting my gear dry and
snagging more of the colourful wet pavement.
Pink shifting to purple now ...
Liking the colour balance of the bus lights against the sky.
Free advertising for AmiChi
Purple fading away now ...

Outdoor movie night in Yaletown

2009-07-20T00:03:00.001-07:00

Who ya gonna call? Yes, Ghostbusters was on the menu at the 2nd annual outdoor movie night in Yaletown. We didn't get a chance to do the whole popcorn and picnic blanket thing, just a quick photo visit. Next year!

I believe the official screen size was listed as 40x20 feet and the image quality seemed quite good for such a BIG screen. The audio also sounded good, much better than other outdoor movie events I've been to.

Jennifer + Ken | Wedding at Ferguson Point in Stanley Park (Vancouver)

2009-07-10T00:45:00.000-07:00

Ahh, what a difference a few days makes with Vancouver weather. We were a little worried at first ...

... but it turned out great!

Ferguson Point - Scouting Trip

2009-07-04T01:24:00.000-07:00

Rosy and I went out scouting tonight at Ferguson Point, which is the site of our next wedding. Ferguson Point is a great little location for a wedding, especially with Third Beach so close by and an interesting "Lovers" trail in behind the Sequoia Grill.

The trees are so tall in this area, and likewise the shadows.

Seawall

For sure, the seawall is going to figure into our plans for the couple photos

If walking, biking, or rollerblading the seawall is getting old ... then try skateboarding!

Third Beach ... ahh to be young again and have time to just play in the sand, hehe.

Lots of interesting little pockets of greenery and light in the trails ...

Probably won't be too many flower macro shots come wedding day, hehe ... but what photographer can resist backlit bellflowers?

Cecilia + Abby | Wedding at Granville Island

2009-06-30T00:51:00.000-07:00

We had a great time at Granville Island on Saturday, lots of fun exploring and capturing moments for a couple who shall remain anonymous for now, hehe.

Bridges is a very flexible wedding location with a scenic outdoor patio on the 2nd floor and a very large dining room in case Vancouver weather kicks in!

Of course, as with any Granville Island day, there might be a couple of hundred tourists that want to share your day with you! As we walked along, everyone was offering congratulations to the couple and complimenting them on the dresses, colour scheme, etc!

The Roman columns + flower arrangements made a great frame for the ceremony.

Even the M&M's matched the colour scheme, and had tiny pictures of the couple imprinted on them - that was very cool!

The magnifying glass was for the M&M's, but came in handy to get a closer view of the wedding bands.

Traditional head jewelery for the bride ...

And boutonnieres with a little bling :)

And with this ring ...

Fun idea to have Polaroids via the giant Fuji Instax 200 and a handy glue stick to paste them into the guest book!

Gorgeous cake with the couple's theme in full effect.

Etoile + Dan | Wedding in Langley

2009-06-08T02:07:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Etoile & Dan, who got married last weekend! Considering the hot weather, it was a smart move to make it an informal family & friends affair!

We travelled to a farm/ranch in Aldergrove, where one of Dan's friends breeds horses. Etoile's parents even flew in from Mexico to join the celebration.

Next year on the same day, they will go to Mexico for the "big" wedding.
Dan actually made the wedding bands!
Etoile's dress waiting for its moment
Etoile's shoes lounging about on the patio
Getting ready, feeling a little shy to start the day!
Fast forward to the ceremony ...
The delicious cake on the not-so-sturdy looking plate ...
The eating (wearing?) of the delicious cake ...
Kids at play ...
Etoile & Dan getting away for a few moments
The fence, aside from the high-voltage horse-deterrent wire running along the top (ouch!), proved to be a romantic spot!
Climbing the fence for an overhead view, possibly my favourite shot from the day.
Etoile - Solo
A new beer called "BL", trying to recreate the 'michelada' taste ... hmmm
Jason's Dogs finding their own way to celebrate the happy day.
Did I mention the horses?
Wrapping up the day with a little bonfire and moonlight!

Krystal & Scott | Wedding at 'The Oldest Church in Surrey'

2009-05-25T19:25:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Krystal & Scott! Your wedding was so much fun, can't wait to share all the images with you.

Sneaking out onto the golf course at twilight.

A quick moment before dinner ...

Krystal and the girls

Krystal was rockin' the pink shoes! ...

Ceremony: Christ Church, The Oldest Church in Surrey, founded in 1882
Reception: Eaglequest Coyote Creek, Golf Course in Surrey

Janice & Dan | Wedding at Summerhill Winery in Kelowna

2009-05-17T23:55:00.000-07:00

We just got back from Kelowna and wow, so many nice images from Janice & Dan's winery wedding! Only time for some teasers below as it's going to be a busy busy week.

Hiding amongst the barrels ... there was a delicious aroma in the air at this location

Janice looking gorgeous!

Such a great couple ...

Janice's daughters have inherited the right genes for sure ;)

Romantic way to end the night

Scouting the day before ... love Dan's shirt, hehe

Summerhill has a cool little guest house in back, which we made great use of the next day ...

The Gazebo makes a nice backdrop for many Summerhill weddings

Summerhill overlooks Okanagan Lake

Getting ready

Dan gives out to instructions to Elexandria ... who you may remember from this shoot.

And hey ... while mom & dad are busy, girls will be girls and always find time for a little soccer!

And finally ... we were so sure we'd have to finally catch the latest Star Trek after our scouting trip, but nope ... just too tired from a long day of driving. When in Kelowna though, try the Paramount, a nice little 4-plex in the heart of downtown.

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-11T23:17:00.000-07:00

Magnolia Blossoms ... (correct me if I'm wrong here ... dammit Jim, I'm a photographer, not a horticulturist! Speaking of which ... anyone seen the new Star Trek yet??)

Window shopping ...

Berry shaped lights at Starbuck's

Tinseltown

Tinseltown Escalator

Happy Mother's Day!

Vancouver Marathon 2009

2009-05-03T14:23:00.000-07:00

I didn't really intend to cover the Vancouver Marathon, but it's hard to ignore a few thousand people running through the neighbourhood!

Sue Ann + Richard | Wedding at Aberthau Mansion (near Jericho Beach, Vancouver)

2009-04-29T00:21:00.000-07:00

We kicked off our 2009 wedding season with a sunny day at Aberthau mansion, with the pleasure of photographing Sue Ann & Richard's springtime nuptials!

Getting ready ...

Love the form and shading in this dress image ...

Arriving at Aberthau Mansion ...

Here comes the bride!

Richard looking on admiringly ...

I also experimented with a remote camera to take shots unobtrusively

You may kiss the bride ... :)

Husband and wife officially now!

Presents await ...

Love the feather plume pen!

I think i'll shoot the next wedding with an iPhone? :)

Check out the passenger in Richard's pocket.

A few private moments before the reception ...

A theme running through the afternoon was "Come Closer", on the cake, on Richard's homemade wine and more.

Some of the guests that came out to wish the couple well ....

Richard & Sue Ann are off for a 1 month trip to the Eastern U.S. and Slovakia ... buen viaje!

Aberthau Mansion - Scouting Trip

2009-04-25T22:04:00.000-07:00

Location scouting is always an integral part of planning for a wedding! Aberthau Mansion was so cool, we had to swing by twice! :) Actually, we just wanted to see how many of the flowers had bloomed since we were there last. An active community centre during the day. it's a great location for a wedding ceremony, and very reminiscent of the Cecil Greene building at UBC.

Daffodils now in bloom ...

Rosy caught me talking with my hands again as we check out the interior ... :)

Last month, things were a bit cooler ...

We're looking forward to shooting here, it should be fun!

See you soon Sue Ann & Richard!

Update - Cafe Vancouver's grand-opening

2009-04-25T21:57:00.000-07:00

Update - Cafe Vancouver had their grand-opening Friday (April 24th), so we stopped by again to sample the coffee and the Turkish pastries baked by Solomon's wife Naz. Very tasty! That, combined with the fun of seeing lots of international hits on our blog (hello Turkey!) after Naz emailed all her friends ... convinced us to do a follow-up. :)

Big difference from the other day, now full of people checking it out.

Naz, the bakery master ...

This wall is very cool and lets in a lot of light. Hmm, next time I need a giant softbox, I may have to come back. :)

Not only free wireless, but a couple of computers to use as well.

We had a great time meeting you all, good luck in your business!

Cafe Vancouver - new spot in Yaletown

2009-04-20T22:29:00.000-07:00

While out and about doing a quick bit of testing on a new polarizing filter, I met Solomon, who has just opened a new place in Yaletown called "Cafe Vancouver". I didn't really get a chance to sample the goodies this time around, but I vowed to return soon with Rosy. Cafe Vancouver has an inviting decor and along with organic coffee, they bake mostly everything on-site. I'm also always up to support local Yaletown businesses whenever possible ... and especially with free wireless internet! Future clients, don't be surprised if I bring you here to meet instead of the busy Starbucks! :)

Solomon and his team ...

View from the 'patio'

Nestled between Firehall No.8 ...

and Sandra Sung Bridal ...

Cafe Vancouver at 883 Hamilton St ... now open

In fact, open at 6am!

The awesomely orange and shiny espresso machine ...

Behind the scenes of espresso master control ...

View from behind the counter ...

Check it out next time you're in the area!

And in case you're wondering ... no, I haven't yet convinced Solomon about the 'free coffee for life' part! ;)

Quick peek at the new Vancouver Convention Centre

2009-04-04T01:33:00.000-07:00

I was just passing by and noticed that the new convention centre was open. I only had my point & shoot, but couldn't resist a few pics.

The front entrance I think?

The entrance was closed to the public tonight, but should be open tomorrow.

Looks like a weather balloon or communications thing ...

From the right angle and the right time ...

Light fixtures as sculpture?

Someone fellow photographer beat me to it, and was already using the convention centre for an engagement shoot!

Using a video light is a nice idea ... held by handy voice-activated-lightstand.

North shore with some wispy clouds catching the sunset.

Another view of the golf ball

More unknown-purpose light sculptures

A few late night workers in the tower.

The white ball lights up at night, with all kinds of projections ... kind of a planetarium laser light show experience i would imagine.

View from above ...

Some neighbouring buildings ...

Etoile + Dan | Engagement Photos at Granville Island

2009-03-31T01:02:00.000-07:00

We took advantage of a sunny Sunday to shoot Etoile + Dan's engagement session. It was a blast, starting from the place where they first met as UBC students and continuing down to a busy Granville Island!

Hello stranger!

Join me for a coffee?

Elexandria | Baby Photos in Burnaby

2009-02-23T01:44:00.000-08:00

Alexandria is 7-1/2 month old bundle of energy, curiosity and playfulness!
We had a fun photo shoot and she just wanted to say hi while she waits for her DVD. :)

She even already has a shoe fetish ... or is that mom? :)

First Meetup of the Vancouver Pictage User Group (PUG)

2009-02-12T16:32:00.000-08:00

Pictage isn't quite as big a brand name with brides & photographers in Canada yet as it is in the States. But that could soon change, as they have made important changes to their wedding photographer directory and plan to heavily increase their marketing in the coming months. Pictage is one of the leading fulfillment companies for professional photographers in the U.S. and Canada. They allow photographers to manage to their events and provide online image hosting so that clients can review their images and order from amongst a wide variety of professional prints, albums and other products.

One unique feature they offer is the co-ordination and support of local photographers via their Pictage User Groups (PUGs). Although most major U.S. cities have a PUG, Vancouver has only recently joined the club. Many thanks to Tom Galassi for dropping in from L.A. to get the ball rolling for Vancouver! Our initial turnout was a little smaller than we were hoping, as many probably were getting ready for the WPPI trade show next week. Nevertheless, it was great meeting some fellow photographers and exchanging a few tips.

We held it at the Elixir, part of the Opus Hotel in Yaletown ... a place strangely so close to me ... and yet that I had never been inside previously. Naturally, I have photographed it a couple of times however ... can't keep me away from shiny colourful things. Actually, one time my buddy Darrel and I were shooting the front entrance from across the street and everyone passing by kept asking "who is inside?" and "are you paparazzi or something?" ... sigh, kind of hard to catch fleeting glimpses of stars with tripods and 4 second shutter speeds, lol.

Anyways, looking forward to seeing Tom, Angelo, Diana and others at the next meetup!

From the archives (and from my pre-digital slide film days no less) ...

New Lens - Nikon 12-24mm

2009-01-26T20:01:00.000-08:00

I've had the 12-24mm on my shopping list for awhile, but other equipment always seemed to take priority. Now that I've got it ... well, cold cold weather be damned, time for a test drive!

People waiting for the bus at the Bay

Holt Renfrew 1

Holt Renfrew 2

Coal Harbour 1

Coal Harbour 2

Coal Harbour 3 - Float Plane Pier

"Inside the Cone" at the Ford Centre for the Performing Arts

Blue Walls and Foggy Nights

2009-01-16T23:19:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy beginning to the new year, but the blog has been lagging ... I thought I should post a couple images to get the 2009 ball rolling!

It's usually pretty hard to get me to cooperate for a photo ...

Usually, I prefer doing the shooting ... although it's not easy to be surreptitious when you're waiting for the red from the car tail-lights to illuminate the wall and you need a 2 second shutter speed and you don't have your tripod. The small size of the point & shoot does help though! :)

The snow is gone, but now the fog is out. Half the skyline is hidden!

Once more into the snow ...

2008-12-29T01:06:00.000-08:00

With the (slightly) warmer weather, the snow is starting to melt, so I had to venture out once more before it's gone! These are in and around the David Lam Park area.

Walking in the Snow ... Happy Holidays Everyone!

2008-12-23T23:19:00.000-08:00

Soup weather in effect :)

Happy Holidays using Post-its, that's impressive! On their site, they have a pretty cute youtube time-lapse clip that shows them putting it together.

Not exactly the hills of San Francisco, but Yaletown in snow doesn't make for easy deliveries!

Orpheum at dusk (i.e. 4pm at this time of year - argh!)

Groovy Gate

Birds need boots too?

Vogue in the Winter

Bowling anyone?

Last minute shoppers on Robson (ahem, ahem)

Tree has this parking lot all to itself

The warm confines of Lucy Mae Brown's look inviting

Snowman fun in Yaletown

Heat from lamp carves out a cavern under the snow

Yaletown Park

The Subway in the background is open 24 hours!

Mini-Cooper dashing through the snow

Santa Claus Parade

2008-12-12T12:46:00.000-08:00

I'm always looking for an excuse to go for a photo walk, and last Sunday's Santa Clause Parade provided a good opportunity ... even the weather was in a good mood.

Side-note: I'm a little late to the "can-wagon", but I just wanted to say "great job!" to Chris+Lynn for their "Cans for Comments" idea. It's a great reminder to get out and support your community. For the Yaletown area, two organizations that could use your help are A Loving Spoonful and Yaletown House.

Getting back to the walk, we were pretty busy in the morning, so we only caught the tail-end of the annual parade. Most of the crowds were gone by that time, but that actually proved an advantage in being able to get around and check things out!

This reindeer was a little tangled up, but nonetheless happy ...

A brave knight and his trusty steed ...

This mirror ball was reflecting the neon sign above

Waiting for Mom

Posing for pictures

Santa welcomes you!

Little known fact ... elves enjoy hitting the slopes when not making toys.

A snap from our gingerbread couple engagement photo session ... looking forward to the wedding! ;>

Tim Horton's tries to outdo the starbuck's "Venti" [this is also how much coffee i have in the morning.]

Food donation boxes well stocked! ... something about those crooked smiles doesn't seem quite right though ...

The Contemplative Mannequin ...

St. Paul's annual "Lights of Hope" display

Part of St. Paul's light display

A wall outside "The Electra" (the old BC Hydro Electric building that was converted to condominiums)

Walking off into the sunset ...

Heta + Jarkko | Engagement in Yaletown

2008-12-05T23:05:00.000-08:00

Heta and Jarkko, we had a really nice afternoon with you! (They are a cool Finnish couple that came to us for a portrait session before heading off to Hawaii for a couple of weeks!) We can't wait to show you all the fun images when you get back!

Joe McNally Workshop in Vancouver

2008-12-03T00:12:00.000-08:00

Vancouver Photo Workshops brought Joe McNally back to town again this year. I still didn't have a chance to attend the full 5-day workshop, but managed to check out tonight's mini-workshop hosted at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre. It was a good evening, split between a presentation of Joe's work (similiar to his book "The Moment it Clicks", which he also signed copies of later) and a lighting demonstration (one setup using Elinchrom strobes and one setup using Nikon SB-800's and a couple of SB-900's I think). There maybe wasn't a lot of new information for the Vancouver Strobist crowd (although apparently there was an informal meet-up that would have been amazingly cool to attend, argh!), but it was nevertheless fun to watch Joe build up his CLS setup one flash at a time, while maintaining his sense of humour and audience banter. He answered several audience questions, but I didn't get the chance to ask him about the D3x that was announced yesterday (he mentioned he was one of the chosen few to test out the prototypes of the original D3).

Joe posts about his trip to Vancouver on his blog here.

Here are a few snaps from the event (apologies in advance for the high-ISO noisiness - it was dark in there!):

One of the many magazine covers by Joe.

Joe waits in the wings for his introduction ...

Marc Koegel from VPW introduces Joe.

Joe introduces his work.

Joe adds a lot of humour to his talk, which is really great.

Everyone had their pens out, though some were chewing instead of writing. :)

Joe mounts a small softbox (Lastolite EzyBox) to the SB-900.

Joe checks out the view from Hanah's (the model) position. Assisting this evening were Syx, Tim and Pooya.

Wow, we were so hungy after skipping dinner earlier to make it on time, we had to drop by Vera's for a late night burger ... still the best in town!

Bon Match seminar featuring Greg Schurman

2008-11-24T21:03:00.000-08:00

Earlier today, I had the chance to attend a seminar hosted by BonMatch (local album manufacturer) at the Jericho Sailing Club. The event featured some fine art print re-touching techniques from Cim MacDonald and a ballerina photo shoot on the beach by Greg Schurman. It was a good chance to meet some other local photographers, compare notes and check out the latest album designs. Nice meeting all of you!

Cadeyrn | Baby Photos in Vancouver

2008-11-22T22:18:00.000-08:00

Cadeyrn's mom & dad decided to celebrate his 1st year in style!

Cadeyrn was a treat to photograph ... so friendly and full of energy, but still cooperative and easy to work with! Leigh & Richard, you've got a cute one on your hands! We'll see you soon once all the images are ready, but we wanted to give you a quick sampler in the meantime. ;)

Perhaps a career in basketball? Whether a ball or a pumpkin, Cadeyrn enjoyed tossing them around!

Playing hide and seek with mom and dad.

Are we done yet? :)

Krystal + Scott | Engagement Photos in the Studio (Vancouver)

2008-11-20T23:01:00.000-08:00

Engagement Shoots in Winter? Yep, this time of year is pretty cold and wet for outdoor engagement shoots, so we've had to move in to the studio lately. We had a great time last weekend with Krystal & Scott!

Remembrance Day, Vancouver - November 11, 2008

2008-11-11T12:40:00.000-08:00

My grandmother, who passed away earlier this year, was heavily involved in Legion and Remembrance Day activities. So even though it was pretty rainy out there today -- not easy to take photos one handed while holding an umbrella(!) -- getting out there is my way of remembering and paying tribute to her.

I think I am a silent ninja when taking photos, but obviously not as incognito as I was hoping. However, I like the way it's only the one soldier looking over, kind of makes the photo.

Best view going!

Self-explanatory :)

I would have liked to get closer, but it was very crowded out there. I had to hold the camera above my head at full arm's length just to get a glimpse of the bands faces.

For medicinal use only ...

Trying to catch the sombre mood of the parade.

Despite the rain, many people came out to line the parade route and honour the soldiers.

Who needs an umbrella when you have a custom tailored plastic suit.

Taking a moment from barking orders to stare me down.

A moment of humour

Leading the marching band along Hastings Street

I kept waiting and waiting for the little girl to turn her face a little, but she was too engrossed in watching the parade.

The fine mist you see on his horn is the same that was on my camera gear. Argh!

Bagpipe players are the original punk rockers, they don't care what others think.

It's a shame the raincoat hides the medals of this proud soldier, but his salute tells the tale.

Soldiers getting more stylish, are those Armani frames?

I'm not sure exactly how to differentiate the soldier's uniforms ... are these captains in front, with privates in the back?

Love the Scottish influence on these uniforms.

And the band played on ...

Hobbs | Giroday - Studio Shoot

2008-11-03T20:39:00.000-08:00

Last week we had a chance to work with a Vancouver law firm to create photographs for some advertising they were planning, as well as to update some of the photographs on their website.

They are planning a free lecture series and more information will soon be on their website: (Hobbs | Giroday - Barristers & Solicitors).

They are also avid triathletes and we wanted to work that into one of the images. Among many concepts, we liked this image the best!

An evening with the Nikon 24mm PC-E

2008-10-25T02:19:00.000-07:00

After admiring this lens for quite awhile, I finally rented it from the good people at Beau Photo for a chance to play with those cool tilt/shift controls. You always need to test your gear before using it on a job, and I wanted to have it handy for a shoot I was about to start.

It definitely took some getting used to, and I unintentionally made it even more of an adventure by heading out at night (the only free time I had that day). You will surely want to have this mounted on a tripod as you learn it. The 'tilt' was the more obviously "fun" control, allowing to get that narrow band of focus that I find ultra enticing.

As for the 'shift' control, the are probably more normal things to use it for, but I found it simply to be an easy way build a panorama shot.

And while I was busy testing the 24mm PC-E, Rosy was having fun with the 85mm 1.8 that is so great for low light work.

Mike & Kath | Wedding at the Vancouver Rowing Club

2008-10-16T22:32:00.000-07:00

All the way from sunny Edmonton, Mike & Kath had a beautiful wedding at the Vancouver Rowing Club (which turned out to be a great venue for a wedding - not too small, not too big!) with friends and family from all over.

Kath went with a cool retro theme, making her own dress from a vintage 1950's era pattern! Details included her mother's pearls (something borrowed) and a fun hand-made bridal bouquet.

Yaletown speedlinks ...

2008-10-04T00:32:00.000-07:00

Hmm, this slogan seems familiar, isn't there some big city on the East coast ...

The new location of Nygard at the corner of Cambie & Nelson had it's 3rd or 4th grand opening recently.

The VPL had their book sale a week or two ago, and attracted a large number of vendors, artists and bargain hunters.

Fall season, new fall styles ... check these awesome boots!

Fall is here ...

2008-09-21T02:25:00.000-07:00

After a so-so August in terms of weather, September has been really quite great. However, today is the first day of fall ... it's time to start scouting those colourful leaves!

This usually also marks the time of year when the wedding season winds down and studio season revs up. I'm thinking of offering some sort of special on Christmas portraits for kids, although maybe just for friends & past clients. I'm definitely not dressing up as Santa though, hehe. As always, email me if you are interested.

There should still be plenty of chances to enjoy some outdoor fall sessions as well.

I usually also start opening the calendar to shooting other events as well - bar mitzvahs, corporate events, and quinceaños!

Mexico Fest 2008 | Central Library in Downtown Vancouver

2008-09-18T22:52:00.000-07:00

Sure, we would've liked to have seen the Mariachi Vargas (apparently the best in all of Mexico) and the Tequila tasting sounded fun ... but there's only so much time! We were happy to get the chance to check out the Mexican dancing and a sampling of the food.

September 11th 9-11

2008-09-11T19:46:00.000-07:00

I was walking by Firehall No.8 in Yaletown and noticed this tribute to the firefighters helping in the 9/11 rescue efforts. It brought back memories of that tragedy, and the realization that it's been 7 years. Peace be with the families affected by the events that day.

The firehall ...

Nike+ Human Race 10K | Downtown Vancouver

2008-09-02T01:13:00.000-07:00

Living downtown, we get our share of strange things happening on our doorstep. Especially parades, we get a lot of those ... the Grey cup parade, the Vancouver Naked Bike parade, and yesterday ... it was the Vancouver segment of the Nike Human Race 10K. OK, it wasn't a parade per se, but there were a lot of orange shirts running down nelson, then Cambie ... on their way to a music stage setup in the giant parking lot across from Stadium Skytrain.

More details and some video here ...
http://inside.nike.com/blogs/humanrace-en_CA/2008/09/01/930-pdt-running-vangroovie-style

Trying out Pictage's Wedding Albums

2008-08-24T23:30:00.000-07:00

We've signed on with Pictage and are in the process of trying our next couple of weddings using them for client proofing and ordering. They are endorsed by many well-known wedding photographers, and seem to have a good workflow and event management system. At first glance, membership seems a littley pricey, but they offer a number of unique products that we're interested in trying and that we think our clients will enjoy. We'll post more when we receive our studio sample albums!

If you have experience with them as photographers or clients, we're curious to know how happy you were with them? Please share any experiences in the comments below ...

Rick + Dini | Wedding in Port Moody on 08-08-08

2008-08-09T18:43:00.000-07:00

08-08-08 ... yes, it was the big wedding day around town! Rick and Dini had a beautiful ceremony at an intimate Port Moody venue called "At the Beach Retreat". Congratulations you two! Have a great cruise to Alaska and we'll see you when you get back!

Scanning the Archives - Langara Photography Program

2008-07-20T18:27:00.000-07:00

We all have 'background' projects that we work on and for me, scanning in my old slides and colour negatives is one that I've been chipping away at for a long time. This shot was part of a "key-shifting" assignment back in the day for a lighting course at Langara.

I hadn't scanned any for awhile and last night when I went to use my Minolta Scan Elite, it refused to scan. After a couple of hours of troubleshooting with no success, I started scouring the web for possible solutions. I found that Minolta became Konica-Minolta and that now Sony has taken them over. Along the way, the available information on this scanner has slowly evaporated and of course, it's no longer supported. I really didn't want to buy a new scanner since this one used to work fine, but you start to run out of options once items get discontinued. The product cycles are so fast theses days it's kind of crazy. Anyways, I eventually found another piece of software which worked (Vuescan) and I was able to get back to my project. Whew! Scanning in the above photo, I was reminded how nice film can look.

Vancouver Modelling Agencies

2008-07-18T21:53:00.000-07:00

John Casablancas - Vancouver
http://www.jcvancouver.com/

A. Charles Stuart Model Management - www.faceswest.com - (604) 222-3177 - more

B. LizBell Agency Ltd - www.lizbellagency.com - (604) 683-9696 - more

C. Patti Falconer International Model & Talent Agency - (604) 696-6296 - more

D. PMG Management Ltd - www.pmgmanagement.com - (604) 899-0456 - more

E. Jett Models - www.jettmodels.com - (604) 742-0881 - more

F. BMG Model & Talent Agency - (604) 331-1221 - more

G. Richard's Model Management International - www.richardsmodels.com - (604) 683-7484

H. TalentCo Model Management - www.talentco.net - (604) 687-0388

I. Supermodel Scouts Inc - maps.google.com - (604) 688-0440

'Cumulus' aerial dance at Vancouver Public Library

2008-07-10T21:53:00.000-07:00

So I was passing by the downtown library ... when I saw ropes dangling down and people looking up. I had no idea what it was at first, but it's times like these I'm glad to have the camera handy. Two women in were perched near the top - dressed like colourful parrots or something - seemingly getting ready to rapel down the face of the building. It turned out to be more like an aerial dance, with the performers pushing away from the wall, spinning upside down and doing various maneuvers in tandem. It was pretty mesmerizing, but drawing curiously little attention from passerby. There were no signs or anything announcing or explaining the performance, so it felt almost like an impromptu stunt rather than performance art. I didn't know how long it would last, so I made full use of my D200's 5fps for the first time in a long while!

There was some accompanying music and I found out from the "DJ" that the event was called "Cumulus" and was put on the by the Aeriosa Dance Society. The description from their site reads:

"Cumulus explores the territory of daydreams -- humans evoking cloud-forms migrating across the sky, celestial creatures morphing on the wings of the wind."

It lists the performers as Alisoun Payne & Julia Taffe (also the choreographer). Anyways, just a random bit of coolness to the daily walk.

Photo Walk near Davie & Bute

2008-07-09T23:14:00.001-07:00

We went for a tortilla run to Valley Produce and I'm glad I brought the camera. There were a lot of interesting photos along the way, including this girl trying to cool off in the spray of a nearby garden hose.

If you've never been to this grocery store, it's located near the corner of Davie & Bute. It appears to be Chinese-run, but has one of the best selections of authentic (imported) Mexican foods in the city!

Top O' the Tower | Coal Harbour Vancouver

2008-07-04T16:29:00.000-07:00

The other day I came across a rare opportunity to shoot from the top of one of Vancouver's tallest buildings. Can you guess which one? I knew the time of day (mid-afternoon) & weather conditions (let's call it super-haze) would be far from optimal for interesting photos, but it was a great time nonetheless. A big thank you to those who made it possible!

Surprise! Nikon D700 & SB-900 announced

2008-06-30T20:25:00.000-07:00

Nikon France seems to be the first Nikon site with images & specs.

My French is a little rusty, but it seems like the rumour mill had the D700 specs correct - the D3's 12 MP sensor (& ISO range), 1 CF slot, Live View, built-in flash, etc.

The SB-900 sounds interesting, with a new user interface, wider coverage, more power, faster recycle time and filter detection for white balance adjustments.

Update: Nikon Canada's site now has all the info ...

Cherry Coke + Reversed-Lens Macro

2008-06-22T20:56:00.001-07:00

After getting back from a day-trip to the States, among our prized pickups was a case of Cherry Coke. I really don't know why this has never been offered in Canada (shrugging shoulders), but an empty can made a good subject to try some "reversed lens macro" photos.

I'm not sure if this is the original flickr site where I got the idea a few months ago, but you can take it pretty far by purchasing a special adapter to mount 2 lenses together (one reversed). For my simple test, I just reversed my 50mm 1.4 and held it in front of the camera body. It's kind of like using a heavier, slippery version of a lensbaby. It's obviously not the same as using a proper macro lens, but in a pinch, it does a pretty awesome job of giving you a larger-than-life-size playground. Because the lens is not coupled to the camera, everything is manual. Experiment first to find the right exposure, then move back & forth to put the focus where you want it. Only the center area is in focus, the sides get progessively softer the further from the center you get. It reminds me of some of the beautiful tilt/shift effects you can get by messing with the plane of focus. The shots below are all hand-held, but the area of focus is so thin you'll definitely want to use a tripod. For comparison, the first shot above is as close as the 50mm 1.4 will focus when mounted normally.

False Creek Rocket

2008-06-14T16:39:00.000-07:00

It's always fun to get out around False Creek, especially at night when the lights are reflecting off the water. I usually need to combine these mini photo excursions on top of "real" activities and last night was no exception. So after our Shoppers Drug Mart pit-stop to catch the last day of the ice cream sale(!), I managed to steal a few minutes. The water turned so smooth in this exposure, it looks almost like ice. I'm not sure if this sculpture is really called the "rocket" or not, but it is pretty interesting in that it changes direction according to the tides.

I never realized the end "glows" until I was taking this shot (it comes on for about approximately 20 seconds every couple of minutes). I guess it's preparing for take-off. ;)

More False Creek sampler shots here ...

Honl flash accessories arrived!

2008-06-09T23:52:00.000-07:00

Since seeing David Honl's flash accessories mentioned on Strobist a few months ago, I finally decided to order this past week. Strangely, the velcro speed straps were the things that initially drew my attention - mostly because I really didn't like mucking up my flash with the sticky tape velcro of previous light modifiers I had tried. I added the straps and the snoot into the online shopping cart, and then said "well, since I'm paying for shipping to Canada anyway ... I might as well get a few more items". So I ended up getting at least one of everything, including the gel set and grids. :)

The gear arrived today, simply packaged in ziplock bags with little card inserts giving the URL to the infamous "belly dancing" example video. The quality of the materials is quite good and they feel like they will withstand heavy use. I'm looking forward to putting them into action as soon as I can, and I'll post some comparison images when I get a chance.

Links
David Honl's main site
David Honl's blog
Honl Online Store

Jessica - Headshots Portrait Session in Yaletown

2008-06-07T22:02:00.000-07:00

We had a great shoot with Jessica a couple of weeks ago. She needed some headshots for a project she was working on, and we were happy to help! Although it was a somewhat windy day, we decided to work outdoors in order to get a different flavour than the studio. We shot a mix of situations using available light and flash. The Nikon SB-800 wireless system works quite well as long as the sensor is pointed towards the triggering flash and as long as the distance is reasonable. We also made good use of a large foam-core reflector, bouncing the flash into it to make for a soft-box look. Jessica was fun to work with, and we wish her the best of luck with her projects and website (Jessica is a registered dietician, and can be contacted via her Flourish BC site).

Jay Maisel & Gregory Heisler in town!

2008-05-23T00:24:00.000-07:00

I went to a presentation a couple of nights ago at the Ironworks studio (put on by Vancouver Photography Workshops) featuring Jay Maisel and Gregory Heisler. They are in town to teach 5 day workshops (which at ~$1000, are a bit too much for my budget). Tickets for the seminar were only $35 and with the Q&A session, managed to stretch from the planned 2 hours to almost 4 hours. :)

It was a very intersting night as Jay has always been one of my favourites, and my natural shooting style is very close to his. Maisel is very much about capturing the moment as is (at least in his personal work) while Heisler is much more about pre-visualizing and creating an image from a concept. Heisler has amazing lighting skills and had some great stories about celebrities he has worked with.

Definitely looking forward to more of these in the future.

http://gregoryheisler.com/

http://www.jaymaisel.com/

http://www.vancouverphotoworkshops.com/course_listing/jay_greg_talk_2008.htm

Mexico Trip, January 2008

2008-01-14T23:13:00.000-08:00

We went to Mexico in January to visit Rosy's family ... instead of flying in direct to Mexico City, we flew to Puerta Vallarta and drove from there (the driving took longer than the flight!). We took our time on the return trip, stopping in some pretty cool places like San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato. In between the visiting, I tried to coax a few admittedly touristy side trips along the way.

Among the surprises was a huge outdoor ice rink in the Zocalo (heart of Mexico City downtown), a Grouse-Grind-like hiking trail with a mini-Aztec temple at the top (in Tepotzlan) and a visit to the blue agave fields of Tequila! I travelled light, with a D40x, 18-200mm VR, and my trusty manual focus 50mm f1.4.

Full gallery here ...

Christina + Mark | Wedding (Elopement) in Yaletown / Vancouver

2007-10-15T12:40:00.000-07:00

Christina and Mark had planned to elope in Vancouver (after the logistics for San Fran and Napa didn't quite work), but it turned out to be more than just the two of them once Christina's mom found out. :D

The family flew in from various locations around the States (mostly Oregon and Maryland) and had a chance to enjoy the Vancouver liquid sunshine that starts to come our way in October! But spirit was never in short supply and after the lovely ceremony, we soon found ourselves huddling under tiny umbrellas outside of La Terrazza ... one for C+M and one for us (i.e. our camera gear!). We lasted for about 10 minutes before heading back inside to the warmth & their friends who were anxiously waiting to get the party started!

A few of our favourite images below ...

Wishing you all the best!
Doug & Rosy

Sylvia & Michael | Wedding at Minnekhada Lodge in Coquitlam

2007-09-23T23:00:00.000-07:00

Sylvia & Michael were a really nice couple and it was a pleasure to photograph their wedding at the Minnekhada Lodge in Coquitlam!

David's Bar Mitzvah | The Arbutus Club in Vancouver

2007-09-15T22:25:00.000-07:00

I had to take a crash course in Mitzvah traditions, but it was a fantastic experience photographing David's Bar Mitzvah, especially the Hora at the end.

Some googling gives a little background ...

The Judaic celebrations of Bar Mitzvah (boys) and Bat Mitzvah (girls) are ceremonies in which a Jewish boy or girl reach their majority -- thirteen years old -- and fully join the rest of their religious community.

Becoming Bar Mitzvah entails a number of responsibilities. It means that the boy or girl is now morally responsible for their own actions; they can be called to read from the Torah at temple; they can own what they possess (physical property); and perhaps most importantly, they are subject to the 613 laws of the Torah (the five books of Moses).

Wow, that is a lot of rules!

David was a little bit reluctant on having his photo taken, but of course a lot of teenagers are! It was so different from a wedding where the bride & groom - having hired you - are cooperative about being in photos. So Rosy & I had to use our ninja stealth skills as much as possible and wait for moments when there wasn't a lot of camera awareness, hehe. For family privacy, we're limiting photos on the blog for this event, but we still wanted to share a few of our favourite images from the venue.

Venue: The Arbutus Club
Event Planner: Jenny Ashton, Visual Presentation Productions
DJ: Hot Wax Mobile Music