Which is the Best Camera ?

Many, many people have asked this question.  Wether or not you are a photo enthusiast, first time camera buyer, or perhaps just in casual conversation with friends or family, this question begs to be different.  Most people will have a choice based on camera manufacture like Cannon or Nikon.  Others will have a choice based on simplicity of use such as point and shoot.  Others in particular photo enthusiasts, will prefer the quality and optics only provided by a Digital SLR or film SLR.  Whatever the case the answer is different depending on who you talk to and their needs, likes and dislikes concerning camera equipment.  With todays advancement in technology, we live in a time that is blessed with choices.  However, the fact remains that imaging or photography brings out our individual creativity in each and everyone of us, so really is camera choice important?
This question actually came up during a portraiture seminar that I attended last Spring.  All the answers presented in class were quite interesting. However one important common sense detail surprised us all.  The best camera is the one that is with you at the time.  Of course I chuckled, until I had to take this picture.  For those of you who know me you know that my camera is not far away, except for this day.  Wanting to just go for a simple walk and not have to stop many times to take pictures, I left my camera back at the cottage.  Well guess what happened.  I was then reminded by my wife that I had my cell phone with me.  That is how I recorded this image.  Captured on a iPhone 4S using max electronic zoom then slightly colour corrected and sharpened in Lightroom 3.6, I was certainly impressed with the result along with the puzzled look on the Doe's face.

Soccer Action

One sport that I enjoy to photograph is soccer.  The intense action, the ball position and most of all the facial expressions on the players, makes for many interesting images.  However I do find this game to be technically challenging from a photographing point of view.  Shooting soccer does requires a little knowledge about the game which helps develop a sense of predicting where the ball and play is going. This allows one to simply frame and prefocus the shot in that location.  I discovered that the more practice one has shooting soccer the better one becomes producing usable images.  Bright overcast and cloudy conditions I find are ideal to photograph soccer.  This combined with the lowest possible ISO to allow a fast shutter speed to freeze the action and a mid-range aperture to allow the best possible depth of field, are key.  This image was shot at 1/1000 sec, f 7.1, ISO 800 at a focal length (DX) of 200 mm.  This particular meeting between two very competitive teams was the final championship game of the tournament, was not decided until the tenth and final sudden death shoot out kick.

Summer Passage

Driving along a regional road in the Huntsville area of central Ontario, I came across this old farm building which had obviously seen better days. The autumn colors, overgrown brush,  the patina reflected in the old barn's siding material, all attracted me to stop and record this location. Interesting enough I photographed this building from all angles and locations but the first image I took is my favourite.  Taken at 1/500 sec. f 5.0, using a prime f1.8, 35mm (DX format) standard lens under overcast conditions, this image gives me the feeling of the passage of time.  The autumn colours in combination with the structure's state of disrepair, certainly indicate that this building has reached the end of it's useful life with the exception of course being a photographic subject.

Turtle Lake Sunset

For those photographers who are interested in selling stock photography work, the last thing stock agencies need is more sunset images.  Regardless of this most avid shutter bugs have their interpretation of the most perfect sunset.  This happens to be one of mine.  Shot early evening several years ago while on a cottage vacation, this picture was recorded as a large file fine jpeg image.  I might add that I took this image in a period of time before I fully understood the advantages of shooting in camera RAW.  Taken with my original Nikon D70s, this image was shot at 1/20 sec, f3.5, ISO 400 with a focal length of 18mm.  The camera was mounted on a tripod for stability.  What makes this image one of my favourites is burning sunset glow combined with the reflection on the glassy surface of the lake.  The placement of the canoe in the foreground also adds interest to the image. To me this shot is a reminder of a great summer day coming to an end in a spectacular fashon.

NOTL - Lazy Afternoon

Another favourite shot of mine taken in the town of Niagara on the Lake one early summer afternoon.  This image overlooking Lake Ontario at the mouth of the Niagara River gives me the feeling of the slow passage of time on a hot lazy day.  Shot at f/11, 1/60 sec,  at ISO 200.  Utilizing a circular polarizing filter enabled me to capture the wispy cloud formations as well as the ability to darken the blue sky.  The empty gazebo along with the sailboat and the two couples in the background,  substantiates that lazy day feeling given by this photograph.

So You Think GTA Traffic is Bad

I captured this moment one afternoon in August 2010 in New York City.  Although NYC is as everyone knows a very busy traffic congested city, I was amazed at the number of yellow cabs present on city streets.  Obviously I was the only one impressed judging by the gentleman who was too busy checking his phone.  Shot at 1/2500 sec, f/8, ISO 800.

NOTL Apothecary

Probably one of the most photographed buildings in the town of Niagara on the Lake, Ontario is the Niagara Apothecary.  This 18th century drugstore and museum located on the main downtown street attracts many visitors and onlookers who for the most part peer into the front window. ( It is closed most of the time).  I have been trying to tastefully photograph this location for several years and have not been successful until now.  My goal was to get a image devoid of distractions which are always present in a very touristy area.  With this photo I managed  to find the right location, which allowed me to record the image without meandering people, facility wires and other distractions.  I shot this at f/ 5.0, 1/500 sec at ISO 200, and a focal length of 62mm (Nikon DX sensor).  Although taken midday under sunny conditions,  the harsh lighting provided the much needed fill for the shady areas.  This is one of my favourite shots of the day.

The Hunt Camp

Nestled away in northern Ontario is this idyllic setting of a red cabin cottage on an remote island in the Lake Nipissing area.  Taken in early November several years ago, you would not have believed there was several inches of snow on the ground days earlier.  Shot at 1/200 sec, f/10, ISO 400, the early morning light through the trees gives this image an almost whimsical look.  I was fortunate to capture this scene because as a rule I do not pack my good camera equipment due to unavoidable weather and trail conditions encountered during the fall hunt.  

Bryan & Lisa Engagement Shoot Cont'd

Not only was the previous post's photograph one of my favourites, but this one is also a favourite but from a "it's different" perspective.  Posed on top of a knee wall in the middle of a busy traffic circle, (Bryan and Lisa I might add were very brave to do this), I and other members of the class were urged on by our instructor to take advantage of the unique background for our photos of the couple.  I shot this particular one at 1/800 sec, f/5.6 at ISO 200 using maximum zoom capability of my lens of 200 mm.  I was probably 15 meters from the couple dodging transit buses. Tonal and sharping adjustments were made in Lightroom 3.6 in order to enhance this image.  This photo makes me feel that the couple is "on top of the world" and ready to take on life's many challenges.

Bryan & Lisa Engagement Shoot

I know I said I am basically a hobbyist photographer, however I had the opportunity as a result of a wedding photography course that I am currently taking, to do an engagement shoot.  The couple Bryan and Lisa were great to work with, very much in love and displaying affection for one another, which made this photo assignment a breeze.  The weather also cooperated with overcast clouds and sunny periods.  This provided good diffused lighting conditions at times.  This particular photo is one of my favourite poses from the shoot.  Shot at 1/160 sec, f8, using fill flash compensation -2, the backdrop of tall grass provides good colour contrast between the couples clothing and background.

About Me

Photography and it's creativity is what inspires me.  Photography removes me from my everyday hustle and bustle and gives me perhaps a "clean slate" or maybe a different out look on life.  I am not a working professional photographer.  To be one would probably spoil everything including the enjoyment.  My hobby "career" probably began around the age of 8 when my parents gave me a Kodak Holiday Brownie camera kit complete with flash, one roll of Verichrome Pan 127 film and a dozen M2 flash bulbs for Christmas.  I never looked back.  At the age of 13 I became the owner of my first "good" camera a twin lens Kalloflex 120. This was followed by building my own darkroom, working with my uncle who was a Professional, involvement with high school camera clubs and yearbook photography.  Although my working career took me on a different path, photography and the love of photographic equipment continued as a hobby.  By the way I still own those two cameras along with others in my personal camera museum.