Hello! Welcome to my website and this, my first Blog entry. This will probably be the longest blog entry here, so if you get through it, the rest will be easy. I am a Photographer who loves the Natural World; Landscapes, Forests, Rivers, Lakes and Streams… All surrounded by the North Atlantic Ocean on the East Coast of Canada.
My journey into Photography pretty much mirrors my journey into life. Even though my parents didn’t have much starting out, my Mother managed to begin recording my progress within a couple of months of my birth. At the time, she was using an old Kodak Brownie that I later inherited when she upgraded to an Instamatic. I don’t recall if I inherited the Instamatic, or if I received one as a Christmas gift, but I remember being thrilled at the convenience of being able to carry it in my pocket.
Later, in my late teens, I received a Polaroid Land Camera – the kind that produced a fully developed picture in minutes. Anyone who’s ever used one will know that the image quality was very poor and a few years later I invested in a Kodak 110. Not much different than the Instamatic, but I realize now I was seeking better images and looking for ways to improve my Photography.
In 1981, while on my first National tour as a Musician, I bought my first SLR ("Single Lens Reflex") Camera; a very basic Pentax that was nearly fully Manual. The sales guy at the camera shop said I’d learn more if I had fewer Automatic features. I can’t say I learned a lot, because I was more focused (pun intended/not intended) on playing Music and partying. In 1985, a “friend” borrowed the Camera and I haven’t seen either of them since.
In the years to follow, I had a variety of “Point & Shoot” models; all of which used 35mm film and took decent quality images but didn’t offer much in the way of control. No focus ring, no aperture settings, no ISO, just zoom function to bring distant objects closer. The bonus was that for someone like myself who was prone to forgetting, losing or damaging such things, they didn’t cost a great deal. Some were even known as “disposable.” Simply fill the film roll, then take the whole unit to a developing facility and get your prints back an hour later.
In the end, it was the lack of functions that drove me back to the SLR models that are more complex in their operation. Now though, they are digital, meaning, among other things, there is no film to buy or develop, just a memory (SD) card and a USB attachment to a computer or tablet.
I got a DSLR at a second-hand shop in Fredericton NB in 2017 while home visiting my family. That camera was a Canon EOS Rebel T2i, a decent entry-level unit that could be considered semi-professional by some. I had a lot to learn and learned a lot!
In the summer of 2020, I was home again, this time to attend Mom’s Funeral service. I had made previous arrangements with my good friend John Draper (who is a professional Photographer and teacher of all things Camera) to spend a day learning from him. A day is nowhere near enough time to learn what I needed to know but he imparted some valuable tips which set me in the right direction. He also provided encouragement to pursue Photography at a more serious level. Since then I have captured thousands of images and delved into the confusing and intimidating world of Photo Editing. I use a program called Affinity Photo, which has been ranked as equal to or better than Photoshop. The best thing is it is not subscription based and is downloadable to your hard drive.
A few months later, I was tempted to upgrade my camera, and found a Canon EOS Rebel T6 on Kijiji at a price I could afford. I made that purchase and passed the T2i along to my niece.
Finally, this website… When I began thinking seriously about taking my photography to another level, I realized a website was of utmost importance. I could have chosen from a number of “do it yourself” site developers that provide templates and offer “drag-and-drop” technology, but I chose instead to contact another friend who is in the web development business. Joel Young a fellow Musician – has been operating CBI Web Services for a number of years. I knew Joel would take the time to hear what I had to say and deliver to me a site that reflects not only my Photography, but also my personality. Joel and I spent many hours over coffee and conversation before he started work on my project. This way there are no surprises for either of us. I’m VERY satisfied with the results and I suggest if you want a website, contact Joel and see what he can do for you.
Thank you for checking out my site. I hope you become a regular visitor as I continue to shoot and post images from wherever I go. While you’re at it, why not follow me on Facebook and Instagram? {links on the Home page} Like and subscribe to my YouTube channel, and drop a line in the comments section. Let me know what you think of my work.
Until next time, keep your shutter finger warm and always remember to pack spare batteries!