So Long LA, Hello Toronto!

Something you don't really see back home...

2009-10-20T14:55:00.001-04:00

heat giver, originally uploaded by jasonainsworth75.

RADIATORS! Actually, you do not see them so often around here either, at least not in homes. Most people have "forced air", a term I had never heard until I moved here.

Ancient history

2009-10-10T22:06:00.001-04:00

Toronto Trashed, originally uploaded by jasonainsworth75.

Remember that garbage strike we had this year in Toronto? It seems like such ancient history now. It was such a big news story...I like how Toronto does not have that many big news stories too often.

Nikon AF600

2009-09-01T09:57:00.001-04:00

Nikon AF600, originally uploaded by Ray Pempengco.

My newest camera, inherited from Heather's mum (RIP)--can't wait to test it out this weekend!

Anti War Protest Saturday, April 4

2009-04-07T16:23:00.001-04:00

Anti War Protest Saturday, April 4, originally uploaded by jasonainsworth75.

Does this mean that Catholics for Abortion can be right around the corner?

Just kidding--I was happy to meet these people at a protest on Saturday. Personally I don't see how any of the branches of Christianity would advocate anything other than peace but then I'm not a member of any branch of Christianity. Nor have I read a bible.

last, last weekend

2009-03-24T16:20:00.001-04:00

centre, originally uploaded by jasonainsworth75.

I had about 400 hits on my flickr yesterday but this was not one of 'em.

new batch taken with a new/used lens

2009-03-03T16:15:00.001-05:00

DSC_8924.jpg, originally uploaded by jasonainsworth75.

I think this might be the best from a bunch I posted after shooting an inexpensive 28-80mm from ebay with my D70s. Still not sure how I feel about this lens though....

Back home we get 'em for free

2009-02-23T16:10:00.001-05:00

Back home we get 'em for free, originally uploaded by jasonainsworth75.

Uploaded photos from this weekend including this sign I saw in posh Yorkville.

Japanese, made in China

2009-02-17T12:28:00.001-05:00

Japanese, made in China, originally uploaded by jasonainsworth75.

This is a gift that Matt gave me as a birthday present some time ago. I used it as a model to test a new camera body with a macro lens.

8 months

2009-02-06T17:35:00.001-05:00

8 months, originally uploaded by jasonainsworth75.

ok, there seems to be some kind of limit that you can type here--too much and the blog isn't posted to....

The Clientele, Virgin Music Festival 2007 in Toronto

2009-02-06T17:34:00.001-05:00

The Clientele, Virgin Music Festival 2007 in Toronto, originally uploaded by jasonainsworth75.

test3

Last Delicious Cheez-It

2009-02-06T17:33:00.001-05:00

Last Delicious Cheez-It, originally uploaded by jasonainsworth75.

test 2

Flickr

2009-02-06T17:26:00.001-05:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Thoughts, predictions, hopes, goals for 2009?

2009-01-20T15:03:00.002-05:00

I hope things will be status quo in most regards.

This includes continuing work for Quired with the exception of having more responsibly and earning a little more money.

Photography!
Take 3 great photos and develop into 8 x 10s for the frames I received for Christmas
Explore new subject matter
Try film again with the old FG-20 and the last two lens I bought
Begin learning portraiture
Get at least one awesome picture of a bug or small critter with the macro lens
Read books, complete exercises
Find a few photographers (a few artists long gone, a few pros in the industry) who I really admire
Go to more shows of other’s work
Join the Toronto Camera Club and participate?
Get better at knowing what I want and how to get it before pressing the shutter button as opposed to just taking a bunch of pictures with various settings and posting the best one
Stopping whining about poor lighting and build or buy some reflectors
Investigate the work of past and present masters, pick a few to study in depth

Buy a few CDs from bands I don’t know. Buy a few from bands I’ve been curious about. Buy a few new releases. Don’t buy more than 18 CDs this year.

Get a new monthly club night going with Matt. Ok, at least quarterly.

Send in paperwork on sponsorship so that my mom can come here. (Note to self: this deserves a post since it is big news)

I think both the US and CAN will lose a lot more jobs but I think 2009 will not get too much worse.

Vacation with Heather? East cost of Canada?

I still think that many retail outlets will close, more so back home, and that you should keep a watchful eye out for deals.

Resolution: have at least $10,000 in my savings account by Dec. 31 even if most of this will go to 2009 taxes.

Also, open up one of those savings accounts my financially wise roommate has mentioned—ING.

I would like to but will probably not shell out for any courses this year.

Read at least two fictional and two non-fictional books having nothing to do with photography.

Not miss out on any shows of bands I like such as last year’s bone head decision to NOT see Tortoise or SFA.

Build a snowman with Heather.

Continue exploring the city—there are dozens of parks, libraries, museums, neighbourhoods, festivals, etc. that I have not explored.

Wake up for sunrise, camera in hand, at least when the weather is not freezing.

Volunteer? I keep saying I’ll do this but I haven’t done squat about it yet.

And finally, this could be a final entry here. I’d like to continue keeping a record of my notable Toronto/Canada experiences but I do not think that Blogger is the right choice. Perhaps Facebook Notes will serve me better.

2008 Review

2009-01-09T18:03:00.002-05:00

I've had a half written '08 review on my desktop for weeks now and so it is time to a quick and dirty summary.

Best year ever? Probably. I'll just remember it as a year where everything ended well and before the end there were so many great parties, dinners, cottage trips, day trips, BBQs, etc. I've got a lot of great friends and they made this year awesome.

It was also my first full year in Canada. It seems like it has been longer. I'm getting along well and enjoying it here for sure. I see no reason why I will not take citizenship as soon as I can and proudly live here for the rest of my life.

Photography vs. Music.
I could write pages and pages about my passion, er, obsession known as photography. The thing is that this year I think I actually began making real art and getting a real feel for how to use my camera and lens as art making instruments. I see now sign of stopping. There is always something new to learn, a book to read, a angle to try, a subject to shoot, etc., etc.

Music? I also also write pages why the music consumption went down this year. Much of it does have with putting time and energy into the visual stuff.

DJing.
I had a few great gigs this year. It is hard to go back to just being a patron when you've tasted what it is like to have the control. I'm hoping to start up something new in 2009.

I think the new Matmos is my favorite album.
But then that Stereolab is quite listenable.

I did manage to go to a few shows. MBV was the best show. A dream come true. But Swervedriver was also amazing. As was Matmos, Stereolab and a few others.

Career wise, I got things on track after realizing that Media Planning wasn't really what I wanted. I actually like what I do a lot and want to keep doing it, with this company, for a long time.

Lovelife! It is hard imagine not having Heather around. She is fabulous. I really love her. Who knows what will happen in the future? I often feel that my genetics and upbringing just don't make me the best candidate for settling down into marriage and living happily ever after. I can't even wrap my head around the idea that anyone would want me around for that long, ha.

As for the news of the world, forget the economy. This is just another part of the cycle--the system is setup to do this. I say that from a safe, employed position but I do worry. No, the real news story is the election and hope for a better day.

So, here is hope for those better days beginning in 2009. I hope mine is as good as 2008.

*********************************************
here is all the junk I began writing and never finished
*******************************************************

2008. Best Year Ever….?!

2008 marks my first full year in Canada. It also happened to be one of my best years on record. Why? Friends and good times. I will always remember this past year for countless house parties, BBQs, cottage weekends and that VIP tour of Canada’s Wonderland. The year was just a lot of fun.

Other things about 2008 that I’ve been reflecting on…

Best Album from 2008
This is tough. Matmos created a truly unique album of synthesisers. You can’t help but love a couple of guys that are such music geeks—they included synths that are practically considered museum rare. But I also really liked Stereolab’s Chemical Chords, a work that sees that band crossing their signature sound with something that is darn near twee. I picked up a lot of their older material too and most of it is up to par. Few other releases stand out for me other than finally finding a Belle and Sebastian single, “This is Just a Modern Rock Song”. It was not really worth the search.

Best Non 2008 Album
I’ll go with Stereolab’s “Transient Random Noise Bursts With Announcements”. That Jenny Ondioline track is fabulous.

Best Purchase
Hmmmm….where would I be without my Blunnies? Those were bought last year though along with most of the other big ticket items I use a lot. I haven’t really punished my Sorels yet and they hurt my feet anyway. That 70-210 lens has proven very useful, much more so than that Manfrotto tripod bag I was looking to use to carry while on my…BIKE. Yeah, it will be a while before I get to ride the bike again but I do love that Rocky Mountain Metro 5.

Best Concert
My Blood Valentine. It was more or less everything I could have hoped for. It was pretty much what Kevin Shields wanted his fans to experience which goes way beyond hearing his genre defining sound.

Other shows worth mentioning: Billy Bragg, Stereolab, Sea and Cake, Swervedriver at NXNE, Oasis at Virgin Festival,

Best Book I’ve read was probably Paul Auster’s Blue Notebook, at least as far as fiction goes.

Photography
I could write pages and pages on what has become a real passion. More than ever, I’ve convinced that everyone needs a hobby like this—something that they can get actively engaged in. Anyway, this was the year that I feel like I really got to know my beloved D70s and began to break away from just taking snapshots and really taking photographs. Sometimes I even made art. If you have studied art to any degree, you may know that at some point the artist becomes obsessed. I often feel like I’m on the verge of that--where almost nothing in the world matters anymore except the attempt to find something, capture it and post it online.

Jobs/Career
It was a bitter pill to swallow. After all of the soul searching and career research, the trek up the 405 once a week after work to take classes at UCLA and giving up my IT career (and salary) I had finally found myself in the position I had set my sights on years prior: media planner. And in early 2008 I had realized that I was totally wrong. The endless coordination, the lack of any real analysis, and being a tiny cog in a huge machine that was connected to other huge machines with no concrete evidence as to how my efforts made a positive change for something/someone…ugh! Luckily I followed some earlier suspicions and had picked up strong Excel skills which led me to a rather happy position at Quired. I expect to learn a ton here and make a big contribution in 2009. Better yet, I also expect that I’ll be recognized for this.

Education
In the end, I think I only took Photo 2 at George Brown this year. I wasn’t impressed. The instruction was top notch. But the facilities were poor and I lost a roll of film. I do not feel like I really got what I wanted which was the ability to process a roll from start to finish. Actually, I also took an Intro to Photoshop kind of class and those facilities were good as was the instruction. So, GB seems to be a mixed bag for photography learning. I never did take anything that was more career related.

Lovelife
How lucky am I? It is often hard to imagine what I would do without Heather. I often have no idea how she, or anyone, can put up with me in such a way. Being in a relationship allows you to see how difficult you can be.

First year in Canada!
It is hard to believe that this past year was my first one here. “Has it only been a year?!” “Has it already been a year?!” Yes and yes. I feel like it was very successful in the sense of getting to know Toronto more and even a little bit more of what Canada is all about. I have no confidence that I could pass the citizenship exam yet. And I feel like I have only the most casual understanding of my new home’s history, politics, economy, etc. But, I’m eager to stay and learn more!

Sugar Festival, Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston, etc.
2008 was great because I got out of Toronto a few times and even managed to see another province.

Parties
Cheese Fest! Birthdays, Canniversary 1, Yankee Thanks, BBQs here or at Chris’s or at his brother’s cottage—good times for sure.

DJing
I always wanted to DJ and it turns out that it is a lot easier than I thought. Well, yes and no. Real DJing with vinyl and turntables and beatmatching is beyond me. But fading between two mp3s at a retro night was something I did a few times. And it is fun! There is nothing quite like having the control and getting people going. It is hard to just go to clubs as a patron after you’ve had a taste of providing the soundtrack. It is something a person could easily get lost in but in the end, I just don’t have the skills or time to be real. Finding gigs, promoting gigs, and practicing for hours…it is beyond me in any serious sense. But, if you need me to play your retro party and have an amp + speakers, I’ll be right over with my ibook!

Music and Music vs. Photography
Again, a complete analysis would take pages so suffice it to say that music consumption just became a lot less important to me this past year. I guess it is all about resources. You only have so much money and time to put into anything. I just don’t bother exposing myself to any of the new stuff. And what I’ve heard doesn’t really move me. Perhaps it is the realization that it is all just recycled and just another product for us to buy. Maybe it is the passive aspect of it vs. the active aspect of photography. Perhaps it is that when I’m single, I go out to clubs and shows more often for the social aspect and spent much of 2008 coupled—and coupled to those who were not into the same music or in the same way. In 2008, I continued to seek out sounds/bands/albums that might be thought of as twee, shoegazer, C86, bedroom indie electro, Britpop and whatever you’d consider Stereolab.

What else?
Canada’s Wonderland—riding Behemoth in the front car! Virgin Festival for free.

Slush Day!!!

2008-12-09T16:17:00.002-05:00

Here is something that never happens back home: First it snows (yesterday). Then, it warms up enough so that the snow turns to rain. Imagine it. Not only do you have the snow melting but now you have precipitation on top of that!! Talk about mucky muck!! There were a lot of traffic issues reported this morning. I don't really mind it at all and now have boots that laugh at such conditions. Anyhow, I think the temperature is going to drop again so that means that a lot of that half melted snow and rain could freeze. Welcome to "fall-on-yo-arse-ville"!

I'm missing home. Mostly, I'm missing friends back home even if many of them have moved on and such. I said I might spend Christmas in LA but that isn't going to happen...I wonder what a ticket would cost just out of curiosity. I want to play games with Mason and Co., go to Amoeba/dinner/movie with Scott, have dinner at Knott's with Kurt and Jeremy...who am I forgetting?

I am also missing my mom. I haven't spent a Christmas with her in...a decade? A flight down for her birthday in July would be about $233. I could go on a Friday and get back on Sunday. Car rental and motel would make it a $500 weekend or so. I didn't want to go down to Nashville until I was going to bring my things up...maybe I could do that this summer.

Update on the Canadian Political Situation: Harper got the time out he sought. What a wiener!! So now there is essentially no government (federal) action happening for over a month now. Meanwhile, the economy cries out for action. I went to a Coalition rally on Saturday. I really like that Jack Layton. I was so heartened to hear cries of "Yes, we can!" and mention of Obama. He truly has inspired those beyond his borders. Sadly, Canada has no Obama. The Liberal Party does not have anyone at the moment. Dion is stepping down, thank goodness, and somebody else is stepping in as leader. Michale something. I can't pronounce the name. First rule of politics: candidates have to have names that are EASY. Anyhow, this guy is ok from what I know but has spent too much time in the US from what I know. That is, the Conservatives will say that he isn't really a Canadian. We'll see if the Coalition survives no matter who is leading... (I wish Jack would lead it but he is too left wing for a lot of people)

Who says Canadian politics is boring?

2008-12-04T12:26:00.002-05:00

Lots of excitement in the normally normal world of Canuck politics!!! As I know it, this is the story: 7 weeks ago, after the federal election, Harper remained the prime minister because he is leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and they just happened to keep a slight edge in the number of seats held in the House of Commons (Parliment). That is not to say that they had real power in the sense that they did not have a majority of seats--they were just the party with the most seats.

Fast forward to last week. Harper decided to push through a piece of legislation (right?) that basically would cut public funding for all of the political parties. This would essentially give the Conservatives a major advantage as they rely more on US style fund raising than the other parties, at least as I understand it. I'm not exactly clear if this was ever part of the official Conservative platform or a part of the 2009 budget. At any rate, the other three parties (Liberals, NDP, and Bloc) joined up to form a coalition government. Technically, this is allowed and technically the Bloc was not a part of the official agreement but has vowed their support in votes. Dion, leader of the Liberals, was made leader of the coalition. If I understand it right, this can't actually take place until a vote of confidence is called which was slated for Monday.

Which takes us to now. Harper is scrambling to find a way to stay in power. The media war has heated up with Harper and Dion taking to the airwaves in an effort to get the public's support. All of the pundits are having a field day with predictions and such. Again, it is very interesting and exciting.

Personally, I support this coalition. Legally, it is perfectly allowed. More so, Harper struck first and the other parties have to do what needs to be done. Harper needed to focus on putting through a budget that wouldn't ruffle so many feathers. This is a tough time for everyone and no time to try to gain points for your party by hurting the your rivals.

First snow?

2008-11-19T15:43:00.002-05:00

It is snowing out there!!!! Bona bide snowing. It does not seem to be accumulating yet though. I am still not quite clear on what makes the snow stick (as opposed to just melt). H mentioned that the ground is still not cold enough but after several days of cold temperatures, and little sunshine, it is hard to imagine that surface is still too warm.

For someone from Southern California, it is still hard to get used to this time of year. I call it the "Great Deadening". It really is like the natural world is dying all around you. There are a few signs of autumn in Socal at the time of year but here there is near total change. So many of the trees are bare, flowers are gone, people have wrapped up their front yard fountains and backyard BBQs and we all dress differently. I kind of like it. It feels right. Like, this is what most of the world goes through, these real seasons and real changes.

I do not recall how soon it began snowing last year. Another heavy winter is predicted for 2008-09. I want to buy some Sorels as soon as possible, before my size is gone. And if you haven't bought snow tires already, you are out of luck in the GTA from what I understand.

Ice skating begins soon!

now all I need is some time and good light

2008-11-12T17:14:00.003-05:00

I was reading a site that had predictions about Nikon’s 2009 as well as how well other camera companies would do. Things are not looking good.

I had predicted that oil would stay up but it looks like I was dead wrong on that one. Of course, given what has caused that plunge, I think most people would prefer the high gas prices.

The other night I watched an American Experience on the Crash of ’29. It is worth nothing that the Crash was just the start. NYE '30 was still a happy time. People had no idea what was coming: bread lines, mass unemployment, etc.It is uncanny how the 20s and the 00s were similar. Certainly there are different technical reasons as to why things fell apart then as to now but the basic underpinnings are the same: easy credit, people living beyond their means and greed.

On the topic of the latter two, I have not documented Saturday’s trip to Downtown Camera.

Basically, last week, I concluded that a macro lens should be the next major lens purchase as I would get the most use out of it. I also figured that a prime would make photo life much nicer and after nearly deciding on the 24mm, I switched to the 35mm and its two major advantages: on my camera it becomes a “normal” lenses and it is faster than the 24/28/20.

I still had some questions about the macro lens even though I had narrowed down my options: first choice the Nikkor Micro 2.8D AF used. (The current model is a “G” lens. Don’t get me going on why I do not like “G” lenses). The best I could hope for on this gem, assuming I found one used, was $700. Ouch. For $500 I could get a Tamron new 90mm lens which by all accounts was a perfectly good macro lens, especially for an amateur. The to-die-for 200mm Nikkor doesn’t go anything less than $1500 if you can find it—obviously this is reserved for serious bug shooters. The open question was Sigma. Did they make anything with the aperture ring or not???? And just how often did my favourite camera store get the Nikkor in, if ever.

Turns out they had one, to speed things up here. Turns out that it was on consignment from a employee who switched to Canon. Also turns out that they wanted $500. (!!!!!!!!!!). It was in great condition from what I could. It came with a filter and a third party hood. No box or instructions of course and the warranty was long dead. But given where it came from, I was inclined to think this lens must be nearly perfect. The D70s certainly took to it. John and I chatted about third party options, how often the Nikkor comes in, etc. but it was clear after 20 min. that I was leaving with the lens.

Now, originally I walked in thinking I’d leave with the 35mm since this is kind of the lens I need to use right now for that series of exercises. The best price was $320 over at Aden’s but they were willing to price match so I went for it. Even added a polarizing filter which I could use with other lenses if I bought a step up/down ring.

Part of the 2009 predictions included lenses and a wish list but I seem to only want these older lenses. My wish list would be a 70-300mm DX VR lens. I’d even accept it as a “G”. My other wish would be a 200-400 VR non G. The current model is G. Oh, and it is also about $5500!!!! The options for getting beyond 300 are few and pricey. Getting beyond 400 without teleconverters is nearly impossible for anyone who can’t spend 4 figures for glass. Even the third parties don’t make it easy.

Which kind of brings me back full circle between these predictions and some observations that Ken Rockwell has made: photography, to a large degree, is a rich man’s hobby. Ok, ok—a D40 and free flickr account allows entry in by many people. But when you get into the serious amateurs, wannabe pros and enthusiasts who really drive a large aspect of the business done by Nikon, Canon, et al, then you are talking $1000+ lenses and $2000+ bodies. Not to mention all of the extras, everything from photo excursions to bags to filters to memory cards to tripods. There is the pro market out there but what truly makes Nikon make many of their better products are the prosumer folks. And with the economy going the way it is, I think a lot of camera shops are going to miss Joe New Money waltzing and slapping down the visa for $2Gs because he is going on holiday and was wanting to get into photography anyway.

So, we’ll see. But two 2009 bits of advice in the realm of photography:

1. Keep an eye out for used bargains. As times get tight, people might be willing to dust off that long case in the closet and take it to their local store. I imagine ebay and Craigslist might be good places to shop as people thin out their collections for cash.
2. Keep an eye out for new bargains. Camera stores that are not run well will be one of the first to go after the holidays—again, they can’t get credit to restock/pay the light bill/etc. and the last thing (most) people are doing is freely spending their free cash on toys. Before a shop closes up it has a fire sale.

so this is what it feels like to be happy on the day after

2008-11-05T13:19:00.001-05:00

Once Pennsylvania went blue, I was sure that a landslide was beginning. And then Ohio was called and it seemed that the blue tidal wave was picking up steam. It was obvious to anyone who knew the electoral college, including every pundit, commentator and campaign insider that Obama had clinched it as there was just no way McCain could have come up with what was needed. Then there was the announcement on CNN. I will never forget where I was.

The Democrats Abroad rented space at a cheesy Toronto restaurant at Bathy and College; I was stunned by the turnout. The place was packed with fellow expats and curious Canadians—mind you, it was $25 to get in. Our mayor David Miller was there as was Jack Layton, the leader of the NDP. H even chatted both of them up and brought over a drink for Miller!

It is too hard to describe the emotions and what it all means. Last night was one of the happiest and most historic nights of my life.

I thought that the victory speech was one of the best he, or anyone, has even given in recent decades. It really just made you feel good and it was so positive. Hope indeed!

Last night was especially nice after two horrible defeats. As I tried to explain, it isn’t that we on the left lost out to somebody that was somewhat tolerable. We, the nation and the planet have endued one of the worst presidencies in history.

It will be fascinating in the coming weeks, and years, to see how things play out. Who will make up the new administration? How will Republicans rebuild? What will be the first bill that is singed into law by Obama?

Many have asked if I would move back if Obama won. Last night I even thought of it for a nanosecond—go back home and work with the coalition to build a better place for ourselves and for the world to look to. How could I not be inspired? As I mentioned to my mother in e-mail, “your generation is officially no longer in charge.”

But then there is the news today that California voters, and others, have gone with the proposition to ban gay marriage. I do not believe this will actually go through after many court battles but to me it does not matter. Even in one of the most liberal states, there are still over half of the voting people who are so small minded that they would have gays and lesbians kept from marriage. Up here we just can not understand it. Even our conservative regions hold their noses and accept gay marriage.

Beyond all of the personal connections I have made, the practical considerations and the fact that I told Mr. Miller last night, “I really love Toronto!”, at the end of the day, I continue to believe that there really is a difference in values between Canucks and Yanks—and that I see the world as a Canuck.

This is where I belong. This is home.

hope and fear: one more day to the big day!

2008-11-03T16:15:00.001-05:00

For political junkies, tomorrow is like the Superbowl and the Olympics rolled into one—it has all of the excitement of one big game that you have to wait four years to watch. I plan to absorb as much news I can find tonight, keen web pages open all day tomorrow and then begin watching with H, and the Democrats Abroad at 6:30 tomorrow night. It is like Xmas for me!

I feel that you can not hype this election enough. The US really is at a crossroads. Will the country finally shed much of its racist past or will it be revealed how awful the American character still is? Will the US embrace change with a progressive oriented leader or hold onto the past? Is my generation and those younger than me finally going to begin leading ourselves and leave the boomers behind? The two nominees could not be more different.

I’m fearful. Voting in the States, compared to what I have seen in Canada, is horribly archaic. It is all controlled at the precinct level. Then there is a state level of control. For all intense purposes, there really is no “federal election”. So, given that locals are in charge, there has just always been too much space for partisan mischief, monkey business, tom foolery and good ol’ fashioned cheatin’ on both sides. Add in the long lines, voting machine irregularities and “roll” cleansing for even more uncertainty. The only way I feel that Obama can win is if the numbers are so great, that so many states are won by big margins, that there simply will not be room for contesting results and that a few shenanigans will not hurt. I’m also optimistic that McCain is as honourable as he is.

I’m hopeful. Even up here in Canada you can almost taste the desire for some real change. Between the war and economy and the health care system, it feels as if the US is in a shambles. Add on the anxiety of retirement prospects and the environment and it is hard to imagine when things seemed worse. This makes for a tough case for the party in charge. And given how many people are helping Obama and just turned in and showing up at rallies makes you wonder how he *couldn’t* win. Then there is the campaign money he raised—more than could be spent in media time!!!! It all adds up to an energy there that I have never seen with anything, anyone before. There is even a site full of pictures of people who carved pumpkins for Obama. Only Gore could have caused a bigger ground swell of participation and enthusiasm.

So, On November 5, we begin again. The new president takes over in January and the real work begins. Obama, like McCain I suppose, will never win over everybody. The other party will always want to come back. And the amount of problems tied with a shortage of treasure makes for a tough environment. But again, I am optimistic. I can see this as the start of a bigger C change where we return to a more humane way of running things—trying to put people and the environment before profit.

Change is coming for sure but it just may be a lot bigger than anyone could ever have imagined.

blah blah blah photogrpahy blah blah blah DJing blah blah blah...

2008-10-31T14:23:00.003-04:00

(this was begun a few days ago)

We have had a few days of rather bitter cold. It is the wind and the lack of sunshine. It even snowed already. I don’t remember it getting this cold until November last year.

But today the sun is out and we might hit double digits. The trick-o-treaters should have decent weather too for tomorrow night. I do not remember the last time I passed out candy.

The sun reminds me that it is a chance to get out with the camera. I can see from my office window how the light is playing on the side of the neighbour’s house. Too bad I’m at work.

Last night I was at a restaurant for a work dinner and there was a DJ providing mood music. I did not recognize all of the equipment but he was certainly digital based—he had some kind of converter box in use and a “turntable” that must have served to control his software—he was not switching out vinyl. Maybe it was all just for show since he only packed up the MacBook when he left. Anyway, it all reminded me that I have not DJed in a long time, especially not on my equipment. Not sure why that is exactly other than I have not had time.

I guess I can only concentrate on one interest at a time. The thing about photography is that when you get a good shot—when you come up with something you are somewhat proud of, you end up even more eager to get out there again. The more you learn to control the camera, and the better you get at “seeing”, the more you want to do it.

I am working through a book now that has several exercises. The claim is that these exercises will make me “see” better. I’m finding that this is where I need more work. And I also need to explore new subject matter. Not that Toronto is boring—I just want to keep challenging myself.

I guess all of this never really happened with the DJing. Don’t get me wrong. I played a few good gigs and had fun but it was not on my equipment. Or with my music per se. That is the thing about DJing clubs and such. You are making art for others. When I grab my camera, I can shoot whatever I want and post whatever I want.

And that is the thing—I can just grab the camera, get outside and get shootin’. There isn’t equipment to round up, set up, get working and then tear down after a little while if I am practicing at home.

Perhaps the bottom line is simply that I feel like I’m really growing with the photography—getting better, seeing lots of ways I need to improve but not afraid that I will not keep up the pace. DJing…well, if you don’t have the ear, you don’t have the ear. I am not entirely convinced that just anyone can learn to beatmatch.

Ha, one of the best/worst aspects of photography is all of the new toy$ one can add to their collection with the hope that with just this one X, their photos are going to get that much better. This is especially true with lenses although some lenses simply let you do things that you can not other wise do (shoot really close or far or wide or in the dark, etc.).

I’m still predicting that beginning as soon as now and going into next year, most retailers are going to be discounting like crazy, especially on non essential goods. Let’s face it, people are not buying like they were just a year ago. So, as a year end treat I’m looking at one of the following…and if no good deals are to be found then I’ll wait until my 2nd Caniversary in June.

Macro
Why?
This is one I’ve been wanting for a while. Without going into the science of optics, which I do not fully understand, getting really close with a lens that is not at 1:1 ratio makes things fuzzy. Shooting with a macro lens is like shooting with a magnifying lens tapes to the end of the camera—you can get really close. You can buy extensions and filters but from what I understand, there is no substitute for a good macro lens. Plus, they double as regular lens—you could shoot a bug and then turn around and do a model portrait.

Options
It is all about the size which is all about the working distance. 60mm does not give you much room to work with from what I read so I’m scratching that. Nikon makes a 200mm at the other end but it is well over $1,000 and meant for folks that go into the field and track down rare flowers and creatures for publication photos. If going with Nikon, 105mm seems to be the way to go. The current offering is a “G” lens which, without going into more detail, means it will not work on my very old manual film camera. A used, older version of the current would suffice and can be had for about $500.

Or, I could go third party. Sigma could take me up to 180mm for about the same money brand new. And it would fully work on H’s D40. At this point, I will keep investigating. I’m not 100% sold on Sigma, Tonkia, Tamron, etc. but for the likes of me, this might be a good option.

Gotchas
Serious macro often requires serious flash from what I’m learning. The SB-600 is the unit I’d like to buy but it is about $400 I think.

ultra wide
Why?
Focal lengths under 28 or so are fun and let you “get it all in” when dealing with landscapes and such. The funny thing is, as I’m learning, is that these lenses are not meant to do that since you end up with a lot of space and a boring picture. According to Ken Rockwell, whom I mostly agree with, the idea is to get really close to your subject. Not in the macro sense though…see, you can get close but still “get it all in”. At present, I am able to get down to 18. UW is generally meant to be at under 28 or 24 I think. (Avoid going into the whole 35mm vs digital sensor discussion and why anyone serious about landscape is going to have nothing to do with anything less than 35mm, etc.)

Options
I have lusted over the Nikon 12-24 DX even before I bought my D70s but it remains $1000 or so. Tokina makes something that is 11-16mm, is about as good optically and is about half the price…if you can find it is stock. It is the one I’m leaning toward in this category since 11-16 provides no overlap, is wider by a degree and is half the price.

Gotchas
The further out you go, the harder it is to get a great shot. And I mean this from the sense of an interesting photograph. Also, due to optic principles that escape me, you tend to “flatten” out subjects when you shoot really wide. Basically, the building can look distorted.

Prime
Why?
A “prime” is a lens that does not zoom. You are “stuck” at whatever focal length you are at. These are old lens—zooms are generally as good now for everyday shooting and prevent you from having to change lenses often. The reason I would buy one is because at 50 and below, these are very small, lightweight lenses and make my D70s much more portable. As in, getting on my bike, not really looking to shoot but having the camera handy in case I notice something good. And without all of the extra glass inside of them, you can usually shoot in lower light. (I’m skipping the explanation for both of our sakes).

Options
Nikon is really the only manufacturer to consider…well, there are a few others. But basically there are two 50s, a 24, a 28 and a 20. Now, on my camera’s sensor these would actually be 75, 36, 42 and 30. One of the 50s is about $150 but I will not put a lens made in China on my camera as long as I can help it…even though it is as light as they come and Rockwell approved. The other 50 is a 1.4 (great for low light) but I have a 50 1.8 that is a manual focus so it is redundant. The 24 is slightly better than the 28 optically and a little bit more…$400 I think. The 20 is the widest but the most expensive. The 24 seems to be the best balance.

Gotchas
No real gotchas. Anything less than a 35 provides a nice angle on that manual Nikon (film 35mm) since the lowest I can go is 35 right now.

champagne tastes, beer budget

2008-10-16T11:19:00.004-04:00

The desk I want is over $3000.

I had forgotten about BioMorph. They have been creating desks that would make any modern design snob drool, especially those of us seeking the ultimate in ergonomics.

Even a scaled down version with the features I want is close to a grand...

Wouldn't that look good in a loft? I can envision this whole corner of a loft that looks like a total command centre: desk, chair, multiple monitors, tv with the business news going, etc.

(the chair my sore butt dreams of)

Back to reality. Stooples has a desk that I could live with for $250.

Beyond that I might just need one bookcase.

git yer fresh hot updates right here folks!

2008-10-15T17:59:00.003-04:00

Yep. Everything is crashing all around us. Well, from an economic perspective. I continue to maintain that we are in for hard times as predicted here before this financial crisis really got rolling.

(This was above written last week)

I have had “update blog” on my to do list for over a week now and realize that I just do not have time for it anymore. Get up close to 8, attend to breakfast and chores, usually dishes and perhaps a shower—by 9:30 I’m working. I often try to get something done at lunch (shopping, throw a load of laundry in, etc.) but the hour goes by fast and not eating always proves to be a big mistake. And then it is 6:30. Dinner and dishes are done by 8. If I go hang out with H or do anything else fun (as in, going out) then that means no time for recording in the blog, photography, etc., etc.

So yeah, I have that awful stressful feeling of never having any time for everyone/everything.

Keeping in touch with everyone here is hard enough, never mind friends back home. Sorry everyone back home!!!

A new strategy might be to leave a Word window open and just type in bits throughout the day.

Here are some of the big topics I wish I could cover (with at least a short summary):

New Job
Love it!!! The problem with all of those other jobs was that they were not this job. Fits like a glove—I get to play with numbers in Excel all day long and am learning TONS of new, useful stuff about online media. I like my team (all 3 of ‘em!) and working from home is champsville.

The Chair Quest
The thing about working from home is that everything is on you. The good side is that you get to pick out exactly what kind of chair you want and get a tax write off. The bad news is that you have to go out and buy an office chair. In typical fashion, I made a mountain out of a molehill thinking that since this is something that I’ll spend 8+ hours of my life in, it makes sense to get something as good as possible. I had all kinds of others things on my wish and must have lists, did tons of research, came to conclusions and ended up with something I’m not all that happy with. But, I have decided to just accept my boring black Staples chair and stop dreaming about a Humanscale Freedom.

(this is my chair, not the $1000+ Humanscale chair I really wanted)

Wonderland!
Canada’s big thrill park—some of my best mates won VIP passes so we rode this country’s biggest coaster from the front car!!! (I used to be scared to death of these things but now I want more, more, more).

(the scariest part was going UP the hills 'cause it seemed like we were going to fly right off the track as seen from up front)

Thanksgiving @ The Farm
My girlfriend’s mum lives on a farm and it is quite a gorgeous place, especially for Thanksgiving and LOTS of family. Good times. I felt so welcomed.
(I'll eventually get all the pix onto flickr--there are a few there now)

Canadian Election
The results are in and nothing will really change much. The Liberals really need to regroup as they have lost major ground. The socialist party made major gains but remain mostly powerless. The conservatives keep power but still have a minority. It is kind of like a Republican president with a Democratic Congress or vice-versa.

Fall
Colours! Cooler temperatures! Winter is fast approaching!

I am unsure when I might take some more courses. I think I am learning plenty on the job so it might be good to take something on photography again. I have been practicing/digesting some of what I learned. Ryerson or Humber?

I don’t think the Montreal/Ottawa trip was covered and that was weeks ago.

Ugh.

Rewrite the bill!!!!!

2008-09-29T17:08:00.003-04:00

I'm still a tax payer to the States even though I do not reside there any longer. And we can do better than this--I'm actually proud of the House members that did not vote for that stinker of a $700 BILLION BAIL OUT.

I'm sick of hearing how this correction of the capitalism system is a crisis. What about these issues in the States:

Poverty/homelessness
Violence/Murder
Health care
Environment/Global Warming
Energy Independence

These are real problems--why don't those get urgency and money?

This bill was TOP DOWN. We need BOTTOM UP--a way to make sure that nobody will lose their home. As long as you can ensure that everybody will be able to pay their mortgage then nobody will lose anything.

This bill would only return to the status quo. Why hasn't anyone realized that the status quo (and 20 years of deregulation) is what got us into this mess?

A $700 tax payer funded bailout is just a band aid. We need to rethink the whole system.

In the meantime, the world is not going to end and the House/Senate need to get back to creating something more tolerable by the folks who pay the bills.

can't rid myself of that unknown device

2008-09-22T15:34:00.006-04:00

I have not tinkered with a PC in quite a while but have spent most of today doing just that. Actually, today has been software while yesterday was hardware with H. She donated an AMD based machine and somebody offloaded a hulking 20" beast of a CRT to me.

So, I'm just about set to begin this new job as an Online Media Analyst for Quired. Contract was signed Thursday night and I begin it on October 1.

Yesterday H and I participated in a parade east on Queen as part of "Car Free Sunday". It was big fun but I ended up leaving my black hat somewhere and am very upset about it. I'm in no position to be losing $50 hats.

This is one of my best shots I have ever taken. I plan to go back soon with a tripod, especially now because I have a cool way to transport my tripod with me when I'm on the bike.

There are several more sunrise shots at Flickr. I'll have the parade ones up soon enough.

What else is going on?

DJed this past Saturday but the bar's sound system at Lot 16 sucks. Well, it is fine for a bar system but we tried to use it as a club system.

Our "bonus days" continue--summer like conditions even though we have now officially began autumn.

Have you seen this hat?