My 100th Post!

Well it is the 23rd of December and I just realized I have to get a couple of last minute gifts. Just when I was feeling smug about being all done my Christmas shopping, 90% done online without leaving my house to boot, I am going to have to enter the lair of insanity (ie.the mall) today after all and so comes to post my 3rd installment in the LML Christmas Memories.

I should first note to anyone who watches this video, it is a very powerful document to the suffering of war. Something that I really think Lennon himself would have been proud. I chose this version instead of the original one because I really think it, more than anything, will make us reflect on how lucky we are, how little we really need, how much we have the resources to give and the necessity for us to act. It also brings into question the idea of conflict and the objectivity of violence for peace, when the innocents always suffer the most. As Mahatma Gandhi's quote at the end states "An eye for an eye will make us all blind"...may every world leader watch this video and realize nothing is more true.

Below the video is a charity I heard about on CBC News this week. A charity that really takes a unique approach to helping the 2nd and 3rd world in the development of their economic structure. Rather than offering straight charity to be distributed by an umbrella organization, http://www.kiva.org/, gives an opportunity to give to a person with a business idea and a dream to not only prosper in his/her community, but in turn help his community prosper. We become a mini WMF (World Monetary Fund), helping the often forgotten individuals throughout the world that have the initiative to change through business at a ground level.

Happy Xmas (War Is Over) - John Lennon

The Draper Sisters

Another weekend and another portrait another acquaintance made. The thing I love most about being a photographer is being able to meet new people on a weekly basis. You have the opportunity to develop a relationship in a short time that will last a lifetime. It is really my hope that by giving my clients that special unique view I try to capture I give images that will not only give a document to treasure, but a memory of the fun and memorable time we spend together. The 3 Draper sisters and I sure shared a few laughs and had a great morning out at the Elsie Perrin Estate in London, Ontario. I had them climbing fences, looking out of broken windows and, as always hiking the entire property so we could use many different existing props to get that perfect picture. Thanks girls for being so great:-)

The following video (#2 in my LML Christmas Memories) is a true time capsule. Just watching it is part trivia exercise in the where are they now game. Other familiar faces are a symbol of how so many fell through the cracks of the 1990s and only made headlines in the scandal of smut journalism. Others, like Bono (or is he The Fly) and Sting, the conceded holier than thou, pompous, arrogant ethereal beings they have become, (although I give props to Bono in his efforts with the RED campaign) were able to adjust with the times and retain their massive music careers. More than anything what I really get out of this video is how squeaky clean and innocent the mid-80s where. Honestly, fast forward to Band-Aid 2006 the entire gathering of musicians would be clad in bling, thongs and tattoos, not mullets, makeup and tartan pullovers. Merry Christmas:-)

Do they know it's christmas

Christmas Special #2

For a limited time I will be offering "print freebie" offer. For duplicate orders of the same picture, I would like to offer a 3/1 deal. If you order 3 prints of your favorite image, receive one free of a duplicate size. If ordering online, I will manually deduct the image(s) value and email you a new total and if you pay using PayPal, I will issue you a cheque for the rebate. Offer is valid until January 25, 2007.

Turning away from photography and the business of photography for a moment, I have decided to add a little Christmas music to my site. As many of you know, music is a close second to photography and a running mate to travel in my list of favorite things, so I will be adding some of my favorite Christmas songs for the next week, along with my specials and photo updates. I hope you like this little bit of cheer:-)

Sean

The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale of New York

Dave, Claire and Jeff

Ahh, what do I say about Claire, Dave and Jeff. Here we have 3 great kids, whom I consider good friends (we worked together at my previous job as dining room manager at the Westover Inn), whom not only know the essence of life at a early age, but also know how important and heartfelt a picture can be to other family members. We had a great time trudging through the snow alongside the CN Rail line on the South end of town. With the clear skies and warm winter sun at its brightest I can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Thanks guys for being you and for supporting Lucid Musings Photography. Catch you on the rebound:-)

Faq: Using my Canon 30d, I shot almost everything spot metered, some with a little fill flash from an on-camera 580ex (my slave was acting up because of the brightness). Working with little shade, reflective white snow and clear skies, exposure often became an issue. In this situation, I always chose to expose for the subject's mid-range at expense of the background and try to bring it back in (if wanted) in post-process burning.

The Thynne Family

My shoot later in the afternoon took me to a small bush, with untouched virgin snow stuck to every branch and forest floor, a winter portrait dream. The sun was beginning to reach a great level, reflected through the trees. It really was perfect. The Thynne's have always been a big supporter at the local dance studio, where their daughters attend, but this was the first family portrait I had done for them. Bringing in the 3 aspects I try to capture with all portraits-posed/fun/natural-we really had a great time. It really isn't hard to get the photos you want when you have 3 girls as beautiful and naturally cheerful as these 3 though. Thanks to Tara, Steve, Emmy, DD and Paige for making my job a true joy:-)

Faq: All pictures where shot without a lens change. Using my Canon 30d with a 580ex on a Stroboframe bracket and another 580ex, on slave, usually just above head level, angled down at a 45 degree angle, ahead and to the right of the camera. The walking picture was shot without flash, spot metered off the subject to give a more natural effect. Most where touched using the Kubota "Lord of the Rings" plugin in CS2, to soften and give the highlights that "pop".

Concert Break

The other night I got to see one of my favorite things, an up and coming band with a lot of future potential and talent in one of my favorite locations, Call The Office in London, Ontario. The band was Wintersleep, a thoroughly energized outfit with introspective, often dark lyrics about life and living. I have included a photo poster I created for a friend and fan who was at the show with me. Support Canadian music and check this band out http://www.wintersleep.com/ .

December/January Portrait Special

The family portrait, an often neglected part of the family heirloom. With the reality today that so many of us own a digital point and shoot camera and are constantly snapping away pictures that end up in unsorted, forgotten regions of a hard drive, the idea of the professional portrait to display on a wall in the homestead seems redundant to some. For others, the simple answer is a visit to the local WalMart, or Sears studio, where a discount, generic package is to be had. Here at Lucid Musings, I believe in capturing more than that. I believe that in this world of hustle and bustle and quick answers to everything, an hour spent capturing your family in a natural setting, with true emotions is not something that should be an afterthought. From humourous pictures that make you laugh and question their thoughts (as in the picture of my son and his cousin) to pictures that make you cry remembering a special time in your life, a real portrait is not something that should be even questioned, but done. A baby is only a baby for a short while, and adolescent, an adolescent for a moment, a kid for a second and a teen for a an instant. Capture all these moments, cherish them and most important, remember them in a way only a professional portrait can offer. You owe it to yourself.

For the months of December and January, I am offering one 8x10 archival enlargement (a $21.95 value with every portrait booking-also applies to spring/summer bookings made before January 31, 2007). On location portrait sitting rates begin at $135.00. Contact me at 519-284-2356, or email me Sean@lucidmusings.com.

Sean

Happy December 1st!!

December 1 for me is the official start of the Christmas Season. A time to reflect on the year gone by, appreciate the gift of family and friends and, of course....exchange presents. In this spirit, throughout the month of December Lucid Musings Photography will be offering many discounts on everything from enlargements to booking rebates, all listed here on Lucid Musings Photo Lite, so keep an eye out. It is my little way of giving something back after my most successful year yet:-)

DBT Reprise

For those of you who missed my Drive By Truckers 'Concert Break' from the Phoenix Theater in beautiful downtown Toronto from October, here is a slideshow I put together for fun. Thought some of you might enjoy it. Long Live Rock:-)

My Drive By Truckers Photo Tribute

Janice and Wayne's Chilly Wedding Party Outing

Another October wedding, another sub-10 degree day (with the wind..close to sub-5). As was the fall of 2006...but strange..it wasn't raining! After doing family and Bride/Groom shots at the Stratford Golf and Country Club, we headed to the Hathaway Nursing Home, who graceously allowed us to use their facility as an alternate indoor location. After doing some shots on the floor, on the stairwell and in the poolroom (pool table, that is), I insisted we brave the elements and venture outside. It is not that I am adverse to staying warm, and keeping my clients warm (I should note, we took consensus-I am not a 'my way, or the highway' type of photographer- I believe working together is a key to success now and success down the road-no client likes being pushed around..so I keep it fun:-), it is just that the outdoors really broadens the options. I am big on using the location, the scenery and the surroundings in my work, rather than simply focus in on the subject. Not to say I don't do this, I save most of my cropped in close up work for indoor wedding hall shots when you don't really want to see the background in many cases.
With only 45 minutes to spare and potential rain on the horizon, I decided that the nearby rail yard would make a perfect (and unique) setting where we could get the one of a kind shots I was looking for. Although using VIA RAIL property is technically trespassing, I would think they would see the light in the situation enough to turn a blind eye. At least in a place like Stratford, maybe not Union Station yard in Toronto:-) Again, as with all wedding pictures, thinking on the draw is important and getting a job done fast, but with results is essential. In this situation, it was just a little faster, because of the temperature, location and time constraints....but as you can see, we did it, and most importantly had fun doing it:-) Thanks Wayne and Janice for a wonderful day!

FAQ: Most of these shots where spot metered on the subjects, than I dropped the exposure a stop, so some of the interesting cloud detail would remain (in the ones with clouds). Post processing, I brought up the clouds by burning them in, using a smokeless burn plugin from Kubota Imaging http://www.kubotaworkshops.com/about.php (a great addition to any studio). Shooting my Canon 30d with a 50mm 1.4 lens set at between F4 and F 7.1, depending on the depth of the group shot. The interior stairwell shot was shot with an on camera 580 Ex direct on, and one 580ex, to the right, top of stairs.

..ridin on the train the call the 3856.

..hold on..we're moving!

...while I was on top of the train car...let's get a fresh angle...everybody look up...way up:-)

...even though I had an indoor session for the new couple to be (these photos were all done pre-ceremony, an increasingly popular option for some) and planned another post-ceremony, you can never get enough of the star of the day, along with her supporting actor....

... the Groom...we're all just kids in love:-)

...just waitin' on a train.

...the often present "Rock Band" shot...little did I know how well this would fit on the Wedding Album DVD...when the groom chose AC/DC's TNT as part of their custom soundtrack:-)

...Yay!!...the photographer says this is it...start the car heaters...let's thaw:-)

Concert Break

That time again...if you don't know by now, I spend a good bit of my spare time, after my son has gone to sleep, at live music events. Some paid jobs, but most just because I LOVE music. I refer to an old Frank Zappa comment:

"If information is not knowledge. Knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom is not truth. Truth is not beauty. Beauty is not love. Love is not music. Music is THE BEST..."

...and then photography:-)

This is a picture of Xavier Rudd, a Aussie/Canuck one man show, in my opinion, the best one man act out there. A thoroughly enjoyable evening out and a stellar first performance for this purveyor of Aboriginal rights in London. For another picture of Xavier's performance at the Guelph Hillside Festival 2 years ago, check my website www.lucidmusings.com and check out more about Xavier at www.xavierrudd.com .

Pamela and Russell's Wedding Reception

Pamela and Russell Halls wedding in Fergus was a truly special wedding. Held in the beautiful Anglican Church and with a full, traditional ceremony, the true spirit and meaning of marriage was very apparent. As with every wedding I did in October, the weather was wet, and I mean wet...it did not stop raining, through the ceremony, the portraits, or the reception. This did not put a damper on anything (but my photo equipment-the flashes decided to act up with the constant rain, and I had to rely on the beauty of spot metering with my new 30d, which I had just bought as an addition to my 20d..which doesn't have the spot meter..only a week before...who says things don't happen for a reason:-). Pamela and Russell, their family and wedding party where determined to carry on with portraits by the Grand River, as planned, and with a legion of umbrellas, I would have to say, unequivically, we succeeded and I am glad we kept course. See some of the portraits on my main site www.lucidmusings.com .
After drying off, it was time for everyone to loosen up a bit and let the reception begin. Held at the local ANAF hall, a great meal was had and the laughter and warmth of family shed any chills anyone still had from the outdoor portraits. A glorious ending to a glorious day:-)

FAQ: I shoot my indoor receptions by spot metering the subject's face, adjusting ISO accordingly (normally around 400-800/F 1.8-3.2) and use my 580EX flash bounced through Gary Fongs Lightsphere http://store.garyfonginc.com/liiido.html . I prefer the auto WB setting on my Canon 30d for most situations and deal with white balance issues post-process, as I like the warmth a little tungsten adds.

...tears and laughter...the speeches take the podium.

...Uncle, Dad and.......Mr. Fix It:-)

...the future groom..relaxed and in control:-)

...while the others eat...a kiss...a mouthful of food...a kiss...another quick mouthful..a kiss...the joys of the wedding reception meal for the Bride and Groom:-)

Always...Daddy's little girl.

...a dance with every guys first love...Mom:-)

A Break in the Weather-A Single Family Portrait with the Hillmans

Jodi, Mike and their great kids had tried to get together the week before this shoot, but a cold windy, wet drizzle postponed our time together. Luckily, the day we re-scheduled there was a break in the rather miserable fall we have been experiencing. Now all we had to compete against was the rapidly darkening evenings. This is the second portrait I have done for Jodi this year and goes to show how quick kids grow up, as the indoor shot of their lovely daughter Grace shows, taken only 8 months ago. When you have kids, remember, a portrait is something to update on a regular basis....don't forget:-)
We had a lot of fun in the 45 minutes we spent together and the lighting was a great compliment for the candid, posed-candid and posed shots I like to include in all my family portraits. The dying light allowed the opportunity to spot meter to background ambient light and shoot non-flash silouettes. I could also use the ambient light blended with the lights on the bridge to good effect.
With each portrait I want to create new ideas and feelings and confident experimentation with different lighting is a big plus to accomplishing this goal.
One other thing before I go....I believe that being able to pull something unique out of common familiarity (both this portrait and the next where done at the same area) should be the goal of any photographer with passion.

The Extended Family-A Sunday With The Hamiltons

An extended family shoot, like the one I did with the wonderful Hamilton family, includes both fun, documentary style shots, along with groupings of every facet of the family. Be it the grandparents together, the parents, the children from the 2 families together and apart, the idea is to provide the client a blanket coverage. As with any wedding, I consider it my position to cover any and every detail, and with extended family picture, the detail is THE FAMILY, in all its branches.

Classic Spy:-)