PETS AND ANIMALS

Photo and Video Project: Meet Zeus

in , , ,

A lot has been going on recently, so I thought that I should make an update here. 2020 was tough for many reasons. I lost my father unexpectedly and then had to go into lockdown due to the pandemic. Not an easy situation, from the outset. The middle of the year gave us some protests on Black Lives Matter, a debate that shouldn't even be happening in this day and age. And then I lost my beloved dog of 13 years in June. But as much loss as I have suffered this year, I still managed to find a few moments of joy and creativity.

In March, I got a new puppy. You would have already met him if you've been following this blog. I named him Zeus, because I've always been a big fan of Greek mythology since childhood. And I knew he was going to be big and gregarious in nature. Turns out, I was right. This little puppy barreled his way into my heart as he rambled around my backyard. Zeus turned one year recently and I can't believe how fast he's grown up already. It's kind of funny that most of his lifespan has been during a pandemic. But he is so full of joy and love that sometimes I managed to forget we were under lockdown restrictions.

In the midst of all of the uncertainty, the most interesting thing happened. I decided to start making lemonade with my "lemons". So I got my camera out a few evenings, followed him around and captured some stills and some video clips. I've decided to make this into an ongoing project, documenting his time. It's fun for me and hopefully it helps to build some new skills. I think that I've gotten better at camera movement and editing.

Making The Photos

Zeus might be a big boy but he's still a puppy at heart and very active. He loves exploring the yard and watching out for the lizards. So I usually let him burn off some steam before I take out the camera. Using a long lens also helps, because he is a very affectionate boy and the closer he is to me, the more he thinks it's cuddle time (not that I am complaining). He doesn't stay still but the best strategy I've found is to simply pre-focus and wait until he comes into the focus area. Or just wait until he gets engrossed in something.

Camera and equipment details:

Camera: Nikon D7200

Lenses: Nikon 70-200mm F2.8 VR DX AF-S

Lighting: Natural Light

Software: Adobe Photoshop Elements



Making the Video

The video was much easier in my opinion. I didn't have a concept in mind when I started. I just started recording random clips of Zeus running around on some evenings when I would be outside with him. Luckily he and I have a routine on evenings so it was easy to figure I had written his name on the sidewalk at one point and decided to use that as the introductory shot and title card. I generally chose a frame rate of 24 fps for that old fashioned movie look and a warm colour grade (my editing software is pretty basic for now).


Camera and equipment details:

Camera: Nikon D5200

Lenses: Nikon 50mm F1.8 G Auto Focus-S

Lighting: Natural Light

Software: Adobe Premiere Elements 11

Music: You Tube Creators Studio

Until next time.... be creative and be passionate. And hang in there, it gets better.

Down On The Farm

in , ,

If you have read my bio on this website, you would recall that I am a member of the Barbados Photographic Society (BPS)  and a contributor to the BPS website.  This non-profit club organizes a number of field trips every year around the island. I decided to attend the trip to PEG Farms which is a working biodynamic farm and nature reserve located in the parish of Saint Joseph (the north eastern part of the island). This was my first visit and I was curious to see what it offered. 

It was a very fun morning being out with friends, hiking in nature and enjoying the camaraderie. In fact, some of my favourite field trips of all time have been outdoors in nature. This one did not disappoint in terms of beautiful breathtaking views of the eastern coast of the island. Exercise and fresh air are always restorative for body, mind, spirit and the creative eye.  And if you have friends who are natural comedians, the time passes even better. And the best thing about going to the farm? Well, your $25 entrance fee is redeemable in fresh organic produce. Farm to table indeed. Check out their operation here: https://www.pegbarbados.com/

This place easily deserves a revisit, in my opinion. The best times might be in the morning, just after opening around 8:00 AM. Just make sure you avoid the chickens at feeding time.  

Camera and equipment details:
Camera: Nikon D7200
Lenses:  Nikon 18-55mm G VR DX AF-S Zoom,  Nikon 55-300mm VR DX AF-S, Nikon 85mm F1.8 G Auto Focus-S
Lighting: Natural Light

Until next time....keep it light. 

 

Horsin' Around: Easter Monday Jaunt With Some Horses

in , , ,

I have been trying to get back out to shoot again. I've always found one of the best ways to cure a creative drought is to find a personal project. A personal project may be a short term assignment or a longer term exploration of a particular theme. This may be easier said than done, as with most creative endeavours. For me, the idea of having a long term goal tends to allow the creative mind to periodically reset. For the longest time, I have observed some horses tethered on a pasture on my usual route to work on most mornings. I have wanted to be able to photograph them in early light. So when I finally saw an opportunity on Easter Monday, I grabbed it with both hands. Rising early with camera in hand, I packed up the car and headed out to my location. Luckily the main attraction in this area is the beach. The other people who were around at this time, were on the other side of the road enjoying a dip in the cool seawater.

 

Why did I choose horses? Well, why not? Horses are such powerful, dynamic and enigmatic subjects, in my opinion, with any number of meanings in classical and contemporary artwork. And in this regard, I felt it worthwhile to do something a bit different in the post production and convert this series into black and white and monochromatic images (generally speaking). Also I made sure to choose one lens for my minimal gear as I had a short time frame to work within.

 

After my short time outside, I feel that I've barely touched the surface of this theme. Thus it bears revisiting in the near future and I'm excited about that prospect. Don't be surprised if you see more of these popping up in future blog posts....

 

Camera and equipment details:
Camera: Nikon D7200
Lenses:  Nikon 70-200mm F2.8 VR DX AF-S
Lighting: Natural Light

Until next time...

 

Must Love Dogs: Barbados Kennel Club 2017 Dog Show

in

If it is one thing my friends and acquaintances know about me, it's my love for and fascination with animals. This is especially true with dogs. I've loved dogs since I was little. I love their wet noses and their goofy antics. I love their loyal, loving natures and how their behaviour is sometimes almost human. They make some of the most compelling subjects in my view, especially when paired with their favourite humans. So when my photography club had the recent opportunity to attend the Barbados Kennel Club's 2017 Dog Show, I jumped at the chance to tag along and get some practice. With so many dogs and so little time, it was definitely a fun day shooting and catching up with friends. I also got a few new images for my Pets and Animals portfolio to be updated later. 

Special thanks to the Barbados Kennel Club for graciously accommodating our group. See you next year!

So if you love dogs as much as I do, check out the pictures below. Until next time...

Camera and equipment details:
Camera: Nikon D7200
Lens: Nikon 70-200mm F2.8 AF-S ED VR II
Lighting: Natural Light