18 Months Old and Her First Haircut

 

Look at that face! Whenever I look back six months or a year I know that it's the same little girl and can see her in every photo and every behavior. But to look at that change is just something else.

    

 

I'm pretty sure that as time goes on we will be immeasurably grateful for the monthly photos of her. Of course, Angie has done an amazing job doing her best to capture our very busy and ever moving girl by taking snapshots on her phone. Those moments and video clips are very special, on their own. But, I hope that the monthly efforts we have made to take some shots like this will be an invaluable keepsake archive.

As the post title says, today was her first haircut. Angie's friend did an amazing job on a very neat trim in the back, where Fiona needed it the most. Her bangs still have a ways to grow to catch up but that style she now has just elevates her to looking even older than she already does, naturally.

A nice detail shot of feet and her first clippings was in order and I knew my mom would appreciate that. :-)

And, the final result in the back, layering and all.

Help-Portrait Saskatoon 2015 and an Update

It has been a few good months for me. First, were a pair of excellent ultraviolet shoots. Three of those photos were published in December's Xpressions Magazine. I'm no prude but there is a fairly provocative slant to that magazine, so be warned. I'm looking at getting some tear sheets from them for my own keepsake and distribution. The second excellent part of my month was winning a pair of flashes and a transmitter from Midwest Photo Exchange. A few of my flashes were due for replacing and these have remote adjustability, which saves a guy in a wheelchair a lot of effort not having to run back and forth to adjust power levels, especially when the lights are up high or in remote locations. Now, I just need about three more.

Then, following Help-Portrait, which I will talk about in a minute, I sold a large canvas from Underground Coffee on 20th Street. I have had my work hanging there for over a year and it was nice to see something sell. I will use the funding to have another print made to replace the first one and keep my inventory up so that I'm able to at least have my work displayed somewhere in the city, at all times. And, finally, was the huge effort of Help-Portrait resulting in a very successful day, if I do say so myself.

 

   

 

 

If the lead photo doesn't demonstrate that Help-Portrait Saskatoon was a success, I'm not sure what would. Despite our hour-long wait-in-the-parking-lot-until-someone-lets-us-in meeting, it was a great day. When you plan 90 minutes of set up time, to get everything in good working order, work out any glitches and make sure everybody is aware of their places and duties, you count on at least a good portion of that amount. We didn't get let in until 9:15 AM, we were supposed to be let in at 8 AM and we had the usual fun of stressing in the parking lot, then trying to keep our clients happy and occupied while we hastily set up to get things underway... for 9:30!

 

   

 

 

The huge irony of it, was that one employee of the Lodge was on her way by, going somewhere else. She stopped to ask if we were with Help-Portrait. We said we were and asked if she was there unlock the doors. She wasn't. The number Bruce was given to call, in case/when something like this happened was not being answered and the person who was to unlock the doors didn't even know they were supposed to be there. Thank goodness this employee drove by so we could eventually get in.

 

   

 

 

Now, anyone who knows me, knows that I am fair and forgiving, but straightforward. This was uncalled for. We've appreciated having the location provided for us without charge and we've always given them a donation in gratitude. Renting a place, and having the sway of a paying customer is starting to look pretty good. The attitude of our contact was that of annoyance, when Bruce was checking in a few days prior to make sure somebody would be there. It was nonchalant when he spoke to her about the consequences of this error. He did check in a few days prior to make sure that everything was going to be in place. It was not.

 

   

 

 

Recently I've had the pleasure of working with some professionals in the makeup, modeling and agency industries. Their punctuality and professionalism cannot be matched. Being able to rely on someone to do what they say they will do, when they say they will do it, is something that shouldn't be rare, but it is and appreciated. When the significant error of someone negatively impacts approximately 70 volunteers, and the 364 clients we serve, you'll excuse me if I'm a little irritated.

Despite that, we pulled it off, everyone came together as a team and there were a lot of great smiles, happy people and fine photos made.

 

   

 

 

If I may sound a little conceited, if there's one thing I know it is lighting. At our rehearsal the week before, there was concern over my decision to use only one key light, the light that illuminates the face and does most of the work. When I learned most of my lighting it was from a talented photographer, who came from a newspaper background. Newspapers typically do not like dramatic, artistic photos with deep shadows. The breadth of light to dark portions of a photo that show up well in newsprint is very narrow. As such, his style originated from a place of shooting for newsprint, with lighting free of deep shadows and bright highlights.

Slowly I'm working my way towards something a little more dramatic, but still somewhat safe. I realize that the portraits that we made on Saturday have room for some artistic flair but not so much edginess that you risk inaccurately portraying the person your photograph. As it were, it seemed that people were fond of the light setup that I have chosen and hopefully next year we will continue to do better with our light than two lights at 45°, even power output and much less interest than a touch of shadow with rimmed highlights.

 

   

 

 

On a different note, our little "Poochie" turned eight, yesterday. Not as young as she used to be. Possibly more of a spaz, but still our Kiwi.

She was a great subject to learn a bit about TTL radio with my new LP180Rs and Phottix Odin, the prize from Midwest Photo Exchange I mentioned. I may or may not use the TTL. Manual mode is ingrained in my mind, deeply. What I will use is the ability to adjust power remotely.

So, that's probably it for me until the new year. I will be looking to arrange one more shoot before the end of the year and I have, what will be, an amazing cake photograph next Saturday. But other than that, there is unseen work to be done but it should all contribute to the quality of work that gets done in the new year, even if it only removes some of the tedious tasks, now.

Until then, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and be well!

Beauties and Cuties

 

  Peonies at the Forestry Farm 1 by Jay Scott on 500px

It has been a very productive week, photographically speaking.

You have likely already seen the post from earlier this week with some floral work. While, the peonies have been coming into bloom around the city so I thought it was time to hit up the Forestry Farm to see what state they were in. Thankfully, the way that they grow there they can be enjoyed for a much longer time because of the varying light. Their variety of locations mean that for much longer period of time some of them are in bloom. In fact, because of the abundance of shade, I was a bit early compared to other plants I had seen in the city.

 

  Peonies at the Forestry Farm 2 by Jay Scott on 500px

There were a very few that had opened up so my options were limited but the winged insects that pollinate and the ants that cause them to bloom were very cooperative while I was there. Obviously they are beautiful when they have opened up but before that time, when they are a tight sphere of petals, I find them very intriguing, as well.

 

  Peonies at the Forestry Farm 3 by Jay Scott on 500px

This session for the peonies was organized under a new group I've begun on Facebook, Unlimited Photographers of Saskatoon, originally beginning with the support of the CPA. The point of the group is to provide regular and frequent opportunities for photographers with mobility disabilities to join others in unhindered photo excursions. One of the most frustrating things about being a disabled photographer is when your struggles to make a great photo are twice what they should be because of difficulty getting to where you want to be or setting up or framing the photo because of that disability. It should be about working the photo and practicing skills to make better photos, not spending time and energy on getting to where you want to be, if it's even possible to get where you want at all.

There are not a lot of fully accessible places to go in Saskatoon but it is the group's aim to make those opportunities available for the places that are accessible. The group is not limited to people with disabilities. Probably more than half of the members are able bodied. Just know, if you request to join it, that our locations may not be as exciting as you would like, but they are locations that will not hinder us. Of course, having an able-bodied person around to give a hand, should it be needed, is always helpful and appreciated.

 

  Freshly Groomed Schnoodle by Jay Scott on 500px

Next up is a photo I have been meaning to make for a long time. I have been wanting to emphasize the sheen on Kiwi's coat when she has been freshly groomed and is soft and shiny. In addition to that, I have wanted to her to give me one of the over the shoulder looks that she sometimes gives. Her positioning was essential to emphasize the sheen on her black fur, and not the white. Of course, those looks that she gives are almost always followed a split second later by her spinning around when we get her attention. Today was not much different, but she cooperated fairly well for me, with Angie's help.

 

  10 Months-1 by Jay Scott on 500px

Finally, who could forget that our precious Fiona turned 10 months old today? As cute as ever, she cooperated wonderfully with her sweet recent trick of hugging her stuffed toys. We couldn't decide between the green monkey I bought for Kiwi to play with a long time ago or the bunny from grandma and grandpa for Easter. We went with the bunny because I wanted to use some pastel lights which would match the patterns on the toy.

The final photo is your classic outtake. She was getting a little bit restless but still behaving in hilarious ways. At this point she was more interested in standing up on the couch and looking out the window. I got one shot of her looking back at me while standing, but she is so busy the focus was off so I cannot share it here. :-)

 

  10 Months-2 by Jay Scott on 500px

Kiwi in Red

 

  Kiwi in Red - Full by Jay Scott on 500px

I have no reason to believe that Kiwi has been neglected since Fiona arrived, though her behaviour might convince you otherwise. However, today's photo was for Kiwi and she knew it. She didn't pose quite as well as usual because her perch wasn't as comfortable as she's used to. But we got the shots and I hope she enjoyed the attention.

 

  Kiwi in Red - Headshot by Jay Scott on 500px

My biggest frustration was, once again, struggling not with the photo's execution, but with limited space, a wheelchair that just cannot hop over a precisely aligned lighting setup to tweak a setting and the other limitations not based on my photographic ability. As always, I was grateful for Angie's assistance with the photo and posing Kiwi as well as taking my van in for the seasonal inspection and winter tires.

She's Sure Growing

 

  Kiwi with My Baby Shoes by Jay Scott on 500px

It seemed like only a short while ago that we made the above photo to announce the upcoming arrival of our baby. We weren't certain how exactly Kiwi would respond but her submissive and gentle personality has shone through and she is very good with her new owner. She still seeks as much attention as possible but has no reason to feel neglected because I have been making an extra effort to make certain she is cared for and not denied the affection she was accustomed to in the past.

Every time there is a cry of glee or a cry of discontentment Kiwi comes running. We know from experience that when Angie or I have not been feeling well we cannot count on Kiwi to gently comfort us but to come running in full speed and lick furiously. She's not the most in tune with how we are feeling but she only ever means well. Thankfully, even when she's excited, she seems to err on the side of caution with Fiona.

I have no doubt that as Fiona grows, especially as food begins hitting the floor, that Kiwi will be sticking right by her side.

 

  Kiwi and Fiona by Jay Scott on 500px

Finally, are a few photos from a series that we did in her new bouncy chair, a gift from three of my wonderful caregivers from Home Care. The chair has been a lifesaver when we've been eating and it gives her an opportunity to be near us, active with her ever kicking legs, and give her the opportunity to sit up a bit straighter, independently and soothe herself by her own movements.

More than that, it felt good to pull out almost all of my flashes to really construct an elaborate photo from seven light sources. Candid snapshots are great but I was itching to get back to a thoroughly constructed photo with much complexity, for the practice to make sure I could still do it, but also for the unique look that you can only get from such a mixture.

Just for clarity in the chronology of the photos, the second photo with both Kiwi and Fiona is the most recent as of this post. The three below here were from approximately one week earlier.

 

  Day 16 - Explorative by Jay Scott on 500px

 

  Day 16 - Thoughtful by Jay Scott on 500px

 

  Day 16 - Bubbly by Jay Scott on 500px

New Hallway Photos

 

  Cool Hotdog - 2

  by

  Jay Scott

I'm ashamed to say that the frame in our hallway with the five spaces for portrait oriented photos had become quite outdated. The photos of Kiwi contained within were still cute but they all included the use of selective colour, which is the reason I was ashamed they were still there. The days of using Photoshop to remove all colours except for one is long gone and when I see that thankfully short-lived cliché being used today I cringe just a little and immediately, on a subconscious level, assume an amateur status of the photographer who made the photo.

Kiwi enjoying a run with Uncle Riley at Riverside Park in Swift Current.

That's one of the problems of the fast pace of the digital age. Everything moves so fast that what was once cool and neat becomes outdated faster than fashion and clothing. Instagram filters, making clean, crisp, vibrant digital photos look like they were made 30 years ago, adding film grain or any of the other currently trendy post processing techniques will likely run their course in short order. This is not to say that they aren't worth using and a lot of people really like those looks, but I do not. I like my images to be as timeless as possible. The value in creating images that have those techniques applied to them is just as high as creating the images I am trying to create. I just know that my personality will not allow me to blur something sharp, wash something out, or desaturate something below what is seen by our eyes. It's no secret that I often increase the saturation in an attempt to brighten the world around us through my photos.

I realize that the following photo does have an imitation of selective colour but it is not a cheap Photoshop trick. The nuances of the red light warming up the white backdrop along with the cool light hitting Kiwi's back and playing into the folds of the blanket make for the natural look that you subconsciously see when you look at a real photo as opposed to a Photoshop mimicking. However, one technique that I use often that I am fully aware is cliché and will be outdated before too long, is the use of extreme cool and extreme warm light as in the very first and very last photo of this post. Video games, movie posters, music album covers, all currently use these colour extremes and get away with it, as I get away with ridiculous bright neon colours when I'm photographing Kiwi. But I do realize how quickly they will become old. One of my favorite photos I made of food used very subtle differences in the colour of the light and I should try to remember that as I work to develop my style.

 

  Kiwi - Canada Day

  by

  Jay Scott

Often the look of the photos I make is a bit dramatic, and that is mostly in my choice of lighting, but trust me when I say that our dog is seldom as intense as she appears in a lot of the photos I make of her. I have one more in mind that might be tricky to execute but I'm going to make it happen one of these days. It will be a slightly long exposure of her laying with her head between her front paws, like a Pound Puppy, with her little tail wiggling. The long exposure will allow her little stub to be a cute little blur as she lays there watching while I talk to her trying to get her just interested enough to wag her tail but not so interested that her head pops up from between her paws. Ironically, I often find it easier to direct a dog, who only understands a tiny fraction of the words I say to her, than a person. I guess it's all about relationship and knowing your subject.

 

  Kiwi - One Light

  by

  Jay Scott

The frame in our hallway now has five fresh new photos that will likely keep us smiling as we walk by for at least a few years. In the meantime I will be constantly making new shots of our little Poochy who will be turning six in one short month. By the time we are ready to replace the photos I'm sure I will have five new satisfactory shots to fill the frame with.

 

  Kiwi - July 2013

  by

  Jay Scott

This final photo did not make the cut. We decided to opt for the close-up portrait you see at the very top of the post but, despite every recommendation to show only your best work, I wanted to share this final and sixth photo with you.

 

  Cool Hotdog

  by

  Jay Scott

Just More of Our Kiwi

Kiwi - July 2013 by Jay Scott

Kiwi was due for a photo following her recent haircut and I had a new Manfrotto HD Flex Arm to try out.

Both cooperated nicely. She certainly gave me a great look.

Kiwi's New Bling

There have been some excellent dog photos circling the internets lately and they inspired me to make one of Kiwi, especially since her new tag arrived last week. A new set of phone numbers and a few chips of colour missing from her old tag called for a new one.

It took me a bit of effort to stray from my usual style. I wanted a dramatic photo, but it just seemed too easy. No colour modification, only one light. And as cooperative as Kiwi was, we were done in no time.

It felt good to pick up my camera and make a few photos today. As you may have seen on Twitter, I've been working on a belt made of paracord. More on that in a few days.

Poochie in Pastels

Sitting on my pink, green, yellow and white baby blanket, in Muffin's pink, green, yellow and white coat, was our Poochie, barking at the dogs on TV, this past rainy Saturday.

No one and nothing else lets you get away with dramatic lighting and wide angles like a dog.

Happy Canada Day from Kiwi!

Tuffy and Kiwi

As you may have observed on my Twitter feed, we looked after Tuffy last week.

Both dogs were pretty good and even played together quite a bit. I guess Kiwi still knows how to play with other dogs, it just takes the right dog and we have met very few of those.

Watching her come running in to greet me in the morning, then turning around to bolt for the bathroom (where Tuffy slept), sliding to the door on her chest in a playful bowed position, was great. His play noises sound like a grumbling old man, but he was having fun.

That said, he is getting up there and slowing down. Certainly we got a few bunny runs out of him, and he looked about two again, but I thought a few nice shots of him might be a good idea.

Tuffy by Jay Scott

Aside from a few stern warnings about barking when Angie's clients arrived, he was very well behaved and I look forward to seeing him again now that I know his personality, likes and dislikes better. I will know how to play with him and get him excited more.

Kiwi and Her New Pillow

As Angie prepares to move her business home we have bought a nice big pillow for Kiwi to spend time on in my office. She is a sweet dog and loves anyone once she gets to know them.

Unfortunately, she has two phases. The "I don't know you, yet" barking phase and the, "Hey, I know you!" barking, squirmy, must greet you, phase. Both will require patience and understanding from myself,  Angie and her clients. Thankfully, being out of sight and near me keeps Kiwi much, much calmer. This pillow will give her a very comfy out of sight alternative to the couch.

Kiwi and Her New Pillow by Jay Scott