Portrait - In the Park

I am starting to offer photography lessons (In English!). I'm still "in Beta" right now, so the lessons are one on one. Here is a shot of one of my first students:

70-200mm f4.0 - Some Thoughts

Over a month ago I sold my old 70-200mm f2.8 IS lens and picked up a used f4.0 non IS for a good price back in Canada.

It was hard to give up my 2.8, at the same time, I was glad to have my bag a little bit lighter.

So, some initial thoughts on my new telephoto:

1. The Weight. Wow, is this thing easier to carry around! The weight (my main and really only complaint other than price about the 2.8 IS) is a big difference. I can barely feel the thing in my bag anymore. It's also much easier to shoot with since it's easier on the arms and well, easier to keep steady too. I feel that because of how light it is I don't need IS (Image Stabilization) with this lens at all anyway.

2. The Pictures. Nice crisp images. This shot taken from a bumpy fast-moving boat of a moving target turned out great. (more here)

3. Responsiveness. Maybe it's just because it's easier to hold, but I feel like it's autofocus is better.

4. The Money. So I barely lost any money selling my 2.8 (I bought at a good time, took good care of it and found a buyer that was looking for a pristine quality product). So I had more than enough to buy a used f4.0 and now I also have enough left over I can buy another new toy! I am thinking either the 45mm tilt-shift or the 135mm f2.0.

So, bottom line - I think I made a good decision. I do miss having those extra stops. But the 5D Mark 2 has fantastic ISO levels so even this shot at dusk turned out pretty good at very high ISO levels.

Old Town Portrait Shoot

Another Rainy Day on Servette

Wake Boarding / Kite Boarding

I spent the day out on Lake Leman today shooting some wake boarding and wake kiting. The weather kept shifting from sunny to doom and gloom. It made for some interesting backgrounds though.

The Cat in the Window

Raining on Servette

Shot from my window on a stormy night

Gmail - Now with 100% less Beta!

I am a big fan of Gmail. It's only let me down once in the 4 years or so I've been using it (jessejmorgan @ gmail.com!).

After reading a Gawker article I had to check my own account to be sure of it... the little "Beta" tag is gone!

Happy Beta-Dropping Gmail! I've always believed in you!

RIP Martin Streek

I have fond memories of listening to 102.1 The Edge growing up. It was THE station when I was in high school. Matthew Good Band, Moist, Sound Garden, Smashing Pumpkins, The Hip, Radiohead all came to me via CFNY and their (once) great team of DJs.

After Corus purchased the station I noticed an immediate change. The music began to suck. They started playing what I like to call "I'm 15 and angry at my father music".

The DJs started to change too. Less "Tool" was played, but more were on the air you might say.

I stopped listening years ago, I was obviously about 10 years older than Corus's new demographic. I don't know why they seem to think clueless highschool kids would mean more advertising dollars than a generation that is finally starting to work and earning a large disposable income! Buying cars and iPods and cell phone plans... - But I digress.

Before I started to tune out the only people left that were worth listening to were: The Brother, Martin Streek and of course, Alan Cross. I don't know if The Brother is still there, I know Alan is. Martin was let go about 2 months ago (news to me, I've been in Geneva).

I learned via Facebook that Martin took his life yesterday. If you want the details, click through to the CBC here. What you should read though is a post from the ever eloquent Alan Cross.

It starts like this:

"Let me start with this: Martin Streek was the most charming dude I ever met. He could turn it on like THAT, no matter what the circumstances. There wasn’t a person on the planet that Martin couldn’t win over within minutes. He had a savage wit and an ultra-quick mind. No wonder he had been trying his hand at stand-up comedy. If by the grace of geography he’d have been born in LA, he would have had a three-camera sitcom on CBS years ago—probably after hosting Weekend Update on SNL for two years."

I can still hear Martin in my head calling me to The Phoenix, telling me the doors are now, OPEN.

You will be missed.
(photo courtesy "the Internets")

London

I spent a few days in London last week. Great town for pictures (or "pickys", thanks Shaleena). Here are my favorites:

I win the 2008 RTNDA Best Videography Award!

I have been in London, England for a little getaway for about a week with no internet access (roughing it). I came home last night and a number of my former CTV colleagues had forwarded me this press release.

A short feature piece I shot, produced and edited titled "Tiny Tom Donuts" had won the 2008 RTNDA Best Videography Award.

The RTNDAs (Radio Television News Director Association) are the "Oscars" of the news world. I feel very honored to have won!

A note that the same piece placed 2nd in the NPPA (National Press Photographers Association) Regional Competition a few months ago.