TINT-IT

Archos 70 tablet my take

2011-10-11T21:09:00.001-07:00

I have been using the archos 70 for 6 months now. In fact I am writing this blog post on it. I am in love with the tablet experience. Every night I get into bed early and check my facebook/ twitter, then read a magazine or book. I download apps, try them all out, its fun! The archos has been a great device for the following:
Clear responsive screen
Nice size 7 inch. Easy to hold and read.
Sound is great.
Most apps work well
But!
It is very slow
Video does not pay well or fast enough

Lately I have been trying out the newer tablets. Very nice! Mostly it is the speed of the dual core prossesor and newer more responsive screens. I am wanting one! However the new android version 4 OS has been announced but not yet in devices and the next round of tablets will be even better/ faster and just possibly cheeper.
So what do I do? Sell my Archos? Help me out here people.. coments?

Skateboard Video

2011-08-24T13:00:00.001-07:00

This summer is flying by..don’t they all? I have had not had much time for projects and I miss it badly! I have taken footage in Algonquin Park and Muskoka Lake and trying to edit them together. Most of that footage will be for stock agency. I will be posting it to my portfolio site. For now I finally got a new skateboard video up. I went to the Huntsville skate park one Saturday when the smack-down was going on. Local skate shops in town were sponsors and it was run by the Huntsville parks & rec. It was a hot sunny day with harsh sunlight and the boys were having a hard time with the heat. I color corrected the exposure added some slow motion and used Magic Bullet Looks to add some effect.

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NAB 2011

2011-04-12T11:46:00.001-07:00

Ok, I am pissed I could not make it to Las Vegas for this years NAB show. NAB is a trade show in Las Vegas showing video and broadcasting gear, software and everything about the industry. My business would have been able to use it for a write off. I would have met many people I have been interacting with on the internet and I would have met some contacts in the industry.

Fortunately the internet has taken me there with live video and many stories from the show floor in great detail. Anything worth seeing is shown in pics and video’s probably better than fighting crowds and waiting in line to hold something. I am very sure I would have bought something quite expensive, so I saved there too.
All I am missing are the smells and sights of Vegas in all its glitter and flashing lights. Oh and the cards. I love to play blackjack at the table. The internet can not reproduce all of that!
I did promise myself I will put some cash away this summer so I can attend next year for sure and I also promised my wife. It has been at least 10 years since we were last there and I am starting to miss it.

New Commercial Video

2011-03-15T17:48:00.000-07:00

Had some fun with this one, actually I have fun with all my videos. This time I tried to tackle a Commercial video or a video that a company would get done for a web promotion or introduction. I just used video and music, but have been thinking we should have had Ken talking in the background describing the bottling process. Next video he gets we can do that.

Ken Inglis has worked for Years to get his dream of a water bottling plant going. It all started with a local spring next to his property. He just wanted to start filling bottles. The Town of huntsville owned the property the spring was located on and wanted to get rid of the liability of the spring and peoples health. The town sold Ken the Property with the understanding ken would assume liability and build a bottling plant.

After many years and many hearings, drawings, studies and hoops that every possible government and agency and group could throw his way, he finally was underway. His plant has won some awards for management and water quality. Here is the inside of the plant on bottling day.

Maple Syrup Season is Here!

2011-03-13T13:31:00.000-07:00

Hey folks again its maple syrup season again!! woohooo!! I have been waiting all winter for this and have been busy making a new stove or “Evaporator” and purchased an new stainless pan. I got a 3’ x 2’ pan with a valve outlet and hole for a thermometer. I get most of my supplies at Atkinson's Maple Syrup Products.

The evaporator is an old home oil tank cut in half. Then I welded a steel frame around the top,Added a chimney and door. I will let you know how it worked.

Last Thursday I went back to the bush you see in the picture and tapped 20 trees and then on Friday I tapped another 20 trees. That is more then twice the amount of taps as last year Link to last years video. I had some friends look around last summer at yard sales for taps and pails and ended up with 40 in total.

Making Syrup is so much fun, it does not seem like hard work even though it is. If anyone has any questions or comments, please let me know in the comment section. Or if you want to see more on syrup.

Now For The Shameless Advertisement

Tint-it graphics has a new web page after many years. I used SquareSpace to build the new site and I need input as to what you like and don’t like. Also, If you need help making a web page I would love to put one together for you on Sqarespace.

Fire in Huntsville

2011-01-29T12:38:00.000-08:00

STOP THE METER

2011-01-12T09:26:00.000-08:00

I had a great Christmas Holiday!

2011-01-06T06:56:00.001-08:00

One of the highlights of the week was a photo shoot in Barrie. Bill Minton and Christopher O’Driscoll rented a hall and organized this shoot. 7 models and a makeup artist and a great location made for a great day. However I decided not to take photos, rather I took video since that is what I am working towards doing mostly.

After I got home and looked at the footage, I realized I need more practice. I did get enough shots to put this short video together. I had allot of footage that did not work out for a number of reasons.I do know what went wrong and I learned allot and had a blast. Thanks to everyone involved, I want to try this again!

Moon Eclipse on Winter Solstice

2011-01-03T15:26:00.001-08:00

I heard the news and got all excited and started making plans for a night of creativity. Well it turned out CLEAR, very important to have a clear sky. Unfortunately when the sky is clear is is always cold and it was very cold. I was concerned for batteries, lenses and tripods. My plan was to set up a time-lapse with my canon 60d. I used a photo tripod and my 70-300. I had a problem with movement of the moon would pass through the view of the camera more than once. I had to wait until the moon was almost out of the frame them move it to the other side of the frame at least 5 times. I set the lens to manual focus so it would never change. The other challenge I had was exposure, As the moon changes through the eclipse. Every so often I had to get out in the cold and change shutter speed so I could see the red part of the moon in the dark or not blow out the moon at the bright times. the intervolometer worked well taking a shot every 10 seconds.

The next issue I had was in post. I set it up in Photoshop opening the first image and check box set to open folder as a movie. Then I had to export as a movie at the correct settings and wait until it finished rendering.

Next in Premiere pro CS5 I imported the clip and used the tracking feature to keep the moon stationary in the frame. It was a bunch of work and the end product is very short. Have a look!

Winter Solstice Moon Eclipse

Then I took some of the best shots and made this image in Photoshop.

I also took my Pentax K-7 and attatched my 2000mm telescope with a simple adapter. I had to shoot with mirror up and use a remote shutter to reduce camera shake. I could not overcome the movement of the moon

Comments?

Creating Again

2011-01-03T14:42:00.001-08:00

I have been busy with photography and video before Christmas. I was working on a self promoting video for my video business. I felt like I was sticking my neck out…way out on a limb and petrified I would look stupid or embarrassed. I know it is important to be transparent, open and real to market in this new era. So I sat down and worked this concept until I was satisfied with the final product.

So have a look and leave a comment even if it is critical. It was fun to make and it took a long time. I need to know how to make my work better. I suppose practice is the best way. I am also looking for companies who need a video for there website or showroom.

Why Video?

New Video

2010-12-17T20:49:00.001-08:00

I recently finished up a new video and posted to YouTube.

It is a Shameless promotion for my video business. I am sure it won’t be for everyone but it came from the heart and I just started working on that format until it was done. I am thinking of other ways or formats to try. I am looking for actors!!! So if anyone ever reads this please leave a comment of your thoughts. If you don’t like it let me know! I have thick skin but mostly want to know if I am on the right track. Also tell anyone who might be interested in getting in front of the camera. I am not looking for models….just people who want to have some fun experimenting.

Canon 60D & Winter

2010-12-13T16:02:00.000-08:00

I recently Purchased a Canon 60d! I finally gave up on Pentax. I have been very unhappy where Pentax has been going with their cameras. Not enough low light capabilities and not up to speed with the video. Both of these issues became clear with the announcement of the Pentax K5, I knew I was going to have to switch and I needed a second video cam for my business. My last shoot I tried AGAIN with the K7 with terrible results. I am selling my whole Pentax kit if anyone knows someone who would like parts or all of it.

Canon 60D

Let me know if you would like a review or answer any questions. It seems on the web allot of folks were disappointed in the build quality compared with the 50D. I don't mind one bit. I am very happy with the camera and cant believe how good the low lite is compared to the Pentax. I am working hard to figure out the menu and functions so I can shoot without having to think about the camera settings. My favourite features are the video functions, the low lite capabilities and the picture quality is just amazing

Pics taken with the 60D of My Wife Maureen after the first snow of the winter and the Cogeco studio during the live Rotery auction.

I have not bought any expensive lenses yet and probably wont for a while. the video resolution is only 1920 x 1080 so the cheaper lenses are more than capable enough for those resolutions. So I give it a big thumbs up. I will post more on this camera along with some video accessories I have just received and playing with.

Chev Duramax

2010-12-12T18:22:00.000-08:00

Again it has been too long between posts! Things have been busy here with Video, new truck, TVCogeco , work and getting ready for winter. Cogeco had me do a story on the dog walk for the Animal Shelter, The Rotary Auction, Two Santa parades and Town of Huntsville council meetings and a story on North Words Literary Festival, I found the festival to be very Fascinating! There was a great turnout and I talked to a couple writers and looked around thinking books are not dead and I should read more.

Oh ya. The new truck! its a 2011 Chevy Duramax diesel. I wont bore anyone with details so I will just say amazing! I did not get the fancy model, rather I got the towing and work options. The RV is heavy and the old Dodge was at its limit. I had to get a 4x4 model this time because there were no 2wd ones at all. It will make selling a truck esier with 4x4 and I have used it a few times and it is a blast.

A long time ago Randy Mitson from Algonquin Outfitters started planning some web videos. This fall we got it done. I went out to the Oxtongue store on a partly sunny and windy day to shoot 5 videos. Everyone was all ready and we had a plan. I got my brother Dave to give me a hand. It worked out very well with the gear and the actors and the weather even helped us ok. I had alot of fun shooting. It took almost all day and it flew by. I have been editing off and on now for a few months and now they are ready. We got 6 clips out of the footage and they are quite pleased with the results. They have not posted them yet but it will be very soon and will make another post when they are.

Mountain Bike Adventure

2010-10-02T17:20:00.001-07:00

My latest video project was awesome and unexpectedly fun. We loaded up the RV and took off to Haliburton to get some mountain bike race footage and some interviews of local racer Samantha Brett.

This being one of my first personal video projects I was excited to get going. The goal was to get some creative mountain biking shots and good interviews. I have found in past and this time it is very hard to get good creative shots during a live event because you just cant take the extra time for fear of missing the action. Getting set up for a shot takes time and bike racers are fast!

I got a good interview with Sam on Saturday evening after she finished a 72km race that day and a big crash where she hurt her hand. She is a tough woman!

That night we set up the RV in the parking lot of Sir Sam's Ski Resort where the race was starting the next morning. We had a relaxing evening with some music and prep for the next day.

Early Sunday morning I got out with the cam as Chico Racing was setting up for the race. The fog was thick with a damp cold feel and no sun yet. One of the owners of Sir Scams “Chris” was awesome and drove Me and a crew from RideGuide TV, to the best vantage points of the 2 laps around the resort.

I took a short lunch break then headed up to the finish line at the Halliburton forest. It wasn’t long before the faster riders started to come in. There i got some finish line stuff and a few interviews. Next was the awards that I could not miss because Sam came in 3rd overall in the woman under 40 class.

Overall I had a fantastic time and accomplished everything I had set out to do. I will be posting more video’s from the weekend.

Lousy day (end of summer)

2010-09-04T07:52:00.001-07:00

It is the laborday long weekend and we decided to try camping even though the forecast was bad. we sure will not be swimming or frolicking
In our shorts.
We recently got permission to use a small bit of waterfront on lake Muskoka for our RV and boat. We plan on using it ally. Thanks Dad!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Beaumount Dr,Bracebridge,Canada

G8 Huntsville: Wednesdays Happenings

2010-06-24T06:49:00.001-07:00

Ok… there was not much going on yesterday except for hundreds if not thousands of OPP!!!! looks expensive!!!

There was a few military trucks and helicopters… No Protesters no excitement!!

I am heading out soon…after this rain to see whats up.

Technorati Tags: g8,#g8,huntsville,#huntsville

G8 Update

2010-06-20T21:55:00.001-07:00

Photos of G8 preparations

News to report about the happenings in town. “A serious threatening” Phone call was received by McDonalds on Friday afternoon. As a result, both locations were evacuated for some of the afternoon. Unofficial word is that it was a bomb threat

There is also a story floating around that 3 guys also had one too. Does not seem to me a restaurant would be a likely place for something like that.

Sunday morning the entrance to Deerhurst was sealed off. Many police were there. they had the sniffer dog out also scanning a bus with an airport luggage scanner and various other electronic scanners and mirrors.

G8 Huntsville The troops are here!

2010-06-18T18:41:00.001-07:00

Wow I have not entered a post for so long. Lots Has happened lately but I will be concentrating on the G8 happening in town. This will be my first try at real journalism. I will have pics and posts regularly from now on until the G8 is over.

If there is anything anyone wants me to report let me know….

Too much to say!

2010-03-21T14:28:00.001-07:00

Wow, it has been a while since I posted and lots has happened. Its spring!! This spring has been my first try at maple syrup. With the purchase of the lot behind our house came a few maple trees. Off to Home Hardware to stock up on spiles and buckets and to see what other goodies there are and flip through a few books. I have seen how it is done and a couple of phone calls to my buddy who is a pro, I got set up and running!

I ended up with twelve taps going. This year I did not get a proper wood stove and pan. Next year I will be ready with a shed,woodstove and pan. I see there is enough trees to get twelve more taps going for a total of twenty four. For now I am using a propane Burner. I got the burner and pot as part of a hot oil turkey cooker. It worked awesome, clean and consistent. I do a finish boil, filter and bottle inside the garage usually late at night after a days boil. So far we have just over 2 gallons or twenty four 500ml jars. When the G8 summit is on I will put a “syrup for sale” sign up on the front yard

A Chilly Couple of weekends

2010-02-08T18:56:00.001-08:00

It was an interesting couple of weekends in Huntsville. It was the coldest part of the year it took two weekends to fit it all in. Hundreds of Hockey players showed up and almost as many volunteers as well. It was the Canadian Pond Hockey Championships. I was volunteering with Cogeco to film the men’s and women’s finals during a cold windy snowy afternoon. So miserable in fact that the zooms froze up on two of our cameras. We also did a few interviews for the hour and a half special cogeco is putting together.

I put some footage together on my own, using my Pentax K7 and Canon HF200. Along with a local band LAGANZA with the tunes from their new album. Hope you enjoy. Please leave comments.

The Trophies are like a Stanley cup only made from solid maple, and are housed at the hockey hall of fame.

Convergence

2010-01-26T18:05:00.001-08:00

I just finished listening to a group of pro’s chatting about the convergence of photo and video. A year after professional still cameras have the ability to shoot HD video.

Link to conversation

It was very informative for me especially since I am embracing the whole video thing. Video is not new to me, I have had a video camera for many years now. Unfortunately I have been a terrible videographer. lately I have been converting all of my family video’s from tape to digital on my hard drive. It is terrible video but it is all we have.

I have also been playing with my Pentax K7 and my new Canon HF200 camcorder , trying to get good quality shots. In the edit or post area, I have been learning Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects software with reasonable success.

I have been enjoying it immensely , the time flies by and my projects are getting better. I am looking for ideas or concepts to work on. Writing and scripts are not my thing and I find the ideas hard to imagine. Any help in this area would be greatly appreciated.

I do believe video is the next big thing, if it isn’t already. All websites will soon want video. if not for product sales it will be for transparency, how to video, demonstrations or just entertainment. I would like to be part of it all. Not only for the business and money but just for the love of creativity and to take my photography to the next level. I do think photography and videography are very similar.

Another big event in Huntsville

2010-01-18T15:25:00.001-08:00

Last weekend I went out to Help TV Cogeco produce a news story of the cross country ski race at Arrowhead Park. It was part of the Ontario Winter games that are being held in Huntsville this year. It was fun to get out and see the park in winter and see young skiers participate. They can move! very fast!

I took some photos and video for myself and put together a short video

I also took a bunch of photos and really enjoyed the fast action sports shooting and will try to do more and get better at it.

Click on photo to see more!

I love living in Huntsville and starting to appreciate all the activities and events coming to town. We have the best little place to host events of all sorts. The big test will be the G8 Summit coming this summer.

Time-lapse of Olympic Torch Relay in Huntsville

2010-01-04T10:17:00.001-08:00

I set up my Canon G9 Point and shoot camera taped to a Cogeco tripod and set it to capture a frame every 2 seconds. I did some editing in Premier Pro and here is the result. Comments welcome.

Olympic Torch

2010-01-04T10:09:00.001-08:00

I attended the Olympic Torch Relay celebration on Dec 30 in Huntsville,Ontario. I do not usually get too excited about events like this, however I was soon taken back in time to the days of 1967 and the Canadian Centennial celebrations and Expo 67 both were federal events. It was simply amazing and inspiring or just plain fun and took away the troubles of the day.

I was there to film for TVCogeco as a volunteer and to get as many photos and video for myself. The Cogeco broadcast went great and so did my personal shooting. Below are images of the day.

Please post your comments.

Olympic Torch Relay Run

2009-12-29T12:28:00.001-08:00

I am a Canadian and Canada is hosting the 2010 winter Olympics.Tomorrow the torch run is passing through our town.(Huntsville,Ontario) I am quite excited as are many others. Watching the news and seeing the amount of people who are coming out to see this event I am expecting an amazing turnout.

I will be working with TV Cogeco running a camera or some other capacity to produce a local news broadcast for the event. I will also be taking video and photos for my own purposes. It is going to be cold and fun.

January Auto Tint Sale !

2009-12-29T12:13:00.001-08:00

Another year has passed and it is time again for our annual January tint sale. All year long people are wanting a deal on tinting. Well people ..now is the time. Since January is always a slow month we can offer a big discount for people who like deals!!

Cogeco

2009-11-30T08:50:00.001-08:00

About a year ago, I decided to try volunteering with TV Cogeco. I am glad I did. I have learned alot about the cameras, equipment and what is involved with producing a news clip to a live council meeting.

There is more to it than it seems. Running cables for 3 cameras with audio,video and power to the truck. running the cameras making sure you are in focus and the white balance and audio levels are all correct. In the truck there is the production happening. Audio levels, scene mixing, adding text and visual info.

It is alot of fun and a bit of a challenge. It has helped me get out and meet more people, see town events and news I would not otherwise have known even existed. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested to try it out.

TV Cogeco Website

iPhone posting

2009-10-06T20:15:00.000-07:00

Ok here goes my first post from the Iphone. Another drab october day, but i did get out to take some photos and saw some deer and a fox. I also got quite a bit of work done and got a few decent jobs. All in all a Great day

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

New Photos Posted to my website

2009-08-18T19:17:00.001-07:00

http://www.photomuskoka.com/Motorcycles/857583

Back from Sturgis S.D.

2009-08-18T19:13:00.001-07:00

It was a long trip. both in miles and time. 18 days and 8000km. Time for a rest! I did capture many good shots. Saw some amazing landscapes and relaxed by the fire at Camp David in the Black Hills.

My plans for setting up a mobile photo studio and take bike and biker portraits where thwarted by US Customs. They did not like the Idea of me working in the US without the proper paperwork. Oh well, I rather enjoyed not working. It was hot and there was lots to do.

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

2009-07-12T15:24:00.001-07:00

I am starting to pack ,make lists and plan the route for the upcoming trip to South Dakota for the Black Hills Rally.

We are planning a 2 part trip. Part 1 is going for a 3500 km bike ride from Sturgis to the grand canyon and back, with stops at many places to photograph and just relax. Part 2 of the trip is to set up my photo studio in the black hills to take portraits of people and their bikes. Also to relax and enjoy life in a different environment.

I will be updating the trip as I discover new places.

New Pentax K7

2009-07-12T15:03:00.001-07:00

Ok Ok I know I don’t need it! But I do!

I am waiting for it to arrive by UPS this week. I did alot of research and reading and decided I can not afford the Nikon d700 kit (approx $10,000). So now I have a 2 body kit at a reasonable investment. Still missing the full sensor and incredible iso but I do like very much the image quality Pentax delivers. I am not going to sell my K20D but will be selling my Canon HV30 hd video cam because the K7 will do HD video. I will follow up on a review this week of the K7 as I play with it. even a unboxing video.

New Pentax lens

2009-06-30T14:01:00.001-07:00

Very cool effects!

I just received my new Pentax 10-16mm fisheye lens in the mail from e-bay the other day. Even with my injury I had to go out and play! I am very impressed with the quality of the images. They are sharp and the color is great with very little lens flare. This will be a fun lens to have. I am very temped to also get the new Lensbaby.

Ride For Sight Collingwood

2009-06-16T11:41:00.001-07:00

I am getting ready to pack for Ride For Sight. This year it is in Collingwood at an unknown venue in downtown Collingwood. I will be setting up the Photography Studio and taking portraits of people and bikes. Last year was a blast. I am hoping for more action at the booth. My setup will be much better, Learning from last year. I am also making plans to set up in Sturgis South Dakota for the big rally in August. So this will be a dry run for that.

tweetphoto

2009-04-19T06:01:00.001-07:00

http://www.tweetphoto.com

Adobe CS4

2009-04-16T18:01:00.001-07:00

Recently invested in Adobe CS4. I am in the process of playing with all my options. Including Adobe Contribute. It is allowing me to edit my blog. So this is basically a test run.

New Link? My email

New Video Up

2009-04-01T13:59:00.001-07:00

I just posted a new video I produced recently. It is not going to get me a golden globe yet. It was fun to play with…I am learning new software. Cyberlink Power Director and Adobe Premier Pro. Adobe is far better and I am afraid I wasted my money on Cyberlink. Adobe is allot more expensive and is going to be allot of work to figure out but the detail and control is awesome. My video was shot with the canon G9 in time-lapse mode.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dqSD-2XJUI

I did get a Canon HV30 and I am very pleased with my purchase. I was fortunate to get to Circuit City when they were closing down and they had one left. I am still going to mainly concentrate on Photography and push myself to get better, but I am going to play with video. I feel learning and being capable with video will only compliment my photography.

New Car!

2009-03-20T17:05:00.001-07:00

Ok so it was time to help out the economy and General Motors. I promised myself to get a VW Passat but the chev Impala was so reasonable in price and after driving it I was impressed enough to give GM another go. I will have to wait 4 more years for the passat…oh well we could not afford one anyways. It has been a week and I am still loving the chev and want to put a shout out to Ward , My buddy at the GM Dealership in Huntsville. http://www.edmonds-chevrolet-pontiac-buick-gmc.com/

twitter and smugmug

2009-03-18T09:20:00.001-07:00

There is tons of stuff going on right now!

I will start by saying I have opened a Twitter account http://twitter.com/photomuskoka

I am unsure why I tried this other than to try it…..hmmmm . So I will see how it goes. If I am not impressed or don’t see a need for it I will quit. I see alot of other people and companies using it , there must be a reason.

I am VERY impressed with my smug mug account! Easy to set up. Looks great and has tons of features. I downloaded a Lightroom plug in that uploads directly to my smugmug account. http://www.photomuskoka.com/

New Domain & Photo Website

2009-03-03T19:17:00.001-08:00

I have been searching for a good place to store and share and distribute my photos. I have been researching it to death and finally decided on smugmug. It seams to have everything I have been looking for. Unlimited storage, customizable pages and gallery's and a place to sell my images on line and has a very nice look to the gallery's with image protection . I will no doubt let you know how the possess goes.

I also purchased a new domain name and I am very excited to see what will develop with it! www.photomuskoka.com !! check it out! I have always been told the Muskoka name has marketing value and I hope that is correct, especially with google.

2010 G8 Summit Accommodations

2009-02-15T12:07:00.001-08:00

As of now we are considering renting our house for the 2010 G8 Summit in Huntsville Ontario Canada. June 25-27 2010. There will be a great need for places to stay for the thousands of people who will be covering the event. Security, delegations, protestors, media and support staff. It will be a very interesting time to be in Huntsville but we would rather be in a quiet spot on a lake with our RV for the month. Accommodations will probably pay us not to be here.

If anyone would like information regarding renting the house please email us.

mike@Tint-it.ca

New Muskoka Photography Website up

2009-01-08T14:44:00.001-08:00

Ok I have my new website up but it is not finished yet.

Let me know what you think. I am still working on it.

www.tint-it.ca/photography.html then click on new website

or www.tint-it.ca/Photo/PIndex.html

Happy New Year!!!

2009-01-07T18:08:00.001-08:00

Just a quick note to wish everyone a happy new year and all that stuff. It is time for the list of things I want to change this year. First off is to shoot more photos. I plan to accomplish this by listing all the concepts or ideas on my whiteboard and then actually go out and shoot them. Sounds simple! so lets see if I can pull it off.

My list

Travel Photos (ooooh my fave...so where will I go?)
Backgrounds....I need to get out searching for good background shots.
Bike shoot Bikes in motion where I am in a truck shooting bikes on the road. good idea?
Model fashion and beauty....casting call for any people interested to get there photo taken. FREE!!!! Male or female young old or in between.
Stock photography. I am a contributor for Istock photo and have sold 1 photo so far!!! I am short on concepts for this and need any help on ideas and again Casting call for any people interested in getting involved with stock photos.
Fun by the pool
fun on the beach
hiking/camping/kayaking/canoeing
Business world/office/computer/meeting
Music photos...I have taken photos for a couple of bands. I enjoy it and want to do more music shots
Artistic model shots including nudes...I have not shot nudes yet but have some creative ideas. Different weird locations and colours lighting and textures

that is a good start for my list and will be adding all the time. I am including a couple of recent photos of my family.

Corel draw tip Cut line

2008-12-11T09:13:00.001-08:00

I found this valuable tip on line today and had to share it with you. I have been using corel in my sign business and had an awefull time getting a cut line around graphics. well here it is.

First, select all of the vector objects and press the Boundary button on the Property Bar. Note that this button first appeared in CorelDRAW X3 so if you have an older version, now you know a good reason to upgrade. This gives you a line around the outside boundary of your objects. If there are inside areas you also need to cut, use the Smart Fill tool and click on each of those areas. Again, Smart Fill debuted in CorelDRAW X3 giving users of older versions yet another reason to upgrade. If you needed to use Smart Fill, select the outer boundary and all of the objects created with Smart Fill. Combine those objects and you have a cutline. Simply assign the color your device recognizes as a cut color and you're all set.

To create a boundary around selected objects

1.Select the objects that you want to surround with a boundary.

2.Click Effects Create boundary.

New Web Site

2008-12-04T06:08:00.001-08:00

I have been trying to get a new web page designed recently. My current site is www.tint-it.ca and I would like a new site for Mike McVittie Photography or "MMPhoto.ca". Anyone have a preference?

It has turned out to be a very large time consuming endeavour. First thing I had to get some software. Ended up with Dreamweaver, but it didn't end there. Next I had to learn how Dreamweaver worked!! So I signed up with www.linda.com and I have learned enough to get me going. The complicated stuff I will just have to do without for now. I just don't have the time to tackle it now, but it is on my list for future evenings.

I am on my third attempt and I am getting satisfied with the result. Logos,layouts and content it is getting there.

Maine Photo Workshop

2008-11-27T08:13:00.001-08:00

This past October My family and I took a trip in our new 5th wheel RV to Bar Harbour Maine. I had signed up for a photography workshop with Neil and Susan Silverman and Matt Kloskowski.

We had a great trip and I got some great shots. We had some classroom time that turned out to be a fun and informative.

We spent most of our time shooting. Including getting up at 5am every morning until after sunset. There was not much family time other than traveling.

I came away with alot more confidence and many more ideas thanks to the teachers and the other participants.

I am also considering trying to sell some images on line and looking strongly at Photoshelter. If anyone has any opinions about on line sales, drop me a note.

Lake Superior Photo Trip

2008-11-23T18:16:00.000-08:00

We packed up the trailer and headed out to Northern Ontario In search of adventure. Never being to Lake Superior Park before, I did not know what to expect. The landscape is vast and unpopulated for the most part. I was hoping for a dramatic storm to photograph. We were treated to calm summer weather for our mini vacation. We spent our time traveling to creeks,mountains and notable spots to view and photo.

We were told of a mountain with incredible views. After a long drive and a very difficult hike up and up we could not find the peek! I will never leave the gps at home again. It turned out to be good exercise and a fun adventure. We ended our days by the campfire playing family Monopoly.

I hope to return some day soon to capture a cold November storm or perhaps in the winter.

Laganza photo shoot

2008-08-08T08:58:00.000-07:00

Finally!

After many months of waiting for a local band to get organized for a photo shoot, It happened. It was a great deal for both of us. I did not charge them for the shoot and in turn I am able to use the images in my portfolio. we did some shots in my studio and went outside to an old barn and the local historical train station. Then I had a great shoot at there CD release concert at the new
Alonquin Theatre

My Review of Photoflex Transpac Multi Light Kit Case, for up to 3 Lighting Kits, 47.5" x 11 x 6".

2008-08-08T08:43:00.001-07:00

Originally submitted at Adorama

Photoflex Transpac Multi Light Kit Case, for up to 3 Lighting Kits, 47.5" x 11 x 6".

Huge well made case

By scout57 from huntsville,ontario on 8/8/2008

Pros: Good Protection, Lots Of Pockets And Features

Best Uses: Daily Transport

Describe Yourself: Professional

This case is VERY large and can hold almost everything I need. I know my gear will be protected well. It is large and heavy but that is exactly what I want and need. the wheels and handles are awesome. the only issue I have is the zipper holding the two halves together is not a great idea...in fact it sucks. but I will be able to attach straps to hold it together instead.

(legalese)

My Review of Sigma 100-300mm f/4 EX DG IF AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens for Pentax AF Cameras

2008-07-29T03:42:00.001-07:00

Originally submitted at Adorama

Sigma 100-300mm f/4 EX DG IF AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens for Pentax AF Cameras

Very impresive!

By Biker Mike from Muskoka Canada on 7/29/2008

Pros: Durable, Consistent Output, Strong Construction, Sharp Focus

Cons: Slow Focus

Best Uses: Special Effects, Sports/Action, Wildlife, General Use

Describe Yourself: Professional

After working with a cheeper zoom I was getting very frustrated with my images and with available zoom lenses for the Pentax 20D. I am very pleased with this lens! It is very sharp and now I can shoot with confidence my images are going to be of good quality. I also bought the sigma 2x converter and it works amazing too. Now I have a 100-600 quality lens. Nothing much wrong with it.

(legalese)

My Review of Photoflex StarFlash 650 Mercury LiteDome Kit with One StarFlash 650ws Monolight, Medium LiteDome, Connector and 8'2" LiteStand

2008-07-29T03:29:00.001-07:00

Originally submitted at Adorama

Photoflex StarFlash 650 Mercury LiteDome Kit with One StarFlash 650ws Monolight, Medium LiteDome, Connector and 8'2" LiteStand

Quality is very good

By Biker Mike from Muskoka Canada on 7/29/2008

Pros: Durable, Powerful, Good Color Value, Attach Securely

Cons: Long recycle time

Best Uses: Studio, Night Time, Outdoors, Indoors, Low Light, General Use

Describe Yourself: Professional

I bought this product mainly on price and the company reputation and Photoflex did not let me down. Great price with a very good quality fit and finish. Nothing in this kit is of poor quality. Buy with confidence. The recycle time is a little lagging but it forces you to think about your shot rather than just rattling off a bunch. It is just a matter of getting used to. everything else is on the up side

(legalese)

Christina J.

2007-10-20T04:52:00.001-07:00

Ok, I am very excited this morning. It is dark, gloomy , wet but warm October day. I have my first photo shoot with a professional model lined up. There are so many ideas and plans running through my head I'm getting all foggy. I decided I should start with paying a model that knows what she is doing so she might be able to give me an idea of what I am supposed to be doing. Then, if things work out I may be able to feel confident working with other models and customers.I will be back soon to show you some shots of the shoot and tell you how it goes.
The other option is to start working as an assistant for another photographer. I have posted and left some hints on line of my intentions to be an assistant. So far it seems to have fallen on deaf ears.
There is another event that is happening today. I have a piece of property for sale in downtown Huntsville. It has been for sale for 2 years, It has been a very disappointing experience to say the least. It really is time to move on and start the next chapter in our lives. My photography plans will not work out properly unless I sell this property. Today will be the first showing in a very long time. I am not expecting much but I could use some cash. I have all my toes and fingers crossed.
If anyone reads this please let me know. Or am I just writing a private journal.

1

2007-09-30T04:08:00.000-07:00

Ok this is my first attempt at a blog. First off I am not very good at grammar or spelling. Nor good at editing. This may force me to be more fussy.

About Me
I have a small graphics business. I am the only employee and enjoy my work!
Stuff I do

Vinyl signs-truck lettering-interior-exterior etc.
Photography
Digital printing for photography & the sign business
Window Tinting auto & residential
T shirt transfers printed with the Roland sp540 digital printer
Christmas tree farm......as a hobby
Woodworking & sawmill........as a hobby

Well thats about it for today. I will continue another time and go into more detail and try to explain what I am about. If you have any ideas, questions or comments please go ahead!
check out my other stuff.

www.flickr.com/photos/mike-mcvittie
www.tint-it.ca