~ 362/365 Christmas Lights ~

© Randy Pond Photography - www.randypond.ca
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Got to go visit some friends in Edmonton.  Saw these lights in their driveway and it just inspired me to take this as my photo of the day.  -Randy

~ 359/365 CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ~

© Randy Pond Photography - www.randypond.ca
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CHRISTMAS DAY IS HERE!!!!  Opened presents and had a nice relaxing day chilling at home. :) -Randy

~ 349/365 Hearthstone ~

© Randy Pond Photography - www.randypond.ca
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Probably going to play a LOT of Hearthstone over my Christmas holidays.......installed it tonight on the laptop. :) -Randy

~ 329/365 I love Christmas ~

copyright www.randypond.ca
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Christmas decorations always give me a happy feeling.  I love snow, winter and Christmas....just the entire season. :) -Randy

BEST CHRISTMAS EVER, and Reflections on 2012

BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so happy, I was able to pick up a new camera, the Canon 5DmIII.  It's a full frame and my first time owning a digital full frame.  I am thrilled to own such an amazing tool.  I still believe that skill of photography comes from the person using the camera.  But this camera opens some creative doors to my work that my previous cameras were limited to.  It's just a fun new experience of photography for me.  The Canon 5D series has always been one I knew I loved, but convinced myself it was out of my league price wise.  I have not shot a lot with the 5dm3 but I am loving how the full frame captures the story of a picture.  It is an amazing camera and looking forward to 2013 when I start another 365 project.  

REFLECTIONS ON 2012

I look back on 2012 and realize there was some really rough times.  It seemed like a year of stress and problems related to photography.  I started thinking today that it sort of makes sense why there is so much drama in the photography world.  I believe that art and photography has a LOT in common with romantic and intimate relationships.  Art and photography usually comes from the heart, for me it does at least.  Sharing art is exposing your feelings and emotions, it is a creation from you and when it is not respected or appreciated it can feel hurtful.  Many people get jealous of other people as well, much like a boyfriend can be jealous of his girlfriend.  I look back on 2012 and realize I had my feelings hurt by situations and people I was working with.  I look to the road ahead and realize I need to be more careful about who I work with.  The friendships can be fun, but it is a much more enjoyable road when you can travel it with people who have mutual respect with whom you can trust.  When I started out as a photographer it was my camera and I and as the new year is dawning on us, I feel excited that I am back to this, a new camera and myself.  I am going to enjoy my 365 and focus on growing my skills, I will still be helpful to others and collaborate, I am just going to be smarter about it.  It may sound mean, but honestly, the people not interested in being mutually respectful or kind to me are going to be left behind.  I have a passion for photography and being creative and I wanna travel through life with people interested in the same.  People that don't care for how I live my life or do the things I do can just please go away.  I am turning 40 this year, not interested in drama or conflict.  Let's just take our cameras and shoot the world and create beautiful things.  If you're in to bringing me down, or not wanting to enjoy photography, I'd prefer you just go away.

In closing, I'd say 2012 I learned a lot about my friendships and saw some friendships I thought were real crumble.  Rather than being depressed about it, I feel excited.  The good friends are still standing tall around me and I see the future of 2013 exciting and full of possibility.  Thanks to those that have supported me throughout the year of 2012.  Your kindness has been bigger than you can imagine.

Looking forward to 2013!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Leaving you with some images taken with my new camera.

~ Holiday Family Photo Session ~

It was really really cold, but this family braved the cold weather and allowed me to shoot some pictures of their family.  It was a LOT of fun, the kids are full of energy and even with the temp dipping towards -30 it was a blast.  I couldn't feel my finger tips near the end but the results made it worth it.  I did get to warm up in the house so it was all good.  :)  Here is the animoto video I made for them from their session.
-Randy

~ 365 UPDATE, from my MINI Holiday ~

We went to WA State to visit my Mom and Dad, here are my 365 shots I took while away. :)

-Randy

~ Merry Christmas ~

Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday Season. I am honored to have had such a wonderful year capturing photos for people and creating some lasting memories for them. I value images and hope that everyone I have crossed paths with has a wonderful holiday time. I hope 2010 is a great year for you all. Thanks again to my friends, family and clients that are a part of my life as a photographer. Without you all I would be a very bored and unhappy soul. Thanks for letting my camera and I capture you all the time. It's a passion and one I look forward to pursuing harder in 2010!!!! :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

-Randy and Jenn and CATS!!!

~ Yay Christmas HOLIDAYS Here I come ~

On holidays, loving it!!! :) This is an older edit from a shoot with Candace, a beautiful and talented First Nation model from Nelson House, Manitoba.

~ Happy Holidays ~

~ Holiday Monday ~

Love this warm weather. Just fighting a bad sinus cold and chilling at home, relaxing with my 3 cats and beautiful wife. Here is a new edit from Danni and A.J.'s wedding. :)

Boxing Day

Today was a relaxing day...slept in, enjoyed a nice breakfast with our friends before they headed home. We got some rockband in last night and had some fun playing Jenn's new boardgame she got for Christmas. Corey and her hubby Dale stopped in and visited on their way through to visit their family. Jenn, Corey and Dale all jammed and it sounded awesome, Corey played the new Seagull awesome, that baby of Jenn's sounds amazing. I am jealous, I wanna learn how to play now....anyway, not much new here...just loving holidays. :)

Merry Christmas

It's Christmas time and in a few days the 25th will be here. It's a special time of year for so many and a time I like to reflect on life. I am so thankful for all of the gifts I have been given. It's a time of year where so many have so little. Jenn and I have a nice warm home, great friends, 3 awesome cats and families that love and support us to no end. This past year has been one that I feel I have made some positive changes. I have a very positive attitude about this Christmas Season and look forward to time with Jenn and our friends. Christmas day we're having friends over and just looking to have a great time together.

To everyone that I have worked with in photography this year I wish you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS. May your holiday be a special time and bring you lots of great moments to cherish. Stay warm and safe and here's looking forward to an awesome 2009!! My plans for the holiday....

- xbox (fallout 3, NHL 09, Gears of War 2, Rockband 2 to name a few)

- Bluray and DVD's (we rented a lot of movies, my other fave thing to do)

- Be with Jenn (go skiing (maybe) and skating, hot tubbing in Sherwood Park)

- Visit my folks in Creston, BC (depending on weather)

Christmas Holidays are HERE

It's official, I am on 2 weeks of wonderful holidays. I can sleep in, do lots of fun things and forget about work. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last Monday of Work for 2008!!!

I have been playing with textures a lot...and using CS4. Love the textures and starting to find better ways of editing with them. Also loving that the year 2008 is almost done and holidays are on the doorstep. Hoping to stay warm and safe this week and looking forward to some rest and relaxation. :)

Sunday - Last Day of Spring Break

Woke up and made some blueberry pancakes for my Mom and Dad before they packed up their van and left. I pray they have a safe trip home to WA State. Having them here was a real personal and spiritual boast. More then I could of asked for, having Dad to talk with and working with him was great. He really was a HUGE help installing floors and just being here for me. I couldn't of asked for more. I really hope to see them more maybe this summer some time.

Jenn and I went to Wal-mart and Canadian Tire and picked out some drapes for the office. We also started putting together a computer desk we got from costco. It's pretty complex but hopefully it'll be done before the week is over...hehehhe. The new office space is going to be awesome. I am looking forward to having it up and going soon. It'll be in our laundry room where we painted a new colour and installed laminate. It'll look great once it all comes together. That will mean my "green" room in the basement will still be a room for storing my photography gear and be a good spot to do art and hold my art supplies as well. I can't wait to do more artwork this summer if I can motivate myself to start painting again. I sure miss it.

Well, I am hoping to head to Subway for some supper.....Jenn's just finishing a phonecall with her Mom and we'll be going. Hope everyone had a good weekend.

-Randy

Olive Garden and Floors

Today we went to Edmonton and picked up supplies for the floors and had a HUGE meal at Olive Garden with the folks. It was great but wow did I ever want to sleep and when we got home had a nice nap. Now I am awake and about to get back to flooring again. :) Not much else to say for today. Yay that Edmonton won vs Vancouver and knocked them out...kind of wish they had knocked out the Shames more. I have a MAJOR dislike of the Calgary team. I hope they get booted in the 1st round......will be understress if they make a run like they did before....that'll make me cry. :) hehehhe

-Randy