~ Nifty Level Fifty Reflection ~

~ NIFTY LEVEL FIFTY REFLECTION ~

So here I am, 50 years old and surviving during a global pandemic, surviving cancer, surviving in this UCP run province of Alberta. June 10th, 2023 I hit level 50, unlocked some pretty lame perks. Some of them involve waking up during the night for bathroom trips, when I get up things ache/hurt more than usual. My cats are hanging in there but definitely take a day at a time, as am I. 

Things are not normal, or were they ever? Seems like 2019 not only brought my cancer to the surface but with it the globe just went nutty. People seem so divided, everyone is on some kind of brink it seems of losing their marbles. As a teacher I have seen some really major changes and challenges come into the world of education. Basically, this world is never going to be the same as before 2019 and Covid. Not saying it's going to be bad and terrible, but it sure isn't looking positive on any fronts. 

With all the negativity surrounding it I have developed some plans on how I want to escape some of this chaos with some creativity and hopefully that can help keep my mental/physical/spiritual and emotional/social health strong. 

PHYSICAL HEALTH PLAN

• This one might be easiest of all, MOVE more!! I need to get active and hopefully yard work, photography adventures and just not being a complete potato will help here.

MENTAL/SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL HEALTH PLAN

• Do the creative things I love: ART, PHOTOGRAPHY, GAMING
• Spending time with friends, cats and family (Always good for this improving all aspects of my life)
• Keep learning and striving to be a better person in my job, personal life and just don't let my brain get sleepy.

SPIRITUAL HEALTH PLAN

• Going to do all I can to reconnect with that higher power. "This is My Father's World", isn't just a song that helped me power up spiritually during my chemo treatments, it's a saying that reminds me how much I need God in my life and heart.
• Connect with my Bible, reading, appreciating the contents of a book that contains so much good for me personally. 
• Take time to go out into nature, it's here where I can see God's presence more and I plan to showcase this through my photography, art and share it in new ways (I got plans). 

I say this lots but I do want to blog more. It's fun just writing things down and seeing where this writing leads. I have been playing a LOT with Ai (ChatGPT and Mid-journey) and I will at some point add some Ai posts to this blog. It's actually amazing to see how Ai is developing so quickly, scary yes to some point. I mean Terminator movies basically built a franchise on scaring people with quick development of technology like Ai. 

Summer is here and I am excited that I have some holidays now to really focus on some of these plans. I will try and keep this blog going with updates. If not here, check my instagram, FB photography for updates. Search up Randy Pond Photography. I cancelled my website as it was always glitching and the company I hosted with wasn't being too cooperative so the randypond.ca is no longer a thing. 

Thanks for reading this far. I wish you all the best for this summer and feel free to leave a comment. 

 Leaving you all with a portrait of my FINNY and moi!!!! LEVEL 50 here I come!!!! 

-Randy

~ Memories of 2019 and ALEX SHOOT ~

 THINKING BACK TO 2019 and SHOOTING WITH ALEX

MEMORIES FROM 2019

So it was in the end of September 2019 I was hospitalized with what I knew was a football sized mass inside me. I soon was told that it was cancer. It was a life shattering and altering thing to face and it was a difficult road to follow. Thankfully I got so many prayers, people supporting me that I never expected. I am truly blessed and humbled by it all. My hope is to try and give back to others the love and kindness shown to me by so many. 

SHOOTING WITH ALEX

This week was a challenging week of work and I got home today with the plans to get into my studio and do some photography. Thankfully this model Alex came to shoot but things did NOT GO smooth. Due to covid I haven't used my studio gear and when she got to my place my trigger batteries all died and we had to zip out to get new batteries. Then the main trigger would not wanna work....which was frustrating and as I tried to get it working, Alex got my older backup trigger to work. We were short on time so we shot what we could. It was sure a blessing to do something I loved like photography again. The pandemic really shut things down for my photography as it did for mostly everyone. I am so rusty and made a lot of rookie mistakes but it was fun to shoot again. Here's a few shots from todays shoot. 

~ Sigma 150 - 600 C Shots in Elk Island National Park ~

 ELK ISLAND ADVENTURES

Got to go to the beautiful Elk Island Park with my new lens. There was TONS of humanity there and I think the animals and birds all went into hiding from all the people. I drove the Bison Loop and just saw other vehicles. Jen and I walked around a bit and I did manage to catch some photos. I am really excited how this lens opens up new doors for me in my photography. It's so much fun to be able to get ZOOMY with my camera!!!!Stay tuned for more images.

~ University of Alberta Botanical Garden Visit ~

On a spontaneous whim my wife and I went on a trip to the University of Alberta Botanical Gardens near Devon. We had a great time, it was a sunny and hot day. It was great to see a lot of the flowers in full bloom. We have gone before but later in the summer when flowers were not as healthy as they were in July. It's great to see these gardens and the updates they have been doing to the grounds since the last time we went. I love to photograph flowers so it was a lot of fun, by the end of the visit I was drenched from the heat. I still have a ways to go with my personal health. The exercise we got from walking around was much needed on my end.

Here are the photos from our visit:

~ Summer 2021 Update ~

 SUMMER 2021 Update

Here it is summer of 2021 and I have not updated this blog in ages. I have been working on a post that goes into more details about my year of 2019 but for now I'll just give a quick overview.

September 2019 I was diagnosed with cancer, I started aggressive chemo and was hospitalized for about a month before they let me go home to finish chemo. I took the year off of teaching to recover and of course during that time COVID19 hit hard and the planet went into survival mode with people not allowed to gather. 

I started teaching in the fall of 2020 and now here I am finished one of the hardest years of teaching I have ever had. Thankfully I am vaccinated x2 with the wonderful phizer vaccine. It has been stressful at times and I did have to quarantine once because I was a close contact with a covid positive person in my class.

I have not touched my camera much, I am hoping this summer I can start shooting some new pixels and doing more photography!! Really going to try and get more physically active as I packed on some serious covid pounds....also due to a thyroid issue too. 

Anyway, this wasn't a super exciting blog post but glad I was able to post something. These aren't new photos, just some I have shot since recovering from cancer. Posted from my FLICKR. First pic is my ringing of the bell to celebrate finishing my chemo.

So if anyone that's reading this wants to shoot some photos with me, please contact me and let's create something awesome. I need to get out and adventure with a camera again!

-Randy

New Focus for 2019

This year I have made some decisions with my photography.  I have shot all kinds of things in my journey with cameras.  For 2019 I want to really shoot more for myself and for creative reasons.  I love portrait work so I plan to continue shooting TFP work with people to try out creative ideas.  Also my home is for sale and we're not sure what the future holds or where we may move.

I really want to try to focus on a mix of art, photography and make it a personal project to focus on creating stronger images, ideas and push my creativity with it.  Basically going back to school with myself as the teacher.  I am going to revamp my website and social media to reflect this personal journey.  Please hang out and check in from time to time to see how this turns out for me.  I am thankful for friends and family that support me and of course the amazing wife that supports my creative escapades.  I might also try to increase my work on YouTube and create more video work.

Of course I may read this in 2020 and realize I didn't do anything I wrote here but it's good to have goals. :)

I will share the most recent creative edit that will give you a taste of where I want to go this year with my photography and art.  MODEL is MJ and she loves Dr.Who....so this was inspired by her outfit and sonic screwdriver she had.
-Randy

~ Some new Black and White Shots for 2016 ~

Thursday - APRIL 28th, 2016 - Trying to Get Back To Blog Life

I have hardly been updating this blog....I need to refresh my photography blog and hopefully try and do an update once a week.  I really do love blogging.  I never really know who is reading what I write nor do I much care as it's just fun to share random thoughts and ideas and never know where they end up.  More important than my writing is being able to share the photography I do.  If it wasn't for people I would not have much fun doing photography.  People are interesting subjects and I find each portrait I shoot a new challenge to get images of a person that they appreciate and will value.  Life is so short, I want people to look back fondly at an image of themselves and remember that was them at a certain point in their life.....or even more special have my image be a lasting memory of that person for generations to come.  I just created a new black and white gallery on my FB photography page.  Black and white images are so timeless and really show the beautiful contrast of shadow and light.  I love to shoot in RAW format and then edit a shot to color or black and white.
-Randy

~ Wedding Photography ~

This summer I was able to shoot a few weddings with my good friend and professional photographer Olivia from Images by Olivia.  She is a super talented photographer and together we had a blast shooting this wedding at the start of Sept.  Weddings are always a fun time seeing the couple enjoying the day with their family and friends and the special moments that unfold.
-Randy

~ Fall 2015 ~

It's been a very long time since I've written anything on my blog.  The summer has ended and now fall and my teaching life is in full swing.  It's been a rough year, marked with the sadness of losing our newest cat Mulder at such a young age and right when the summer began.  I still find my happy place is behind a camera and being creative.  Without art, without imagination this world would be a very difficult place for me to exist in.  Social media to me is meaningless without images, I love photos and don't care if they are mine or belong to another photographer.  There are so many talented photographers out there.  I spend a LOT of time on 500px looking at works that humble me and inspire me.


Every year before I go back to school I attempt to do a photo shoot to mark summer ending and just get my last few pics in with warmish weather and natural light before hiding out in studio for the winter.  I will share here some photos taken of the stunning Vickie.  Hopefully I'll BLOG more as I have neglected this blog for a VERY long time.
-Randy

~ Destiny Spring 2015 ~

It's been a LONG time since I blogged so I am getting to it.  It's spring now and May long weekend is coming to a close this evening.  I got to see the new Mad Max movie with a good teacher friend, did some attacking weeds in the yard.  Didn't do much for photography so this blog post is about it for tonight.  Awhile back I shot with the lovely Destiny.  She met me in Edmonton and we explored the river valley on a warm spring day.  These are some of the shots we captured.

I was using the Sigma 35mm 1.4 art lens I added to my gear list.  I am loving this lens, it's ability to create mind blowing bokeh is something I adore.  I also love the sharpness and reliability it has.  Most photographers can admit that when shooting at apertures like 1.4 you're bound to get some soft shots as it is a VERY shallow DOF.  I have beyond happy with the results from the shoots I've done with this lens so far and I cannot wait to shoot more with it this summer.  I will try my best to keep more images flowing on the blog and excited to share my outdoor adventures this summer.
-Randy

~ 2015 Is Here ~

2014 Thoughts 

I have neglected my blog long enough.  I really need to start writing again on here.  2015 is here and well in to gear.  Looking back on 2014 I can say I am always going to view this year with sadness as I said goodbye to a precious friend, my cat Scully.  I got to spend about 15 years of my life with her as my cat and it broke my heart when she suddenly got sick and we knew her time had come.  2014 wasn't all bad, I had some really amazing memories doing photography and worked with some talented photographers and models doing creative work.  I also started shooting with a new camera, I picked up a Fuji Xpro1 and I really am loving this new type of non DSLR size camera.  A lot of photographers I know of use this camera line and their results are too awesome to ignore.  I admit I use this camera as an every day camera.  My canon still takes the workload of my shoots but the Fuji is just a fun and amazing little camera to pack every where I go.  I want to give a huge congrats to my friend Roxanne Lavallee, a talented photographer who just finished a 365 for 2014 and has decided she wants to continue it for another year.  I have done 2, one in 2010 and in 2013 and I know how much of a challenge it can be.  She is starting her 3rd I think and it is a joy to see her daily images.

2015 Thoughts 

Now there is a new year ahead of me and I am looking forward to new adventures and moments in creativity.  Just before Christmas I started shooting an Angel theme that I am doing in studio.  So far I have worked with two models on that project and excited to shoot more along this idea.  I said it last year that I wanted to do more visual art and I failed at doing the work I imagined myself doing.  Time goes so fast and I realize if I want to do more art that I need to force myself to get to it or it is never going to happen.  I guess this better be the time to start at is, so hoping the blog might be a place I can share my journey with my return to some art.

For now I'll end this blog with a few images of my last shoot of 2014 with Sean and Clarrisa.  It was inspired by the movie True Romance but with more of a classic gangster look.  I dig the Bonnie and Clyde vibe and these two were fun to work with.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!  Thanks for following my work and blog.
-Randy

~ Black and White, it's pretty fun!!!! ~

I was recently challenged by a photographer friend Todd Weider to do a black and white photography challenge.  The goal is to post 5 black and white pictures in 5 days.  I love black and white photography for a lot of reasons:

• it has that timeless look to it
• no colors to distract, it allows for the viewer to just enjoy the light and shadow
• so much fun contrast
• just has that artistic look to it

The other part of the challenge is to challenge other photographers each day.  It's fun and not for any real reason other than promoting the fun and beauty of black and white photography. :)

Here is my day 1 photo of the lovely Michelle:

Here is my day 2 photo of Sean:

~ Too much planning Spoils the Fun of Photography ~

When I am planning a creative photo shoot with a model they usually ask me what theme I have in mind.  I have to admit that themes can be fun and there are times when I do have an idea in my head for a shoot.  But the true fun for me comes from not planning shoots.  When the model comes up with looks on her own, does the hair and makeup it's fun and exciting to see what locations we can go discover that fit her look.  Some of my favorite shoots have been spontaneous in the outfits and locations.  I have discovered some really cool places to shoot just by going on an adventure and not knowing the destination.  Had I planned every last detail I would have missed out some great locations, light and images.

EXAMPLE #1(Model: Galina)

This is a shot of Galina taken in the country side north of St.Albert, Alberta.  We drove north and we just looked for some country roads and finally I saw this spot off the road we were on.  It was a farmers approach and it was grown with tall grass and lined with rows of bushes on either side.  The light looked great and we stopped to shoot a set of images here.  I could have gone out to scout locations in advance and driven right on by this spot.  Sometimes it's just about the light, light needs to be perfect and locations you scout do not always provide the best light due to weather, time of day, etc.  This spot was just perfect for the images we wanted.  I'll prob never go back to it, it was just a special photography adventure and the lack of planning made it exciting and fun.  It probably has a lot to do with my personality but I really dislike making detailed plans. :)  I am all about the unexpected and not knowing what is around the corner.  I love exploring the world with my camera and if I have a model or not, I think the same goes for nature photography.  Finding the light, the location and capturing a moment that is unexpected and impossible to plan for.  

EXAMPLE #2 (Model: Katelyn)

We drove around in the St.Albert area too, similar to the shoot I did with Galina.  We were near sunset (golden hour light) and found a construction area where residential buildings were being constructed.  This was mostly an empty field with some large concrete tubes (I have no clue what their technical names were) but they looked cool and Katelyn climbed on them and did some amazing poses.  The only things we had planned was where we would meet (A Tim Hortons) and from their we just drove around.  We had also briefly talked about the outfit but I didn't know her look until we met for the shoot.  It was just fun and I could never have expected we would find a place like this.  I know this is nothing new, many photographers/artists work like this but I just encourage people to sometimes step out of their comfort zones if you are a person that likes planning everything.  Try going out and being random....find something new and exciting and shoot there.  In Edmonton, I know the typical locations you can find photographers: Legislature grounds, many parks, Museum, Muttart, river valley, Fort Edm.....I've shot in these places lots too, but I have to say if I know I'm shooting there I kind of already know what to expect for light, for location.  

So basically go exploring with your camera!! :)  Make plans if you must but just be willing to go off the rails and find something new and be creative with it. :)

~ Canon 5dm3 and Fuji xpro1 with Katelyn ~

I had a fun summer, did as much photography as I could fit in.  As summer ended and I went back to work I decided I would buy a used Fuji Xpro1.  I have been wanting one for a LONG time, the problem is I am a Canon dude I wasn't sure I was ready to add another brand to my photography addiction.  I asked a few friends for some advice and I found a used xpro1 and decided it'd be a good investment.  After shooting with it I am so excited by the perks of using such a small camera.  I knew having a small body would be fun compared to lugging around heavy gear.  I love the lightweight feel of it and the way it works.  It's totally fun as a photographer to use and it has made photography really exciting to explore with this little camera.

When I was a film shooter I always shot with FUJI film so yeah, it's a LOT of nostalgia to use a FUJI camera.  I also am thrilled with the combo of my Canon and the Fuji.  I can see myself using both a lot now.  I will try and post more from my adventures with this fun little camera.  Here are some samples from a recent shoot with the lovely model: Katelyn


FUJI XPRO1:

CANON 5Dm3:

July 2014 Model of the Month - Candace

What do you love the most about modelling? 
I love how Modelling makes me feel. When I am modelling I am reminded that I am way too hard on myself and how I look. I am gorgeous and I can feel empowered by that knowledge.
What is the most challenging thing about modelling for you?
Most challenging this for me would be trying to have more than one expression.
Do you prefer color or black and white?
I love colour. Although black and white does have a certain timeless feel about it.
What tips do you have for models that are just starting out that you wish you knew when you started? Do not be afraid to be comfortable in your own skin. Your clothing size does not determine how good you will look in your portraits!
Do you prefer shooting in natural light or studio light?
I love Golden light, so I prefer shooting in natural light for sure.
Where would be your dream location to do a photo shoot?
Anywhere warm really. I don't think I have a real dream location in mind though. A good photographer can make any location look amazing!
What kind of music do you like to listen to when you are at a shoot or getting ready for a shoot?
I love to listen to any sort of Pop or Hip hop when getting ready, Iggy azalea is my weakness though. What color is your favorite? I adore Green and everything about it!
What social media do you use? Feel free to shamelessly plug yourself or stay secretive.
I love Facebook. It has helped me connect with some amazing individuals, and reach a broader clientele when I was running my photography business.
What would you say is your biggest strength?
I would say my biggest strength would be the ability to see good in people even when they cannot see it in themselves, and to be able to see past looks and love people for their personality, uniqueness and individuality.

Model of the Month for June 2014 - Vickie

What do you love the most about modelling?

 It’s continuously a challenge against myself to improve and become more versatile. Experimenting with body positioning that feels abnormal and of course seeing what the photographer does with the original photographs for editing is always exciting.

What is the most challenging thing about modelling for you?

I’m still incredibly new to modelling, and I think one of my biggest struggles is facial expressiveness.       Trying to convey a story based on your eyes especially while staying relaxed can sometimes prove difficult for me, but it’s just one of the challenges I love about modelling.

Do you prefer color or black and white?

Although black and white can sustain more raw emotion, I’ve always loved colour in my photos there’s just so much more life to them that way!

What tips do you have for models that are just starting out that you wish you knew when you started?

Get comfortable! It helps a ton when you’re in a shoot when you feel relaxed and at ease and it always shows in the photographs. Whether it’s practicing alone, or in the mirror while listening to your fiercest music, feel out where you feel comfy with posing, angles, and then just experiment from there. Also, I find if you ever need a little inspiration it’s never too far away with all the endless tutorials on the internet. J

Do you prefer shooting in natural light or studio light?

Oh, that’s a tough one because I love both! Natural lighting makes everything so beautiful; however, the possibilities when you add studio lights are far more limitless! This year I had the opportunity of working with a ring light and I would highly recommend giving it a whirl to anyone!

Where would be your dream location to do a photo shoot?

An underwater shoot would be something that I have always been intrigued to do, somewhere in crystal clear ocean water, perhaps somewhere in Australia or New Zealand. I also have a huge fascination with reptiles; getting the chance to shoot with some wilder critters would be rad!

What kind of music do you like to listen to when you are at a shoot or getting ready for a shoot?

I adore listening to 90’s hip hop so usually a lot of Wu-tang, Big L, Atmosphere, A Tribe Called Quest, Dilated Peoples, Boot Camp Clik, and typically I mix in some Lana del Ray as well, it just gets me into an amped up mood to shoot!

What color is your favorite?

It would have to be a shade of blue, blue is such a tranquil colour and when you get the right shade of turquoise, such as a rich glacial lake or a tropical ocean I find it so serene and gorgeous. 

What social media do you use?  Feel free to shamelessly plug yourself or stay secretive.

Instagram (@vahickster ) is by far my favorite! It allows me to find people who are interested in similar things as me, like snowboarding, wakeboarding, hiphop, and modelling.  I get to see a great mix of hilarity, and I get inspired for all sorts of things through other people’s concepts and photos.  There’s also far less negativity strewn about as well in comparison to things like Facebook and Twitter, but as any modern day little lady does I am on most social media platforms. 

What would you say is your biggest strength?

I laugh at myself quite easily, so when I’m at a shoot and something turns out a little bit more strange than planned, I try to just go along with it, and make the most of the oddities. Sometimes that strangeness and uniqueness makes for the most captivating part of a photo!