~ 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

~ 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. :)