5d MARK II Details

CANON ROCKS....yet again they amaze with a wonderful new camera. Of course I need about $3000 to get it....that's a small prob. BUT wow!!!.....1080HD video quality, makes for some cool options. I am interested to see what people do with it.

Click here for details:
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0809/08091705canon_5dmarkII.asp

5D and Photoshop CS4

I heard through the grape vine (other blogs) that adobe will be announcing their creative suite 4 on Sept.23rd. That is VERY cool. I am a photoshop LOVER and it'll be interesting to see what new features they are going to be adding to photoshop. I am a BIG lightroom fan now. I kind of hope there is some lightroom like features built in to photoshop. I think it would be cool to use presets or something like that in the new photoshop. Also Canon shooters are eagerly awaiting the new 5D successor. I just wish I had a million dollars to buy every new toy that comes out.
As for my "personal blog", I've decided to start doing some photoshop tips and add some pictures to give some visual instruction. I will try and have one up this week. It'll prob be some very basic stuff, so don't expect anything earth shattering. It's picture day today and I forgot as usual...hehehe. Good thing I never buy school photos.

Weekend is Ending

Well, the maternity shoot went great. I got to watch some football on Sunday. Also got the garage floor painted. So when winter comes the Matrix will have a nice new clean floor to drip salty snow all over. We also went to Trina's BDAY party with the Wolfe. That was a lot of fun....played charades (cringe)...ok, that part wasn't my fave but it was cool watching people be silly....(I was prob the wost).

My fantasy football did ok....although old man power favre could of helped me a bit more. I think I will be 2-0 after Monday. I also think Lindsay beat her hubby, he's gonna be mad, heehhehe. Well, another busy week ahead. Closer to Jenn's 35th bday...hope we can party it UP and not be sick. Lots of staff are sick, kids are sick, going to be tough to sneak through healthy this month. Anyway I am off, here is an edit from my shoot this weekend. Check my photography BLOG for more edits.
-Randy

Weekend is here

This is going to be a fun weekend. I am doing a Maternity shoot which will be fun, hoping to get some amazing shots. Also, more fantasy football fun. I have to admit this fantasy football is awesome. I love watching it now and hoping for my players to do well. Thanks to Lindsay for getting me hooked and her hubby Marcus for making the league. I am also hoping to see Shantelle and drop off her Wedding photos, BIG thanks to her for being such a patient and understanding person.

Not much else going on, I am fighting off a cold and hope to stay healthy. It's such an easy time of year to get sick. I am gonna do my best, trying to avoid all pop and drinking LOTS of water and healthy liquids. This has been one LONG and exhausting week but I feel very good about it. It's nice to be back in to the swing of things.

Long Week

First full week of the year and my body feels drained already, however it's the middle of the week and hopefully there is light near the end of the tunnel. I am looking forward to the weekend. It's been a busy week of work and I can sense a few stressed people, including me at work so I am probably not alone in wanting the weekend to arrive sooner then later.
I do have problems getting out the door to work. My sweet little kitty Nahla cuddles up in my lap when I check email and now she is in a warm little ball on my lap, purring and cuddling. She's so warm I don't wanna get up and go anywhere, she's pretty much begging me to head back to bed and sleep the day away and right now that is a VERY tempting idea. heheheh. I could go for the cat life. :)

Fantasy Football Sunday

Well, I might have my 1st win on fantasy football. I'll have to wait and see after Monday night football. It'll be interesting if I can win, considering I made some silly mistakes with my lineup.
The weekend was good...got to hang with Lindsay a little. Went to Red Willow church and saw my buddy Trevor Boller "The High Roller" for a bit...he is one busy dude. We never see him much. After church we went out to Nestor's farm for his corn roast and it was FREEZING cold. The food was yummy and seeing his dog Indy (a puppy I rescued off the rez and gave to Nestor) was nice.
I did watch football a bit today, saw oldman Favre win!! :) Also painted a bit of our garage floor. Looks good and so clean. Finished some wedding edits for Brianna (check my photo blog). Anyway off to sleep I go...BUSY day tomorrow.

Labour Day ReMatch

Today the Esks and Stamps battle it out again in the Battle of Alberta. It never gets old when an Edmonton team can have success vs Calgary. I am not the biggest CFL fan but it's sure nice to see Edmonton doing so well. I would like to attend the game but maybe I am just lazy, cuz it seems like a good idea just to catch some of it on tv.
Last night I was all excited for NFL to be back, then I sat down on the couch and according to eye witness reports (Jenn and our cats) I was snoring within seconds. I guess this week of back to the classroom has been exhausting. I did wake up for the 2 minute warning and saw that I did not miss anything. The Giants rolled to their 1st win.
On a nerd note, I am getting an illuminated keyboard from bestbuy. Turns out computer companies like to package really BASIC keyboards with their desktops. My tower is awesome for power but my HP keyboard is not so hot. When I am using the control key in CS3 I keep hitting a silly hot key for some windows help. It drives me crazy...so hoping this new keyboard will not only help me during those late night photoshop sessions but be more user friendly in CS3. I'll try and review the keyboard when I get it. Maybe I should write a review for my desktop too. :)

Tired

I am very tired. This whole back to work thing is exhausting. However it's been a great start to the year. I have really positive vibes about the year.
I do love that NFL football started today. Jenn's not so thrilled as she is NOT a big football fan. Well, the weekend is around the corner and I am looking forward to going to our friend Nestor's farm for his annual Corn Roast. It'll be a good time I hope. Also, there is always NFL football and I hope my Fantasy team does well. This is my rookie year as a fantasy football player. I am entered in a league with a teacher from work who won it last year. I hope I do okay and don't finish last.
Well, off to bed I go. This edit is a previous shoot with a model named Jen. She shot with my 5 times and is a fun and natural looking model to work with. I am just loving lightroom 2 and was able to fire off this edit really quick using the POWER of my new HP. Love the 64 bit system and 6 gigs of RAM.

Castle Crasher Fun

The first day of school was fun. I really enjoyed seeing my students again and being back to work felt alright. I admit, I do miss vacation but as the weather gets cold...it's pretty fun doing some work again.
Last night Jenn and I played a xbox live arcade game called Castle Crashers. It's a silly side scrolling retro style arcade game similar to the tmnt games of the 80's and 90's. It's a 4 player game and has an rpg feel to it with the ability to customize your character. It's kind of hard to explain why the game is cool...but it's funny, cartoonish and just really unique. In a world of 3D style games and virtual worlds, a game like this which is just silly and fun is refreshing to me.
I was also able to play with my powerhouse of a PC and do a few edits from some older photo shoots. I am still amazed it runs so quick with lightroom 2 and cs3. (drool)

Another Year Begins

The 2008-2009 year is about to begin. My students will be coming back and I have to admit I am quite eager for the year to start. I have a lot of personal goals this year and really feel positive about the changes I am going to make in my professional and personal life.
I also am happy that on the weekend Jenn and I were able to get a new computer. I now can edit on a 22" widescreen HP monitor. I am very impressed with it's bright screen and now in photoshop I can see MUCH more then previously possible on a 19" screen. One thing I noticed right away was the level of detail in the different blacks I could see. For all the comp geeks that understand this, it's got a 750gig hard drive, 6gigs of RAM, and a quad core intell. It's sad but as I get older these numbers start meaning even less to me. All I know is it's quick...and runs a 64 bit Windows Vista. I also am running Lightroom 2 in 64bit mode. It's crazy cool and I can't get over how much power this machine has. I've been running a LOT of stuff with photoshop and it still refuses to slow down.
Well, that is the BIG news. It's also good news for people waiting for edits. This means I will be able to process faster and hopefully get photos out sooner then later. I know I am already quite slow. :)

Back to Work This Week

So Nestor came over and we had a fun weekend. I took some pics of Nestor (see my Flickr, or my photo blog for those pics). I also went to Red Willow on Saturday with Nestor. He's never been there before, Jenn and I want him to meet a hot single girl there. :)

I got to play some vids with Nestor too, we played Soul Caliber and rocked some new characters. That game is addicting, it's like dressing up barbie dolls and then having violent battles with them....hehehe. I am also happy that today I talked with a dude here in town that will hook me up on a hockey team. They start in Oct. so I will have awhile to grab some new equipment, as my stuff is old and crusty like me and it needs to be updated. I need to exercise more and really get myself in shape. Hope the hockey will help. Well, work starts this week.....YUCKY.....and I also discovered how BAD of shape I am in. Nestor and I played some bball and I am hurting, I need to run more and get my cardio back, especially before I start playing any hockey! :)

Wedding Work Summer 2008

Some of the weddings done this year already. :)

More Beautiful Girls

Another cool animoto video

Beautiful Girls

Just an awesome Animoto video of my work

Trouble The Water

A new documentary about how lame the States is when it comes to helping it's own people. Grrrr@ Bush!!!

http://troublethewaterfilm.com/

Busy Week and American Thinking

Well, still no vagabond pictures yet. Been busy here at home with "home" stuff. Plumber came today and evaluated some of the issues we've had with our plumbing. Turns out some of the stuff we thought was "bad" wasn't so bad. I feel it's time for a good rant. In a recent phone call with my sister, I decided out of the blue to ask her if she knew who the Canadian Prime Minister is. She had no clue, her reaction to my shock was pretty much typical American. She didn't seem to care who it was and pretty much said "who cares, it's Canada" and laughed it off. She's married to an American guy that shares those views. It's hard to believe she lived most of her life as a Canadian and has only been in the States a hand full of years and is already extremely disconnected from Canada and doesn't seem to have much clue about anything happening beyond the borders of the USA. Melting pot at work I guess.
I am SO thankful to be Canadian and in a country where culture and the world are not ignored. Canada is NOT perfect but I am lucky, lucky, LUCKY to call this place on earth home. I know many people that would LOVE to be in my position. It's sad when my own sister doesn't seem to know anything about the country she was born in anymore.
Jenn's been away for only a few days and Nahla is missing her like mad. Yesterday she was all anxious about things and today she was just a suck. Chosing to be a suck and cuddle like mad. I was also a lazy bum and wished I had more accomplished. I did go out and buy a copy of Madden 2009. I played the BUCS vs FALCONS and got a close win, 17-14, coming down to a field goal kick late in the 4th to win. While it's NOT even close to being as good a football game as the 2k series, it's the only NFL game on the market and will do for a good NFL video game fix. I hope the 9ers, Bucs and Saints do good this year....I also admit to liking the Colts and since Favre is a Jet I got to cheer for some old man power. :)

VAGABOND II arrived!!!!! Stay Tuned

This isn't my photo, but a picture of the vagabond II that arrived today. I almost hugged the UPS lady hehehe. Jenn and I also decided to get a g9 to replace the broken g7. She needs a camera for her trip home. Anyway, off to the airport. Will post some vagabond pics asap. :)

~ A Lady in Control ~

~ A Lady in Control ~
Originally uploaded by Randy Pond

Jenn and I had a trip to Calgary where we saw some good friends. I got to also hang with my friend Wil Yee. He's an amazing artist and everyone should be checking his website and hiring him to do work. http://www.wilyee.com and also had a chance to see O'Neill and her man. We stayed with Jenn's friend Corey. I called some cousins and hoped to do some portraits for them but that didn't work out.

Also, bad news our Canon g7 is a paper weight. It just stopped working.....never had a canon camera die like that. Hope the 40D hangs in there. It would suck to lose that camera to a freak incident. I heard of a program from canon that might help us. If it works out we should have a g9 out of it and be done with out g7. Crossing my fingers and toes. I like the g series camera. My first digi was a g3. Have a soft spot for them.

Demetri Martin on Rove.

Demetri Martin - If I 4 of 6

funny guy

Demitri Martin

More funny stuff. :)

demitri martin flip chart and art

this guy is hilarious, love his take on Hummer owners!!!
Also applies to Rig Rockets here in AB!!

An Engineer's Guide to Cats

This is hilarious!!! :) Love the cats!

Heavenly Alien Bee Item

Just thought I'd drop a teaser on my blog....for all those photographers out there who know what this is....you are sure to be drooling too. Thanks to Nathan for the thumbs up on this....I can't wait to see what kinds of doors this opens as far as photography goes. :)

New Edit and Back to Work Blues

This is an edit of Joanne, a model who is entered in to a competition called "Alberta's Next Top Model", she contacted me to do a shoot and we were able to hit my small studio and get some shots done for her. As for today, well, it's a cloudly day, raining and not very warm. I think winter is on the way. I already feel depressed about going back to work. It's not funny how quick summer goes. Our little fury baby Nahla also jumped in the dryer and within seconds peed on fresh laundry. What a BAD kitty!!!!!!!!!!! Anyway, I am gonna go grab some food and maybe watch some Olympics and hope Canada can win a medal already. They need to add some kind of hockey to the summer Olympics....roller blade hockey? :) Then we'd kick some butt!

Wild Kittens

Jenn and I were out for a walk and as we passed by a junkyard in Vegreville, we noticed a small family of cats. A Mom and her 3 white kittens, we were not sure if there were more or not. I had the g7 with me so I snapped a few shots. It makes my heart feel sad to know they are living without anyone to care for them. They were in a fenced off yard, living underneath a overgrown pallet and next to a huge grocery store. I felt sad, because I know how loved our cats are and just wish we could of taken all of these kittens home with us. They are pretty wild and didn't get scared of us but also didn't seem very trusting in us even though we sat and talked baby talk to them for awhile. I think we amused them. :)

New Edit(s)

Here is a new Shantelle and Josh edit....more to come me hopes. :)

Smiley Eyes makes cover of Magazine with my Exclusive Photo!!

The new magazine Photo World has exclusive photos of Tammy and she made the cover on a shot of her signing my lens. I just sold it for a LOT of money on ebay and will retire shortly (cough)....not.

Smiley Eyes

I got to meet Tammy of SmileyEyes Photography downtown yesterday. Jenn and I got to hang with one of Canada's Top Photographers. She signed my 70-200 and it's now on eBAY and I hope to sell it and retire a rich dude.
She's a great person and it was awesome to meet her in person with her 2 adorable girls. Trevor Boller "The High Roller" got to meet her too. She is very down to earth and she didn't seem to mind meeting a few of her fans for a short visit.
Here are a few shots from the Tammy "hang out" 2008!!!!

Love this Bride Shot from Oeil

Originally uploaded by Oeil Photography

great bridal shot, makes me jealous!!

This Photographer is Amazing :)

, originally uploaded by Oeil Photography.

Love this work....inspires me a LOT!!!

Wicked Photographer

I just saw this photographer on Flickr and wanted to share....I am VERY impressed with the work. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sailorgirl/

Heritage Festival

Jenn and I went to the Natalie McMaster concert at Heritage Days. Congrats to her as she announced she is going to have another baby, she called herself a "yummy Mommy" and explained the baby bump. Wow, that lady can fiddle and dance for a Mom with 2 kids and 1 on the way. Jenn enjoyed it a lot as did I. We had fun at the Greek Pavillion and had some yummy food there, don't ask me to spell any of it. Then we walked back up the hill to our car and picked up Chelsey to bring her out for a few days. It was a good time.

A Good Day

Went to Red Willow, heard a great Pastor Dan sermon. He rocks. Here are some new edits, using some new tricks thanks to Mr.Cowen for the hookups...much respect! :)

GreyHound Bus Killing

I heard about the recent murder on the Greyhound Bus from Tammy (Smileyeyes) and was really shocked at the violent nature of this crime. The senseless act has a lot of the world talking and arguing about it. People are saying the people on the bus should of done something, should have helped this young man. I read a lot of people saying Canadians are "pussies" for not carrying guns and better self defence. Some American's were posting how they would of shot this guy, or if the guy had a gun he could have defended himself. I don't think any amount of firepower on that bus could have stopped this act. From what I read it happened quickly and unexpectedly. Panic sets in and I think from what I read that those there that night did the best they could. Thankfully no one else was harmed in this attack. It sounds to me like the victim must have died quickly.
I understand people's anger, fear and frustration when things like this happen. It would of been awesome if some heroic person had a gun, shot this guy dead before he murdered this man. Yet it didn't happen. Evil always finds ways to carry out acts like this. It's a sad world we live in and thankfully here in Canada we don't see this kind of evil very often.
Stuff like this is sick and pure evil. However, I don't think killing this sick guy is the answer. It's a horrible thing to happen but does killing this guy really offer justice for what he did? No justice system would allow for him to be killed in the manner he killed his victim. If Canada did have a death penalty it would be a "humane" killing and that wouldn't even be justice for what he did. It's senseless what he did and I do support the Police and the military using deadly force to protect the innocent. However the innocent can't always be saved and like I said, evil exsists on this earth and it's a fact we need to accept. I believe in the 10 commandments and Thou Shalt Not Kill is a very important one. I realize this is a VERY sensitive subject and one very debatable....everyone has a different opinion. It brings up a lot of issues. I know people have argued with me before and said what if it was someone you loved that was murdered? I can't even imagine nor would I want to how I would feel. Sad, hurt and angry yes. But I do know in my heart I couldn't bring myself to kill another person in revenge for that. I know the nothing could bring back the person I loved and killing wouldn't fix it one bit. I think for myself it boils down to faith. I live a life of faith, faith that God is real, faith that whatever happens in life does not go without notice in God's eyes. He is the judge, jury and executioner and I would rather leave those things in His hands then take them in to my own. We all need to remember that we have a choice, to believe God and do our best to follow Him, or to live with what the world has to offer.
John 6:47 "I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life." NIV

~ Edits for today ~

Here are some new edits from today....ok, I am not sure if anyone wants to know this, lol. I have a new editing song...it makes me laugh inside really hard. If you've watched Harold and Kumar Escape then you might know this song. It's the song they play when they are leaving the party and borrow the car of the guy with the Osama likeness. The scene where they are walking in slow motion, wearing the fancy clothes and getting in the sweet ride. It's my new editing song, lol.....I can't stop laughing when it plays. Best movie soundtrack for comedy.

New Edit

More Edits

Today I am going to be meeting with another photographer named Tara who lives close by. She just got the new digital Rebel and wants to learn some tricks of the trade. It will be nice to get to know a fellow photographer who lives quite close. Possibly have someone to go on shoots with and start doing more creative work. I first have to do some cleaning and I better get going and do that.
On a side note, I installed lightroom and am trying to figure it out. It's a a whole different beast from CS3 but I am VERY impressed with how it handles large amounts of RAW files and allows for quick edits and batch work. I will use it for sure but all the serious edits still will be done in CS3....adobe products are awesome!! :)

Okay I got to go eat and then clean....:)

~ Current Edits ~

Some recent edits from Shantelle and Josh's wedding. Tons of great pics yet to go....she is an awesome bride to photograph....but a nightmare for a photoshop editor, heheheh.

Drive Home

As I drove home from Edmonton I saw some rain in the sky above Edmonton. Then as I looked I saw a beautiful ray of light come from a cloud and had to stop. I captured this shot from between the 2 highways on my drive back to Vegreville. I don't know how people can witness moments like this and realize there is a God. This shot really felt like a spiritual moment for me. It gives me a lot of personal hope for my future. I've been trying very hard to do a lot of personal improvements and this picture just reminds me of hope.