May 2009 Archives

Access to tall buildings in the city, in any city really, can be hard to find. Post 9.11, skyline shooting is a troublesome and expensive desire for most anyone. Thankfully I work in an 11 floor building in Downtown Winnipeg, and while the 11th has no sunset views, my work has the 8th floor as well, and that has an amazing view of the sunsets. After months of longing to have had my camera when I see an amazing view out that window, I began taking my camera to work often, on the hopes that the sunset would be worth it. May 20th it was. It was not the best I have seen, but the best I got in the days I had my camera with me. The differing shades and amazing colors begged my lens, and I was more than happy to click the shutter a few dozen times. More Skies and Landscape shots can be found in the Skies and Landscapes Gallery!


Fire in the Sky

My passion for photography is something I would be hard pressed to hide, and my family is well informed on this aspect of my life. I would like to think my family, or at least some of them, check this site for new updates. So it was with great pleasure that I found a gift waiting for me when I woke up today. I have been vocal about my desire that when I move, I will be wanting to section off a part of my next place for a photo area. I will set up a place for my light tent, but more importantly I want to set up a place to do actual, honest to goodness model shoots that don't require a sunny day, or lack of rain.

While my parents had been out checking out garage sales today, I am told, they came across two plastic cases, each about three or four feet long, a foot or two deep, and they both were had for $30. The first case I opened was actually the newer looking of the two, and it contained a couple of Ianebeam 650 'Redhead' continuous light heads. Part of this I read off the back, part I am guessing by what I have read online. I could tell right away these are powerful lights, and a quick plug in of each told me I was not wrong! Along with these the case had several front housings I guess in case one breaks. Oddly, the case also had a metal bar from a weight set and a music stand, for holding sheets of music.

My joy at the first case clear, I moved onto case number two, which had a couple Lowel Omni lights. This too had a some metal housings for the front, as well as several mesh covers and the power cables. As well, there was 3 light stands. Yes! Score! I plugged these two in, and while one didn't work, I was informed that they had been told one might have a burnt out light bulb. Some testing shows this is possibly not the problem, but I will call around to somewhere that would have a better idea on Monday.

The light stands, which I checked next, showed more work will be required, but time will tell on that regard. Adorama has light stands for $20, so if these ones end up looking too costly, I will just pay them for some brand new ones. Either way if it turns out that I got 3 working lights and a couple usable light stands, all for $30, I am well on my way with all of this. I am seeing the Omni's brand new are about $150, and the other ones are probably at least $50-$75 value, so I consider this a huge win and savings on buying new. Now what I need to do is check into fixing the second Omni, check into repairing the stands, and getting some umbrellas, and I will be ready to set up a studio, once I find space!

This week the highlight photo of the week will be of my nephew Cody, who I was able to convince to sit still for a few shots when I first got into DSLR level photography. I guess you could say he was my first ever model, in the summer of 2006. I wanted to thank him for being so... cooperative with my very new and raw skills with my Canon Rebel. More photo I have taken of people can be found in the People gallery, like some snowboarders, and my second model.


Cody

I mentioned previously on this site that I had donated a print to the Child's Play charity auction being put on by Brigwyn at the Hunter's Lodge blog. That auction is now over, and the winner has chosen their print. I thought it would be fitting to make this weeks highlight the one that the winner will be getting. The winner chose a photo I took about a year ago, and have called Lay of the Land.

I live close to this tall hill that overlooks the St. James and West End areas of the city, and thought it might be a good way to get some elevated vantage point photography done. Little did I knwo that this mountainous pile of garbage, a former landfill in Winnipeg's earlier days, was riddled with gopher holes. Having seen a few, but not able to get close enough by walking before the jittery creechers ran back down one hole or another, and being as stubborn as I am, I decided to sit down, and just wait. I found a good spot right between two active areas with gopher holes, and just waited, and boy did it pay off. This little guy was a bit further away, but was still visible to the camera when it looked like he started scouting another set of holes about 20 feet away. More sights from that trip can be found in the A Trip to Garbage Hill gallery, including a cute dog and many more gophers, but below you will find one of the highlights of the group.


The Lay of the Land

Hey everyone, another Highlight Photo of the Week for you, but first I want to mention once again that the WoW community has banded together to hold a Child's Play charity auction in celebration of the in game holiday Children's Week. Dwight Wallbridge Photography has donated an 8x10 matte print of a photo in this collection of the winners choosing, dependent on model release if the winner chooses one of a person. Dwight Wallbridge Production's podcast All Things Azeroth has also donated a one episode sponsorship of the show. These have a combined value of about $95 USD, and both right now can be had for less than half that! Check out the auction, and help raise money to help kids.

Now, to the highlight. This week I am going back over a year ago. I was working at AAA Alarms, and our only windows faced the sunset, but most of the summer it was always too far one side or the other. When I finally got my replacement DSLR, the Rebel XT, I went photo happy. This is one I caught right near the end of the day in late January, and then the sky turned a beautiful orange as it was tinged by the suns glow. One of many I took out that window in that winter, but still a great time in my photography when I was once again looking through the lens and reimagining the world.

More can be seen in the Best of the Best gallery, but below you will find one of the highlights of the group.


Sunset over Frozen Manitoba

We here at Dwight Wallbridge Productions are always happy to lend a hand to support good causes. Some of you may know I am a gamer as well as a photographer, and therefore a supported of the Child's Play charity, started by the guys over at the Penny Arcade web comic. It's a way for gamers to give back, to show the world there is more to us than a controller, avatar, character or title. Therefore when Brigwyn, over at The Hunter's Lodge, twittered about his planned Child's Play charity auction, an event to celebrate the World of Warcraft in game event Children's Week, I knew right away I had to give what I could. For the photography side, I offered up an 8x10 print, unframed, of one of my collection, of course dependent of model release where applicable. On the podcasting side of the company(Dwight Wallbridge Productions) I offered up a one episode sponsorship. If you want to support Child's Play, a great charity helping kids, and get a sponsorship of the show or a print of one of my photos, check out the eBay auctions. Also, be sure to check out all the other awesome stuff being donated!