Alright, realistically I know that there is not anything directly related to our blog and the Oscars but you must admit that it makes for a much more eye catching title than "I Can't Tell You How Sick I Am Of The Cold" which for reasons that are not even close to unknown was my second choice.  Speaking briefly of the Oscars...am I the only one that inwardly groaned when they had Jennifer Anniston walk out to give an award and the cameras constantly flipped from her to Brad and Angelina??  My vote is to give it a rest as the last I checked it has now been years since the seperation ... as well as about a dozen children. [To this subject I will add that lip syncing is inexcusable at any level, specifically for someone with Beyonce's voice... or does she really have a good voice? This is something I am unfortunatly now questioning - RW]

And... onto things more related to photography.  Rob and I have been busy teaching workshops as we just held another Post Processing one last night.  The main thing that has been keeping us busy is a bit of a secret right now but I promise it will be revealed to the world very very soon...how's that for excitement Please, try to get some sleep before now and the big reveal although I know the suspense must be killing you 

We did manage to get out and shoot one day last week.  I'm not sure if it is just that I am getting older and more fragile or if I'm just a suck but shooting when it is 30 below outside seems to have gotten a little bit more difficult for me as of late.  This time I think that it actually took me about an extra hour to get the feeling back in my feet... Rob and some others claim that it's strictly due to the fact that I don't wear winter boots.  [or most often a winter jacket or sometimes anything more than a t-shirt and hoody when it is 30 below - RW] Like that has anything to do with it

Well, once again, enough from me and onto some pictures...

Rob took the above picture when the Tartan Curling club held glow curling.  From what I understand this is something that is extremely challenging to shoot. [Aauuhh yeah, no lights and moving subjects - strobing it obviously does not work as one may as well just throw on the lights. This is a challenge and if you ever want to tease your brain go outside in the dark and make photos of moving subjects with little tiny glow in the dark strips taped to them... stop the movement and properly expose the image - this image was funked up a little in PS but not much, the lines that were visible were enhanced with a neon filter]

ISO - 160, F 14, Shutter Speed - 13 seconds, focal Length - 28mm
I shot this picture on my way home from work the other night.  It was when we had a huge blanket of fog over the city for the entire day and by the time I got here there was just a bit of a mist left.

ISO - 3200, F 5.0, Shutter Speed - 1/320th, Focal Length - 15mm
A shot that Rob took during the Cougar women's basketball game.  In this image he shows how you can use a unique perspective in your composition to get a fantastic result.... I know, I'll have to tone it down as that almost sounded like I was complementing him [Something else I will add is that you should occassionally challenge yourself as so many of us get stuck in the same ruts. Shoot sports wide or landscpapes with a telephoto for a change... hell, go shoot all day with a fixed lens (oh yeah, I did that last week too and you heard about it already, sorry). Make yourself have to think about what you are doing and often you will be rewarded with some sweet results]

A couple of the shots I took when we were out on our 40 below photo excursion.

ISO - 100, F 13.0, Shutter Speed - 1/10th sec, Focal Length - 20m
Robs sunrise in Wascana Park.

ISO - 100, F 22.0, Shutter Speed - 1/50th sec, Focal Length - 10mm , Exp Comp - -0.3
Rob's image from when we were traipsing around Tor Hill golf course.

ISO- 400, F 4.0, Shutter Speed - 1/8000th, Focal Length - 14mm, Exp Comp - -1.0

Yep, the above 2 images are mine I may or may not get into a bit of pooh over image number two as I have no idea how I managed to get this image of Rob hard at work.  Very strange place for a recliner though.

ISO - 100, F 13, Shutter Speed - 1/50th sec, Focal Length - 105mm, Exp Comp - +2.0


ISO - 100, F 14.0, Shutter Speed - 1/80th sec, Focal Length - 20mm, Exp Comp - +0.3

Above a couple more of Rob's shots.  I believe that it was right after the picture that he took above when I started to think that I was going to have to lose part of my right foot.  Very very strange though how when both of my feet were equally savaged by the elements that it was only my right foot that seemed to suffer... yep, wierd circulation.

ISO - 160, F 3.5, Shutter Speed - 1/1000th sec, focal Length - 55mm
One of the images that I shot at sunrise.  

Seeing as how these were the conditions that we were shooting in I now realize how my "non winter boots" got me in a wee bit of trouble.  Mind you, for some reason I tend not to sink as deeply into the snow as Robert does


ISO - 100, F 10.0, Shutter Speed - 1/60th sec, Focal Length - 105mm, Exp Comp - +1.0

ISO - 100, F 7.1, Shutter Speed - 1/30th sec, Focal Length - 105mm, Exp Comp - +0.7

Rob took the above 2 macro shots... snowflakes and frost always make for interesting macro material as when you can get in this close the detail and patterns that one can see are amazing

[To back track a little the two images below are those of Tanya Smith who joined us for out WinterScapes Field Trip... Great Job Tanya]

Well, before I sign off for this weeks edition I will leave you with a tip that I read in a recent photo magazine.  It all has to do with extending the life of you batteries when out shooting in the cold... what I have always done is kept my extra batteries in my pocket as anything that you can do to keep them warmer makes them last that much longer.  What they are suggesting is basically taking it one step further by placing a cooked baked potato that you have wrapped in foil in your pocket and placing your batteries beside them.... I see the value of this idea in two ways as not only can you keep your batteries warm but then also when you get hungry you can have a quick snack...not sure how this will work in bear season though maybe it's the same as taking someone with you into the woods that you can outrun except in this case take someone along who has a bigger potato than you??  Anyway... I'm going to have to think on this idea a bit more as I still haven't figured out how to get around the fact that I always eat my potatoes with a pile of butter and sour cream and I'm pretty sure that this would have a negative effect on the life of my batteries as well

So... the last tip for this week is to do with driving and I guess I never thought of this before.  This tip is from Rob the backseat driver... when it is somewhat icy on the streets as it is known to be on rare occasion in our fine city and you are stopped behind a car that is at a red light, please ensure that you leave about 10-15 feet of room between you and the car in front in the off chance that someone rear ends your vehicle you will not run into the vehicle in front as well.  I know... I'm horrible and will most likely pay for saying this but... I'm still kind of laughing (inside only though Rob) as this is one of those "you had to be there" situations but if you can picture that most times when I drive with Rob (which are rare...control thing lol) I am behind the wheel and he never directly tells me how I should be driving but he makes these statements that start with "You know when I'm driving I always do this...".  That way he's not really telling me what to do... I'm sorry...still laughing.  And for the record I have never been in an accident...or caused any   Still laughing... [I'm going to defend myself here as Devona has this nasty habbit of damn near playing bumper tag with people stopped at intersections even when on glare ice. Not long prior to my mentioning the fact that I disapprove of, and often want to thump on, those who crawl right up my buttox at a stop light. We had just witnessed three people pretty much slide all the way through intersections which indicates not only can they not stop for the corner but that they would have crushed whoever was sitting there. Point being and long story not so short, if someone parks on my bumper and then another ass is added to the equation that rear ends that person and I am involved only because of fool number one, I'm likely going to display a little road rage directed at said fool. While I'm at it I will mention that on several occasions I have avoided being rear-ended because I had left just enough room to crank my wheels and pull up beside or go around the person in front of me when Mr. Too Friggin Fast for Road Conditions locks up the wheels behind me. Oh, did I mention keeping an eye on your mirrors is not a bad thing either. - by the way, someone who grew up in a town with two stop signs and one traffic light should not likely critique others thougths on safe driving habbits.]

Alright, I know that I said I was done but ... FYI... I am not one of those fools who skids 10 feet to a stop...or plays bumper tag... regarding the whole "someone who grew up in a town with two stop signs and one traffic light" comment ... we didn't have a traffic light where I grew up...still don't.  Shows how much you know Robert    

Have a fantastic week!

Devona Hill & Robert F Weitzel