Welcome to Glenn's Website

Stuff I learned- part 1

Blogs - Canadian In Tokyo

Last Updated on Thursday, 02 September 2010 06:48 Friday, 27 August 2010 19:40

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Random thoughts and comments.

I have to learn to walk on the other side of the sidewalk... on the left and not on the right.  Seeing hundreds of people coming towards you can be intimidating.


I have been getting some interesting looks... don't know if it my hairy legs sticking out of my shorts.  Except for the cool/ hip kids, shorts are not popular.  I am too hot to worry about the looks now.

I need to watch for bikes.  The ride on the sidewalk... a couple of close calls with some old ladies has tuned my senses...

It is bright here...the sun can be blinding... but sunglasses are rare.  It is impolite to cover your eyes.  I wear my photogrey glasses ( darken while outside)...being able to see is important to me.

Long flowing peasent or sun dresses are popular... usually with small floral prints.  For guys it is shirt and dress pants, but the ties have been taken off.

Gloves seem to be popular with the older ladies.  These cover the hands and arms up to the bicep.  I assume that they are to keep the sun off of the arms and hands.

Umbrellas are also popular... provide your own portable shade.  Another reason to learn which side to walk on.

Everyone carries a cloth with them to wipe their brow...

I am here

Blogs - Canadian In Tokyo

Last Updated on Thursday, 02 September 2010 06:49 Thursday, 26 August 2010 23:31

I have arrived in Tokyo

It was a very uneventful flight...the way I like it.

It took a while to go through immigration... three large planes landed about the same time.

Then I had to struggle with 2 large bags to get on the train... but I made it!

It's hot.

32 to 36 with 80 - 90% humidity.

At the house, the airconditioning is doing a good job, but the water it produces is dripping down the inside of the wall.  This is an old house, which has mat floors... water is not a good thing. The landlord is sending someone to deal with it tomorrow.

I have been doing a lot of walking, getting lost, and found again.  I have been in getting to know the city again mode, so I haven't been shooting, yet.

I hope to start shooting over the weekend, and then I will start posting pictures...

Sitting at the airport

Blogs - Canadian In Tokyo

Tuesday, 24 August 2010 10:05

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It has been a crazy couple of days.

I moved out of my Apartment on Sunday.  I have no space left in my storage unit.

I realized how much the move was stressing me out.. I really liked the place and having to leave it was not a great experience.  I had to move anyway ( landlord taking over the unit).  I slept on the floor for 3 nights my only chair was one from my deck.

I had decided to spend a couple of days with my parents in Waterloo.  This was a excellent idea.  I got to destress, spend some time with my Mom and Dad ( amazing people...) and repack and rethink.

I am now in the right frame of mind to take on Tokyo.  I am at Person, the Plane has just arrived at the gate... time to slip into "plane" mode.  I am hopeing for a boring flight ( I like boring... I have had a few exciting flights... boring is so much better)

I listen to the two ladies beside me, and realize my language skills are going to need work.... a lot of work.

I will post more once I get settled.

Balance

Blogs - The Lazy Photographer-Photo Blog

Last Updated on Tuesday, 17 August 2010 22:39 Tuesday, 17 August 2010 14:57

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Balance is important in life... But before I start getting all philosophical the balance I want to discuss today has to do with photography

I attended a model shoot on the weekend where I watched and listened to a lot of photographers.

One topic that was discussed was how to balance natural light with flash... Or how to use flash with natural light.

Lightroom

Blogs - The Lazy Photographer-Photo Blog

Last Updated on Thursday, 19 August 2010 07:47 Monday, 26 July 2010 21:03

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I like lightroom.

There are better DAM ( Digital Asset Managment) software.  My personal favourite is Media Pro by Iview... which was bought by microsoft... who just sold it to Phase One to be bundled with capture one

There are better Raw convertors ( Capture One comes to mind)

There is better image manipulation software ( Photoshop)

Workshopss and shoots

Blogs - The Lazy Photographer-Photo Blog

Last Updated on Thursday, 22 July 2010 06:19 Wednesday, 21 July 2010 15:01

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Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes.
Art is know which ones to keep
-Scott Adams

I teach workshop, set up shoots , as well as photograph professionally.

One of the big downsides of shooting for money, where client expectations are high, is you can not make mistakes.

It is the same when teaching workshops.

You will loose credibility if your images suck when you show what you have shot. ( it can be a very humbling and frightening experience to show a room full of photographers your raw images fresh out of the camera)