Canon 5D Mklll

I have recently started using the new 5D Mklll and have to say that Canon seems to have done this one right. First the starting point, it's not the cheapest and not the most expensive, with the 1Dx going for almost double the cost the Mklll.

Now the guts, it is fast enough for those that know how to shoot sports and don't feel they need 10-12 FPS to do the job, at 6FPS that's plenty. The iso capabilities and fast focus system is excellent. With the battery grip, which carries two batteries, the feel is solid and comfortable, without being bulky or too heavy for the average user. While I'm not a mega-pixel guy, using a 22MP camera sure makes for some large files.

I wouldn't waste my money trying to justify a 1Dx at over $7000 when you can have all you'll ever need at half that.

Gerard Chatigneau

Again in 2012 my community has lost a friend, Gerard Chatigneau. Gerard shot figure skating for all the years that I have known him, 21 years. He was a perfectionist with his camera and all the work he did with those images after. For over a decade he self published the Figure Skating calendar, it was a piece of art, the images as good as you would ever see anywhere. He captured the "moment" with every press of the shutter. Gerard was the guy who showed up to the rink before the skaters morning practice, he studied their programs and translated that into the images he wanted during competition. He was the guy who fell asleep in the media room at the end of the day, still going through the images from that day. It was his life and passion and it made a difference to the skaters, he set the height of the bar and we all aspired to reach it at every event. On many occations we just sat and talked about our work, he always had a good word for me, and a suggestion when he knew it would help. He was a kind and gentle soul, with a bit of odd thrown in, the good odd.

He will be missed.

Mike Cassese

I met Mike back in the mid 1980's, he was shooting for the Toronto Sun and I was shooting for Mila Mulroney, the Prime Minister of Canada's wife. It was an event in Toronto, Mike and I ran into each other while walking down the road, we struck up a conversation, a conversation that lasted 27 years.

Mike was one of those guys that would help anyone, a quiet person with a camera that spoke louder than most. He was a great friend, I never met anyone that didn't enjoy being around the guy.

Mike passed away on December 27th of a heart attack, he was just 53 years old, far too young to lose a friend. He left behind a family and friends and so many amazing images that will never be captured.

The world lost a good man that day.

It's not the camera

It has taken me some time to understand a few things about photography, things that I had long since forgotten about cameras.  I have been doing this for a very long time and back in the day of film and cameras it was still about having the latest in technology.  With digital and the constant upgrading of cameras by Canon and Nikon, and well the rest of the makers, haing a camera for more than a couple of years is a strange thing.  I used some of my film cameras for 10-12 years without any problems, shutters didn't fail, there was no software or messages popping up telling me that I had an error, the only error would have been what I didn't do right, and I wouldn't find that out until I saw the film.

I have always had the opportunities of using the best gear, and with great help from my dad over the years it was always possible.  With the changes to my career, and the changes in clients, the money to upgrade to the top of the line gear just won't be happening.  I recently bought an entry level digital camera, a small Canon T2i, I have great Canon glass to use with it.  I have to say that I was somewhat embarassed being seen with this camera, it wasn't what a professional should be using, but what I learned was that, I was producing great images with this camera, it is still better than the high end film cameras that I used to use.  It is better than the high end digital cameras of four years ago.

The point to all this, I know how to use a camera, it doesn't chnage the fact that I can still produce great images with this camera, what it does prove is that regardless of what others may think, I really don't care anymore.  I'm the brains behind the camera, not the other way around.

The passing of a great sports writer

On Monday April 16th A good friend of mine passed away, not only was he a friend of mine, he was a great friend to amateur sports in Canada.  Toronto Star writer Randy Starkman was just 51 years old, too young for anyone to leave us.  From the first time I met Randy back in the late 1980's while covering the Olympics, to the last time we chatted, just a few weeks ago while covering the Swimming Canada Olympic trials in Montreal.  We had some laughs, shared some sensitive moments talking about the passing of my mother only two days before, as always he lent me his ear and offered me some comfort during a very difficult time for me.

Randy Starkman, will be missed by so many, and I will always miss his friendship.

Football archive

I am really happy to know that the Canadian Football League Players Alumni has endorsed the photo archive.  It should mean that more of the photos will find their way into the lives of those that inspired me to shoot the pictures and put this site together.

The blame game

I used to blame all the amateurs that bought cameras and started to play at being "professional photographers"  It's not people that are to blame for the changes to professional photography, it's the technology that has made it easier for them.

For all that is positive about digital photography there is an equal negative side.