The Future of Photography

Recently a document purported to be from Microsoft has surfaced with details on the successor to the XBox 360 some are calling it the X-Box 720.  It has an interesting feature-set, if it turns out to be authentic.  I have some thoughts about it as it pertains to photography.

One of the features, if it turns out to be real, is support for multiple sets of 3d glasses and headphones.  Console gaming systems have always been fairly ubiquitous in North American homes who can afford them. With the last generation of consoles, these appliances have taken steps outside of the gaming world.  They have turned into somewhat of a swiss army knife.

If these companies can somehow achieve critical mass, and make it worth while for the camera companies to invest into researching and developing 3d imaging systems.  The family photo book might be in for the third metamorphosis.  First we had paper and slides, then we had digital images and displays, next we might have cloud based 3d immersive photo albums!  I know 3d is not new, but it has always been specialized.  The difference here is that very soon, most households in North America will have one form of electronic 3d display capability or another.  We already have some in the form of 3d TVs, but once we have the processing capabilities that consoles and computers bring to the table, we don't just have display, we have navigation.  We have object, shape, and character recognition.  This might allow for some interesting photo-stitching, as many of us already use, but in the future it will be in three dimensions.  We could build immersive navigable 3d recreations.  This could be for stills, as well as for video.  The future looks bright for photographers.

What do you think?  Let me know in the comments.

Canadian Nature Photographer Article

I am pleased to be a guest writer for Canadian Nature Photographer this month.  I was asked if I would be willing to write an article about being a nature photographer in Manitoba, and I jumped at the chance.  You can check out my article, as well as many other fine nature photographers' work here:

Canadian Nature Photographer

The Blind Bandurist Player

This is one of those photos where I found meaning in the lens.  To me, this image has contrasting themes.  On one hand you have a man, sitting amidst all this visual beauty, colour, and form.  The sorrow flows like tears, in the misty drops on his skin.  For a moment, you may consider, his sadness is not for himself, he is playing music, the notes flow, with beauty, colour, and form.  Perhaps the tears are for you.  You are deaf to his melody.

This is my interpretation of this sculpture situated in the Leo Mol sculpture garden, inside Assiniboine Park, in Winnipeg.  Leo moved me.  I hope you find meaning too.

Olympic Torch hits Winnipeg

I went out to watch and shoot the torch as it hit Winnipeg this afternoon. It was perfect conditions for it. Almost made to order weather. Something very satisfying about the large fluffy snow flakes falling almost straight down. What says Winter Olympics more than that?

Photographically it was quite challenging conditions though. First of all was the cold. For those who do not know, battery life quickly drops along with the temperature, and my camera and flash batteries were no different. The torch came along right on time, but in order to find a decent spot to shoot I had to arrive early. I did my best to keep my batteries warm in my pocket until the last minute, which actually worked quite well. Unfortunately my fingers were quite frozen, and I did not have the dexterity to fumble with the small AA batteries that my flash requires. So I did not have a working flash. In hindsight I should have put the whole flash inside my jacket until the last second. Ah well, live and learn.

My next obstacle was the herd of "support" that the runners had with them. So many. Too many photographically. I never got a decent shot of just the runners. Sigh. I'm sure they were there for a good reason, but it sure was frustrating.

I ran along side the runners for a block or two, trying to get better shots, but they were all crowded. As I was running along, I passed by a woman who yelled to me "Take good pictures! That's my daughter!" I don't know which runner she was referring to. I was on a mission, and I didn't stop to chat.

There was quite a few supporters lining the street, only outnumbered by police. They had both the Winnipeg Police Service, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police doing security and traffic control. There was even an aeroplane circling overhead keeping tabs on things.

Anyway, here's some photos.

Thanks for reading!