New website!

This blog was a temporary thing. Please visit me at my new website – www.scottmartinvisuals.com.

Doggy headshots

I’ve been working a little more with my one light setup and my dog Tupper. This session was fairly easy for him. All he had to do was lie on the bed and listen to me whistle at him once in a while to get his attention back.

Meet Tupper

I’ve been working more with my off camera lighting lately. After a certain point, taking stills of my son’s toys gets old. For a real challenge, I thought I would try working with my 9 year old collie, Tupper. While you may think he is cooperating, a lot of the time isn’t. He’s good at staying in the general vacinity of the camera, but he won’t always keep the position you put him in, or look where you want him too. At least I can afford his modeling fee. A handful of treats is all he asks for.

Sometimes you might not even get 10 minutes…

Every year we include a picture of our son in the Christmas cards we send out. The picture above is the one that went out this year. It was taken one weekend in December when we were outside playing in the snow. That wasn’t the plan. I wanted one using an off-white backdrop, a tree, and maybe the dog. I wanted to do something with my off camera flashes now that I knew how to use them. My son had other ideas…

A look back at 2009…

My photography took a big leap in 2009. There was lots of learning and I saw definite steps forward in my technique and results.

Things got off to an early start in January when I decided to sign up for Harry Nowell‘s sports photography course, which included photographing an Ottawa 67′s hockey game. I liked Harry’s class so much that I decided to sign up for his pro program, for some assistance and insight in getting myself established as a working photographer. Harry is a great teacher and his mentoring has been very beneficial.

2009 was definitely a big year of firsts in my young photographic career:

• photographing a semi-pro hockey game
• photographing the Canadian Whitewater Slalom National team trials
• photographing a cycling race
• getting started with off camera lighting
• working with models
• photographing auto racing
• photographing a signed touring band – Die Mannequin
• I started my first blog

I’m excited to see where 2010 takes me!

Big Money Shot 2009 Grand Finals – My Favourite Tragedy

The last band to take the stage at Live 88.5‘s Big Money Shot Grand Finals was the three piece My Favourite Tragedy. MFT was the second band to make it in through the wildcard final.

Big Money Shot 2009 Grand Finals – Amos the Transparent

The fourth band to hit the stage at Live 88.5‘s Big Money Shot Grand Finals this year was Amos the Transparent. Having seen them at the Round 3 Finals, I was expecting a good performance, and the band delivered. Unfortunately for them it wasn’t enough to beat Hollerado in the eyes of the judges.

Big Money Shot 2009 Grand Finals – Ty Hall & the EZ3

Ty Hall and his band delivered an entertaining set as part of Live 88.5‘s Big Money Shot Grand Finals. I hadn’t had the chance to see them perform before, but they didn’t disappoint.

Die Mannequin

This past Friday, I caught Die Mannequin at Live 88.5‘s Live Lounge. What a great performance! If you get the chance to catch Die Mannequin live, do it!

Big Money Shot 2009 Grand Finals – Down In Ashes

The first band to hit the stage for Live 88.5‘s Big Money Shot Grand Finals this year was Down In Ashes. This is the second year in a row that they were in the finals. Both times they were chosen from the wildcard event. The band obviously has a hard core group of fans, as they have voted them into the wildcard event the past 2 years. While they did win $10,000 in support for making it to the finals, they walked away empty handed when it came to the big prize. Once again, the guys delivered a high octane set that their fans have come to expect. I’m certain you’ll see them in the competition again next year.