http://www.photocreative.com/index.htmlBlog...from photocreative inc.enJeff ChevrierCopyright 2008 Jeff Chevrier2011-01-30T17:24:54-05:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 Sat, 12 Feb 2011 18:11:41 -0500Jeff ChevrierNone2011-01-30T17:24:54-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/463ae18b515037dc49e2e7da7adb65fa-55.html#unique-entry-id-55http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/463ae18b515037dc49e2e7da7adb65fa-55.html#unique-entry-id-55
Image © Jeff Chevrier

I saw these doors exiting out to the parking lot at a theatre and made a quick image of them recently. Shot on a Leica M9 with 50mm lens, converted to black and white in Photoshop CS5. I think the frosted glass really helped make this a decent b&w image, and the repetitiveness of the signage / text too.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2011-01-30T17:12:29-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/6e07e5a70759b65f758f9d0f3d337df3-54.html#unique-entry-id-54http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/6e07e5a70759b65f758f9d0f3d337df3-54.html#unique-entry-id-54
Image © Jeff Chevrier

Over the Christmas holidays I shot this image of skiers in the the fog under a ski-lift up north. I liked how the people on the lift seem to disappear into the distance as the ones in front give a sense of distance and scale. Made with a Nikon D7000 and Nikkor AFS-70-200mm f2.8D II VR lens at ISO 1600. Overexposed 1.5 stops or so to maintain the white, airy look of the fog and snow.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2011-01-30T17:04:13-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/c99b4201e62dea75b25ab5860ad1d290-53.html#unique-entry-id-53http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/c99b4201e62dea75b25ab5860ad1d290-53.html#unique-entry-id-53
Image © Jeff Chevrier

This abstract image was created a couple of days ago by firing a new Nikon SB-700 on a D7000 up into the night as the snow fell towards me. I used a Nikkor AF 35mm f2D lens that gave me a 50 mm equiv. crop. I loved the micro detail and how the snow appears like stars in the night sky. You can see by the shape of the out of focus flakes that the aperture used on A mode was about f5.6.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2010-12-14T12:15:28-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/e352f064f5e3ae71cd403801b469fd27-52.html#unique-entry-id-52http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/e352f064f5e3ae71cd403801b469fd27-52.html#unique-entry-id-52
Image © Jeff Chevrier

The Leica D-Lux 5 also has different aspect ratio’s one can choose with a simple slider-switch above the lens. Here, I selected the 1:1 aspect ratio to give a classic Hasselblad square feel to the image. Aperture priority, F2.0 JPEG straight out of the camera.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2010-12-14T12:12:58-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/50e03bdc8f5ef2af8d23f5ab4dd3a21b-51.html#unique-entry-id-51http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/50e03bdc8f5ef2af8d23f5ab4dd3a21b-51.html#unique-entry-id-51
Image © Jeff Chevrier

I shot this image of a light with a Leica D-Lux 5 on dynamic B&W mode. What a sweet little camera! At f/2.0 on Aperture Priority ode, I even got some blur / bokeh happening front and back of the point of focus. ]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2010-12-02T14:37:50-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/88494ab7ec65dd0f5d9233a50e1ffde1-50.html#unique-entry-id-50http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/88494ab7ec65dd0f5d9233a50e1ffde1-50.html#unique-entry-id-50
Image © Jeff Chevrier

Recently I was downtown at night after a rain. I noticed how nice some of the backlit advertising panels reflected on the wet streets as people rushed back and forth on their way home after work etc.. I focused my 50mm lens across the street an at 400 ISO, 1/60 f/1.4. I shot a few images hand-held as people passed the signs. I liked the play between the posture of the dancers on the signs and that of the man on the street as he walked by in a sort of dance of his own. Sometimes, all you need is a little light to make an image.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2010-11-24T12:14:14-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/ec92d001018afced3b54f2aac2a026ae-49.html#unique-entry-id-49http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/ec92d001018afced3b54f2aac2a026ae-49.html#unique-entry-id-49
Image © Jeff Chevrier

Last night when I was driving home I saw a group of Pigeons circling above near a gas station. Always seems funny to me why they all fly around, seemingly in circles... but I found out why I think, later.. (please read on..) I turned onto a side street, and parked at the gas station, grabbing my small camera and 50mm f1.4 lens. It was getting really dark, and I thought I only had a minute or two to shoot before the ISO would have to be cranked-up too high, so I shot a few frames at 320 and 400 ISO, 1/250 f1.4, manual-focus. This image stood out for me somehow. A few minutes later they all landed on the roof of an adjacent house across the street. Then, about 2 seconds later they exploded off the roof and back into flight as a Red-Tailed Hawk ambushed the group. This time they took-off, nowhere to be found. I guess flying in a large group is a defence mechanism against predators, and going around in circles is meant to tire out or disinterest the predator that they know is in the area. ]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2010-11-24T12:04:35-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/ed6b2560df43c7a8310bf9d6827e5f22-48.html#unique-entry-id-48http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/ed6b2560df43c7a8310bf9d6827e5f22-48.html#unique-entry-id-48
Image © Jeff Chevrier

Same moment as the prior post, I opened my car door and made use of the bright white wall to add a human element to another abstract, minutes later. Great light can make all the difference. Isn’t it funny how we often resist visiting the same places we have already been to shoot images? How does it look today, now vs. yesterday, last-year etc.. Creating images is so much a part of me that I often carry a small camera so that if I see something, I am ready. It only takes a minute or two to stop, pause and make an image. I am more surgical in shooting a few images of things I like, vs. “Spray-and-Pray” — that new funny term I have heard describing those who shoot hundreds or thousands of images on one subject vs. taking a slower, more methodical approach. Is this a great image? No. But at the end of 30 days, I usually bag a few keepers that I really like since I am shooting them little by little, almost daily.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2010-11-24T11:58:41-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/6490aa0af31bb3d949f79373c33349be-47.html#unique-entry-id-47http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/6490aa0af31bb3d949f79373c33349be-47.html#unique-entry-id-47
Image © Jeff Chevrier

I was at a warehouse this morning when I saw a bit of an opportunity to shoot an abstract image. The morning light was striking the yellow poles beside the garbage container and projecting nice shadows, so I grabbed a camera I had with me and made an image. Sometimes boring, everyday objects can work together in the right light to make something interesting. You be the judge on this one. M9, 1/1000 sec f8, ISO 160]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2010-11-08T13:42:09-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/3e4976ca54511abd66bfa7fc45959351-46.html#unique-entry-id-46http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/3e4976ca54511abd66bfa7fc45959351-46.html#unique-entry-id-46
Image © Jeff Chevrier

Graffiti can make nice urban pics. I saw this face walking by a side-street where I parked near Queen Street in Toronto recently. Toronto has a lot of cool graffiti where the city allows it as a form of art vs. a form of vandalism in certain areas.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2010-11-08T13:39:35-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/825d1d20be57520ebbb509a8932ffbb3-45.html#unique-entry-id-45http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/825d1d20be57520ebbb509a8932ffbb3-45.html#unique-entry-id-45
Image © Jeff Chevrier

This lady stood and waited outside the shop selling picture frames. She was very black and white in her attire, so I knew it would make a good b&w image. Carrying a small camera, and being able to react quickly makes all the difference in street shooting.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2010-11-08T13:35:25-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/ff3d3974f8141c8280bfedd861a48e7c-44.html#unique-entry-id-44http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/ff3d3974f8141c8280bfedd861a48e7c-44.html#unique-entry-id-44
Image © Jeff Chevrier

I like street photography. It is challenging, but very real and rewarding if you get something you like. Here, two veterans were walking back from a Remembrance Day Parade that had wrapped-up in Toronto. I saw them on Queen St, and turned quickly to take a quick picture as a young guy with a backpack waked past and looked over at them the very second I released the shutter.. Something about young and old in this picture, about respect, honour...not sure but I liked it.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2010-11-08T13:31:53-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/208ae4a5a8c4f4d078af9aaf238e1435-43.html#unique-entry-id-43http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/208ae4a5a8c4f4d078af9aaf238e1435-43.html#unique-entry-id-43
Image © Jeff Chevrier

....for Walking. You know the song... I shot this image of my own boots beside my friend who just bought the same pair in Toronto recently! Strange coincidence! Dunno, I somehow liked this simple picture. Maybe it was the boots!]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2010-10-26T12:40:04-04:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/446a6a4b34b7404b7ff7441f7e3af0f3-42.html#unique-entry-id-42http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/446a6a4b34b7404b7ff7441f7e3af0f3-42.html#unique-entry-id-42
Image © Jeff Chevrier

For the past 2 years, Starlings have been gathering in fairly large numbers outside my office in October. The other day, I grabbed a new Canon 60D with a EF 70-200mm lens, and went out front for a minute or two to take a look. I got the usual pictures of them on the telephone wires, then something spooked them, perhaps a passing car — and into the air they took, flying away from me in a large flock. I knew from last year that using a slower shutter-speed would give me some wing-blur, so I chose 1/250 sec and shot a few frames as they flew away. This one was the one I liked best, kind of reminded me of tadpoles in the air. Converted to B&W in Photoshop CS5.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2010-10-26T12:21:56-04:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/002fd9a3f81fd1af3bca44288b6cdc0b-41.html#unique-entry-id-41http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/002fd9a3f81fd1af3bca44288b6cdc0b-41.html#unique-entry-id-41
Image © Jeff Chevrier

I was in Toronto, looking for a new pair of Doc’s when I wandered though the business section near Bay street. Light was bouncing between the buildings, leaving me a sliver here and there to work with. I love shooting b&w, and had a Leica with me loaded with a roll of good old Tri-x Pan 400. I metered on the pavement, and waited for my prey. A car abruptly pulled out of the parking lot behind me, and I quickly moved out of the way. Just then, a cool-looking young professional walked past holding a tall cup of Joe. I Clicked the shutter, and here is the scanned result. Sure, I could have shot it with a digital camera and it would have looked nice, but why post-process in a Tri-x effect electronically when you can shoot real Tri-x? For some of my personal work, I still enjoy the magic of b&w film, both in 120 and 35mm. Guess it was all of those years as a pro-shooter which was all film back then. Guess it just kinda stays with you. At least, the odd b&w roll does for me.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2010-08-16T15:13:55-04:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/c04669ff983e75ed32b84a0826152b0f-40.html#unique-entry-id-40http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/c04669ff983e75ed32b84a0826152b0f-40.html#unique-entry-id-40
Image © Jeff Chevrier

Same setup as before, I really debated shooting looser with a 300mm f2.8 vs. the 400mm for much of the Tennis. In the end, the 400mm convinced me, as I would crop-in on most 300mm shots I shot the day before — so why not shoot tighter to begin with? Guess you get a higher percentage of good images including the ball / racquet etc shooting looser as it is easier with the 300mm but if you get a good sports shot, you want it nice and tight with less distracting background etc.. so I shot the 400mm mostly.. (2000-3200 ISO, 1000th sec. f2.8)]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2010-08-16T15:00:32-04:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/3b1039264c8efb41b485612fa0fddac8-39.html#unique-entry-id-39http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/3b1039264c8efb41b485612fa0fddac8-39.html#unique-entry-id-39
Image © Jeff Chevrier

Shooting Tennis last week at the Rogers Cup keeps me sharp as things happen rapidly in pro-sports and I love to shoot tight so I brought a 400mm f2.8 lens and waited for Nadal to do his signature fist pump after a big point in a night game. This image was shot on a Nikon D3s at 2000 ISO, 1000th sec. f2.8. Amazing testimony as to just how good the pro DSLR’s have become in low-light! I used to shoot a lot of sports, it is nice to get back in the saddle again!]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2010-06-18T13:23:12-04:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/fc4e99574d1d7e1083c9443cb907ec95-38.html#unique-entry-id-38http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/fc4e99574d1d7e1083c9443cb907ec95-38.html#unique-entry-id-38
Image © Jeff Chevrier

Sometimes, someone comes along and completes your composition if you are in the right place at the right time. Here, a man oblivious to me talking on his phone walked past this industrial scene and filled-in the gap between the trees creating an inverse triangle effect compositionally. Sounds complicated..., but the truth is —I just like the moment. Leica M8.2, 50mm Summicron-M, 160 ISO, 1/25 sec. f/11.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2010-06-18T10:56:24-04:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/3b23922edae689def62864740fcf0ed4-37.html#unique-entry-id-37http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/3b23922edae689def62864740fcf0ed4-37.html#unique-entry-id-37
Image © Jeff Chevrier

Sometimes we overlook the boring, the everyday as we pass it by in our daily lives. I have written about this before — about my assertion that it is important to carry a small camera with you in your day to day more and more so that you can observe and capture more simple images. This image is nothing to brag about, but it has balance and simplicity to it I feel, how the shadow of the building reveals a simple triangle of green grass adorned with a solitary late-season Dandelion in June. I made this image out front of Photocreative, on my way in to work today with a Leica and 50mm Summicron-M, Sunny 16 Rule...1/250 sec f/11, ISO 160.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2010-05-27T16:46:50-04:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/ce7b94b8a1a2460c11d3750517ac39ce-36.html#unique-entry-id-36http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/ce7b94b8a1a2460c11d3750517ac39ce-36.html#unique-entry-id-36
Image © Craig Brown

Another great waterfall image by Photocreative customer Craig Brown! Again at Albion Falls in Hamilton (area), this image was made earlier this month on Craig’s Canon EOS 5D Mark II w/ EF 24-105mm lens, 100 ISO, 0.5 seconds at F/22. He spot-metered the image for correct exposure.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2010-05-27T16:42:04-04:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/d628f3bcef8bd994a4c467f7971eb936-35.html#unique-entry-id-35http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/d628f3bcef8bd994a4c467f7971eb936-35.html#unique-entry-id-35
Image © Craig Brown

One of our customers — Craig Brown shoots gorgeous landscapes all over North America. This image, was shot in at Albion Falls in Hamilton, close-by at one of the many waterfalls in the area. Canon 5D Mark II, EF 70-200mm f4L IS, ISO 100. Beautiful!]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2010-04-26T15:30:37-04:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/c98318458dc6c18597c1c4215a2e5af3-34.html#unique-entry-id-34http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/c98318458dc6c18597c1c4215a2e5af3-34.html#unique-entry-id-34
Image © Jeff Chevrier

On the way back in to Photocreative, I noticed the Leica sign (round, backlit) and couldn’t resist! Shot on a Nikon D3 with the new Nikon Nikkor AF-S 24mm f/1.4G ED Nano lens, focussed precisely at the sharp point in the red circle-part of the letter ‘e’ and everything else is wonderfully blurry. I am sure wedding, portrait, landscape, travel and stock-shooters are going to love this lens!! AND, it is a bargain at less than 1/3 the price of the Leica 24mm f/1.4 M lens to boot. ;)]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2010-04-26T15:27:57-04:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/ecf01a1d367c7bab7d1c2d6ce8905877-33.html#unique-entry-id-33http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/ecf01a1d367c7bab7d1c2d6ce8905877-33.html#unique-entry-id-33
Image © Jeff Chevrier

Next, I looked through a D3 at the only real big tree we have around in-front of Photocreative with the awesome new Nikon Nikkor AF-S 24mm f/1.4G ED Nano lens, Very shallow depth of field when shot wide-open at f/1.4, yet sharp where it was focussed and dreamy bokeh everywhere else.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2010-04-26T15:23:06-04:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/9c061d793710f903f8c8798aff40075c-32.html#unique-entry-id-32http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/9c061d793710f903f8c8798aff40075c-32.html#unique-entry-id-32
Image © Jeff Chevrier

Just got in some more of the excellent new Nikon Nikkor AF-S 24mm f/1.4G ED Nano lenses. WOW-EE!! This dream lens is very well-made, light but solid, it is fast and it is sharp, even wide-open as seen in this image I made today on a D3 out in-front of Photocreative. It focusses really close too, just inches from the front of the lens! You know you waaaaaaannnttt it! ;)]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2010-04-25T13:49:43-04:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/30efa567225ffb3bcc956933eb16d191-31.html#unique-entry-id-31http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/30efa567225ffb3bcc956933eb16d191-31.html#unique-entry-id-31

Albert, a good customer of Photocreative shot this image of his current Nikon lenses and sent it to us. WOW, Nice kit! Thanks, Albert! From the awesome 14-24mm Wide Nikkor zoom to the fast 200mm f2 VR and 300mm f/2.8 lenses, this is as close to a dream Nikon lens kit as many of us could ever get. I hope you don’t try to carry this kit all at once, Albert!]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2010-03-11T17:42:31-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/9d1df0abf1b66d97d5f1afb83878e88a-30.html#unique-entry-id-30http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/9d1df0abf1b66d97d5f1afb83878e88a-30.html#unique-entry-id-30
Image © Jeff Chevrier

I saw this pile of snow at the local Ikea when I was shopping a few weeks back. Something odd struck me about its size in relation to the building, the size of the Ikea sign and I felt it had a surreal quality to it. Luckily, I had my trusty camera with me! Shot wide-open, handheld from my car as I was parked. A car streaking past filled-out the composition for me. No doubt, the driver was hurrying to get some of those Swedish meatballs they have on sale!]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2010-03-03T19:01:16-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/225a19e29c3cbff9d45ddd84212f0b53-29.html#unique-entry-id-29http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/225a19e29c3cbff9d45ddd84212f0b53-29.html#unique-entry-id-29
Image © Jeff Chevrier

Stormy weather brings abstract image opportunities! I love shooting these patterns in the fresh snow. Shot last week after the storm on a Leica M8 I am trying-out with a Leica 28mm f2.8 Elmarit-M ASPH. I really think that having a small camera at all times will dramatically broaden your image-taking opportunities. Take your camera out with you everywhere for two weeks and see what you get, you will be amazed!]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2010-03-03T18:57:29-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/9841b80efedf7a4b376df659deeb1ae3-28.html#unique-entry-id-28http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/9841b80efedf7a4b376df659deeb1ae3-28.html#unique-entry-id-28
Image © Jeff Chevrier

An old, country bridge in a bad state of decay as seen from standing on the frozen river and looking up. Shot on a Leica M8 with a 15mm super-wide lens, processed in Aperture and Silver Effex Pro from Nik Software. Want to learn how to do more with your images? Want to grow as a photographer? Do you REALLY know your camera? We offer amazing one to one training (and also small groups) by the hour! Check the homepage for details soon!]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2010-03-03T18:52:23-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/2dca8b0c974265fa5f05d24e2310750b-27.html#unique-entry-id-27http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/2dca8b0c974265fa5f05d24e2310750b-27.html#unique-entry-id-27
Image © Jeff Chevrier

Driving along a nearby country-road last Sunday before the epic Canada - USA Gold Medal hockey final, (wouldn’t miss that!!)... I saw these shadows at the roadside and had to jump out of the car to get some! Shot on a Leica M9 with a Leica 28mm f2.8 Elmarit-ASPH lens. Gotta say, that M9 makes some of the sweetest, most detailed images I have ever made on any camera!]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2010-03-03T18:48:22-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/d294bd1f0a038c8cb5e8b7c176d2e75f-26.html#unique-entry-id-26http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/d294bd1f0a038c8cb5e8b7c176d2e75f-26.html#unique-entry-id-26
Image © Jeff Chevrier

MAN has it been a while since I added to the blog! No excuses, lost my blog Mojo I guess for a while! Since starting in February we finally got some now, I thought that I would post an image I call snow-coral. Shot on a Leica M8 with a Leica Summicron 35mm f2 ASPH, this pattern is simply holes in the snow at my feet after water dripped off the eves-trough above. Hope you like it. ]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2009-08-14T13:15:45-04:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/fd82be6349592216c316c4d76c079a38-25.html#unique-entry-id-25http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/fd82be6349592216c316c4d76c079a38-25.html#unique-entry-id-25
Image © Jeff Chevrier

Stormy weather can be great to shoot, as the highly volatile, changing light can be dramatic. Here, I was stuck stopped in traffic at an on-ramp and looked out to see cars passing by against a deep gray sky. ]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2009-08-14T13:12:42-04:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/5b373170f857020d267fe1437f28d812-24.html#unique-entry-id-24http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/5b373170f857020d267fe1437f28d812-24.html#unique-entry-id-24
Image © Jeff Chevrier

Waiting in line at the Tim Horton’s drive-through yesterday, I day-dreamed as I looked out the driver-side window and thought that a shot of Tim’s ;) before my shot of coffee would be great. Luckily, I had a Nikon D700 with me and a puffy white cloud obliged to complete the scene.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2009-08-14T13:09:55-04:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/e087b6e2ca7e90ff63da32ac7b28bcdf-23.html#unique-entry-id-23http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/e087b6e2ca7e90ff63da32ac7b28bcdf-23.html#unique-entry-id-23
Image © Jeff Chevrier

I love textures, abstracts. These are the things we often ignore, the everyday things we walk past. Here, an old wood Telephone Pole served the purpose, cropped & turned horizontally and shot at ISO 800 on a Nikon D700 with an AFS 17-35mm f2.8D lens.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2009-06-06T08:10:18-04:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/53b2f4db723da4e40ae7b760e88bb7d3-22.html#unique-entry-id-22http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/53b2f4db723da4e40ae7b760e88bb7d3-22.html#unique-entry-id-22
Image © Jeff Chevrier

I often photograph the simple, ordinary things...the things we pass by everyday and largely ignore. On a walk with a Nikon D700 and the new AFS 50mm f1.4 lens, I saw the fresh, new green grass was casting a shadow on the sidewalk. Just another abstract, I know. But, I think something about it just works, for all it’s ordinary, simplicity.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2009-05-04T20:12:57-04:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/e903409ab72dce5565b1788772f8bc6a-21.html#unique-entry-id-21http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/e903409ab72dce5565b1788772f8bc6a-21.html#unique-entry-id-21
Image © Brian Tilson

Brian Tilson shot this image of a Red Fox in Milton near Kelso Conservation Area on his Canon EOS 20D. Exposure was 1/500 sec, f/8, handheld with IS with his Canon EF 100-400mm lens and EF 1.4EX Extender, 800 ISO.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2009-03-30T20:53:45-04:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/001ec45fb5a023f2ec1446757bfa8a25-19.html#unique-entry-id-19http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/001ec45fb5a023f2ec1446757bfa8a25-19.html#unique-entry-id-19
Image © Jeff Chevrier

One of the greatest secrets in photography is the power of always having a camera with you. Here again, the Leica M8.2 went with me to the grocery store, and though not spectacular (this example), a simple reminder that the best images are often the ones you just see in day to day outings. Do you have a great, small walk-around camera? It doesn’t have to be a Leica to do the trick. I have some ideas, call me.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2009-03-30T20:48:35-04:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/49429352bd941bbc4f39c9ad8bba7c20-18.html#unique-entry-id-18http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/49429352bd941bbc4f39c9ad8bba7c20-18.html#unique-entry-id-18
Image © Jeff Chevrier

I was walking in China Town with a Leica M8.2 & Elmarit - M 28mm f2.8 ASPH lens, and I happened upon this sticker-ladened wall outside of a shop on Spadina. Somehow the busy-ness of this appealed to me.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2009-03-08T10:08:08-04:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/facf08d72e0adacaa15907ea3d6c255d-17.html#unique-entry-id-17http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/facf08d72e0adacaa15907ea3d6c255d-17.html#unique-entry-id-17
Image © Bruce Bennett

Bruce Bennett came across this shuttered food stall beside the sea in Barbados while on vacation in January of this year. With his new Canon Powershot G10, he used the camera’s manual exposure mode, 1/125 at f/8 @ ISO 100 to avoid the underexposure that would have normally occurred with the strong beams of light at bottom right. The EXIF data puts the focal length at 9.8 mm.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2009-03-02T05:47:46-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/c8895e0628cb77e99ef585de31e62ba4-16.html#unique-entry-id-16http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/c8895e0628cb77e99ef585de31e62ba4-16.html#unique-entry-id-16
Image © Jeff Chevrier

I was out shooting at the beaches in Toronto when my eye was caught by a solitary red glove that someone hung on the side of the white hut overlooking Lake Ontario. It was freezing cold, snowy & overcast and I was struck by the fact that everything was white except for the glove. I shot with a Nikon D3X, AFS 24-70mm lens, 1/200 sec. f/8, ISO 400 in RAW (NEF) mode. The D3X produces the most detailed images I have ever seen from any SLR digital camera. In full-resolution files, you can just keep zooming in to see more and more detail! Colour, handling, AF, metering & ISO performance are also incredible! ]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2009-02-24T18:30:40-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/d14af221bbc1144913466bd1f7d19455-15.html#unique-entry-id-15http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/d14af221bbc1144913466bd1f7d19455-15.html#unique-entry-id-15
Image © Latafat Correa

Lat Correa, a long-time Photocreative customer sent in this image he shot in Mississauga recently. Snowy Owls & Great Grays are showing up much further south of their usual range due to lack of food up north he told me. Lat is an excellent nature and wildlife shooter, and an experienced avid bird shooter. For this image, he used his Canon EOS 40D and an EF400mm f5.6L USM lens. Exposure was 1/2000 sec. at f6.3 at ISO 400 and handheld with AI Servo focusing.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2009-02-24T18:22:39-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/e56d224374c8d0368141834230044a6d-14.html#unique-entry-id-14http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/e56d224374c8d0368141834230044a6d-14.html#unique-entry-id-14
Image © Jeff Chevrier

One of the most important secrets improving your photography is to bring your camera with you everywhere! I carry a small camera with me most weekends as I run errands, even to the grocery store! Today was no different. I noticed how the hood of a red car reflected the trees above it, and I thought that it made a cool abstract image. ]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2009-02-11T07:42:46-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/ce748ed047d424ec874b0255c91e930b-13.html#unique-entry-id-13http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/ce748ed047d424ec874b0255c91e930b-13.html#unique-entry-id-13
Image © Jeff Chevrier

I spotted this fungus and almost walked past it in the Costa Rican Rainforest reserve near Arenal. A Canon 580 EX Speedlite held above it, with an off-camera flash cord and an EF 100mm f2.8 macro lens did the trick, revealing the intricate details within it. Canon EOS 5D Mark II, ISO 100, Manual exposure.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2009-02-07T12:56:03-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/864276ce8a13ce61d0d1eb7583585b15-12.html#unique-entry-id-12http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/864276ce8a13ce61d0d1eb7583585b15-12.html#unique-entry-id-12
Image © Jeff Chevrier

Here, the mighty Costa-Rican male Iguana emerges from the lava rock on Manuel Antonio’s beach #1. Canon Powershot G10, AV mode, f/4.5, 80 ISO.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2009-02-07T12:15:07-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/d3d1c2aeb4439b61478e2ad8d88ba6dd-11.html#unique-entry-id-11http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/d3d1c2aeb4439b61478e2ad8d88ba6dd-11.html#unique-entry-id-11

Image © Jeff Chevrier

This female Iguana stood like royalty in the sun. Beneath her Volcanic throne was a goofy Canadian with a camera on holidays.(me) I liked how the sky was behind her in this composition, I shot with forced-flash fill on my Powershot G10 in AV Mode, f/4.5, ISO 80. The G10 is an awesome little camera and a great carry around with power and control to spare.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2009-02-07T12:03:51-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/2f11601ba4cf8572a1f5fc6810dcc82d-10.html#unique-entry-id-10http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/2f11601ba4cf8572a1f5fc6810dcc82d-10.html#unique-entry-id-10

Image © Jeff Chevrier

At Costa Rica’s Manuel Antonio Park, we wanted to find a wild Three-toed or Two-toed Sloth. (Sloth’s are called Parasoso or Parasosa according to gender in Spanish) Larger than the three-toed Sloth, the Two-toed Sloth pictured here rested about 60 feet above us, nestled in a tree branch overhanging the beach. It was about 11AM, but it still took 1600 ISO on the EOS 5D Mark II to get 1/250 sec. at f/4. I used a Canon EF 70-200mm f4L IS USM lens. Sloth’s sleep in trees for most of their lives as they are easy prey and cumbersome on the ground. In fact, the average Sloth sleeps from 15-18 hours daily. Pura Vida taken to extremes! A mystical creature, moves so slow that algae actually grows on their fur! It was awesome to see and photograph one on Costa Rica, and the 5D mark II did great with metering and at 1600 ISO.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2009-02-05T22:36:41-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/d90255c4aac4a5c551a799ba1853d415-9.html#unique-entry-id-9http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/d90255c4aac4a5c551a799ba1853d415-9.html#unique-entry-id-9
Image © Jeff Chevrier

This lovely green fellow was sitting outside my room in Arenal, presumably attracted by the light nearby that lit the walkway at night. I noticed him / her after returning from a walk at night. So, I got out the EOS 5D Mark II and the EF 100mm Macro lens, and made this image of this insect. I held (+ sometimes Brenda helped) a Canon 580 EX Speedlite directly overhead with a Canon off-camera TTL flash cord attached to my hotshoe, and shot on Manual mode at f/16, 100 ISO. Not sure what species it is, looked to me to be a cross between a Grasshopper and a Preying Mantis. I liked the diagonal composition I achieved, the clean background and the lighting was simple but it worked well here I felt. Need help with your flash? Come in and I will try to help.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2009-02-05T22:32:54-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/9401717478f646b3e09dfc5e778513ba-8.html#unique-entry-id-8http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/9401717478f646b3e09dfc5e778513ba-8.html#unique-entry-id-8
Image © Jeff Chevrier

Off to the beach at Manuel Antonio National Park, a jungle paradise with 4 beaches and wildlife galore! This is an image of a crab that I have always pictured in my mind, and now I finally got to make it! Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon EF 100mm f2.8 macro lens.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2009-02-05T22:19:14-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/c234f702668aa64237ea6dadc88e3cae-7.html#unique-entry-id-7http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/c234f702668aa64237ea6dadc88e3cae-7.html#unique-entry-id-7
Image © Jeff Chevrier

So, after almost 2 years without a full weeks holiday, we set off for Costa Rica at the end of January for 9 days, armed with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II and a Canon Powershot G10. Man, it feels great to unwind! I should do this more often! Costa Rican’s do this every-day, it is in their very being, their souls, their culture! They call it, Pura Vida. Translated from Spanish to English, it means Pure Life, but to Costa Ricans, it is a way of life. Thank a Costa Rican for bringing you lunch in a restaurant, and they often say, Pura Vida...not gracias. To them, Pura Vida means, “no worries”, and they are among the most laid-back, relaxed people I have ever met for sure! Perhaps I can learn something from them! Here is a picture at sunrise, beside Arenal Volcano (not pictured) of the Costa Rican landscape in La Fortuna. Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EF 70-200mm f4L IS.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2009-01-18T16:08:00-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/ea53b838b5dad267ef8f4e6cb2ad45e9-6.html#unique-entry-id-6http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/ea53b838b5dad267ef8f4e6cb2ad45e9-6.html#unique-entry-id-6
Image © Morten Byskov

Morten Byskov was at Silver Star Mountain recently for a shoot and on his way home he pulled over, planted his tripod in a six foot high snow bank and pointed his Canon EOS  5D /EF 300mm 2.8L IS combo towards Vernon. The tripod wasn't on the most stable ground but a beautiful scene unfolded below him he said. Vernon is quite-often completely covered in clouds for weeks at a time in the winter and that day was no different. Perhaps the sun on the horizon gives glimmer of hope that longer days will come again. Shot at f/9.0 - 1/800, ISO 100. Camera equipment purchased from photocreative inc.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2009-01-18T15:56:26-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/2b4ed1239c333aebcd1e291f8d85a8de-5.html#unique-entry-id-5http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/2b4ed1239c333aebcd1e291f8d85a8de-5.html#unique-entry-id-5
Image © Chris Kavanagh

Chris Kavanagh shot this stunning image of Perce Rock in Gaspe Bay, Quebec over the summer with his Nikon D2X, with an AFS 70-200mm f2.8 VR lens while on holiday with his wife. Chris brought this image in for us to print as a 16x24, and we collaborated in editing the image-file in CS3. Chris loved the green patch on top of the massive landmark, while the overcast light lended-itself to a B&W treatment. So, I combined the two images ( 1 colour version and 1 B&W version)) and this is the result. Camera equipment purchased from photocreative inc.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2009-01-18T15:50:33-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/0a4fd82c0e58d628e3ea24c2f9797be9-4.html#unique-entry-id-4http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/0a4fd82c0e58d628e3ea24c2f9797be9-4.html#unique-entry-id-4
Image © Jonathan Taillefer

Photo of the day, Loyalist (Photojournalism) 4th semester Staff Class, voted second best
feature of the day after a recent snowstorm.

Joyce Koomans struggles through the snow as she walks her dog  Emmie Wednessday morning along a snow drifted fence on John Street in East Belleville. Koomans walks her dog daily around her neighbourhood in Belleville. Wednesday January 7, 2009. Belleville, Ontario. Shot with a Nikon D3, Nikkor AF-S 300mm 2.8 VR lens, ISO 500, 1/1000 sec. Camera equipment purchased from photocreative inc.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2009-01-09T21:44:49-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/52484c67a55dd96f17745b40894b87eb-3.html#unique-entry-id-3http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/52484c67a55dd96f17745b40894b87eb-3.html#unique-entry-id-3
Image © Jeff Chevrier

Out with a brand-new Canon EOS 5D Mark II for the first time. Lucky me! What a great camera to handle, to shoot with! Pt. Credit was where I ended up... I saw this tree with some distant trees in the fog, and shot a few frames with my EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM lens, 400 ISO I believe.. Kinda cool that the leaves were still on this tree in winter, as it all helped frame the image I thought. I will be shooting more with a 5D Mark II and will post more images in the coming weeks.]]>Jeff ChevrierNone2009-01-03T12:48:34-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/06be5b3c0df619bd1a0a2d8bb8b96162-2.html#unique-entry-id-2http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/06be5b3c0df619bd1a0a2d8bb8b96162-2.html#unique-entry-id-2
Image © Jeff Chevrier

Ahhh, a fresh blanket of snow... a guy with a camera, two steps outside of the shelter of my garage at home. What to do... Then I saw it. A nice abstract beckoned. Good thing I left the lawn a tad longer in the fall, as the shadows of the grasses cast a nice (and contradictory, I thought) shadow on the snowy driveway. Canon Powershot G10, AV mode at f4.5 (which seems to me to be the best aperture in terms of image-quality) ISO 80. Geometry (slight barrel-distortion) corrected in PT Lens plug-in for Mac. Image © Jeff Chevrier]]>Jeff ChevrierBlog2009-01-01T09:35:56-05:00http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/392a4718ad10c23b8706150e3694ec5d-1.html#unique-entry-id-1http://www.photocreative.com/page7/files/392a4718ad10c23b8706150e3694ec5d-1.html#unique-entry-id-1Well, here we are. 2009 arrived and we have a re-designed website. Hopefully, you will find the site easier on your eye, and the tabbed navigation separates content better than the old system, particularly in regards to lenses and sub-categorization. A search tool is the only casualty right now in the redesign. Better categorization will help. Looking for a Canon or Nikon lens? Click on the tab then drill down into the sub-categories. I have seen better search / organization of products online, but as a small, boutique-style business, I think we can live with our limitations quite nicely. Also, rather than the “ everything to everyone, generalist superstore theme, ” that all the Big-Box stores seem to prefer, I chose in this redesign to concentrate on simplicity and clean design, displaying the products that our customers ask about most — you know, the items you are interested in most likely.

I hope you like it. Comments and suggestions are always welcome.]]>