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| Florence 2019 |
Rosemary helped me bang on my own drum.
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| Florence |
When Rosemary and I arrived in Venice in 2019 she suggested I use my A5 Galaxy phone. I told her that I had a very good digital camera, a Fuji X-E3 and that I did not need to use my communication device.
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| Florence |
I was patently wrong and fortunately, little by little, throwing caution to the wind I started using my phone.
Generally people who visit art galleries either take selfies with the art behind them or they photograph it facing it. Most museums offer better high definition of their well-known paintings.
Because of Rosemary’s gentle nagging, I learned that by going to one side of painting and showing it in place with its surroundings, the pictures became quite interesting.
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| Florence |
In this century I abhor the expression “upgrade”. One of my
favourite cameras is an iPhone3G without a SIM card. I have discovered that if
one knows the limitations of a camera, or phone with camera, one can convert the
limitation to an asset. I have told photographer friends that Nikon is soon introducing a camera with a phone. They believe me!
There is no question in my mind that I am a better photographer today 13 February 2022 than I was years ago. I had a good mentor in my Rosemary who taught me to notice details. I may not be the best photographer in Canada right now but I can proudly assert that in my portraits I have no parallel in placing hands as they should be displayed.
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| Venice |
In the early 80s I showed Rosemary an 8x10 print portrait
that I was going to take to art director Rick Staehling at Vancouver Magazine.
Rosemary questioned the little finger (it was sticking out) in my subject’s
hands. I told her that she was overdoing her criticism. When I showed up at
Staehling’s office I proudly showed him the portrait. He looked at it and said,
“Why is that finger sticking out like that?” I learned quickly to notice hands in my portraits.
In the first 20 years in Vancouver we had to be careful with our money and Rosemary held the purse strings. But when I told her I needed a certain lens or lighting system she would immediately give me the green light.
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| Florence |
Because of Rosemary’s gentle prodding that I photograph our daughters and granddaughters, I learned to photograph children. She never questioned my style of never having them smile for the camera.
We traveled a lot around the world and, because of her company, I learned to take un-touristy photographs. I had learned a bit in my short career as a travel photographer to look for that different angle out of the usual norm.
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| Our hotel room in Florence |
In Buenos Aires a few days before returning to Vancouver this past December, I went swimming in 38 degree weather. I jumped into the hotel pool with my A5 Galaxy in my pocket. The folks at EJ Cellphone Repair on 2394 West Broadway returned my drowned phone in perfect condition and even replaced the cracked glass. I have what seems to be a brand new phone.
I do not plan to upgrade.
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| Florence |
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| Florence |
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| Florence |
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| Florence |
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| Florence |
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| Florence |
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| Venice |
