Moose Jaw Fencing Association

Here are a few quick photos from tonight.  I took some photos of the Moose Jaw Fencing Association Crew to go into the Saskatchewan Fencing Association Calendar.  We didn't get to go out into the elements, and it was a practice in a gym, but I think some of the photos still turned out decent.  Here are some shots:

-Dave
Last Mountain Photography

Moose Jaw Fencing Photography

I've been asked by the Moose Jaw Fencing Association to take some pictures this coming Tuesday.  It's pretty exciting and I look forward to taking some action shots as well as some normal group shots.  Hopefully I'll have these photos up by the end of the week!

-Dave
Last Mountain Photography

Galger Winter Family Photos

This afternoon was a little chilly in Strasbourg SK for family photos.  The Galger family decided to take a few pictures inside against my white background before venturing outside.  It was a lot of fun and we got some good photos.  It was certainly a change of pace from the engagement shoots that I've been doing lately.  The two grand-daughters, Anna and Hailey, were definitely a bit of a handful!

Here are some photos from the cold Strasbourg day:

-Dave
Strasbourg SK Photographer
Last Mountain Photography

Krista & Steve's Regina Engagement Shoot

This last weekend I had the pleasure of photographing Krista and Steve. I've had a lot of fun doing engagement photography in Regina this year and this shoot proved to not be an exception. We took pictures at the legislative building, an old alley, some railroad tracks, and at a playground in Regina. I think my favourite pictures are from the alley, Krista showed this particular alley to me and I will make sure to revisit it at a later date... Here are some pictures:

-Dave
Regina Photographer
Last Mountain Photography

Quick Shot from Krista & Steve's Engagement Shoot

Today I went out with Krista and Steve to do their engagement shoot in Wascana Park in Regina SK.  It was a "Beautiful Regina Day" as Mayor Pat Fiacco would put it, especially since it's November 7th! I like shooting in Wascana Park but we also toured around Regina and found a few other places to do some neat engagement shots.

I might be busy this week so just in case I can't get the photos up till next weekend I thought I'd submit one "teaser shot":

More to follow!
-Dave
Last Mountain Photography

How to take good Photos with your Point and Shoot Camera

Not everyone has the luxury of an SLR camera.  Most people use smaller, cheaper point and shoot cameras.  These cameras are great for most situations and they offer a great way for someone who just wants to "take some pics".  Another great thing about them is that they are portable.  Amy and I still have an older point and shoot camera that we take to places where we can't bring our bulkier gear.  It's a great little camera to throw in a purse/pocket.

I decided to right a short blog post with some tips and tricks on how you can the most out of your point and shoot camera, because, sometimes the best camera is the one that you have with you.

Quick tips:

• Try to use 'available light' as much as possible.  The flash on most smaller point and shoot cameras is so close to the lense that the light from the flash bounces off the eyes of people and back into the lense, making nasty red eye.  I have NEVER had this happen with an SLR where the flash is much higher off the body.  If you do get red eye, try to get rid of it in an editting program, or in some cases, on camera there will be an option to get rid of red eye.  Another thing that is bad about the flash on smaller cameras is that it points STRAIGHT at the person, giving a deer in the headlights look. 
• Hold the camera steady. This is a no brainer. Also, the more you zoom in, the more you'll have to be steady-handed.  Another option is to get a cheap tripod.
• Don't shoot into the sun. If your subject it between you and the sun, you might get a really underexposed subject.  One way around this is to put the flash on, but once again, the flash tends to be a nuissance on these type of cameras.
• Don't put your subject in the middle of the picture. This is BORING.  Put your subject off to the side a bit unless there is a specific reason for them to be in the middle (symmetry for example)
• Watch out for too much dead space. The last thing you want in a picture where the subject takes up 1/6th of the frame and the rest of the picture is of other things.
• Simplify. Sort of like what I said above, but take out any needless objects from your picture if they aren't needed, or zoom/walk closer.
• Learn how to set some of your cameras settings. If you're interested in photography, read up on aperture, shutter speed, ISO, etc.  Most point and shoots let the user change these settings, although it tends to be buried in the menu somewhere.
• Keep a spare set of batteries. Most point and shoots eat up batteries like nobodies business.  Also, the LCD tends to use the most power so a good idea is to turn it off and learn to use the little viewfinder to take pictures.  (the little window that you can look through, assuming your camera has one, it may not)
• Prefocus. Most point and shoot cameras focus when you hold the shutter release button halfway down.  A good trick is to focus by pushing the button halfway in, and then moving the camera a bit to move the subject off centre before actually taking the picture.

I hope this tips help, if you need help with wedding photography or portraits I can definitely give you a hand!  Otherwise, just keep on shooting! 

-Dave
Last Mountain Photography

Moose Jaw Engagement Shoot

Right after the Moose Jaw Halloween Wedding, I took an engagement shoot for Jennie & Darryl.  They are actually from Swift Current so we met halfway.  The shoot went really well, here are some photos from the day:

-Dave
Last Mountain Photography
Moose Jaw Wedding Photography

Moose Jaw Halloween Wedding

This Halloween I had the 'treat' (get it, trick or treat!) of photographing Lindsay and Gary's Halloween Wedding in Moose Jaw SK.  It was certainly unique.  I think that it would have been more halloween themed if it wasn't for their minister saying "no" to dressing up for the wedding in Halloween costumes!  It was a lot of fun, albeit a bit rushed.  The whole thing, or atleast my part of it, was done in about an hour and a half so I was frantic about getting as many shots as I could.  Also, it was fun for me because it was the first wedding that I've shot at the Temple Gardens Mineral Spa in Moose Jaw SK.

Here are some pictures from their crazy Halloween Wedding in Moose Jaw SK:

-Dave
Last Mountain Photography
Moose Jaw Wedding Photography