I was leafing through some older issues of Outdoor Photography Canada when I came across the article in the winter 2010 issue called Breaking The Rules, by Darwin Wiggett, which encourages photographers to think outside the box and stretch creative boundaries. I couldn’t agree more with what Darwin is advocating, and also with what, by implication, he is protesting. Except I am liable to tell it a little more gruffly- I can’t take it when someone posts an image for critique on a photography forum of some kind, and he/she gets the textbook responses like rule of thirds, etc. Everyone’s entitled to their opinion of course, but when it’s just regurgitated from a half-decade old text book, it doesn’t carry much validity with me, so I would tend to fight back (if it were me getting rule-of-thirds kind of schlock on a forum).

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Since I tend to get pretty involved, I can’t seem to keep two hobbies going simultaneously. Photography continues to be sidelined to my musical interests, and I’m a bit sad to say I have little enthusiasm, let alone time, to pick up up the camera. I’ve also created another website/blog that is my first attempt at mixing in a bit of commerce, other than google adsense I mean, and it also has been taking a chunk of my time over the last few months. I am hoping that the lack of enthusiasm is more of a winter blues kinda thing, and that the photography bug will bite again come spring. Though I also know that the nicer weather will have me in the backyard, picking and singing some summertime blues. One possible bright spot for my photo hobby- a local friend who does the occasional wedding for free, more as a favour to her friends who can’t afford to hire a professional, has welcomed me to join her as a second shooter on one of her next gigs! I’m pretty stoked about that, and since I’m a wee bit of a perfectionist type, it will surely have me practicing and playing with lighting… getting the old vision working again!

Originally uploaded by bambe1964

I am wildly impressed by this capture and treatment. The tones are amazing, the framing within framing is brilliant, the DOF and focus combined with the snowfall just makes for such a fascinating image. Extremely well done Bambe!

Really cool capture from the f8 Flickr group. I like the mirror-like juxtaposition of elements, the coloured light in the windows. A perfect example of when to break the rules…centeredness absolutely works in this composition. Nice work, Glenn!