Tax Dollars Are Good for Photographers
As the city of Vancouver leads up to the Olympics during this final week, I find myself getting strangely more excited about the games. Why wasn’t I excited before? To be completely honest, I was only ever interested in watching a few certain events, but there was also this looming awareness of the politics behind the Olympics; especially now that they were in my own backyard. Like most of us, I’ve been doing my own belt-tightening when it comes to frivolous spending. I’ve cut back on entertainment, going out to eat, and even buying photo-gear. However, when it comes to our tax dollars, our government’s standpoint is that the sky is the limit when it comes to spending, and blank cheques are plenty available in the name of Olympics. Sure, there are going to be *some* lasting benefits to these games, but none of which are going to have any sort of day-to-day impact on most of us.

Sails lit up at Canada Place
Hence, I decided that since the world is coming to Vancouver, I am going to be a part of it and make the most of it. What better way than to take as many photos as possible, and see the things that we normally don’t get to see. The city has never looked so alive and spectacular; there is literally something exciting to be seen in every corner. There are Olympic venues, decorations, free events, torch relays, and so much more going on in the city right now… it’s a photographer’s playground.

Olympic Rings at Sunset
So to all of you who carry a camera, and even those of you who don’t normally. Grab your gear, get out there, and take a moment to just have some fun shooting. Think hard about how you would like to capture the Olympics from your point of view, and tell your story through a lens. There are sights to see, people to meet, and memories to be made. We’re paying for the games to be here, so let’s do what we do best and take some brilliant photos to show the rest of the world who aren’t able to be here to see it for themselves. It’s true what they say: “The world is what you make of it”; for myself, I’m making it a colourful and photographic one!

I’d just like a quick show of hands as to who amongst you fine folks either live in Vancouver or plan on visiting Vancouver for the 2010 Olympic Games. I am assuming those of you visiting will be doing so with camera in hand, and those of you who live here will be shooting the festivities in one form or another? Do you have tickets to any events? What are your photographic goals for shooting the games? Personally, I won’t be attending any of the events, but I do plan to take as many photos as possible of all the tourists, celebrations, and venues that this year’s games will bring to the beautiful city of Vancouver. Additionally, if there is enough interest, I’d be happy to arrange a group photowalk in Downtown Vancouver during the Olympics.
We’re just about 2 weeks into 2010 now, and we’ve all had plenty of time to consider our new year’s resolution list. I’d like to know what your plans are (photography-wise) for 2010! Since it only seems fair, I’d like to start off by saying that I will be shooting more this year. Last year was an extremely busy work-year, leaving little time to shoot for myself; so this year that is something I’ll be changing. I’ll be bringing my camera gear out a lot more, in search of anything and everything to photograph. I may, however, leave my resolution to process photos more often until next year… Additionally, PhotographyBB will be bringing our magazine, blog, and forum readers much more this year in the forms of educational information, contests, and photo-community events. PhotographyBB Online Magazine will continue strong, and I hope you all continue to enjoy and benefit from the content.
When it comes to our post-processing weapon of choice, many of us have a passionate connection to what we use. There are, of course, plenty of reasons (call them “advantages” or “disadvantages”) to all of the choices amongst the image processing giants; but in which arena do you find yourself in the most? Do you prefer Photoshop Elements? Photoshop CS/2/3/4? Perhaps you’ve made the jump into doing the majority of your work in ACR/Bridge or Lightroom? Or are you one of the brave souls who have chosen the venture outside the Adobe world completely, using software such as Aperture, Nik Color Efx, or your camera’s proprietory RAW converter?
While we received some excellent feedback and spawned interesting discussion regarding our article on cell phone camera’s (and will they replace the point and shooters) back in our July issue of the PhotographyBB Online Magazine, never did we believe that we’d live to see the day of a wireless provider becoming your newest digital camera photography equipment retailer. In what can only be described as a “mystifying” move, wireless provider Telus has just purchased Canada’s national photography retail chain, Black’s.
Is there really any difference between Lightroom 2 and Bridge CS4?
















