Wishing all our clients and fans all the best for the holiday season, and we look forward to bringing you more photos in the new year! Look for a year in review article from us soon too, showcasing our favourite shots from 2014. It was a great year for us, and we hope it was for all of you too!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Jonathan and Ann
Merry Christmas everyone!
One more video out the door. We are pretty proud of this one! Of course working with the wonderful and talented Chelsey June makes all the long hours worth it. Hope you like it! If you do, give her page a listen, a like and a share.
Here is the link for the song "Morning Sun". It was recorded here at Corvidae Studio, and the video was shot in a couple of locations in Gatineau, Quebec over the summer & fall. Then the work of editing began, also done in house by Jonathan. The final project is pretty impressive, but then Chelsey is a natural.
Our 2015 Calendar "RCAF" is now available featuring many aircraft of the Royal Canadian Air Force past and present, all photos taken at various aviation events by Corvidae Studio Photos. It's $20 to buy plus shipping, with $2 of every purchase going to Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Canada (PHWFFC), Newfoundland Chapter.
Click here to go to our store to purchase your copy.
We chose to support PHWFFC because of a connection to a family member and veteran who has benefited from being involved in their activities. Here's some background information on PHWFFC, text graciously provided by Karen Grant, Media Contact for PHWFFC:
"Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Canada (PHWFFC) is a voluntary organization. We offer fly fishing and fly tying activities to rehabilitating military veterans and others in similar, first response professions.
Inspired by the US Project Healing Waters, PHWFFC has a similar aim: to support physical and emotional healing and recovery through fly fishing educational clinics and outings in a natural, calm and peaceful environment.
Many of the veterans and active service personnel who come to us are coping with the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This condition is a form of mental illness that occurs as a result of prolonged exposure to trauma that may involve death or the treat of it, serious injury or violence of various forms. PTSD is a family disease that not only affects the person diagnosed with the illness, but their entire family and circle of friends. The peace and quiet of being with nature can support the healing process, and fishing is an activity that all the family can enjoy."
The Project has programs operating at the provincial level across Canada. Information can be found on their website at www.projecthealingwaters.ca. Find them on social media too, including Twitter where they are @CanadaPHWFF.
Corvidae Studio Photos is now on Twitter, you can find and follow us @CorvidaePhotos!
Just submitted the order for our inaugural aviation 2015 wall calendar. There are only 100, and once they are gone, there will be no more. Calendars will be $20 each (+ shipping). We are donating $2 from each sale to Project Healing Waters Canada, a charity that helps veterans. http://projecthealingwaters.ca/our-project/
Stay tuned for a sneek preview of some of the photos over the next few weeks. Jonathan will sign the back and they will be numbered out of 100 as well.
Inbox us if you want one.There are only 100, once they are gone, there will be no more.
I am not, nor do I claim to be, a videographer. I just happen to be married to one. So I get drafted into doing the things that I can do on video shoots; like verifying continuity, hair & make up checks, animated reflector, main cheer leader and gopher. Along the way I have observed a few things about the process Jonathan uses to get the results he does.
Lighting, like in still photography, is vitally important. When shooting indoors you can control it, mostly. You need reflectors and know how to frame the shot. Which is why, if you were on a set, you would see me holding a reflector over my shoulder, angled just precisely at "30 degrees, not 35... Try this way, a little more left & up; hold that" Trying very hard to imitate an immovable object while in an enclosed space and not getting in the artists or the shooters way. Outdoor shoots are only slightly less acrobatic, with me kneeling on rough ground in the shape of a roughly slanted sign holder with the reflector above my head.
Planning and dry runs are paramount. Jonathan will lay out the shot & run through it physically before actually hitting record. That spares the singer from having to do multiple retakes of the song because the framing was off or the reflector was visible. It does make the animated reflector's job interesting, as you get positioned multiple times before the shooting actually begins.
Meteorology is not a precise science. When filming outdoors we plan using hourly forecasts, especially if we need a particular feel to the light. Sometimes things just don't cooperate, but you make do and always have a plan B, for secondary shooting. Many of our clients are independent musicians who work to make ends meet. They are not available at the drop of hat, so we need to be flexible in our schedules while still making sure the shooting conditions will get them what they need for a video that reflects their talents (and ours). It may take longer to get it right, but as this is going to a permanent (as permanent as anything is) representation of the singer's art, it is important to go the extra mile. They are paying us to make them look as good as they can in this performance.
Repetition is not a bad thing. You want as much footage as you can get from each shot, as the perfect video performance may have to be woven from several different angles and different takes to capture the passion that the singer can convey. Static performances can appear wooden & stilted. Movement has to be controlled but has to be there; movement via the camera, not the performer can often make for a more dynamic video.
Location, like in real estate, is everything. Why we scout out locations and are always thinking photographically; what we can shoot where. Is the location right for this artist, this song and this time of year? Is it safe? Is it allowed? If not, no matter how beautiful the spot, find another location.
Don't be afraid to get up close and dirty. At a recent shoot, there was something odd in a tree. It was the same colour as the bark, just looked odd. It was garbage, strategically placed, but garbage; a wash cloth to be precise. We ended up leaving that location with a bag full of garbage that we picked up. End of shoot meant the first stop was the washroom, for hot water & soap; although I was wearing gloves during the trash pick up, so was mostly protected. It is also helpful to have a bunch of garbage bags & wet ones along with you. Never know when you are going to need them. We tend to do this on many of our shoots, be they still or video. I never will understand why people can lug things into a gorgeous location, but refuse to pack them out again. Especially when there is a trash can just a short walk away. Leave every where slightly better than you found it is a good philosophy for camping, photography and to life in general.
Laugh. Take the work seriously, but not yourself. Have some fun. If you don't, the musician is likely to get self conscious & self critical. Nervousness isn't going to translate into a good performance or a good video. Tell people what they are doing right, and help them get there. Show them how you want them to move, where to look, what emotion you think works and be specific. Don't be afraid to be a little goofy to help them relax. It is often hard work, but a video (or photo) shoot shouldn't be unpleasant; at least not because of who you are working with.
We don't control the weather though, so laugh at that as well. Remember to bring layers. Lots of layers for those between the shots, 'hurry up & wait' times.
RCAF BAe CT-155 Hawk
June 28th turned out to be a beautiful day for an airshow, thankfully for the organizers of the 2014 Waterloo Airshow which had been plagued in previous years by terrible weather. It was an excellent mixed bag of past and present aircraft as well as a couple of comedy and pyro acts to shake things up a bit. RCAF aircraft in the show were the CF-18 Hornet demo, the Snowbirds, and the CH-146 Griffon flying a tactical demo, and with a BAe CT-155 Hawk and Beech King Air 90 on static display.
CF-18 Hornet Demo, piloted by Capt. Adam 'Manik' Runge
Warbirds included Yankee Air Museum's B-17G "Yankee Lady" which flew a couple of times during the show, as well as the Canadian Harvard Association's Formation Team. On the jet side of things, airshow producer Richard Cooper flew his Aero L-29 Delfin, as well as Jet Aircraft Museum's CT-133 Silver Star "Mako Shark" putting in a nice routine. Danny Richer of Brantford also flew his very attractive BAC Strikemaster which I hadn't seen in person before.
Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association Formation Team
Aerobatics were strongly represented with Mike Tryggvason opening the show unofficially with his Giles 202, Mike Wiskus of Lucas Oil Airshows in his Pitts Special flying several times throughout the show, Wayne Hadath and his F1 Rocket, and Gord Price flying in his Yak-50.
F1 Rocket - Wayne Hadath
Also featuring in the show were Kent Pietsch with his Jelly Belly Interstate Cadet, and the Indy Boys' Jet School Bus and Jet Outhouse. Static aircraft aside from the RCAF's Hawk and King Air 90 were Commemorative Air Force's P-51C "Tuskegee Airmen" and B-17G "Sentimental Journey", Yankee Air Museum's B-25J "Yankee Warrior", Jet Aircraft Museum's de Havilland Vampire (as of yet not flying), Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association's Harvard Mk IV "Bessy" and Yale, Danny Richer's T-28B Trojan, Charlie Cartledge's Grumman TBM Avenger, and Air Heritage Museum's C-123 "Thunder Pig".
Mike Wiskus passing close to the flame from the Indy Boys' Jet School Bus
Overall, it was a great show. Unfortunately due to other commitments I was unable to see the Snowbirds fly. They were delayed somewhat by a technical issue with one of their Tutors, and I had to leave the show for an evening concert photoshoot. My only complaint about the show was with having several very cool aircraft on static display only, namely the Mustang, B-17G "Sentimental Journey" and B-25J "Yankee Warrior". I think an excellent opportunity for a formation demo featuring the two B-17's, the B-25, and the P-51 was missed, which would have made the show perfect in my mind. However, I'm sure there were logistical issues to prevent such a thing from being organized, but one can always wish for these things! All the same, it was a great show and I'll be sure to see it next year. Check out the gallery below for more shots, as well as my Waterloo Air Show 2014 Flickr album.
Jonathan and I went to The Branch in Kemptville at the end of May to listen to Ann Vriend play. What an amazing evening that was. I meant to write about it sooner, but life tends to get awfully busy sometimes. Looking back, over a month, it rates as a night of spectacular music that was well worth the drive from Ottawa.
Ann Vriend
The restaurant bills itself as a "Listening Room" and they do not disappoint. After a fabulous meal, they offer to add the cover charge for the evening's music to your meal tab, if you are planning on staying, which is quite convenient. To encourage a pleasant musical evening, they pass out little note cards for each table to remind everyone that people are there to listen to the artist, not other's conversations. I was quite impressed when a particularly rowdy patron, who wandered in during the second set, was politely asked by the staff to quiet down. When he continued to disturb, he was talked to again, and left shortly thereafter. Now that is a venue that takes pride in delivering what it advertises. For someone who wants to actually hear music in a social setting it is a pleasant surprise to see a venue support the artist in their delivery.
Ann, on keyboards, played the songs from her album, "For the People in the Meantime" (that you can purchase at CD baby) and was accompanied by the amazingly talented musicians, Rooster Davis, and Peter Hendrickson, on drums.
Rooster Davis (keyboards) and Peter Hendrickson (drums)
Ann's voice is powerful, controlled and emotive, her keyboard playing is inspiring. Her songs paint a picture of the world as she sees it. It is a fascinating view. Ann manages to convey beauty, humour and pain with sincerity, not always easy. She, Rooster and Peter's playing meshed beautifully and leaving room for the others to shine during solos. You could tell they truly enjoyed hearing each other play.
We had contacted Ann before the show and asked if it would be o.k. if Jonathan came and shot. We don't want to be "those photographers" that don't consider the musicians or the audience. You know the ones; they are so wrapped up in the shot they interfere with the show. Jonathan was taking photos solo that evening, as in a small space, two photographers snapping could very easily distract from the experience. Shooting in a softly lit room, is a skill I haven't fully mastered yet, so we default to his experience. That said, there were some shots I would have loved to have gotten of the setting, as my eye is often drawn to things that are different than Jonathan's. The reflections behind the bar in particular caught my eye, maybe next time.
Enjoy the rest of Jonathan's photos taken that night. If you get a chance to hear any of these amazingly talented people, seize the opportunity. You will not be disappointed.
