McGillveray Studios moves to Sorrento B.C. On White Lake

Posted on June 19, 2010 by Mark McGillveray

Well I retired from my steady job of 30 years working at the gas plant in Taylor B.C. Had to get back south to the shorter and not so frigid winters. Plus the 2 day drive to visit the south will not be missed. Picked a house with lots to do, this one will keep me busy. It also has, as you can see a large shop that will be turned into a studio.


It’s got grape vines, grow boxes, lots of flowers, lots of birds, 2 wells, and a hot tub. My own heaven on earth.

Well you have to tend the place to keep heaven there. I think I just won the war over 2 ant nests, but can’t speak to soon. They do have a tougher guy to deal with now.
View White Lake in a larger map

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Posting With The WordPress iPod App

Posted on April 11, 2010 by Mark McGillveray

This is the first post with my new iPod and the WordPress free app. This might be handy when on the road, and there is Wi Fi around with no laptop to pack around. I still cannot see paying for Internet access twice, once at home and also a cell phone. Not for me, yet. It would be a pain to post new pictures with this though as you have to get them in the iPod first. No camera in the iPod. This picture is from a directory of jpegs on my PC that I synced with iTunes. Just trying this out to see what happens. Seems straight forward enough to make a simple post eg. You cannot make a nextgen gallery.

A Cuban Beach

Ha did not know the small size of this picture before publishing the post, so here is a better one uploaded from my PC. You can see what you are doing!

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Golfing The Mighty Peace

Posted on March 23, 2010 by Mark McGillveray

I went out to video the Peace River from the lookout at the bottom of 100th Street in Fort St. John a few days ago. Then along came a couple of guys that cannot wait for spring. I know what they feel like.
Sorry for the jerky panning as I was using my regular ball head. Have since bought a real video head so the next video should be much improved.

Update April 11th,2010: The snow is gone!

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High On Ice – 2010, Fort St. John, BC

Posted on January 18, 2010 by Mark McGillveray

Fort St. John held it’s 6th annual High On Ice, ice carving competition on January 15 – 17th, 2010. Things went off really well. The weather was above freezing (about 3 deg C., I think) Saturday, so the carvers had to put up sun shades. It wasn’t dripping and they managed. Funny how it can be a cold winter and when this show comes along it warms right up. I wonder what will happen for the Olympics in Vancouver?

I just got a Canon 5D MK II a week ago and so had fun with that. It does take nice smooth, sharp images, a real gem. It makes movies to boot.

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Happy New Year From McGillveray Studios

Posted on January 1, 2010 by Mark McGillveray

To you and all your family, have a Happy New Year, with many more to come. May 2010 bring you all many good tidings and excellent health.

Happy New Year 2010

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The Book – Light Science and Magic – A Review

Posted on November 22, 2009 by Mark McGillveray

20091122-light_science_magic

Having read dozens of books on photography over the years I have a variety of concepts in my mind. Having to many concepts and not a real understanding can result. Having no formal teacher student training can take a long time to understand some basic things, which can slow you down. I found this book looking through Amazon’s photography listings one day. Do I ever wish I found it sooner. It has been out for awhile, it’s in it’s 3rd revision. Any book that has been through 3 revisions has to be a seller for some good reason.

This book does not give you lighting set ups to remember, with maps and diagrams. It gives you an understanding of how light works. Light is light. It does not mater if it light in your studio or day light. Light acts in only so many ways, and we all know how it acts as we have been observing light since birth. It teaches step by step how to look at the subject and decide how best to light it. You do not have maps and diagrams in mind, but how to create for yourself  the best lighting.

This book has put a lot of concepts from other books together so now I have a far better understanding of how light works.

If you have any want to raise your knowledge of photography, pro or amateur, get this book. It is for you.

See it here at Amazon.ca

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