Photo Films on Vimeo

When I'm not out taking photos my next favorite thing is films and films about photos. While trolling through Vimeo I did a search for films about photography, photos, or pictures.  Here are some of the cool short films that I found. Time well wasted.

• 30 Years of BAD Pictures from Bruce Dale

• Douglas Kirkland on Photography: A Life in Pictures from lynda.com

• Taking Pictures (Animated Short Film) from Simon Taylor.

• Night Photography: Finding your way in the dark from Walley Films

• Director & Cinematographer - FRANKOWSKI PICTURES from Frankowski Pictures

• School Portrait from Michael Berliner

Sochi Blogging

Sports don't usually interest me, but Jeff Cable, one of the photographers whose blog I follow, has been posting some interesting shots.  Which inspired me to do some trolling for other photographer blogs on Sochi, Russia.

These are some of what I found.

• Jeff Cable - 2014 Winter Olympics
• Rob Hornstra - An Uncensored Look at the Real Sochi
• Matt McCain (New York Times) - In Olympic Sochi, a Photographic Pregame 
• 8 Instagram Accounts to Follow for Amazing 2014 Sochi Olympic Photography - Canvas Pop
• Marc Martin (LA Times) - Best of 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics

Photographic reading

During all the hub-bub of the flood, when I was too wound up to fall asleep quickly, I read a few sort-of photography related books to calm me down.  I say "sort-of" because most of these are novels.  

The most recent read is "Eight Girls Taking Pictures" by Whitney Otto.  Otto is best known as the author who wrote "How to Make an American Quilt."  Her "Eight Girls Taking Pictures" is an homage to her favorite women photographers.  It reads like a collection of short stories starting from 1917 to current day.  Each character must come to terms with personal, professional, and even moral conflicts in their lives as they try to balance family with their art.  My favorite chapter has a woman having to decide what her greatest love is; staying content with her husband and children, running away to a old lover that beckons from afar, or becoming a famous photographer.  Each chapter leads with a photograph that draws you into the stories.

The other books I actually read back in May.  They are "Talking Pictures: Images and Messages Rescued From the Past" and "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" both written by Ransom Riggs.  Ranson Riggs collects old photos from garage sales, flea markets, antique stores, but only ones that have something written on them.  In "Talking Pictures" he shares some of his collection.  In "Miss Peregrine's" he bases his novel on select photos to create a fantastic story of time travel and orphaned children with special powers.   Both very cool in that in one book you imagine the stories behind the captioned photos and in the other Riggs' imagination, based around his photos, takes you to a fascinating world.

Every picture tells a story.  Whitney Otto and Ransom Riggs literally do.

Calgary Photographers

In 2009 photography became a serious habit again. Some of that is due to the amazing technology now available. Digital cameras have opened up the creative flood gates, especially my little Pentax K-5.

Still, I keep hearing that a photograph is only as good as it's photographer. I'd have to add that a photographer is as good as their influences. I have been lucky to have found some pretty amazing local photographers through group pages on Flickr, the Calgary Public Library Photography Club, and the Start to Photograph (STP) Meetup group. Some I only know online, these people have Flickr sites I troll on a regular basis, but quite a few I have actually met in person and would consider friends. They are great fun on photo outings and ever eager to share what they've learned.

These are links to web sites of a few of my local influences.

• Andre Harms (STP founder)
• B-RadPhotos
• damndan1
• Gladys Rojas
• Helen Duwors (Helen Number Two)
• Helen_Wheels
• James Turow (Sherlock77)
• Kalpesh Modi
• Leanne Smith (heyitsmelea)
• Nathan (Witty nickname)
• thivierr