Why would someone build a "Hack-Intosh"...

The reasons are simple...

Most people realize, that the Mac OS is not only as stable platform and offers great software, but it's also user friendly.  But what if you wanted/needed MORE POWER?!?

Let's face it, Apple machines are somewhat expensive (to say the least), and if you wish to upgrade to a stronger business machine, you might as well head on out to your financial institution, and take out a 2nd mortgage on your home.  But what if you could build your own "Mac", using top of the line, interchangeable PC Components, giving you the freedom to build a unit, as powerful as you heart desires??

That's right, 32/64GB Ram, 2x 500GB SSD Drives, 2x 4TB Hard disks, 4x USB 3.0 ports, a "Mother" of a video card, and an Intel i7 8-core or Xeon Processor?  

That's exactly what we've initiated to do.  Beware, this is not for the faint at heart, and some in depth knowledge is required before you venture in this route.  But the end result is nothing less than... wait for it.... Phenomenal!

More information on how this can be achieved, can be found HERE

Nickelback...

Wednesday February 18th 2015 - Bell Center

The Setlist and a few select images can seen HERE

Photos Portraits... Sandrine Balthazard

Les jours ce suivent, mais ne ce ressemble pas...

Cette fois-ci, c'est une session avec Sandrine Balthazard. Une apres-midi de rires, de complicitée et de pur bonheur  avec cette jolie & charmante jeune femme.

Quelques images de ce shoot, peux etre vue ICI

100,000 Pageviews, and counting...

February 16th 2015

We've only started being active, by adding Posts on a regular basis a little while ago.  So we're thrilled to see that in this short time-frame, we've gotten so much attention, and reached our first 100,000 Pageviews.

You can be sure that we'll do our best to continue sharing content, and topics based on our knowledge, views, new products, tip & tricks of the trade, as well as sharing current events and projects.

We thank you for your continued support. :)

Patrick Beaudry Photography | SNAPePHOTO Inc.

Like our Facebook Fan Page HERE, for a chance to win a Portrait session

Photos Portraits.... Vanessa Loreto

L'année 2015 continue de bon train avec une tres belle achalandage dans nos studio. 
Cette fois, c'est avec la charmante Vanessa Loreta.

Plusieurs autres images peuvent vue sur notre site web ICI

Charlie Winston...

Corona Theater - February 5th 2015

Charlie was true to himself and his fans, and made sure everyone was on their feet, singing and dancing to every note.  This was the 4th time I saw his concert, and the good news is... he told the crowd he'd be back in Fall of this year!

A few select images from this set, can be seen HERE

Shoot portrait avec Vanessa CL...

Ont a eux de la visite de notre amie Vanessa la semaine derniere, et ont en a profité pour lui fait quelques images "Portraits".

Voyez le résultat par vous meme... ICI

Sylvain Larocque...

Théatre St-Denis II - 4 Février 2015

C'est au Théatre St-Denis que Sylvain Larocque a tenu le première de son nouveau one-man show... "Dans le Blanc des Yeux".

Quelques images de cette soirée peuvent etre vue ICI

Sorry, we're taking the day OFF today...

... and maybe Monday morning until 9:00am!

Go Pats Go!

Marvel - Press Conference

Bell Center - January 27th

Not only were Marvel fans were invited to attend the big unveiling of this upcoming production, but this was far from being an "ordinary" Press Conference.  Hosts repelling from the ceiling, motocross stunts, masks, gift bags & even a selfie booth with Marvel accessories for attendees to have a souvenir of the moment.

This will be without a doubt an event that will sell out quick. Fun and amazement for the whole family.  Ticket s will be on sale as of February 7th, so I'd mark that date down on a calendar if I were you.

A few images from the Press Conference can be seen HERE

A link to ticket sales and a preview of the production, HERE

Korine Coté...

Théatre Corona - 27 Janvier

C'est devant une salle comble, recueillant plusieurs artistes invité, que Korine a fait sa première au théatre Corona.  Personellement, j'avais bien hate d'assister a cette représentation, non seulement pour y faire de la photo, mais pour du meme coup, savourer son humour.

Je ne me souvient la derniere fois, ou je n'ai pu m'empecher de rire tout haut, tout en travaillant.  Korine a une livraison de punch bien a elle, qui a fait de cette soirée un 2 heures de rires intense.

Quelques image de cette soirée, peuvent etre vue ICI

Lien a son site web ICI

Show Harley 2015...

What do you get when you gather this year's tricked-out Harley-Davidson motorcycles from dealerships of all corners of the province, have them presented by a great host (Francisco Randez), showcased by an awesome selection of beautiful women, mixed with the gnarly tunes of Dee Snider (Twisted Sister), and add the smell of burnt rubber...?  The worlds Largest Harley Show!

The Bell Center rumbled, as this year's event satisfied the most demanding.  It's the type of event that every true biker needs, to break these harsh winters in half, and it seems to be getting better & better every year!  If you're a biker, own a Harley or aspire to becoming part of HOG, this is the place to be!

You couldn't make it this year, shame on you!  Well... there's always next year!  See you then...

A few images from that evening can be seen HERE

Sam Smith

Bell Center - January 19th 2015

Sam Smith played to a sold out crowd of close to 13,000 adoring fans.  

The setlist as well as a few images from that show HERE

Making good use of your iPhone, while on a shoot...

Many of us, make good use of our intelligent phones while on a shoot.  Several apps are made available to ease our task while on a project. 

Whether it be to help us with the position of the sun at a certain location at a precise moment, Pose examples, Depth of field calculator, or simply a list of shots we want to make sure we get at a certain time, such as weddings, our phones come in handy.

Here are some of the Apps I use on my phone...

Simple DOF

If I'm shooting a portrait with a preferred lens that has a large aperture, and wish to take advantage of that lens quality and  create a soft feel to the photo, I'll use a DOF calculator.  There's a very fine difference in setting, when you wish to obtain a very short depth of field, while making sure the models eyes are tack sharp, even though he/she might not be facing you squarely. 

For example, if I use a 135mm F2.0 lens mounted on a full frame camera body, and I'm 9' from the model at F2, my depth of field will be 1.85".  There's no way of knowing that, unless you have a DOF calculator.

LightTrac

This app uses your position along with the current sunrise/sunset information, so you can use the lighting to your advantage and select the best time of day, based on the decor you've chosen to use as a background.  

To me, this is one of the best tools for a photographer that shoots urban, outdoor portraits, weddings, etc...   It takes the guesswork out of the equation, and you can better prepare for your shoot, well in advance.

Checklist 

This doesn't have to be an App.  Some use their Notepad to make a list of images to be shot throughout the day.  One thing's for sure, it beats lugging an old wooden clipboard around or a folded up piece of paper in your pocket. The key, is to not forget a single moment.  Comes in really handy for wedding, when you're more than one photog, so you and your assistant can split the shot list, while making sure it's taken care of.

All this is nice and dandy, but how is this perceived by the client, who's not a photographer?  Does he/she understand that we're actually working while we've got out eyes on our phones, and not texting our friends or loved-one, or posting on our preferred social media?  I once had a client ask me if I was really interested in doing the shoot, because I was apparently sending lots of time looking at my phone.  And, until I showed them what I was doing, they of course had no idea, that we were using various apps, to their advantage.

Since then, I've been voicing out my actions, while using my phone, and the clients seem to appreciate it.

So, to all potential clients reading this, remember, don't to be too quick to judge.  If a photographer is spending time on his/her cell phone while working on your project, chances are there might be more than meets to eye.  They're most likely making sure you get the best image possible.

Billy Tellier...

Vendredi dernier, le 9 Janvier, ont a eut le plaisir d'accueillir Billy Tellier en studio, afin de faire quelques photos portraits, jaser un peu, et prendre un p'tit "jus de pomme" (ou deux).

Malgré que nous sommes accoutumé de l'entendre a CKOI les matins de semaine, nous pouvons vous  confirmer que ce n'est pas pareil que de l'avoir dans son salon. Même s'il es en congé, il es drole en ta..., et une joke n'attend pas l'autre.  Il nous arrive pas souvent de faire un shoot, et d'avoir autant mal a la machoire. Maudit que nous avons hâte de le revoir en show!

D'ici là, je vous invite à visiter son site web > http://www.billytellier.com, ou vous pourrez vous procurer le DVD de son one-man show "Le Petit Monde de Billy", en attendant sa prochaine tournée.

Cheers Billy, et bonne continuité!

 

Version haute résoluton des images..... ICI

John Lennon's "Imagine" in a Comic Strip...

In light of recent "religious" events, when we question ourselves why...
Here's a link to a peaceful comic strip of John Lennon's "Imagine".

May this shed a little warmth in our hearts, and judgement of right & wrong in our minds.

Link to the entire Comic Strip HERE

Testimonials, References, Feedback and Comments...

Let's face it, in business, the words... "You're only as good as your last project" are very true, even more so, when we talk about the world of photography.  Unless you're world-renowned, or have been in business for 30+ years, you're constantly proving yourself to existing & new potential clients.

Before dealing with a photographer, it's a good idea to look at the photogs latest work, go through their website, but also, take the time to dig a little further to confirm references, and see how the individual interacts with others on projects, and confirm the reliability and responsibility of the person they anticipate dealing with.  After all, your project deserves to be treated as such.

Here are certain points to look for...

- Quality of work
- How this person presents themselves (dress code & attiude)

- Ease to work with (interact with others)

- Composure when working with big names & A-Listers

- Reliability (on time, and prompt delivery of the finished product)

- Ability to work around a problem, finding a solution
- Top of the line gear and knowledge on using it

In order to continuously improve our end products & services, we've been gathering Feedback & References over the years, and decided we should showcase some of these comments in a dedicated page on our website.

Hopefully this post will have helped you in making sure you select the proper person for the job.

Here's a link to this Reference page... HERE

L'Année 2015 commence en beauté...

Nous commencons l'année avec une courte session portrait, avec nul autre que la jolie et sympathique Emilie Brassard, figure publique et animatrice radio bien connu au Quebec.  Vous pouvez la suivre en onde la fin de semaine, sur Rythme FM 105.7

Je vous invite a aller voir les images qui ont été retenus ICI

N'hésitez pas a faire appel a nos services, et de céduler votre propre session, via notre site web.... http://www.snapephoto.com/contact-us

 

The use of an UAV (drone) in Canada...

TRANSPORT CANADA - Laws, Regulations & Exemptions

Very popular under the Christmas tree this year, "drones" may become a poisoned gift, if you don't follow the rules.  In Canada, Laws & Regulations surrounding the use of an UAV, is governed by Transport Canada.  And even though this law seems to be recent, and dated November 26th 2014, it makes no sense.  If we follow every guideline in this law, you'll be throwing your drone away and pursuing another hobby.

Earlier this week, a Phantom Pilot got fined $1,000.00 for using his UAV to create real-estate footage for a client!?!  And although the DJI Phantom weighs less than then 2.0kg as stated as one of the exemption criterias, the pilot failed to respect the 9nm distance from a "built-up" (residential area).

Full Article HERE

Video footage used against the pilot, to "validate" the fine HERE

NEWSFLASH!!!!!
It turns out that this guy, Julien Gramigna, is somewhat "Deceiptful", as it turns out that he has NOT been using a DJI Phantom, like he so proudly poses in his photo in the paper, but rather a "heavy-weight-classified" well above the 2.0KG exemption weight (more than 5.5KG actually).  

It's one thing to try and pass off as a victim, but what this guy is most likely trying to do, is scare off the competition, having them believe that even you're using a Phantom, you'll be in deep trouble if you shoot photo/video footage in this Country.  

Many think that the whole point of making his misfortune public, was a publicity stunt to get more attention and free exposure.

I think the newspaper is as much to blame, for not verifying information that is readily available on this guys website, and is current knowledge to most in the business, in the area.

Here's what he uses... (as clearly stated on his website, and witnessed)

• Hexacoptère DJI S800 EVO
• Nacelle Zenmuse Z15
• Caméra DSLR Sony NEX 7

Way to go champ, for being a nuisance to this industry, and on the same token scaring off potential clients!!

__________________________________________________________

Let's continue the topic at hand.... Canadian Laws, Regulations & Exemptions while using an UAV.

Here's what Transport Canada Defines as the Law, Regulation & Exemption

Flying an unmanned aircraft, according to Transport Canada HERE

Regulations and Exemptions HERE

Summary Print Chart HERE

That being said, I think that even though these laws were put in place to protect the people, common sense and safety should apply....

1.  Don't fly within 9km of an active Airport/Heliport

2.  Don't fly above Military bases, prisons, or in controlled/restricted airspace

3.  Don't fly directly above large crowds

4.  Don't fly in high winds
5.  Verify to status of your gear prior to each flight

(this list could go on for pages on end).

But in the end, it's all about being safe, for you, your gear, & others.

If everyone with an UAV would just use common sense, people around us wouldn't be so compelled to calling authorities, or automatically think we're doing something wrong.  It's part our responsibility to help those around us have a better perception of what we do, and why we do it.

Safe Flying!

2014 - A Photographic Year in review...

As 2014 comes to an end, we take a look back and see what SNAPePHOTO accomplished during the last 12 months, and look onward as to what we can aspire towards, in terms of goals for the upcoming year.

As most of you know, 2014 was a big transition year for us, as we've gone from working part-time to becoming full-time (since August), and being available for your projects, around the clock!

1. Projects

A total of 187 different projects were accomplished in the past year.  Some took an entire week, others less than an hour, but whether big or small, we welcomed them all!  We've given ourselves a mandate for the 2015, and that is to try to break the 250 project mark, add people to our team, and keep on providing you with the best possible photo solutions for your needs.

2.  Blog

Our first full year of keeping a Blog, proved itself to be worth while.

109 new Posts on the SNAPePHOTO Blog! (up from a mere 33 posts in 2013)

We'll try our best to keep this trend going, and aim for an average of 10 posts a month for 2015.

More than 80,000 Hits in the last 12 months (up from a mere 5,000 hits in 2013).  That tells us that people are liking what they see, and are coming back for more

3.  Website

We managed to keep the website up to date, with a good quantity and variety of our projects, added new sections, changed visuals a few times to make it more appealing, etc...

With 59,613 Page Views, 22,981 Visits & 15,781 Unique Visitors, we're happy!!  

(that's more than a 30% increase from the previous year!).
www.SNAPePHOTO.com

4.  Gear

2014 has been a good year for us in terms of acquiring new gear.  A few new lenses were added to our list of goodies, including Sigma's 120-300mm F2.8, the new version 100mm macro, the 16-35mm F4, a 600 EX-RT Flash, MP-E 65mm macro, and several accessories for the studio.

The biggest news, has got to be the addition of our Drone to the arsenal.  We're confident that this will provide clients with a whole new perspective & point of view to showcase their projects.

More news on our drone HERE

5.  Clients

And of course, we're keeping the best for last... Our clients!  2014 has brought us a total of 19 new clients, and, some of them in new sectors of activity. For 2015, our goal will be to add on average 2 new clients a month.  Hopefully, you will be one of them.

On that note, we want to take this opportunity, to wish you all....

HEALTH, HAPPINESS, LOVE & PROSPERITY for 2015!

Quick unprompted Portrait Test Shoot...

December 13th 2014 - Minimal gear on-location portrait test shoot

We've been getting a lot more requests for large quantity on-location portrait shoots lately, and we wanted to "dial-in" a perfect and consistent recipe that would require to mobilize the least amount of equipment, and provide to best possible output, while being recognized as our own by our clients. 

As such, we asked a good friend of ours to come over, at short notice, to snap a few poses.  It being the holiday season, we also had fun adding a few colored gels on the backdrop light.  I think you'll agree that the results of this minimal set-up, yielded some pretty strong images.  

As you know, we're not against sharing our findings (and our knowledge), so in order to help our fellow photographers, you'll find below our camera settings, and a link to the entire set of images, and the details of the mobile studio set-up. (light position, strengths, etc...)

For you "haters", yes we know these aren't exactly Corporate style images, but the lighting technique remains the same.

Gear:        Canon 1Dx camera body, Canon 85mm F1.2 L-Series Lens
Settings:   1/100, F2.2, ISO 100
Studio:      2 Einstein heads, 1 white reflector, 6' grey backdrop

You can see the studio set-up and entire set of images... HERE

SNAPePHOTO, Reaching New Heights! (Quadcopter/Drone)

It is with great pleasure, that we at SNAPePHOTO, announce the purchase of our first UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), in the form of a Quadcopter/Drone, for the sole purpose of capturing digital still images and video footage.  That being said, we carefully selected the unit that provided the best all-around options, for what we wanted to achieve.

In order to be exempt from Transport Canada's rigorous regulations, a UAV must have a take-off weight of less than 2.0kg.  Ours weighs in at a mere 1.3kg, leaving us room to spare for a few options, like a retractable landing gear.  Yes, once the image/video quality aspect covered, it did play in the decision-making factor of what unit to select. More information on the regulations surrounding the piloting an UAV, governed by Transport Canada, can be seen HERE and the Exemption Requirement details HERE

Drone Specs:     JDI Phantom 2 Vision+ (Quadcopter)

                          Plastic & Carbon Fiber construction
                          700M-1100M range (depending on antenna upgrade or not)

                          FPV (First Person View) with iPhone, iPad or Monitor

                          25min Flight time (approx.) / battery

Camera Specs:   3-Axis Gimball Head

                          Anti-Vibration Pad Mount

                          14 Megapixels RAW File Still Images

                          1080p 30FPS & 720p 60FPS Video

With the addition of our new state-of-the-Art unit, we're looking to provide aerial services in both photo & video formats. We'll be offering views otherwise impossible, or highly improbable.

Whether it be during a festival, outdoor sports, cultural event, a private party, wedding, or even real estate, we'll be glad to help gain the added visibility and assist you in showcasing the desired results.

Think of the possibilities & exposure this type of imagery could provide you, and your project...

Once several projects completed, we'll be posting a few examples on our website, as well as on the SkyPixel Quadcopter community site.

WEBSITE - Drone Section
SKYPIXEL - SNAPePHOTO

Meanwhile, sample DJI Phantom 2 Vision videos > HERE

Boxing Gala - Bell Center

Saturday December 6th 2014 - Bell Centre (Montreal, Que.)

A total of seven bouts were presented that evening. (see list below)

Judging by the crowds reaction, it went without saying, that the main event was a bitter disappointment.  A "No Content" finish in the early stages of the 2nd round, after Pascal hit Bolonti with a cheap shot, clearly after the referee had called "Break" on more than one occasion.  

Seeing the possibility that his fighter could win by disqualification mesures, Bolonti's coach apparently tells him not to get up (in Spanish), thus the fighter faking a knock-out/injury, laying flat and leaving the Bell Center on a stretcher to the Hospital (by good measure), then probably to the nearest bar.  You be the judge, by viewing the video HERE 

Images from that evening can be seen on our website HERE

RIP - Mr. Jean Beliveau (1931-2014)

The world of Hockey, and the Canadiens as a whole, lost a great man yesterday (December 2nd 2014), as Mr. Jean Beliveau passed away at age 83. He was recognized as one of the sports best centers, and led the Habs in an unprecedented 5 consecutive Stanley Cup wins. 
RIP Mr. Beliveau. (1931-2014)
You will always be remembered as a true gentleman.

Below is a link to the Habs tribute, in his honor.
http://video.canadiens.nhl.com/videocenter/console…