Tag: Photography

  • January 3, 2024

    What colleges have you attended?

    Listing off the schools that I’ve attended probably won’t be all that interesting to read. Well, I guess, it might be more interesting than what you’re about to read if what I write next is not of interest to you.

    The most interesting schooling experience that I’ve had was when I was attending a photography class in Finland. I don’t speak Finnish. The instructor didn’t speak English. We were developing film in a dark room. I didn’t fully appreciate just how interesting my life was at the time.

    I stole a book on photography from a classmate. Accidentally, of course, but I did take it. She lent it to me because it was in English. I lost it the following year, somewhere in my dorm. There were negatives tucked into the back of that book that’ll never get processed. I remember there being pictures of boats being stored in a wooded area behind the house of my host family.

    Photography was important to me during my experience as an exchange student. Given the language barrier, it was the most effective way I found to express myself. People were able to read into my photographs. They saw something that I didn’t, perhaps because they were looking at a piece of me.

  • April 5, 2023

    April 5, 2023

    I’ve been humming and hawing over buying a lightbox for several months. It’s not the cost so much as the idea that it’s a bit unnecessary. I thought I could build my own or just use a large sheet of white poster paper. I tried both. Both worked. The lightbox just feels more convenient. I haven’t used it yet.

    The plan is to take pictures of the products for SANA Stationery & Gifts. I’m really hoping the lightbox will give me more consistent lighting and that it’ll be easy enough to set up and take down that I can build a better workflow.

    I have to put in an order for more pen turning supplies soon.

  • European round top pen and video views

    European round top pen and video views

    I made this pen about a week ago. I like it but it’s not a style of pen that I would use, I don’t think.

    In other news, I’m not sure what’s going on with the YouTube algorithm but my view count is way up. I keep checking it, thinking it’s not right. I’m excited to be making some headway, though.

    Finally, the situation with the Ford government and CUPE is just absurd. I’m shocked that the government would act this way, like playground bullies. I also don’t like that online learning is now that workaround. I think that’s absolute horse shit.

  • New lightbox and a walnut pen

    New lightbox and a walnut pen

    I was only able to make one pen today. My lever for the tailstock of my lathe broke just over a week ago. It’s an easy problem to work around but it’s a nuisance. It took me at least a couple of hours, I think, to fix my self-centring vise today — the knob to tighten and loosen the jaws came loose. Still, I was able to make a pen today.

    I made the pen below a few weeks ago but just got around to photographing it. It’s walnut with the RAW aluminum fountain pen kit. I used a CA finish on this one, something I’ve been doing more of lately.

    Oh, and I put together a lightbox today. I’ve been using a large sheet of white cardstock, which has been working well. I thought that putting together a lightbox might help me control the light better. These pictures turned out okay but I’ve got to try a few different things.

    I’m planning to go to Scriptus tomorrow. It’s a stationery show at the Toronto Reference Library. I’m actually quite excited for it.

  • Virage fountain pen | Wenge wood with gold hardware

    Virage fountain pen | Wenge wood with gold hardware

    Fountain pens are just fantastic. I think everybody should own one. And, use it.

  • Posting pictures of pens

    Posting pictures of pens

    One of the nicest things about making and selling pens is that it brings together a lot of my interests. Taking pictures of the pens I make has proven to be somewhat challenging. I’ve fallen into a bit of a pattern — developing a style — but there’s still plenty of room for improvement.

    It dawned on me this morning that I haven’t been posting pictures of my pens on my blog. I haven’t really been posting about making pens at all. I think I probably should be.

    Here’s the first step. The pen is made with wenge wood and RAW brass hardware.

  • Pictures from Peggy’s Cove 1

    Pictures from Peggy’s Cove 1

    My dad and I went on a road trip to the Maritimes. Neither of us had been before. I’m planning to post some pictures as I edit them.

  • $600 4×6 Photo

    $600 4×6 Photo

    One 4×6 photo cost me $600. It’s a picture that I took. I probably won’t even put it in a frame. I even printed the picture myself.

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  • I watched one YouTube video and now I want to start a zine

    I watched one YouTube video and now I want to start a zine

    When I picture what I want my YouTube channel to look like, Sean Tucker’s channel is pretty close. I like the way he sits on his couch and speaks to the camera about an idea that he has. Along the way, he’ll share some pictures and explain a few things. After watching one of his videos, I feel like I’ve seen something nice and learned a thing or two. He has a thoughtful approach that is quite appealing.

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  • The story behind five of the day’s pictures – January 9, 2021

    The story behind five of the day’s pictures – January 9, 2021

    The sun was shining when I woke up today. As I stared at the reflections of light in the mirror, I told myself that I had to get up and get outside today. That was the motivation I needed to get out of bed on what I was hoping would be a rather lazy Saturday.

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