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As some of you fans out there already know, I have been using Apple's 2G iPhone for quite some time now. Even with heavy usage on the actual phone, iPod, calender and other applications, I still wanted a native VOIP client to make long distance calls when in a WiFi zone.

Enter Sipgate

I just read about it, signed up, installed it with in 10 minutes I was making a call to a friend in Vancouver on their free 111 minutes they give you when you sign up. NOW the iPhone is MUCH more than I expected.

If you own a 2G iPhone, with 1.1.4 Firmware. This is your ticket in

Let me start this post with the note that I've known Scott Eklund for just under 1/2 my life. I would even gauge that it has been the most important 1/2 of my life. Scott is arguably my oldest friend, and because of that, I was happy to cover his wedding in the only way I know how: completely and with intense vigor.

Here is a selection of images from the wedding, taken in locations spanning across the campus of the University of Manitoba, my Alma Mater for my art education, and the St. Boniface Cathedral.

I hoped that it would be an epic wedding and both Scott and Averie did not disappoint. I wish them well as they head to Hawaii for their well deserved honeymoon as I sit here and decipher the complexities of what appears to a pile of compact flash cards with thousands of images on them

It's been a while since I've posted. Can you blame me? Wedding season is in full swing and I am in the middle of it all. The summer's been a nice little package of fun. Recently, I received credit for being the principal photographer for the University of Calgary's Take Your Place (Students Spaces, design by students) Publication. The credits are racking up and I have had the fortune of being on the ground floor of those projects.

In the last little while, I have been trying to streamline my work flow and most importantly, my equipment. In a constant effort to find the perfect set up for particular situations, I have manged to figure most of it out.

Here's the latest creations of Eric Au Heavy Industries:

Some DIY grid spots for my ever growing collection of Nikon Sb800 strobes.

The Dualer, a double flash bracket for off camera work

And finally, a new way to put my Pocket Wizard Transmitter. Combined with the flash bracket, it is now a very compact package for reception.

On other news, my thesis topic is in full swing, I just need to make sure I am on track and able to finish it by next April.

Off to Winnipeg to shoot my good friend, Scott Eklund's, wedding. Be back in a week or so

After volunteering my photographic skills for the Art Gallery of Calgary (AGC)'s event last week, my life changed dramatically into something for better. AGCcooks, a Iron Chef style event was the event and the AGC's spring fundraiser.

I was doing my normal A game shooting when I was approached by the woman in charge of marketing with the words "you've been upgraded". I was confused but after a short discussion with her she informs the woman who usually frequents these fundraisers and documents it was ill and in one fell swoop I was 'upgraded' from volunteer photographer to officially shooting for the Calgary Herald. The Herald, to clarify, is Calgary's biggest newspaper. If you are in the Calgary area, buy the Sunday, April 20th paper, and look in the Arts and Entertainment section, subheading Bright LIghts. 5-6 images are credited to me.

After performing some intense simultaneous stair running and shooting, I was again approached by the CEO of the AGC with an offer to become the AGC's staff photographer. Consumed with the adrenaline of image making, I gladly accepted her offer and set up a meeting. After discussion and showcasing of some of my work from SCALE and other photographic work, I solidified my position and set a new bar for myself interms of professionalism. I can't wait to get more noticed in Calgary as my secondary carreer is taking off.

A whole new world of networking, a whole new section of work to create. In addition to the craziness of the new job entitlement, I also shot the Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship (ACE) fashion show and it was a HUGE success. According to a fellow photographer, I added my own flair to the standard runway show, using flash and my new, untested fisheye lens. The flash added a whole new dimension and increased the 3d look of the clothing.

I hope I can capitalize on those local designers and add another section of photography I've been wanting to break into ever since I picked up a camera almost 10 years ago.

Get your fash - on

I recently purchased a Nikon 80-200 and low and behold, the lens hood was broken.

The idea behind this was to demonstrate the new 3d Rapid Prototyper at my faculty's shop. Using solidworks and the old lens hood, I took measurements and CADed the new lens.

Based off of the HB29 that is meant for the new 70-200 2.8 VR nikkor, the new hood is 2mm thick and made from ABS plastic. A quick spray of matte black later.

I hope to make a design for my 50mm 1.4, but that will be another posting.

I had previously purchased a handstrap that helped me cope with the weight of my Nikon d200, the grip and any one of my f2.8 lenses. It worked really well but it added a lot of bulk at the bottom of the camera removing my once comfortable vertical grip.

I was getting tired of having the camera strap cover the view finder when I switch from landscape to portrait. I noticed that the handstrap adapter on had a spot for the camera strap to attach. It worked but again, the bulk and flexible plastic made me worry about the camera's weight breaking the piece.

So I went down to my shop, whipped up on a new bracket and screw and suddenly I was in heave. The bracket didn't get in my way, it was light (made of aluminum) and finally it was STRONG.

All I have to do is paint it black, add another hole for a 1/4 20 screw so I can add a PocketWizard Transmitter.

Here are some pics:

Notice how the strap dangles off to the side and does not interfere with landscape or portrait shooting.

SUCCESS!

This weekend was the first meet up of the Strobist Flickr group that I joined maybe a month ago. If you haven't figured it out, I do a lot of flash photography and the chance to meetup with other individuals, varying in skill and knowledge, was hard to give up.

Leading a small contingency of shooters, I brought out a few of those blue plastic snow dishes that you dangerously slide down hills with during the winter months. The parkade that we occupied must of been built in the early 70's because the height of the ceiling was eerily low and the ramps where VERY steep. Shortly after I brought out the sliders, a colleague said "I brought a piano". Surely, I thought he said it in jest, but in reality he was dead serious. Quickly moving the components of the piano, he began to set up the situation of a piano in a garage. Most excellent of contrasts.

Making the best of what we had, I saw an opportunity to make fun of a sign that was at every ramp. It said in large white letters "DO NOT WALK ON RAMP".

Walk?

How about slide

Below are a bunch of images that I took

Martin Lussier Doing the slide

Phillip Sherman with his impeccable game face

The lonely, angsty, garage band member

As you can see, the group was small, but we are dedicated and fearless:

Group shot courtesy of Sean Phillips.

Discussion and more images can be found here:

The Gauntlet is the University of Calgary's student newspaper and every once and a while there is a call out for photographs. This time it was "square format ". I was fortunate enough to get featured.

Small baby steps but its becoming more and more evident that I may end up doing this more and more to pay the bills.

Go to 21 and you'll my big name in lights