I've been only shooting with the iPhone 11 Pro Max (64GB)

 The weather has been miserable here in Ottawa for the past 2 weeks or so.  We've gotten another dump of snow this week. I haven't touched my Sony a7R Mark II or any of my camcorders in about 2 weeks.  I've been using my Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max (64GB) for all of my photography in the past two weeks.  I carry my iPhone with me everywhere I go.  I use to obviously keep contact with my family, my fiancee and work.  I'm currently listening to some music via my phone and my brand new AirPods Pro earphones.  That is another story for another day.  I don't know yet how I feel about the AirPods Pro.  They sound great in the ear.  The noise cancellation is fantastically amazing.  But back to photography.

There are multiple reasons why I upgraded to the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max with the 512GB of internal storage.  First, is the storage.  My current phone has on 64GB of internal storage.  For a Pro designated phone, it should come with a minimum of 256GB of storage and have the options of 512GB and 1TB of storage.  My new phone will have 512GB of storage which is enough storage to store all my music, documents, photos and videos that I plan on shooting.  Eventually I will run out of space on my phone, iPad and iCloud.  But not if I manage the storage with some logical thought.  For vlogs, I'm going to be deleting whatever footage I get after the vlog is updated to YouTube.  I will also be uploading the B roll to Pond5 or Adobe Stock for sale, if they get accepted.  

The phone will shoot 4K/60fps video.  On my current phone, I'd shoot for 30 minutes and I'd run out of storage.  Yes 30 minutes is a long time for video but when you don't have access to Wi-Fi or external storage, 30 minutes is not a long time.  512GB should be good enough to get the shot or video.  I'll be editing everything on my 2018 Apple iPad Pro with 512GB of storage.

I've been looking at videos of Apples own M1 based laptops and computers.  They seem to be very impressive.  Even the Macbook Air.  I want portability and all day battery life.  I get that with my current iPad Pro and I'll get it with the new iPhone 12 Pro Max.  

I think within the next 2-3 iterations of the iPhone, most DSLR and Point and Shoot cameras will be obsolete.  Most Point and Shoot cameras are obsolete now.  Along with P&S cameras, most camcorders are obsolete for public consumption.  99% of kids and adults have either an iPhone or an Android phone.  The phone operating system and hardware will just keep getting better and better.  As a photographer myself, I keep changing equipment every couple of years.  My current equipment will stay with me for quite a while I think just because it's so capable to meet my needs as a photographer and videographer.  

The iPhone 12 Pro Max with iOS 14.3 will give me the ability to shoot in ProRaw which will give me 25MB files.  That's more than enough information in the photo to play around with.  I just wish the phone came with a 70-200MM type lens for those close up shots.  Eventually I think Apple will be able to do that through software and hardware.  By then, mirrorless and DSLR cameras will not be needed and everyone will just carry around a phone with them.  

You can pretty much do 99% of stuff you need to do on a phone and a tablet.  Soon you'll be able to properly code on an iPad.  Laptops and desktops will eventually not be needed and everyone will be walking around with just a phone and iPad type tablet.  With 5G added to all new devices, we won't even need Wi-FI.  That's if the data plans increase and prices continue to fall.  Unless you're in Canada where cell phone plans continue to increase in price.

Finally. Apple iPadOS 13.

Better file support.  Mouse support. External hard drive support.  Apple iPadOS 13 looks to be awesome.  I just hope Apple will port over Final Cut Pro X to the iPad and it will be a total computer replacement.  I can't wait till September/October when Apple releases the new OS.

No need for a laptop with the 2018 Apple iPad Pro

I can print from the iPad Pro.  I’ve even completed my taxes and sent them to the Canada Revenue Agency on the Apple iPad Pro.  I can edit my photos and my footage on the Apple iPad Pro.  I can pretty much do everything on the iPad Pro with carrying around a 5 pound laptop and all the other necessary hardware that you need with a laptop.

The battery life on the 2018 Apple iPad Pro is simply amazing.  I can go at least 12 hours without needing a charge.  And that’s going hard on the iPad Pro from editing photos and videos to watching YouTube on it.  I am really impressed with Face ID after being sceptical about it.  I had my doubts about FaceID working properly and slowly but it’s fast and reliable.  The 512GB hard drive is enough storage for myself since I pay Apple $12.99 a month for 2TB of backup storage.  

Apps are plentiful and most cost less than $10 and do what I need.  Affinity Photo cost less than $30 (one time purchase) and is a great Adobe Photoshop replacement.  LumaFusion is fantastic for less than $30 as well and replaces FCP X or any Adobe product.  I’m not a full time video editor or movie type so I don’t need all the bells and whistles.  I just use the iPad Pro for photo and footage editing for my small photography business and basically media consumption.

The Apple Keyboard Folio is great as well.  Keys are awesome and it feels well built.  It is no backlit which makes it hard sometimes in a dark place.  You know where to place your hands if you know how to type.  I was taught in high school way back in 1990 how to type so having a backlit keyboard is not that big of a deal for me.  The special functions keys are missing as well but I am not missing them whatsoever. 

Honestly the only thing that is missing is support for external hard drives.  I wish the iPad Pro did have another USB-C type port as I’d like to use more than one external device at a time.  Other than that, the 2018 Apple iPad Pro is a fantastic device.

2018 Apple iPad Pro

I cannot be more happier than I am right now with the 2018 Apple iPad Pro.  I’ve been using it for almost three weeks now and I haven’t even thought of using my Windows 10 laptop or my Apple MacBook Pro.  The iPad Pro does everything I need from photo and video editing to writing my blog to any and all media consumption.

Even though it’s lacking external hard drive support, which I expect to come with iOS 13 or iOS 14, the iPad is magnificent.  The screen is a fingerprint magnet but I can clean it and once my Papermate comes in, in a few days that issue is to be resolved.  I don’t even miss my mouse as I either use my fingers or the Apple Pencil 2.  I use my fingers 99% of the time.  I bought the Apple keyboard folio and although it is not backlit and does not have any speciality keys like you get on a regular PC or laptop keyboard, I have not missed those keys whatsoever.

I have edited photos from my Sony RX100 Mark VI.  They get imported into Apple Photos and I can edit the photos in any application such as Affinity Photo, Snapseed or Pixelmator.  I use the Shutterstock app to upload said photos and I can even use Apple Safari if need be.  I haven’t shot any videos yet and I haven’t had an opportunity to edit short clips on the iPad yet.  This weekend, the girlfriend and I are headed to Niagara Falls, Ontario for a short trip away so I will be taking my Sony RX100 Mark VI with me to shoot photos and footage.  Editing video on the new iPad Pro should be interesting, if not new.  I will report on whatever happens when it happens.  

I may also start vlogging with the iPad Pro using the Camera App that comes with the iPad Pro.  I can attach my Yeti mic to the iPad and use it for audio recording.  I still hate appearing on camera as I do not feel comfortable on camera.  I really have to get over that

December 2018 = BME this year

December 2018 has so far been my best month this year.  The month and year are not over yet but I've sold more this month than most months combined.  Thanks to a few video sales this has been a pretty good month.

I am looking forward to 2019.  I think there will be a few massive changes.  I'm going to start looking for a job out west.  I cannot stand Ottawa and Ontario any more.  There is nothing to do here.  I loved being out west in the mountains.  I love nature and I love being out in the mountains.  The air is so fresh.  I love the mountain landscape.  I want to do some astrophotography in the mountains..  One of my goals is take a week or two off and just travel down to Arizona to do some road trip photography. I cannot wait to get out there.

That is all for now.

Some good news. Some bad news.

So I have a friend from high school who works as the finance manager at a local Jeep dealership here in Ottawa.  Hopefully on Monday before three in the afternoon I will get a good news phone call from him telling me I got the 2018 2 door Jeep Wrangler.  The only thing that's not good news is this past year I co-signed a loan for my girlfriend for a 2015 Jeep Patriot.  Her ex really did a number on her credit and now it affects me.  Maybe I shouldn't have signed it but I thought it would be better for her to not pay 20% interest on a loan.  Instead we cut it down to 8% I think.  Now it affects me which totally sucks.

I do hope I get the Jeep Wrangler.  I totally hate the Hyundai Elantra.  It's not good for my body anymore.  I find it difficult to get in and out of the vehicle.  After driving my girlfriend' Jeep Patriot I enjoy the SUV much more.  We shall see on Monday.

I was hoping to do some photography today but it's just so cold out.  It was -14 degrees celsius this morning and now it's -7 degrees celsius.  I think I need to do more photography at Parc Omega which I can do from the warmth of my car.  I haven't been to Parc Omega in a month.  The girlfriend doesn't like doing the photography thing.  That is not good for the relationship as I love photography and shooting footage of nature, landscape and animals.

I actually have a day...

...to myself.  Girlfriend is gone out with friends so I have the day to myself where I can do what I want and where I want.  I just finished breakfast and I think it's time to go buy a new vehicle.  I've been wanting a Jeep Rubicon for about the past year.  I've been driving a 2015 Hyundai Elantra and I can't stand the car anymore.  I just need a bigger vehicle.  Since I'll be moving out west in early next year, you need a bigger vehicle out west.

I also bought a new laptop.  It's a Windows 10 based laptop.  I'll be using it a backup to my new 2018 iPad Pro whenever I buy that.  I still don't trust that an iPad can be total desktop replacement.  Apple laptops now are way too expensive for what they are.  You cannot even replace or upgrade any parts so bye bye Apple laptops.  I'll be selling my early 2013 Apple MacBook Pro and my late 2015 Apple iMac at some point this year.  Well, whenever I get my new Windows 10 laptop.  I plan on upgrading the hard drives and adding more RAM to the new laptop.

Time to go get a new vehicle.

Today at work so far...

I've deployed one computer.  Imaged three computers.  Brought up some Surface Pros to the third floor for the DSS team and I cleaned up my work area which consisted of packing laptop bags into one big pile.  I have one more deployment at two today and I get to image that one computer after I deployed the new one to the client.

I brought my personal MacBook Pro to work so that I can actually, maybe, possibly work on my own stuff.  I'm being interrupted by my boss and a couple of the on site technicians but it's all good.  I enjoy the company.  Us on site/deployment guys are pretty much the same.  We share the same mentality.  I was supposed to get a new coworker today but he bailed out last night.

I am taking a bit of break from photography.  I'm busy with life I guess.  Work and exercise always seem to get in the way of what I want to do.  Like I've previously stated, the next couple of months are going to be life changing.  I really, really do not want to live in Ottawa anymore.

I don't really...

...upload photos or videos shot with my Apple iPhone 8 Plus to the various photo agencies.  I've only sold maybe 5 or 6 cell phone shots.  Cell phone camera are just not there yet.  The sensors are so small, the image quality isn't there yet.  Not when compared to real cameras like the Sony A7R III which shoots at 42.4MP.  But the cell phone is so convenient.  You take it with you everywhere.  It's just very convenient.

Canon Vixia HF G40 camcorder

I never liked the form factor of a DSLR or a bridge camera to shoot video.  I've always like a real camcorder feel to shoot video.  I bought the Canon Vixia HF G40 about 2 years ago because it's a prosumer camcorder for a really good price.  I bought it for $1249 Canadian.  3 years ago I never shot video for my stock business.  I was actually at Parc Omega one day and I had my Canon EOS 6D and a Sigma f5-6.3 150-500MM lens attached.  The light that day was simply amazing.  I decided to shoot a video of a coyote on a hill thinking "Hey that would make a cool video."  Shot a 30 second clip and a few days later it sold on Shutterstock for $120US.  That got me hooked on shooting footage.  Currently I have 1495 footage clips on my Shutterstock portfolio.  I've shot video with my DSLR cameras like the Canon EOS 6D, a Canon Vixia HF R82, my Sony RX100 Mark II, IV and V.  I've shot with my Sony RX10 Mark II.  I've shot with a Sony FDR ax33 (4K) and a Sony FDR ax100/b (4K) camcorder and my Apple iPhone 8 Plus.  I also have a drone that I've shot video with (DJI Spark).  Out of all those cameras, I've always enjoyed the Canon Vixia HF G40.  I think the Canon lines of cameras and camcorders reproduce colour the best.

Yesterday I sold a 4k video for $1.80US which is insulting.  Today I sold a video for $17.29 which is still pretty low.  I wish Shutterstock would let us price our videos the way we want like Pond5.

Parc Omega

It's been a while since I've been to Parc Omega.  Last time the girlfriend and I went was probably in March of this year.  With the heat wave we've had this summer it's just not worth going.  The animals just hide in the forest to get away from the heat.  Today I did photography with maybe a dozen or so footage shots.  I did not take my camcorder with me.  Only shot 4k a few times today.  The next time I go, I will be going during the week and alone so I can concentrate more on composition of my nature shots.  We left the house around 10am and got back around 9pm after visiting the park and going for dinner after.  Let's just say it was a long and exhausting day.  But we had a lot of fun

I think this week I'll be going back to Parc Omega by myself with the Sony RX10 Mark II and the Canon Vixia G40 to do some more photography and more footage shots.  I shouldn't have taken any 4k footage yesterday.  It's just takes too much space and too much time to edit and upload.  That's why I like shooting with my Canon Vixia G40 camcorder.  It's great 1080p/60fps footage.  I also like the colours of all the Canon products.  Much better colour reproduction.  

Looks like...

...Shutterstock is picking up.  Although sales are still down 25%-50% they could be worse.  What's saving me is video sales.

Two video sales, one late last night and one really early this morning actually put me over the $5,000.00 earnings mark.  I'm averaging about $1,250 a year in sales right now.  I started in May 2014 where I earned only $5 to $20 a month for the first year.  So that average is probably higher.  I'd say around $2,000 a year.  I am starting this month to actually save my photography earnings to buy a new camera.  I want to buy the new Sony RX200 Mark IV point and shoot.  I want to buy the Sony RX100 Mark IV just because of its size and the fact that it now boasts a f2.8-4.5 24-200MM lens.  It's a perfect little travel camera that shoots awesome 1080p and 4k video.  Plus the picture quality is outstanding.  Next year I want to get into doing some astrophotography so I also want to purchase an entry level DSLR like a Canon Rebel T7i or if they bring out a new T8i, I'd buy that.  I already have a telescope and a tracking mount so I just need the body.

iOS 12

iOS 12 was released yesterday (Sept. 17, 2018) by Apple.  When I got home I immediately installed it on my Apple iPhone 8 Plus.  I've had a day to play with my phone and I find iOS 12 really fast.  Faster than any previous iOS operating system.  Apps seem to open up way faster.  The phone seems more responsive.  iOS and Android are both really good operating systems.  I find Apple iOS just a bit better for photography and video apps.  I live in an Apple ecosystem so having an iPhone makes sense to me.  But I think after my 2015 iMac dies along with my 2013 MacBook Pro, I'll build my own computer and install Linux on it.  I will probably stick with the iPhone just because the apps work really well.  They are feature rich and they don't crash.  Footage and photos are much easier to import onto a computer from an Apple iPhone.  Android is a pain in the ass in that sense.

DJI Spark - LOST FOR GOOD

As some of you may know, earlier this week I lost my DJI Spark in mid flight.  No explanation.  Nothing.  I uploaded the log files to the web and sent them to DJI as well.  I have a ticket open with DJI to see what went wrong.

From the DJI forums, it looks like and I hope to be getting a new drone.  But that is just other users opinions.  Not DJI' opinion.  I hope to hear from DJI next week to see what the results of their testing is.  I hope they work quick to find the results.  Hopefully, I will get a new drone.  I hope.

DJI Spark update

I submitted a ticket this morning with DJI to see if they can do anything.  I provided all the necessary information by 10am this morning.  It's now 15:22 and no feedback.  I will give them a few days to see if they will do anything.  I doubt I will hear anything back let alone get a new drone.  I started a thread on their support pages uploading the log files from my phone.  Since uploading those at around 13:30 this afternoon,  no response on their either.  I'm thinking the log files proved my case that I lost any and all connection with the drone while in flight.

I have two differing careers.  A techie who fixes computers and network issues and a photographer.  I'm my own technician.  It's kind of funny when people find out that I can resolve most computer or device issues.  Everybody thinks they know more or know better.  The problem with the internet is communication.  You only get a written response or a video on Youtube.  The internet goes against human nature.  There's no human interaction except for writing a spiteful or vitriolic comment that does not help the discussion.

I am hoping DJI comes back to me in a few days to say that I had a dud of a drone.  If my customer got a dud of a photography or some dud footage, I'd go reshoot at my expense.  To a point.  I'm not going to go shoot a 30 second video or a photo a 100 times.  I hope to get the photo or footage right the first time.  That's how I work.