Apple products

Don't even bother buying an Apple computer.  Any Apple computer.  They are overpriced and outdated.  Their phones are ok.  Their phones are the only product they're physically updating with new hardware.

 

I have a 2013 MacBook Pro and a 2015 iMac.  Those are the last Apple computers I will ever buy.  My next computer will be a Linux based laptop.  I cannot stand Windows 10.  It's slow and clunky on any hardware. 

 

Linux is the only way to go as an operating system.  Apple hardware is outdated and overpriced.  I like the Apple O/S but from the YouTube videos I've been watching with the Intel i9 processors over heat in such a slim device as the MacBook Pro.

 

The new MacBook Pros lack any viable ports unless you want to live the dongle life.  A dongle for your hard drives, Ethernet or SD cards.  No thanks.  Just stay away from Apple computers.  Apple is now solely an IOS hardware maker.

Edit:  If people buy this, they have more money than brains.  $1999 for a damn phone.  A phone!!!!!!  Something that is outdated the day you buy it and if you drop it and break the screen, you're out $2000 before taxes. 

Never forget

9/11

One of my favourites

Shot back in 2013.  Hasn't sold once anywhere.

People either like owls or they don't.  They are one of my two favorite birds, the other being Bald Eagles.  It's been 5 years since the Great Gray owls were in Ottawa.  I hope they come back soon.

Astro images from last night

It was nice and cool last night with no humidity.  Images turned out ok.  There were clouds in the south west so I did not take any astrophotography from there.  I really need to go to a real dark sky site like Algonquin Park to get away from the city lights.  The above is a shot of the Big Dipper constellation 

Astrophotography

Tonight, we go do some astrophotography and flying the drone.  Hopefully we'll see some Northern Lights and some nice long meteors.

Going flying after work

The humidity finally broke and the temps are actually nice.  So after work, I'm going flying with the DJI Spark.  I don't know where I'll fly but I need to.  I need more Ariel footage.

Was going to go fly but...

...the humidity is way too humid today.  Between the bursts of severe rain when it rains sideways, it's just too muggy to be outside.  It's supposed to be nice and cool for the remainder of the week.  I'll be glad that this humidity is going away.

Become a Shutterstock customer

If you or your business need high quality photos, footage, music etc you can become a Shutterstock customer here and help a photographer out as well.  For every package you buy, you also help me get a cut of the sales.  It really helps a small business out.  Again you can become a Shutterstock customer here and support a small local business.

I love drone photography

I've wanted a shot like this for a few years.  With drone technology, shots like this are now possible for the every man photographer.  No more needing to rent a helicopter, permits, insurance etc.  Now you can buy a $500 drone, a remote control and the ubiquitous cell phone.  Most people now have a cell phone and a computer.  Some photographers and videographers have a drone.  You just have to be aware of your surroundings and be really careful not to hit anything or anyone.   I am glad to have a drone and enough skill to take some nice pictures and videos.

1982

11:41am and I have 1982 views from Israel.  I typically get 30-65 views a day.  Not bad for a new blog.  I'm still trying to grow my views and especially them clicks on the ads which support this blog and my photography and footage sales.  But geez.  1982 views from one country?  Has to be a mistake.  I'm glad to get the views.  Helps a lot. 

Non existant sales

This weekend has been a total disaster for photo and footage sales.  Not a one sale on the stock sites I upload to the most.  Not a single sale.  Nothing.  Nadda.  I am hoping it picks up tomorrow.  The past 3 weeks have been horrible.  Sales are down 50%+. 

Drone flight at dusk

Was out with the girlfriend last night at a friends place for dinner and a sit down by a fire.  I decided to test the DJI Spark out at dusk just to see how the camera would perform.  It's ok.  But it could be better.  A lot better.  Maybe in the spring I will upgrade to the DJI Mavic Pro 2.  The Hasselblad camera should help a bit.

I edited about 6 clips which I'm currently uploading to Shutterstock, Pond5 and Storyblocks.

Editing DJI Spark photos

Just as I thought, the photos from the DJI Spark at dusk are completely useless.  The Spark is just not steady enough for anything slower than 1/100th of a second in shutter speed.  They're shaky and blurry.  The footage is a bit noisy but you can get rid of that in FCP X.  I'm actually editing the footage from last evening right now.  

The girlfriend and I went to church this morning followed by sushi and a movie.  So I'm just sitting here writing the blog while FCP X edits each clip.  They'll be up on Shutterstock, Pond5 and Storyblocks at some point.  I just wish Storyblocks was quicker at looking at each submissions.  They take up to 3-4 weeks to review the footage.  Shutterstock and Pond5 are 24-48 hours right now.

Actually went flying tonight

Finally flew the DJI Spark at dusk today.  I'll have to view the video once I get them off the micro SD card but it will be interesting to see how well the footage turns out from the DJI Spark.  Took a few photos as well.  From the Apple iPhone 8 Plus, the footage and photos looked a bit noisy but I an fix that in post.

The rest of the weekends sounds like it's going to crap weather wise with 90% chance of rain for both Sunday and Monday.  So the girlfriend and I are planning on just going to church tomorrow in the morning and a movie in the afternoon.  Monday I want to pretty much read a few books and just relax.

I wish...

...Google Ad Sense was explained better as far as earnings go.  How you earn money?  How you earn more money?  Questions like that.