Tranquil Tuesday

I find it a bit ironic that New Year's Eve is on a Tuesday for the purpose of this blog. To me, New Years is about new beginnings, about another chance to improve yourself, and another chance to be happy. My new year's resolution, as it always is is to just be better. That may include, but is not limited to: being better at sports, eating better, improving my photography, or being happier. Positivity is contagious. The best thing that you can do to make the world around you better without even changing your routine is to simply smile. Next time you're having a bad day, or someone around you is having a bad day, just smile. 

Manic Monday

One thing that I love to do with drummer photos is to make them super colourful. When that isn't possible, I often make them black & white. As I've said before, drummers are the hardest band member to photograph, mainly because of the lack of light. This lack of light means that you need to turn down your shutter speed, but slowing it down means that the subject needs to be more still for the image not to be blurry. That, of course, is nearly impossible for a drummer. Usually what happens when there isn't decent lighting, one of the best ways to make the photo look good is to make it black and white.

Sunday Sonata

One thing that I've noticed is that most of the times, a singer has the highest ego in the band. It doesn't really surprise me all that much, but it is still a bit weird to see this actually unfold. There are exceptions, in fact, most musicians that I have met, no matter what instrument they play, who actually have some resemblance of fame, are all extremely humble, and generally really good people. I find it hilarious that bands who are not signed to any label, struggling to keep the band in one piece, have extreme creative differences and generally think of themselves as better than everyone else, and this goes triple for solo artists. 

That being said, this man is one of the nicest people I have ever met. His name is Kieran Mercer, and I saw him perform as a solo artist with a backing band. He is very talented and unbelievably kind and humble. I will not be sharing photos of people that I do not reapect on this blog. If you want to get a little bit of insight as to who I think deserves respect, and your attention, check out my Facebook page, and see who I'm excluding from my posts. 

Happy holidays and keep on taking those photos!

Cheers!!

Skylar Santimeau

Shredding Saturday

Good morning one and all! I hope that your holiday season has been filled with joy and merriment. I've been taking a small break from actually going to concerts because of the holiday season, but that doesn't mean that I don't have anything to share with you guys. This is my good friend Adamn, he just recently played his last concert for a little while so that he can go back to school. He was playing for a band called fighting for Ithaca, who are currently signed to 604 records here in Vancouver. I'd just like to take this moment to wih him all the best and hope that he becomes successful in what ever field he chooses. 

All natural Thursday

I hope everyone had a super merry Christmas, and got to spend a lot of time with family and those close to you. Boxing Day is one of the strangest holidays for me. I am not a fan of holidays based on shopping. Unfortunately, the snow here does not last, and I was busy spending time with family while it was here, so I was not able to get a lot of great photos. I really wish for a mother few days of snow on a weekend so that I can show everyone some of my favourite spots, until then, here's one of my shots from the island. 

Wicked Wednesday

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! Hohoho. It's not often that I get a white Christmas here in Vancouver, and this year is no different. However, there was some snow that decided to fall on Friday night over on Vancouver island while I was visiting relatives. Therefor, I decided to share one of my favourite shots that I was able to take this weekend with everyone, and do my part to give you a white Christmas! My relatives truely do live in a winter wonderland, and it is absolutely incredible to go and visit this time of year. I would highly reccomend stopping by Vancouver island, and seeing it loaded with snow... So long as you don't need to drive in it. 

Tranquil Tuesday

Happy Christmas Eve everyone! I hope that you have had a wonderful holiday season filled with joy and family. I was able to spend some time with some family a little ways away from home last weekend and it was truely wonderful. But it wasn't only family I got to see. I finally was able to see the beautiful sunrise I have been waiting for. I was lucky enough to see it on the ferry ride over to Vancouver island too, so there was nothing but sea, in between myself and the sunrise. One thing that many armature photographers don't know is that it is actually extremely bad for your camera to take direct photos of the sun. It can easily overload and damage your camera's sensor. That is why most sunrise, or sunset photos, the sun is either behind some clouds, or is past the horizon where it isn't actually visible. 

That is why so many beautiful sunrise photos look similar to this shot I was able to take. I hope you have a wonderful holiday and get to spend it with those you love!

Manic Monday

Happy holidays! I hope that everyone enjoyed their solstice. For those of you counting, there are only two days left until Christmas! Back to business, there are not many venues in Vancouver that are actually good for drummer photos. Tom Lee is one of the few. I believe that drummers should get a lot more praise than they do. If a drummer makes one mistake, everyone can hear it. If the drummer falls out of time by even a fraction of a second, everyone can hear it. The precision needed to be a top quality drummer is ridiculous, and yet, they are rarely seen, and even less often do they have the spot light; or any light at all. You would be surprised as to how often drummers are left in the dark. That is why I dedicated Monday to drummers, because they deserve to be at the beginning of the week.

Sunday Sonata

A lot of people underestimate the skill that singers have. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to be able to constantly sing accurately, with perfect pitch. Having the skill and ability to be a great singer is one of the hardest things possible, but it can be achieved by almost anyone who is willing to put in the time and effort. I have been attempting to become a better singer, without the help of a teacher, and it has been hard. I have spent so much time practicing, and I have improved, but not by much. I tip my hat to those who have dedicated so much of their time to becoming great singers, just like TJ here of a great band called Dear Adeline

Shredding Saturday

As I've said before, one of my favourite things about going to concerts to take photos is discovering bands that I have never heard of before. This is Vincent, a guitarist from a band called Chase Your Words. Before the concert that I went to last Friday, I had never hear of these guys before. These guys are one of the reasons that I loved this show. They are young, talented, have a set sound, know how to own a stage, and have amazing music. You need to check these guys out!

Funky Friday

I got to go out and shoot for a Christmas concert last Friday, and it was quite a bit of fun. The one thing that I usually hate about Christmas concerts are the terrible classic holiday song remakes that are usually present by at least one of the bands. I was extremely pleased when I only heard three Christmas songs all night long, and two of them were originals. 

All natural Thursday

Unfortunately, I haven't gotten a chance to go out and get any great outdoor shots during winter as of yet. I did however get to go to the aquarium a little while back. One thing that a lot of people forget is the amount of varieties of animals live in the aquarium. This is a scarlet ibis, one of my favourite types of birds. The ibis is extremely graceful and seems to be always at peace. That peace is something that I can only find when I'm behind a camera. 

Wicked Wednesday

I'm super excited today because it is my last day of work this week. I'll be heading off to Vancouver island for a little while, I'll still be able to update my blog. One of the most amazing experiences in life is spending time with a child. Children are absolutely adorable in their innocence. When the first person said that children are the future,  I don't think they meant that they will live longer than we will. I like to believe that they were also referring to the innocence, and forgiving nature of children. It's those things that make kids awesome.

Tranquil Tuesday

Well, Christmas is coming. Thankfully I just finished up all the shopping I need to do. This time of year is actually really relaxing for me. I'm not someone who leaves all my shopping until the last minute, so I don't have to deal with massive crowds, increased prices, or pressure to buy everything in the store. Instead of all that, I get to sit at home, enjoy some coffee or eggnog, read the paper, and visit family. This photo actually was taken from my iPhone, sitting in line for Starbucks. The best way to make this time of year peaceful is to get your shopping done early.

Manic Monday

I personally love Star Trek. I've always been a huge fantasy buff, watching all sorts of sci-fi/fantasy shows. Although I am not a fan of Captain Kirk, or the original series, I love Spock. I'm not the only one who loves Spock, the band "Season To Attack" love him aswell. During their concert just before Halloween, they had decided to dress up as their favourite Star Trek character. When they stepped onto stage, all five members were dressed as Spock. It really was a hilariously awesome event.

Sunday sonata

In my opinion, one of the hardest things to do in photography is to capture lens flares. Lens flares are also one of the coolest tools a photographer can use. If used properly, they can turn an average photo into something amazing. If you are a new photographer, or even if you have a lot of experience with a camera, you should deffinitely try to use lens flares to enhance your photos!

Shredding Saturday

When I think of Vancouver bands who truely deserve to make it big, The first band that always comes to mind is Danha. I have never interacted with a band that has everything together quite like them. They are extremely talented musicians, they all understand the business, and they have amazing stage presence. The only two reasons they perform is for their fans and because they love doing it. You guys should deffinitely check them out if you enjoy pop or rock music, because their sound is an amazing median between the two! 

Funky Friday

People constantly tell me that bassists are the least active on stage. I would like to think the exact opposite. In all of my favourite live performances, the bassist has been the most active member with amazing showmanship and crowd control. A bassist's job in the band is to keep time, therefor, they usually have more generic, less difficult parts musically in compared to guitars. That means that they have a responsibility to make themselves as visually appealing as possible. One of the ways I judge live performances is with the energy in the crowd that the band creates, and I believe that the bassist plays a huge role in this. 

Wicked Wednesday

Vehicles make life far easier and efficient. If you have a vehicle, you can get somewhere that could take an hour to walk in maybe fifteen minutes. The farther you go, the more time you save. Unless you drive in a major city. The ways that cars have evolved is pretty incredible. Fuel efficiency has done nothing but gotten better, and I can't wait to see where cars will be ten years from now.

Tranquil Tuesday

Well, it's winter. I'm finally ready to admit it. Once one of the major rivers in the country has ice on it, there is really not much argument to say it's still autumn. On Sunday morning, I went out to one of my favourite spots to watch the sunrise when I noticed that it was so cold outside that there was ice floating upstream on the Fraser river. 

Manic Monday

One of my favourite drummers of Vancouver is Jay Deachman. He is currently playing for the band Danha, but has played for many awesome Vancouver bands in the past such as Theory of a Deadman. He is truely the best pure drummer that I have had the pleasure of meeting. That, and he is pretty hilarious after a few drinks.

Sunday Sonata

One of my favourite bands that I've seen lately is a band called "Trace the Sky". Not only are they amazing musicians, but they are some of the nicest people I've ever met. They are based in Nanaimo and Victoria on Vancouver island. This is one of my favourite shots that I've taken in a long time. In this photo, Liam really seems like the awesome star that he is.

Shredding Saturday

It is truely amazing the difference a well lit room or stage can do for photos. There are some venues in Vancouver that are absolutely terrible for photos. The Massey Theater is one of, if not the best venue for photos, because of how nice the lighting was. Spot lights are one of the coolest lights. If used properly with stage smoke, it can make for some amazing shots, such as this one.

Funky Friday

It's that time of the week again. One more day until the weekend! To celebrate, here is the funkiest member of any band, a bassist. This young man is the bassist for a Vancouver based band called Aiden. During the youth showcase that I had the opportunity to judge, these guys were my personal favourite. 

Wicked Wednesday

I absolutely love how easy it is for people to start getting into photography. With phones that have cameras better than a lot of small compact cameras, anyone can get into the art. However, that doesn't mean that everyone should try to do it seriously. I took this photo with my phone, and I think that it is a really freaking cool photo. 

All Natural Thursday

One of my favourite pass times is going for a walk with my camera. In Vancouver, we don't get much snow. I'm extremely grateful for this. As a fan of green plants, it's always nice to know that I will get to see some all year long. Some plants to start to die tho, even some plants that stay green year round start to die. I would have never guessed that this funky patern was on the bottom of this fern, the top looked completely normal. Luckily, I happened to be walking with a short friend, and she saw this on the underside of the plant, and I was amazed to see this natural design.

Tranquil Tuesday

Statues are amazing. When I see a statue, I can sit and ponder about it for hours. "Who is this" is one if the thoughts that come to mind. I love contemplating the history and behind these marvellous pieces of art. Have you ever found yourself sitting in contemplation, wondering the history behind not only the construction of the statue, but the history behind the character portrayed. 

Manic Monday

Drummers are, by far, the hardest members of a band to photograph. Not only because of the fact that they are at the back of the stage, but also because they are constantly moving their arms, blocking their face, and genuinely making sour expressions. That is why a good drummer photo impresses people more often.

Sunday Sonata

I absolutely love coming across young, talented musicians. I had the pleasure of checking out, and judging a youth showcase, where the winner got the chance to open for Hey! Ocean! All of the bands did well, but personally, my favourite band of the night was called Aiden. All members of the ban showed huge potential, and the utmost joy for performing. It truely was a great sight to see this young group of guys playing thir hearts out because it was something that they really enjoyed doing.

Unfortunately, there is another band that has the same name from the US that are far more popular, so it is near impossible to find these guys online. But you can check out my Facebook, tumblr, and Flickr sites for more photos of this awesome young band.

Funky Friday

I'm really dissapointed to say that there are certain bands that I have worked with in the past who have been using my photos without consent. These bands, or individuals from these bands have removed my small watermark from the photos, and refused to remove the image. It saddens me to say that I will no longer be working with these bands for any reason. This, however is not one of those bands. Danha is a great up-and-coming band from Vancouver. All of the members understand te industry, and have a huge passion for music. I've never met a band who has all of their shit together. In my mind, that is actually impossible. Danha sure comes pretty darn close. I helped these guys shoot a music video back in the summer, and it was an amazing experience. Check out "Alone Together" - Danha!

All Natural Thursday

I am holding on to Autumn. I am not a fan of winter, so I am relieved that we haven't had any snow , or extremely cold weather. Today, I have another photo of the outdoors during the fall to remind me that winter is not here yet. 

Wicked Wednesday

To be honest, I have been ridiculously busy lately, not only with my day job, but with concerts and editing aswell. Since I've been so busy, I haven't really been able to take a lot of out door, awesome photos. However, that doesn't mean I don't have anything to show you. I've shown you some fireworks before, but that's only because of how awesome they are. Fireworks are one of the greatest Chinese inventions of all time in my opinion. They have been changed, altered and mastered, but they are still basically the same as the originals. I don't know much about fireworks, but I do know how amazing they are! 

Tranquil Tuesdays

The best thing about being on the west coast is our beautiful, colourful, peaceful sun sets. Vancouver may not have the best looking skyline, but it is still absolutely gorgeous when it is being lit by one of our amazing sun sets.

Manic Mondays

One of the most impressive things that a musician can do is play their instrument while singing. This is almost triple as difficult for a drummer. I have only seen three drummers who can actually sing while performing. This is the drummer of Alleyway Saints. He is one of those three. After hearing this band perform, you would think there were four, or possibly even five members, because of the interesting and difficult instrumentals, as well as an awesome singer. Well, you'd be wrong. There are only three members in this band, and it is pretty amazing. I would definitely recommend checking out this good young band!

Sunday Sonata.

I hate big, bulky watermarks. In my opinion, they get in the way, and on many occasions, ruin a photo. That is why my watermark is small and in the corner of the photo, so that everyone can still enjoy my art, but I still get my deserved credit. Cropping out this mark is a giant insult to me. Photography is my passion, and by removing the mark, you have stripped me of all credit, other than the personal satisfaction of knowing that it was my photo. I refuse to work with people who have done this to me. So, if you have cropped out my watermark for your own personal use. I say that because, this has happened to me a number of times recently on some social media sites, and when my patent is completely processed, it will be an illegal act. I'm not saying this to scare anyone away, all that I'm saying is that these are my photos. I put my heart and soul into these, and all I want is the acknowledgement, and credit that I deserve. I want as many people as possible to enjoy my work, and I want those people to know that it is my work so that they can find more, and truly appreciate it all, instead of one or two photos. I'm sure that there are many other photographers who feel the same way, and we as artists deserve that recognition. 

Anyway, getting back to my normal material, I'd like to share with you a photo of someone who truly does appreciate my work. He is an amazing and talented musician. His name is Joel Cossette, and he has recently quit his job in order to pursue his dream of becoming a musician. That, to me is extremely courageous, and it shows the dedication he has to his craft. By looking at him, you might not think it, but he has the voice of an angel, and the songwriting talent to back it up. I hope that you all go and check him out, and help him make his dream; that he is working so hard to make a reality, come true. 

Shredding Saturday

One of my favourite guitarists from Vancouver goes by the name of John Wu. He was guitarists for my favourite Vancouver band. Unfortunately, that band, known as Mass Undergoe has parted ways. Thankfully, all of its members are still performing in new projects. John Wu is currently playing for a new band, that has only plate a handful of shows. The name of his new band is Ugly Men. I would highly recommend checking them out!

Check out my Facebook, tumblr and flickr pages for more photos of this awesome new band!

Note: I'd like to apologize for the lateness of my post. I have been having issues with publishing 

Funky Friday

One of my favourite instruments is the upright bass. The sheer power and beauty that comes from this large instrument is incredible. I actually feel really bad about this photo, because I don't remember the name of the musician shown, or the name of the band he plays in. The photo was taken during the summer in Vancouver at the busker festival that took over Granville street for almost a week.

This weekend I'll be seeing a few awesome new bands performing at Joe's apartment. These bands are Bridges To Royal, One Left Alive and Howlin Daz And The Free Radicals! Check out all these bands and come out to Joe's Apartment tonight!

All Natural Thursday

One thing that's always facinated me about nature is wild vegetable.Probably the most common of which is mushrooms. It's awesome to see these mushrooms grow anywhere, in almost any kind of climat.  One of my favourite photos of mushrooms that I've taken was when I was on a little walk through a forest, and happened upon and mass grow of them that reminded me of a little village built by some fairies. 

Wicked Wednesday

As I said yesterday, water is amazing. But it's not just water, the animals that live in water are also amazing. The power that animals have to throw them selves at speeds up to 30 miles per hour is astounding. One of the most incredible sea animals is the dolphin. The strength inside that torpedo shaped body is absolutely awe inspiring 

Tranquil Tuesday

You may notice that many of my photos for Tuesdays will encorporate water in some way, that is because of how calming, and soothing water is in it's many forms. From a rushing waterfall, to a slowly moving lake, water relaxes me, and helps me get through the day. That is why I enjoy sharing these images with you. I hope that you can enjoy these photos as much as I do. 

Manic Monday

A little while ago, I got to see some of my favourite local bands play in a wonderful little venue in surrey called Olympia pizza. One of those bands was Sharks! On Fire! One of the best things about watching these guys perform is their drummer Bryan. He always has the biggest smile on his face while playing, and it really brightens the mood of everyone in the venue. 

 

Sunday Sonata

One thing that irritates me is when someone has a lot of money, so they buy a microphone, some basic equipment, and buy themselves a spot in a concert. That is most definitely not the case with the wonderful, and stunning Kaylee Johnston. I was given the opportunity to take her photos a little while ago, and I was incredibly happy to hear that there are still good pop artists out there. Not only does she write her own songs, but she also has a great voice, and an amazing stage presence. I would highly recommend checking her out live, or at least watching her music video for her single "Gone" 

Shredding Satirday

It's the weekend!!! Well, for most people at least. Unfortunately the concert that I was set to go to last night was canceled last minute, so I got to go home and edit photos instead. It was actually pretty nice to get to stay home and edit, because I do enjoy editing, almost as much as I actually enjoy taking the photos in the first place. Today I'd like to share a photo pod one of my favourite Vancouver bands: The Faceplants! I took this photo at Tom Lee Music Hall downtown, and it was a phenomenal night, because I actually pulled double duty and shot for two concerts in the same night. 

Give me a like on Facebook, or follow me on tumblr and flickr for more photos! I have a personal twitter that I occasionally use too! @Pickles991

Shredding Satirday

It's the weekend!!! Well, for most people at least. Unfortunately the concert that I was set to go to last night was canceled last minute, so I got to go home and edit photos instead. It was actually pretty nice to get to stay home and edit, because I do enjoy editing, almost as much as I actually enjoy taking the photos in the first place. Today I'd like to share a photo pod one of my favourite Vancouver bands: The Faceplants! I took this photo at Tom Lee Music Hall downtown, and it was a phenomenal night, because I actually pulled double duty and shot for two concerts in the same night. 

Give me a like on Facebook, or follow me on tumblr and flickr for more photos! I have a personal twitter that I occasionally use too! @Pickles991

Funky Friday

Happy Friday! Another week has gone by, and we're one day closer to Christmas. Has anyone already started, or even finished their Christmas shopping? I'm about half way done myself. I usually get really excited for Christmas, not because of the gifts, but because I get to see all my family again. That is the biggest, an best gift of all. 

So, since it's Friday, It's time for a photo of a bassist! This week, I'd like to share one of the bassist from a band called "The I In Team" 

All natural Thursdays

Good morning everyone! It is starting to look more like winter out there with the sun setting much earlier, and snow coming down on the mountains, but it is still autumn! I enjoy this photo because it shows that life can still sprout, and begin anew, even in a time of year when most trees shed their colours, and prepare for winter. As a great man once said: "Winter is coming".

Wicked Wednesday

In ny mind, one of the most impressive things that a person can do is control their own body. I don't mean regular, every day functionality, I mean acrobatically. Stunt acrobats always astound me. The strength that they have to be able to hold themselves at right angles, or stop them selves from falling a fraction of an inch from the ground is astounding. This morning, if like to share with you an image of an amazing acrobat who goes by the name of "Reuban dot dot dot". 

I didn't realize until now, but there was a publishing error, so I suppose better late than never.

Tranquil Tuesday

Yesterday was rememberance day, therefor I will show my respect by keeping today's post short and sweet. Never should anyone forget those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to allow is to continue our every day lives. Those brave men and women who fought for our country, and those who continue to fight every day deserve the respect and admiration of every soul in our proud country. Even if you do not support the wars we fight, please support our troops.

Lest we forget.

Manic Monday

Today, I would like to take a moment to remember those that we've lost in battle. Those who have given their lives to protect their country. Lest we ever forget their sacrifice and bravery.

Today is rememberance day here in Canada, and I just felt the need to show my appreciation to our armed soldiers before returning to our regular blog. As I promised, today I will be giving a review of Tenant's album "All Of My Favourite Bands Are Breaking Up" recorded in 2007, but first, as per Monday standard practice, here is a photo of Tenant's awesome drummer Norm, who is anything but a normal drummer.

"All Of My Favourite Bands Are Breaking Up". Just by hearing the name of the album, I get a good feeling, because this album came out when, most of my favourite bands from Vancouver decided to part ways, or just stop playing shows on a regular basis. After listening through the album the first time, I was extremely glad to hear they stopped doing their odd rap style eight minute song, and stuck to songs that suited them and their sound. However, like in their EP, they have one song that finishes, and then proceed to do absolutely nothing, and the band expects their audience to sit in silence for the next four minutes. This, to me is a waste of time on an album that could have been used for another amazing song. As I said in my past review, when ever a band does this, it leaves listeners hungry and waiting for something absolutely amazing, but no song ever truly stacks up to that listener's new expectations. This technique leaves a sour taste in the mouth of listeners, and leaves them a little unsatisfied with their experience as a whole. Other than that one issue, I love this album. I've caught myself singing along to many of the songs on this disc on many occasions, especially the first three songs on the album: "Little Boy", "That Sinking Feeling" and "Minas". Many songs are extremely catchy, with tight hooks, well written verses, great choruses, and complimentary pieces. The instruments all mesh amazingly, and it comes off to me as a stroke of near genius. It is not difficult to tell that everyone in this band is a talented musician, and can seemingly effortlessly work together to make an awesome album.

My rating for "All Of My Favourite Bands Are Breaking Up" by Tenant:

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8/10 stars

My hat is off today, not only to our veterans, but also, for this great band. Please continue making music, and don't turn out like all of the other bands who break up because they don't become rock stars after three months.

I am rather critical about things I do not like in an album,it only for out  I'm sure you've noticed that, however, one bad thing for me does not make an album bad, or mean that I don't really like the album other than the things I point out. I feel that without criticism, people, and artists will never learn, and never truly improve. 

If you're in a band and playing a show in the greater Vancouver area, send me a message, and I'd gladly come out and take photos of your band!!! I'll also review your album, if you'd like!!!

Sunday Sonata

Hello once again everyone! As promised, today I will giving a review of Tenant's first EP "This Just In". But first, here is a shot of their singer Jonathan!

My first impression after listening to this EP is "dang, these guys know how to write music". Every single instrument works extremely well together. It is very obvious that these gentlemen have been around together for a long time, and know how each other play. One thing that always irritates me during an album is a long break of nothing but silence during a song. It isextremely unpractical, and I am never satisfied with the song afterwards. Tenant has one song where there is over four minutes of nothing, followed by a rap-esq song that isn't good, and makes no sense with the rest of the album, or the band. The song's total length: 13:49. A waste of record space that could have been used for four different songs. If you disregard that last song on the EP, I would be close to rating this near perfect. Other than "SWEAT" this is a great effort with amazing writing, that isn't situational, therefor the music lasts. For those who don't know, "This Just In" was recorded nearly ten year ago in 2004, and it seems like it could have been recorded this year. 

My Rating for the "This Just In" EP by Tenant

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7/10