Travel to far flung countries involves quite a bit of planning. Sometimes the best laid plans go to waste when mother nature rears its head. This was the case on a long deserved break to Costa Rica.

The first couple of days were what we imagined; a smattering of clouds and rain interspersed with sunshine. Exactly what was to be expected in the rainy season in Costa Rica. Plams were made for treks through the jungle, exploring the coastline, seeing a volcano and a side trip to Nicaragua.

Then hurricane Nate struck causing vast amounts of rain and wind. Our resort was flooded and this caused us to evacuate and move to facilities that could shelter us from the driving rain. All of our planned activities were cancelled and a form of house arrest was enforced by the weather. A solid four days of rain and we were ready to head back to the airport. We took off from Costa Rica in nice sunshine but we knew that the severe rain was going to pummel the US eastern seaboard.

In retrospect it was the worst vacation in 30 years.  I look back and think about the many good vacations over the years; so I guess 1 out 30 isn't bad. It was also a learning experience as well. I always assumed I was a savvy traveler; but there are always things to learn in life.

Here are some travel tips to prepare you for some unexpected surprises. Chances are you will not encounter Mother Natures worst conditions but a little of planning never hurts.

1. If tough conditions arise; be proactive in evacuating and also alerting the air carrier and travel provider of the conditions.
2. Frequently charge your phone in case of sudden emergencies.
3. Pack some extra plastic bags to keep valuables and medications dry.
4. Learn to laugh. Things may be tough in a bad situation; but losing control is far worse. Learn to deal with the road bumps in life.
5. Always provide your travel itinerary and detailed plans with friends and family.
6. Don't assume your airline or vacation provider will come to your rescue.
7. Keep up to date with travel advisories through the US State Dept Travel site and the Australian government travel site.

Waterlogged travel pics are in the Costa Rica gallery.

Scholars of Cambridge

The halls of academia are lined with pictures of previous students and sometimes their greatness may be immortalized in statues. As photographers increase their skill levels; the thought often turns to turning professional and earning an income from their skills. Whilst a noble goal; many photographers fail to thoroughly analyze their prospects. Peer review and objective analysis are the key drivers to doing this. Things to consider are:

1. Am I good enough. Don't rely on family and friends to review your photographic work. They will always tell you that your images are fantastic. This is not objective and what is required is a portfolio review by a photographer that has skills above yours.
2. Have you invested in photographic education. Whether it be through the halls of academia or through the plethora of on-line learning courses.
3. Do you have any business savvy or business background that will help you in running a business. Generating income from photography is 75% business and 25% photography skill. Your images may be good enough but unless you have business acumen you will not succeed. 

So far so good. You are ready to proceed in starting up your business. There are the necessary legal and regulatory requirements to address such as company registration, taxation numbers, vendor licenses, etc. The main thing that is required is to generate a business plan. There are numerous web references on how to develop a business plan. The big caveat is that males tend to over estimate their potential income and females tend to under estimate their potential income. You need to be conservative in your numbers. If the numbers don't add up you won't be putting food on the table.

As part of your business plan development you will have to decide what photographic services to provide. A lot of photographers tend to gravitate towards the wedding and portraits services. Is this a conservative choice or a foolish choice. This comes down an analysis of the local market you are in. It doesn't matter whether this is a photography business or if you are manufacturing widgets. You have to look carefully at the competitors in your local market. In business sense it means that the price of entry in an established market comes down to three factors: 1. Do you have a better product or service 2. Is your customer service better than your competition 3.  Is your price more attractive.

Looking objectively at the wedding and portrait market an aspiring photographic entrepreneur is unlikely to win in the first two categories. The third area to compete in is on the price. The danger with this is that you will not generate enough income to sustain your self. The other negative side effect is that you contribute towards the bottoming out of the photographic services market.

As a key part of your business plan development and analysis there should be serious consideration given to serving parts of the photographic services market which are non-traditional. These are often considered to be niche markets. It may take longer to develop a client base but you are likely to be sustainable in the long run. To look at potential niche markets you need to do your research as part of your business plan development. An excellent resource that showcases photography niches is the web site The Niche Notebook. Here you will find an excellent resource on photographers and their specialty niches. The web site provides a detailed breakdown of specialty photographers, the target market, link to the photographers web site and how long they have been in business.

So lets summarize this:

1. Decide what it is you want!
2. Write it down
3. Make a plan
4. Work on it every single day

Lessons from the trenches:

1. Don't quit your day job just yet.
2. Don't bet the farm on it.
3. Always have a Plan B.

  Resources to get you on your way:

• Creative Lives courses
• Business Plan Development
• Media Business Studies at Ryerson University
• Business for Photographers New York Institute of Photography

Watsonphotography.ca creates unique images of fashion, models, people, travel, nature and racing sports by Toronto photographer Peter Watson.

As one gets older you experience the passing seasons and you recollect on whether this summer was hotter or this winter has been colder. The subject of global warming is periodically in the news as weather stories or as politically derived stories on policy. One does not have to live to be 100 to experience the effects of global warming. It is closer than you think.

The wintertime is when many photographers choose to park their cameras until warmer temperatures prevail. This past weekend I got to experience both winter conditions and record temperatures. An hours drive took me to a local snowmobile racing event. The event was actually re-scheduled from December to February due to a lack of snow. The temperature at the race track was a balmy 12 degrees Celsius. It makes for unusual conditions to photograph the races. Melting water in the spectator area and flying snow from the track. In the midst of this, the race announcer made sure to tell all of the fans that sunscreen was available at the concession stands. The race announcer was quick to followup and inform the crowd that next weekends race in London was to be relocated to the Barrie race track. I had my doubts as the weather forecast predicted record high temperatures. We shall see what the outcome is; but I have to reflect on the balmy temperatures by digging out my summer t-shirts.

As our weather patterns continue to change, our daily lives may have to change with it. Weddings may be re-scheduled for early morning to avoid the mid-day heat. Snowmobiles races may be pushed to ever further northern climates. Weather photographer may become a career path for some. The motorsports racing season may have to be shifted to the more temperate part of the year. 

There are many who discount the theory of global warming. I surmise that this in part is due to a large segment of the population does not travel out of their local region and if they do it is to familiar destinations. The more you travel, the more you see examples of global warming occurring. The example that was very clear and direct to me were the retreat of the glaciers in the icefields. Comparing photographs taken in the early 1980s to recent photographs; confirms that this is no longer a theory. My only suggestion for photographers is take advantage now of the events that you enjoy because they may not be around tomorrow.

Watsonphotography.ca creates unique images of fashion, models, people, travel, nature and racing sports by Toronto photographer Peter Watson.

Sting Ray!

As we move through our daily life we see technological advances that affect our everyday lives. For the older set out there we have seen major strides in technology including the transition from LP records, compact disc, MP3 and finally to streaming music. Telecommunication has also evolved from rudimentary telephones with crank handles, to rotary dial handsets and then the modern era ushered new choices such as in Voice Over IP phones and mobile telephones.

Cameras have also evolved from the early days where chemical processes were used to develop film. Modern cameras no longer capture an image on film but capture an image via a sensor and are stored on a memory card. What hasn’t changed in over 100 years is the popularity of the snapshot camera. In the early days of photography, the Kodak brownie camera was revered by the masses for its ability to take snapshots. A large part of our early social history is preserved due to the introduction of these mass market cameras.Today technology has merged the popular snapshot camera and a mobile phone technology into a portable format that most people carry around.

Attending a sporting event, family gathering or going to a tourist destination quickly illustrates how popular mobile camera phones are and the degree to which people use them. There are more pictures taken with these devices than all other types of cameras combined.

The best part of the mobile camera phones is that the camera technology integrated on these units is very good. The image quality can be quite astonishing. Mobile camera phones may be lacking some of the bells and whistles on modern and complex but DSLRs but there is one factor that surpasses the DSLR. This is the mobile factor. Most people will carry their mobile camera phone with them everywhere. The reverse is true for the DSLR or mirrorless camera which are taken out selectively.

It is time that mobile photography gets a little bit more love and respect. To encourage more respect for mobile photography here are some resources to get your mobile photography up to a higher level.

Let’s start by looking at Apple’s newest phone, the iPhone 7 plus. The camera on this phone features:

* Optical image stabilization

* A f1.8 aperture

* Quad LED tru-tone flash

* 12 megapixel sensor

* 7 megapixel front facing camera for selfies

* Two lenses for wide angle and telephoto use

* Portrait mode to enhance background blur

* 4K, 720 p and 1080p video formats

* Slow motion and time lapse video

If Apple is not your thing, here are a couple of good alternatives in the mobile camera phone space. Google offers the Pixel at a comparable price to the iPhone and has received good reviews. Another good choice is the Huawei P9 with its dual cameras.

Apple offers you a pretty good photographic tool to create some great pictures. To learn how to use your camera and improve your mobile photographic technique; here are some good web resources.

Education Sites for Iphone Photography

http://www.apple.com/ca/iphone-7/

http://iphonephotographyschool.com/iphoneography-websites/

http://www.iphoneographycentral.com/

http://www.lifeinlofi.com/

Apple Video Introduction to iPhone 7 camera

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8mR33cp_Fk

Full tutorial on using the iPhone 7 camera

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QxSmYZ6G7Q

Web Sites for Mobile Photography Inspiration

http://www.grryo.com/

http://pixelsatanexhibition.com/

https://iphoneogenic.wordpress.com/

https://www.eyeem.com/

http://www.iphoneart.com/

Great Camera Apps for your iPhone

Camera+

Cortex Camera

Camera Manual

Filmborn

Microsoft Pix

Camera Utilities and Editors

Prisma

Photo Pills

Photogene

Photosync

Image Publishing

Instagram

Zenfolio

YouPic

Adobe Lightroom

Watsonphotography.ca creates unique images of fashion, models, people, travel, nature and racing sports by Toronto photographer Peter Watson.

Princess Once again we have one of the biggest shows to hit the Toronto convention center in 2016. Throughout the year there are a number of conventions that come to Toronto, most of them pedantic and innocuous and the majority of the population is not aware of them. Most of these are technical trade shows or conventions that cater to a specific professional audience.

The biggest shows at the convention center tend to be oriented around consumer products; like the Auto show. One of the biggest events that a lot of the population isn't aware of is the annual Fan Expo show held in Toronto. In its 1995 inaugural year only 1,500 attendees showed up. In 2015, there over 127,000 attendees. The 2016 attendance numbers will likely surpass 150,000. This is a big event with partial road closures, traffic calming and crowd control in effect. Far bigger than you think. The attendees range in age from childhood all the way up to senior citizens. Attendees are not shy in emoting their fan favorites in gaming, television, movies and anime.

The attendees at the show may arrive in their street clothes or as their favorite characters costume. To me I think you have to go All In for this event. There is no in-between. If you arrive in street clothes you are the casual fan with a passion. A simple costume reveals that you are half geek and it shows. If you go All In with an elaborate costume and embrace it, you have transcended Geekdom into being totally cool. This is why I love the event.

Here are the gallery images from the coolest of the cool.

Watsonphotography.ca creates unique images of fashion, models, people, travel, nature and racing sports by Toronto photographer Peter Watson.

This week will be a different kind of post. I have been on a photography hiatus most of the summer due to a detached retina. The medical procedures to treat this and the recovery time can be quite significant. A detached retina is a very serious condition that can lead to blindness if not treated right away. Thankfully in Canada we have a magnificent health care system and all the bills were covered. I can't imagine if I lived in another country where my medical care could be so costly that I would have to sell off all of my camera equipment an then tap into my life savings.

As you get older it is a good idea to be pro-active in managing your health. If you notice any kind of visual disturbances, blackness, floaters or partial vision get to your nearest opthalmologist or hospital right away. It could be the difference between leading a normal life and a white cane. If you would like to learn more about retinal detachments consult the information at WebMD.

In this weeks galleries we have two updates. A series of picture taken at the IMSA GT races just before my retinal detachment and some vintage motorcycle racing taken after medical treatment for my detached retina. So far so good. I can still take pictures and enjoy photography. My recovery is still on-going and time at the monitor has to be reduced. In general I am happy and will be continuing with photography. More updates to come.

Click on the gallery for more images.

IMSA GT Racing

Vintage Motor Cycle Racing

Watsonphotography.ca creates unique images of fashion, models, people, travel, nature and racing sports by Toronto photographer Peter Watson.

In the cover photo we see an old wooden boat past its prime; but certainly had its share of glory back in the day. On the bow section we see the name of the boat “Freedom 55”. People have asked me whether I photoshopped in the name of the boat. The answer is no, I did not.

It is likely that the boat was named after a dream failed to materialize. In advertising we often see a marketing term or product transcend the original intention and become a household word. There are many that come to mind; Xerox, Kleenex, Popsicle and Scotch tape.

In 2000, London Life created a subsidiary called Freedom 55. The goal was to sell financial products intended to help you retire at age 55. Thus Freedom 55 became synonymous with retirement and a household word. The boat was likely named as a pun or somebody’s broken retirement dream.

What does the naming of a boat have to do with photography? It actually has a lot to do with photography. If you are a professional photographer you must make plans for your own “Freedom 55” and succession planning for your business. If you are a serious amateur who has dreams of generating a retirement income there may be stormy waters ahead. Either scenario requires careful planning. Some people will be successful at this and some will end with a broken dream. Although in a photographic perspective, you might paint a famous moniker on your lens cap instead of a boat.

As we pass through the years and decades we experience pivotal moments in our lives. These will sometimes snap our heads back to attention and get ourselves back on the right path. These moments help us re-examine our lives; sort of like the annual year in review show on television. Recently I had one of these moments when an old friend of mine passed away at the young age of 52. It made me think long and hard and I realized that sometimes there is no “Freedom 55” and we have to live our life to the fullest as sometimes there is no tomorrow.

For photographers this means you have to carefully look at your future plans and at the same time come up with your plan B. Will I have to work longer? Can I actually generate any income in retirement? What if my health starts to fail me?

Moral of the story: Get out there and experience life! Create some meaningful images at the same time!

Watsonphotography.ca creates unique images of fashion, models, people, travel, nature and racing sports by Toronto photographer Peter Watson.

  The Maritime provinces in Canada are comprised of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. Each province can trace their heritage back to fishing but have now transcended to their own identity. 

Everything you can imagine from diverse UNESCO biosphere reserves in Fundy National Park and Gros Morne National Park to the original fishing villages that dot the shorelines in Newfoundland. In some ways not much has changed over the decades.

I spent part of my childhood in the Maritimes and have gone back for several trips since then. When you return after many years it is always interesting to see what has changed, if any. Sometimes as the saying goes "You can't always go home!"

For many travelers, it is not about going home but a chance to have a unique vacation that can be combined with some photo tourism.

Each province offers unique photographic opportunities. Let's look at some of the possibilities.

• Landscape photography in Fundy National Park
• Travel photography in Nova Scotia
• Food photography along the culinary trail in PEI
• Wildlife photography in Newfoundland

There are many other opportunities for the avid photographer. The best thing to do before booking a trip to the Maritimes is to do some initial research. These days good travel books are available from Frommers, Fodors and the Lonely Planet. In addition there are a wealth of internet sites such as Trip Advisor, National Parks of Canada and the provincial government tourism sites. Readers of popular web photography web sites can also solicit information from other members.

Let's start out with some basic photo and travel advice to get you on your way.

• Electricity is your standard 110 North American usage

• Wireless data coverage is good to very good depending on how far off the beaten path you go. Expect 3G, 4G and LTE service in all of the provinces. Going off the beaten path you may encounter No Service or dead spots. This will happen when you are many kilometers from major towns and cities and this is most noticeable in Newfoundland.

• Always check your Trip Advisor ratings for accommodations and restaurants. Experience has shown that if a lot of locals provide the ratings then the ratings will be skewed. Look more carefully at the ratings provided by out of town travelers instead of the locals.

• Don't underestimate or overestimate driving times on your vacation. Your driving time may vary due to weather conditions, local traffic, road conditions, time of day, wildlife and the province you are travelling in. Tongue in cheek of course, everything in PEI is a 45 minute drive and in Newfoundland 4 hours between popular destinations is common.

• Bump up your budget for driving expenses in the Maritimes. Fuel costs tend to be higher and in addition you may have to pay for increased costs for one way car rentals and trips by ferry.

• From a humorous perspective it will take a full week to adapt to the Newfoundlander accent. Actually this is the same whether you travel to the southern U.S. or Australia. It takes a while, so be patient.

• Take some basic precautions to protect your camera equipment from the sand and sea air.

So after two weeks there were some favorite food spots and photo locales from the trip. These are highly recommended.

Culinary Trail

1. The Inn at Bay Fortune --> The Feast
2. Doyle & Son Lobster Pool
3. Alma Lobster Shop

Photo Experiences

1. Gros Morne National Park (Bonne Bay Boat Tour)
2. Iceberg Tour (St. Anthony and Twillingate)
3. Hope Well Rocks

For a complete look at the images click here Maritime Gallery

Watsonphotography.ca creates unique images of fashion, models, people, travel, nature and racing sports by Toronto photographer Peter Watson.