You Know You're Into Photography When

You Know You're Into Photography When:

- Your electrical outlets are full of photo/video recharging devices.

- Your coffee table is covered in books by Avedon, Lindberg and LaChapelle.

- Your mail arrives and you are more excited to see the latest issue of Picture then to get payments.

- You spend your entire summer inside on the computer rather than outside enjoying the weather.

- You use ruined CD/DVD as coasters.

- You remember dates of famous photographers while forgetting the birthdays of family and close friends.

- Your kitchen counters have been taken over by all the latest Mac gear.

- You have to ask, do you mean Aperture the program or on your camera?

- You use medium format and pro film cameras as paper weights.

- You have actually joked about the Nikon vs Canon debate.

- You save important photos on multiple drives in locations miles apart.

- You actually discuss another photographer's question about which camera you use.

- You don't mind getting into an awkward position in public to get "that shot."

- Someone hands you a point and shoot camera to take a quick photo you instinctively lift the brim of your hat and bring it to your eye only to realize it has no viewfinder.

- You see things different when shooting in B&W then in colour.

- Models tell you you pose better than they do.

- You buy an $850 iPad to use as your mobile portfolio.

- You can't help but notice how great the lighting is during a movie.

- You constantly try to accurately guess the exposure for various scenes around you.

- You step into the hot sun and think - I'm glad I'm not shooting a wedding today.

- You see a nice photo and say, I could shoot that. (But you didn't)

- You are satisfied with the camera you have rather than the latest technology.

- Finding stored rolls of film in shopping bags and old camera bags make you smile.

- Walking into a hotel lobby and trying to guess the white balance.

- You could happily spend a day at a camera store talking shop and playing with new gadgets rather than sitting by a pool in Vegas.

- Something builds inside you when someone says "great shot, what camera did you use?"

- You feel antsy after deciding not to stop to take a photo.

- You photos inspire other photographers.

- You let someone else hold your camera and joke "you drop it you bought it."

- You get nervous when someone asks to hold your camera.

- You have to resist the urge to pull the car over for a perfect shot because you're running late to an appointment.

- You look at photos around you and try to figure out the lighting.

- Your friends all want to give you their camera at social gathers for candis and group photos.

- The camera salesman is quick to let you play with the latest and most expensive gear.

- You understand the difference between bokeh and a cultural dance.

- Working with beautiful women you only notice the lighting.

- You are not embarrassed to pull out your iPhone regardless if there are others around with pro DSLRs.

- Models tell you they were asked by other photographers to take pictures of your lighting to share later.

- Other photographers ask you about your gear so they don't fall too far behind in the cold tech war.

- The new Yellow Pages arrives and you quickly look up Photographers to see who has better placement and ads than you.

- You notice how inaccurate photographers are played in movies.

- You wonder how they created such incredible bokeh in the movie.

- Someone compliments you on a tear sheet and you don't even care to check it out.

- Every magazine in your house features your work.

- Everything you look at is compared to your 18% grey card.

- You buy Gears of War 3 just to see HDR in action.

- You don't question a person spending more on their camera gear than on the car they drive.

- You can quickly and effectively teach someone exposure through ISO, aperture, and  shutter speed selections.

- You go for your passport photo and question the lighting.

- Your friend trips and hurts themselves and you are fast enough to grab a few shots before offering to help.

- You're looking to buy a house based on studio potential.

- Your studio office takes over your entire condo.

- 1G of memory lasts friends a year while 32G last you an afternoon - tops.

- You don't have to delete one shot from an afternoon of shooting.

- You can shoot, sort and get a clients images out in the same day.

- You have enough lighting stands you could hold up a house.

- You have a camera bag for ten different shooting assignments.

- You get a tear sheet and make it your Facebook avatar even though it's not a photo of you.

- You are late for a date and your significant other automatically knows you stopped to snag a few photos.

- Your studio is actually your own living quarters.

- You're in the middle of nowhere with no phone signal and you want to shorten your vacation to share photos on Instagram.

- You view a beautiful scene and quickly decide which gradient you would use.

- You're on a romantic outing and while looking into your significant other's eyes you are thinking ISO 100, F5.6 at a 60th.

- You won't buy less than a pack of 16 AA batteries at a time.

- You remember your camera bag but have to return for your car keys.

- A 2T hard-drive doesn't last you more than a couple months.

- You spend your nights watching the latest episodes of Creative Live rather than anything on TV.

- You won't get up early to make it to the gym but you'll get up a couple hours early to find that perfect morning photo.
- You are out and about and tourists automatically hand you their camera to take their group photo.

- You can't help but offer your services to couples taking individual photos of each other at landmarks.

- You wake up and can't wait to get out shooting.

This list is endless. Please feel free to add your own in the comments box below.

September 2001 - A Month to Remember

One more day.

September 11, 2001. A day we will never forget, but although I reflect on that day, my spirit takes me to another moment, connected in part to that horrific day. It's been ten years and twelve days before I walked into a moment that would stay with me till this day, and for always.

I had just purchased my first camera, the Nikon F80 from Peter at a local London Drugs.

"Back in the day", like many new photographers, I had a second job, a main job, and that for me was building homes. The summers were busy, and the opportunity to venture out with my camera alone into the mountains was something I looked forward to every fall. I would make my way to Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, you name it. I was back country driving and hiking in areas that took my breath away many times, and not only because of the beauty.

September 22, 2001, I found myself up before sunrise and in an area of the world that was reserved for those seeking a piece of heaven. I sat, fixated on waiting for the sun's early rays to reach up and kiss the tips of the mountains in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, 6,183 feet above sea level. Some may call it escaping, but for me it was an opportunity to connect, undisturbed, with the special moments and places I would discover. As they say, you can visit one place thousands of times and it's never the exact same twice.

I sat, alone, in the quiet of the morning. I looked at my watch. It was almost 6:30am. There were maybe five or six people in view from where I sat including a lone figure perhaps thirty feet away. As the light began to emerge above the mountain tops, I felt an urge to speak to this figure, obviously caught up in their own thoughts. Because I hadn't spoken yet that day, my voice cracked out a "what a beautiful morning." The figure slowly turned, likely wondering if I was speaking to them. It was a lady, in her late 40s covered in a hoodie to stay warm on the chilly rocky slope. "It's incredible here", she said, "it's like heaven on earth." 

We struck up a conversation, so with camera and tripod in hand, I made my way across some of the rocks to a place close so we could talk and share. The conversation was cordial and added  life to the surreal surroundings. "I'm a flight attendant for American Airlines" she eventually shared. "I don't know what is going to happen to my career." She shared about her experience on September 11, 2001, and her fears. Her life was filled of many incredible moments and she was working at the job of her dreams. The possibility of it coming to an abrupt end was scary for her. There were many layoffs over the next while, and although I don't know what was to become of her future, she left me with some powerful words. "Pursue your dreams and life will always be fun. Not many people are able to work at something they love. I get to travel to beautiful destinations. You will have the opportunity to photograph and remember moments in time. That's powerful." 

I am a lucky person. I "work" at what I love to do. I have been granted a gift, an opportunity, to share moments with the world. I want to say thank you to that lady that I met so much time ago that left an impression on me long before I pursued photography full time. It meant a lot then, and still means a lot now. Possibly even more.    

On this day, ten years later. Let us remember.