Hello everybody,

I’m in the process of trying to link up my blog from my website (www.coolcatphotography.com) to my Cecile Gambin Photography page (Facebook). So please bear with me as I send out test messages.

On the photographic side of things this past weekend I showed my Georgian Bay photographs at the Ojibway Club (3rd time showing here) and I was happy with my success having half of my work!! Looks like people received my new ‘style’ well. But more on that later. Let me get back to work tyring to make this importing blog entries into FB smooth and seamless!

Log onto http://www.flickr.com/photos/cecilegambin/ to view pictures of both the full and half marathon. They are pretty much in order from start to finish for both the full and half marathon. I also reworked a few and went artsy fartsy on them (you can find those at the end of the file).

All my prints are available for purchase (please excuse the big bright watermark – this is currently my bread and butter and some people decide to lift them without permission and that’s just not cool!) Please email me either through this website or through Flickr with your plate number (or file number) should you wish to purchase. Purchased pictures will be high resolution, corrected for colour, exposure  and professionally printed on high glossy paper.

I had a blast taking pictures at this event!! I’m definetely coming back next year as I have so many more cool places to shoot from. I love how the trails allowed my artistic side  to prevail. In addition to pleasing my artistic side my goal was also to make you look good!! I hope you enjoy the pictures. Please contact me through this website or through Flickr should you wish to purchase or have any question.

Price List (payment can be made via PayPal using my email which I will give you when you contact me):

Thank you,

Cecile

PS It was great meeting you before and after the race. Kudos on a job well done in that heat!!!

I’m hoping to find some more beautiful pictures of ‘Les belles Pyrenees’. I’m also hoping to be able to get out for lots of road rides and hikes. I know I’ll need it as I just LOVE all the yummy cheeses and full fat yogurt! And my husband won’t be here to tell me to stop eating (not that he does)!!

For those who don’t know these mountains are special to me as it’s where 90% of my relatives live, as well as my parents. They separate France from Spain and they are incredibly beautiful. A perfect day is hiking up to a peak, having a ‘casse-croute’ of French bread, saucisson, cheese and water. I’m hoping to see some snow this year as last year it had all melted (September visit). I’m also really hoping to be able to go up ‘La Mongie’ which is an HC climb in the Tour de France. Well see if my fitness allows me to. I’ve been working hard at it but it’s hard getting out for rides with 2 wee ones. So maybe I’ll cheat and start from the bottom of the hill instead of my parents which would be a 120+ km ride. Maybe in a few years I’ll be able to tackle that ride again.

I’ll be posting regular updates on my Facebook Page. Do a search under Cecile Gambin Photography to find me. I’m sure there’s a way to link the page into this blog but for now I really should finish packing. We have to leave extra early because Air Canada is on strike, and Air France is also on strike (maintenance workers). Yay.

Went to the Toronto Zoo this past Sunday and in between the rain, snowstorms, hail and wind I came across this really cute polar bear!!! I think though the Arctic Wolves in the pen across from him are a bad influence! What do you think?

I had one lens with me that day. I call her ‘Big Bertha’. This is my biggest lens (80-400mm, f4.5) and I LOVE shooting with it (but secretely I would REALLY love the faster version). Anyways, I realised after my first few pictures that I really should pick up a mono-pod or start carrying my tripod with me. It was hard holding this lens full on 400 mm wide open with the wind. I found myself bracing on fences, rocks and whatever else I could to stabilise it. VR was on too!And it’s not like I didn’t have the room as I had the double ‘Chariot’ with Luc sleeping quietly inside. I could have easily put the tripod in beside him 🙂

For the most part I shot with ISO anywhere between 250-640 but had to really bump it up inside the Gorilla Pavillon. And that’s where the D90 with the 400 mm with ISO bumped up to 2000 doesn’t do too well. Very grainy. But what did I expect? At least I got a few good shots outside so I was happy with my day.

Cecile

A new take on my recent photoshoot with my rocker husband. Put a cool blue tint as I felt it gave a good mood to the picture. My favourite part of the picture though is the ‘invisible’ leading line of guitar neck followed by the two pegs on the right hand side. That is, you can’t see the neck as it’s black against a black background but your brain knows it’s there and tells you so.

I’ve been trying to put my softbox up for more practice shooting but the dirty laundry keeps piling up and has been taking up a lot of my time lately. Laundry over Photography. Sad isnt it!

I love my husband. He’s the best!! The best rocker, the best (photography) assistant, the best Guitar Hero model and my best friend  🙂

Playing around with my new softbox tonight. Used a black backdrop (a black duvet cover actually), two SB-800’s, one softbox, one snoot and one guitar! Had lots of fun and there’s soooo much too learn. The creativity using flash is endless. So I really hope my lovely husband will not tire of me taking pictures of him some more. Maybe next time on a bike.