Take The Leap Designs

Week 12: The Colours Of Spring

Kevin Gamble — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 21:07:35 +0000

With spring here, I thought I’d stroll around the garden/yard and capture some of the plants in bloom. I almost included a few pictures of the dandelions that infect my grass, but decided against it. I tell ya, if dandelions were a cash-crop, I’d be rich.

The Purple Sandcherry in our front yard. I love watching this bloom every spring.

A Bleeding Hearts plant, along the edge of our pool.

What would a collection of spring images be without the standard tulip shot?

Week 11: Brielle Bowen Newborn Shoot

Kevin Gamble — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 03:56:37 +0000

Meet Brielle Bowen, the 8 day-old girl that was so excited to meet her family, that she arrived three weeks early. The daughter of my wife’s cousins, Brielle initially had zero interest in having her picture taken: she was wide awake for a couple of hours after I arrived. But, after she had her second feeding, she was happy to fall asleep and let me take some pictures.

The pink wrap that is seen in some of the shots, as well as the beanbag that Brielle is lying on in a few of the shots, were borrowed from an amazing photographer friend of mine, Aleah. Her fantastic photos can be found at Aleah Nicole Photography.

As always, comments are always welcome. You can drop them below the pictures.

Brielle, 8 days newborn, with her mommy and daddy’s wedding rings on her big toe.

My wife (who is eight months pregnant herself) found the headband the day before this shoot at a swap meet. For those coming from Facebook, I had posted this image straight-out-of-camera onto my Facebook Page. The above is edited a little more than the original Facebook post.

Newly-minted daddy, Chad, holding his newborn daughter, Brielle.

With some help from Mommy and Aunt Stacey, we got Brielle’s feet to pose in a little “V” for this shot. Look at those little toes!

Brie’s nursery is done with love in a Peter Rabbt décor. I had to include a pose with her and what I’m sure is going to be her favourite stuffed animal.

There is definitely a hint of a smile on her face.

And now Brie is just hangin’ out.

She looks so cozy in the wrap borrowed from Aleah Nicole Photography.

Daddy getting in a kiss while his newborn daughter sleeps.

Week 10: Shannon & Krysta Maternity Shoot

Kevin Gamble — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 23:44:44 +0000

As a part of this 52 Week Project, I am trying to create a solid portfolio. Hopefully, my work gets good enough that I perhaps get paid for sessions like this, but since I’m still coming along, Shannon and Krysta agreed to be a part of my experiment at no cost to them.

Shooting Shannon, Billy and Hayden was a blast. They are such a great family and getting some good shots of them was easy. Even when Krysta and Shannon ventured out to get pictures of the two of them while they are both pregnant, the shots came easily. They are such great friends that they were laughing and relaxed in no time.

As always, comments go below. Especially if you have ideas for my next Maternity Shoot.

Mommy (Shannon) and Daddy’s (Bill) hands, in the shape of a heart, on her very pregnant belly.

The mommy and daddy-to-be share a loving and laughing embrace.

Their first son, Hayden, trying to listen to Mommy’s tummy for his baby brother.

Daddy trying to pass some love through the womb.

Shannon, looking gorgeous in black and white.

Hayden and Mommy.

Shannon and Billy have settled on the name “Tyler” for their new son. The Scrabble letters have nothing on the back of them; they stuck to Shannon all on their own.

I saw a group of wild flowers growing just beyond their property, and much to shagrin of Shannon – in the form of groans and grunts – I made her have a seat in them and snapped this shot.

The progression of baby names that they went through, written in chalk on a tennis court beside their house.

Joined by her friend Krysta (left), the two of them show off the names they have chosen for their daughter and son.

Since no one brought bows for them to use, they improvised, drawing chalk bows on each other’s shirts.

Week 8/9: Sports Photography and North Carolina

Kevin Gamble — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 02:23:03 +0000

This past week, my wife and I traveled to North Carolina to watch rounds two and three of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship; aka. “March Madness”. Along the way to Greensboro, we stopped in Pittsburgh so she could see her Ohio State Buckeyes.

The idea behind these images was to try and capture sports photography: fast-action, high-paced and difficult to get a good shot. The numerous ones below are some of my favourite shots of the week, including a visit to Chapel Hill.

Got comments about the photos? Comments about the Lehigh mascot/the shirt I’m wearing? Drop them below.

Gonzaga coach Mark Few looks on as his Bulldogs take on the West Viginia Mountaineers, March 15, in Pittsburgh. West Virginia coach Bob Huggins can be seen in the background.

Gonzaga center and North Vancouver-born Robert Sacre fights for a rebound with an unseen West Viginia Mountaineer, March 15, Pittsburgh.

West Virginia Mountaineer point guard, Jabarie Hinds (4) is guarded by David Stockton (11) of the Gonzaga Bulldogs, March 15, Pittsburgh. David Stockton is the son of famous NBA point guard, John Stockton.

Kevin Jones (5) shoots free-throws while his teammates and opponents looks on. West Virginia lost the game to Gonzaga, 77-54, in Pittsburgh.

Darryl Bryant (25) of the West Virginia Mountaineers passes to his teammate Kevin Jones (5), while Gonzaga forward Guy Landry Edi (10) guards him.

The Gonzaga Pep band, during a free-throw by one of the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Pep bands usually have a distinct cheer for free-throws; this one was Gonzaga’s.

The Ohio State Buckeye pre-game routine. In this image from Pittsburgh, an unknown Buckeye dances in the middle of the circle.

Big Ten Conference Player of the year, Jared Sullinger, shoots free-throws for his Ohio State Buckeyes, March 15, Pittsburgh.

The Loyola (MD) Greyhound mascot, who looks like he is on some sort of illegal substance; March 15, Pittsburgh.

The Ohio State Buckeyes mascot, Brutus, is held up at center court by Buckeye cheerleaders; March 15, Pittsburgh.

The Creighton Bluejays’ cheerleaders in their overall uniforms. Worst. Uniform. Ever. Taken in Greensboro, March 16.

Creighton’s Grant Gibbs (10) guards Alabama’s Levi Randolph (20); Greensboro, March 16.

North Carolina Tar Heels guard Kendall Marshall surveys the offensive end, during second round action in Greensboro, March 16.

North Carolina Tar Heels guard Stilman White makes an pass to the interior of the offense; March 16, Greensboro.

Harrison Barnes (40) shoots free-throws for North Carolina, while teammate Reggie Bullock looks on during second round action in Greensboro, March 16.

Flowers bloom on the campus of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

North Carolina Basketball banners hang from the light stands outside the Dean Smith Center, known locally as the “Dean Dome”.

An example of the Southern-style architecture that dominates the UNC Chapel Hill campus grounds.

The Old Well on the grounds of UNC Chapel Hill, modeled after the Temple of Love in the Palace of Versailles. The Old Well is such a recognized symbol of UNC that the university logo uses a stylized image of it.

Kendall Marshall (5) surveys the offensive zone as Tyler Zellar (44) and Creighton players look on during third round action in Greensboro, March 18.

Harrison Barnes (40) drives to the net during third round action in Greensboro, March 18.

While visiting Chapel Hill the day after #15 seed Lehigh University knocked off #2 Duke, we discovered a shop that was selling these shirts for $20. Taking a picture with the Lehigh mascot while wearing it, that was a given.

Two days after #15 seed Lehigh University knocked off #2 Duke, a couple of UNC and NC State fans seem to have lost a friend of theirs.

A Lehigh fan celebrates two days after knocking off Duke, during third round action in Greensboro, March 18.

Week 7 – Maternity

Kevin Gamble — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 22:41:57 +0000

Meet Aleah. A friend and co-worker, Aleah is ten weeks pregnant with their third child together, a great photographer and she hates her picture being taken (I’m aware of the irony).

For what is set to be a recurring maternity theme throughout the year (see: Week 2), this past week I started Aleah’s maternity shoot. I decided – against her “I hate my photo being taken” wishes – that we were going to do a progression shoot.

This past week represents the first of a couple frames, in which we will show her progression from 10 weeks to 40 weeks.

As always, any and all comments are welcome, just drop ‘em below the photos.

Meet Aleah.

Aleah, in a moment of smiles. I must have said something hilarious.

Aleah’s 10-week silhouette, which will serve as the basis for our progression shoot.

Aleah’s 10-week silhouette again, with the lighting pushed further back against the backdrop. We’ll see which one I use in the end; likely I’ll create both sets.

Week 6 – Tim Horton’s

Kevin Gamble — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 02:05:20 +0000

Every year, Tim Horton’s comes out with “Roll Up The Rim”. And every year, like a ~~dumbass~~ good Canadian, I buy more coffees in a month than I should. I swear, I’m wired on caffeine for the entirety of their promotion.

And every time I see that “Please Play Again” under the rim, I curse myself for thinking I would actually win. So, I ask: why can’t Tim Horton’s just come out and say what we’re all really thinking?

So, for this week’s project, I have some new product suggestions for Tim Horton’s. I hope you enjoy.

Got more ideas? Drop ‘em in the comments.

What I think Tim Horton’s should just come out and say for their Rrroll Up The Rim contest. We’re all thinking it.

Week 4 (Macro) and Week 5 (Bokeh)

Kevin Gamble — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 02:10:23 +0000

A little late getting these up, but for Week 4, I tried to do some macro shots of the bouquet my wife had at our wedding. I shot it with my kits lens (18-55mm), at 55mm, to get some depth of field into the image.

For this week (Week 5), I bought a new 50mm f/1.8D lens. I found a cool do-it-yourself bokeh project that turns background bokehs into the shapes you cut out. Originally found on Lifehacker, I followed the source instructions and created a heart shape for the front of my lens. Since my wife is 6 months pregnant, doing a heart shape on her baby belly with some bokeh hearts in the background seemed like a cool idea.

As always, drop your comments below.

Week 4: Shooting a macro of my wife’s wedding bouquet.

Week 5: A DIY bokeh shape kit helped me create the hearts in the background. In the foreground is our baby-to-be; my wife is six months along.

How The Canadian Internet Is About To Change

Kevin Gamble — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:57:46 +0000

The internet in Canada is about to change: how we access it, who see whats we do online and how much we pay for it. All thanks to three bills in various stages of development: C-11, ACTA and C-30. Since I tend not to stand idly by on issues, I made an infographic on the three bills. I release this infographic under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

What are your thoughts on these bills? Sound off in the comments below.

Update, Feb 23: After some feedback by Professor Michael Geist, I have updated the infographic to clear up some unintended misconceptions that had been portrayed.

How to Help:
http://bit.ly/y0ZYaq
http://bit.ly/x6Mr1e
http://bit.ly/zWJWfW

Week 3, Night Photography

Kevin Gamble — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:46:29 +0000

For my third week of the 52 Week Project, I decided to jump into night photography.

Armed with my D90, my kit lens (18-55mm/3.5) and a friend’s borrowed tripod, I drove off to the West Mountain. I will likely try night photography again in the future, but I wanted to give it at go near the beginning of this project.

As always, sound off in the comments, especially if you have any tips for night-time photography. Or, if you have a suggestion for a future weekly theme!

Hamilton, Ontario, as viewed from the top of Highway 403. To the left is McMaster University; to the right, downtown Hamilton; in the air, planes leaving Toronto’s Pearson Airport; in the foreground, Highway 403.

Orion the Hunter over an abandoned sanatorium on the west mountain of Hamilton, Ontario.

An abandoned sanatorium in Hamilton, Ontario. I found the site at night, had to shoot it and am excited to go back in the day and shoot some of the derelict interior.

One of the newer buildings on the Mohawk Campus, the front-facing window features all the colors of the spectrum.

Week 2: A 52 Week Photography Project

Kevin Gamble — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:39:36 +0000

As described last week, this is my 52 Week Project. Welcome to Week 2.

This week’s theme is our nursery. My wife, Jamie, is 5 months pregnant. We are expecting our first child sometime around June 14, 2012 and with your first, comes the task of creating a nursery for your little bundle of joy. We decided a long time ago that we were going to follow a Winnie The Pooh theme, complete with four large murals around the room. The problem was that what is currently the “guest room” is deep red. So, there is some work to be done.

Not one to miss a chance for something crazy, I bought a timer for my Nikon D90, borrowed a friend’s tripod, charged the batteries and set an interval timer of 0:20. The end-goal is to create a stop-motion video of the nursery experience, from start to finish.

Below you will find my photo of the week – a shot of our little Winnie bear – as well as a preview of the stop-motion video that will be completed when our little Gamble is born.

As always, sound off in the comments.

As we began the nursery this week in a “Winnie The Pooh” theme, what better shot for this week than a close-up of our beloved Winnie.

As we create our nursery, I have setup my D90 on a 0:20 timer, snapping snots from around the room, red start to Winnie finish. While the video won’t be completed until June, I had to share the preview above.