March 2019 - Paterson Photography Ltd.

Camera Cards

February 18, 2019March 27, 2019 by Mike

Camera Cards – Are they archival?

Another thing that I am asked by a lot of people is “How archival are digital camera cards”? People wonder if they should fill up a camera card then store it and buy a new one. I was not sure so I contacted Sandisk and asked this question and the response is below.

Question:

How archival are your digital camera cards?

Answer:

Hello Mike, Thank you for contacting SanDisk Technical Support. It is our goal to make sure you have all the resources you need to get the most from your product. Let me assist you with your concern. The files/pictures can retain on the card for 10 years, without using the card again, meaning just for storing the card. If you are continuously using the card, like adding more and more pictures (when taking using the camera), please understand that there is no guarantee that those pictures will never going to be corrupted. Data corruptions on the card can happen any time on all storage device, (Cards, Flash drives, MP3 player, and including the Hard Disk drive). Should you have further concerns, please do not hesitate to reply to this message. Best regards, SanDisk Technical Support

So I would say that it is still the best practice to get the images off the cards. Shot, download then back-up and reformat the card. If you do want to keep the image on the cards I would still download and back-up. Then store the cards in a safe place like a safety deposit box or at a friends house.

Camera Cards Archival?

The biggest issue with digital media, unlike film, is that it does not fade. It just corrupts! So if you take a card out in ten years and it is damaged that is it.

Be Safe…. PRINT!

I still say that the best way in addition to backing up your images is to print them. When they are printed you are not relying on technology to keep your images viable. I scan more prints than I do negatives or slides as people can find their prints. It is not perfect but it is better to have something to look back on even if it is fading a little.

Printing services

Spring 2019 Lethbridge River Bottom

March 23, 2019March 22, 2019 by Mike

Spring 2019

Thought it would be fun to see what birds had returned to the river bottom now that spring 2019 is here. While it may say spring on the calendar the birds never got the message. There were a few of the regulars but not a lot of new comers. After it being so cold for so long I understand why there is not a hug influx of returning birds. If I was them I would be waiting down south till I knew that the warm weather was here to stay. I did see a couple Robins, a few Starlings and a Franklin Gull but that was it.

Fort MacLeod

March 12, 2019March 20, 2019 by Mike

Fort MacLeod – Lots of photo opportunities

If you are like me you have driven through Fort MacLeod a number of times. Going or coming to Lethbridge from the Crowsnest Pass or Calgary it is a part of the drive. This post is from a few years back and as I was cleaning up the blog I could not resist to publish this one before summer arrives! Something to add to your summer adventures!

The Empress

Empress Fort MacLeod — Inside the Empress

For many years the only reason we would stop in Fort MacLeod was for the ice cream shop next to the fort. During the summer a stop at the ice cream shop was a treat for the kids as we were heading home from a trip. Of course Dad did not mind the stop either. But a couple years ago I had a chance to do some photography of the Fort and the Empress Theater. I have to say the assignment opened my eyes to the photo opportunities around Fort MacLeod. It is worth the drive, or a stop, when passing through.

Tour the Empress theater opened my eyes to some of the history of the area. It is a great tour to take! The theater really is a part of the past and it is so well preserved. As part of the shoot I had the chance to wander around the place with a guide then on my own and it was amazing to see everything!!

The fort at Fort MacLeod

The Fort also has a lot of amazing displays. The museum relives the settlement of southern Alberta. A huge highlight of the stop is the Musical ride. It is a treat taking you back in time to when the Fort was a major player in southern Alberta and western Canada. Add to all this the fact that the Fort has a number of photo opportunities and a stop in Fort MacLeod is going to get you some fantastic photos.

Mud Flaps – White Turtle III

March 17, 2019March 17, 2019 by Mike

Mud Flaps

Back in December I ordered a set of mud flaps for the White Turtle III. It was actually the van’s Christmas present. They arrived a week into the cold snap that we had and I was not going to try installing them at -30 or -50. So today all the ice and snow melted in the driveway and it was warm enough to install.

Sigma 150-600 Update 2019.03.14

March 17, 2019March 16, 2019 by Mike

Sigma 150-600 Update 2019.03.14

Sigma came out with another firmware update on March 14, 2019 for a number of their lenses. If you have a Sigma lens that uses the Sigma dock for updating the firmware, and your lens is on the update list, you should consider doing the update. The lens that caught my eye on the list was the 150-600. This is my favorite lens for wildlife and even some scenic images.

Sigma Firmware update here

Yesterday I had the chance to install the update and then do some testing around Lethbridge. Today a trip to Waterton Lakes National Park to use the lens again and do more testing.

Initial Test Results

House Hunting

March 16, 2019March 14, 2019 by Mike

Spring is around the corner and house hunting season is upon us. I always know when spring is arriving when the screams start early in the morning and go till sunset. No it is not only my wife screaming at the predators eating her song birds. But the hawks coming back to stake out nesting sites. The screams start as soon as they arrive in the neighborhood and go till the eggs have been laid. Then once the young hatch the get back to screaming till the young are out of the nest.