I Think Winter Wants to Make Itself Known - NOW!

Just a couple of days ago, I was outside in a tee-shirt.  Tonight?  Well, we're supposed to get 9.8" (25cm) of snow - for our FIRST snowfall of the season! ...How does that work?

Clicking the image (left) will take you to a 30 second video about this...

The Busiest Time of Year is Here... How Can I Help You??

Post Tornado Stress Syndrome - sort of...

 

This is actually a 'feel-good post' - not a 'woe is me". 

As you may have heard, our city of Barrie suffered a tornado attack in mid-June of this year (2021).  Our home was not one of the hardest hit ones (some aren't even standing anymore), but certainly became un-inhabitable.  For example, the back wall (not shown) pulled away from the flooring by up to eight inches!  ...So, off to temporary accommodations for the foreseeable future.

For once, I was glad my wife was out shopping!  If she had been home, the French doors upstairs might have slammed into her as they flew open, letting the storm inside her office!  By the way, it's an odd feeling to see shingles and branches inside the upstairs office and hallway!

For days, it seemed like nothing was happening with the place.  Roofers had only nailed a small patch over the area where you now see a large blue tarp (see image) and boarded up the windows.  ..And then - another 'stand-still'.

Time estimates for the repairs have been anywhere between six months and two years!  It's been looking more like it'd be the latter, than the former!  Then...the other day...  A neighbour texted us, "There has been a flurry of activity in your home over the past few days", which is welcome news for sure!  Thanks for the update, Bob & Julie!  Let's hope this means less time, rather than a longer time before our return.

Thankfully, the water that was dripping throughout the house hadn't touched my studio area and I managed to get all my recording equipment out safely.  I've even been able to do my voiceover work while in our temporary location.

Hopefully, if all goes as planned, I'll be rebuilding the studio in there - bigger and better next time!

"At the Double-Tones, It's Exactly..." - Or, IS IT??

When the bulk of your working life has revolved around 'split-second timing', you develop some pretty serious habits/quirks. Sometimes, it's constantly checking the current time - even while at a dinner with your spouse... Other times, it's the daily worrying that your watch is actually synced to (network) time.
As with many others who've done the same work I have over the years, I've had to constantly rely on 'split-second timing'. People would laugh at me as I'd freeze mid-stride - waiting for the exact second to sync my watch with the television network ID, or the 'double-tones' on a news station, for example. But later, they'd look in amazement as a song I was playing on a bar music system would end JUST as the TV logo signalled the start of a Leaf's game.

Well, today I decided to stream 680 News on my computer and was rather bothered because when I heard their 'double-tones' and habitually checked my Apple watch, I was already two full minutes into the new hour! HOW??? My watch is always driven by network time - ROGERS network time - as is 680 News.

My world stopped and OCD kicked in. In my head, I heard screeching tires, a submarine dive klaxon... a needle scratching across a record (a-la WKRP's Dr. Johnny Fever, just before shouting out, "Booger!")... I started twitching.... The whole mess...
Ok, so I was just folding laundry today - hardly something one needs to have such exact timing for. But it really started to bother me. How could my Apple watch be so far off? I even went to "www.time.is" and sure enough, my watch was correct. Then, how could the new station I've come to depend on, be so far out?
Then it hit me... This wasn't live radio I was listening to. I was streaming that which began as a live broadcast and then goes through who-knows-what to get on their site for us to stream... All of that process introduces some amount of digital delay - and I did have to pause the stream a couple of times...
*Whew* all is as it should be. Lambs gently floated back down from the sky to their field, trees perked up, birds chirped...and that submarine re-surfaced. I put my med's (a bottle of rye) back in the cupboard and went back to folding the laundry. I should have it all folded in another 10 minutes - or so...

2nd V.O. North - Coming Soon!

I am getting excited!  The 2nd annual V.O. North conference is getting closer and closer.  September 21st and 22nd, 2019, in Toronto.  No idea how many 'sleeps' are left, but fewer by the day, for sure!


This is where all types of pro and aspiring-pro voice talent, coaches, agents, etc., get together to share concepts, learn, practise and yes, even just 'schmooze'.  I enjoyed it so much last year, it was a no-brainer to sign up again this year (and my wife, Elizabeth insisted too.  Her support for my VO business is stellar!).

Not only do voiceover talent gain from conferences like this, but their clients do as well.  Talent learn new techniques, and improve on the old ones.  We learn about new equipment and more efficient methods of everything to do with voiceover, from recording and editing, to new ways to remotely connect with studios and clients.  We also learn what new industry standards we should be following, as well as those to watch for on the horizon.

Yup, it's an exciting time for those of us who talk to ourselves in little rooms.  ...For two days, we actually get to talk with other people - in big rooms!

It's here! My new logo is here!

Ok, so... Being that I'm in the voiceover business - and that usually means my voice (and those of others) will be heard OVER video of some sort, I figured my logo should reflect that.  What graphic could be simpler to explain/depict that message than a microphone placed over a film roll?

Yes, I know.  Film is hardly used anymore, but the image of a film roll is (a) easier for most people to recognize in a graphic than a memory chip is at a glance and (b) see reason 'a'.

I wanted to keep the whole graphic simple - cleaner - easier to use across most media, including paper.  Oh, it's likely to feel an 'adjustment' or two, but for the most part, I'm pretty happy with the new logo.  What do you think?

Proof! Voice = Brand Recognition

How important is a voice to product/service recognition?  You be the judge...

Any good marketing person will tell you your logo, packaging, colours, even your building construction can all add to successful branding.  As a voiceover talent, I know voice is another of the things that helps with branding/recognition.  This point was never so strongly made to me until just the other day.

I was sitting at my desk while a co-worker was dealing with a new technician of ours.  I’d heard his name, Bruce, mentioned a number of times.  But when I heard him speak, I slapped my hand on my desk and jumped up, exclaiming, “You’re THAT Bruce!”  You see, Bruce and I hadn’t seen each other in years.  Many years!  We knew each other very well back then, but now we’re in our middle years and each had physically changed - but our voices hadn’t.  I knew right away, this was my old friend, Bruce, from Radio Shack!

See? I even remembered what company he was with!  His voice immediately brought that to mind - and he’s not even some voiceover talent/actor, reading scripts for a service, he’s just my old friend, Bruce, from Radio Shack.

Now, put an easily recognizable/memorable voice alongside a slide show or video about your service or product and see how quickly that works for your own brand recognition!

Spam/Junk Folder - Check it Regularly!

Once in a while, something good, something real, accidentally finds its way into our junk email folders.  A great example of this happened to me just today.

A few months back, I did some telephone messages for a company in California.  I recorded, sent the files and was paid promptly.  Everybody was happy.

Today, I decided to scan my junk mail folder - and found the same production company had emailed me a month ago, asking me to do more!  I immediately replied to them, apologizing for not seeing their email sooner - and explained why (not that it helps their situation).

Only time will tell if I still have a crack at serving them.  I doubt it - a month is a long time to wait for a VO to respond.

So, although there may not be some magical happy-ending to this story (and if there is, I’ll pass it along when it happens), it certainly is a good reminder to us all (especially me), to check the spam/junk folder daily!

Waiting Works!

...Or, at least it did this time!

Almost a year and a half ago I auditioned for a small part in a movie - and today I got that part!  It's voice-only, which is fine.  That is what I auditioned for.  Actually, I auditioned for three different voice parts.  A radio announcer, captain of a plane and 'some guy'.  I thought that if I got anything, it would be the radio announcer.

Well, today I got the email saying the part of 'the guy' is mine!  Woo-HOO!  Happy?  Sure am!  This will be the first time my voice has been used for a movie - no matter how small the part.

I'm not able to say too much about the project just yet, but once I'm given the green light, I'll pass along more info...  Apparently, I'll get IMDB credit for it too...

Darnitt!  I just found ANOTHER green M&M in the bowl... Someone will pay for that! *grin*

Spring Cleaning (Including my lungs and heart!)

Well, it's been a long winter here in south/central Ontario.  Today I begin cleaning out the garage, getting ready for my semi-annual trip to Barrie's landfill site (or as I call it, "the dump").  Due to our household just getting over some kind of nasty cold/flu thing, I thought I'd wait for the day to warm up a bit before heading outside.  I decided I'd use that time wisely and do a few chores in my office and then I heard the nagging voice of our exercise bike calling me.

"Jamie - when you broke your ankle and had to sit around for six weeks, did I bother you about exercise?  Come on now - it's time... Get over here!"  So, I turned on my Apple Watch exercise app and set to it.  I'll admit it wasn't a very long ride (just over 11 minutes), but I did burn a few calories.

Whatever the cold/flu was, it defied the annual flu shot - has even hit our household for a second round (so far, I am not getting this second round *touching wood as I type*).

It has left me with a bit of a nasal sound that comes and goes and lungs that just haven't quite cleared up yet either.  So, I'm hoping that by starting to exercise today, I can clear myself up - and not just our garage.

Now to tackle that garage - after a short rest... *wink*

Thankful to Anne Penman Laser Therapy

I can't tell you the feeling I get when, not only does a client pay me - and on time, but when they praise the quality of my work.  I had one such case this past week, when I was hired by the Toronto office of Anne Penman Laser Therapy.  They wanted their telephone auto-attendant updated.  It was a straight-forward read - completed within minutes of me sitting down in my studio.

Within minutes of sending my finished work to them (on the understanding they could ask for a 2nd read at no extra cost), I was told how happy they were with it - and that I could call a certain number to check the finished work over the phone - allowing me to hear how I'll sound to their clients.

Hopefully, they will refer me to others who might want this same service performed.  ...Similarly, if you need laser therapy for weight loss, quitting smoking, stress therapy, or other.. Please Google the Toronto office of Anne Penman Laser Therapy.  Though I haven't had to use their services, the communication I've had with their office has been polite, professional, quick to respond and thankful.  I'm thankful too...  Thanks, Simon!

I'm back at voice-work again...

In 1978, I was lucky enough to land a part-time job at a radio station in Brampton, Ontario. As with many radio stations, staff announcers were often called-upon to record commercials and public service announcements.  For me this work is heaven!  I love interpreting the script, performing & editing the read and/or background and then putting the whole thing together.  Even after my broadcasting career, I wound up doing audio promotions and live announcing for various businesses - including a 17 year stint as 'the voice' of a growing restaurant chain!

Without boring you with the details, I did take a break from this type of work for a bit - and shouldn't have.

Well, thanks to a recent acquaintance of mine (Bev Standing, of www.bevstanding.ca), I got the 'bug' to try voice work again and it's coming along nicely.  I'm enjoying work from both 'pay to play' sites and from my own web site, www.jamieramage.ca (which is constantly being worked on - new demo's/samples coming SOON too!).

If you know of someone who could use a voiceover talent for an audio book, PSA, commercial, promotion, explainer, narration, telephone auto-attendant, or other, please send them on over to my site... I'll certainly appreciate it - and hopefully, be of service to them.

Thanks!

Jamie

www.jamieramage.ca

Yes, you CAN 'waste' internet!

I've had customers ask me why they need a better router... Well, a better router can make your home/office internet system work more efficiently.  Your home/office system is only as good as your weakest link!

Let's begin with a quick analogy of how stuff on the internet works...

Everything on the internet gets sent to you in little 'chunks' called, 'blocks', or 'packets', or whatever. It all comes to you just like a jigsaw puzzle, but with all of the pieces in order - and each one must be received by your device (computer/tablet/phone/TV/whatever) in order - and within milliseconds of being asked-for.

Here's how a string of these blocks might look as they are received... 1,2,333333,4,5555,6, etc...

Those blocks (#3 and #5) stuttered because your device didn't receive the individual block, as requested, in order and ON TIME.  Remember, we're talking about being received within 1,000ths of a second.  If your device didn't receive a block within an acceptable number of milliseconds, it is repeated - all the way from its original source, through the internet and to your device again - and again, until (a) you are kicked off for too many re-tries (stutters) of that same block, or (b) that block is accepted by your device within the allowed time.  This repeating block goes through your internet meter each time it's re-sent - wasting your internet and time.  Remember, unless you have an 'un-limited' package, every block counts!

It's really a lot like a car engine.  The piston and spark must 'meet' at the right time, or the gas isn't ignited efficiently and is therefore wasted.  Based on the explanation above - and this analogy, you see how easily a person can waste internet.  ...And, if enough people on a server/system are wasting internet in this fashion, the whole system gets bogged-down due to 're-tries' (much like rush-hour on a major highway... One slow car, slows us all down).  Yeah, I like my analogies...

If your router is inefficient, it can help cause more of the above-illustrated stutters.  This is why I always recommend a person get the best router they can afford.  Chances are, that router will help make the overall system more efficient.

Everyone loves a lens comparison... So, here's another one for you - just in case you haven't seen enough of them on-line lately! Our Canon 24-70 f/2.8L and 24-105 f/4L IS USM.

Both shots are taken with the same settings - I even made sure the focal length matched the best I could, though you will see some difference in framing, even though the Canon 6D was tripod-mounted and locked in place.  Both are shot at 50mm, 1/180 f/8, ISO 100.  These are not processed or cropped at all.  I merely converted the RAW images to JPG, using Lightroom.

IMG_3904 (1st image) uses our 24-105, while 3905 uses the 24-70.  I did this experiment a couple of times and in each case the 24-70 is brighter, though I don't see any obvious differences in clarity/contrast/other...

For those who are quick to say, "Duhhh.. Of course the brighter-rated lens would yield a brighter shot", to me - please note... This was just an experiment... Something to do while my computer was performing a long task... A 'time-waster', if you will...

That's all I have to say for now...

Spirit Catcher, Blade 350 QX3 and GoPro

Hi there!  Yup, it's been another 'while', since my last posting.  But then, I'm sure you're not just sitting around waiting to see what I've been up to.  In any case, here's the news...  Elizabeth got me a new quad-copter.  You'll notice how I avoided calling it a 'drone'.  The latter seems to have been stuck with such a nasty connotation, just because a few dim-wits mis-behaved with theirs.

The first quad-copter she got me (Proto-X FPV) was a great one for learning on, as I could easily use it indoors, with minimal risk of damage to either the 'copter, or our furniture.  It could easily rest in my hand.  However, the camera was sadly lacking in decent clarity, contrast and white balance.  Additionally, keeping a steady shot was almost impossible.

Then came the Blade 350 QX3!  This one allows me to slap my GoPro Hero 3+ Black on there and get some decent shots.  Although not the same smoothness as shot by those with gimbals on board, this combination does an 'ok job'.  It even returns to where it took off, without any input from me, if needed.  Great idea for panic situations.

The other day, I took it to Barrie's landmark, Spirit Catcher and did a few moves around it.  I couldn't take much time as I was on my way to work.  Anyway, here's a quick (one minute) video with the GoPro set to 1080p.  Please let me know what you think?

Thanks!

Our Web Page is Coming Along...The Booth Too!

It's been a while since we last tried authoring a web page for our photography, but recently got back into it - and are remembering just how much work goes into it!

First, I, by no means, profess to really 'know' what I'm doing with web authoring.  I just have enough of my father in me to tell myself, "Hey, if 'that guy' can build his own web page, I can sure take a stab at one for Elizabeth & I."  So here we are once again, my Scottish background attempting to both save us money and prove that I can do this task after all - without having to hire some outsider.

I'll admit, building your own web page can be a head-scratcher - but once it starts to come to life, it really gives you a sense of pride!  Our web site isn't going to win any awards, but I think it's coming along nicely.

Ramages' Photography Booth, Elmvale Flea Market, Cty Rd 92

This time last year, we made the switch from PC to iMac and I only recently got my hands on the web authoring program/app, Kompozer.  So, here I sit - all bleary-eyed and confused as I try to learn the new software.  I think the hardest part of this whole iMac bit is still the file system.  After using Microsoft file systems since about 1982, it's hard to wrap my mind around this Apple system.

I make this sound like a complaint session.  It really isn't.  See, I enjoy figuring out new software and all that jazz!  It's quite relaxing.  Maybe not for many, but it is for me.

We hope to see you at the Elmvale Flea Market this Sunday (and most Sundays this summer)!  It's just west of 'downtown' Elmvale, along County Rd #92 (or, Queen Street).

Canon AE Lock Button Confuses Me - and others...

It's been a long while since I posted anything here (I seem to post in 'waves'), so thought today I had a good enough reason to blather about something.

Today's topic is why photo's taken with and without using AE Lock, vary so widely.

This morning, I quickly shot a photo of a fruit flan.  I just needed a quick 'snap' or two to send to relatives to show our culinary experiment.  However, I decided to take one photo using the AE Lock button and another without (just let the camera use its own pre-flash to meter).  There were no other differences between the two shots (same position, lens, flash & settings - all done in manual mode, except for the flash, which was using ETTL II).

As you can see in the attached picture, there is a very large difference between the two shots (the lighter one uses the AE Lock).  Why is this?  I'll admit that both photo's used my 'Beauty Dish' as a light-modifier, but can't see how that should cause this effect.  I've even seen this difference without any light modifiers - even without using flash - but still using the AE Lock and then shooting the same scene again without it.

A fellow Canon user and I have discussed this before and both leave the conversation scratching our heads (and he does a LOT of professional shooting, so you'd think he'd have an answer for us).  It seems to just be one of those 'things that make you go "hmmm"...'

Equipment used:  Canon 6D (hand-held), Canon 580EX II (on a stand, with 12" Beauty Dish with 'shower cap' over it).  Flash and camera tied together by dedicated cable, using ETTL II.

If you have any ideas, please reply to this post - enquiring minds are dying to learn!

GoPro Battery - Springtime Fresh!

I can't believe it!  I went out with my GoPro Hero3+ and then a day or two later, threw the pants worn that day into the washing machine.  When removing the items from the washer, I noticed the GoPro battery sitting all by itself at the bottom of the machine.

Scared that I had wasted a battery through carelessness, I gently placed the battery on my desk to dry out (and crossed my fingers).  After only a few moments, curiosity got the better of me and I had to put the battery into the camera to see what my chances were.  The camera turned on - and displayed full power!  I couldn't believe my eyes!

That sure is one tough little battery!

Canon vs Sigma 70-300mm Lenses

Recently, I was shooting the moon with my Canon 70-300mm and thought my Sigma used to do a better job.  No, I'm not posting my recent moon photo's here (they're fuzzy, at best), but thought maybe I should do a comparison of the two lenses and see which does better at what.

 

Obviously, the Canon, which has image stabilization, will do better when motion is a factor.  That aside, I put my trusty 5Dmkii on a tripod in our basement, locked it into place and started shooting a cereal box - using only ambient lighting.  This was done at 300mm for both shots taken - with the same camera settings for each too.  When I downloaded the shots onto my computer, I ensured each shot had the same white balance setting, so we're really comparing apples and apples.  That's the only processing I have done on any shot here.

 

Shot with Canon 5Dmkii, Canon 70-300 f/4-5/6 IS (turned off) USM, no filters @ 300mm, f/9

 

Shot with Canon 5Dmkii, Sigma 70-300 f/4-5/6, no filters @ 300mm, f/9

 

Then, I read in an article the other day about the Canon 70-300mm lens being a bit soft at the 300mm length.  This would explain why my moon shots came out soft!  Then I got upset, thinking that although I had tried to buy a better lens than my original Sigma 70-300mm, maybe my Canon was a wasted purchase?  So, I decided to shoot an old TV remote control - but at 200mm instead of 'full-out' 300.

 

Below are the results.  Keep in mind, I have cropped all four of today's shots, trying to keep them the same.  Also, all four of today's shots were done using manual focus while checking that in 'live view' at 10x.  I thought I had the remote control 'nailed' the same way in both shots - but as you'll see, the focal point is actually shifted very slightly in them.  However, you can see that both lenses perform about the same in both shots.  The dust is about the same on both (hey, this IS the basement!).

 

Shot with Canon 5Dmkii, Sigma 70-300, no filters @ 200mm, f/9

 

Shot with Canon 5Dmkii, Canon 70-300 f/4-5/6 IS (turned off) USM, no filters @ 200mm, f/9

In short, I think both lenses are good, though was disappointed with the Canon not being so clear at 300mm.  I am hoping that maybe outdoor shots at higher aperture settings will give better results.  It should still give decent/better results than the Sigma will with moving objects and critters.

 

 

Finally took that walk at Leslie St. Spit!

All the while Elizabeth and I lived in the Beaches part of Toronto, we never took the walk along the Leslie St., Spit.  Well, last weekend I finally did it!

The girls had tickets for the Wizard of Oz and so I dropped them off at the Mirvish Theatre and headed down to the park with my camera bag.  It was anything but disappointing right off the bat.  Only a few yards (meters?) into the park, a large canine (coyote?) ran across the path - too quick to snag a photo of.  I didn't even have chance to pull the camera up, let-alone focus and shoot.  So, just to toy with me, he/she dodged around in the sticks and weeds, only to run quickly back across the path - disappearing again faster than David Copperfield  ever has!

I did manage some shots of birds (without stepping in 'anything') and even a few of a garter snake!

This reclaimed area consists of old cement, boulders, scrap metal (yes, metal), stones, bricks and blocks.  Apparently, at one time, it was Toronto's clean fill dumping ground.  Once some dirt, dust and seeds were added, they'd had all the makings for parkland which doubles as a breakwater and bird sanctuary.

Although I didn't have the time to walk all the way to the end of the peninsula, I did find a nice view of the CN Tower.  It's hard to see in the web version of this image, but there are some whackos walking around the left side of the tower...something I won't be doing.

By the way, yes, I know I referred to "the Beaches" in the plural form.  I always will *wink*.