September, 2025 • Home in Vancouver, BC.
Well, this summer went crazy fast and tomorrow we’re officially in Autumn. I am very pleased with all the things I've done in the last couple of months both in my personal life and with my photography.
I started a monthly meetup / photo walk that’s open to everyone and of any photography skill level. The first meeting was August 8th and went really well. It was great to be outside on a beautiful sunny day with other photographers. Yesterday we had our second one and it we were surprised to enjoy a sunny day when the forecast called for cloudy skies. A great goodbye to the summer before Vancouver starts “Vancouvering” again.
My plan is to keep doing the monthly photo walks and if the weather is a problem then do it as a meeting over coffee. I'm rediscovering the social aspect of taking photos and I'm really enjoying it.
Media diet
Photography
I've finally been printing some of my photos to hang on my home office wall, and it's been a great experience. It's been tough to narrow down which photos to print to 6. Do I stick with a similar theme? Do I choose my recent favourites even if they have different styles and colour palettes? What about black-and-white photos? 🤯 As of now this is looking like the one I’m going to go with.
In my quest to shoot more "street" style photography, I checked out the “Day of the Dog" event in my neighbourhood and was able to get some shots I'm very happy with. Approaching strangers was very easy since everyone was more than happy to pose with their dogs, which were dressed in costumes or wearing funny outfits.
I also went back to make some progress on my fine art photography project. It's been on the back burner for a while, but I'm hoping I can get it off the ground before the year is out. Ideally in a month so that I can promote it and see how it’s received.
Audiobooks
I finally got hold of a copy of "The Player of Games" by Ian M. Banks, one of the giants of science fiction. Even though it was written in 1988, the ideas don't feel dated at all. The world building is incredible and expansive.
After I finished "The Player of Games," I started re-listening to one of my favourite space operas, "Pandora's Star" by Peter F. Hamilton from 2004. Another British writer who creates huge and complex worlds and storylines.
On this second listen, I'm finding new things I didn't pick up on the first time around. This is no small commitment friends. The story is divided into 2 books. "Pandora's Star" is 1,152 pages long, and the second part, "Judas Unchained," is 1,230. The audiobooks are an ear-busting 37 and 40 hours long each…and I'm all in.
Watching (highlights)
Movies
"The Amateur" - 2.5 / 5 stars
"Marvel Thunderbolts" - 3 / 5 stars
"Sinners" - 4 / 5 stars
"Superman" - 3.5 / 5 stars
"28 Years Later" - 3.5 / 5 stars
"F1" - 3.5 / 4 stars
TV
"Mr. Inbetween" - Totally underrated Australian crime drama series about a criminal for hire. It balances violence and comedy perfectly. It has a specific kind of humour, so maybe not for everyone. Loved it. Streaming on Disney+.
"Foundation" - Season 3 just ended, and it was a banger. AppleTV+ renewed it for a final season, which I think will wrap things up perfectly. The first 2 seasons were a bit slow and with a lot of exposition, but the third season ended with a big bang.
"Billy Joel: And So It Goes" - A documentary about the life and career of Billy Joel. Must watch for anyone who loves his music, especially Gen Xers who grew up listening to him. What a life he’s lived. Streaming on Crave in Canada.
