Some of you may know that one of the reasons I like to post photos on my blog is for my mother to view. She is here visiting us this week and was enjoying her morning coffee with me when I noticed these river otters swimming up the river. I had Sandy's Panasonic FZ18 near by because I had just seen a coyote. It is nice to be able to share this experience in person. I am also looking forward to using a Panasonic GH1 with HD video when they arrive. I haven't used video before but at times like this it would be nice. The otters were in and out of the water and were having so much fun a 30 sec. clip would have been a nice capture. Bill

I received my first Pentax 60-250 SDM this week. You know that myself and the rest of the world have been waiting a long time for this lens. My time has been limited and the weather has not been good so I don't have much to show. Here are two of my first photos, I thought they went well together. Bill

I am still waiting for the Pentax 60-250 SDM to arrive. These three photos were taken with the Sigma 70-200 2.8. With the river coming up and Spring having arrived we see more activity on the river these days. Bill

I am still waiting for the new Pentax 60-250 to arrive so I have been taking home the Sigma 70-200 2.8 to practice with. I plan on comparing these two lenses. Here are two photos that I have taken in the last few days. Our cat Oliver makes several trips to the river each day. It has been a few years since he last went for a swim. But we worry about him just the same. Bill

Have I ever mentioned how much fun I have selling cameras, this last six months has changed our sales considerably. Our out of town customers have increased as more and more consumers are not able to find the products and possibly more importantly the service close to home. As a sales person I enjoy meeting and helping new customers and after awhile in a small community like Grand Forks that experience becomes limited. I have locally 10,000 potential customers and in the last 20 years I have sold most of them one or two cameras. By discovering that I can help people with their cameras easily anywhere in North America has added to our business. For me personally, learning that I can build a relationship with a customer and help them even if we never meet face to face has been rewarding. Some may call this on-line sales but for me I prefer, out of town sales, it really is not much different opening the door or opening an email. Thanks Bill Wilby www.contactphotoarts.com
P.S. the photo today taken with my G1 and 45-200 I just sold my G1 demo and now like many people I am looking forward the receiving the new Panasonic GH1

Here is a quick photo taken this morning of one of our beaver friends. The photo is taken with my Panasonic G1 and the 45-200 lens. I was using my mono pod and turned the lens stabilization off. I am not sure which would be better but there was not much light. The shutter was 1/20th and the photo is not perfect but how many times do you see a beaver from your bedroom balcony? Maybe he will be by for his breakfast tomorrow and I can try again. Bill

Here is a fun photo I took this morning with my Panasonic G1 and a 45-200 lens. Can you count the number of deer? It has been a busy month with me shipping two lens G1 kits to customers all over the U.S. I find it very convenient being located so close to the border. On Monday when our store is closed Sandy and I walked across the border to the U.S. post office in Danville to mail an order. Business and pleasure, who could ask for more. Bill

Spring is in the air, a least that is what our cats are telling us. Here is a quick photo from the deck taken with my Panasonic G1 and the 45-200 lens. This is the same view our cats have when sitting on their couch and looking out the window. Bill

Today is a big day for Pentax fans. I have placed my first order of the new 60-250 SDM lens. I was beginning to think this day would never come and I am sure I am not alone with this one. As usually I expect to be one of the first to receive this new lens. Here is a link to Pentax's site with info.
I have a Sigma 70-200 2.8 in stock to compare it to and will post results. Also a reminder I ship to the U.S. though a U.S. post office located near by. Our web site www.contactphotoarts.com
Oh and the price 1799.00 Canadian or about 1400.00 U.S. Bill

Here are two photos taken yesterday with the Panasonic G1 and the 45-200 lens. Photos of the neighbours are always fun. I took these photos while thinking of our recent road trip in France. We drove by many "watch for deer" road signs while driving in France, more than I have seen in any other country. We never saw a deer. We were told they "hide during the day and come out at night" I am not so sure about that. One photo taken with the lens at 45 and one at 200, F6.3 with no cropping. Bill

This is the first of my travel photos. When I first looked at them this was the one that called out to me. This photo expresses for me the feeling of our short vacation to France and our visit with our daughter Ann who is living there and working as a au pair. These are the three girls and their Mother who she is living with. Sharing times like this was for me a high light of the trip. This photo was captured with the Panasonic G1 and the live view using the large flip screen held at waist level. There is movement in the photo because I was running backward while taking the photo. This is also an example of how versatile this little camera is and why I think it is a great travel camera. Because of its small size and quick handling it was not often in my camera bag but rather around my neck and ready to take a photo. Au Revoir Bill

Just a quick post from France with a photo from my Panasonic G1. Carnac has more than 3000 of these standing rock, challenge and a delight to photograph. Bill

This may be the last Christmas tree in the river post. We are gone tomorrow and will likely miss the melt. I took this photo this morning just as the sun was coming up. It was -10c so there is not to much melt. The camera, Sandie's Panasonic FZ18 which we will take with us. Au Revoir Bill

After finding this photo when checking my cameras I am now starting to get a little excited. I love to fly and as well finding this photo in my camera is a reminder for me to have my camera ready. I took this photo of Mount Baker moments after take off from Abbotsford on a flight to Montreal in September. Sandy and I are flying to France on Wednesday to visit with our daughter Ann. It is now time to pack the bags and try and decide what to take. So far I am planing to take this camera, my Sigma Dp1 and a Panasonic G1 with an extra lens. Bill

Christmas tree update, not much has changed, the weather has been cold and there is more ice. The tree is not going anywhere soon but we are. This time next week we will be on our way to France. I hear it is snowing there too. As you can see Bob is still in the picture, both of us are looking forward to better light. The camera is the Panasonic G1 which I am practising with for our up coming trip. Bill

It is still cold, -20c this morning but that did not stop Bob the beaver from taking his morning swim. If you are a past reader of my blog you will know I have a beaver friend who I have named Bob. Last Fall he was a very busy beaver by increasing my view. I know he has had help as I have seen two beavers at one time. He surprised me this morning but I did have a Panasonic G1 and a Leica 14-150 lens with me as I was enjoying my breakfast. If you look back far enough in my blog you will see he has posed with a Christmas tree before. Bill

Here is a photo of our Christmas tree where we found it near the top of the hill. Our daughter Ann, who was home for Christmas from France, felt that being Canadian should mean we go and catch our own tree and not pick one up at the corner store. So we set off with our new snow tires and found ourselves on the top of Hardy Mountain looking for our tree. As you can see a tree covered in snow in the wild can appear different. Not everyone thought we made the best choice but we will do better next year. We sighted just the perfect tree on the way home. Bill

Christmas tree update. I don't think the tree is going anywhere soon as the temperature dropped too -20c this morning. looks like a neighbour has been nibbling on the branches. There is a story that goes with this years tree. The tree really belongs on top of the hill that you see in the back ground. I will tell the rest of the story in my next post. This photo was taken with our trusty Panasonic Fz18. Stay tuned Bill

It is that time of the year again when I get to plant the Christmas tree on the ice. I thought I was late this year but checking back in the blog to January 28th 2008 I found that I am earlier than last year. It wasn't long before the neighbours decided to check it out. I know it has been a long time for me between posts. I hope to change that with longer day light and more photo opportunities. We are also planning a trip to France next month so we will be field testing cameras including the Panasonic G1 that I used to take these photos. The close up is with the Panasonic 45-200 lens the wide photo with the 14-45. Check back for more, it is cold here so I don't think the tree is going anywhere soon. Bill

This is some thing I have wanted to try for a long time, a panorama photo of the view from our deck. Today with the river frozen and the long shadows it was and ideal time to try. I took 4 photos vertical with my Sigma Dp1 and stitched them together in a program called Autostitch. It was very easy to do and I will do more as the ice melts. Click on the photo to see it larger. The mark out on the ice is a hole I cut for the wildlife. And just a reminder the Sigma Dp1 is now priced at 650.00 Canadian. www.contactphotoarts.com Bill Wilby