Client: Empire Communities
Cinematic video tour coming soon

A series of seven video tours created for John Boddy Homes in Ajax, ON which take viewers through their current project, "Eagle Woods". Check out three of the videos below. See more at http://johnboddyhomes.com/

With over a million dollars spent in decor alone, the 55th floor penthouse suite at Trump Residences Toronto® is truly a remarkable sight to see. 

The residence boasts an incredible 4300 sq. ft. in living space. The great room is a staggering 37' x 37'--much larger than the majority of rooms found in any detached home. This condo really has it all, along with unmatched panoramic views of the entire downtown core and greater Toronto area.

Photographing and filming this space was a great privilege, check out some of my work below.

Client: Trump Toronto

This work also appeared in Tower Trip Magazine

Client: Montana Labelle

Client: Empire Communities

Client: Empire Communities

If you're like me, you've been searching the web looking for answers to this question.

Apparently there is a new firmware update available for the Phantom 2 "Smart" battery which will allow the battery to automatically begin a discharging process after 10 days without use. (FYI, the battery takes roughly 2 days to automatically discharge this way, and will discharge itself to about 50% power. Also any time the battery button is pressed, the 10 day countdown refreshes again.).

However, that being said, some people have said that DJI recalled this firmware update, so personally speaking I don't trust this as a viable solution.

So, what to do? As with all things DJI, since their customer service is so brutal all you can really do is scour the internet and be your own source of tech support. I discovered this helpful post in one of the forums. See answer below:

That being said, I've read on some forums that discharging the battery below 50% is not necessary and could cause damage to the battery. Also, given that the new firmware update automatically discharges a battery to ~50%, we can only assume that ~50% must be the proper discharge level.

As per the DJI Wiki Correct Battery Usage Notes:

1. Never plug or unplug the battery into the aircraft when it is powered on.
2. The battery should be charged in an environment that is between 0℃ to 40℃, and be discharged in an environment that is between -20℃ to 50℃. Both charging and discharging should be in an environment where the relative humidity is lower than 80%.
3. It’s recommended to charge and discharge the battery thoroughly once every 20 charge/discharge cycles. Users should discharge the battery until there is less than 8% power left or until the battery can no longer be turned on. Users should then fully recharge the battery to maximum capacity. This power cycling procedure will ensure the battery is working at its optimal level.
4. For long term storage please place the battery with only a 40~50% capacity in a strong battery box securely. We recommend discharging and charging the battery completely once every 3 months to keep it in good condition. The capacity should be varied in such a cycle 40%~50%—0%—100%—40%~50%.
5. It’s suggested you purchase a new battery after you have discharged your current battery over 300 times. Please completely discharge a battery prior to disposal.
6. It’s suggested that you purchase a new battery if the current battery is swollen or damaged in any way.
7. Never try to recharge or fly with a battery that is swollen or damaged in any way.
8. Never charge the battery unattended. Always charge the battery on a non-flammable surface such as concrete and never near any flammable materials.
9. Safety is extremely important and users can get more information in the DISCLAIMER."

Another thing you might be wondering is what do the Phantom 2 Battery LED indicators mean? See table below:

A lot of people and gossip blogs are taking shots at Bieber for having a photoshopped body in recent Calvin Klein ads. Whether or not the leaked untouched images are authentic, this still reveals a problem with society in my opinion.

As someone with a bit of knowledge about how these things work, I think it's a cheap shot to make fun of anyone for being photoshopped. Granted, Bieber sometimes sets himself up to receive cheap shots, this time I think people are missing the mark.

Nearly all models are photoshopped, whether they're tall or skinny, fat or short, flat or busty, male or female, celebrity or otherwise. (There's been plenty of controversy in recent months surrounding the use of photoshop in women's fashion campaigns.) By the same token, and in regards to ads involving men specifically, it is common practice for muscles, bulges, body/facial hair etc. to be fine tuned or enhanced especially when it comes to undergarment campaigns. What is more, the choice to be photoshopped is usually never the model's to make – that decision would typically fall on the brand itself, and the directors, editors or artist managers who are trying to target a specific demographic and are messing with the model's true appearance to create something more profitable.

I think what's happening here is wrong. Rather than pointing fingers at Bieber and laughing why not point fingers at Calvin Klein and ask why bother photoshopping Biebs?? Cuz we all know the die hards are going to buy any product with his name on it regardless...

People are forgetting the 'photoshop era' we live in has nothing to do with the model and everything to do with the corporate ad machine we're all equally guilty of buying into and fuelling.

As a result of news stories and controversies such as this, some brands (example: American Eagle) have reportedly scaled back on the use of photoshop and are seeing positive results in sales. Perhaps the public consciousness will continue to shift in this direction, and a more real way of interpreting advertising will be the way of the future – a time when consumers are more interested in the realism of images – a time when brands won't feel the need to airbrush muscles and pubic hair on teen heartthrobs like Justin Bieber.

This past summer 2014 I had the pleasure of photographing POPULVR (pronounced "popular"),  a rising pop band originally from Edmonton. They already have an impressive resume, having toured places like Asia and throughout much of Canada and the United States. But in an effort to open more doors and pursue bigger things in the music industry they've relocated and now call the city of Toronto home. The band has taken it upon themselves to re-invent their branding from top to bottom, including their sound and image, and this shoot plays a big role in all of that. The tight-knit trio is amazingly talented, hard working, humble and I believe they have a very bright future ahead... keep an eye out!

Tune into their social media pages (Facebook / Twitter) for more about the band, and more photos from this shoot as they become available.