McBain Blog

The Best of Autumn in Banff

internet@mcbaincamera.com — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 10:04:33 -0500

From glowing larch forests to turquoise alpine lakes, discover the best places, timing, and photography gear for capturing Banff National Park at its most colourful.

Chasing Movement in Ordinary Places with the Sony FX5

internet@mcbaincamera.com — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 16:56:11 -0500

The way someone moves through a space, light changing across a face, wind catching fabric, or the environment shifting around a subject are the kinds of small, unpredictable moments I’m always looking for through a camera.

When Sony lent me the new FX5 to take out into the field, I wanted to test it in a way that felt true to how I like to shoot. Instead of creating something controlled, I took the camera outside with a dancer and gave ourselves the freedom to explore.

There is something I really enjoy about working this way. You can have a general idea of what you want to capture, but the environment and artist inevitably give you something youdidn’t plan for, and that’s often where the magic happens.

I have spent two decades working across documentary, narrative and commercial projects, from intimate stories to large-scale productions. That range of experience has shaped an approach that is adaptable yet grounded in strong visual storytelling. For me, cinematography is as much about instinct and curiosity as it is intention and technical craft.

Finding Frames

When a dancer is improvising, you know each movement will happen a little differently every time. I responded to what Tyler chose to express, moving with him, finding a rhythm between us, being very present in the moment. It became less about creating a traditional shot list and more about observation, anticipation, anticipationand reaction.

This is where the FX5’s AI-based autofocus became particularly useful. Having focus stay locked onto my subject meant I could put more of my attention toward his movement and how I wanted to frame it. The larger rotating LCD screen gave me the freedom to quickly change my own position, particularly when getting the camera lower or moving through the environment with him. These practical features can have a large creative impact when they allow you to work more instinctively.

A Little Room For Change

I also approached this shoot knowing that the final images weren’t necessarily going to live in one format. We are creating for so many different screens nowadays that I find myself thinking beyond a single aspect ratio more and more.

Filming in Open Gate gave me a larger canvas to compose with more possibilities in mind, not limiting me in deciding exactly where every frame would ultimately live while filming.

Being outside also meant working almost entirely with what was presented to us. Clouds moved. The direction and quality of the light changed. Tyler moved between open areas and pockets of shade. Instead of fighting those changes, I embraced them.

Having three base ISO options gave me more dynamic range to adapt to those conditions, while recording 16-bit X-OCN RAW, leaving plenty of information in the image in the grade. I want to make deliberate choices on set, but I also don’t want to lock myself out of choices later.

Keeping It Simple.

Another thing I wanted to explore was how simply I could work. There are productions where I’m surrounded by a full camera department, monitors, audio and everything else that comes with a larger set. Then there are times when filmmaking is just you, a camera, and the person in front of it.

For this shoot, keeping things small allowed Tyler and me to move effortlessly through the location without overcomplicating the process. I appreciated that same simplicity in theFX5’s monitoring options and how user-friendly the menu system is. I could keep the information I needed in front of me while controlling what was being sent to an external monitor. It’s a small workflow detail, but one that helps keep things moving without interrupting the creative flow.

Staying Present.

When I’m behind a camera, I want my attention on what is unfolding in front of me. The best images often happen in the moment when given more time and space to notice. There will always be technical decisions happening in the background, but I don’t want those decisions to pull me away from the reason I picked up the camera in the first place. Sometimes the most interesting thing you can do is simply staying present and patient with what is unfolding in front of the lens.

Christina Ienna
Director+ Cinematographer
@stina

This article was provided by Sony Canada

From Bison to Icebergs: June's Winning Images

internet@mcbaincamera.com — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:15:32 -0500

From a powerful bison portrait in Waterton to mysterious roadside discoveries and Antarctic icebergs, explore the winning images from McBain Camera's June Monthly Photo Contest.

Patagonia - The End of the World in Autumn

internet@mcbaincamera.com — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 16:22:31 -0500

Sharp peaks, wild wind, and fleeting fall colour—Josh McCabe breaks down when to go, where to shoot, and the Canon gear that held up in Patagonia’s toughest conditions.

Andrew Smith, the Sony A7C II, and the Art of Quiet Observation

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 10:27:22 -0500

Drawn by the need for a more travel-friendly setup, Andrew Smith sought a tool that would keep him rooted in his surroundings without hauling around a camera that “needed its own carry-on”. As he later discovered, the AC7 II’s stronger low-light capability became the new benchmark he now counts on.

Roadside Relics! April's Monthly Photo Contest Winner.

internet@mcbaincamera.com — Wed, 13 May 2026 15:45:09 -0500

From roadside relics to fleeting wildlife moments, April’s submissions remind us that the best photos often happen in the in-between.

Staying Present Behind the Lens: Real Wedding Moments with the Sony Alpha 7 V

internet@mcbaincamera.com — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 11:04:58 -0500

Discover how the Sony Alpha 7 V empowers wedding photographers to stay present, work through challenging lighting, and capture authentic, emotional moments without interruption.

Chasing Light in New Zealand: A Photographer's Guide to the South Island in December

internet@mcbaincamera.com — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 09:44:07 -0500

Discover the most breathtaking South Island landscapes through photographer Josh McCabe's lens. From lupin-filled valleys to dramatic Milford Sound storms, get insider tips on timing, gear, and capturing perfect shots.

Congratulations to our January Monthly Photo Contest Winner!

internet@mcbaincamera.com — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 17:02:48 -0600

January's Photo Contest was certainly seasonally appropriate, as our winner and honourable mentions all featured wintery backdrops! When the snow settled, a gentle corgi pup named Eillie emerged as our favourite submission of the month, earning her talented photographer, Julie Cork, a post-solstice victory lap.

Congratulations, Julie! You'll take home a 16 x 20" Gallery Wrapped Print of your adorable doggo. But the heaps of praise don't stop there! Simon Stevens (snowy bench) and Kyla Genge (winter horse) earned honourable mentions for fantastic entries as well.

February's contest is now open. We can't wait to see what you all have in store for us this month!

WINNER - Julie Cork

"One winter morning when the hoar frost was prominent Ellie and I went for a walk in Grey Nuns White Spruce Park. The sunrise glowed orange and the frost sparkled. It was a magical morning!"

HONOURABLE MENTION – Simon Stevens

"Park bench. Just a curved park bench in pass when walking my dogs. In the snow the bench looked very abstract to me but with sensual curves thrown in. It's only a phone pic but you use what you have in hand. A fun pic that is this years best pic for me."

HONOURABLE MENTION – Kyla Genge

"I just really loved the simplicity of the scene here - a beautiful horse on a cold January day."

» Enter February's Photo Contest

More stand-out January entries:

A New Year, A New Perspective!

internet@mcbaincamera.com — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 14:49:33 -0600

Happy New Year, photographers! As we kick off 2025, we’re celebrating last year's stunning contest entries and looking ahead to fresh perspectives. Clayton Reitzel’s winning Boreal Owl photo and Honourable Mentions for Joanna Klausner and Dee Webb show how birds continue to captivate. This year, we can’t wait to see how you’ll capture the beauty of winter, the vibrancy of city life, and everything in between. Keep pushing your creative limits—we’re excited to see what you’ll create next!

Why Winter Sports Photographer Dave Holland is in Love With the Sony A9 III

internet@mcbaincamera.com — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 12:32:53 -0600

My name is Dave and I shoot winter sports. I’ve been to three Winter Olympics and Paralympics as well as countless world cups and world championships. My daily life is at the Canadian Sport Institute Alberta, the training centre for most Olympic and Paralympic winter athletes at some point.

Photo Gifts – Tangible Timeless Treasures

internet@mcbaincamera.com — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 16:45:06 -0500

As the holidays edge closer, there’s a buzz in the air already about the gifts we’ll wrap for our loved ones. Personally, it’s my favourite. I love nothing more than the art of personal gift-giving down to the wrapping paper itself.

Photo News Friday – July 22, 2022

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 10:31:27 -0500

Canon drops firmware updates on EOS R-series cameras, Samsung announced to mobile image editing tools, Quentin Tarantino launches new filmmaking podcast and DaVinci Resolve updates to Version 18.

Wildlife Photography Challenge: Duck Hunt

Fri, 15 Apr 2022 11:00:00 -0500

Setting photography goals is vital to advancing your craft, but with wildlife photography you don't want to get too ambitious early on! Start out simple and enjoy the photo taking process and move up when you're ready!

Go Macro to Capture Must-Have Wedding Details

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0500

The detail photos of weddings can set your work apart from the crowd. Make sure you pay attention to some these things for your shoots and take your game to the next level!

Daily Commute Photography

Fri, 11 Mar 2022 07:00:00 -0600

Spice up your daily commute with a little inventive photography. You never know what kind of image collection you'll end up with!