World Photo Day: The Evolution of the Camera

Olympus film camera

Photography wouldn’t be possible without the incredible invention of the camera. According to Kodak, “the use of photographic film was pioneered by George Eastman, who started manufacturing paper film in 1885 before switching to celluloid in 1889. His first camera, which he called the ‘Kodak,’ was first offered for sale in 1888.”

It truly is amazing how much the camera has evolved since then. In came the digital camera, and the debate between film vs. digital began. Today, people appreciate the merits of both, and choose based on their preferred aesthetic.

If you love the nostalgia of film, you’re not alone. Film offers a creative challenge for photographers. Shooting analog photographs is an art form that truly embraces the candid nature of photography. The excitement of having your film photos developed, anxiously awaiting the final images, is a feeling many people love. There is something to be said about the simplicity of shooting with film too; without a Photoshop program to edit with, the result is a much rawer, visceral image. There is also a great deal more thoughtfulness involved in film photography, as you are limited by the amount of film you have. This is one of the reasons why many people recommend starting out on a film camera, even if you want to shoot digital. Being forced to be more selective with your shots will ultimately make you a better photographer, whether you shoot on film or digital.

Meanwhile, if you prefer to shoot digital, there are plenty of benefits that come with the ever-evolving technology of digital cameras. They are more convenient than ever, and are constantly being upgraded with more advanced features. Photographers can choose from point and shoots, DSLRs, and even compact mirrorless cameras, depending on what the situation requires. Today, many digital cameras also come with added features such as WiFi and Bluetooth. This allows you to directly transfer images to your smartphone or tablet, making it super easy to share all of your great moments.

Nikon camera and Nikon lenses

As digital technology has progressed, mobile phones have become the camera of choice for many people who wish to snap and share moments instantaneously. Some of you may remember seeing the #shotoniphone7 campaign, which inspired iPhone users to take incredible photographic shots simply using their phones’ camera. Today, millions of photos are uploaded every minute, allowing us to share our snapshots with the world in seconds, and find inspiration in the talent of other passionate photographers worldwide.

Whichever you prefer, London Drugs proudly offers a large selection of both digital cameras as well as film, and still offers film developing.

If you’re looking to upgrade your current gear, whether it’s a phone, film camera or DSLR, World Photo Day is a great time to see what’s out there and try something new. Our LDExperts can help you choose the right camera for your interests and needs. London Drugs’ selection of photography gear doesn’t end with cameras, either. We also have an extensive collection of lenses, camera accessories, photo printers and photo editing software to help you achieve the best images possible.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram to stay tuned for our World Photo Day deals (including a very special drone offer, available exclusively on August 19th)!

How to Safely View the Solar Eclipse This Year

 

Throughout history, solar eclipses have left people in awe as the Earth plunges into darkness during daylight hours. A solar eclipse occurs as the moon passes directly in front of the sun, blocking its light either partially or in full. This causes a shadow to appear on part the Earth, and those within the shadow experience this as an eclipse.

If you’re feeling intrigued by the incredible science behind this phenomenon, why not gather a group of friends together on the morning of August 21st to take in the spectacle of an eclipse yourselves? Throwing a Solar Eclipse Viewing Event is a unique and fun way to celebrate this rare occurrence.

Fill up some thermoses with coffee and hot chocolate, grab some delicious pastries, and set up comfortable folding chairs at your location to wait for the eclipse. Be sure to look at the weather forecast ahead of time to avoid cloudy skies, and pick an outdoor space with a clear view of where the sun will be. If there’s a chance of clouds, hop in the car and program your GPS to a spot with sunnier weather–you’ll definitely want to find clear skies for this event. Bring along portable speakers and a fun playlist (Dark Side of the Moon, anyone?) to give your gathering a true celebratory ambiance. And don’t forget the sunscreen–you’ll need it even while the sun starts to go dark!

Most importantly, bring along EclipSmart Solar Safe Shades to keep your eyes safe while you observe the eclipse. Never look directly at any part of the sun without proper protective equipment, as it can cause irreversible damage and even blindness.

Where Are You Viewing the Eclipse From?

While this eclipse will only reach totality over parts of the United States, we will still be able to observe a significant partial eclipse from Canada. If you’re curious about how much of the solar eclipse you’ll see and when you’ll be able to see the sun at the peak of the eclipse, here’s a quick list showing what you’ll be able to expect! Remember, the further from the path of totality you are, the less the sun will appear to be covered. For this August 21, 2017 solar eclipse, the path of totality will curve from the Pacific Northwest through the middle of the United States to the South-Eastern Seaboard.

Victoria: 91% of the sun will be covered at 10:20 am

Vancouver: 88% of the sun will be covered at 10:21 am

Calgary: 81% of the sun will be covered at 10:20 am

Edmonton: 75% of the sun will be covered at 11:35 am

Regina: 79% of the sun will be covered at 11:46 am

Winnipeg: 76% of the sun will be covered at 12:57 pm

Toronto: 76% of the sun will be covered at 2:32 pm

St. Johns: 43% of the sun will be covered at 4:29 pm

In the meantime, brush up on your solar eclipse knowledge, so you’ll know what to expect (and to impress your friends while you wait!)

10 Fun Facts About Solar Eclipses

  1. There are three different types of solar eclipses: a partial eclipse where the moon only covers some of the sun; a total eclipse, where the entire sun is covered and only the corona is visible; and an annular eclipse, which occurs when the moon covers the sun, but is at a wide point of its orbit, causing the sun to shine around the moon.
  2. When the moon blocks out the entire sun at the peak of a total eclipse, it is called ‘totality.’
  3. There are usually two to five solar eclipses per year, but most are not total eclipses, and many fall over unpopulated areas.
  4. It’s impossible to view a total solar eclipse from the North or South Pole.
  5. A total solar eclipse never lasts longer than 7.5 minutes.
  6. Temperatures can fall by up to 20 degrees as darkness falls during totality.
  7. Every 18 years and 11 days, an almost identical eclipse will happen. This is called the Saros Cycle.
  8. The widest possible path of totality is 269 kilometers across, though it is often quite a bit thinner – around 160 kilometers on average. This eclipse’s path of totality will be thinner than usual – about 115 km wide.
  9. The only time that we can view the sun’s corona with the naked eye is during a total solar eclipse.
  10. If you look directly at any part of the sun during an eclipse, no matter how small the visible sliver is, it can cause vision loss or other damage to your eyes due to the extreme intensity of the light. Always use proper protective gear to observe the sun!

How to Use the Solar Shades

EclipSmart Solar Safe Shades block the harmful ultraviolet and infrared rays of the light that comes from the sun and are essential for viewing the partial phases that precede and follow totality. You can follow the moon’s progression across the sun by looking through these glasses every few minutes during the partial phases. EclipSmart Solar Safe Shades are lab tested and meet the new ISO 12312-2 requirements (Filters for Direct Observation of the Sun). It is extremely important to remember that only during complete totality may you look at the sun without EclipSmart Solar Safe Shades. Never look directly at the partial phases of the eclipse without EclipSmart Solar Safe Shades.

Limit continuous use of the EclipSmart Solar Safe Shades to three minutes, and always directly supervise children under the age of 14 during their use.

WARNING: Never look at the sun without special eye protection. When viewing the eclipse, use eclipse glasses at all times when any part of the sun is visible. Direct viewing of the sun can cause permanent damage if the proper precautions are not taken. Adequate eye protection specifically designed for viewing the sun is essential and should be worn so that no harmful rays from the sun can reach the eye.

Now that you are prepared to view the eclipse safely, get ready to make an incredible memory! This rare occurrence won’t come along for another 18 years and 11 days, so make the most of it. Safe and happy viewing!

Emergency Pharmacy Services and Complimentary Charging Stations for BC Wildfire Evacuees

Our thoughts are with everyone dealing with the wildfires in British Columbia. We are currently assembling essential supplies and staff to support evacuees where we can, in and around the wildfire areas. In addition, donations to the Canadian Red Cross can be made by phone at 1.800.418.1111 or at any London Drugs location in BC or Alberts, or by clicking the donate button below.

We also understand that people may have been required to leave their homes without important personal health information, prescriptions, or health aid items and may be requiring temporary emergency pharmacy services.
Please know our pharmacists are here to help in the following ways:

  • look up past medication history, contact your insurance provider and fulfill an early emergency supply of your prescription(s)*
  • access your CareCard number so you are able to visit a doctor if needed
  • adapt or prescribe an emergency supply of medication*

*Please note not all medications can be released early or prescribed. See your pharmacist for details.

You do not have to be a current patient of London Drugs to access essential health care services and medications.

For individuals with major health concerns requiring emergency health prescriptions, please contact London Drugs’ emergency health information line at 1-844-782-0051.

In an effort to help evacuees keep connected to your loved ones, or access important information, all stores in the region are set up with complimentary charging stations. Please feel free to visit any location in these areas to charge your mobile device or computer to keep connected.

LONDON DRUGS LOCATIONS CLOSEST TO THE CARIBOO / KAMLOOPS WILDFIRES:

Kamloops – Lansdowne Village
450 Lansdowne Street
Kamloops British Columbia V2C 1Y3
Pharmacy: (250) 372-3445

Store Hours
Monday – Saturday 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sunday 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Holidays 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Prince George – Parkwood Place
1600 -15th Avenue
Prince George British Columbia V2L 3X3
Pharmacy: (250) 561-1118

Store Hours
Monday – Saturday 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sunday 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Holidays 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

To find another location, please visit: www.London Drugs/locations or call us toll free at: 1-844-782-0051 for emergency pharmacist assistance.

E3 2017 – Accessories

E3 2017 seems like it’s all about the games, but there are just as many cool accessories to behold throughout the show floor. The biggest names in video game accessories bring their top wares to E3 every year, and 2017 was certainly no exceptions. From headsets to controllers, charging stations to wireless tech, there’s plenty to behold for the accessory aficionado.

Razer unleashed a powerful new way to hear and communicate on the world with the Thresher Ultimate headset. This new ultra deluxe headset supplies Dolby 7.1 surround sound right to the player’s ears through a lag-free and wireless connection directly to the console in play. The built-in microphone retracts when not in use, allowing the player to switch between open communication and silent play at any time. The new Thresher Ultimate are available now for $250 USD.

Nyko focused primarily on the newest console to the party, the Nintendo Switch, with the most impressive new accessory being the Portable Docking Kit. This lightweight dock fits right into the palm of a player’s hand, yet has all of the basic abilities of the book-sized dock that comes in the Switch package. The kit does have less USB ports than the official Nintendo dock, but it does comes with its own AC adapter and USB-C and HDMI cords right out of the box, making it ready to use as soon as it’s purchased. Nyko plans to launch the Nintendo Switch Portable Docking Kit for $44.99 USD this fall.

Logitech made sure not to forget about the massive PC gaming crowd with two new mice, the G703 and G903, featuring the company’s brand new PowerPlay charging technology. Instead of needing new batteries or a wire from mouse to computer, the PowerPlay mat itself connects to the PC via USB and charges the new mice while they rest on it, meaning that a PC player could enjoy unlimited game time with these new wireless mice so long as the PowerPlay mat is in use. The PowerPlay mat will cost $99 USD standalone when it launches later this year, but it can be bundled with either mouse for $199 (G703) or $249 (G903).

Finally, Hyperkin sent Xbox players back to the glory days of the original Microsoft console with the brand new Duke controller. This heavyweight directly resembles the official controller of the original Xbox in both size and button placement, making it the perfect controller for the upcoming original Xbox backward compatibility announced during Microsoft’s E3 2017 conference. The Duke will be available in limited quantities this holiday season.

Gaming will be infinitely enhanced with the addition of these new accessories, with each one adding a certain necessary perk to the player’s overall experience. Let your shopping experience for these and other video game desires be enhanced by trusting London Drugs with your gaming needs today.

E3 2017 – Sony

Few companies have a better track record of stellar E3 performances than Sony. Recent years have been filled with crowd-pleasing surprises, most recently last year’s God of War and Spider-Man reveals. While E3 2017 was not as unexpected as before, Sony still delivered the goods with a ton of new information on plenty of high-impact titles.

Detroit: Become Human generates more intrigue each time it’s shown, as the storytellers responsible for Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls are weaving another engaging tale. Detroit takes place in a world where humans have developed human-like androids to be sold into servitude, and as one would expect a few of those androids are beginning to realize the situation and fight for freedom. With a few familiar faces like Grey’s Anatomy’s Jesse Williams playing top roles, even casual gamers can find reason to visit Detroit.

A much bleaker world awaits players in Days Gone, its post-apocalyptic universe being equally beautiful and dangerous. Magnificent natural vistas are filled with danger as a devastating malady takes over the world, affecting human and creature alike. The most recent trailer, for instance, ended with the hero Deacon encountering a giant zombie-like grizzly bear wrapped in barbed wire just minutes after fending off a horde of other monsters. If that’s the kind of danger lurking in Days Gone that Sony is willing show off, players can only imagine what else awaits them in this upside-down universe.

God of War may be changing from Greek to Norse mythology, but the brutal action players have come to expect from Kratos. The addition of his son Atreus adds an intriguing wrinkle, as Kratos must now balance his cold, untrusting ways with mentoring a child that he sees as his last chance to gain some humanity. The harsh, unforgiving world of the North is filled with dangerous creatures of myth, but some like the World Serpent Jormungandr look to aid the duo on their quest. There are many more secrets to uncover in this new God of War, and players won’t have to wait too much longer to find them as the game launches in Early 2018.

The most impressive showing from Sony’s library this year, however, belongs to Peter Parker. The new Spider-Man coming in 2018 dazzled with a ten-minute gameplay demo showing off all of the webslinger’s fantastic powers. Freeform combat gives Spider-Man an impressive amount of movement, deftly avoiding enemies while landing attacks of his own. His web powers were also on full display, saving the city from both a falling crane and a crashing helicopter by sticking them to surrounding buildings with his webs. Sony didn’t reveal exactly when players can take on the great power and responsibility, but the demo shown made the wait harder than ever.

Sony once again delivered on a strong lineup of games, and this blog didn’t even cover titles like Uncharted: Lost Legacy and the newly announced Shadow of the Colossus. The PlayStation faithful will have plenty to look for in the coming months, and London Drugs is the place to pre-order all of these new adventures as soon as possible.

E3 2017 – Nintendo

Nintendo found itself in a prime position before E3 2017. Its newest home console the Nintendo Switch has been selling over all over the world, and players were clamoring to find out what was next for them after The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The House of Mario did not disappoint, delivering an impressive lineup of games all coming out by the end of the year.

After finding success on the Switch’s predecessor Wii U¸ Pokken Tournament DX will bring the hard-hitting action of the Pokemon fighting game wherever players want to take it via the new console. This deluxe version will add a more robust online offering as well as a handful of new Pokemon to play, including the owl archer Decidueye from Pokemon Sun and Moon and the legendary Darkrai. It may not completely “new,” but the addition of Pokken Tournament to the Nintendo Switch will open it up to a whole new world of players come September 22.

Fire Emblem Warriors adapts yet another familiar Nintendo franchise to the Koei Tecmo Warriors formula, preceded by Hyrule Warriors’ take on Zelda. Marth, Chrom, Corrin, and other fan favorites will feature in this action-packed 3D adventure taking place across multiple entries in the Fire Emblem series. Some familiar Fire Emblem features will carry over as well, including the ability to pair characters together for devastating combos that can take out a screen filled with enemies. Fire Emblem Warriors looks to continue the successful ways of the Warrior name when it launches this fall.

The Nintendo 3DS was not completely forgotten however, as it will host perhaps the most surprising game of E3 2017 in Metroid: Samus Returns. This new Metroid adventure is a complete re-imagining of the classic Game Boy title Metroid II: Samus Returns, bringing us back to Samus’s adventure to the Metroid home planet of SR388. The classic side-scrolling format of previous Metroid games is making a triumphant return here, and pairing this with the announcement that Metroid Prime 4 is coming to Nintendo Switch makes fans of Samus Aran quite happy. Look for Metroid: Return of Samus on September 15.

Super Mario Odyssey served as Nintendo’s main focus this year though, and with good reason. The plucky plumber returns in a brand new 3D adventure with some interesting tricks up his sleeve. His hat has been possessed by a Boo ghost called Cappy, and their combined power allows Mario to possess objects and other living things throughout the game’s many worlds. Possessing a flagpole allows him to fling himself into the air, possessing a light bulb on a wire lets him zip down the wire like a zipline, and possessing enemies gives him their powers temporarily. It’s a delightfully silly game, one that will make Mario fans very happy when it launches October 27.

The Nintendo Switch is clearly flying high with plenty of games coming in the next few months, so there’s no better time to jump on board. Let London Drugs be your one-stop shop for all things Switch, both now and in the future.

E3 2017 – Bandai Namco

Despite the recent release and success of Tekken 7, Bandai Namco is not going to rest on its laurels. The publisher brought a strong lineup to E3 2017, including one complete surprise title that blew away the gaming community both in attendance and at home. Bandai Namco’s upcoming game library puts the company in prime position to be a beast from the East in 2017.

Ace Combat 7 marks the return of Project Aces’ high-flying jet combat series. A renewed focus on fighter jets is highlighted by a new stealth mechanic using clouds in the sky as cover, giving players a new way to strategize during a dogfight. PlayStation 4 owners can also play Ace Combat 7 like no other Ace Combat game before it, thanks to virtual reality missions playable only on PlayStation VR. The aerial action of Ace Combat will be returning in early 2018.

Looking to separate itself from titles like Forza Motorsport 7 and Gran Turismo Sport, Project Cars II looks to bring its own brand realism to the racing scene. The game sports the largest roster of tracks in racing game history, each one meticulously crafted using pictures taken from drones. Iconic car brands like Ferrari fill the game’s lineup of cars. Most impressive are the dynamic race conditions like weather, time of day, and season, which could change the end of a race completely from how it began. Project Cars II will look to be a worthy contender in the racing scene when it releases September 22.

An epic role-playing series returns in Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom, featuring a new cast and world to explore all animated once again by the magnificent Studio Ghibli. Players will follow the story of Evan Pettiwhisker Tildrum, a child king forced onto the throne after the death of his father, as he fights to regain the kingdom after it’s stolen from him by a fearsome usurper. The real-time battle system of the previous game returns with a few new tweaks, including colored helper sprites called Higgledies that offer assistance throughout the battlefield. Fans of epic stories should keep an eye on Ni No Kuni II, as it launches only a few months from now on November 10.

Bandai’s Namco biggest surprise came from Dragon Ball Fighter Z, a brand new 2D fighters from the studio behind Guilty Gear and BlazBlue. Supercharged fast-paced gameplay is highlighted by incredible animations ripped straight from the popular anime, and the 3-on-3 format keeps the action going. So far Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Cell, Frieza, and Majin Buu are confirmed, but we can expect plenty more of the most famous Dragon Ball Z fighters to be included as time goes on. Fighting fans should keep this game on their Dragon Radars from now until it launches in early 2018.

Bandai Namco came to E3 2017 ready to play, with a stout lineup of quality games that players can enjoy in the coming months. London Drugs is the place to go for more information on all of these titles, including how to lock them down for purchase on day one.

« Previous Page Next Page »