May 23, 2010

We made a quick visit to my g/f's parents place this afternoon, and noticed that the crabapple tree in the backyard is starting to bloom.

Nikon D80
Nikkor 18 - 55mm
f5.6
1/640 sec.
200 ISO


No matter what angle you looked at the tree, there was a white flower contrasting against the green background. It was hard to decide which to shoot, and harder to decide which to show on this blog.

Nikon D80
Nikkor 18 - 55mm
f5.6
1/250 sec.
200 ISO

While taking the above photos, I had this little guy watching me and letting out the occasional chirp. These little house sparrows are pretty common and I see them all over the place, but they usually don't sit still long enough for a picture.

Nikon D80
Nikor 55 - 200 mm
f5.6
1/800 sec.
200 ISO

Changing angles for another picture of the bird let me shoot more into the sky for a silhouette. I had to share this one because I love the haphazard lines created from the branches, and the perfect formation of the bird, right down to his beak.

Nikon D80
Nikkor 55 - 200 mm
f5.6
1/3200
200 ISO

May 22, 2010

Watching the bands last night made me want to pick up my bass again. I've had it for years, but have never really played it much. I go through phases where I'll spend a bunch of time learning it and practicing it, then I'll miss one day for whatever reason, and not pick it up again.

Nikon D80
Nikkor 18 - 55 mm
f5.6
5/8 sec.
1000 ISO


I was hoping that by keeping it out in plain sight, on a guitar stand, would make me want to play it more. Unfortunately it doesn't. Now it's more of a decorative piece in our place than anything else. But it looks good along side my g/f's acoustic guitar and the piano. Now we've just got to put her flute and my trumpet on display to complete the look.

Nikon D80
Nikkor 18 - 55 mm
f5.6
10/13 sec.
1000 ISO

May 21, 2010

I can't believe I forgot to grab my camera tonight. Of all the nights to forget it, it had to be tonight. I went downtown tonight to check out a friends new band, and was really excited to get some pictures of them in action. Half way there I realized I didn't grab my camera bag. So instead I sat back and watched the bands play, and captured this with my cell phone. I had to process the hell out of it too, to get it to look even this good. Even grabbing the point and shoot would have been more useful.

HTC TouchPro - cell phone

May 20, 2010

I love having a PVR. We've been out of town for essentially 4 days. In those days, there were season finales of some of the tv shows we watch. Tonight, we got to finally have a quiet relaxing night, and catch up.

Nikon D80
Nikkor 18 - 55mm
f5.6
1/3 sec.
400 ISO

May 19, 2010

Another long drive back to Calgary. Again, no pictures, as we just wanted to get home, so most of the day was spent behind the wheel.

May 18, 2010

Today was the memorial service. It's gray, dismal, and raining on and off. Seems appropriate. The memorial was very nice and went very well. Afterwards, the family wrote messages to their father/grandfather, tied them to balloons and released them.

Nikon D80
Nikkor 18 - 55mm
f20
1/60 sec.
400 ISO


It may not be good for the environment, but that didn't matter to anyone. Everyone wanted to participate, and it was really nice for the younger kids, to be able to "send a message to their grandfather up in heaven."

Nikon D80
Nikkor 18 - 55mm
f20
1/125 sec.
400 ISO

May 16 - 17, 2010

I guess I technically fail at this project now. The last 2 days I haven't taken any photos, as there was a death in the family (my g/f's grandfather suddenly passed away), and we were up early sunday morning and on the road for the better part of the day driving to BC. No stopping for photos, as this wasn't a vacation trip. Monday was spent putting together music and a slideshow for the memorial, setting up the hall, etc. Photography was the last thing on my mind, and so there was none.

Despite now "failing" at the 365 challenge, I will continue to take a photo every day and post them here. Sometimes life gets in the way of things, and this was one of those instances. I'm going to declare that something like this is considered an exception to the rules, and therefore missing 2 days of photography is justified.

R.I.P. Bill.
You will be greatly missed by all who knew you.

May 15, 2010

10 year high school reunion! So many people I haven't seen since grad, and it was great to catch up! Most of the people I wanted to see where there, and none of the people I didn't want to see showed up. Made for a good night.

Canon Powershot SD1200 IS
f2.8
1/4 sec.
400 ISO

May 14, 2010

Another coffee night wit a good friend of mine, and we had the whole place to ourselves. Makes conversation a lot easier. Afterwards I took some photos of her out on the street, as she doesn't have anything recent of her. It was fun, but definitely confirmed that people are not my best subjects. Posing, framing and directing people just isn't my thing. I think I'll stick with shooting everything else.

Nikon D80
Nikkor 18 - 55 mm
f10
1/4 sec.
800 ISO

May 13, 2010

My g/f is on a new med. They switched her earlier this week, and it seems to be working pretty well. It's not a pill, but a powder that she has to mix with water. How appetizing does this look? According to her it tastes like Gravol and Tang. Mmmm....yummy.

Canon Powershot SD1200 IS
f2.8
1/20 sec.
400 ISO



Ok, so  these aren't the most inspiring, or visually interesting pictures I've got on here, but it's one of those things that I just had to capture this and share.

Canon Powershot SD1200 IS
f2.8
1/25 sec.
400 ISO

May 12, 2010

About 7 months ago, my g/f and I bought some coasters from an artist. She had taken her original pieces and converted them to coaster size. Her artwork is amazing, but expensive. We couldn't afford an original, so instead we opted to pick our favourite 4 pieces an buy the coaster versions instead.

Canon Powershot SD1200 IS
f2.8
1/40 sec.
400 ISO

May 11, 2010

Spring has yet to reach everything.

Nikon D80
Nikkor 55 - 200mm
f5.6
1/8 sec.
400 ISO

May 10, 2010

Two years ago when I broke my hand after a truck roll-over, I had to go to physio to regain strength and mobility in my hand and fingers. I was told to pick up one of these, which allows you to work each finger individual against spring force. I used to carry it around with me everywhere, and exercised my fingers daily until I regained the strength in my hand. Since then, it's collected dust. I keep meaning to put in back in my jacket pocket so that I've got it with me again to start working on my finger and hand strength for climbing. Nothing like hanging off a rock by your finger tips and just not having the strength to hold on long enough to find a hold for your other hand.

Canon Powershot SD1200 IS
f2.8
1/8 sec.
400 ISO

May 9, 2010

My silhouette through double glass sliding doors, leading to our patio. Just one of those things that I saw as I was walking out of the kitchen, and had to have it. I may try this again with my D80 so I have a little more control over things like my focus.


Canon Powershot SD1200 IS
f4.5
1/1.6 sec.
400 ISO

May 8, 2010

It's been a busy day today. Among other things, I've cut down the astroturf I bought for one of the terrariums. I'm getting rid of the wood chips, and using only reusable products that I can wash and return to the cage. A roll of turf at 18 square feet gives me 2 pieces that I can swap out and reuse, at a cost of $11. The wood chips would cost me $25 for a bag that would fill each terrarium 1 and a half times. All these years I've been throwing to much money away, hopefully this will help.


Canon Powershot SD1200 IS
f2.8
1 sec.
400 ISO

May 7, 2010

There are several areas of our apartment building that I find visually interesting. The stairwell is one of them. Not when you're walking up it, mind you, but rather when you change your perspective. Stop looking at the stairs and the walls around them. Start looking at where you've been. Leaning over the railing on the 4th floor (top floor) and seeing the spiraling vortex of stairs that have just been climbed.


Canon Powershot SD1200 IS
f2.8
1/2.5 sec.
400 ISO

May 6, 2010

I forgot it was Cinqo de Mayo yesterday. Last night was also wing night. I arrived at the bar to find the place was packed. Fortunately, we were able to get a table, though it very quickly became to small and we muscled our way to a different table (our waitress wasn't helping us out at all). All in all it was a great night, and I obtained a new hat....by which I mean I just took it. All the staff had them, and they were being passed out to bar patrons that took part in the taco eating contest. I didn't. However, I did find this, sitting beside the bar, untouched for the whole night. I claimed it as my own. Now I'm ready for next year!


Canon Powershot SD1200 IS
f3.5
1/60 sec.
250 ISO

May 5, 2010

Here we are, early May and it's still snowing. Not an uncommon event, though everyone seems to forget that we have snow until the May long weekend (roughly middle of the month, although this year it's a week later). It's cold enough to snow, freeze, and form ice, but not cold enough for it to stay that way. I've seen a few people who have walked under lights, buildings, signs and plus 15's (the enclosed walkway pictured above) and had near misses with falling snow and ice.


Canon Powershot SD1200 IS
f2.8
1/500 sec.
80 ISO

May 4, 2010

Today I'm cheating...I actually took this picture last summer, but wanted to post it, as it has been published. Today I received the magazine that printed it and couldn't help but smile. It will be run for the next 3 issues in a local tourism magazine. This is the first mag that has used one of my photos that I'm not actually affiliated with, so there is no bias. I didn't get paid for this, but I really don't care about that. I still own the rights to the photo this way, and I've received proper credit in the mag as being the photographer of it. This makes me quite happy.

The photo is of Elbow Falls, in Bragg Creek, roughly an hour SW of the city. It's a popular tourist spot, with paved hiking paths and safety barriers. Needless to say, to get this shot, I climbed through the barriers and did a bit of rock crawling.

Nikon D80
18 - 55mm
f8
1/2500 sec.
1000 ISO

May 3, 2010

Can you tell how my day went? It was a pretty quiet and lazy night tonight. Most mondays we do a bit of running around and laundry and the like, but we opted to do it last night instead. That meant there was nothing pressing for the evening, so I chose to put my feet up, and do a whole lot of nothing instead. I rather enjoyed it.


Canon Powershot SD1200 IS
f3.2
1/60 sec.
250 ISO

May 2, 2010

It just doesn't look as appetizing when you put the jam on first. Normally I put the peanut butter on before the jam...I'm obviously not as awake this morning as I thought. At least it still tastes the same, because it sure doesn't look as pretty this way.


Canon Powershot SD1200 IS
f2.8
1/60 sec.
80 ISO

May 1, 2010

Last night was a bad night and I'd rather not talk about it. My hand is bruised today and it hurts to close  it. At least this time I didn't break it. Bruise is just starting to form.

Canon Powershot SD1200 IS
f8
1/60 sec.
250 ISO


K, it's been a few days and now you can see the bruising better. I know I know...stupid thing for me to do. It was just a really bad night and I had to get my frustration out. It's been roughly 2 years since I've done anything of the sort, I just had a little slip....still something I'm working on. And like I stated above, this time, at least, I didn't break my hand.


Canon Powershot SD1200 IS
f2.8
1/40 sec.
400 ISO

April 30, 2010

I don't know what it is, but I love alleys. Maybe it's just the randomness of them. They're not as orderly and maintained as roadways. They're a little more chaotic and less conformist. Maybe I like them because they're a reflection of who I am.

Nikon D80
Nikkor 10 - 55mm
f25
1/60 sec
200 ISO

April 29, 2010

Just got home from another trip to the ER, as per Dr's orders, and once again, it was a waste of time. They couldn't actually help us, and told us that their next course of action would be to send us to the specialist that sent us to them, so they were at a loss. Sometimes the medical system is so useless. So it was another long night, and we weren't home till the wee hours of the morning.

Canon Powershot SD1200 IS
f2.8
1 sec
80 ISO

April 28, 2010

Our nice weather has come to a temporary end. It's raining today, and very windy. Twice I almost lost my umbrella. I watched as one man was walking into the wind, and it was actually collapsing his umbrella. He had to hold it open. It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't so cold.

Canon Powershot SD1200 IS
f8
1/60 sec.
80 ISO