The other day I visited Lukas on the way home, so I was running late so when I approached Kanata. It was already starting to get dark, putting the Russian Church close to the highway in stark silhouette. It's funny how a little shift in your routine can really change how you experience things.

I've seen it like this before but was reminded of this lovely sight. It was too late once I get home to get this shot since my gear was scattered all over the place, but last night I set out to catch it. This involved walking through a closed off construction zone, but it was a fun little adventure. I stuck around and took several shots. I'll post them over the next few days.

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9:35 AM

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10:33 AM

St. Andrew's Lake, Algonquin Park

it’s easy to question why we haul our belongings way out into the country.

things we need to survive bearing down on our shoulders.

imagined burdens replaced by more immediate but fulfilling ones.

easy to question why we tolerate the dehydrated dinners and the bad instant coffee.

end of another day, only campfire embers left.

step to the quiet, dark shore.

hear the sound of silence.

understand what it means for stars to twinkle, shimmering on the surface of the lake.

catch a shooting star as I glance up.

confirm that there really is a milky way.

hard not to believe that this moment, this place and that shooting star were waiting here just for me.

me, the lake and these stars.

it's in this moment that I remember why I came.

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4:24 PM

It's already mid-February and this is only my first post of 2011! Obviously I have been better at updating my birding blog recently than this one. I've been busy with a course I'm taking now and I've actually been shooting a lot, so it would be a shame not to share any of this stuff! I have shot so much more than I submit for my assignments, and sometimes it's hard to pick which ones to submit. Anyways, here are a few from the first assignment. I only submitted the panoramic ones of the Bank Street Bridge. The two "under the birdge" shots were outtakes that I still like a lot.

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2:10 PM

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11:04 PM

there was an incredible moon last night...I didn't have a camera and had to get to class, but it was just coming up, was so big, there were these great clouds, and it had this orange tint to it. I hoped it might do something similar tonight so I would have a second chance....unfortunately it didn't do quite the same thing, but it was still a beautiful clear night. a pretty lady hung out with me for a bit (a doe in the field beside me).

moon rising through the trees

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9:51 PM

jumped off the bus at bayshore, turned around and saw this. only had the point and shoot in the purse, but I actually kind of like the noise. handheld.

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11:13 PM

I've been out on a few night shoots with the photo club at work and it's been really productive for me. I'm not sure why but I just seem to be in my element at night, even though the temperature can drop down and it gets chilly fast! I"m posting the second night's shots since I'm kind of more excited about them. I've been going out lots since sunset almost coincides perfectly with when I get off work...but not for long!

More on the way...

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8:11 PM

Hallowe'en is hands down my favourite holiday. Who wouldn't love a holiday where you are supposed to defy social conventions and let out your inner *insert entity here* (devil, pussycat, monster, superhero, etc.)? I would have gone to shoot more of the neighbourhood, but wouldn't dare miss any of the trick-or-treaters at my own door. Had 29 this year...not a lot but up from previous years. Three very nice clowns admired my costume (a bumblebee that lost its stripes). I asked two kids if they were crazy-scientist-karate-kids, and they said yes, which leads me to believe that my guessing skills are quite good!

The moon...shot a while ago...but let's set up a mood here ok?

Oliver and Jack waiting for trick-or-treaters

Just for fun...the house. That's me in the top window on the left.

Jack...fractalized. A new toy I've been playing with.

My poor little netbook is vehemently protesting all post-processing (I can't imagine how powerful an "atom" processor is...). Speaking of post-processing, I have an assignment due for my Photoshop class on Tuesday, which I was given 7 weeks ago...gotta get started on that right about now!

Hope everyone had a haunting Hallowe'en!

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10:28 PM

Hmm...Well about a week has elapsed so I guess I am due for an update.

These shots are from immediately after the Prince Edward County trip. We were in Algonquin for 5 days. I saw some pictures of another route that looks just awesome and think I might try to do it for the end of the year...can't even wait for next summer!

I actually was hoping to get more great shots, but it felt like I always had the wrong lens on. It made me think I should have sprung for the 18-200 afterall. Nikon also has some new ones coming out, including a 25-300, that might be worth investigating!

The following morning.
I woke up really early, and fought the urge stay in the sleeping bag for a few more hours. Unzipped the front door of the tent and looked out at this! Guess it's worth getting up early afterall.
I have no idea what kind of growth this is, but it was HUGE. Like the size of, I don't know, 2 hamburgers or something? (Here's a little secret..it's HDR.) I just noticed it seems a little yellow...will fix that...

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7:11 PM

Lightning is one of those things I have been wanting to shoot, but it's kind of hard to arrange, you know?
Last night was a bizarre night; there was lightning and huge clouds but not a drop of rain...perfect. I was a little worried about the camera getting a jolt (stand outside with a metal tripod and camera during lightning? smart?), but it was pretty far away. I would still like to shoot lightning again with some nice big fork lightning, since the one I got was just a teeny tiny little lightning bolt!

Sorry, I know the light trails are getting a little cheesy, but the foregoround was definitely less interesting without it.

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10:50 PM

Only 2 classes left of my lighting class. I'm taking a minute to post a shot I took last night for one of my last assignments. Sometimes (most of this time) you have this vision and find yourself scratching your head and fiddling with the camera until you get it just right, and sometimes it just doesn't happen. Other times (almost never), everything comes together almost too easily. I had one of those moments last night shooting this pic. I was anticipating having a hard time with it, but we got set up, I fired a test shot, and BAM! That was it. I was like, huh, I guess we're done! I didn't even bother taking any safety shots. Thanks to Matt for posing for innumerable shots this past week and not complaining (too much).

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12:06 PM

These are shots that I took last year in Europe, on my old camera. I love how night shots make everything look so magical (I mean, it kind of was magical, and the pictures reflect it!)

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8:18 PM

Last night was the opening celebrations of Winterlude. I wasn't even planning on going, but I'm so glad I did! I have got to say, these were the BEST fireworks I have ever seen in Ottawa. There was tons of stuff going on at the Museum of Civilization, and after the fireworks there was a DJ spinning outside in a bubble. Yes, it was pretty darn cold, but still lots of fun!

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7:06 PM