Project 365 - Day 242 - Line 'em up!

Tomato day today!  We got together with some of Sonia's family to make tomato sauce.  It involves cutting, cooking, grinding and then bottling and boiling 18 bushels of tomatoes to later make pasta sauce with throughout the coming year.  Yeah, it is a lot of work, and yeah, we can probably get cheaper sauce in the store, but there are two things that get us to keep up the tradition.  1 - Family.  Getting together with family is important. 2 - the sauce from the store just doesn't taste the same!  Must be the blood, sweat and tears - literally!  Those knives are sharp!!

Project 365 - Day 241 - Rose of Sharon

One of the flowers on the rose of sharon tree in our backyard.  Yesterday was game day, and I didn't have a lot of time when I got home to shoot. Luckily, there is this great rose of sharon tree in the backyard.  I love the way you can see the pollen on the petals, and almost feel the texture of the stamen.

Project 365 - Day 240 - A tribute to Tim "the tool man" Taylor

Tools on a pegboard.  I remember as I was growing up, my father had all his tools laid out on a pegboard.  He didn't have them outlined, he just knew where each one went.  And if one was missing, well let's just say that we better put it back as soon as humanly possible - or quicker even.

This pegboard is at work, and these box end wrenches have all been hanging there for almost the entire year so far.  They are all together, and as the techs use the wrenches they are putting them back again.  We do have a guy here who sends out emails (or nastygrams) if one goes missing for more than a day.  That just brings me back to my childhood... :-)

Check out the "dymo" labels behind the wrenches...

Project 365 - Day 239 - Clouds

I was down at Coronation Park in Oakville again today.  The park has a really interesting shoreline, and that was the plan for today's shot.  Then I noticed the large cloud formation to the East, and how it was catching the sunset from the northwest.  Couldn't resist...

Project 365 - Day 238 - The Ex

We were at the Ex again tonight watching the CNE Rising Star, as our friend's daughter made it through to the semi finals last Friday.  Well, she made it through to the finals on Sunday as well, so we're going back on Sunday.  And we're going back on Friday because we have a TFC game ...

I love the lights at the Ex, especially when it gets dark.  I got this shot of one of the food vendors with the rides in the background in full swing.  The flags on top of the food vendor were also blowing in the breeze.  This is a 1.3s shutter.  I didn't have my tripod, so I was leaning on a garbage can.

Project 365 - Day 237 - Birds of a feather

Today was a very rainy day in southern Ontario.  It rained a lot, especially by the lake.  When I went out to shoot, it was still very foggy over the lake.  I got this shot of some geese that were swimming by.  I put my 70-200mm lens on and zoomed right in on them.  I find it interesting that you can't actually distinguish the sky from the lake - they are both the same colour.  It was cool trying to find something interesting to shoot on this dim, dreary day...

Project 365 - Day 236 - Houseguest

My sister's cat is staying with us this week while they are at the cottage.  Nigel does not take to new places very well, but he seems to like his new perch.  This is the bay window on the front of our house.  I have a feeling Nigel will be spending a lot of time here, with all the birds and squirrels that hang out in our gardens out front. 

He also does not like to have his picture taken apparently ...

Project 365 - Day 235 - Buskerfest

We went to buskerfest last night and I got this shot of an artist who was re-producing a portrait using pastels.  He had a roped off area and there were a lot of people around watching him.  He was pretty talented.

Project 365 - Day 234 - Icing the cupcakes

We're doing a bake sale tomorrow morning at Southside Community Church in Milton with the proceeds going to the Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer.  And because we are doing a bake sale, Sonia has been baking up a storm all week. Today she baked Cherry Vanilla White Chocolate cupcakes with Cherry Vanilla frosting.  This shot is an action shot of Sonia icing the cupcakes ... ;-)

So if you guys find yourselves in Milton around Derry and Bronte, come on over to the sale.  Mention this blog, and we'll sell you a cupcake for the regular price!  Can't beat that deal, now can ya?

There is a garage sale as well, so there could be many great finds.

Southside Community Church
7480 Derry Road
Box 332 Station Main
Milton, ON L9T 4Y9

8am to Noon.

Project 365 - Day 233 - Sunset in Oakville

Another awesome sunset in Oakville.  I'm beginning to learn what cloud patterns and weather will make good sunsets.  Some of the recent ones have been spactacular.  I couldn't stop shooting this one.


24-70mm lens.  A little bump to the vibrance, but the white balance was set to clear skies making the blues pop even more.

Project 365 - Day 232 - Tough day at the office

Sometimes I know how this guy feels ...

Caught this bumblebee as he was leaving one of my rose of sharon trees.  I got a lot of good shots, this is just one of them. Was a good day to shoot outside in my backyard... probably spent too much time out there shooting and not enough time on the honey-do list ... :-)

Project 365 - Day 231 - What makes a weed a weed?

Today I was working on the steps in front of my shed.  Years ago when I put the shed up I put a small patio in front of it with steps leading into the shed.  Not a lot of steps, and only 10 pavers, but it served it's purpose - to create a landing zone in front of the shed.  Recently, it has become quite hard to open and close the door, and the reason is that there was a root pushing up the pavers.  It seems that I didn't dig down deep enough.

Well, anyway, as I was digging I was tossing the dirt into an area that has a lot of wild flowers growing - and by wild flowers, I mean weeds.  The area is primarily lily of the valley, but there is this vine that keeps springing up and I keep cutting it back.  Today that vine had little purple flowers on it.  So, I shot them.

The flowers are quite pretty, but also quite small.  So there is not a lot of colour.  I had to shoot this with my macro right up close and then crop in tight in Lightroom.

So what makes a weed a weed?  In someone else's garden this could be a welcome flower.  Hrm....

Project 365 - Day 230 - Moon and lake

This shot was taken at Credit Harbour Village tonight.  It was a full moon, but a little foggy in the upper atmosphere at the time of the shot.  You can see the mouth of the harbour with the lights from buildings on either side.  The left side is actually the lighthouse.

Project 365 - Day 229 - Flowers ... again

Today I went down to Coronation park again.  I was trying to get a skipping stone shot, but my assistants (read random kids who were throwing rocks) didn't know how to skip stones and would stop throwing when I was trying to get the shot.  I guess they thought I was trying to shoot something and they were interfering. 

So off I went to find another subject.  I happened upon this purple flower growing amongst the rocks.  So I shot that for a bit - but right next to it was this yellow flower, parts of which had gone to seed.   I assumed my usual stretched-out-down-on-the-ground stance for this shot.

Project 365 - Day 228 - Picture in picture

I was inspired recently by water droplet shots, where the photographer put something in behind a water droplet and focused on the refracted image in the droplet.  So I wanted to try that.  We have the centrepiece from a recent wedding and the vase is filled with these little gel marbles.

The image behind is a shot of a violet I got about 2 years ago in High Park.  I placed the marble on a dented bottle cap on a tripod. Then I handheld the camera with my 60mm macro lens and tried to get something sharp.

Project 365 - Day 227 - Rising Star

Tonight Sonia and I went to the Ex (Canadian National Exhibition for those who are not from Toronto).  We seldom go to the Ex, except when we have tickets for a TFC game and get in free.  But tonight, our friend's daughter was singing in the Rising Star competition. (Click Here)  Alyssa did an awesome job, really nailed the performance.  I was able to snap a few (hundred) shots during her 4 minute performance.

She did a song from the little mermaid, where Ariel is in her cave of stuff and trying to name all the things she has.  I have no idea what the song is, but it's a performance piece, not just something you stand and sing.  Alyssa was able to bring it to life.  Well done Alyssa!!

Shot with my 70-200mm lens at f/4.

Project 365 - Day 226 - CN Tower

Got this shot this am from work.  I work in the beaches in Toronto, and thus the CN Tower is actually west of me here.  I got this just after the sun rose, and you can see the sunrise colours on the tower.  I find it necessary to take pictures of the Toronto skyline from time to time as it is constantly changing - note the cranes to the left of the tower in this picture.

Shot using my Sigma 70-200mm lens at 200mm.

Project 365 - Day 225 - Volleyball anyone?

Down to Coronation Park this afternoon.  I was shooting sailboats with my long lens, got some pretty cool shots, but you have already seen those.  I was waiting for one of the boats to do something interesting.  That never happened.  I was shooting away and having a great time.  When I thought I had my shot, I headed back to the car, and almost walked right into a volleyball net that was still set up.

With my long lens, I set up very close and set the Aperture to f/4.  I snapped a bunch of shots, testing out various angles and making sure the trees behind the net were blurred.  I had to manually touch up the auto focus, because the camera kept thinking I wanted to focus on the trees.  "Surely you're not trying to shoot that thin piece of rope" the camera said to me.  But I showed it who was boss.

Project 365 - Day 224 - Found a peanut

Today, a macro shot of a peanut.  I used an off camera flash pointed at the peanut, and my 60mm lens with an extension tube.  Brought up the contrast a bit in lightroom and fixed the white balance.

Project 365 - Day 223 - Batteries

We're installing a new battery bank at work.  I saw the way that the patterns of black and red worked together.  But what's a guy to do when he didn't bring his camera to work?  Well, he gets the station Nikon D40 with the 18-105mm lens, that's what!

Nice little lens for the cost.  Much better than my 18-55mm kit lens that came with the D50 years ago...

Project 365 - Day 222 - Big Dipper

My Niece got married yesterday.  The ceremony and reception was at her parent's place in Erin.  The really cool thing about Erin is the lack of light noise.  I saw an old friend.

This is the big dipper above the trees right above their property.  I took some time out of shooting the wedding to get this shot.  And yes, this was technically shot today - albeit only a little after midnight ... :-)

Project 365 - Day 221 - Sunrise in Port Credit

Went back down to Credit Village Marina today.  I saw something the other night that I wanted to shoot.  There is this barge that has been beached to act as a wavebreak in fromt of the marina, and I thought it would look cool at sunrise.

I was surprized that it was only me and a bunch of fishermen on this beautiful Saturday morning...

Project 365 - Day 220 - Really Cool Sky

Shot over Burlington as I was coming home from a hair appointment this evening.  Very cool sky - would make for a cool sunset if it was still around.  Unfortunately I don't have that kind of time to wait around for the sun to set tonight ... :-)

Project 365 - Day 219 - Very cool and unexpected ....

Went down to Credit Village Marina tonight.  It was my first time down there, and it won't be my last.  Spoiler alert, you will see a sunrise from there very soon ... :-)

I was set up to take a shot of the curve of the pier, and I had my camera set up for f/22 with a 30 sec shutter.  I took a couple of shots and then opened the shutter for this one.  Just as my shutter opened, a guy rode by on a bike.  His back light was white instead of red like a usual tail light.  He was weaving in and out of people along the way too - actually kind of obnoxious about the whole thing.  When he got to the end, the shutter closed and this is what I had ...

Project 365 - Day 219 - Gladiolas

These glads popped up in our garden this year.  We're pretty sure we planted them, but not sure when that happened.  This guy is yellow/orange which is pretty cool.  I really like the way the petals on the bottom of the flower are rimmed with orange.

Project 365 - Day 218 - St Andrew's Catholic Church in Oakville

I have shot this church many times, it has a really cool steeple.  Tonight I went by at night and caught the stained glass all lit up.  After I got off about 6 shots, the lights inside the church went out.  Thankfully, I already had my shot...

 

I used a flash to make the church white.  I held the flash in my hand and popped it off 5 times right beside the camera.  I was using about a 2 second shutter here.

The angles were fixed in Lightroom - I had to fix the vertical alignment quite a bit. 

Sigma 11-14 lens, at 11mm  ISO400 at f/3.5  2 sec shutter.

Project 365 - Day 217 - Dragonfly

Got this guy while scoping out a location for a shoot I am doing next week.  There were a couple of these flying around, and a dog at the house where the photos are being taken was chasing them.  It was quite cute.  I got this shot as the dragonfly had landed, and before the dog realized that it was not flying around anymore...

Project 365 - Day 216 - Another sunrise in Mississauga

Every weekend I plan to get up early at least one day and catch the sunrise at some location or another.  Every weekend it seems we are going to bed late and I can't drag my butt out of bed.  Sonia tells me just to get up and get the shot and then go back to bed, but when you have had only 2-3 hours sleep it's hard to walk, let alone operate a camera.

Today I got up and got the shot.  Yes, we got to bed late last night. I really don't see the appeal of staying up past midnight, it's not like I'm twelve years old anymore.  When we got home, Sonia told me to wake her when I got up and she would take care of the dog and when I got back we would both go back to bed.  So that was the plan.

And I got the shot.

Sonia didn't go back to bed.

Someone is going to be cranky later.

Yes, that will be me...

Shot in Port Credit around the Snug Harbour restaraunt.

Project 365 - Day 215 - Brown Eyed Susan

Down at Lakeside Park in Mississauga.  These flowers were everywhere.  Nice bright sunny day and they were loving it.

Project 365 - Day 214 - Sunrise in Mississauga

This morning I left the house a little late.  Sonia was parked behind me, and she was moving her van as I was leaving.  When she pulled out of the driveway, she saw the sky and motioned for me to stop.  She then suggested that I might want to take my camera with me, and stop on the way.

If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't have today's picture.  I typically don't open my eyes until about half way into work, and I hardly ever take my camera to work.  So it would have been another one of those "oh, I wish I had brought my camera" days ... again... of which there are far too many.

Taken at Lakeside Park in Mississauga, at about 6:40 this am.

Project 365 - Day 213 - Gone Sailing

... or fishing ... or whatever ... but at least it was done on a sailboat.  No, I didn't go sailing, the guys on the boats are going sailing after a long workday.  What better way to finish a day off then on the lake on a nice late summer evening?

Oh I don't know, that cloud kind of looks menacing ... and that bird is making his final approach ...

Project 365 Day 212 - Rainbow

Got home tonight late, with 15 min left to take my picture.  But luckily, I had this shot planned out in my head.  Now executing was not as easy.

My wife has these colourful mixing bowls, and when I wash and put them away I always think they would make a great shot.  So tonight, I got out my two speedlights and set them up on either side of the stacked bowls.  I took this shot overhead on a piece of white foamcore board.

No too bad, bumped up the colours in LR and fixed the white balance.

Two off camera speedlights facing up towards the whilte ceiling and bouncing back.  The tough part was keeping my shadow out of the shot...