Dramatic Lily
2010 - Day 74. Mar. 15, 2010.
Same bouquet as yesterday's pic ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/dibytes/4433822486/ ) , but a very different mood for me - dark and dramatic. While I don't love it, I really enjoyed the experimentation that brought me to this point.Dramaticlily4437152756365365 photos2010365photosCollingwoodMarchmacro
Surprise!
Daily Shoot - Trees and plants are great photographic subjects. Make a photograph of a tree or plant today ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/120 ) .
I'm pretty sure this is a hyacinth. It's sprouting in my south-facing garden where just a week ago sat a snowbank. The funny thing is that I didn't plant it! Every fall the squirrels rearrange all the bulbs in the neighborhood. It's always a surprise to see what comes up!Surprise4436083381CollingwoodMarchhyacinthmacroplantdailyshootds120
I'm Outside!
Daily Shoot - Sunday challenge: Catchlights in the eyes make a portrait sing. Make a portrait of someone with catchlights in their eyes ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/119 ) .
Not the best shot of catchlights in Clyde's eyes but I like the portrait shot anyway. I used my 100 mm macro lens which takes beautiful soft portraits. It worked well here in the muted light of a grey day. I like the watery nature of Clyde's eyes in this light and the very soft highlights. Clyde, by the way, is usually the best model, but today he was way more interested in the birds than in posing for me.A Private Moment
2010 - Day 72. Mar. 13, 2010.
Daily Shoot - Curves, squiggles, and flowing lines interest the eye. Make a photograph dominated by a curvy shape of some sort today ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/118 ) .
The ice is breaking up in Nottawasaga Bay so there's more room for the water fowl that overwintered to spread out. The swans were in much smaller groupings today and appeared to me to be pairing up.PrivateMoment44303841602010365photos365365 photosCollingwoodHarbourview ParkMarchNottawasaga Bayswanswater
Blackberry
2010 - Day 71. Mar. 12, 2010.
Daily Shoot - Electronic gadgets pervade our world. You've probably got several. Make a photo of your favorite gadget today ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/117 ) .
Blackberry - an aggregate fruit. This powerful tool, (long ago elevated from 'gadget' status), is key to aggregating all the many pieces of my life as a manageable whole.Blackberry44267882672010365photos365365 photosCollingwoodMarchmacrodailyshootds117
Are You Following Me?
2010 - Day 70. Mar. 11, 2010.
I was attracted to this gull because it fit the colour palette of the scene so beautifully. This shot immediately precedes my shot for today's Daily Shoot Challenge ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/dibytes/4425023410/ ) . This is my 'follow the rules' shot where I focused on the gull's eye. The next one ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/dibytes/4425023410/ ) is my 'break the rules shot'. They have very different moods.AreYouFollowing44250475222010365photos365365 photosCollingwoodHarbourview ParkMarchseagull
Look Out Below!
Daily Shoot - "Rules" can be stifling if taken to extremes. Break the rules today with focus, composition, etc, and see what happens ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/116 ) . The rule I always try to abide by when shooting wildlife is to get the eye in focus. In the shot right before this one ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/dibytes/4425047522/ ) I nailed it. In this shot the gull took off and I just focused on its tail feathers and feet. Not only did I not focus on its eye, I missed the head altogether :-). It's a very different mood from the previous shot ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/dibytes/4425047522/ ) - kind of comical!
LookOutBelow4425023410CollingwoodHarbourview ParkMarchdailyshootseagullds116
Drip, Drip, Drip
2010 - Day 69. Mar. 10, 2010.
Snowbanks continue to melt in my yard as we are still blessed with temperatures above freezing. Drip, drip, drip...music to my ears!Drip44224293972010365photos365365 photosCollingwoodMarchdropsicemelting snowsnowwater
Mom, We Need Flowers!
Daily Shoot - Street scenes capture life on the go, be it a bustling city or a quaint village. Make a photo of a street scene today ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/115 ) .
It was so nice to walk downtown this morning with shoes on my feet instead of boots! The snowbanks have been removed by the good folks at Public Works and vendors are even starting to place displays on the sidewalk again. This little girl was admiring the flower display in front of Smarts Flowers on Hurontario Street.MomNeedFlowers4423161248CollingwoodHurontario StreetMarchdailyshootstreet sceneds115
Lily
2010 - Day 68. Mar. 9, 2010.
Daily Shoot - Most of us enjoy some symmetry in our lives. Look around for it today and make a symmetrical photo ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/114 ) (via @melhutch).
I used today's Daily Shoot assignment as an excuse to buy another bouquet of flowers. (Thanks Daily Shoot!). I like the symmetry and simplicity of lilies and wanted to make the most of the incredible sunshine streaming through my windows. I placed the lilies so they were backlit and used my macro lens wide open at f/2.8. The edges of the petals were blown out but I like the effect. Since the focus is so soft anyway, it looks like the edges fade into the light.lily44207710202010365photos365365 photosMarchblossomdailyshootflowermacrods114
Morning Blue
2010 - Day 67. Mar. 8, 2010.
Daily Shoot - Take care of the Monday blues by picking up your camera. Make a photograph dominated by the color blue ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/113 ) .
This is Nottawasaga Bay - frozen over and covered with accumulated mounds of ice and snow. I should have been able to see the shoreline on the other side, but the air this morning hung with moisture that glowed in the early morning sunlight. This is not the cold, bleak, slate-grey we've seen all winter. This is much warmer and fresher - a sign of approaching Spring!morningBlue44177880882010365photos365365 photosCollingwoodMarchNottawasaga BaySunset Point Parkdailyshooticesnowwinterds113
Sunset
Daily Shoot - Sunday Challenge: Make a photo of a sunrise or sunset today ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/112 ) .
The sun sets on a gorgeous spring-like day - Blue Mountain and the Collingwood Terminals seen across a frozen Nottawasaga Bay from Sunset Point Park.sunset4415214865CollingwoodMarchNottawasaga BaySunset Point Parkdailyshooticesnowwinterds112
Carpe Diem
2010 - Day 66. Mar. 7, 2010.
Today has been a simply gorgeous preview of Spring! I sat in a cleared space on my south-facing patio and watched the snow melt :-). I couldn't believe my eyes when a ladybug landed on the snowbank beside me. I don't imagine these insects live very long, but this one won't make it until tomorrow - it is after all still winter. If you only get one day, this is a nice one!CarpeDiem44144410272010365photos365365 photosCollingwoodMarchladybugsnowwinter
Ouch!
2010 - Day 65. Mar. 6, 2010
As beautiful as they are, swans are vicious birds! A flock of swans was feeding this morning in a sheltered bay in Harbourview Park, and definitely not playing nicely. (This part of the bay, adjacent to the sewage treatment plant, doesn't freeze over, and so is a perfect sheltering spot for water fowl.)Ouch4411446938365365 photos2010365photosCollingwoodHarbourview ParkMarchswanswater
Wall of Honour
Daily Shoot - Lists guide an eye in a linear way: menus, recipes, etc. As you're out and about today, find a list and make a photo ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/111 ) .
This Wall of Honour, dedicated to the memory of Collingwood's war veterans, peaks out from a snowbank, partially revealing the list of names of our veterans. Warmer temperatures this week should drop the snow level to reveal more names.WallHonour4410549077CollingwoodMarchdailyshootmemorial wallwar veteransds111
Mmmm - A Staple of Life!
2010 - Day 64. Mar.5, 2010.
Daily Shoot - Food engages all the senses. Make a photograph of food that causes our mouth to water or pucker. Get the viewer engaged ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/110 ) .
I love artisanal breads! This is cranberry pumpkin seed. Just add some cheese, a salad and a glass of wine and you've got a meal!MmmmStapleLife4408938230CollingwoodMarchbreaddailyshootmacrods110365365 photos2010365photos
Bamboo
2010 - Day 63. Mar.4, 2010.
Daily Shoot - Striped patterns have a natural pattern that catches the eye. Find some stripes today and make a photo ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/109 ) .
I bought these bamboo place mats because they look like spring to me!bamboo44064177872010365photos365365 photosCollingwoodMarchdailyshootstripespatternds109
Collingwood Terminals
2010 - Day 62. Mar. 3, 2010.
Daily Shoot - Weathered objects have a lot of character: cracked, rusted, bleached, etc. Give us your best weathered shot today ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/108 ) .
I've posted numerous photos of Collingwood's grain elevators before (e.g. here ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/dibytes/4275932026/ ) , here ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/dibytes/4081109401/ ) and here ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/dibytes/3913672463/ ) ). They anchor our waterfront and can be seen for miles from the escarpment. The elevators represent the economic roots of our community - agriculture, ship building and shipping. Times change; the railroad is gone, as are the huge lakers that loaded and unloaded in our harbour. This two million bushel grain elevator now sits empty, weathered and neglected, awaiting its future use.CollingwoodTerminals44039761372010365photos365365 photosCollingwood TerminalsMarchgrain elevatorswinterdailyshootds108
Can't See the Forest for the Trees
2010 - Day 61. Mar. 2, 2010.
Daily Shoot - Find out what those buttons and dials on your camera do. Play today! Try a new setting and make a photo ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/107 ) .
I hope everyone had as much fun 'playing' today as I did! I snowshoed through Loree Forest in Grey County on top of the escarpment this morning. I wanted to convey the feeling of being surrounded by trees. I used a slow shutter speed (1/4 sec) and quickly panned up the trees as I released the shutter button. It took a couple of tries to get a shot with pretty much vertical lines. (The trees looked pretty wonky in some of my discards.) I really enjoyed myself and learned some more about motion blur!Can'tSeetheForestfortrees44017659733652010photos365365 photosGrey CountyLoree ForestMarchsnowwinterdailyshootds107
Skater
Daily Shoot - During the Olympics, we saw many images of sports. Make your own photo of a sports activity, gear, or spirit today ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/106 ) .
Canadians won't forget the thrill of these Winter Games for a long time! I wonder if this skater on Collingwood's outdoor rink was thinking about her own podium moment.Skater4399254146CollingwoodMarchdailyshooticeskatersskatingskating rinkwinterds106
Poolside
2010 - Day 60. March 1, 2010.
March came in like the proverbial lamb. (I don't even want to think about the rest of that old adage). This is my pool - I'm pretty sure it's under there. You could feel the warmth today as the thermometer almost hit zero. Sunshine, blue sky, melting snow...ahhh... Maybe I'll dig out one of these chairs and put my feet up!Poolside43992905282010365photos365 photos365CollingwoodMarchMuskoka chairspoolsnowwinteryard
The Colours of Happiness
2010 - Day 59. Feb. 28, 2010
Daily Shoot - Sunday challenge: Make a photo that invokes or communicates happiness to the viewer. Make 'em feel it, not just see it! ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/105 )
These cheery gerbera daisies make me feel happy!TheColoursHappiness43968849333652010photos365365 photosCollingwoodFebruaryblossomsdailyshootflowersgerbera daisiesmacrods105
Horizon
Daily Shoot - The horizon can be a strong composition element. Make a photograph that emphasizes the horizon today ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/104 ) .
My apologies for posting a second shot to today's challenge, and from the archives at that, but I'll be depressed all day if I have to limit myself to the pathetic landscape I can barely see out my window ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/dibytes/4391831283/ ) ! I have many photos of incredible horizons from my trip to Mexico; I wanted to share this one because the story is the horizon. This a long exposure of the Bay of Banderas after sunset in Nuevo Vallarta.
OK, I feel better now :-)Horizon4391907983Bay of BanderasJanuaryMexicoNuevo Vallartabeachoceansunsetwavesdailyshootds104
To the Rescue
2010-58. Feb. 27, 2010.
Worth their weight in gold, the guys in Collingwood's Public Works department do a wonderful job of clearing our streets. Without them we'd have to snowshoe everywhere :-).theRescue43926323023652010photos365365 photosCollingwoodFebruaryploughsnowsnow ploughstormwinter
Until Further Notice - the Horizon Has Been Cancelled!
Daily Shoot - The horizon can be a strong composition element. Make a photograph that emphasizes the horizon today ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/104 ) .
Gosh, I can be as creative as the next person, but this is tough! We're sitting right underneath a band of snowsqualls, limiting visibility in gusts to almost zero. This is the view down my street from my front porch. I do think the horizontal lines of the snowbanks mimic the horizon.UntilFurtherNoticetheHorizonHasBeenCancelled4391831283CollingwoodFebruarydailyshootsnowstormwinterds104
Arctic Cat?
2010-57. Feb. 26, 2010.
This is as far as I got trying to dig out my car today. I give up! Maybe I need to trade this 'cat' for an 'Arctic Cat'.ArcticCat43899409692010365photos365365 photosCollingwoodFebruarysnowstormwintercarJaguar
View from a Snowdrift
Daily Shoot - Novelty can help goose creativity. Go somewhere today you've never been, even just a different street, and make a photo ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/103 ) .
Tough challenge on a day where just leaving the house is impossible! Remember earlier this week when a section of my patio 're-appeared' ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/dibytes/4379005511/ ) ? Well it's buried again! This snowdrift is new, a place that didn't even exist 24 hours ago - so, I present to you 'View from a Snowdrift'.ViewfromSnowdrift4389913341CollingwoodFebruarydailyshootsnowsnow driftsnowbankstormwinterds103
School of Petals
2010-56. Feb. 25, 2010.
Daily Shoot - Negative space can be just as important to a composition as your primary subject. Explore negative space in a photograph ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/102 ) .
My gerbera daisy is looking a little rough these days. I used my macro lens to blur the green leaves behind the petals to create negative space. When I looked through the lens I was delighted to see the resemblance to fish! The negative space emphasizes that shape.SchoolPetals43877353843652010photos365365 photosCollingwoodFebruaryblossomflowergerbera daisymacrodailyshootds102
Contemporary Still Life
2010-55. Feb. 24, 2010.
Daily Shoot - There is often a conflict between traditional and contemporary. Make a photo that shows this tension. (@melhutch) ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/101 )
I think of 'the still life' as a traditional art form. I wanted to try a still life photograph today but give it a contemporary edginess. In Photoshop I made rectangular shape selections on my photo and copied each selection to its own layer. I then played with the blending modes for the layers and added different styles of drop shadows. I think it works. There's tension between the traditional still life in the background and the contemporary geometric shapes in the foreground. Thanks @melhutch for really making me think today :-)contemporaryStillLife43856772722010365photos365 photos365CollingwoodFebruarytraditionalstill lifetulipsdailyshootds101
Blending In
2010-54. Feb. 23, 2010.
Daily Shoot - Monochrome photos don't have to be the result of processing or desaturation. Find a monochrome composition and shoot it ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/100 ) .
I have to admit I was disappointed when I saw today's challenge. Yes, it's easy; after all I am living in a monochromatic world, but I'm tired of cold blue ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/dibytes/4253974795/ ) , and slate grey ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/dibytes/4348833369/ ) .
For today's walk I headed away from the waterfront and did come across a slighter warmer looking monochromatic palette. While I was looking around for some kind of focal point, a dog bounded into the scene. I usually meet at least one dog and owner on the trail; but this meeting was pure serendipity. The dog blended perfectly with the palette and gave me a subject to focus on. (My focus was a little off as both hands and camera were frozen).Blending43822757402010365photos365365 photoCollingwoodFebruaryHarbourview Parkdogmonochromaticsnowwinterdailyshootds100
Hey - There's My Patio!
2010-53. Feb. 22.
Yesterday's sunshine uncovered part of my patio. It will be covered again by nightfall, but I can picture myself sitting there in a few weeks time.
(This was going to be my pic for today's Daily Shoot challenge ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/99 ) , but I opted for this shot ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/dibytes/4378948699/ ) instead.)HeyThere'spatio43790055112010365365365 photosCollingwoodFebruaryblack and whiteinterlocking bricksnowwinter