Waiting
2010 - Day 110. Apr. 20, 2010.
Daily Shoot - Make a photo of something that isn't there ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/156 ) . (@cellodav)
This is how I get my best bird shots - set up, get comfy, and wait.Waiting4538238308365365 photos2010365photosAprilCollingwoodbird feederspringdailyshootds156
Getting Ready for Bike Season
2010 - Day 109. Apr. 19, 2010.
Daily Shoot - It's metal Monday! Find a metallic subject today and make an interesting photo ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/155 ) .
Well it's time - almost warm enough for biking. Step number one has been accomplished. My bike is down from its winter home on the garage wall. I guess I better move on to step two and get rid of last year's trail dust!GettingReadyforBikeSeason4534724315365365 photos2010365photosAprilCollingwoodbicyclebike chainmacrospringds155
Inukshuk at Nightfall
2010 - Day 108. Apr. 18, 2010.
Daily Shoot - Challenge yourself with night photography today: heavenly bodies, cityscapes, landscapes, or where your muse leads you ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/154 ) !
The Inukshuk in Sunset Point Park looks across Nottawasaga Bay toward the Collingwood Grain Terminals.InukshukNightfall4533124295365365 photos2010365photosAprilCollingwoodNottawasaga BaySunset Point Parkdailyshootgrain elevatornightspringds154
Iris
2010 - Day 107. Apr. 17, 2010.
Daily Shoot - Break a rule today! Centered composition is generally considered boring and taboo, but can be interesting. Try it ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/153 ) !
I pulled the irises from my spring bouquet ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/dibytes/4521088362/ ) today but not before I took some time to explore them some more with my macro lens.iris4529157558AprilCollingwoodbouquetdailyshootflowersmacrospringds153
Inside a Bouquet
2010 - Day 106. Apr. 16, 2010. Daily Shoot - Bright, vivid colors can draw attention and add "pop" to a photo. Make a photo that has vivid colors today ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/152 ) . My flowers from earlier this week ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/dibytes/4521088362/ ) are still looking gorgeous. This is a macro shot of inside the bouquet. I like that it is both vibrant and delicate.
Insidebouquet4526689120365365 photos2010365photosAprilCollingwoodflowersmacrospringdailyshootds152
Osler Castle
2010 - Day 105. Apr. 15, 2010. Daily Shoot - Every town, village, or city has distinguishing icons and landmarks. Make a photo of one wherever you are today ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/151 ) . I hiked along the 'Petun Loop' of the Bruce Trail between Blue Mountain and Osler Bluff today to Osler Castle. This 15 room summer home was built in 1893 by Toronto Lawyer Britton Bath Osler, ( the crown attorney at the trial of Louis Riel), in the hope that 'fresh air' would improve the health of his ailing wife Caroline. Caroline named the castle "Kionontio", a Petun Indian word for 'top of the hill'. Vegetation, weather, and vandals have reduced the castle to ruins. The property is currently owned by Castle Glen Estates.
OslerCastle4524241439365 photosAprilBruce TrailCollingwoodGrey CountyOsler Castledailyshootspringtrailds151
Now That's a Bouquet!
2010 - Day 104. Apr. 14, 2010.
Daily Shoot - Can a picture suggest smell? Make a photograph of something that we can almost sniff and smell ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/150 ) . (@melhutch)
Yesterday was my birthday and my son and daughter in law sent me an armful of flowers. They smell like spring. :-)NowThat'sbouquet4521088362365365 photos2010365photosAprilCollingwoodflowersspringdailyshootds150
Young Family Evicted
2010 - Day 103. Apr. 13, 2010.
Daily Shoot - Pretend you're a stringer for your local newspaper today. Make a photo that captures something newsworthy to you. ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/149 )
The grackles are at it, terrorizing the neighborhood! (They're very nasty birds). I think it's likely early in the season for there to have been eggs in this nest - I hope!YoungFamilyEvicted4517725295365365 photos2010365photosAprilCollingwoodbird's nestnestspringyarddailyshootds149
Pansies
2010 - Day 102. Apr. 12, 2010.
Daily Shoot - Look for colors that complement each other and make a photo using complementary colors to full effect today ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/148 ) .
This will no doubt appear over-processed to the purists among you. I've had my fill of reality today, so I added a sketch filter with my Fractalius plugin for Photoshop. Part photo, part sketch the colours pop.pansies4516737694365 phots3652010365photosAprilCollingwooddailyshootflowersfractaliusspringds148
Blue Turning Green
2010 Day -100. Apr. 10, 2010.
There's very little snow left on Blue Mountain. The cloud obscuring the top of the hill was practically the only white in sight.BlueTurningGreen45083862132010365photos365365 photosAprilCollingwoodspringBlue Mountain
Empty Apartment
Daily Shoot - Pretend words don’t exist, only images. Make a photo today that conveys a story to those who see your work ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/146 ) .
EmptyApartment4508347111Collingwoodblack and whitedailyshootwalkerds146
Into the Fog
2010 - Day 99. Apr. 9, 2010.
Although the sun is shining now, cold and foggy was the theme for my walk earlier this morning. I always like the way this path in Harbourview Park disappears into the horizon. The fog added a sense of mystery today as it masked the horizon.Intothefog4505529012365365 photos2010365photosAprilCollingwoodHarbourview ParkNottawasaga Baypathspringtrailwaterwaterfront
Pond
2010 - Day 98. Apr. 8, 2010.
Daily Shoot - Put down your big, fancy camera today. Fully engage your artistic side by making a photo with minimal gear ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/144 ) .
No DSLR, no filters, no tripod - just my trusty Canon G9 point and shoot! I was attracted to the pond by the willow green, but it was the gorgeous reflection of the trees in the water that had me pulling out my camera. I knew I'd need a tripod to get the exposure right on this grey, rainy morning, but since I was doing this with 'minimal gear' I decided to go with what I could do well. Tthat meant going for colour and shape as opposed to detail! On this camera, shooting in aperture priority I can only go as small as f/8. That gave me a shutter speed of 1/30, just enough time for a quick motion blur. I focused on the top of the trees, (I know, it totally blew out the sky, but I already knew exposure was going to be an issue), released the shutter and quickly panned down to the reflection in the water. It's artistic and captures the essence of the scene while making the best use of the equipment I had.pond4503069747365365 photos2010365photosAprilCollingwoodreflectionspringtreeswaterwillow treeswillowsdailyshootds144
CLphoto-Assignment #1
I'm taking a free online course in digital photography through creativeLIVE, creativelive.com/courses/digitalphotography/ ( http://creativelive.com/courses/digitalphotography/ ) . The first session was today and was really an introductory overview. If you want to join you can easily jump into the second session. Our first assignment is to post a bad photo we've taken.
I took this shot last week as I dashed through the airport in Atlanta. I was using my Canon G9 point and shoot (it was easier to pack on our motorcycle trip ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/dibytes/sets/72157623761815960/ ) ). Because I needed to keep up with my group, I just pulled my camera out of my bag and shot on auto. The lighting is very bad but the shot still speaks to me. Since I always shoot RAW I'm pretty sure I can salvage this one in Lightroom so that it better represents the vision in my mind.CLphotoassignment4500938109statueslow lightAtlanta airportFundamentals of Digital PhotographycreativeLIVEcourse
Life in One Frame
2010 - Day 97. Apr. 7, 2010. Daily Shoot - Henri-Cartier Bresson said "Photography is nothing – it's life that interests me." Make a photo that reflects this quote ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/143 ) . It's really foggy and cold this morning. I wasn't sure what I'd find on my walk for today's Daily Shoot challenge. Then I saw it - life in one frame, a metaphoric shot! Foggy, clear, solid, vaporous, known, unknown, light, dark, smooth, jagged, calm, tumultuous, dull, vibrant...
LifeOneFrame4499679767365365 photos2010365photosAprilCollingwoodNottawasaga Baydailyshootfogrocksspringstreamwaterwaterfrontds143
Honey, I'm Home!
Daily Shoot - Speed or the sense of speed can add excitement to a photo. Make a photo of something going fast or that can go fast ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/142 ) .
This is take #2 for today's challenge. I was so inspired by @sskennel's entry ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/sskennel/4496534369/ ) and excellent explanation that I had to try it for myself! While this shot is just an experiment, it will make my husband happy! When he heard that today's challenge was 'speed', he was shocked that I hadn't taken a photo of the Mustang.
I used my polarizing filter to stop down the lens, but even so, at f/22 the slowest shutter speed I could get was .25 sec. I zoomed in as fast as I could to get the zoom blur. Now if we could just add sound ;-)HoneyI'mHome4497526653Collingwoodcardailyshootmustangzoom blurds142
Tempus Fugit
2010 - Day 96. Apr. 6, 2010.
Daily Shoot - Speed or the sense of speed can add excitement to a photo. Make a photo of something going fast or that can go fast ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/142 ) .
A thirteen second exposure captured the second hand moving on my clock. That's how I feel today - stressed. Time's ticking away as I chase pieces of paper in order to get my tax stuff into the accountant. Next year I'll file everything as it comes in - really :-(TempusFugit4497255280365365 photos2010365photosAprilclockhandsmotion blurtimedailyshootds142
Shades of Blue
2010 - Day 95. Apr. 5, 2010.
Daily Shoot - Blue is the color of sky and water. Many call it the color of hope. Make a photo with blue and what it represents to you ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/141 ) .
Don't let the Caribbean colours of Nottawasaga Bay today fool you - this is seriously cold water! Just two weeks ago it looked like this ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/dibytes/4448304711/ ) .
Blue to me represents water - cold, powerful, soul-nurturing, life-giving. It can be beautiful and serene, like today, or violent and threatening. Whatever its shade of blue or mood, I don't think I could live anywhere else but close to it.
Although the water was crystal clear today, my circular polarizing filter blocked out the glare so you can see the rocks clearly.ShadesBlue4494746709365365 photos2010365photosAprilCollingwoodNottawasaga Bayrocksspringwaterdailyshootds141
Buds are Bursting!
2010 - Day 94. Apr. 4, 2010.
Daily Shoot - Sunday challenge: Create a photograph that makes you feel happy looking at it. Don't stop at good. Go for full on happy ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/140 ) .
How can you not feel happy on a gorgeous spring day with buds bursting right before your eyes!budsareBursting4491085752365365 photos2010365photosAprilCollingwooddailyshootleavesmacrospringtreesyardds140
Catching Up
2010 - Day 93. Apr. 3, 2010.
Daily Shoot - Paper is versatile and malleable. From napkins to origami, it's all around. Make a photo of something made of paper ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/139 ) .
I like to read my news in the traditional newspaper form, even though it's dated by the time it gets to my door. After being away for a week, there's lots to catch up on!Catching4487049823dailyshootnewspapersds139365365 photos2010365photos
Quiet
2010 Day 92. Apr. 2, 2010.
Erika looks out over the valley on our motorcycle trip to the Smokey Mountains.It's nice to get off the bikes every once in a while, stretch your legs and listen to the quiet!
This is my second choice for Daily Shoot challenge #ds138 ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/138 ) .Quiet4486791659Smokey Mountainsbike tripmotorcyclesspring365365 photos2010365photos
You Can't Get There From Here
2010 - Day 89. Mar. 30, 2010.
Some of the group discussing routes on our motorcycle trip to the Smokey Mountains. The Blue Ridge Parkway was closed by rock slides, but there were lots of great alternate routes!YouCan'tGetThereFromHere4486771941Smokey Mountainsbike tripmotorcycles365365 photos2010365photos
Enjoying the Road
2010 Day 91. Apr. 1, 2010.
By the end of our motorcycle trip to the Smokey Mountains I was getting comfortable snapping pics from the back of the bike, while still keeping my eyes on the road so I could lean into the curves!EnjoyingtheRoad4486760627Smokey Mountainsbike tripmotorcyclesspring365365 photos2010365photos
Head in the Clouds
2010 - Day 88. Mar. 29, 2010.
Having my Canon G9 point and shoot around my neck while we rode meant I could snap off quick pics as I wanted. I grabbed this one of Gerald pulling up beside us when I saw the reflection of the clouds in his helmet!HeadtheClouds4486743635Smokey Mountainsbike tripmotorcyclesspring365365 photos2010365photos
View from the Top
2010 Day 87. Mar. 28, 2010.
Taken on our motorcycle trip to the Smokey Mountains. It's my runner-up for the Daily Shoot #ds 133 ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/133 ) backlighting challenge. It's really more side lighting I think.ViewfromtheTop4487371618Smokey Mountainsbike tripdailyshootmotorcyclesspring365365 photos2010365photos
Full-faced Fashion
Daily Shoot - Make a fashion photo today: a person modeling clothing, the clothes in your closet, an accessory that defines you, etc ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/138 ) .
I bought a new full-faced helmet for our motorcycle trip to the Smokey Mountains. Most of the trip was cooler than I was expecting, so I really appreciated the extra protection from the wind. This became my signature look for the trip :-).FullfacedFashion4485772727Smokey Mountainsbike tripmotorcyclesdailyshootds138
Freedom of the Road
Daily Shoot - Health care is in the news and affects all of us one way or another. Illustrate your feeling about health care in a photo ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/137 ) .
Three members of our group that rode motorcycles through the Smokey Mountains have had major heart surgery. The health care system we take for granted in Canada, while not perfect, provides us with the care we need, without the added worry of expense. That gives us the freedom to simply enjoy our lives and 'the ride'.
This shadow shot was taken with my Canon G9 from the back of our moving bike. I got pretty good at snapping shots by the end of the trip!FreedomtheRoad4485763189Smokey Mountainsbike tripdailyshootmotorcyclesds137
Hang On!
2010 - Day 90. March 31, 2010.
Daily Shoot - Look for the opportunity to photograph a subject or scene in natural light today. Pay careful attention to the exposure ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/136 ) .
Frankly when you're trying to snap pics from a moving bike while still keeping your eyes on the road, so you can lean into the corners, it's tough to think about the settings on your camera! I entrusted my Canon G9 to do that thinking for me!
We experienced gorgeous roads on our motorcycle trip through the Smokey Mountains!Hang4485755693Smokey Mountainsbike tripdailyshootmotorcyclesds136365365 photos2010365photos
Lichen
Daily Shoot - Today's theme is the color green. Make a photograph dominated by green and post it ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/135 ) .
A lichen-covered rock I spotted in Chimney Rock Park in the Smokey Mountains on our recent motorcycle trip.lichen4485724535North CarolinaSmokey Mountainsbike tripchimney rock parkmotorcyclesrockds135dailyshoot
Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!
Daily Shoot - Make a photograph today of something that produces a unique sound. Try to communicate that sound to the viewer ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/134 ) .
It's quite the sound when we start up the four motorcycles in our group!GentlemenStartYourEngines4485716183Smokey Mountainsbike tripdailyshootmotorcyclesds134
Into the Clouds
Daily Shoot - Sunday Challenge: Backlighting in a scene can create drama. Make a photo with interesting placement of backlit subjects ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/133 ) .
This was a tough challenge, as I was grabbing shots from the back of a moving motorcycle on our recent trip through the Smokey Mountains. The picture doesn't quite convey what flashed before my eyes - the mountain range disappearing as we ascended into the cloud level. The sun was behind those clouds!Intotheclouds4485709653Smokey Mountainsbike tripdailyshootmotorcyclestreesds133
Load 'Em Up!
2010 - Day 86. Mar. 27, 2010.
Daily Shoot - Sidewalks are great for people watching. Make a photograph of a sidewalk scene today ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/132 ) .
While we didn't have the bikes on the sidewalk, I did take this shot from there. We were quite the sight as we unloaded the bikes from the trailers in Atlanta, in preparation for our departure for the Smokey Mountains, packed them and then reloaded the unwanted items into the trailers to await our return. There was lots of decision-making, pushing, cramming and laughing! No nook or cranny went unused :-)Load'Em4486352110AtlantaSmokey Mountainsbike tripdailyshootmotorcyclesds132365365 photos2010365photos
D is for Delta
2010 - Day 85. Mar. 26, 2010. Daily Shoot - Think of a subject that starts with either the letter "D" or "S". Find it, and make a photo ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/131 ) ! The wives in our motorcycle group drove to Buffalo to catch a flight to Atlanta where our husbands had trailered the motorcycles after golfing for a week. I packed my little Canon G9 point and shoot camera to take photos from the roads through the Smokey Mountains.
forDelta4485680299365365 photos2010365photosBuffaloAtlantaSmokey Mountainsairplanesairportmotorcycle tripdailyshootds131
Swans
2010 - Day 84. Mar. 25, 2010.
Daily Shoot - Time to revisit a traditional photographic look. Make a black and white photo with high contrast today ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/130 ) .
Black and white was easy, but high contrast is not a look I usually go for. I took quite a few shots this morning and processed them with high contrast but they didn't work - I was trying to force something I didn't see in the first place. That prompted me to take another quick walk, but this time I looked for contrast. It's partially cloudy and grey today, but the light on the water attracted me to this spot. (I didn't add a vignette. This is how dark the water was when the light fell off). Then all I had to do was wait for the swans to fill it :-).swans4462666548CollingwoodHarbourview ParkMarchNottawasaga Bayblack and whitespringwaterdailyshootds130
Sunshine Arrived in a Bouquet
2010 - Day 83. Mar. 24, 2010.
A dear friend and colleague thought I could use some springtime cheer, so she sent me this incredibly beautiful bouquet. It worked! Thanks Susan!SunshineArrivedbouquet44611079062010365photos365365 photosCollingwoodMarchblossomsflowersspringyellow
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro Lens - Rediscover Your World!
Daily Shoot - Imagine you've been commissioned to photograph a product for a company's marketing dept. Give us your best product shot ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/129 ) .
I'm happy to do a little promotion here. I love this lens! I am however pretty ticked with myself that I didn't pay attention to the shadow in the background :-(. (I marked it with a note).Canon100mmf28USMMacrolensRediscoverYour4461012284Canon EF 100mm f2.8 USM Macro LensCollingwoodMarchcameradailyshootmacro lensds129
Chaos
2010 - Day 82. Mar. 23, 2010.
Daily Shoot - Look for angles today: 90s, 45s, or any other combination of angles that make an interesting composition ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/128 ) .
When I first read the challenge for today I was thinking of organized, symmetrical patterns. As I was trying to consider my patio stones from a new angle, birds were flitting about working on this nest. Then I saw all the crazy angles. The whole scene just looks so chaotic! The sky's a write off today - dark and grey, so I blew it out and lightened the shadows to give the photo a bit of graphic punch.Chaos4456541123CollingwoodMarchbird's nestdailyshootgrassnesttreetwigssticksspringds128365365 photos2010365photos
It's Time...
Daily Shoot - Set an alarm for a random time today. Any time. When it goes off, pick up your camera and find a photo near where you are ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/127 ) .
The ringing of the town clock prompted me to look for a photo op. A clear, deep blue sky provided the perfect backdrop for the bell tower and clock atop Collingwood's Town Hall.It'sTime4455207714CollingwoodMarchTown Hallbell towerclockdailyshootdowntownds127
Spring - a 'Stream' is Born
2010 - Day 81. Mar. 22, 2010.
This 'stream' flows into Black Ash Creek and will last only as long as the snowbanks that are feeding it. I like the way my polarizing filter cut the glare on the water and let me see the grass beneath.spring'Stream'Born44544586612010365photos365365 photosBlack Ash Creek TrailBlack Ash CreekCollingwoodMarchgrassrockstrailswater
Springtime Iceflow
2010 - Day 80. Mar. 21, 2010.
Daily Shoot - Sunday challenge: It's a new season (Spring up north, Fall down south). Make a photograph that illustrates the change ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/126 ) .
It's a pretty dull day today - not the best conditions for taking landscape shots. Iceflows dominate our weather (the temperature in particular) in the spring. Some days the ice will be blown way out into the bay; today is one of those days when it's back in the harbour. It will come and go many times before it finally melts.SpringtimeIceflow44510844342010365photos365365 photosCollingwoodHarbourview ParkMarchNottawasaga Bayicespringwaterwaterfrontdailyshootds126
Melting
2010 Day 79. Mar. 20, 2010.
Daily Shoot - Liquids can be still and reflective or in motion and chaotic. Make a photograph of something liquid today ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/125 ) .
Spring arrived on the coldest and darkest day this week. It's great to see the shoreline reappearing!Melting4448304711365365 photos2010365photosCollingwoodMarchNottawasaga Bayicesnowwaterwaterfrontdailyshootds125
Mornings are a Blur!
Clyde can't face the morning until he has had his breakfast.
Daily Shoot - Change your angle today. Make a photo from 1' (30 cm) off the ground and post it. ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/124 ) .
This shot is a mistake but still resulted in an interesting photo. I didn't use my flash because I wanted Clyde to ignore me. (He did wonder why I was lying on the floor, but he decided to deal with it on a full stomach :-). I shot in aperture priority and the 2.5 sec. exposure caught me by surprise - it's tough to hold the camera steady that long, especially while lying on the floor! I almost deleted the photo in camera but decided I liked my somewhat transparent cat.MorningsareBlur4444881909dailyshootds124ClydeCollingwoodMarchcateatingmotion blurlong exposure
Railroad
2010 - Day 77. Mar. 18, 2010.
Daily Shoot - Find something that's so old it's almost timeless and make a photograph of it ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/123 ) .
The arrival of the railroad in 1855 established Collingwood and its harbour as the shipping point for goods destined for the upper Great Lakes ports of Chicago and Port Arthur-Ft. William (now Thunder Bay). Only one small segment of that once vital transportation link remains to service local industry. The original line, no longer in service, now forms the backbone of the beautiful trail system in our area. This photo shows a scene independent of time. It could have been taken today, 50 years ago or 150 years ago.
Creative Life Assignment DOF
Canon EOS REBEL T1i | Sigma 18-200mm 3.5-6.3 | 0.04 sec (1/25) | f/18.0 | 18 mmrailroad4443156641365365 photos2010365photosCollingwoodMarchrailwayrailway trackstracksdailyshootds123
Spring Runoff
2010 - Day 76. Mar. 17, 2010.
Daily Shoot - Grab your camera and walk 2 minutes in any direction. Stop. Find a photo worth making from where you stopped and post it ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/122 ) .
A very short trail walk from my house, Black Ash Creek is a mere trickle in the summer. With spring runoff well underway it's a very different scene right now.
I used my circular polarizing filter and small aperture to obtain a slower shutter speed in order to get a soft flow to the water. Not quite as silky as I wanted but there was just too much light, (and I'll be the last person to ever complain about sunshine!).springRunoff44407644472010365photos365365 photosBlack Ash CreekCollingwoodMarchwaterdailyshootds122
Cheer X 3
2010 - Day 75. Mar. 16, 2010. Daily Shoot - Today's theme is "3". Make a photograph that features the number itself or otherwise represents 3 items ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/121 ) . I went for the literal interpretation today :-). I wish I could tell you that I have daffodils growing in my garden but it's still way too early for that. I took my potted plant outside to shoot in the natural light. In processing, I applied the new sketch filter in Topaz Adjust 4 to try it out. It's very natural looking but just adds a bit of soft punch (if that makes any sense). I applied the filter to its own layer and then reduced the opacity. Now I'm off to take the plant to my mom in hospital. I hope it brightens her day as much as it already has mine!
Cheer4438007129365365 photos2010365photosCollingwoodMarchdaffodilsflowersdailyshootds121