Photoblog 2010

Photos from my second 365 project in 2010.

...

Beauty Underfoot
Daily Shoot - Squares and grids surround us in our built environment. Focus in on some squares today and make a photograph ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/99 ) .

We have beautiful oak floors in our home. This is a section of the parquet floor from our dining room. It was assembled piece by piece, by an 'old-time craftsman' who has since passed away. It's not perfectly square and shows that the dining room is the hub of our home. I love the shapes and the beautiful grain of the wood. Since today's 'story' is about shape, I removed the rich colour, converting the photo to black and white using the Antique Plate setting in Nik's Silver Efex Pro. This setting creates an antique feel and adds a vignetting effect to the edges. It's fitting - this beautiful artistry will live on long after we're gone.
Beauty Underfoot 4378948699 Collingwood February dailyshoot ds99 floor oak pattern parquet squares
Reaching for the Light
2010-52. Feb. 21, 2010.

Daily Shoot - Backgrounds are tricky. They can make a subject stand out or distract from it. Make a photo with a good background today ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/98 ) .

The sun is shining today! My plants all seem to be turning themselves inside out to reach some of that beautiful light :-). This is a macro shot of my heather plant. The f/13 aperture gave me good sharpness in the subject, blurred the background enough to make the subject really stand out, but still left enough detail in the shapes so that you can tell what they are. I like the way the background echoes the subject's tilt toward the light. I am quite comfortable with this new lens now!
Reaching for the Light 4376156621 2010365photos 365 365 photos Collingwood February blossoms flowers heather macro dailyshoot ds98
Ready to Cheer in Style!
2010-51. Feb. 20, 2010.

Daily Shoot - An old adage in photography says if you want to improve your photographs, move closer. Fill your frame today ( ) !

Thanks to my neighbour Cindy, I now have some 2010 Olympic mittens! Woohoo! I'm ready to cheer on my country in style!
Ready Cheer Style 4373879592 2010365photos 365 365 photos Collingwood February mittens olympics winter dailyshoot ds97
Inukshuk
2010-50. Feb. 19, 2010.

Daily Shoot - Symbols can be simple, ornate, plain, or colorful. Make a photo of a symbol that represents or stands for something else ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/96 ) .

You may recognize this shape from watching coverage of the 2010 Olympics. The logo of the Vancouver Olympics is based on the Inuit Inukshuk, stone markers that have been used in the Arctic for centuries to guide hunters and travellers. The Inuit Inukshuk has become a symbol of leadership, cooperation, and the human spirit. This Inukshuk stands in Sunset Point Park in Collingwood overlooking Nottawasaga Bay. It is a tribute to local resident Peter Crompton who lost his life in a boating accident.

The sun was trying to break through the clouds this morning, giving the slate grey water, ice and sky we've grown accustomed to this winter a bluer cast. In order to increase the tonal range, I took 3 shots with -2/0/+2 exposures and combined them as an HDR image in Photomatix Pro.
Inukshuk 4370545095 2010365photos 365 365 photos Collingwood February Sunset Point Park snow waterfront winter dailyshoot ds96
Objects in the Mirror...
2010-49. Feb. 18, 2010.

Daily Shoot - Frames outline the focus of a subject. Make a creative photo with natural framing: windows, doors, trees, borders, etc ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/95 ) .

I went outside to take a picture of the snowbank at the end of my driveway reflected in the side mirror of my car. Ha! No such luck! Freezing drizzle covered everything in a layer of ice. (Have I mentioned how much I'm enjoying winter?)
Objects the mirror 4368701020 2010365photos 365 photos 365 Collingwood February car freezing rain ice snow winter ds95 dailyshoot
Look But Don't Touch!
2010-48. Feb. 17, 2010.

Daily Shoot - Fragility conveys tension. Make a photo today of a person or object in a fragile state. ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/94 ) .

I love hydrangeas! These ones are dried and so brittle they practically disintegrate if you look at them too long. Today's photo was their last hurrah. They're now residing in my green bin :-(.

[Note: If you've been following my photostream you'll know that I've been trying to master my macro lens. I can now report I'm getting quite comfortable with it!]
Look But Don't Touch 4364831477 365 365 photos 2010365photos Collingwood February dried flowers flowers hydrangea blossoms macro dailyshoot ds94
The Shipyards
2010-47. Feb. 16, 2010.

Daily Shoot - Things are always a-changin'. Make a photo that offers a snapshot of something being built, fabricated, or assembled ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/93 ) .

The Shipyards development on Collingwood's waterfront overshadows the tiny fish huts on the frozen harbour. On the site of the former Collingwood Shipyards, where giant Great Lakes freighters were built until the late 1980's, this 40 acre waterfront community will bring shops, restaurants, condos, townhouses, walkways, trails and parkland to the former industrial waterfront.
The Shipyards 4362569091 365 365 photos 2010365photos Collingwood Collingwood Harbour Collingwood Shipyards February building construction fish huts ice snow winter dailyshoot ds93
Go Canada Go!
2010-46. Feb. 15, 2010.

Daily Shoot - It's Presidents Day in the U.S today. Make a photo with a patriotic theme for the country you call home. ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/92 ) .
Canada 4359099095 365 365 photos 2010365photos Collingwood flag Canadian flag olympic rings dailyshoot ds92
Bokeh Love
2010-45. Feb. 14, 2010

Daily Shoot - Sunday (Valentine's Day) challenge: What is love? Make an interpretive photo today. ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/91 ) .

I was expecting my usual roses today :-), but my husband surprised me with a diamond necklace instead! He said since I'd been buying flowers lately for my macro explorations he thought I probably didn't need any more :-).

I used my macro lens for this shot but decided to go for the bokeh from the light reflected off the diamonds. I opened the aperture right up to blur the focus and catch the light. I've got to buy some proper lighting, but I'm reasonably happy with the shot (and very happy with the gift!). Happy Valentine's Day!
bokeh Love 4355992763 Collingwood February Valentine's Day dailyshoot diamonds heart macro necklace 365 365 photos 2010365photos ds91
TEN-orchid6
David duChemin's TEN

Exercise #1: Get pickier

Once I found my 'story', I had to decide the best way to tell it - how much DOF.
TEN orchid6 4353654047 Collingwood February blossom flower macro orchid plant
TEN-orchid5
David duChemin's TEN

Exercise #1: Get pickier

Finally found the 'story' in my focused orchid shots.
TEN orchid5 4354374534 Collingwood February blossom flower macro orchid plant
TEN-orchid4
David duChemin's TEN

Exercise #1: Get pickier

Reject from my hour/100frames spent with my macro lens and recently purchased orchid.
TEN orchid4 4354374426 Collingwood February blossom flower macro orchid plant
TEN-orchid3
David duChemin's TEN

Exercise #1: Get pickier

Reject from my hour/100frames spent with my macro lens and recently purchased orchid.
TEN orchid3 4353628465 Collingwood February blossom flower macro orchid plant
TEN-orchid2
David duChemin's TEN

Exercise #1: Get pickier

Reject from my hour/100frames spent with my macro lens and recently purchased orchid.
TEN orchid2 4354374166 Collingwood February blossom flower macro orchid plant
TEN-orchid1
David duChemin's TEN

Exercise #1: Get pickier

Reject from my hour/100frames spent with my macro lens and recently purchased orchid.
TEN orchid1 4354374044 Collingwood February blossom flower macro orchid plant
Guardian of the Orchid
2010-44. Feb. 13, 2010.

Daily Shoot - Odd or even: Compose an image with an odd or even number of subjects today, and make a photo. ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/90 )

I'm still on a mission to master my macro lens. I've figured out the DOF and found the sweet spot of the lens, but so far I've just taken closeups of flowers like here ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/dibytes/4350873701/ ) and here ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/dibytes/4347617672/ ) . OK, they're sharp, have a decent DOF and are pretty. So??? I went back and looked at other people's macros that I've favourited. Then I saw it! The goal is not to get as much of the closeup as tack sharp as you can. The goal is to capture a part of that macro world that you don't normally see, that makes you suck in your breath and go 'ah'! I spent a long time with the orchid I bought the other day, just looking through the viewfinder. Then I spotted it - the 'ah' moment. The orchid anther has two pollen sacs attached to sticky discs that look like eyes. There was my 'story' - the personification of the orchid. The story then helped me to decide to go for less DOF so that just the 'face and eyes' were tack sharp. I think I've learned a lot :-)

(This photo has been used on the web here ( http://orchids.slm1006.com/orchid-flower/water-garden-for-orchids-flowers.html ) .)
Guardian the orchid 4353215485 2010365photos 365 365 photos Collingwood February blossom flower macro plant dailyshoot ds90
Handle with Care
2010-43. Feb. 12, 2010.

Daily Shoot - Continuing the Friday fun theme, make a photo that goes with the title of a book you've read. ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/89 )

Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult. This book, dealing with medical ethics, personal morality and the struggles of caring for a disabled child, is a tough read for any parent. I bought my first orchid yesterday and decided it symbolizes Picoult's story. Caring for these delicate plants requires commitment, knowledge and skill but reaps huge rewards.

[Note: This photo has been replaced. Please see the comment from @susanvg and my reply to her. Thanks Susan!]
Handle with Care 4350873701 2010365photos 365 365 photos Collingwood February blossom dailyshoot flower macro orchid plant ds89
Immersed in Pink
2010-41. Feb. 10, 2010.

I want to get as many shots as I can of the bouquet of gerbera daisies I bought yesterday. I purchased a Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro Lens last fall and haven't had a lot of opportunity to use it. Since I'm wimping out of the outdoor trail walks these days, I decided this is the perfect time for some practice! I have to say macro photography has a steep learning curve and I've been unimpressed with the performance of my (expensive) lens. Turns out user inexperience accounted for the less than stellar results ;-). I finally found the sweet spot of my lens (F/11-F/13) and am happy with the results.
Immersed pink 4347617672 2010365 365 365 photos Collingwood February blossom flower gerbera daisies macro winter
"Artist" at Work
Daily Shoot - We all have some sort of hobby or favorite activity. Make a photo that shows something you enjoy doing ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/87 ) .

I love to create! I get as much enjoyment from processing my photos as I do from taking them! When I grow up I would love to be able to do something artistic :-)
Artist Work 4347238968 Collingwood February computer dailyshoot ds87
Gerbera Daisies
2010-40. Feb. 9, 2010. Daily Shoot - Franz Kafka said "Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old." Make a photo of something beautiful today. ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/86 ) I used today's Daily Shoot challenge as an excuse to buy myself a bouquet of flowers :-). These gerbera daisies are gorgeous!
Gerbera Daisies 4344328187 2010365photos dailyshoot 365 365 photos Collingwood February blossom flower gerbera daisies macro pink winter ds86
My Dad's Back
2010-39. Feb. 8, 2010.

Daily Shoot - Pet photos are such a cliche, but they're also cute. Make an interesting photo of a pet today. ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/85 )

Clyde's been glued to us since we returned from our vacation this weekend. My husband sat down with his laptop and coffee this morning to catch up on sports scores, but Clyde insisted that the laptop go so he could have 'Dad's' lap!
Dad's Back 4341061538 365 365 original Clyde Collingwood February cat dailyshoot winter ds85
Recharging
2010-38. Feb. 7, 2010.

Daily Shoot - Practice storytelling today. Look for 3 images that tell a story, and make a set of photos that go together ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/84 ) .

Clyde spent the morning basking in the sunshine that streamed through the patio door. (I did check every once in a while to see if he was still breathing ;-) ).
Recharging 4338496564 Clyde Collingwood February cat dailyshoot sunshine winter ds84 365 365 photos 2010365photos
The Road Home
2010-37. Feb. 6, 2010.

Daily Shoot - Curves carry the eye along with them. Make a photo that creates a sense of movement with curves today. ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/83 )

I took this shot this morning on the way home from the airport. It's tough to do in a moving car on bumpy roads, (don't worry, my husband was driving) .
The road Home 4334837435 365 365 photos February dailyshoot highway hills winter ds83 2010365photos
The Great Escape
Daily Shoot - More fun on a Friday: Make a photo that goes with the title of a movie you've seen, interpreted any way you like! ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/82 )

This is a follow-up to yesterday's pic ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/dibytes/4330122589/ ) . There were lots more baby sea turtles on the beach this morning. They're so tough to shoot - not only do you have to anticipate what the turtle's going to do, you also have to watch out for the waves. (After all you've got to protect that camera!) This little guy was beyond the second line of waves so he was well on his way!
The Great Escape 4332146007 Bay of Banderas February Mexico Nuevo Vallarta beach dailyshoot ocean sea turtle ds82
Hasta la Vista
2010-36. Feb. 5, 2010.

Goodbye Mexico! I'll miss the friendly people, vibrant colours, sunshine, warmth...did I mention warmth? I'll miss my daily walks along the beach that goes on forever, mountains looming mistily in the background, surf pounding the shore.

Canada here I come! Home!
Hasta Vista 4332165071 2010365photos 365 365 photos Bay of Banderas February Mexico Nuevo Vallarta beach dailyshoot ocean waves
Sea Turtle vs Land
2010-35. Feb. 4, 2010.

Daily Shoot - Contrasting ideas engage the mind. Make a photo today that tells a story with contrasting elements ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/81 ) .

This is the first morning I've encountered baby sea turtles on this trip to Mexico. It's an incredible experience to watch them try to make it to the sea. This little guy made it across the beach to the ocean, but rather than welcome it home, the ocean seemed to be conspiring with the land to keep it there. Washed up on the shore it rested a bit and tried again and again! I finally lost sight of it beyond the first line of waves. I hope it made it!
Sea Turtle Land 4330122589 2010365photos 365 365 photos Bay of Banderas February Mexico Nuevo Vallarta beach dailyshoot ocean sand sea turtle ds81
Wait
2010-34. Feb. 3, 2010.

We've never experienced cloudy or rainy days on any of our previous vacations in Mexico. This is the second day of such weather, but it doesn't really bother me. It's warm and I can still get out and walk on the beach. Apparently the sun is going to return tomorrow :-).

The little boy in the photo wanted to swim but his dad said he had to wait until after the band of showers we could see working its way around the bay toward us.

I've been reading photographer David duChemin's book, Within the Frame: The Journey of Photographic Vision. In it he tells us to look with our eyes but shoot with our hearts. I used both eye and heart in this shot and am happy with the result!
Wait 4328730076 2010365photos 365 365 photos Bay of Banderas February Mexico Nuevo Vallarta beach boy clouds ocean rain sky sand
Spring in Puerto Vallarta?
2010-33. Feb. 2, 2010.

This is not the 'story' I'd planned on telling today. We booked a 7 hour sailing cruise and I'd planned on wowing you with whale or dolphin shots :-). When we woke up it was pouring rain, but we did go into Puerto Vallarta in case it let up. No such luck, so we turned around and went back to the resort. I do like this photo of the harbour in Puerto Vallarta though. I like all the shades of blue and the gentle rain on the water. And it does fit the Daily Shoot challenge for today:

It's Groundhog Day in the U.S. Make a photo that illustrates whether it's more like winter or spring where you live ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/79 ) .

The spring-like, warm rain here is preferable to the cold and snow back home!
Spring Puerto Vallarta 4325147019 2010365photos 365 365 photos February Mexico Puerto Vallarta boats dailyshoot harbour rain ds79
Orange
Daily Shoot - Orange! Keep your eyes peeled for anything orange today and make an interesting photo ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/78 ) .

Orange chairs and orange towels line the pools and the beach at our resort in Mexico. We had rain overnight that left a clean, deep blue sky and sea, making the orange pop.
Orange 4322287203 ds78 Bay of Banderas January Mexico Nuevo Vallarta beach chairs dailyshoot
Mexican Fiesta
2010-31. Jan. 31, 2010.

Daily Shoot - Wherever there's an edge, there's energy. Make a photo where two things meet: land-water, land-sky, etc. ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/77 )

One of the things I like best about Nuevo Vallarta is the sunset. The sun sinks into the ocean turning both sky and water into a fiesta - a colourful, energetic and joyous celebration of the day that was!

(There was minimal post-processing done here. I shot the photo with a long exposure - 4 seconds. That had the effect of blurring the waves and the moving clouds).
Mexican Fiesta 4320714714 2010265photos 365 365 photos Bay of Banderas January Mexico Nuevo Vallarta dailyshoot ocean sky sunset ds77
Mexican Villa
Daily Shoot - Get up close and personal with a building today. Make a photo of an architectural detail ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/76 ) .

Every right angle in this villa is offset by beautiful, gentle curves, as if the building were carved from the shoreline by the waves.
Mexican villa 4316353375 Bay of Banderas January Mexico Nuevo Vallarta dailyshoot ds76
Sweetly Pink
2010-29. Jan. 29, 2010.

Daily Shoot - Make a photo of something sweet today ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/75 ) .

Delicate, sweetly fragrant, pink - these flowers line the walkways at the resort we're staying at in Mexico. (I softened up the photo in PhotoShop with the Fractalius plugin, giving it a soft painted effect.)
Sweetly Pink 4314403892 2010365photos 365 365 photos January Mexico Nuevo Vallarta dailyshoot flowers foliage ds75
Bartering on the Beach
2010-28. Jan. 28, 2010.

Daily Shoot - The economy is in the news all the time. Make a photo that illustrates the economy or its impact on you in some way ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/74 ) .

This is the sixth time we've visited the resort we're currently staying at in Mexico. It amazes me to see so little changeover in staff, including the vendors who ply their wares along the beach. They tell me business is good. I'll never get used to bartering though...
Bartering the Beach 4311363799 2010365photos 365 365 photos Bay of Banderas January Mexico Nuevo Vallarta beach vendors dailyshoot ds74
Another Day in Paradise
2010-27. Jan. 27, 2010

Daily Shoot - Take something common--an object, building, or landscape--and compose an abstract composition with it ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/73 ) .

Swaying palms, ocean and sunshine. Life doesn't get much better for this Canadian!

(Processed with the polar coordinates filter in PhotoShop.)
Another Day Paradise 4309364066 2010365 365 365 photos Bay of Banderas January Mexico Nuevo Vallarta ocean palms ds73
Landform
2010-26. Jan. 26, 2010.

Daily Shoot - Change your perspective today. Make a photo from a bird's eye view ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/72 ) .

Footprint in the sand on the beach in Nuevo Vallarta.
Landform 4306602987 2010365photos 365 photos 365 ds72 Bay of Banderas January Mexico Nuevo Vallarta beach dailyshoot footprint sand
Lines in the Sand
2010-25. Jan. 25, 2010.

Daily Shoot - Make a photograph involving intersecting lines ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/71 ) .

The waves have carved a beautiful weave of sand with soft lines gently intersecting as warp and weft.
Lines the sand 4303832093 2010365photos 365 photos 365 Bay of Banderas January Mexico Nuevo Vallarta beach ocean waves
Surf's Up!
2010-24. Jan. 24, 2010.

Daily Shoot - Sunday challenge: Experiment with shutter speed today by making a photo with a long exposure ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/70 ) .

Normally I would have shot this photo with a very fast shutter speed (1/640 or more) to freeze the action. I think I would have preferred it that way. The slower shutter speed I used (1/30) did have the effect of 'softening' the wave somewhat, showing its movement rather than its violence.
Surf's 4301644162 2010365photos 365 365 photos Bay of Banderas January Mexico Nuevo Vallarta beach dailyshoot ocean surfer waves ds70
Waiting to Be Collected
2010-23. Jan. 23, 2010.

Daily Shoot - We're all collectors of something. Find an interesting way to display and make a photo of a collection today ( ) .

As I walked along the beach in Nuevo Vallarta today, I was reminded of how much my son enjoyed collecting pebbles and shells on the beach years ago. These lie waiting for another little boy to treasure them!
Waiting Collected 4298359047 2010365photos 365 365 photos Bay of Banderas Nuevo Vallarta January Mexico beach dailyshoot ocean pebbles shells ds69
I've looked at clouds from both sides now...
2010-22. Jan. 22, 2010.

Daily Shoot - Let's have some fun on a Friday. Make a photo that goes with the title (or lyrics) of a song. Interpret away ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/68 ) !

I've looked at clouds from both sides now,
From up and down, and still somehow
It's cloud illusions I recall.
I really don't know clouds at all.

Joni Mitchell

As we flew into Mexico late afternoon ghostly mountains emerged from the clouds.
I've looked clouds from both sides now 4297152052 2010365photos 365 photos 365 January Mexico airplane dailyshoot sky ds68
Quirky Kitties Go Grunge
2010-21. Jan. 21, 2010.

Daily Shoot - Quirky things often catch your eye and make for interesting art. Make a photo of something that makes you go "Hmmm" today ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/67 ) .

This photo won't be to everyone's liking but it's just for fun! My metal kitties live in my garden and "come and go" throughout the winter as the snowbanks rise and melt. They make me smile whenever I see them!

I took three bracketed shots at different exposures -2/0/+2 EV and then combined them as an HDR image in Photmatix Pro. If you've been following my photostream you'll know that I prefer more realistic HDR images, but today I just decided to go for the fun. Photmatix has a setting called 'grunge', so here are my quirky kitties in grunge mode!

(For those of you who may be tiring of all the snow and ice in my photos, you'll be seeing nothing but sea and sand for the next couple of weeks as I head off to Mexico!)
Quirky Kitties grunge 4293565238 365 Collingwood January cats dailyshoot hdr lawn ornaments metal 365 photos 2010365photos ds67
Which Camera to Pack?
2010-20. Jan. 20, 2010.

Daily Shoot - Make your camera the star of the show today. Use another camera or mirror to put your camera in a photo of its own ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/66 ) .

Interesting assignment today as I have to make the final decision as to which camera to take with me to Mexico. This shot was taken with my Canon G9 point and shoot. As you can tell from all the dust and dirt that showed up in my photo, this is a great little camera with a tack sharp lens. However the 18-200 mm lens on my Canon Rebel T1i is a perfect walking around lens and will give me better zoom capability. Hmmm...decisions, decisions. Which would you take?
Which camera Pack 4290783386 Collingwood January dailyshoot 365 365 photos 2010365photos ds66 Canon G9 Rebel T1i
Now That's a Snowblower!
2010-19. Jan. 19, 2010.

Daily Shoot - Make an interesting photo of a mode of transportation today: car, plane, bicycle, subway, or whatever you like ( http://dailyshoot.com/assignments/65 ) .

You don't expect to see tractors driving on urban streets but they're a common sight in Collingwood in winter. Living in a snowbelt we're pretty good at handling snow. We plough the roads of course, but we also 'manage' the snowbanks that quickly become visual hazards for drivers and pedestrians alike.

I stepped out of my husband's office this morning to see this tractor outfitted with a snowblower moving a gigantic snowbank back several metres. I had my camera with me (good news) but my lens immediately fogged up when it hit the cold air (not so good news). I fired off a couple of shots anyway and was pleasantly surprised when I pulled them off the camera. I think I captured the texture of the snow-laden air and the scene has a kind of surreal quality viewed through my fogged up lens. Lesson reinforced today=just shoot!
Now That's snowblower 4288636214 2010365photos 365 365 photos Collingwood January dailyshoot snow tractor winter 65
Waiting for Spring
2010-18. Jan.18, 2010.

Daily Shoot - 2010/01/18: Practice the art of simplicity today by making an interesting photo from a minimalist perspective ( http://twitter.com/dailyshoot/statuses/7904660472 ) .

The snowbanks have been dropping as the temperature hovers around zero, revealing all kinds of things that were buried. This is a maple key, pod open, seeds all lined up and ready to germinate come spring.
Waiting for Spring 4286367385 2010365photos 365 365 photos Collingwood Harbourview Park January dailyshoot maple key snow winter ds64
Skate Like the Wind
2010-17. Jan. 17, 2010.

Daily Shoot - 2010/01/17: Sunday challenge: We've photographed many things, but few people. Make a photo where the theme is a person or people ( http://twitter.com/dailyshoot/statuses/7864488303 ) .

It was a beautiful day today, mild for winter, and sunny! There were a lot of families enjoying the fresh air on Collingwood's outdoor skating rink.

I wanted to try motion blur today. I should have used a tripod to make sure that the blur was only on the horizontal plane, but I think this is reasonable for a hand-held shot. I set my shutter speed to 1/30, used AI Servo with centre focus point, and shot in continuous mode. I had many shots that didn't turn out, but I'm reasonably happy with this one!
Skate Like the Wind 4283230994 2010365photos 365 365 photos Collingwood January dailyshoot ice skaters skating skating rink winter ds63
The Welder
2010-16. Jan. 16, 2010.

Daily Shoot - 2010/01/16: One man's trash is another's treasure. Make a photo of something discarded or abandoned today ( http://twitter.com/dailyshoot/statuses/7826910214 ) .

This is a statue created in 2009 by Collingwood resident John McCaffrey. It is constructed of blacksmith tongs purpose-made at the Collingwood Shipyards, (1883-1986), in combination with new flat bar and recycled plate steel. To quote the artist:

This work was specifically produced to honour and celebrate the many men and women of Collingwood who contributed their skills during a lifetime of work at the 'Yard'.

McCaffery produced this work for the town of Collingwood and it was proudly displayed on the Museum property, adjacent to the mural depicting workers leaving the Shipyards at shift end.

Unfortunately there is a dispute between the artist and the municipality over the fee owed to the artist. Apparently the town has refused to pay the $4,000.00 owing the artist, so the work has been removed. It now sits abandoned in the snow in the artist's yard. Like so many people who've lived here all our lives, I have family who worked in the Shipyard, building the beautiful freighters that sailed the Great Lakes. I can appreciate the time, effort and skill that went into this work of art, a concrete connection to our heritage. What a loss for the community!
The welder 4280028397 2010365photos ds62 365 365 photo Collingwood January Shipyards dailyshoot hdr metal statue
Dull, Dark and Damp
2010-15. Jan.15, 2010.

Daily Shoot - 2010/01/15: Converging lines direct the viewer's eye. Sometimes found in railroad tracks, highways, and buildings. Make your photo ( http://twitter.com/dailyshoot/statuses/7788191275 ) !

I wouldn't have walked along the boardwalk today, except that I needed to find some converging lines for the Daily Shoot challenge. Last week I needed my snowshoes to get here. Mild temperatures the past two days have really dropped the snowbanks. As you can tell by the tracks the boardwalk in Harbourview Park is now walkable.

The light today was very dull and flat so I tried another HDR photo, using the AEB setting on my camera to take 3 photos at different exposures -2/0/+2. I merged them in Photomatix Pro and was quite pleased with the result. I then converted the photo to black and white in Nik Silver Efex Pro so that the colour information didn't compete with the lines. Et voilà!
Dull Dark and Damp 4276409841 2010365photos 365 365 photos Collingwood Harbourview Park January boardwalk dailyshoot hdr ds61
Ice Fishing in Collingwood Harbour - Take #2
2010-14. Jan. 14, 2010.

As I mentioned when I uploaded take #1 of this photo ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/dibytes/4275119748/ ) , I was experimenting with HDR today and wasn't really happy with the result. I'm not a fan of over-the-top HDR and my photo looked a little unreal to me. I would like to use HDR to broaden the tonal range but still look realistic. When i went to reprocess the three original shots, I realized I'd left my white balance on 'the incandescent light" setting - duh! Once I adjusted the white balance for daylight I was happier with the results! HDR to broaden the tonal range but still realistic!
ice Fishing Collingwood harbour Take 4275932026 2010365photos edtech3652010 365 365 photos Collingwood Harbour Collingwood Terminals January dailyshoot fish huts grain elevators hdr ice fishing snow ds60
Ice Fishing in Collingwood Harbour
2010-14. Jan. 14, 2010.

Daily Shoot - 2010/01/14: Play with contrasting scale today: juxtapose something small with something big ( http://twitter.com/dailyshoot/statuses/7748400237 ) !

Small fish huts on the ice in the harbour look even smaller with the Collingwood Terminals looming in the background.

I used today's challenge to try an HDR photo. I used Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB) on my camera to take 3 shots with +2/0/-2 exposure settings and then combined them in Photomatix Pro. I'm not ecstatic about the results. I need to experiment more with HDR.
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DiBytes Photos, Photography by Diane Hammond, Collingwood, Ontario

Photoblog 2010