Dragonfly
2011 - Day 266. Sept. 23, 2011.
This dragonfly clung to the back of a sheltered chair to keep out of the rain. I like the contrast of the finely structured wings against the roughness of the wood.
Camouflaged
2011 - Day 265. Sept. 22, 2011.
I really like the way this grasshopper blends so beautifully into his surroundings.Camouflaged61753272433652011CollingwoodMillennium ParkSeptembergrasshopperinsectleaf
Float Plane (Silver Efex Pro)
2011 - Day 264. Sept. 21, 2011.
For comparison purposes this is the same photo as here ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/dibytes/6170884429/in/photostream/ ) , but processed with Silver Efex Pro. See my comment to Light Collector ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitebeard/ ) for differences.FloatPlaneSilverEfexPro6175814442CollingwoodMillennium ParkSeptemberfloat plane
Float Plane (Silver Efex Pro 2)
2011 - Day 264. Sept. 21, 2011.
This plane can be seen almost daily either taking off or landing in Collingwood Harbour. What a cool way to get around!
I love Nik's Silver Efex Pro for black and white conversion. I've been debating whether or not it would be worth the expense to upgrade to the new version. It is! Watch out for lots more black and white from me as I play with my new software :-)FloatPlaneSilverEfexPro61708844293652011CollingwoodMillennium ParkSeptemberfloat planemonochromatic
Al
2011 - Day 263. Sept. 20, 2011.
My brother is visiting from Calgary this week. We spent some time this morning visiting our parents' memorial benches in Millennium Park.61679525153652011AlCollingwoodMillennium Park Septemberbenchmanmonochromatic
Point Pelee Marsh
2011 - Days 259-262. Sept. 16-19, 2011.
Point Pelee Marsh viewed from the observation tower.PointPeleemarsh61649681673652011Point Pelee National ParkSeptemberboardwalkwetlands
Rest Here
2011 - Days 259-262. Sept. 16-19, 2011.
Bench along the boardwalk in the Point Pelee Marsh. The sound of the wind blowing through the rushes was both beautiful and soothing.RestHere61649680393652011Point Pelee National ParkSeptemberbenchmarshwetlands
We Were Here
2011 - Days 259-262. Sept. 16-19, 2011.
I used a split-toning effect here to add a timeless feel to the scene.WereHere61649678033652011Point Pelee National ParkSeptemberbenchmarshwetlands
Boardwalk Through the Marsh
2011 - Days 259-262. Sept. 16-19, 2011.
I salvaged a blown out sky with a split-toning treatment.boardwalkThroughthemarsh61649675433652011Point Pelee National ParkSeptemberwetlands
Into the Marsh
2011 - Days 259-262. Sept. 16-19, 2011.
Waterway through the Point Pelee Marsh.Intothemarsh61649673613652011Point Pelee National ParkSeptemberwetlands
Butterfly Hunters
2011 - Days 259-260. Sept. 16-17, 2011.
Intrepid butterfly hunters that we are (windsordi ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/windsordi/ ) , Sharon Drummond AKA dolmansaxlil ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/dolmansaxlil/ ) , and yours truly), we made plans to witness together the wonders of the Monarch butterfly migration.
Excitement mounted as we watched the official butterfly count at Point Pelee National Park grow daily. Finally the appointed hour arrived! We rose before dawn, hiked to the very tip of the country, fought off swarms of nasty deerfly, and ... missed the departure of the Monarchs. All was not lost as we spent a most enjoyable day photographing this beautiful part of the country. Safe flight little ones! I'll catch up with you this winter in Mexico!ButterflyHunters61643917933652011BHItriptychPoint Pelee National Park
Exercise Caution
2011 - Day 258. Sept. 15, 2011.
I had a tough time deciding when it might be safe to take a walk today. One minute the sun would be shining and then the next it would be raining down hail!ExerciseCaution61520240283652011CollingwoodSeptembercloudstraffic light
Apple Orchard
2011- Day 257. Sept. 14, 2011.
It's harvest time!
They're Ready!
2011- Day 256. Sept. 13, 2011.
I really had to resist the temptation to just pluck one of these apples from the tree.They'reReady61520237583652011Grey CountySeptemberapplesorchard
Caught in the Act!
2011- Day 253. Sept. 10, 2011.
I am simply no match for these creatures :-(. Go ahead guys and eat all the bird seed you want! It's official - I give up.CaughttheAct61514754793652011CollingwoodSeptemberbird feedermonochromaticsquirrelyard
Milkweed Seeds
2011- Day 252. Sept. 9, 2011.
Not quite ready to take flight yet.milkweedseeds61514753933652011CollingwoodSeptembermacromonochromatic
Vineyard
2011 - Day 251. Sept. 8, 2011.
After multiple trips to Ravenna to wander around the vineyard, and a lot of trial and error in Photoshop, I think I've ended up with something that's close to the concept that's been rattling round my head for days now. I think I'll stop here...vineyard61304961083652011Grey CountySeptembercompositecorksgrapestexture
Vineyard
2011 - Day 250. Sept. 7, 2011.
This is the same vineyard I shot here ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/dibytes/6095227242/ ) a week and a half ago. As you can see, the grapes are now ripening. I wanted to take another stab at layering a cork texture. I like this result much better than the last. I may use this as one of my entries in the Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts Juried Photo Show. What do you think?vineyard61253706203652011Grey CountySeptembercompositecorksgrapesprinttesttexture
Paint Toss
2011 - Day 249. Sept. 6, 2011.
My shrubs are starting to look like they've been spattered with red, yellow and orange paint. I added a paint texture with white paint on a black background to my photo and used 'multiply' as my blending mode. That had the effect of darkening everything but the area covered by the paint.paintToss61222432533652011CollingwoodSeptemberabstractcompositeleavesshrubssummertextureyard
No Picnics Today
2011 - Day 248. Sept. 5, 2011.
Cold and overcast were the descriptors for the last day of summer vacation.PicnicsToday61222430733652011CollingwoodCraigleithNorthwinds BeachNottawasaga BaySeptemberpicnic table
Coneflowers
2011 - Day 247. Sept. 4, 2011.
Seen in my mother's memorial garden in Millennium Park.Coneflowers61222427293652011CollingwoodSeptemberconeflowerMillenniumPark
Milkweed
2011 - Day 246. Sept. 3, 2011. It won't be long until the milkweed pods burst, releasing their silky aviators.
Vine
2011 - Day 245. Sept. 2, 2011. September has barely started and already we're seeing hits of red everywhere.
It's September!
2011 - Day 244. Sept. 1, 2011
I was going to delete the shots where the bunny turned its head, but I decided to create a collage instead.
BTW, how the heck did it get to be September already???It'sSeptember61037152793652011Collingwoodcollagemotion blurrabbityard
Gaze Into My Crystal Ball and See...September!
2011 - Day 243. Aug. 31, 2011.
The thermometer is still saying summer, but noticeably shorter days hint at fall. The shrubs in my garden, while still lush, are sporting new shades of red and orange.
I used the polar coordinates filter in Photoshop to create the 'crystal ball' effect.GazeIntoCrystalBallandSeeSeptember61017433563652011AugustCollingwoodabstractglobeleavespolar coordinatesshrubsyard
Dragonfly
2011 - Day 242. Aug. 30, 2011.
I was scanning the pine tree closest to the bird feeder for chickadees, when my lens landed on this twelve spotted skimmer. He blended in so well with the bark of the tree and the soft background of pine needles, that I never would have spotted him if I hadn't already been looking through my 300mm lens. I didn't get a chance to get his whole body in the frame before he flew off, but at least I got a couple of wings.
Ripples
2011 - Day 241. Aug. 29, 2011.
It's been crazy the past few weeks, so today I did nothing but relax by the pool. The ripples on the water reflect the vibrant blues of the pool liner. I used the 'Detail Stylzer' filter in Color Effex to emphasize the abstract nature of the ripples.ripples60946876413652011AugustCollingwoodabstractpoolreflectionssummertexturewateryard
And So It Begins...
2011 - Day 240. Aug. 28, 2011.
Having spent 35+ years working in education, I think I'll always see September as the beginning of a new year. This fallen leaf signals that new beginning.AndBegins60952274943652011AugustGrey Countyleafmaple leafsummer
Vineyard 2
2011 - Day 239. Aug. 27, 2011.
Known for apple growing, the Beaver Valley in Grey County is now home to several vineyards and a winery. To emphasize the winery connection, I added a texture of wine corks. (I've been collecting these corks for quite some time now, without knowing how I would use them.)vineyard60952272423652011AugustGrey Countygrapes. texturesummer
Vineyard 1
2011 - Day 238. Aug. 26, 2011.
Known for apple growing, the Beaver Valley in Grey County is now home to several vineyards and a winery. To emphasize the winery connection, I added a texture of wine corks. (I've been collecting these corks for quite some time now, without knowing how I would use them.)vineyard60946866393652011AugustGrey Countygrapes. texturesummer
Sunflower
2011 - Day 237. Aug. 25, 2011.
This field of sunflowers was looking a little worse for wear, so I added a grunge texture for emphasis.
Storm at Sunset #3
2011 - Day 236. Aug. 24, 2011.
Awesome sky tonight! A thunderstorm blew in right at sunset treating us to sunshine, sunset, rain, clouds, lightning - all at the same time! It was quite a spectacle! See the other shots in this series here ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/dibytes/6078009021/in/photostream ) and here ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/dibytes/6078009181/in/photostream ) .Stormsunset60780092973652011AugustCollingwoodcloudseveningskythunderstorm
Storm at Sunset #2
2011 - Day 236. Aug. 24, 2011.
Awesome sky tonight! A thunderstorm blew in right at sunset treating us to sunshine, sunset, rain, clouds, lightning - all at the same time! It was quite a spectacle! See the other shots in this series here ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/dibytes/6078009021/in/photostream ) and here ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/dibytes/6078009297/in/photostream/ ) .Stormsunset60780091813652011AugustCollingwoodcloudseveningskythunderstorm
Storm at Sunset #1
2011 - Day 236. Aug. 24, 2011.
Awesome sky tonight! A thunderstorm blew in right at sunset treating us to sunshine, sunset, rain, clouds, lightning - all at the same time! It was quite a spectacle! See the other shots in this series here ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/dibytes/6078009181/in/photostream ) and here ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/dibytes/6078009297/in/photostream/ ) .Stormsunset60780090213652011AugustCollingwoodcloudseveningskythunderstorm
Weathered
2011 - Day 235. Aug. 23, 2011.
With high winds and torrential rains, the last few days have been tough on the gardens. My gardenias are looking a bit weathered, so I added a texture for added emphasis.Weathered60739552973652011AugustCollingwoodgardengardeniasummertexture
Clouds on the Move
2011 - Day 234. Aug. 22, 2011.
After this weekend's fierce thunderstorms, (that spawned the tornado that flattened Goderich), it was good to see clouds breaking up and moving out this afternoon.cloudstheMove60710645373652011AugustBlue MountainMillennium ParkNottawasaga Bayskywater
Fit for a Duck
2011 - Day 233. Aug. 21, 2011.
Since I spent the whole weekend at Collingwood's outdoor Art, Blues and Jazz Festival I didn't have time to get out and take any pics. Given that we suffered through torrential downpours, I felt it was fitting to use the duck pics I took earlier in the week. Unlike this duck, water didn't roll off my back, but soaked right in. I can't remember the last time I got this drenched.Fitforduck60710326393652011AugustCollingwoodCollingwood Harbourblack and whiteharbourmonochromaticsummerwater
Didn't You Know It Was Going to Rain?
2011 - Day 232. Aug. 20, 2011.
Since I spent the whole weekend at Collingwood's outdoor Art, Blues and Jazz Festival I didn't have time to get out and take any pics. Given that we suffered through torrential downpours, I felt it was fitting to use the duck pics I took earlier in the week. I fully expected this gal to float by me as the parking lot I was set up in turned into a river.Didn'tYouKnowWasGoingRain60710060853652011AugustCollingwoodNottawasaga Bayducksummerwater
Thin Ice
2011 - Day 231. Aug. 19, 2011.
I love signs that have an element of incongruity to them! Sadly in a few months this one will make more sense. I'm hoping I'm on solid footing as I prepare for Collingwood's Art, Blues and Jazz Festival downtown this weekend. I've got a lot invested in time and printing costs. Here's hoping the response is favourable :-)ThinIce60709579453652011AugustCollingwoodfieldruralsignsummerthin ice
63
2011 - Day 230. Aug. 18, 2011.
Not much to say here. This scene just appealed to me on my walk this morning.605707126563AugustCollingwoodfencegardensummer3652011dailyshoot
Lamppost Art
2011 - Day 229. Aug. 17, 2011.
I spotted this 'sculpture' in Craigleith today. Obviously an avid skier with a sense of humour lives here! Love it!
Chart Your Own Course
2011 - Day 228. Aug. 16, 2011.
The lone heliotropic sunflower in the field!ChartYourOwnCourse60511090233652011AugustCollingwooddailyshootfieldsummersunflowers
Summer Breeze
2011 - Day 227. Aug. 15, 2011
A gentle breeze blew through the gardens all afternoon. I wanted to capture the motion blur of the swaying flowering sage even though there was bright sunlight, so I used a small aperture (f/16) and my polarizing filter. That combination gave me a fairly slow shutter speed. While I was happy with the vibrant colours and fluid lines, I felt something was missing. I layered in some of the butterfly shots I've taken over the past few days, changed the blending mode to 'luminosity' and lowered the opacity. I think I've ended up with a nicely textured abstract.summerBreeze60475640773652011AugustCollingwoodbutterfliescompositeflowering sageflowersgardenmotion blurwind
Friendship
2011 - Day 226. Aug. 14, 2011.
Afternoon chat on the waterfront.Friendship60437319803652011AugustCollingwoodboygirlharbourrockssummer
Garden Monarch
2011 - Day 225. Aug. 13, 2011.
These beautiful creatures can rule over my garden for as long as they wish!gardenMonarch60437163243652011AugustCollingwoodMonarch butterflybutterflyflowerssummer
Release
2011 - Day 224. Aug. 12, 2011 Daily Shoot - Refresh from the summer heat today. Make a photo of water in motion. The bay's pretty choppy this week. Local S&R teams have been out at least twice to rescue the occupants of overturned boats. Thankfully everyone has been OK.
Release60354839213652011CollingwoodNottawasaga Baydailyshootwaterwaves
Mustard White Butterfly
2011 - Day 222. Aug. 10, 2011.
This little Mustard White butterfly is so delicate, I thought it deserved a soft artistic touch with the addition of a texture layer, and soft light blending mode.MustardWhitebutterfly60309572033652011AugustCollingwoodgardensummertexture
Mustard White Butterfly
2011 - Day 221. Aug. 9, 2011.
I love to watch these little guys flitting through the garden. It's tough to catch them still!MustardWhitebutterfly60315065903652011AugustCollingwoodgardensummer