Project365 181: Danny Marks

I worked from home today so another visit to the Jazz Festival wasn't practical. I was aware that there were Thursday night concerts in Unionville, so I popped by to see what was up. I was surprised to discover the guest artist tonight was Danny Marks! I often listen to his blues radio show on 91.1.


Thursday Nights at the Bandstand
1/250 f/4 ISO 400 EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM @ 85 mm Canon EOS 40D
Main Street and Fred Varley,Markham,Ontario



Danny Marks
1/800 f/4 ISO 400 EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM @ 200 mm Canon EOS 40D
Main Street and Fred Varley,Markham,Ontario


Danny Marks
1/200 f/4 ISO 400 EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM @ 200 mm Canon EOS 40D
Main Street and Fred Varley,Markham,Ontario

The Drummer
1/200 f/4 ISO 500 EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM @ 195 mm Canon EOS 40D
Main Street and Fred Varley,Markham,Ontario
I was working my way around the perimeter of the crowd getting different angles, when Danny spotted me. 

Hamming it up for the photographer (me)
1/400 f/4 ISO 400 EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM @ 120 mm Canon EOS 40D
Main Street and Fred Varley,Markham,Ontario

 

They did several Johnny Cash Songs. Need dark glasses for that.

Danny meets Johnny
1/400 f/4 ISO 400 EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM @ 200 mm Canon EOS 40D
Main Street and Fred Varley,Markham,Ontario

 

A view of the crowd enjoying the evening.

Looking out at the crowd
1/250 f/4 ISO 400 EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM @ 73 mm Canon EOS 40D
Main Street and Fred Varley,Markham,Ontario

Project365 180: Chris Donnelly at the TD Toronto Jazz Festival

Today's lunchtime artist was Chris Donnelly who gave an excellent solo piano concert. I was most intrigued by his metamorphosis composition, in part because of the inspiration from the M. C. Escher art work by the same name.


Chris Donnelly at the TD Toronto Jazz Festival
1/500 f/4 ISO 400 EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 105 mm Canon EOS 40D
Metro Hall,Toronto,Ontario


Chris talking about Gershwin


Chris Donnelly at the TD Toronto Jazz Festival
1/400 f/4 ISO 400 EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 105 mm Canon EOS 40D
Metro Hall,Toronto,Ontario

 

The crowd enjoying Chris Donnelly.

Jazz Fans
1/4000 f/4 ISO 400 EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 35 mm Canon EOS 40D
Metro Hall,Toronto,Ontario

Project365 179: Archie Alleyne

Kollage was playing after work todat for the TD Toronto Jazz Festival. The leader of the group is Archie Alleyne. He is having a good time; we all were.


Archie Alleyne
1/800 f/4 ISO 400 EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 105 mm Canon EOS 40D
Metro Hall,Toronto,Ontario

Project365 178: The George Grosman Trio (plus one)

I have long been a fan of Jazz music, and since this week is the 2011 TD Toronto Jazz Festival that makes ofr a natural choice for this week's theme - music. The George Grosman Trio was playing at Metro Hall today.   Mark Dunn was on bass and Dave MacDougall was on drums. There was also a guest percussionist, but I didn't catch his name (sorry).

This music was great, and George is a very expressive player which make for fun photos. 


George Grosman
1/200 f/7.1 ISO 400 EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 105 mm Canon EOS 40D
Metro Hall,Toronto,Ontario




Mark Dunn
1/500 f/4 ISO 400 EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 105 mm Canon EOS 40D
Metro Hall,Toronto,Ontario

 
Dave MacDougall
1/400 f/4 ISO 400 EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 105 mm Canon EOS 40D
Metro Hall,Toronto,Ontario
 

 
Guest Percussionist
1/4 f/22 ISO 200 EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 105 mm Canon EOS 40D
Metro Hall,Toronto,Ontario

Project365 177: Climatis Impression

This image wraps up my theme of "10 Minutes" from home of the office. This one is actually closer to 10 seconds because is it the Climatis vine just outside our door.

This vine is doing very well this year it does look like an explosion of purple flowers on our fence.


Climatis Impression
1/4 f/22 ISO 100 EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 73 mm Canon EOS 40D
Richmond Hill,Ontario

Project365 176: Daisies

A cloudy day and wet grass makes for very saturated colours.

Advice to anybody wanting to capture the same image for themselves. The ditch is about 3 feet wide and has water about ankle deep. Not that I would know this from first hand experience. I keep a pair of rubber boots in my car. I was driving my wife's SUV.


Daisies
1/125 f/11 ISO 400 EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 24 mm Canon EOS 40D
Bayview South of Wellington,Aurora,Ontario

Project365 175: Jaguar

Wheel detail of a Jaguar XJR-S.


Jaguar
1/13 f/5.6 ISO 800 EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 65 mm Canon EOS 40D
Brookfield Place,Toronto,Ontario
Silver Efex Pro2

Project365 174: Powered by Ferrari

Under the 'hood' of a Ferrari 360 Modena. I think I'd like to take one of these apart just to see how it is put together. Of course I would put it back together and take it for a road test. ;-)


Powered by Ferrari.
1/10 f/8 ISO 800 EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 105 mm Canon EOS 40D
Brookfield Place,Toronto,Ontario

Project365 173: Intake

Air intake vent on a Ferrari 360 Spyder.


Intake
1/6 f/8 ISO 800 EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 105 mm Canon EOS 40D
Brookfield Place,Toronto,Ontario

Project365 172: Every Argument has Two Sides

I would have preferred if I could have caught him in the reflection as well, but angles and timing didn't work out that way.


Every Argument has Two Sides
1/640 f/4 ISO 400 EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 105 mm Canon EOS 40D
University Ave, Toronto,,Ontario

Project365 003: Smooth

For this week, my theme is '10 Minutes' - the criteria being an interesting photo within a 10-minute walk of my office building (or home on the weekend).

To start off the week I have this abstract of the sculpture at the corner of Simcoe and Wellington. I like the mixture of smooth curves and the straight lines. The mix of gold and blue also creates a sense of depth as warm colours tend to be felt as closer and cooler colours as further away. The image was further simplified by applying a generous amount of negative clarity heavy noise processing.



Smooth
1/1000 f/4.5 ISO 400 EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 24 mm Canon EOS 40D
Simcoe and Welllington,Toronto,Ontario

Project365 170: Infrared Maples

I love Maple trees and so this stretch along Elgin Mills Road is a favourite of mine. This is a 30-second infrared exposure. There was a fair breeze blowing the trees about so the leaves are in constant motion creating a blur of leaves.

Infrared Maples
30" f/8 ISO 100 EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 35 mm Canon EOS 40D
3450 Elgin Mills ,Markham,Ontario
Silver Efex Pro2 - Full Contrast and Structure

The are at least two varieties that have been planted here and in the spring the young leaves alternate red and green. But now into june they are just different shades of green. For comparison here is a natural colour version of the same trees.


Rush Hour for Bicycles
1/500 f/6.3 ISO 400 EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 50 mm Canon EOS 40D
3450 Elgin Mills ,Markham,Ontario

Project365 169: Getting your Ducks In a Row

If you haven't tried it, you should. I don't think it is as easy as it might sound.


Getting your Ducks In a Row
1/250 f/4 ISO 100 EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 24 mm Canon EOS 40D
Mill Pond,Richmond Hill,Ontario

Project365 168: Red Blue Black White Green

This is an often seen sight in the downtown core as there are often mobile movie sets in the area. Trucks and trailers line the street and they are all wired together for power with cabling like this. This is a junction post - 1-in, 2-out.


Red Blue Black White Green
1/500 f/10 ISO 400 EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 105 mm Canon EOS 40D
Wellington between Bay and York,Toronto,Ontario

Color Efex Pro Glamor Glow

Project365 167: 2 Blondes, 2 Brunettes

Four in a row, all stepping together. Too bad they didn't all have pink bags.


2 Blondes, 2 Brunettes
1/640 f/6.3 ISO 400 EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 105 mm Canon EOS 40D
Queen Street,Toronto,Ontario

Project365 166: Bus 2112

I like all the lines that this image holds; bus windows, building windows, lampposts, and shadows.


Bus 2112
1/1000 f/4 ISO 400 EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 70 mm Canon EOS 40D
Go Bus Terminal,Toronto,Ontario

Project365 165: Oil and Vinegar

What I said yesterday about "three"s. Ignore that - I did. ;-)

Today we celebrated Julie's Convocation from York U. Honours Bachelor of Arts, Summa Cum Laude. We went out for a late lunch to honour the occasion, this was all that was left on the table when we were done.


Oil and Vinegar
f/7.1 EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 50 mm Canon EOS 40D
Marcello's Restaurant,Vaughn,Ontario
3 shots processed with HDR Efex Pro.

Project365 164: Going Up

 My wife, Barbara, is my inspiration for many things. She often suggests my weekly theme and this week is no exception. This week is 'In a Row'. Since i did 'Three' last month (twice), I am shooting for more than three, if applicable. I liked this image to start the week off, because it is a vertical 'row'.


Going Up
1/1000 f/5.6 ISO 400 EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 105 mm Canon EOS 40D
Adelaide and Simcoe, Toronto,Ontario

Why do I photograph?

I have always considered myself to be a non-creative person; I am not artistic. I remember when I was in elementary school, maybe grade three or four, the teacher gave us a lesson about sketching. What I understood as the expectation was to draw using many strokes of a pencil. I did what I thought I was asked of me. The teacher however had harsh words for me about my lack of talent and for the mess I had created on the page. I wish I had kept that drawing, but I have recreated it to show you. Is it great art? No, but I think it was the last thing I drew for many years.

A recreation of my grade school sketch. Drawn with ArtRage on my iPad.

I had always had a latent interest in photography. I remember enjoying going on a 'photo shoot' with my sister. I was likely about 8 at the time. It was her camera but she let me take a few pictures with it. I remember an image of a fence I made on that outing. I have no idea where that image ended up, but I wish I could find it.

When I was about 12 I went out with my father's 35mm camera. I took this image. 

Film
Gormley,Ontario

Many years later, circa 1980, my father-in-law bought a fancy new Canon camera. It too fascinated me. I wanted one as well but that was not the time. I don't know if I ever took a picture with that camera then, but I certainly read through all his manuals.

About ten years ago I decided I needed a hobby. My job is highly technical, and decided that my hobby should be something that exercised the other side of my head. I bought a digital compact camera. I quickly out grew it's limitations and when the digital Rebels were released, I took the plunge.

Since then I have been reading, watching, seeing and most of all practicing. I very much enjoy the process of visualizing an image and trying to create what I see in my mind, or capturing beauty I stumble upon. And then further developing the concept or finishing it on my computer and then the creation of a print or the publication on the Internet. My blog does not get a lot of traffic 10 to 20 readers a day based on site analytics plus my guess of Facebook readership. But it is nonetheless encouraging to see that I have people who enjoy my images. This one was taken a few years ago. It bears some resemblance to my grade school sketch, yes?

In a Cabin in the Woods
1/1000 f/5.6 ISO 250 EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 50 mm Canon EOS 40D
Near the farm,Quill Lake,Saskatchewan

I have recently come to realize that I have always been creating something, whether it be wood craft in my father's workshop or software for a large financial company. But about 12 years ago my job shifted and I was no longer a direct producer of software. I had transitioned into more of a design role and no longer directly created code. I think I missed the aspect direct creation. It is in photography that I was able to reestablish that direct connection and also something that I have direct control of from concept to completion, such as a print. That is why I photograph.

Project365 163: On the Road

This section of road has been a favourite of mine for as long as I can remember. Up until a few years ago there was a one-way bridge at the bottom of one of the valleys. I was sad to see it replaced by a modern two-way bridge. The one aesthetic of that the old bridge brought to the drive was just to slow things down. Now people can go flying through here at 80 Km/H and completely miss the serenity of the place.

On the Road
1/500 f/8 ISO 400 EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 55 mm Canon EOS 40D
3073 Elgin Mills,Markham,Ontario
Silver Efex Pro 2

Project365 162: Blurred Vision

Continuing along the streetscape theme I have three images to share today. This first one is pretty obviously a street but what about the next two? They are out in the rural area and what are streets out there? Farm lane ways fit the bill in my mind.

Storm clouds, rain drops and saturated colours all attract me to this image.


Blurred Vision
1/1000 f/6.3 ISO 400 EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 31 mm Canon EOS 40D
Elgin Mills and Leslie,Richmond Hill,Ontario


 I have always like this maple lined lane way. As there is a Home Depot and a Costco right next door, I fear it won't be long before the earth movers flatten these too.


Maples in the Rain
f/7.1 ISO 400 EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 21 mm Canon EOS 40D
Leslie north of Elgin Mills,Richmond Hill,Ontario

 

This isn't the first time I have posted a picture of this lane way - you can see what it looked like earlier in the spring here.

Willow Lane
f/7.1 ISO 400 EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 21 mm Canon EOS 40D
Leslie south of Stouffville,Richmond Hill,Ontario
3 image HDR via HDR Efex Pro - End of the Road Preset tweaked

Project365 161: The Reader

U of T campus seems pretty quite in June. This street was pretty deserted except for me and the reader.


The Reader
1/640 f/5.6 ISO 100 EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 49 mm Canon EOS 40D
UoT Campus,Toronto,Ontario

Project365 160: 250 m

I think it is more often that my daily image was something different than what I set out to take than anything close to original intent.

Today I have an excuse - I forgot that I had put my camera battery on the charger last night, so when I left the house this morning I left without a battery. As a consequence I had to wait until I got home to make my image. I did have an image like this in my plan for the week, but had though it to be for the weekend.


250 m
15" f/22 ISO 100 EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 18 mm Canon EOS 40D
Elgin Mills and 404,Richmond Hill,Ontario
Shutter speed slow by using a 0.3 and a 0.6 ND plus a circular polarizer.

Lighting Storm

We had a big lighting storm roll through tonight so I tried to catch some lighting strikes. Out of several hundred pictures five caught a strike and two turned out well.

My technique was pretty simple. Camera on tripod. Manual exposure set to somewhat underexposed. Manual focus set at the trees. My shutter time was set to 1.6 seconds. Turn on live view (which minimizes mirror movement) and then lock down the shutter button on a cable release. Go have a cup of tea and come back when the memory card is full!



Lighting Storm
1.6000001052335" f/22 ISO 100 EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 24 mm Canon EOS 40D
Richmond Hill,Ontario



Lighting Storm
1.6000001052335" f/22 ISO 100 EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 24 mm Canon EOS 40D
Richmond Hill,Ontario

#Project365 159: Man at Massey Hall

I took several shots of these doors. I originally didn't any people in the shot but when I was making my selection for the day I changed my mind.

The more difficult choice however was that he originally was in a landscape oriented shot and I wanted to go with the vertical composition. I applied a little photoshop to copy him from the one image to the other. He was in the right spot - wrong image. I also removed a traffic cone while I was at it.

Tip for the day: When is the best time to make a vertical image? Answer: Right after you have made a horizontal image! Just in case you want the other orientation for some reason.

P.s. for those keeping score, this wasn't on my shot list either.


Man at Massey Hall
1/1000 f/4.5 ISO 400 EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 18 mm Canon EOS 40D
Massey Hall,Toronto,Ontario
Ps used to merge two images - man copied from landscape to portrait shot

Project365 158: Sausages

Toronto has 'street meat' vendors but unlike other cities they are pretty restricted to what they can offer. Hot Dogs and Sausages are standard fare.

(This was not on my shot list for the week.)


Sausages
1/200 f/3.5 ISO 100 EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 18 mm Canon EOS 40D
Eaton Centre On Queen,Toronto,Ontario
Color Efex Pro Glamour Glow

Project365 157: Streetcar Abstract

This week my theme is "Streetscape" - and I double checked _ I haven't used this theme before! I thought I'd share my shot list for the beginning of the week and then at the end of the week we'll see how close to my original ideas the actual selected shots were.

Ideas:

1. USPS on Toronto street (movie set)
2. other movie set artifacts or scenes
3. traffic @ bay and queen - lines on the street
4. scramble time blur
5. looking up bay or York from Lakeshore Dr
6. DVP from the Go Train
7. 404 traffic blur from Elgin Mills bridge
8. empty street due to long exposure or multi exposure blend
9. car light trails at night
10. Union station pedestrians
11. construction building or street
12. police on the job
13. TTC or Go buses or streetcars
14. fire trucks on the job - en route - blur

This was not the picture I visualized. I had been thinking about a streetcar in motion with the background blurred due to a pan and the streetcar sharp. As I walked up to the intersection this streetcar appeared and I quickly flipped over to TV spun the shutter time to 0.3s and shot. But then I realized that I was way overexposed for that long of a shutter time. The camera had stopped down to f/22 but that was the smallest that lens could go and it was not enough. Nonetheless there was something about the image I still liked, and so it is the keeper for the day. This counts as #13 on my idea list.

Streetcar Abstract
1/3 f/22 ISO 100 EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 24 mm Canon EOS 40D
Bay and Queen,Toronto,Ontario
Framing and noise added in Lr3.

Project365 156: White Zinfadel

This wraps on my second week of 'three'. Hope you enjoyed the redux.

P.S. I do think it is fine to put ice in your wine - especially on a hot day.
P.S.S. reposted to correct the day number in the title.


White Zinfadel
1/100 f/4 ISO 400 EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 88 mm Canon EOS 40D
Richmond Hill,Ontario

Project365 155: A Lamp unto my Feet

I did this shot with both shallow depth of field and a deep version which had all three lamps in focus. I liked this one better.


A Lamp unto my Feet
1/250 f/2.8 ISO 250 EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM @ 73 mm Canon EOS 40D
Richmond Hill,Ontario

Project365 154: Three Bikes

I am a day late posting, so won't write a lot about today's image. I had a lot to choose from but ultimately went with this one because Barb liked it best.


Three Bikes
1/160 f/4 ISO 400 EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 58 mm Canon EOS 40D
Scott and Wellington,Toronto,Ontario

Project365 153: White Stone on Blue

This Hindu temple is located east of the 427 in Toronto. It is the largest Mandir in Canada. The intricate stone work is all hand carved.


White Stone on Blue
f/8 EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 105 mm Canon EOS 40D
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir ,Toronto,Ontario
3 Image HDR via HDR Efex Pro

Project365 152: Three by Three

Any guess as to what this is?

It is the reflection of one buildings windows on another across the street. To me it almost looks like pages of text.My wife actually preferred another image but I went with this one because of its abstractness.


Three by Three
1/640 f/6.3 ISO 400 EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM @ 35 mm Canon EOS 40D
Habour Castle Westin Conventoin Centre,Toronto,Ontario