Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Project365 333: Barred

The emergency exit stairs from the Skywalk are painted in brilliant red. Lots of opportunity for geometry as a subject.

I didn't even notice the spider until I got home.


Barred
Toronto,Ontario
f/6.3 40 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Hdr Efex Pro - -2,0,+2, Color Efex Pro 4 - detail Extractor, tonal contrast, and borders

Monday, November 28, 2011

Project365 332: Going Up!

I am on the home stretch to the end of Project 365. Mondays are when I start my new theme for the week and for this week the theme is 'Steps'. This is the part of the 'cascading steps' in the Skywalk between Toronto's Union Station and the CN Tower.


Going Up!
Toronto,Ontario
1/60 f/4 45 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Silver Efex Pro 2

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Project365 331: Stacked

This image turned out way more abstract that I thought it would. I am not going to tell you what they are, but they are on my shelf, and the people in my house see and use them everyday.


Stacked
Richmond Hill,Ontario
1/250 f/18 173 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
Canon 500D macro filter, color Efex Pro 4 - detail Extractor, tonal contrast, gold reflector and borders

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Project365 330: Jewel Cases

There will come a time when those younger than us will have no idea what these things are. I hardly touch these any more myself. They are all on my iPod.


Jewel Cases
Richmond Hill,Ontario
1.6000001052335" f/10 55 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Canon 500D Macro Filter, Color Pro Efex 4 to add tonal contrast detail enhancer and borders

Project365 329: Vases and Beads

I under lit the vases with my flash. The wood cabinet was really red and the beads were really green, so going with black and white simplified the image.


Vases and Beads
Richmond Hill,Ontario
1/3 f/7.1 24 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Color Efex Pro 4 - Infrared Filter and borders

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Project365 328: Canoe without the Creek

A toy canoe. I added green and blue paper to simplify the background.


Canoe without the Creek
Richmond Hill,Ontario
1/30 f/22 73 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Canon 500D Macro Filter, Color Pro Efex 4 to add tonal contrast and borders

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Project365 327: 24 Ports

Doesn't everybody have a 24-port Ethernet switch sitting on their shelf?


24 Ports
Toronto,Ontario
1/30 f/4 98 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Canon 500D Macro Filter, Color Pro Efex 4 to add tonal contrast and borders

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Project365 326: Shelf Safari

Why go the to African Savannah when big game is sitting around at home?


Shelf Safari
Richmond Hill,Ontario
1/250 f/8 65 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM

Monday, November 21, 2011

Project365 325: Blurred Memories

The weather is getting colder and nights are darker earlier, so l am likely going to finish up the year with more interior shots than outdoor. This week's theme will be 'On The Shelf'. To start with here are some books I haven't read in a long time. My memory of them, like the image is a little blurry around the edges. A lensbaby composer is responsible for the image, no comment about my memory.


Blurred Memories
Richmond Hill,Ontario
1/250
Canon EOS 40D
Lensbaby - Color Efex Pro4 - tonal contrast and borders

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Project365 324: Coffee and Dessert

That wraps up my coffee week. There are many more ideas that I could explore, but I'll leave those for another time. Especially since there is a peice of blueberry pie waiting for me. Ironically, I'll replace the cup of coffee with a cup of tea. I want to sleep well tonight.


Coffee and Dessert
Richmond Hill,Ontario
1/250 f/10 67 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Project365 323: Irish

I was originally looking for a three layers of 'liquid'. Bailey's, coffee, and then whipped cream on the top. That didn't work out because the coffee mixed with the Bailey's even though I ladled it on top very very gently. As I played with various lighting arrangements the whipped cream started to absorb the coffee mixture and I got three layers after all.


Irish
Richmond Hill,Ontario
1/15 f/4 35 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Color Efex Pro 4 - Glamour Glow and borders

Friday, November 18, 2011

Project365 322: Little White Cups

I started drinking coffee when I was in my mid teens. The job I had at the time required me to work outside in the winter in all kinds of weather. I got cold and anything hot was comforting. There was always a pot of coffee steaming away and I would drink it even though I really didn't like the taste; enough cream and sugar would make it tolerable. Those little white cups become a welcome sight.


Little White Cups
Richmond Hill,Ontario
1/8 f/4 60 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Color Efex Pro 4 - Detail extractor, monday morning, borders

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Project365 321: Early Morning Brew

My early morning brew. I wanted a visual feel to this image that was edgy, yes because it might be a good descriptor of my mood at 5:40 in the morning. Dark roasted beans, freshly ground and usually a medium strength brew.

This is not an HDR image, that it is was made from a single frame and not a multi-image composite. Color Efex Pro 4 allowed me to create the effect I was looking for.


Early Morning Brew
Richmond Hill,Ontario
1/80 f/4 35 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Color Efex Pro 4 - Detail Extractor, tonal contrast, and borders

Project365 320: Pumpkin Spice Latte

It used to be that if I went out to buy a coffee what I wanted was a simple Timmies; large double milk, no sugar. After I cam back from my first European trip I had started to drink Starbucks coffee and after my second trip I had acquired a definite taste for darker blends. Now when I go to $tarbuks I normally get a Tall Bold. A tradition that started with my work pal Ivar.

For today's image, I wanted something with whipped cream, so went with their seasonal special, the Pumpkin Spice Latte. It was pretty good, but don't tell darkman! (an inside joke for those who know darkman.)


Pumpkin Spice Latte
Toronto,Ontario
1/8 f/4 58 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Color Efex Pro 4 - Tonal contrast, and borders

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Project365 319: Coffee and Cream

Continuing to explore the Coffee theme, I present Coffee and Cream. I did considerable experimentation in my makeshift studio to get an effect I liked.

There is a flash in the upper left and another directly behind the mug. The flashes were gelled with two different shades of yellow and then the white balance was shifted to make them appear more like coffee brown. Ultimately I was looking for a duo-tone result which I think looks pretty good.


Coffee and Cream

1/50 f/8 67 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM

Monday, November 14, 2011

Project365 318: Spilling the Beans

I am a coffee lover. I probably drink too much of it. So I thought it would be a good theme for the week. For what I have in plan so far I will be doing most of these shots in my make shift studio.


Spilling the Beans
,Ontario
1/50 f/8 58 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Silver Efex Pro 2

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Project365 317: Service Alert

For the past two weeks, many of the drivers for York Region Transit have been on strike. This is bothersome. But it is not because I have been walking an extra 40 minutes a day as a result, rather it is because I think the drivers have a valid beef.

There does not seem to be any quick resolution to the problem. The drivers work for contractors. The contractor claim they don't have any more money to provide since their contract is fixed. YRT doesn't seem to want to get involved in a labour dispute that is the domain of their sub-contractors.

It is a good thing I have comfortable shoes as it looks like I'll be walking this week too.


Service Alert
Richmond Hill,Ontario
1/13 f/7.1 24 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
color Efex Pro 4 - tonal contrast, and borders

Project365 316: Asphalt Or Wheat?

I have written about the demise of agricultural land back in May. Then I said it make me sad, but it certainly qualifies as bothersome as well. The world is at seven billion people and continues to grow. The UN projects that by the end of the century it could be as high as fourteen billion.


Asphalt Or Wheat?
Markham,Ontario
1/125 f/10 24 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
color Efex Pro 4 - tonal contrast, and borders

Friday, November 11, 2011

Project365 315: Cenotaph

There was quite a big crowd at the Cenotaph. I waited for the crowds to thin so I could get the wreaths.

War is bothersome. Often the result of the greed of a few men that spreads to a nation.

During the ceremony today the Padre read from Isaiah 2, "Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD. "


Cenotaph
Richmond Hill,Ontario
1/1250 f/4 24 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM

Project365 314: Construction

From day to day I am jumping from the trivial to the profound in this series of bothersome topics. This is driven more by what I find when I go out scouting than any grander scheme.

Today my bothersome topic is road construction. In Toronto they say there are only two seasons, winter and construction. I suspect, however, that this construction on front street is going to continue throughout the winter.


Construction
Toronto,Ontario
1/2000 f/4 35 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Silver Efex Pro 2

Wednesday, November 09, 2011

Project365 313: The Poor Will Always Be With Us

What are we to do about the poor? Check these out:
Now that is bothersome! A pretty high standard; one which I fall short of. I need to do more.


The Poor Will Always Be With Us
Toronto,Ontario
1/125 f/4 105 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Silver Efex Pro 2 - FilmNoir 2

Tuesday, November 08, 2011

Project365 312: Grid Lock

Getting out of the Go Train parking lot can be really bothersome, especially if you in a hurray. Most of the time I take the bus. But wait - YRT is on strike. That will be fodder for another day.


Grid Lock
Richmond Hill,Ontario
1/15 f/4 55 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
color Efex Pro 4 - tonal contrast, and borders

Monday, November 07, 2011

Project365 311: Occupy Toronto - Roots Edition

I wanted to try something conceptual this week and I'll add in some personal perspectives. Several things came together to inspire this week's focus: Bothersome.

Although I agree with many of the 'occupy' movements position that are summed up in the question 'does this feel right to you'? Many things in this world don't. But there is something about 'occupy Toronto' doesn't feel right either. Perhaps I have missed some key points but it feels like a copycat of the American protests.


Occupy Toronto - Roots Edition
Toronto,Ontario
1/2500 f/4 105 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM

Sunday, November 06, 2011

Project365 310: On the Carpet

Through the week I focused on large sculpture that I found in downtown Toronto. Yesterday was a wall mural and today is a Persian carpet to wrap up my feature of Other People's Art.


On the Carpet
Richmond Hill,Ontario
1/320 f/4 35 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
color Efex Pro 4 - tonal contrast, and borders

Project365 309: Butterfly

This was a mural decorating the side of a building in downtown Peterborough. I don't know who the artist was.


Wall Mural
Peterborough,Ontario
1/5000 f/4 28 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Perspective correction and framing in PS CS4.

Project365 308: Things Nearby

"The Poet, The Fever Hospital ", by Bernie Miller. I debated showing and image of the large work or tight shots of details. Obviously I opted for the larger work.


Things Nearby
Toronto,Ontario
1/125 f/4 32 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Color Efex Pro 4 - tonal contrast, and borders

Project365 307: Hand Colouring

The Hand by Sorel Etrog.

I was trying my hand at using some coloured gels to shift the colour of the light around. In this case I used a green gel to light the subject and then shifted the white balance to bring it back to normal which moved the background magenta.


Hand Colouring
Toronto,Ontario
1/25 f/8 24 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Color Efex Pro 4 - tonal contrast, skylight and borders

Project365 306: U.V. Ceti at Sunrise

U.V. Ceti by Andrew Posa, in a plaza near Scott and Wellington. Shot at sunrise.


U.V. Ceti at Sunrise
Toronto,Ontario
1/160 f/5 24 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Color Efex Pro 4 - tonal contrast, skylight and borders

Wednesday, November 02, 2011

Writing with Light – Nov. 3 at the Elaine Fleck Gallery

An interesting exhibit tomorrow in Toronto.

http://blog.vistek.ca/seminarandevents/writing-light-elaine-fleck-gallery/

Project365 305: The Archer

This sculpture, "The Archer", by Henry Moore is prominent in Nathan Phillips Square. I took this in the early morning so as to get sky before it was too bright. I lit it with a Canon 580 EXII. The use of additional light is an area that I am working on this week.


The Archer
Toronto,Ontario
1/125 f/8 24 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Color Efex Pro 4 - tonal contrast reflector and borders