Photography
It has been a long winter and I really haven’t gotten out with my camera as much as I would have liked. This past weekend I grabbed my camera and just headed out into our backyard. I pulled out my 50mm prime lens and my macro tubes. Winter is much more fun up close.
So as if learning photography wasn’t enough of a challenge, and I am not sure what I was thinking, but I have challenge my self to virtually walk the length of Great Britain this year on the “Lands End to John o’Groats” (LEJoG) route. I am doing this though a great I great website with an app that has various walks around the world. Check it out https://www.theconqueror.events/
Its pretty cool, as they also send you virtual postcards to share on your social media accounts of the starting point, various interesting sites along the way, and of your final destination. You also can get a t-shirt with your challenges logo on it and when you finish the challenge, they send you an actual medal.
I have been walking since January 1st and as of the end of February, I had walked about 16% of the route. Below is a google maps image of what I have walked.
Of course with it being winter here, I have been walking in a local mall to get some of my kilometers in. I have had lots of time to study the architecture of the mall and there has been one photo I have been waiting to take once the lighting was just right. I call this one, “Sometimes you just have to look up”
A friend of mine boards her horse at a little farm just outside the city. She invited us to come out anytime and photograph her horse and the others that are boarded there. We also got to meet some other friendly and interesting characters that call this farm home.
So the weather and life have conspired to keep me from taking a lot of photos since our return from Scotland. But, my good friend and fellow photographer in Glasgow inspired me to get out one night for a few night long exposure shots.
We traveled to Orkney in December unexpectedly to attend my sister-in-laws funeral. It was not a vacation but I did manage a few outings with my camera as we visited with family and friends.
As you know Orkney is pretty far north 59 degrees North, so the days were short. Sunrise was about 9am and Sunset was about 3:15pm.
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of my Sister-In-Law, in the Orkney Islands, Scotland.
Maureen Johnston was an amazing sister, sister-in-law, and auntie to our family here in Canada. She will be very missed by us, the family in Orkney and generally everyone who knew her. She had a true heart and she was the kindest person you could ever have as a friend.
We will be traveling home to Orkney to be with family, so there will be a small break in photos.
It was a beautiful clear night for the Orleans Christmas Parade of Lights. It was a bit chilly at -11c, but there were lots of people and the children were really excited to see all the floats and displays. Here are a few of my favourites.
We took a short 3km walk along the Ottawa River pathway in the late afternoon. I was really hoping to capture some more bird photos, but it was very quiet wildlife wise. The scenery and light were amazing though.
I have tried adding boarders to my photos for effect for the first time. They look good when you click on them, but kinda funny displayed below in the grid.
I treated myself to a new recliner chair and we had to go and pick it up from the stores warehouse located just off 10th line and Inness Road in Orleans. When we pulled out of the warehouse parking lot, I spotted a puddle and you know how much I love puddle reflection photos. So I stopped the car and took our my camera and shot a few photos. Here are a couple.
I submitted my photos to Ian Black who does the Weather for CBC Ottawa and he used one of them on his weather report. Here is a screen grab.
Thanks very much Ian Black and CBC for using my photo.
I went back to the Mer Bleu Boardwalk this past weekend to try and re-shoot the Chickadee’s with better camera settings. I used a smaller aperture setting and that extended the focal point so that I could keep the whole bird in focus. It was brighter out and it had snowed during the week, it really helped with keeping the birds fully lit with no shadows. All these photos were shot at ISO 200, F8, 160/sec with my 50mm prime lens.
