Life and Death in Hamilton - graphic content

I received a call that something was in the walls of my girl friends house.  She was scared until her Portuguese Podengo Pequeno found the cause.  He is isn't a hunting dog,... he is a hunter.

Bad choice mouse, good job Fox.

I think the mouse problem has been solved by a Fox.

Chrome on Black

I have been meaning to try this for some time... chrome on a black surface.  In case you are wondering... it is an OMS dual manifold for scuba tanks.  Beautiful and functional at the same time.



Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF.2, 1.3 sec at f/4, 1EV  under 200.

Hamilton Bricks

A city initially built on a harbour, then built on textiles and eventually steel.  Time passes as it always does.  Now Hamilton is going through a renaissance.

In Hamilton... Art Is The New Steel.

Capture the now and the past before it is gone.

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF.2, 1/500 sec at f/11.

 

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF.2 f/22, 1.6 sec at f/22.

Effervescent.  And the stories they could tell...

Ania's Lilies

A beautiful summer day in Ania's backyard.  The Lilies were in full bloom.

 

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF.2 1/500 sec at f/11. 

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF.2 1/200 sec at f/11.

Onions

Onions

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF.2 1/80 sec at f/2, 1 EV under 200.

The Key Ingredient

Saffron.

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, 1/6 sec at f/2.

I haven't posted in a while but it is time to start again.

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 ZF, 1/16 second sec at f/2.

Summer Dreaming of Summer

Winter was very mild until now.  Colder than cold and the puppies don't even want to go outside.

Here is a picture of Summer dreaming of next summer.

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, 1/80 sec at f/2, ISO 1600

Looking At You

Look at those eyes.  No wonder puppies steal our hearts.

Nikon D3s, Nikkor-S auto 55m, 1/100 sec at f/1.2, ISO 640

The Secret Combination

There is no secret combination to life.  Look for the good everywhere.

]

 

Nikon D3s, Nikkor-S auto 55m, 1.26 sec at f/1.2, ISO 1EV under 200

The Fighting Sullivans

I took a bus trip to the Buffalo Naval Park a couple of months ago and visited the USS The Sullivans. The picture doesn't even begin to show how big this ship is.

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss 25mm , 1/20 sec at f/5.6, ISO 6400

The Best Christmas Gift

How cool would it be to find one of these under the Christmas tree.

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, 1/250 sec at f/8, ISO 800

Dreaming of Summer

December 27th and I have the windows open.  Not the usual Canadian winter.  The buds have already started to open on some of the trees which is not a good thing.

These are a couple of pictures from last summer.

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, 1/640 sec at f/4, ISO 800

And Summer.

 Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, 1/1000 sec at f/4, ISO 800

My New Bike

Nope not a Harley but a CCM Flyter from at least 1966.  It used to be a City of Brantford bike according to the tag.  Bike share programs back in 1966 in Brantford.  Now that was progressive thinking.

Nikon D3s, Nikkor-S 55mm, 2.5 sec at f/2.8, ISO 1EV below 200

Nikon D3s, Nikkor-S 55mm, 8 sec at f/5.6, ISO 1EV below 200

The Compete Bocuse

Well today was a day of cleaning the house and generally blah.  So I headed out to look for a cook book since it is winter here in Canada.  I came across The Complete Bocuse.

So now my goal is to cook all 500 recipes in the book.  I have seen the movie Julie and Julia and thought how amazing would the be to cook an entire cookbook.  It should take almost two years but cooking for me and the dogs it might take a little bit longer. ;o )

First recipe tonight is Paul Bocuse's Onion Soup.  I am not ready for some of the more "traditional" stuff.

And while kidneys, brains and offal (I don't even know what that is), is probably very delicious I think I will start off with the more conventional North American recipes.

More Mum Show photos

A couple more photos of the Mum Show in Hamilton, Ontario.  I had no idea there were that many different types of mums.  The potted mums you get at the local Home Depot or Lowes are only just the beginning.  Next year I plan on getting down during the day when the sun is out.  The fluorescent light didn't help with the colours which were absolutely amazing.  The theme was the 2015 Pan Am Games which are hosted in Hamilton.  75,000 blooms in all.

Hamilton Mum Show

It is autumn so I walked a couple of streets and went to the City of Hamilton's Mum Show. It was amazing. I had to reduce the saturation in this photo because the colours looked too vibrant.

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Macro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, 8 sec at f/8, ISO 1 EV under 200

The Coolest Spot On Earth

I would love to have that magical camera that I could dial into the year and take photo of what it looked like "back then".

I managed to get into the basement of Canada's oldest dive shop and took a couple of photos.

It is the most amazing place I have ever seen in my life.  Jacques Cousteau would be proud.

Sadly it is disappearing so I want to make sure I can document as much as I can.



Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, 16.4 sec at f/8, ISO 1EV under 200

Rose of Sharon

This is my first day of vacation from my new job.  It is supposed to rain but right now there is a very light cloud cover that eliminates all shadows.  Perfect for some photos.

I started cutting the lawn but the electric lawn mower ran out of power.  As I waited for it to recharge I grabbed my camera and took this picture of the Rose of Sharon I have in the backyard.

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, 1/320 sec at f/2, ISO 1EV under 200

Tyler Today

I love the expressions puppies can make.  No wonder they win their way into our hearts. 

The eyes and little ears did it for me.



Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, 1/320 sec at f/2.8, ISO 1600

Cutest Puppy In the World

OK I am a little bit biased but this guy is way too cute.



Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, 1/400 sec at f/2.8, ISO 1600

The World Can Change In A Heartbeat

The world can change in a heartbeat.  A future that seemed so dark all of a sudden has endless opportuiities.  All I need to do is be brave enough to travel down that road.

This is Tyler my new puppy.

He is 2.25 lbs part Yorkie part and part God only knows. 

He isn't a designer dog he is just a good dog. Heinz 57 and he picked me I didn't pick him.

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, 1/250 sec at f/2.8, ISO 1600

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, 1/250 sec at f/2.8, ISO 1600

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, 1/250 sec at f/2.8, ISO 1600

Looking In From The Outside

After many sleepless nights deciding if I should choose a job that pays well or a job I can live with,  I have decided to choose happiness over money.

Money can buy a lot of things, but it can never buy health, happiness or true piece of mind.

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, 1/1250 sec at f/4, ISO 1EV under 200

Vintage Dive Gear

I am now the proud owner of a Divair double hose regulator and a PST steel 72 with a small valve tank.  Cost me $25.  It is worth $0.00 but so cool if you are into vintage diving.

I have to admit I find this old dive gear amazing.  To think people were diving this equipment to some extreme depths and made it back alive is incredible.  These people were the poineers of the sport of diving.

The tank was manufactured in 1955 by PST for Healthways, and the regulator was manufactured in 1956.

The combination is not diveable today but that doesn't matter to me.  This is a piece diving history.

Divair regulator serial number 10600 is in good hands. 

 

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, 1/10 sec at f/4, ISO 1EV under 200

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, 1/13 sec at f/4, ISO 1EV under 200

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, 1/10 sec at f/4, ISO 1EV under 200

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, 1/10 sec at f/4, ISO 1EV under 200

Out of the Ice

The snow and ice are finally starting to melt with one of the first thaws of the year.

I was sitting outside on the back steps with the camera and noticed this Japanese maple leaf struggling to free itself from the ice.

The thing I like most about this photo is that even the portion of the leaf still encased in ice is in focus.  I have to say I love my Zeiss lenses.

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, 1/640 sec at f/8, ISO 800

Snail

I took this picture a couple of years ago in the early morning near Long Saulte Ontario.

I got down in the grass to get this one.  Not bad for a 1970s macro lens.

Nikon D700, MICRO-NIKKOR 55mm, 1/50 sec at f/8, ISO 400

Ottawa Birch Tree

The sun hit the Birch bark at just the perfect angle.  Semi-transparent and it just seems to glow.

Life seems to be leading me back to Ottawa.  I will probably be back up to Ottawa in the next couple of weeks.

Happy and sad at the same time, I am looking forward to walking the old railroad path where these pictures were taken.

Nikon D700, MICRO-NIKKOR 55mm, 1/25 sec at f/5, ISO 200

God Bless Veterans

I spotted this gentleman on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland.

He was asking for donations to the Sick Children's Foundation.  Having served his country he now serves those who are less fortunate and in need.

Nikon D700, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, 1/800 sec at f/4, ISO 640

Edinburgh Train Station

I was walking around Edinburgh at night and found myself at the train station.

Edinburgh has got to be the best city I have ever visited.

Nikon D700, Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G, 1/15 sec at f/2.8, ISO 640

Okra

I woke up hungry today.  I usually wake up hungry but today I woke up craving okra.

Don't ask me why I just know I need to make something with okra.

Now the question is what to make for dinner.

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, f/4.0 at 1/10 sec, ISO 1EV under 200

Sunflower

For some reason sunflowers have always been one of my favourites.

Maybe it is because they are so tall.  Almost like corn, and corn fields have always been another of my favourites as well.  Again maybe it is the height.

I like the primary colours.  This was taken in August of 2013 when it was warm and sunny.

Nikon D3s, Sigma 150 - 500mm VR F5-6.3 APO HSM, 500 mm, 1/200 sec at f/6.3, ISO 200

The Winter That Never Ends

Another 5 - 10 cm of snow tonight.  Temperatures in the minus double digits until the middle of March and this appears to be winter that never ends.

Dale wanted to go diving today but with temperatures this cold the drysuit zippers freeze almost as soon as you get out of the water.

So I was looking through some older pictures and dreaming of diving, ... here is what I found.

I almost missed this Mourning dove it was so fast.  The colours are a perfect match for the woods chips.

Nikon D3s, Sigma 150 - 500mm VR F5-6.3 APO HSM, 500 mm, 1/80 sec at f/16, ISO 200

Cormorant

As odd as it sounds the weirdest story I ever heard from one of my techincal dive instructors was about a Cormorant.

And when I talk about dive instructors this guy is the pinnacle of dive instructors.

580 foot rebreather dives, and I have heard 480 foot solo rebreather dives.  The best of the best.

However the only thing that really surprised him was a Cormorant running along the bottom of Big Tub Harbour in Tobermory at 30 feet chasing a fish.

This Cormorant was just being macho.

If I was him or her, I would have had the windows cranked down and Lynyrd Skynyrd's Free Bird cranked up to 11 !!!

Nikon D3s, Sigma 150 - 500mm VR 1:5-6.3 APO HSM, 1/200 sec at f/16, ISO 200

Final Approach

Imagine the crackle over the airwaves, "Tower we are on final approach."

I wonder who the lonely guy in the back is?

Nikon D7100, Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6G at 20mm, 1/640 sec at f/5.6, ISO 100

Elissa Masts

There is something about tall ships that just fascinate me.

As I diver I have been lucky enough to dive these ships while they are under water with the masts still in place.

But to see them floating on the waves and the sound of the wind through the rigging is incredible.

This is a photo of the masts on the Elissa in Galveston, Texas.

Nikon D7100, NIKKOR-N Auto 24mm, 1/3200 sec at f/2.8, ISO 100

Rhymes From The Past

On a trip to Houston I found this on board of the tall ship Elissa in Galveston.

I had known the second lines since I was a child.  My father said it all the time.

But I had never known there was more.

As the son of a son of a merchant marine sailor, it now all makes sense.

Which explains my fascination with the sea.

When porpoise jumps,

Stand by your pumps.

Red sky at night, sailor's delight,

Red sky at morning, sailor take warning.

Mackerel skies, and mare's tails,

Make tall ships carry short sails.

Seagull, seagull sit on the sand,

It's never good weather when your on the land.

 

Nikon D7100, Nikkor 24mm, 1/30 sec at f/2.8, ISO 250

Angels

I can't even explain why I took this picture.

I had spent the day driving around and taking pictures.  I find that taking pictures helps to clear my mind. 

Like looking at the world through another set of eyes.

The tree almost looks like a wave of darkness that is being held back by an angel.

I was playing around with some old film filters I picked up a couple of years ago.  This was taken with a green filter.

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Distagon 2,8/25 ZF, 1/2500 sec at f/4, ISO 800

Oliver

I took these pictures last summer when Oliver and Annabelle first came to live with me.  These guys are the greatest, but a huge commitment in time.  But they are my family.

Non-stop playing with a ball from the time I get up until I go to sleep.

 

 
Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, f/2.8 at 1/500 sec, ISO 160

 

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, f/ 5.6 at 1/800 sec, ISO 1600

Another Swan

I was just going through the pictures of the swans I took a couple of weekends ago and this one caught my eye.

Swans are so majestic.

I played around with the exposure to try to get as much detail in the feathers as possible.



Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, f/8 at 1/320 sec, ISO 800