From Cold To Warm

I was driving around looking for photos in a snow storm and heard that Shylah from KX 94.7 was going to be at Gage Park in Hamilton.

KX 94.7 is Hamilton's country music station.  So I headed on down and signed up for the KX 94.7 Win sticker and got a free KX 94.7 t-shirt as well.  Thanks Shylah !

Since I was in Gage Park I needed to see the greenhouse.  And I had to warm up as I was freezing after walking around outside for hours.

This is a photo of the Nun's Orchid growing in the greenhouse.

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, f/2 at 1/40 sec, ISO 100

A beautiful Bird of Paradise was also in full bloom.  How could I not take this photo ?

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, f/2.8 at 1/50 sec, ISO 100

Swans In Snow

I woke up this morning and actually felt pretty good all things considered.  But that didn't last long.  It has been a long gray winter.  I had to get out of the house before I went postal, so I headed out to get some groceries.

The snow has turned brown from all of the salt on the roads and sidewalks, and with the warm weather has started to turn into slush.  Rather depressing all in all.

Then it started snow and a beautiful white blanket started to cover all of the ugly.  Naturally I headed back home to grab my camera.   A good day, turned bad, turned great. 

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, f/8 at 1/400 sec, ISO 800

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, f/8 at 1/200 sec, ISO 800

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

Another Roadside Attraction

Everyone needs at least one cheesy, OMG, why did I take that photo in their collection.

This one is mine.

And I still would have taken it today because how many times do you see a T-Rex taking out a parking lot full of cars !?!?

Exactly.  Never.

Canon PowerShot Pro1, 7.2mm , 1/800 sec at f/4.0, ISO  ?

False Echoes

I have been the biggest Jimmy Buffett fan since I first heard his live double album "You Had To Be There".

Was it really back in 1978?  Yikes.  33 1/2 RPM on a turntable.

The pirate who was looking at 13, ... is now looking at 50. ;o )

Amazingly the line, "And in your belly, you hold the treasure that few have ever seen, most of them dreams, most of them dreams", it has stuck.

That song changed my life forever.

Thankfully today I can say I have seen a few things.  All under water.

The Ocean is the worlds biggest museum.  And one of the most fragile.

This is a photo of a anchor from a sailing ship.  Thankfully it landed in Gage Park in 1969.  Most iron anchors rust out in less than a couple of years.

There was a historian(s) here who looked after this anchor.

Once these are gone they are gone.  No one builds tall ships anymore.

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Distagon 2/35 ZF T*, 1/800 sec at f/5.6, ISO 640

Nautical Wheelers

Living and dying in 3/4 time.

Nikon D700, Nikkor 16mm f/2.8D, 1/320 sec at f/11, ISO 200

A Warped World

This photo is just so wrong.  It actually makes my head spin but I like it none the less.

Nikon D700, Nikkor 16mm f/2.8D, 1/320 sec at f/11, ISO 200

Through The Looking Glass

Retro as it gets.

Hey, I think that was my Impala back in 1967

Nikon D700, Sigma 8mm f/4D, 1/10 sec at f/11, ISO 200

Requesting Clearance To Land

This photo was taken on Sentsinger Island one of many Parks Canada Ontario parks.

Beauty surrounds us you just need to be sure your eyes are open at the time to see it.

And not that I want to make it publicaly known.  But site 215 is incredible, if I am not there you should be.

Nikon D700, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, f/8 at 320 sec, ISO 640

Mothman Prophecy Part II

The Mothman Prophecy was probably one of my favourite movies.

When I next visit the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, West Virginia this year I plan a little detour on the way home to Point Pleasant, West Virginia.  How convenient is that?  And depending upon my employment status I may decide to spend a night again at the Moundsville State Pemitentiary which also happens to be in West Virginia.

Look at me, ... I am the poster boy for haunted West Virginia. ;o )

Haunted or not West Virginia is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited in my life.

I was going through photos and came across this photo and the Mothman came to mind.

Nikon D700, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, f/2 at 2 sec, ISO 1EV under 200

Yellow

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Distagon 2/35 ZF T*, 1/1000 sec at f/8, ISO 800

The Beauty of Winter

Last summer this was a weed that most people would have pulled out of the ground.  But six months later and it is a thing of beauty.  Ice crystals and snow tranform a weed into a work of art.

Nature at her best.

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Distagon 2/35 ZF T*, 1/8000 sec at f/2, ISO 800

The Shore of Lake Erie

Lake Erie, the shallowest of the Great Lakes which is why there are so many shipwrecks under her waters.  When the winds pick up and the storms roll in, the waters become violent and devour ships.

I like the darkness of this picture because it represents the anger and violence of the Great Lakes during a storm.

And that isn't dust on the sensor, it is the spray from the lake.



Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Distagon 2,8/25 ZF, 1/10 sec at f/16, ISO 800

Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum

One of my favourite places in the world.  The pictures do not even come close to showing how amazing this place actually is.

It is as beautiful as it is massive.  It will be one of my trips this year.

Nikon D7100, Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6G at 15mm, 1/400 sec at f/5.6, ISO 100

Candles

I was going through some old photos and came across this one of some candles.  The softness of the picture and light just facinates me.

Naturally it due to the f/1.2 aperture.

Nikon D3s, 55mm Nikkor-S Auto, 1/50 sec at f/1.2, ISO 200

And You Think You Had A Bad Day

Try to explain this to your boss.

Things Aren't As Bad As They Seem

Or maybe they are.

But get up, dust yourself off and jump right back in.

Nikon D7100, Nikkor 24mm, 1/80 sec at f/8.0, ISO 800

Borscht

Now that I have some free time on my hands I thought I would do a little cooking.  Regardless of whatever curves life may throw you, you still need to eat.

Shredded potato for Paul Prudhomme's Brooklyn Borscht.

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Distagon 2/35 ZF T*, 1/320 sec at f/4, ISO 800

Early Morning Frost

Me and the puppies woke up this morning to a beautiful display of frost and ice crystals on my front bedroom window.

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, f/8 at 4 sec, ISO 1EV under 200

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, f/8 at 3 sec, ISO 1EV under 200

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, f/8 at 4 sec, ISO 1EV under 200

A Fresh Start

I was let go yesterday from a job I have held for almost 15 years.

As bad as that sounds, ...

Today for the first time in that many years, I woke up with no headache, no upset stomach, and no stress.

Now I just have to figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life.

After the apple pie though.

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Distagon 2/35 ZF T*, 1/160 sec at f/4, ISO 800

The Chair

Odd subject for a photo but the lighting was right and everything fell into place.

Nikon D3s, Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 2/100 T* ZF, f/8 at 1.6 sec, ISO 1EV under 200