Wandering

More Vancouver Island flowers - May 2011

2011-06-06T13:28:00.000-07:00

Vancouver Island Seascapes - May 2011

2011-06-06T13:15:00.000-07:00

This is a good picture to demonstrate the need for more depth of field in landscape shots. In order to get the logs in front and the mountains all clear, I had to use a small aperture (large f number), which slows down your shutter speed of course. If it's not a bright day a tripod becomes necessary. Then focus about a third up the distance, and you're grand.

I love the subtle colour palette and textures here.

Vancouver Island - May 2011

2011-06-06T12:52:00.000-07:00

I was attracted here to the different textures present and was able to separate the background with a fairly shallow depth of field.

I don't find perfection in nature is required for beauty...sometimes it actually detracts.

I was playing here with a borrowed lens, an old Nikkor 50 f1.4, for which my camera can't meter. So in bracketing I got these 2 exposures that both worked for me. It also doesn't autofocus, and with my 47 yr old eyes, that's a problem as you can see.

More May wildflowers

2011-05-24T15:33:00.001-07:00

I tried a new lens this weekend, a Tamron 60mm f2 Macro. I have never owned a macro before, but I'm sold on this one. The wide-open f2 aperture lets me play with depth of field to my heart's content, so I don't need my usual 50 f1.8 lens, and I don't have to mess around with close-up filters or extension rings, which keeps my kit uncomplicated and clean. These 3 and the one below were all shot with the new lens at various low aperture values (f2-3.5) to accent focus in one small area of the shot and nicely blur out the background.

May long weekend jaunt

2011-05-24T15:22:00.000-07:00

I like the lines on this barbed wire fence, so cool and curvy. Lines were also the attraction for the trees in the second shot...I loved the angles formed by the fallen trees and the fence post.

Late September at Dry Island, Alberta

2011-02-10T07:37:00.000-08:00

Someone must have used this paintbrush to decorate the post and left it behind.

Canyon Creek, Alberta in late September

2011-02-03T20:09:00.000-08:00

Maybe the last performance of See Alice I got this cool shot.

2011-02-03T19:51:00.000-08:00

BattleGrounds II

2011-01-27T13:07:00.000-08:00

Have you ever seen so many black t-shirts?

That's Craig Phillips again, showing off.

Billy Kohut doing something crazy.

BattleGrounds - August 2010

2011-01-27T10:19:00.000-08:00

My future son-in-law Craig Phillips up to his tricks.

There were some beautiful bikes there, too.

Hook's Lighthouse

2010-07-28T14:50:00.000-07:00

Tintern Abbey, Co. Wexford

2010-07-28T13:54:00.000-07:00

Johnstown Castle & Gardens, Co. Wexford

2010-07-28T13:49:00.000-07:00

Johnstown Castle & Gardens, Co. Wexford

2010-07-28T13:46:00.000-07:00

Lismore Castle Gardens, Waterford Co.

2010-07-28T12:56:00.000-07:00

Lismore Castle Gardens, Waterford Co.

2010-07-28T12:55:00.000-07:00

on Lismore Castle grounds, Waterford Co.

2010-07-28T12:52:00.001-07:00

Lismore Castle Gardens, Waterford Co.

2010-07-28T12:48:00.000-07:00

Lismore Castle, Waterford Co.

2010-07-28T12:47:00.000-07:00

Co. Tipperary

2010-07-28T12:11:00.000-07:00

Arcading on the cathedral walls in Ardmore, Co. Waterford

2010-07-27T13:09:00.000-07:00

Youghal, Co.Cork

2010-07-27T13:05:00.000-07:00

Ring of Kerry

2010-07-27T12:57:00.000-07:00

Ring of Kerry

2010-07-27T12:56:00.000-07:00

Ring of Kerry

2010-07-27T12:55:00.000-07:00

Ring of Kerry

2010-07-27T12:53:00.000-07:00

Ring of Kerry

2010-07-27T12:50:00.001-07:00

Ring of Kerry

2010-07-27T12:49:00.000-07:00

Ring of Kerry

2010-07-27T12:47:00.000-07:00

Killarney National Park, Co Kerry

2010-07-27T12:39:00.000-07:00

Happy accident - Co. Kerry

2010-07-27T12:37:00.000-07:00

Killarney National Park, Co Kerry

2010-07-27T12:36:00.000-07:00

Cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare

2010-07-10T13:47:00.000-07:00

Cliffs of Moher - alternate side, Co. Clare

2010-07-10T13:46:00.000-07:00

Unknown wildflower, Cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare

2010-07-10T13:45:00.000-07:00

Cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare

2010-07-10T13:39:00.000-07:00

Cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare

2010-07-10T13:36:00.000-07:00

Cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare

2010-07-10T13:34:00.000-07:00

Mill wheel at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, Co. Clare

2010-07-05T16:40:00.000-07:00

Bunratty - 15th century castle, Co. Clare

2010-07-05T16:34:00.000-07:00

Inishmore Island, Galway

2010-07-03T15:18:00.000-07:00

Dun Aengus, Inis Mor, Co. Galway

2010-07-03T14:05:00.000-07:00

Inis Mor, Co. Galway

2010-07-03T14:03:00.000-07:00

Inis Mor, Co. Galway

2010-07-03T13:40:00.000-07:00

Ponies on Inis Mor, Co. Galway

2010-07-03T13:39:00.000-07:00

On Inis Mor Island, Galway

2010-07-03T13:37:00.000-07:00

A view from the ferry to Inis Mor

2010-06-22T10:51:00.000-07:00

Still life from Kylemore Abbey - head gardener's house

2010-06-22T10:37:00.000-07:00

Charity

2010-06-22T10:34:00.000-07:00

The Neo-Gothic church at Kylemore

2010-06-22T10:33:00.000-07:00

Kylemore Abbey Castle

2010-06-22T10:29:00.000-07:00

Ireland 2010:12 - Connemara National Park, Co. Galway

2010-06-22T10:26:00.000-07:00

Ireland 2010:12 - Connemara National Park, Co. Galway

2010-06-22T10:25:00.002-07:00

Ireland 2010:12 - Connemara National Park, Co. Galway

2010-06-22T10:25:00.001-07:00

Connemara National Park, Co. Galway

2010-06-22T10:25:00.000-07:00

Ireland 2010:12 - Connemara National Park, Co. Galway

2010-06-22T10:22:00.000-07:00

Connemara ponies

2010-06-22T10:18:00.000-07:00

Connemara ponies

2010-06-22T10:17:00.000-07:00

Connemara ponies

2010-06-22T10:16:00.000-07:00

Connemara National Park, Co. Galway

2010-06-22T10:15:00.000-07:00

Trim Castle, Co. Meath

2010-06-19T13:48:00.000-07:00

Trim Castle, Co. Meath

2010-06-19T13:47:00.000-07:00

View from Newgrange, Co. Meath

2010-06-19T13:44:00.000-07:00

Round Tower - Monasterboice, Co. Louth

2010-06-19T12:52:00.001-07:00

Round Tower, Church Ruins, and High Cross - Monasterboice, Co. Louth

2010-06-19T12:52:00.000-07:00

Monasterboice, Co. Louth

2010-06-19T12:50:00.000-07:00

St. Stephen's Green, Dublin

2010-06-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

St. Stephen's Green, Dublin

2010-06-15T09:59:00.000-07:00

Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin

2010-06-15T09:55:00.000-07:00

Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin

2010-06-15T09:52:00.000-07:00

Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin

2010-06-15T09:49:00.000-07:00

Close up of Ha'Penny Bridge, Dublin

2010-06-15T09:44:00.000-07:00

The first of hopefully many pics to be posted from my recent trip to Ireland

Cave and Basin National Historic Site in Winter

2010-02-17T12:55:00.000-08:00

Johnston Canyon in Winter, Banff National Park

2010-02-16T13:03:00.001-08:00

Violence in Sports

2009-10-08T19:30:00.000-07:00

I've never liked hockey. I live in Alberta and avoid hockey like the plague. I hear it said that hockey is a very smart game, and the players are intelligent, and that makes me think, 'Okay, I'm intelligent. Why don't I get it?'. This morning I realized why. I've never watched a game for more than a few minutes. As soon as someone loses it and starts fighting, I can't watch anymore. I don't like watching sports anyway, so I won't pretend I'd be a huge fan if not for the fighting, but I might be able to sit through a live game once in a while at least. But then I ask myself, 'Why does the fighting bother me?' It doesn't bother me near as much in boxing or wrestling. The reason is they're not fighting as part of the competition, they're losing their tempers and any control their parents hopefully taught them, and just flailing at each other, exactly like they do in a pub brawl. Who decided this was acceptable as part of a respected sport? Immediately I lose any respect for the combatants, just as I would in the pub, except at least there, they probably have the excuse of drunkenness, not a good one I admit. The same phenomenon is happening in other team sports, like soccer and lacrosse, and I think that as parents and role models we need to teach kids to control this emotional behavior, on and off the field, and we need to hire coaches who don't stand for a behavior that wouldn't be accepted anywhere else in life.

Accountability Today

2009-05-05T16:42:00.000-07:00

I've had a problem with the levels of accountability in our society, in some areas, for a long time. Maybe some of you are thinking, "Ya, people need to be held more accountable for their actions." But no, I'm going to talk about the areas where we're held responsible to a seemingly excessive degree. Don't get me wrong. I think that criminals should be punished to suit the crime. I just also think that the crime should be judged by intent. Some people seem to consider a crime of omission or neglect as horrible as a crime of intent. A car accident, for instance, is too often seen as a car crime, in my opinion. I think a careless driver should definately be punished, but unless the driver is a repeat 'offender' that seems to have no concern for others, an accident should be treated as 'an accident' and not a crime. We should judge our fellow humans less for the mistakes they make, and more for their general good intentions.

The other area of concern for me is personal accountability for good and normal human actions. We have to be so careful these days what we do that we can't act from our good impulses, impulsively. A man, especially, can't stop and help a distressed child without considering what he may be charged with, not necessarily by the court system, but by society. I think seriously before recommending a babysitter. What if he/she does something wrong? I hesitate to ask someone if they want a lift home. What if I have an 'accident'? That goes both ways, too. If I accept a ride and my samaritan turns into a monster, I'm stupid for taking a ride from a stranger, so I hope I don't break my leg and have to accept a ride from just anyone. I just heard a good story about a retired nurse who watched a car sit in front of her home for a long period one day, until she finally got really worried about the driver and whether he was suffering some medical distress. She plucked up her courage, went to the car, and was completely shocked to discover an undercover police officer, who opened the window and yelled at her for approaching an unknown vehicle. It could have been a 'bad guy' and she could have been hurt. We all know a senior these days whose completely afraid of being set upon in real life or online, so you can imagine now this lady is much more freaked out than before. Well, I think she could have been hurt, but he could have been hurt, too. He said she should call 911 if she was worried, but I bet she'd have been charged, and called naive or stupid if she had.

Maybe most of these problems arise from the media - baring all of our dirty laundry, and therefore making the public hypersensitive to what might happen, just because it happened once to someone someplace. Don't get me wrong. I think it's important we have media. It's maybe just another kitten grown into a monster. For whatever reason, it's gotten way out of control somehow. Society is paralyzed by fear, fear of reprisals for living. It's one of the causes of the separation of mankind these days - how can we act as one organism when we're afraid of each other?

On my mind

2009-04-14T02:13:00.000-07:00

I've slowly discovered people come into my life for a reason, or rather all the people in my life have something to offer me in the way of personal growth and it's my responsibility to learn from them. New friends, co-workers and rediscovered family members have helped me remember to build on different aspects of my growth and without them, I would not have learned much in these areas. Everyone we meet should be - hopefully not too consciously - sized up for usefulness and farmed for knowledge and insight. I've heard it said that we should always try to keep company with people who are smarter than we are. I agree and would add that your people just need to have something you need. Most of my friends are smarter than me in one area or another and help me grow in that area, but some also or instead, just teach me about myself or about how to be a better person.
When I recognized this enigma, I started to notice just how brilliant some of the people are around me. When we are asking questions and discussing different topics than usual, we find a huge knowledge base in some of our quiet friends, and incredible insight in others. Young people look around at your friends and family. Ask yourself what each is offering you, and what you're offering them. You might not see the answers right away, but they might come to you when you least expect it.

Las Vegas Lit

2009-04-10T08:42:00.000-07:00

I think the Venetian above is my favorite hotel. We stayed at the Paris, which was lovely and charming, but next time - The Venetian.

I took my new Canon 5D to Vegas to test it out, and so set it for 1600 iso for the whole weekend. It didn't disappoint me.

Visions of Vegas

2009-04-10T07:59:00.000-07:00

I just got back from a girl's weekend in Las Vegas with some friends. It was my first time there, and I was really impressed and awed (in both good and bad ways). I consider it a great big amusement park for adults, and definately worth experiencing at least once. These pics I took with my little Fujifilm F40.

Tulip

2009-04-09T12:23:00.001-07:00

I bought a new camera. It's magic. I'm too delicate :) to take winter photos, so I experimented on some tulips I had. Spring is here, and there will be more posts now.

Rocky Mountain Road Trip - August 2008

2008-09-12T20:37:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure why I didn't add this one earlier. I just found it again, and liked it, so here it is.

I took this with our little Fujifilm F40, but I love the sky and colours.

In Lake Louise, we went for a trail ride. While we were waiting I couldn't resist this photo-so wonderfully western.

Road Trip - July 2008

2008-08-27T06:40:00.000-07:00

We saw these two bears on our way back and forth from Sicamous, one in the parks, and one near Nordegg. They're berry crazy! Had to post 'em.

The Alhambra, Spain - June 9, 2008

2008-08-17T09:38:00.000-07:00

These two were taken from the top of Alhambra looking over Granada.

This photo was taken from the bus on the way to Granada from Seville. Not quality, but I liked it.

Seville, Spain - June 8-12, 2008

2008-08-10T12:52:00.000-07:00

These were taken in the Plaza d'Espana-huge and beautiful.

And these are from the Seville Cathedral -the most extensive Gothic cathedral in the world.

Villefranche Sur Mer - June 7, 2008

2008-08-10T12:42:00.000-07:00

4 hours on the French Riviera-only 1 postable photo :(

Andiamo a Cinque Terre - June 6, 2008

2008-07-20T20:07:00.000-07:00

Cinque Terre is a National Park and Unesco World Heritage Site on the west coast of Italy near Tuscany. It's a beautiful, enchanting escape from present day reality.

We found a little stone path down a creek that led to bridges, gates and homes otherwise unreachable. It was extremely rustic and charming.

From the streets, gardens and beaches of the villages...

Holy See - June 5, 2008

2008-07-05T15:48:00.000-07:00

Neapolitan Style - June 4, 2008

2008-07-05T14:25:00.000-07:00

A beautiful tiled fountain (maybe) still intact in Pompeii.

A view down a Pompeii street.

Two frescoes from Pompeii that I think are beautiful.

A Neapolitan pizza cook-the pizza was delicious.

Maltese Crossings - June 3, 2008

2008-06-30T12:13:00.000-07:00

These last 3 were taken in a little church in Valletta. It was beautiful, and full of character.

Barcelona Ramblings - May 30-31, 2008

2008-06-29T07:01:00.000-07:00

These first 2 were taken in the Gothic district, I think. I love the random windows in the first one, and the texture of all the different stones and bricks in this one.

These last are some views of La Sagrada Familia-some of the exterior scenes. The whole church is a marvel to behold, and well worth a few hours. For those unfamiliar, Antoni Gaudi designed and built it until his passing, and the construction is still underway.

These flowers were at Park Guell-Gaudi's public park and residence-really cool place to walk around, with great panoramic views of the city and area seen in the first of the 3 photos.

A Few More Mexico Flowers From March, 2007...

2008-01-01T18:04:00.000-08:00

With help from my uncle Jerry, I finished a few more of these:

White Frangipani

(Prumeria alba)

Dogbane family

Jasmine

(Jasminum sp.)

Olive family

White Oleander

(Nerium oleander)

Dogbane family

Orange Cosmos

(Cosmos sulfureus)

Aster family

Wandering Jew

(Tradescantia pallida)

Spiderwort family

More from Kananaskis in July 2007

2007-12-02T17:30:00.000-08:00

Goat's-beard

Tragopogon dubius

Aster family

Northern Gentian, Felwort

Gentianella amarella

Gentian family

Prickly or Wild Rose

Rosa acicularis

Rose family

Northern Bedstraw

Galium boreale

Bedstraw family

Silky or Perennial Lupine

Lupinus sericens

Pea family

Heartleaf Arnica

Arnica cordifolia

Aster family

Kananaskis wildflowers discovered in July 2007

2007-11-17T16:54:00.000-08:00

I changed the format for these wildflowers. What do you think?

Wood Nymph, One-flowered Wintergreen

Moneses uniflora

Heath family

Wild Chives

Allium schoenoprasum

Lily family

White Camas

Zigadenus elegans

Lily family

Pink Pussytoes

Antennaria rosea

Aster family

Harebell

Campanula rotundifolia

Harebell family

Indian Paintbrush

Castilleja linariaefolia

Figwort family

Bog or Common Pink Wintergreen

Pyrola asarifolia

Wintergreen family

Twinflower

Linnaea borealis

Honeysuckle family

Nodding Onion

Allium cernuum

Lily family

Canada Bunchberry

Cornus canadensis

Dogwood family

Common Fireweed

Epilobium augustifolium

Evening-primrose family

Tufted Vetch, Canada Pea

Vicia cracca

Pea family

Groundsel

Senecio spp

Sunflower family

Some strays, and some from this June.

2007-11-15T18:57:00.000-08:00

This was a challenge for me, somehow. Once my friend Collin told me what it was I found it everywhere. It's from way back in 2006. Anyway here it is:
Rubus arcticus

This one isn't quite so late-from April:
Ribes triste

And these are from June-just a roadside stop in the rain on the way home from a visit to Vernon:
Hieracium aurantiacum

Lilium columbianum

Myosotis sylvatica

Flowers from Mexico in March 2007

2007-11-04T14:56:00.000-08:00

On our trip to Mexico in March we saw many unfamiliar and amazing flowers and flowering trees, but it wasn't always easy to tell if they were planted or native. I decided since they were all so unusual for me, a Canadian, that I could only learn from identifying all of them. I wanted to publish all in one bunch-but I'm having trouble with many of them.

Ipomoea purpurea

Cordia sebestina

Hibiscus coccineus

Bougainvillea spectabilis

Acoelorrhaphe wrightii

Allamanda cathartica

Alpina purpurata

Cordyline terminalis

Allemanda cathartica

On Vancouver Island in April 2007

2007-10-28T15:50:00.000-07:00

Rubus spectabilis

Trillium ovatum

Dicentra eximia

Elk Island National Park in July 2006

2007-10-28T15:41:00.000-07:00

Bedens cernua

Typha latifolia

Impatiens capensis

Lonicera involucrata

Wildflowers found in Beaverhill Lake Natural Area - July 2006

2007-10-23T20:08:00.000-07:00

Cirsium arvense

Parnassia palustris

Cicuta maculata

Symphyotrichum ericoides

Achillea millefolium

Some wildflowers from B.C. - July 2006

2007-10-17T19:45:00.000-07:00

These are from our trip to the Shuswap Lakes in British Columbia. It was a beautiful trip, and I saw lots of unusual flowers, some of which I posted below back in July.

Calochortus macrocarpus

Gaillardia aristata

Prunella vulgaris

Apocynum androsaemifolium

Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park-October

2007-10-14T14:38:00.000-07:00

Gerard came home from work on Thursday early and wanted to take a drive to one of our traditional haunts-Dry Island. It's a short 50 minute or so drive from home and well worth it. I was thinking most of the autumn colour would be past, and it was, but we and our little dog Hermes easily managed to enjoy ourselves regardless on a beautifully sunny afternoon.