Day of the Tripids

Day of the Tripids

This plant is is just crazy.  I’ve wanted to take photos of this plant for some time, but I rarely come to this home with my tripod.  I managed to get some time to set up and get this photo in HDR, I still can’t figure out why the smaller version looks like an 18% gray photo.  I highly recommend clicking through to Flickr and checking out the larger version.

Taken in Waterloo, ON, Canada.

Happy Holidays

Christmas Tree 

I’m working on getting a great HDR Christmas tree, this one was my second attempt.  The first attempted was messed up by funky lighting and poor ISO choice.  I’m going to try again tonight, but I’m pretty happy with this one.

Taken in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Under the Hatley Castle

Under the Hatley Castle

This is the last of my favorite photos from Hatley Castle.  Again I think the umbrella’s add so much mystery to what happened the night before.  I didn’t bring the umbrella’s or anything!  I did however remove one broken one from the frame.  I think what would make this picture perfect is the lack of tents.

Taken in Victoria, BC, Canada

Umbrella’s in the Fall

Umbrella's in the Fall

This afternoon I managed to find a bit of sun and go and snap some shots at Hately Castle.  This castle showed up in X-MEN as Xavier’s school for the gifted.  The odd thing was there was umbrella’s laying on the ground everywhere!  I do not know why.

Taken in Colwood, BC, Canada

Halloween Zombie Cat

Halloween Zombie Cat

This girl was a Halloween cat, however, on the way over to the party, was attacked by a Zombie and thus, is now a Halloween Zombie Cat.

Taken in Victoria, BC, Canada

Halloween Wench

Halloween Wench Hosting a Halloween party this year, we had some pretty interesting costumes.  Along with that, we have some pretty hilarious friends as well.

Taken in Victoria, BC, Canada

Chico’s Day after breakfast

Chico Naping

Chico wakes us up around 7:30am, rushes outside to do his business, leaps around begging for food, and then runs upstairs and gets back into the bed.  He stays here for most of the day, despite my working out of my home.

Taken in Victoria, BC, Canada

The Empress Hotel

The Empress Hotel in HDR

Again I’m still working on my technique of post processing HDR photos.  I snapped this one from across the inner harbour in Victoria.  I like how this one turned out in the larger version, although the smaller version looks a bit gray.  Still working on it..

Taken in Victoria, BC, Canada

The Victoria Parliament Building

HDR - Parliament Building

I’m still working on my technique with HDR, but I’m definitely liking the results more.  This one has some noise and could use with a bit of sharpening.  While I’m focused mostly on the technique, I am stealing ideas… to give credit for this one, you can see my example here.  Click on the image to see the larger version.

Taken in Victoria, BC, Canada.

Pandora’s Church of Scientology

Pandora’s Church of Scientology

Yesterday evening I spent a while reading Trey Ratcliff’s HDR Tutorial.  I’ve been viewing his photos for quite some time, and other HDR photos (search on Flickr for HDR, you’ll see TONS!).  Anyways, I wanted to give it a go,  This morning I ventured downtown Victoria in hopes to get some images to manipulate, then spent a good 2 hours this morning learning beginning of the process.  This image isn’t completely finished (per Trey’s guidelines) but I have more learning to do, and wanted to post what I have done this far.  I’m pretty happy with this image as is, although it could stand for a bit of noise cancellation, and Flickr won’t take my whole 21megapixel image, so I need better re-sizing software (which I’m working on).  But it’s a start! I hope to improve and do more HDR photography in the future.  The images usually end up breath-taking, just see Trey’s blog to watch a professional at work.

Taken in Victoria, BC, Canada.

Feeding the Hair

Feeding the Hair

This little girl’s hair is crazy awesome.  Taking a break to eat a sandwich, she posed for this photo.

Taken in Victoria, BC, Canada.

Un-doing Mom’s Work

Un-doing Mom's Work

Mom rolled up this little girls pants so she could get her feet wet in the water.  She wasn’t happy so she was in the process of un-rolling them when I snapped this.

Taken at Thetis Lake, Victoria, BC, Canada.

Sailing, Despite the Lack of Wind

No Wind Sailing

This is an old photo, but one of my favorites.  This guy was attempting to sail on Lake Union, in Seattle by Gas Works park (shown in the back).  Struggling to catch all the wind he can.

Taken in Seattle, WA, United States.

Cornelius Apts. Overshadowed

Cornelius Apts Overshadowed

In Seattle this past weekend staying at an apartment in Belletown.  Here is a view of my two favorite buildings downtown Seattle.

Taken in Belletown, Seattle, WA, United States

Clos Saragnat visits Seattle

IMG_0873[4]

Yesterday I talked about being on assignment.  Well the assignment was to make this bottle look like it appeared somewhere in Seattle.  Out of the photos that I snapped I think this one turned out to be my favorite. 

Taken in Seattle, WA, United States

Empty Pike’s

Pike's Hall

While out on assignment, I wondered through Pike’s Place Market late Sunday evening when it was almost completely closed down.  I have never seen this place so empty.  I snapped this shot at the far end of the market with a few stragglers hanging back.

Taken at Pike’s Place Market, Seattle, WA, United States

Tall Ships in a Miniature World

CRW_9881.CRW (Large)

This is a shot of Tall Ships, that are 1.5 inches tall.  Victoria has a Miniature World, that is one of the better attractions in Victoria in my opinion.  They have a giant train which goes from coast to coast of Canada.  These Tall Ships were representative of Newfoundland.

Taken in Victoria, BC, Canada

Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil

Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil

Drove up to Parksville to see the Sand-Castle competition at Parksville Beach.  This one was the one that made you think the most.  The park had an Olympic theme with the Olympics coming to Vancouver, Canada.  This particular one had an ice skater fall through some thin ice and the judges were hearing no evil, seeing no evil and speaking no evil.

Yes, this is made out of sand.  Amazing isn’t it.

Taken in Parksville, BC, Canada

Behind the Banana

Behind the Banana

This little girl was asked to get her photo taken by her father with her banana.  She was hiding behind the Banana so her father couldn’t get a great shot off.  Off to the side, I was able to snap this one.

Taken in Victoria, BC, Canada

Teacup Chi

IMG_0234

Lulu is a 3 week old Chihuahua who’s first visit outing was Chihuahua meet-up group.  She slept through the whole thing.

Taken at Gorge Park, Victoria, BC

Chico & the 5D Mark II

Chico

I recently got me a Canon 5D Mark II, this is one of the first shots I took with it.  I have to say the camera is pretty sweet.  I shot this with the 24-105mm F4 lens that comes in the kit.  For this shot, I did absolutely zero post camera modifications to show you exactly what the camera can do.  The camera’s mostly on automatic at this point, the user manual has over 100 pages!

Taken in Victoria, BC, Canada

Lone Flamingo

Lone Flamingo

The Westin hotel in Ka’anapali has a large pool for animals, fish and yes, Flamingo’s!  I managed to snap this shot of a Flamingo from behind the waterfall, the edges are all warped from my LensBaby.

Taken in Ka’anapali, Hawaii

Steps

Steps

Just outside the Sheridan Hotel in Ka’anapali, they tell you how far it is to go to familiar places around Hawaii, and how long it will take you to get there.  Clearly we went the shortest distance

Taken in Ka’anapali, Hawaii

Water Depth Measured in Colour

I’m back from vacation in Hawaii, and finally caught up from the onslaught of work enough to get back into processing and posting photographs from the trip!  These two “stand-up” surfers were just out on the water having a great time.  What attracted me to this photo was the lines of the water, as it got deeper and deeper.

Taken in Ka’anapali, Hawaii

Majestic

Mt. Baker

Taking the Anacortes Ferry from Victoria, BC to Anacortes, WA, you get a wonderful view of Mt. Baker.  Usually I find that taking a shot of a mountain off in the distance is futile, as the snow on the mountain typically blends in with the cloud and the mountain disappears, but it was such a crisp morning out on the water Mt. Baker just leaped out of the country side.

Taken on the WA State Anacortes Ferry, WA, United States

Japanese Pink Pealback

Japanese Pink Pealback

I spent a good 3-4 hours at Buchart Gardens the other day, and if you want my opinion, without the rose garden in bloom, the Japanese gardens is by far the best section of the whole thing.  I kind of wish I didn’t toss out the flower finder guide so I knew what this one was called.  Anyone know?  For now I’m calling it the Japanese Pink Pealback.  I gotta be close right?

Taken in Buchart Gardens, Victoria, BC, Canada

Moral Support

Moral Support

This fence was built around the tree, which was great since it was a beautiful tree.

Taken in Toronto, ON, Canada

Where we’re going, Where we’ve been

Going and Been

Driving around Victoria, we stopped to take a photo… this post of looking out in the water while the dog is looking back kind of makes me think about people moving forward, and dogs just wanting routine.  Shot with my LensBaby.

Taken in Victoria, BC, Canada

Red Railing

Red Railing On the Scenic Drive around the sound of Vancouver Island, there is a great stop to take photos.  While everyone else was shooting the ocean, I turned around and snapped this bright red fence.  The “tilt-shift” comes from my LensBaby.

Taken in Victoria, BC, Canada

Spring in Seattle

Space Needle

Seeing as I’m in Seattle this week, I felt this picture appropriate.  After you’ve got about 100 shots of the Space Needle, you start looking around the Space Needle, and the clouds really drew me to this one.

Taken in Seattle, WA, United States

Get it off!

Get if Off!

While at the Chihuahua meet-up this past weekend, Chico was harassed by a puppy named Henry, and the look on his face is priceless.  Truth be told though, Chico would see any other dog off that came near Henry… so I think they are friends.

Taken at Gorge Park, Victoria, BC, Canada

Clutter for Sale

Clutter for Sale

While walking around the Vancouver Public Market on Grandville Island, this gentleman had a few things for sale, and he looked content just sitting in the middle of it all.

Taken in Vancouver, BC, Canada

Where is Spiderman?

Where is Spiderman?

My last visit to Chicago, I saw this L-Train speeding by and captured it mostly sharp, while blurring the background.  Looking at it after I shot it, it reminded me of the L-Train that Spiderman chased and stopped in Spiderman 2 vs Doctor Octopus.

Taken in Chicago, IL, United States

Barely Afloat

Barely Afloat

While taking an Argosy cruise from Lake Union to the Puget Sound, this old boat was just resting at one of the docks, I’m surprised it was still floating.

Taken in Seattle, WA, United States

Spring Green

Olympic National Park 213 (Large)

Spring is finally here, we have rain, we have green, we have blooming, and we have sun (the odd day).

Location Unknown

The Italian

The Italian

While at the El Gaucho Restaurant in Seattle, an Italian friend of mine burst out into laughter.

Taken in Seattle, WA, United States

Hammocks

Hammocks

Given all the trouble that Mexico is having in the news, I thought I’d dig up a photo so that we remember how beautiful Mexico is once this pandemic is over.

Taken in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

Sunset Cruise

Sunset Cruise

On a Holland America Cruise, I was walking along the pool deck and noticed the sunset through a sheet of glass.  I managed to line up the smoke stacks of the ship for an interesting shot.

Taken in the Gulf of Mexico, United States

Train Explorer

Train Explorer

While shooting at the Train Museum in Snoqualmie, I was following my fellow photographer, he was walking up ahead of me on the unused tracks, and I snapped this one

Taken in Snoqualmie, WA, United States

Final Resting Place

95028

This train car was taken at the Snoqualmie train museum.  I started to wonder if the number 95028 on the side was the car number, the zip code it was registered, or where it’s final resting place was.

Taken in Snoqualmie, WA, United States

Gangsta and Money

Gangsta

At a 70’s party, these two gangsta’s showed up in full piece suits!

Taken in Bellevue, WA, United States

Waiting to Rust

Waiting to Rust

At the Train Museum, these chains clearly hadn’t been moved in a long time, just resting on an old train, waiting to rust.

Taken in Snoqualmie, WA, United States

21 in Fog

21 in the Fog

Walking through Yale town in Vancouver, the fog over the apartment buildings was pretty cool, and I snapped this shot as the #21 bus was headed right at me.  I managed to get out of the street before the bus ran over my position.

Taken in Vancouver, BC, Canada

3:10 PM in Seattle

Public Market

This is a very common photo of the Seattle Pike Place Market, I tossed it into Black and White to strip a few years off it.

Taken in Seattle, WA, United States