Photo of the Week 2011-01-31

Once a year, it's tournament time for a group of hockey oldtimers. We're a rag tag group of hockey nuts, some of us have played all of our life ... others not so much. Some of us are young(er) relatively speaking ... others not so much. I think you have to have played this game to really feel it's passion. Once the fire is lit, it burns on inside long after the ability fades, but it never dies.

To get ready, a veteran applies the medicinal preparations, dons the brace, tapes injuries from past campaigns ... why?

for the love of the game ...


(... no they are not my hands)

DJE

Portrait of the Photographer

"Why don't you photograph more people?" is something I hear from many of those who follow my photographic journey. Recently a friend from work was the latest to ask if I would consider photographing their wedding. Now I know that there is a lot more to photographing people and there is a lot more to photographing weddings than there is to photographing people. ... but, as I have mentioned here before, I want to advance my photographic skills and do more "people photography".

For me to do this, I really need to learn and become competent with lighting. To that end, I have been adding some lighting gear to what I had already accumulated over the years. With several speedlites, background kit, stands, softboxes, reflectors, beauty dish & grid, remote flash triggers and various other pieces of kit, I have set up a studio area in the basement to facilitate the learning. I feel Strobist will be a close friend for a while and that is a good thing. The strong community around the off camera flash movement will be just what I need to support my efforts ... of course some very good friends, Alan and Grant are very helpful whenever I have questions or need help.

With the "studio" coming into shape, I could not resist some trial shots. The only available victim (model) was "the Photographer". I feel this will be the case for many of my learning sessions, at least in the beginning. One goal ... to have "people" actually request a sitting.

... the result
self portrait 2011-01-26
1/90 s @ f/8
285 @ 1/2
16" beauty dish w/ grid camera left
DJE

Photo of the Week 2011-01-24

-15*C on the trails and dropping


... crunch, crunch, crunch was the sound of my footsteps on the snow covered Speed River Trail, off Niska Road late Sunday afternoon. I wanted to get a hike in with Lynn and Murphy before the temperature dropped too low.

The late afternoon sun was low in the sky. We had just entered the forest and I was captivated by the shafts of light and shadow penetrating around us, streaming through the gaps between trunk and limb of the cedars. Within the first 100 or so meters I had already paused multiple times, shooting back into the sun again ....

DJE

From the Archive

stutter step


I enjoy going back through my library of images. There are many reminders of things past. James, my son Jordan's veiled chameleon is now with another owner, but he was such a great and challenging subject for my 150mm macro.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2011-01-17

winter sun


I went to TO today with Lynn and decided on a walk around Bluffers Park while she visited her mother. I had expected to capture the texture and structure of the bluff slope ... but the winter sun and sky were just so beautiful. I know there is lens flare all through this image but I wanted to see how the 17-85 would handle shooting direct into the sun with no hood (it's on order) and .... I always shoot into the sun, screw the rules !

I made quite a few images shooting south off the point at Bluffers Park over the water and into bright sun with strong specular reflection on the water. All of the images show a high degree of flare and aperture ghosting. I expect this when shooting in these conditions but with luck it does not show up in a highly distracting manner and the result can be very dramatic as in the image above.

Not only did I get some great shots, but I got to spend some time outside enjoying the great sunshine and brisk air. Time flew and by the time I thought to check my watch, it was time to head for the car and go pick up Lynn.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2011-01-10

light through winter forest


Many of my recent posts have included images from trips planned solely for the purpose of photography. It is quite inspiring to visit different locations selected for their unique look or features, however there are photo opportunities everywhere.

For Christmas, I received a yearly pass to the Halton Region Conservation areas not far from home. These have some great trails with many areas including stretches of the Bruce Trail along with the many side trails and loops. Lynn and I have been taking advantage of the pass and heading out for hikes along these trails to get out for a little activity and downtime from the rest of life. This weekend we chose Mountsberg Conservation area and headed out with Murphy and a couple of cameras.

I am always drawn to look towards the light as the sun streams through clouds or trees and on the trails around Mountsberg early Sunday morning, we wove our way through a variety of forest growth, marsh and field. Always, I was drawn to the light of the sun beaming down from clear blue skies, flashing from behind trees, blasting through tufts of snow as the breeze dislodged them from branches overhead. I worked to capture what I saw and felt. With just a touch of help from Photoshop CS5 .... this image is it.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2011-01-03

I arrived at Little Cove well before sunrise on a recent trip to "the Bruce" Peninsula. Approaching the shoreline, our vehicle headlights caught a red fox as it ran along the rocks about 20 m in front of us. "Why" you may ask, do I leave the warmth and comfort of a bed for a remote shoreline in the cold hours before sunrise ... I'll let the images provide the answer ...

Winter Morning at Little Cove - III


Winter Morning at Little Cove - II


Winter Morning at Little Cove - I


DJE