Photo of the Week 2013-12-30

I spent some time this past weekend with friends using the cottage as a base for some winter photography on "the Bruce". There were no spectacular sunrises or sunsets, no frigid temperatures or winter storms.

There was however, much laughter and camaraderie between 3 friends who share a love of photography, the outdoors and their own quest to release the artist within. Each day after our photo outings, we would return to the cottage to relax and the easy conversation would wander from the subject photography, to nature, food, family and on. I always take something away from these encounters thanks to friends who are so willing to share their thoughts and experience.

picnic table on pier in winter

 DJE

Merry Christmas ! (Photo of the Week 2013-12-23)

Merry Christmas !

DJE

Photo of the Week 2013-12-16

Saturday morning ...
Up before 6 am ...
Coffee on ...
Cameras checked ...
Batteries checked ...
Gear packed ... 
Out I went to meet up with 2 other like minded photographers. We hit the Blue Springs section of the Guelph Radial Trail in -15*C, wind and snow. Why ?

For this ...

Along the trail near Blue Springs

Even though conditions for photography were not ideal, this is what it takes to put myself in the right spot at the right moment in the right conditions. You never know just when it will all come together. It's about maximizing the opportunities.

Hands cold, fingers frozen from working with tripod adjustments in temperatures well below freezing, feet beginning to tingle from standing still too long setting up the shot, exploring slight adjustments to composition, it's about getting the shot. Some of my friends think I'm a bit nuts to enjoy winter photography the way I do.

The truth of it is, it's also about walking and hearing the crunch of fresh cold snow beneath my feet, feeling the windblown snow on my face, hearing the voices and laughter of good friends ... It's all about doing the things I love, living and enjoying life.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2013-12-09

This week, simply an image of a tree that caught my eye while walking through a courtyard in San Gimignano, Italy.

I like the texture in the stone wall, the dappled light, the "Y" created by the angles of the trunk and branch of the olive tree.

Olive Tree at San Gimignano

I enjoy working out what it is that I'm drawn to with certain images. This is one of those images. I would have liked more time to work photographing the scene, but this is what I caught as we rushed back to meet up with the tour group.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2013-12-02

Well, I finally made it through the basic selection and initial processing of the images I made while in Italy. Selecting candidates for a book to be published with Blurb as a single copy, a keepsake from the trip, was an enjoyable, if not so easy task. So many of the images cannot be separated from the emotions of being there sharing the moments with Lynn.

I have posted almost 200 images to a flickr set titled Italy 2013. Most of these will make it into the book, some, upon further scrutiny, will be replaced by alternates and still others will wriggle their way into the final selections.

It has been fun recalling the experiences from the trip through review of the images. Now to the work of laying out a book worthy of being printed ...

canal chase

 DJE

Photo of the Week 2013-11-25

Another "tych" created from images of the replica David in Piazza della Signoria in Florence, Italy, this time with two images.

I am intrigued by how these two different perspectives of the same statue, from images taken within minutes of each other, seem to convey completely different emotion. The image on the left defiant and confident vs the image on the right concerned and perhaps unsure.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2013-11-18

Perhaps the highlight of highlights for me on our Italy trip was getting to see Michelangelo's David, The Original. I had not expected to ever be so moved, so stirred, so captivated by any single work of art.

Our trip to the Galleria dell'Accademia di Firenze began with an introduction to our local Guide, Rosa. Her enthusiasm for Micelangelo, his art and of course Firenze's beloved David were simply contagious. She got our group organized and set up in the queue for entry to the museum while she answered questions and provided some of the history of Florentine art, Renaissance art, Michelangelo and David. Entry to the museum required us to pass through security and metal detectors before Rosa could lead us through the preliminary exhibits. I expected it would take some time before we would see David, but very quickly Rosa announced in her charming Italian accent; "and now we go see David".

Passing through a large door way, we entered at the end of what can be described as a grand hall. The unfinished works of Michelangelo including those known as the "prisoners" glowed in warm light as they line the hall leading to David standing under a single high dome in stark cool light emphasizing the white of the larger than life Carrara marble figure.

As we approached and circled the statue, I lost myself, studying the work, the scale, the details, amazed that a figure carved from solid stone could be so life-like that it might move at any moment. As with many of the museums and churches we visited on our trip, photography was not allowed inside, so I point you to online resources for a sense of the  experience. David (Michelangelo), the Wiki article is a good starting point. The scrolling banner of the UFIZZI.org site has images of the original David that help me relive the experience. I ended up purchasing a few postcard size images of David from the museum gift shop so I would at least have some photographs from the visit. 

My own photography was limited to replicas of David. Notably the replica that replaced the original in Piazza della Signoria and the bronze replica in Piazzale Michelangleo. I found it difficult to capture an image that I was satisfied with. Lighting, backgrounds, lack of accessibility all added to the challenge. Going through my images, I've selected and processed a series images made of details from the replica in Piazza della Signoria one evening.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2013-11-11

Lest We Forget

Their names were Belrose, Adair and Schmidt, Lyons, Adams, Spears and Leonard ... and oh so many with the name Hopkins.

I took the time to visit the Cenotaph in Tobermory, Ontario this weekend in advance of Remembrance Day. The number of white crosses standing in tribute, each adorned with a name, Canadian flag and red poppy, measured the sacrifice this small community made for the future... Our future... My future.

As I walked along beside the crosses, reading names, I offered my abiding appreciation to each and every one of those honoured there and to the thousands upon thousands who also made the sacrifice.

Ode of Remembrance

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.

Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,

Theyfell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

DJE

            

Photo of the Week 2013-11-04

More and more frequently, in recent years, there is something that increasingly catches my eye, making me stop what I am doing, giving me pause, sending me deep into thought and personal reflection. The "something" is my hands.

What I notice are not the scars they have accumulated, the veins that have become more prominent or the knuckles that sometimes ache. What I notice is how they remind me of father's hands, or at least how I remembered his hands to be. I'm not sure what it was about his hands, they weren't particularly large although they were uniquely his. There are also other times when I look in the mirror and see some of my father looking back at me in my own facial features, but mostly it's about the hands. I find something calming and comforting in those brief glimpses.

Then a short while ago, after attempting to sketch my own hand in a drawing exercise, during conversation I mentioned how my hands were reminding me more and more of Dad's. I said that it would have been nice if I had sketched our hands together, or had them sketched by an accomplished artist. Continuing, I thought aloud and wished I was better at it so I could do a sketch my mother's hands. It was suggested that I go ahead and do it, just go ahead and sketch them ... or maybe photograph them.

Soooo ... on a recent visit with mom, we sat talking in her room as we usually do, catching up on things. At one point she laughed and reached out to grasp my hand with both of hers. That was my signal. I grabbed the camera I had with me and asked mom to "do it again" ... 

loving hands

DJE

Photo of the Week 2013-10-28

I'm working through my Italy image library and have actually made it to day 3 ... LOL

On our third day, we travelled from Rome to Pompeii for a tour of the archaeological site. I had preconceived expectations of plaster cast figures, placed precisely where the victims were discovered, as I had seen in so many photos. Once we arrived I quickly became caught up making images of what we were being shown, neglecting to ask where or if the plaster casts could be seen ... until near the end of our tour and we were at the point of exit. As it was, I got a number of interesting shots and surprisingly found the coloured frescoes preserved in some of the buildings to be captivating subject matter.

The Colours of Pompeii

The images can be seen individually in a set here, on my flickr site. I have already printed this collage which will be framed and displayed in the house. Perhaps some of the individual images will be as well.

Saluté
DJE 

Italy 2013 Gallery - a work in progress

A few people have asked where all my images from Italy are. As I work through the library of images from our anniversary trip, I'm adding some to my flickr set. You can view that growing set here.

flickr set

observing

Ciao !
DJE

Photo of the Week 2013-10-21

I've been busy over the past week, preparing images for two shows. The first, my photo group's annual Show 'n Sale, took place this weekend along with the Guelph Studio Tour. I've been fortunate enough to sell a large framed image each of the past two years but not so fortunate this year. I did sell a print of a recent image from Italy and a couple of greeting cards but that was it.

So .... since I haven't had much time for shooting or processing anything ... here's more from Italy. I've chosen two candid street shots that I've processed in B&W.

lady in white

and ...

back alley romance

Ciao,
DJE

Photo of the Week 2013-10-14

OK, on to day two of our Italian vacation ... not that we're doing this as a day be day account of the trip, I'm just getting around to seriously looking at images from day two of the trip. I know, I know, this may take a while ;-)

out before breakfast to capture sunrise ...

Sunrise at Temple of Saturn

Capitoline Fountain

the patina of age was everywhere ... 

statues and marble adorn everything ...

Capitoline Statue

Capitoline Marble

... and scenes like this.

Morning Road to Tarpeian Rock

All before breakfast !

DJE

Photo of the Week 2013-10-07

One of the things that struck me most in Rome, particularly while in the historical district, was the rich patina the time has painted over the city. Buildings, roads, sculptures, monuments and of course the iconic ruins have all had their appearance enriched by the mask of time. Everywhere I looked, my inner voice would shout, "... wow", "look at that", "oh my" or some other phrase in wonderment and awe of the rich details in the scene before me.

The time worn look of cobble stone streets ...

cobbled up

Windows and doors down a gritty side street ...

A Side Street in Rome

Ancient ruins with years of exposure to the elements ...

Forum III

They were in abundance, everywhere I looked.

I continue to work through the catalogue of images from our trip. Stopping to consider some in more detail, working on some intermittently, trying to get past the first day or two. I'm enjoying them so much, this may take a while ...

DJE

Photo of the Week 2013-09-30

On a recent trip to Italy in celebration of our 30th Anniversary, I made many, many images as we toured the sights of Rome, Florence, Venice and places between. Some have already been posted to my flickr photostream and there will be more to come over the next days and weeks as I work through cataloguing and processing the hundreds of files.

For this week's photo I've picked one from the actual day of our anniversary, when due to a fortuitous change in schedule, we were treated to dinner with our travel group at a Tuscan villa and working olive farm, Fattoria di Daimano. I had previously planned to find a nice quiet restaurant for an intimate dinner with Lynn but this just worked out so well after a full day of sightseeing that we are both referring to it as the best day from the trip.

Following a coach ride from our hotel we were drooped off and greeted at the entrance to the Fattoria, then led through a wonderful old building so full of history (do click on the link above and read about it's fascinating background). We passed through a wonderful courtyard, of which I took note, and into a dining room with widows opening out to views of the surrounding Tuscan countryside that were simply breathtaking. See for yourself.

A Tuscan View

It was truly a million dollar view and in order to capture the true feeling, I needed to resort to HDR digital processing techniques that combine images to show the full dynamic range of the scene. Other photographers that read this blog will likely know the technique and the non-photographers likely won't care. Either way, everyone should trust that the view from the dining room was even more stunning than represented in this image.

Our hosts introduced us to the olive oil making process and how to prepare Bruschetta, Tuscan Style. Our meal of "simple Tuscan food" was absolutely delicious and enjoyed with wine made by the proprietors. Following the dinner, with filled wine glasses, we left the group behind and retired to a bench in the courtyard for some time to reflect on the past 30 years. 

It was certainly an anniversary to remember.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2013-09-23

The second in my "The Bruce Rocks" series ...

There is so much to see in the rock of the Bruce. At Little Cove, the waves of Georgian Bay have worn the surfaces of the larger dolomite blocks smooth and smaller rounded rocks are all that remain of others tumbled over each other for countless years.

TBR - Little Cove IV

The boulder beaches of the Bruce are a great place to sit and contemplate. See my recent blog post.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2013-09-16

A new series is spawned ...

"The Bruce Rocks" (TBR) is the name of a new photo series featuring close up images filling the frame with the patterns, textures and colours of the rock found on the Bruce Peninsula. I can lose track of time looking at the subtleties in tones, the shapes and textures created by natural forces. Each image has it's own abstract quality and each viewer will see something different. Rather than name the images based on what I see and feel, which could influence the viewer, they will simply be named "TBR - Location (optional) number.

There is something about the rocks of the Bruce, I feel a connection ... 

TBR - Hay Bay II

... but then maybe it's just the whisky  ;-)

DJE

Photo of the Week 2013-09-09

My photo outing this weekend was a simple walkabout Saturday morning in downtown Guelph, before the rain drove us indoors at OX Cafe, for croissant and latté. After several weekends of shooting landscapes and nature, it was quite a departure to shoot in an urban setting, particularly under grey heavy skies.

Most of the shooting time was concentrated in a single block around the SE corner of Quebec and Norfolk apart from wandering across the street now and then. I had planned to look for details in and around the side streets and lane ways for a possible project on "back alley art" but I was finding none of the usual graffiti of interest. It was a splash of colour on a wall that caught my eye as the rain began ... signs of summer ending and fall soon to arrive.

courtyard creeper

I may not have a post for the next two weeks. My wife and I are off to Italy to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary and I know I won't be writing blog posts from there. I have not missed a week since beginning this blog almost 4 years ago so I hope I am able to set up a couple to automatically publish while I'm away.

DJE