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

Photo of the Week 2013-09-02

When life gets busy and there are more demands on my time, more things on the "to do list", more things that others are expecting from me, I need to ensure that I make time for those things that feed my sole. I was reminded of this on the Labour Day long weekend.

Coming off a very busy week at work, Lynn and I had been looking forward to spending our second weekend at the cottage, continuing to settle in. There really wasn't that much remaining to be done and it's really a relaxing change from our regular weekends in the city. Still, I was feeling the need to scratch the photography itch. As new and great as the scenery right at the cottage is, I needed to get out on a photography specific trek, not just snap some images down by the shore at the cottage (although that can produce some great images too).

I find that going out on a solo outing requires initiative and commitment. When it's just me, it can be all too easy to delay departure time and miss the good light or to give up before even getting started because the weather looks "iffy". I find that companions, preferably other photographers with similar subject interests really helps here. Going out with others to photograph requires planning and almost always involves a location selected ahead of time. Going out solo can often be an impromptu thing with no specific location in mind and while there is something to be said for the spontaneity of of just getting out and going where the creative force pulls you, I don't find that it is always enough to get me out the door, much less up after a restless night in a still unfamiliar bed.

... so up a bit late, coffee made,I managed to get the inspiration when Lynn got up and said "there's mist on the water". I poured the remainder of my coffee in a travel cup, grabbed my bag of gear and jumped in the vehicle. Hey, I was in "The Bruce", there was lots to shoot, that is one reason we had chosen to buy a cottage here. As I drove down the road, my thoughts were of Singing Sands in morning light but continuing on Hwy 6, I saw the orange glow of sunrise over the trees and knew that I needed to head to the east side ... Little Cove would be spectacular if I could get there in time. Why had I not got up and left earlier?

I may just be able to make it ... 

Morning Glow at Little Cove

DJE