Back to the beach for more tests

A ladybug climbs out of the weedy grass.

Today was the second test day to shoot clouds using my shutter release cable. Compared to the first day I arrived to the beach more prepared. I brought a tripod, a towel, and sun screen.

I started shooting at 3:30pm and by 7:00pm the clouds thinned out and dissipated. Crud. That's the thing about shooting nature. You can never predict if the sky is going to cooperate with your shooting schedule.

Howard Hughes waited for months for clouds to show up with a full film crew and pilots standing by to shoot a dog fight scene. I kept telling myself that as I watched the last of the clouds disappear. It didn't really help much.

Wolf Call

"wee woo"

On the way back from the armoury (I helped with the clean up of yesterday's wedding) there were these two birds. I took a photo and showed the owner. The one featured in the photo
whistled "wee woo". Obviously the bird has good taste in photography.

Wedding Season begins

The dance with chairs. Almost lifted the groom into the ceiling fan.

Summer. Summer brings on weddings. Weddings bring on people asking if I photograph weddings. Funny that.

I don't outright advertise that I photograph weddings but I seem to be getting a lot of enquiries. I actually enjoy shooting weddings. It's a happy occasion, there's dancing, there's food and there's the potential to make a bit of cash. On top of that there's the multitude of photographic gems available the whole day.


Inside the lobby of the Royal York hotel

Today was such a day. I photographed the preparation (bride), wedding, and reception. People kept asking if I was okay or having fun. Me having fun? I'm always having fun behind the camera. One of the reasons for choosing photography as a profession in the first place.

A nurse once told me that life's too short do work at something that you hate or, in my case at the time, gives you stress (leading to acid reflux and a steady prescription of lo sac). She was right. Work that you love to do is never really work.

That said, my uncle Jack told me that "You should always have a hobby separate from what you do for a living". It seems that my hobbies have always turned into what I do for a living. I'm pretty fortunate that way.

Just zip it

Crap, the zipper is not closing properly

My camera bag has been in a state of decay since the forth day after I had bought it. On that forth day the plastic zipper tabs broke off. At the time, I was trying to make the zipper work in -40 degree (Celsius) weather (with wind chill). They just snapped off due to the cold. Lowepro has a lifetime guarantee on the bag but for something so small I just replaced them with key rings. I was too lazy to take all my camera crap out of the bag, drive out to the Lowepro headquarters and wait while they put the bag through processing to get a replacement bag (one of the same model or equivalent).


close up of the zipper teeth not closing

If I received an equivalent bag who knows what the pocket configuration would be. Would it be the same? Probably not. That would suck. I stuck it out with the original and patted myself on the back for being green minded (instead of throwing the bag away and getting a new one, I found a way to keep it). We have so much crap going into landfills as it is.

Over time the hooks on the camera strap broke. The first hook (the one in front) broke while walking through a parking lot. No big deal. The second one broke just seconds after I climbed up a two story cliff with a cave with water down below. The second I stepped onto the ground, the bag fell and landed right on the edge of the drop. My heart jumped as I looked down at the non-insured bag of gear.

I've owned the bag for at least the last four years and over that time the zipper on the back (rubbing against my hip) came off, the webbing on the top of the bag wore out, the camera strap replaced and just recently the zipper on the main pouch refuses to close properly (allowing my wallet, cell phone, TTC tokens and money to fall out). Not good.

While I could really use a new bag, for this one at least, the main compartment still works. The newer models made by Lowepro look even simpler (fewer compartments) and more cheaply constructed. Other camera bags look like they could have possibilities but money is a bit scarce these days and to be honest I'd rather spend money on getting all my camera gear tuned up (replace rubber grips that have fallen off, clean out lenses - specifically my 70-200mm, clean the sensors, the eye pieces and what have you).

I decided to fix the bag myself. After all it's just a zipper. How hard could it be to replace it. Famous last words. Actually it didn't have to look great it just had to be functional and not fall apart. I could do that.


A loose stitch keeps the zipper aligned

Employing skills that I picked up in grade 7 or 8 while making a pillow that resembled an elephant or maybe the sewing skill was from cub scouts... which ever the case may be I first applied a loose stitch to position the new zipper so it would be aligned and not move much while I sewed up the bag on the second pass using stitches that were closer together.

It took about 6 hours in total of just stitching. At one point I ran out of thread and had to get some more. Not knowing anything about thread strengths at the time I consulted friends on facebook using the status line as a general call for help.

According to a few people, thread actually has a weight assigned to it. Much like string. Who knew? (well I guess they did). When buying the thread not every spool has a weight assigned printed on the label. Some just said "Strong". Others were labelled for upholstery. I picked up a spool of that as it seemed thicker to the touch.


super fine stitching keeps the new zipper in place

That would be the blue thread just over the zipper in the photo. The bag is fixed and another impulse purchase put off for hopefully another few years.

Seems a bit cloudy

Some rock art

Went to the beach today to do a photo test shooting clouds. I wanted to do a time lapse sequence for James. He needs a background for a film he's working on. I had some spare time and I also wanted to try out the niffy Nikon MC-36. It's a shutter release cable with a timer built in. I've used it mainly as a standard shutter release cable to trigger the camera but never as a timer and since it usually collects dust on a shelf I figured this would be a good time as any to see if it works.

I climbed a vacant life guard stand and set up my tripod so I could see the lake without people's heads getting in the way. I even brought a book to read ("A long way down" by Nick Hornby). Sitting in one spot for a few hours can get boring if you don't plan it right.


Not so much art but a dead gull surrounded by rocks

As the clouds started to dissipate it also started getting cold. I decided to pack up the gear and go home. On the way I noticed some rock art. The heart, and then a couple of steps away was a dead bird surrounded by rocks. Was that art too?

Dual Birthday day

Lenna's birthday today.

Two of my friends had a birthday today. Laer and Leanna. I ended up seeing Leanna for her birthday taking her for dinner to a nearby Fox and Fiddle pub. Laer was nowhere to be found. I left a voice message but never heard back from him. I hope he was having a wild last minute party somewhere.

Laer, if you're reading this get back to me.

CHIN 2009

The Girls of Glam car wash

Spent today at the CHIN picnic with photographer friends Simon and James. Simon being the international fitness photographer that he is knew some of the contestants. He also knew about some car wash that had girls in bikinis.

Twisting our arms and fighting every inch of the way we succumbed and went to see these scantily clad women. (I'm being really sarcastic here) Well it was early in the morning. Early for me any way. Like 10am. I was feeling tired from not sleeping much the night before. Luckily there was a Tim Horton's near the car wash (located at Leslie and Lakeshore). It's there that I picked up a breakfast sandwich egg sausage combo on a bun.


An Elite dancer for the Sole power band

The usual photographers were at the picnic. These are the same ones that photograph the fashion circuit. It's nice to see familiar faces in the photo area. A) because you know how they'll photograph, B) there's power in numbers (ie. If we need to get someone down front to sit down it's more effective to have a crowd of photographers ask then a single one).


Nelly (contestant #10)

To be honest I really hate photographing these things. Mainly due to the lack of photographer etiquette. The photographers down front will stand causing a chain reaction behind them. So if you're shooting from the back you have to be standing on something to see and even if you do chances are you're not seeing any of the contestants feet because so-and-so's head is in the way.

One guy in front was standing and not even taking photos. Can we say human wall here? Have some consideration for your fellow photographers damn it!


Sara (contestant #19)

The bikinis were designed by SXE FX. Should you be interested in seeing more bikini selections by the same designer check out the site (www.sxefx.com).


Kaitlyn (contestant #3) and winner of miss CHIN bikini

As a side note: This was the first year the bikini winners had a police escort around the CNE grounds.


The army guards the winner, and the 1st and 2nd runners up from the group of photgraphers.

This also is the first time in over 20 years that I actually got a bit of a sun burn.

Chicken Bagel Burger

The Chicken Bagel Burger

I found myself making a chicken bagel burger for lunch or a late breakfast today. After loading the bagel with a few toppings I noticed that the sandwich had become almost as large as my head. What's the point of throwing on condiments if they're microfiche thin?

There's got to be a way to make a sandwich that can have all the condiments you want and still be able to fit into your mouth.


Click image to see sandwich squisher in action.

Imants Day

"Happy Imants Day!"

There are some countries where you celebrate your name day as opposed to your birthday. I'm not sure who assigns what day to what name but today was Imants day (according to the Latvian calendar). Not like we needed a specific reason for a barbecue party, "The day ends in a 'Y', Yay!!!" could have been just as fun. The fact that a country had specifically created an Imants day and that we have a friend named Imants... well, who are we to ask questions? Party on!

We left the TORD venue to motor on down to Candy's backyard where the Imants Day celebrations were taking place. Some barbecued food, fireworks, music, an official Imants flag, and a couple of fruit hungry raccoons thrown in for good measure.


There is a bit of rain.


Candy slaves over the barbecue being a great host


"Woo hoo! 100! 100 what?"


Melon bowling with glass beer bottles


Raccoon looking for melon

TORD rolls in on Canada Day

Penny Whistler welcomes you to the new TORD venue.

Canada Day. Wednesday. That means a split week. Two days of work, holiday, two days of work. Lame.

On the day off TORD had a "come see our new venue for free" event. They had two teams scrimmage against each other. A hodge podge of players from the four existing teams (gore-gores, chicks ahoy, death track dolls, and the smoke city betties) created two teams, black and white.


Inside the new spacious well lit venue

Since I uploaded most of these photos to facebook. I thought for the blog I'd make up a story based on some of the photos that I shot. Note this is completely fictional and didn't happen (really).


Dust Bunny warming up and sees...


"I think that ref is dead."


"bleh. not another dead ref body."


Anita Martini and Anya Face distract the crowd while the body is removed


"Huh? I don't see a body. I guess we can let this Joker go."

I kill me. (blogger with too much time on his hands)