Playing with HDR

Ok, I'll admit, sometimes when I'm working, an opportunity presents itself that can't be passed up and I'll take a few recreational shots. I finally got around to processing some shots I took at a house a week or so ago of an old dump truck. I thought it'd be fun to try some HDR (high dynamic range) photography on this old jalopy.

Cool? Not cool? Not sure? Let me know what you think!

- Paula

Irene's pups

This is my dear friend Irene. Irene is an incredible dog trainer and has 3 1/2 of the most well-trained dogs I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Why 1/2? Well, because her newest dog, Ouch (below) is still a work in progress :) But he's well on his way to making it an even 4.


Recently, Irene found out that one of her dogs, Sera, (Registered Name of Dog : MOTCH Goldencol Moonlight Seranade, WC, JH, American UD, retired SJA Therapy Dog) had achieved
Top Ten Placement #9 all breed, #6 sporting group, #3 golden retriever for Canada in 2008.

As a result, Sera was going to be featured in a couple of magazines, including Dogs in Canada.

Irene asked me to take photos of her and Sera for the magazines, and, as usual, I dragged Darryl and our friend Jane along too. All three of us took photos of all 4 of Irene's dogs.

Here is the shot that was submitted for the magazines.

This is the newest member of Irene's pack, Ouch. Isn't he gorgeous?

This is dear sweet Mia with her grey specktacled face.

And we can't forget grand gal Fudge.

Congratulations, Irene & Sera on your most excellent accomplishment!

- Paula

I had last weekend off work, so Jane, Darryl and I headed to Toronto on Sunday for a day of photography.

We started the day off early at the always beautiful Edwards Gardens where the tulips, daffodils, poppies and helibores were in glorious full bloom.

After that, we went to High Park, where we had heard there was a pair of nesting wood ducks. We did find them, however the pond they were in was very brackish and muddy, not to mention it had gotten cloudy. These guys will warrant another trip for sure!

There were lots of other things to shoot at High Park
- various ducks, small birds, gulls, cormerants, and people...oh the people! Busy place! Of course, after a short walk along the edge of the pond, we saw why. Fields of flowering trees in bloom and hundreds of people walking or picnicing beneath them.

Our last stop of the day was in Mount Pleasant Cemetary, where we've had good luck before with red tailed hawks. We did see one, but it was in flight and quite high up, so no chance of a photo. However, I did spy a tiny guy on a magnolia bloom. He sat in the sun for quite a some time while I took his photo.


No photo outting this coming weekend...need to get organized for an upcoming trip!


- Paula

Better (really) late than never!

Here are the photos from April 10th, finally! I'm finding that I'm getting more and more picky about what I keep and edit each time...I shot nearly 400 photos and these are the only 4 I would even consider sharing.

Sparrows and a grackel. I do really like grackles. They sort of remind me of corvids. I've always had a fondness for ravens and crows...and Poe...but that's fodder for another post.

No BIF photos...yet, but I was out again this morning for a couple of hours, so here's hoping. I also still haven't even looked at last weekends photos yet. Where do people find the time?

- Paula

Postscript to previous post...

...I think I got one! Maybe two!

What did I get?

BIF shots! Maybe...I don't want to get too excited as I'm still just previewing raw images so keep your fingers crossed.

If all goes well, I will post something here soon!

- Paula

Expensive Equipment Does Not a Good Photographer Make

I'd like to say "I just don't get it", but the truth is, I do get it. All the fancy camera equipment in the world can't make up for bad timing, lousey reflexes, imperfect lighting and just plain inexperience.

Ansel Adams has been quoted as saying (and I'm paraphrasing here, because I'm just too lazy to look up the acutal quote) 12 good shots in a year is a great year for a photographer.

I guess I'm just getting disillusioned by the money that has gone out the door in the past 4 years on equipment (I've personally put at least 3 Henry's employees through college, including lodging, pizza and beer, I'm certain). I've learned A LOT from the two camera clubs I now belong to but I'm not a patient person, damn it!

My "grail" right now, is BIF, or Bird In Flight, to the uninitiated. I had the most amazing opportunity a few weeks ago, along with a group of other photographers, to shoot a wild red tailed hawk for nearly 2 HOURS (yes HOURS) less than 20' away (and yes, that's FEET) at times. I've seen some of the other photographers photos, and I don't know what the difference is, perhaps it's in the post-processing because I don't have photoshop, but I've yet to post any of my photos because they pale by comparison.

Today, I shot tree swallows, buffle head ducks, canada geese, red winged blackbirds, chickadees, cardinals, etc...I'm still downloading the photos, so check back to see if I post any...

- Paula

Last weekends usual suspects

Editorial to come :)

I'm off shooting again this morning!

- Paula

I'm back - while I wait for today's photos to download, I've got some time to kill, so here's the scoop on last weekends birding at Halls Road.

I don't know why more people don't like these birds - I think they are amazing. This is a common grackle (bronze phase, as it turns out). I think, in the sunlight, they are one of the most striking-looking birds with their piercing, intense yellow eyes and iridescent chameleon feathers.

You'll notice that the blue jay below is on the same limb as the grackle above. Neat trick if you want to get good bird shots in a "natural looking" environment. Put braches in/on the bird feeder and shoot the birds when they land on the branch instead of the feeder! This branch was laying on top of a tray of seeds and peanutes which was very attractive to many species of birds.

Much later in the day, we were making our way out to where we've seen kestrals several times and spotted this fellow on a fence post on the side of a service road. We are still trying to get an id on him. If anyone knows, please leave a comment or send me an email!

- Paula