Memento Vita
Mt Butte Natural Area
Edmonton Folk Fest
I’m not doing many shows this summer – in fact only one. I’ve had to narrow them down, but the one I’ve managed to keep is Folk Fest, which I’m super excited about! It’s always a great time, with lots of amazing music and friendly people. And I’ve got lots of new stuff this year. So if you’re one of the lucky ones who managed to get tickets, I’ll see you there!
17mm, f5.6, 1/200 of a second
Taken in Bellis Natural Area
Wild Asters
150mm, f2.8, 1/1250 of a second
150mm, f2.8, 1/640 of a second
Interesting Macro Fact of the Day:
These pictures were taken a few seconds apart at the same iso, aperture, and in the same lighting conditions. So why the different shutter speeds? Macro lenses, when they start focusing really close are actually a lot darker than the aperture suggests. If we measured the amount of light coming into this lens when it’s focused really close, it is probably about half the light (around an f4 value), even though the aperture blades haven’t moved from their open position. This happens with all macro lenses.
Curling Bunchberry Leaf
OK, we’re briefly back to regularly scheduled programming. I headed out to Bellis Lake Natural Area yesterday for some long awaited time alone in the woods. I was expecting rain, so I was only slightly disappointed when it turned out to be a warm sunny day. Besides the hornet incident, I had a great time and can’t wait to get out again. Here’s a bunchberry (Cornus canidensis) leaf I stumbled on in a swampy area.
150mm, f4.0, 1/160 of a second.
Canoeing on the Kananaskis River
More photos from a summer of pushing myself in a different direction. You’ll notice that some of my photos now actually have people in them. It’s been a strange time of not exactly doing what I love, but of expanding horizons around the edges of what I love. Soon I’ll post some of my more normal nature photos, although opportunities for me to focus on photography this summer are few and far between.
Getting ready to go at Canoe Meadows.
17mm, f9, 1/100 of a second.
Surfing an easy wave. You can see that without paddling the wave is keeping them in the same place while the water rushes by.
40mm, f20, 1/20 of a second.
Canoeing With Intensity
About a week ago I had the opportunity to take a Paddle Canada Moving Water Canoe Course. I learned a ton and had a lot of fun. I’m just starting to go through the photos, but I found this entertaining and I had to share it with you. Although Reg seems quite calm in the stern, I’ve got a slightly insane glint in my eye and I’m working really hard. Thanks to Michael for taking the photo, and to Priscilla and Ryan for being awesome instructors!
We were surfing a wave here, and we had started to slip off, so I’m doing a draw to try to get us back on the wave. Reg probably had it all under control, but apparently I’m good at panicking.
There Will Come Soft Rains
It seems like all my favorite photos lately are taken during storms or on rainy days. Looking back through my photos from this spring, none of the photos from sunny hikes grab me, and I gravitate towards softer, rainier photos. I think water adds a dramatic element to photos (as well as stories – yes, I’m a Ray Bradbury fan) — it sets a mood.
The first photo was taken near Beaverhill Lake on a blustery day with my Sigma 150mm Macro at 1/125 of a second and f5.0. The second was at Chickakoo Lake – 1/800 of a second at f2.8.
Learning to Sport Climb
I just got back from learning to sport climb near Canmore. Despite the rainy forecast we actually got a fair bit of nice weather and had a great time! We climbed near Grassi Lakes, Heart Creek, and Wasootch. I can’t wait to get out again and try some lead climbing, as well as some more creative photography. It’s hard to concentrate on photography while I’m learning another thing entirely, but as I get more comfortable with climbing the quality of the photos should go up. Which probably means I should go to the climbing gym, but that’s not nearly as fun as climbing outdoors. Here are a few photos I did manage to get on our trip.
Being belayed down after a successful climb.
Reg belaying as Seb leads one of the routes near Grassi Lakes.
Mike climbing near Grassi.
Seb rappelling down after cleaning the route.
Enjoying a snack break.
Shy Alder Leaf
A honeysuckle vine wrapping around an alder branch, with an alder leaf peaking out from behind.
Taken with a Canon 5d, Sigma 150 macro at f4 and 1/200 of a second.