Available light

Available light is my second photography exhibit and at the same gallery as last year. This exhibit will feature myself and three other photographers that will present work of images captured using only the available natural light and careful consideration of the moment. The idea is to show the ever present beauty in every day life.

The exhibit will run for one month and will open on the eve of Nocturne; an evening event when many galleries in Halifax open their doors to exhibits on show for that evening.

In our case the images from the four photographers will be projected on to a 12 foot screen in a park opposite the gallery. Three musicians (violinist, cellist and guitarist) will play a one-hour 4 to 5 movement piece composed for these images. In a sense, a musical interpretation of the images.

My work will be a series of images of light striking my bathroom basin. This particular light occurs only during the summer, enters through a window and bends around the basin. The light creates wonderful patterns of shadow and light.




Unfortunately I will be on Sable Island for the opening (!) but will be able to see the gallery exhibit.

Damian

Birds, and lots of 'em

I recently made three photographic trips. The first was to Evangeline Beach where I photographed thousands of semi-palmated samdpipers and plovers. I will post the other two trips later: the Bay of Fundy and Kejimkujik National Park.

Each year in July thousands of these birds congregate on the Minas Basin to feed on the mudflats. If you go on the fall of high tide the birds are crammed together on small beaches waiting for flats to be exposed so they can binge on those delightful invertebrates. So I went down there to have a look...

I used my Canon EOS 40D and 100-400mm L USM lens.

At the smallest of sounds, or movement or smell the birds take flight.

They have a brown upper and a white lower so in the air they produce wonderful and colourful patterns

My return from Sable Island

So I came back from the Island on Friday (23rd Jan) after a 4 week trip. The trip was very good and great for photographs. Lots of great light, extreme weather (wind, snow, rain, blizzards, cold). And best of all I was very much in the right mood to take advantage of it all. Posted a couple of images below and hope to post more. Damian

Halifax Pride Parade

On Saturday Halifax had its annual Pride Parade so Sue and I went along in the rain to have a look. I took my camera and shot images that jumped at me. So, to keep the blog alive I thought I would post some of what I took. I was using my 100-300mm which is great for working with people. Damian


Sue walking in the rain. The contrast between the bright colours of her clothes and the black umbrella and her partially hidden face, appealed to me...
This is a copper on a horse. The bright colours of the Pride flag and the dark horse provided a good contrast which caught my eye. I also like the boot of the rider poking out beyond the flag...
Here there was a match between the white/red of the fire truck and the white/red of the dress which struck me. But there was also this mis-match too between the straight lines of the truck and the circles of the dress. Then the contrast with the black top. And finally the subtle Pride colours.
While everyone was watching the Parade I was also looking at the people. I really like this shot. There are some nice reflected colours on the wet road.
The flying flags and this guy in very Pride clothing was too good to miss.

Boats on calm water

I shot this photo last year while on 'retreat'. What attracted me was the deep green of the water and the contrast with the white boat. It was a very peaceful scene. The water was incredibly still with some great reflections.

1/200 f5.6 ISO 100 Adobe RGB RAW
13 June 2006 0750AM






This boat was shot on the same morning. Here the contrast of the bright colours with the still light grey water and the reflection was what attracted me.

1/320 sec f5.6 ISO 100 AdobeRGB RAW
13 June 2006 0745AM

Damian

Spirit Island, Canadian Rockies

This image is a scan of an old photo, taken on my ancient - but brilliant - Olympus trip film camera. This was my first camera ever, and it was (is) great. For more info on this little gem, see here. For info on Spirit Island, see here.

I love this picture; the slight ripple on the lake, the reflection, the little rock off to the right (just breaking up the emptiness), the wonderful peace and tranquility of Spirit Island and then the grandeur of the mountains flanking the lake. All wonderful. It also reminds me of a great trip to Canada, going from Vancouver, via Banff/Jasper then on to Toronto, Quebec, Ottawa.

It's also useful to see this because I took it in 1995, so it shows my attempt at a serious landscape shot from 12 years ago. I may have taken the same shot today in the same way, since this clearly works (for me). I would also have taken many others, as I think I only took this one and one other...Many of my shots from 12 years ago were snap shot in nature, but I did occaisonally try to take "proper" images. This is one of them.

Thoughts and comments on the image, the comparison from now to then, or anything else welcomed.

Note: the colour reproduction is not great, due to it being a scan of a photo that itself was developed at Boots or something, and - due to the limitations of the camera - there are some exposure issues too. I have tried to rescue as many of these issues in Photoshop as possible, but there are limits. That said, I did try this about 5 years ago on PS 6.0, when I knew less - maybe I should dig out the photo and try again....

Cheers
Ivan

Sparrow and water droplet

Here is a very simple image but one that appealed to me when I saw it. A simple wire, a water droplet and a bird.

1/200th sec, f6.3, exposure +1, ISO 400, focal length 300mm, RAW, Adobe RGB





Damian

Sanderlings, Sable Island, Canada

Here are three photos of sanderlings on Sable Island


This photo has an appeal to me because the birds look like and are acting like people, walking out to sea. I was going to crop more of the sea but I think the sky above the sea adds to the feeling of vastness.




This photo has an appeal because of the intricacy that is offered by being close to the birds and the details (colour and form) in the wavelets. I also like the shadows of the birds and the single direction of travel.




This photo has an appeal because of the haphazard nature of the birds and their shadows.

The three photos had the same settings:
1/500th, f 8.0, exposure bias +0.67, ISO 200, focal length 300; RAW, Adobe RGB
Most of adjustments were made in Camera RAW.

Damian

Images from my local market

Hi there,

I am currently shooting photos at my local Farmer's Market with the view to creating a calendar that will mark the move of the market from its current 'historic' location to a new location close to the Halifax waterfront.

Many photos include people, of course. Here are three photos that capture people at the market shot with my new 50mm lens.

Comments welcome

Damian

Sanderlings in flight, Sable Island, Canada

Here is the first of the images that I captured on Sable Island. This photo is of a group of Sanderlings in flight with surf in the background. I shot it using the panning technique with Al Servo focusing, thus trying my best to keep the birds in focus. It was shot at 1/100 at f20, ISO 200, focus length 300mm.