I took a "Happiness" course a few months ago.  Among other things, I listed the various things that make me happy.  One thing on my list was exploring the outdoors, particularly natural areas, and capturing images with my camera.  We were then encouraged to allow ourselves to make those things on our list a bigger part of our day.

We also learned that our soul yearns to be happy.  If fact, happiness is our soul's organic state.  Many of us have created blocks that limit our experince of being happy.

I know nature soothes my soul.  How about you?  High Park is a precious urban natural oasis.  That's where I took this image.  If you can't get out and stretch your legs in a park, I offer you this image to quench your soul's thirst.  

The only editing I did to this image was cropping to eliminate some small distracting tree branches and sharpening.

May 9, 2012

What a great time of year!  The grass has just turned green.  The crocuses have come and gone.  The daffodils are blooming.  And the tulips are well on their way.  It's so good to have colour around again.

I photographed these red tulips last year at the beginning of May.  They were enormous!  The largest tulip was almost the size of a grapefruit. 

I was drawn to photograph them because of their size, vivid colour, the sun reflecting off them and the cluster of them looked pleasing.  The only editing I did afterwards was cropping the image to concentrate on the blossoms and some sharpening.

Happy Spring!

April 4 2012  

Have you noticed that I tend to post an image here in this blog that is relevant to the current season of the year?  I do.

Last night I was lying in bed waiting to fall asleep and I realized I was listening to the wind.  It's been quite windy for the last few days here in Toronto.  I believe March is known as a windy month.  The wind is a few days early.  

I decided it would be fun to pull this image from my archives and share it with you. 

We take photos for a lot of different reasons.  I took this one because the sign says it all!

February 28, 2012   

I came across this interesting site last winter.  This vegetation with snow hats on and since the sun was shining, a striking shadow.  I felt it was worth photographing.  I don't know what this winter has been like where you live, but here in Toronto we haven't had very much snow or sunshine.  I'm not complaining.  Just stating the facts.

I prefer photographing on sunny days in the winter.  Particularly when there is snow on the ground.  And when it's sunny, shadows appear.  Shadows can enhance your image by suggesting a third dimension.

 Come on sun.  It's time to show your face again.  

January 27, 2012

December 16, 2011

I had the good fortune of going on a photo hike with a friend recently.  We visited the Caledon area just north of Toronto. 

When I explore for images, my natural inclination has been to look for views or vistas.  In the last few months, I have been making a conscious effort to look for interesting compositions on a smaller scale.  This image is one of my finds from that Caledon outing.

These leaves were on a small bush.  The bush caught my eye because of the colour contrast of the individual white snow flakes lying on the brown leaves.  It took me a few minutes of looking through my viewfinder while roaming my camera around the bush to find an interesting arrangement of leaves.  Once I decided on the spot I was interested in, I set up my tripod.  I took several shots varying the fstop with the intention of getting the three leaves in focus and having the background blurred.  The background wasn't blurred enough for my liking, so I enhanced the blur in PhotoShop.

I came across a quote by Picasso later that afternoon that really spoke to me.  "Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."

Hiking the trail, finding and making some images and enjoying the like minded company of my friend was my art that day.

What washes away the dust of everyday life from your soul?

December 6, 2011

This is the top of Paris' Arc de Triomphe.  Look at the detail!  Did you know that Napoleon ordered that the Arc be built as a monument to the army?  It's a fact.  At the base of the Arc is the tomb, with an eternal burning flame, of the Unknown Soldier from the First World War.  

This is Remembrance week.  Time to remember those who gave themselves to perserve our freedom.  Something I read in the paper earlier this week by a Canadian soldier who has seen three tours of duty in Afghanistan, was him asking us to remember those who have served, fallen and also their families.

What will be your act of remembrance?

November 9, 2011  

I had the good fortunate of being in Manhatten two weeks ago.  The pleasant weather, courteous people and endless sights all combined to leave me with an exhilarated feeling.  Oh what fun!

While we were aboard a horse pulled carriage seeing the sights of Central Park, I snapped this image.  Doesn't it look romantic?  It's like stepping back in time. 

The only adjustments I made to this image on the computer were to crop it a little and reduce the clarity to give it a softer look.

Something to keep in mind when you're photographing something in motion, is to have some space in front of your subject so it has some room to move into.  That makes it a more appealing image.   

October 28, 2011 

Let's what?  Let's hygge.  It's a new word I learned this week compliments of Sarah Hampson's Happiness column in The Globe & Mail. 

The word hygge is Danish and it means the "art of relaxing in a warm and cozy environment".  Now that's an art I can get into.

Last Sunday afternoon I had some free time and I enjoyed deciding what I would do.  I wanted to have some fun.  So I grabbed my camera bag and went for a walk around my neighbourhood.  I tend to gravitate to a park.  

Even though it's fall, there's still visual interest in the gardens.  I took this image because I thought the contrast in the lines and colours made it beautiful.  I don't know the name of the reddish plant, but I liked it's colour and arc contrasting with the vertical sandy coloured grass, the small blue spruce and grass  behind it.  Finding and taking this image was so satisfying.  Creatively satisfying and fun.

After being out in the fresh cool air, I was ready to hygge when I got home.  So that's exactly what I did. 

October 7, 2011   

Do you smile when you see a Monarch butterfly?  I do.  I didn't notice as many of them around this summer as I have in previous summers.

I've heard butterflies referred to as "dancing flowers".  They are just as colourful and delicate as flowers, and they fly.

A Monarch flew in front of me during my bike ride this morning.  There are still some here.  They will soon begin their migration south to Mexico which can be as far as 4,500 km.  It takes the Monarchs up to two months to reach the fir forests of Mexico where they hibernate for the winter.

I took this image in our backyard.  We planted a butterfly bush a few years ago to encourage the little darlings to drop by.  And they do.

You need patience to photograph them.  And I have discovered that I prefer having the butterfly facing upward in the image.  I like the contrast of the Monarch's colours with the white blossom in this image.

Thanks for visiting you little darlings.  Goodbye for now. 

September 16, 2011

"The Ex" is definitely the place to be this Labour Day weekend.  This image, taken just inside the Princes' Gates, gives you an idea of the crowd you can expect to be part of if you do decide to go.  What a great place for people watching!  What a great place for just poking around to see what's happening!  Make sure you have lots of time to enjoy yourself.

I was moved to take this image for three reasons.  First of all, I loved the lighting.  The combination of the brooding clouds in the background with the sun shining in the foreground was so dramatic.  Secondly, the buildings and other architectural features created an interesting backdrop.  And thirdly, there were just so many people!

It was great to be there and be part of it.  I'm so glad I had my camera with me to capture this scene.

September 2, 2011      

World Photography Day and the Canadian National Exhibition

Did you know that August 19th is World Photography Day?  It is.  On this day in 1839, the French government announced that it had purchased the patent to the photographic process and was making it available to everyone.  Thank you so much France. 

This year, August 19th is also the opening day of the Canadian National Exhibition.  The CNE (also known as "The Ex") is Canada's largest fair.

To celebrate these two occasions, I am posting an image of the Princes' Gates.  This is one of the entrances to The Ex.

These Gates were built to celebrate Canada's 60th anniversary of Confederation.  Princes Edward (King Edward VIII) and George (Duke of Kent) officially opened these Gates during the CNE in 1927. 

If you're in Toronto during the next 18 days, The Ex offers an infinite number of photographic opportunities.  Make sure to take your camera if you go.  You never know what you're going to see.

How does this image make you feel? Still? Content? Chilly? Relaxed? It was a damp, cool November morning when
a friend and I meandered around this pond. The mist adds an air of mystery to this image.

I invite you to take a few moments and imagine yourself dressed warmly and interested in following this path in the snow.
The sun is shining and the air is fresh. What will you find around the corner? You are using your imagination, so you could
find whatever you wish. I wish you joy and peace wherever your path takes you.

Two separate friends of mine are going south for the entire month of March. One is embarking for her annual sojourn to
Cozumel, Mexico. While the other is off to Florida. How about you? Do you have a southern vacation planned? I don't.
And that's okay. Here is a Barbados beach to imagine you are strolling along or laying on when you need a warm and
sunny "pick me up". Bon voyage travellers. See you in April.

Early spring is a wonderful time of year. Temperatures rise, the sun gets stronger and there is a hint of sweetness
in the air. Once all of the snow melts and the mud drys up, we can get back on the trail. Oh to smell the earthiness
of the woods again and hear the crunch of decaying leaves under foot. This collection of rocks and moss caught
my attention while we were tramping along a section of the Bruce Trail.