Black Dress with Water

 Black dress and water #1, 2010

Trying to convince myself I still can shoot and edit (it has been a while, and computer challenges make it really difficult), and psyching myself to hopefully do a quick shoot this week, I delved into my archives and came across some shots of Miss Lizzz that I had not touched before. They were the part two of the An Umbrella Corp Summer pics from the fall of 2008. Which seems like an eternity ago. 2008 was my most productive year in terms of sheer number of shoots and people worked with, and I had some extras I never edited.  The Umbrella pics were so cool from that day I felt the shoot was satisfying enough to not edit more.

For those who have not worked with me before, on creative shoots at any rate, I try to select and then do post on about 5 or so relatively unique images. I am baffled when I see someone post 100 images from a photoshoot that are nearly identical except for a slight angle or shift in perspective. I mean, what's the point unless you are using it as a contact sheet type of gallery to show the subject what you did and then they can pick. But why share that with the world? It dilutes the work. It could make viewers think you can't decide what is the best. Anyhow, it's not what I do.

 

Black dress and water #2, 2010

These last two have a different vibe than the first two in the series. Shot at much more of a down angle and not crouched down close to the water line; she in deeper water, with me in the water this time but on a raised sandbar (as far as I remember I was standing in water and not too deep);  and the sun, well, being the sun. This was with a polarizer on too, but was shot with the sun directly in front of me - as opposed to being roughly 45 degrees to camera right in the first two. Our placement dictated by the underwater landscape as much as anything.  Used a fill flash too.

 

Black dress and water #3, 2010

Black dress and water #4, 2010

Shot in Lake Erie, September 2008. I wouldn't put someone in the lake in winter. Well yeah I would. but then I would probably get cold too. Been there, done that. :)


Mike

Action Jackson

Two shots of myself taken by Mallory when we were down on the beach shooting the Low Lift Pumping Station earlier this month.  Post work by myself. Notice the styling Ear Grips earmuffs. :)

 

Cold Beach 1

Cold Beach 2

Mike

Blaise Aguera y Arcas demos augmented-reality maps

From Microsoft, Blaise Aguera y Arcas, architect of Bing Maps, and creator of the Sea Dragon tech behind Photosynth, demos augmented-reality maps in Bing at TED February 2010. There is some cool stuff such as the fly in at 2:15, the Flickr geo-tagged image integration at 3:00, the live video integration at 4:37 (cool and funny), and last at 7:00 the integration of the World Wide telescope into Bing maps. That was killer. Have that on an ipad or smart phone and you really will know whats in front of you, or up there.


And on a side note, check out the Photosynth.net page right now for 473 synth'd images of the freestyle skiiing at the Olympics at Cypress Mtn - and elsewhere at the Olympics. Photosynth allows you to take a bunch of photos of the same scene or object and automagically stitch them all together into one big interactive 3D viewing experience.

On Facebook which doesn't import embedded video, hit the original post link to go to my blog.

Mike

Abandoned and protected

 Abandoned and Protected, 2010

A small tree and loose branches wrapped in barbed wire which had all washed up on the beach.  In the centre of the trunk someone had carved a heart, faded initials and  '95. I wonder if the relationship lasted longer than the tree, and what the story was behind it all ending up on the beach.

Happy corporate holiday day. :)

Mike

We Are More

 The Phoenix, 2010

 The spoken word poem by Shane Koyczan from the opening of the Olympics in Vancouver last night.

We Are More
by Shane Koyczan
When defining Canada
you might list some statistics
you might mention our tallest building
or biggest lake
you might shake a tree in the fall
and call a red leaf Canada
you might rattle off some celebrities
might mention Buffy Sainte-Marie
might even mention the fact that we've got a few
Barenaked Ladies
or that we made these crazy things
like zippers
electric cars
and washing machines
when defining Canada
it seems the world's anthem has been
" been there done that"
and maybe that's where we used to be at
it's true
we've done and we've been
we've seen
all the great themes get swallowed up by the machine
and turned into theme parks
but when defining Canada
don't forget to mention that we have set sparks
we are not just fishing stories
about the one that got away
we do more than sit around and say "eh?"
and yes
we are the home of the Rocket and the Great One
who inspired little number nines
and little number ninety-nines
but we're more than just hockey and fishing lines
off of the rocky coast of the Maritimes
and some say what defines us
is something as simple as please and thank you
and as for you're welcome
well we say that too
but we are more
than genteel or civilized
we are an idea in the process
of being realized
we are young
we are cultures strung together
then woven into a tapestry
and the design
is what makes us more
than the sum total of our history
we are an experiment going right for a change
with influences that range from a to zed
and yes we say zed instead of zee
we are the colours of Chinatown and the coffee of Little Italy
we dream so big that there are those
who would call our ambition an industry
because we are more than sticky maple syrup and clean snow
we do more than grow wheat and brew beer
we are vineyards of good year after good year
we reforest what we clear
because we believe in generations beyond our own
knowing now that so many of us
have grown past what used to be
we can stand here today
filled with all the hope people have
when they say things like "someday"
someday we'll be great
someday we'll be this
or that
someday we'll be at a point
when someday was yesterday
and all of our aspirations will pay the way
for those who on that day
look towards tomorrow
and still they say someday
we will reach the goals we set
and we will get interest on our inspiration
because we are more than a nation of whale watchers and lumberjacks
more than backpacks and hiking trails
we are hammers and nails building bridges
towards those who are willing to walk across
we are the lost-and-found for all those who might find themselves at a loss
we are not the see-through gloss or glamour
of those who clamour for the failings of others
we are fathers brothers sisters and mothers
uncles and nephews aunts and nieces
we are cousins
we are found missing puzzle pieces
we are families with room at the table for newcomers
we are more than summers and winters
more than on and off seasons
we are the reasons people have for wanting to stay
because we are more than what we say or do
we live to get past what we go through
and learn who we are
we are students
students who study the studiousness of studying
so we know what as well as why
we don't have all the answers
but we try
and the effort is what makes us more
we don't all know what it is in life we're looking for
so keep exploring
go far and wide
or go inside but go deep
go deep
as if James Cameron was filming a sequel to The Abyss
and suddenly there was this location scout
trying to figure some way out
to get inside you
because you've been through hell and high water
and you went deep
keep exploring
because we are more
than a laundry list of things to do and places to see
we are more than hills to ski
or countryside ponds to skate
we are the abandoned hesitation of all those who can't wait
we are first-rate greasy-spoon diners and healthy-living cafes
a country that is all the ways you choose to live
a land that can give you variety
because we are choices
we are millions upon millions of voices shouting
" keep exploring... we are more"
we are the surprise the world has in store for you
it's true
Canada is the "what" in "what's new?"
so don't say "been there done that"
unless you've sat on the sidewalk
while chalk artists draw still lifes
on the concrete of a kid in the street
beatboxing to Neil Young for fun
don't say you've been there done that
unless you've been here doing it
let this country be your first-aid kit
for all the times you get sick of the same old same old
let us be the story told to your friends
and when that story ends
leave chapters for the next time you'll come back
next time pack for all the things
you didn't pack for the first time
but don't let your luggage define your travels
each life unravels differently
and experiences are what make up
the colours of our tapestry
we are the true north
strong and free
and what's more
is that we didn't just say it
we made it be.

Drinking water starts here

 Low Lift Pumping Station, #2, 2010

The same Low Lift Pumping Station building from the last post. Seen from the top of the cliffs. Previous shot was taken near the left end of the thick lower band of snow and ice.  Up close and personal by the large boulders n  blocks of the retaining wall. The horizon 'is' level. The lake ice actually curves down on the right side a fair bit. The horizon on the South side of Lake Erie is roughly towards Ashtabula, OH.

We are getting some snow tonight. I imagine that view tomorrow morning would be drastically different. More like one big ice block with a building on it.

Mike

 

 Low Lift Pumping Station, 2010

The circular 'low lift pumping station' building at the intake of the Elgin Area Water Treatment Plant. 90m below the slowly eroding clay cliff tops, on the north shore of Lake Erie, Ontario.  It pulls drinking water in from deep under Lake Erie through a 1.5m wide and 1500m long pipe. That's 3-4m of lake ice build up amongst the rocks and boulders of the retaining wall.

The area is full of  "Do Not Trespass" signs, security CCTV cameras, and I wouldn't have descended to the water from high above on the cliffs if it were not for my intrepid pink shoed co explorer - and for a better vantage point... :)

For the record, I never crossed the invisible line to the other side of the trespass signs when descending to the water. And that's one helluva climb back up when heavily breathing in cold winter air. Made me think of hiking out of the Grand Canyon. Thankfully it was not a six hour climb. :)

Mike