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Niagara Falls at night in search of “Super moon” over the Falls. May-5-2012

Tue, 08 May 2012 12:59:54 +0000

Last year I came with no photo to capture the “Super Moon” event as the sky was clouded over and made that vent “no-event” at all. So after TCC shoot at the Flower Display I decided to stay and try my luck again.

Niagara Gardens – TCC Outings May-5-2012

Tue, 08 May 2012 12:35:19 +0000

It was ad-hoc organized trip to Niagara Falls Parks to see the first-time bloom in Canada of Titan Arum flower. It is about 90 inches in height and after web news that the Amorphophallus titanum, or Titan Arum located inside the Floral Showhouse in Niagara Falls, flower blossomed late Friday night, we decided to get there early on Saturday morning (Floral Showhouse opened at 9:30). It was hard to photograph as many visitors arrived for this event in in a tradition of all visitors they wanted to take their or their kids pictures. Anyway, it was a good experience and some images turned quite good and perhaps a long monopod would have provided me with better image of inside the flower. More photos of the this flower and other ones from the Flotal Showhouse are available at my Gallery site.

Read it on Global News: Global Toronto | World’s tallest flower blooms at Niagara Parks

For more information and excellent video look at this web site at LifeLeak.com.

Mount Pleasant Cemetery – TCC Outings on Apr 29-2012

Fri, 04 May 2012 09:33:15 +0000

Our TCC 2011-2012 season is at it end and the regular meetings, presentations and other activities will resume in September. This local outing was our official last one although there will be some local ones going on all throughout the summer.

Mount Pleasant Cemetery is more than a living memorial to past generations, Mount Pleasant Cemetery is one of the custodians of our country’s
history. One of Canada’s most historic cemeteries, Mount Pleasant has served the Toronto community since 1876. It is very beautiful to visit on warm spring day to take this great opportunity to photograph (our club got a permission to do so from the cemetery management) very serene backgrounds and various trees brought in from around the world.

Leslie Str. Spit – TCC Outings on Mar 25,2012

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 20:52:49 +0000

This outing with Toronto Camera Club (TCC) followed next day after Tony Sweet presentation and quite frankly I had a hard time to get up early (5:00) to catch the first light. I have never been at this site so I got lost a little, but nevertheless arrived around 6:30 and after a short scouting for site and set up my cameras, tripod etc., I was ready and in the spite that the sunrise wasn’t spectacular one, some good images came out.

* All images can be seen in my Gallery here.

Tony Sweet presentation “Merging of Vision and Technology

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 17:28:15 +0000

This presentation was organized by The Toronto Digital Photography Club and Toronto Camera Club with participating Henry’s Camera as a main sponsor among others.Presentation was taking place on Mar 24th, 2012 from 9:00-17:00 at University of Toronto, MacLeod Auditorium.

His website http://tonysweet.com/ provides numerous links to his works, workshops and gallery. There are also several blog sites that he is participating in, my favorite is his “Visual Artistry Blog” and another one on “Flower Photography“.

Lightroom 4

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 14:18:51 +0000

After a long period with Adobe release of Lightroom 4 Beta which was free, and is somewhat described by Michael Reichman in his video presented here:

Adobe released final version on March 6, 2012 at very surprising reduced price, new $149 and upgrade from (versions 1-3) at $ 79.00.

What’s New in Lightroom 4 Overview from The Luminous Landscape on Vimeo.

There are several sites describing the changes in this update and here are some of the links:

http://lightroomkillertips.com/

http://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/reviews/?ReviewID=3343776

Rouge Valley Conservation Hike – March 11-2012

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:21:22 +0000

Normally, I would enjoy this as first “spring like” day after long and harsh winter, but as those who live in this city, know that this year winter was a lamb. Nevertheless, expected 17 C sunny day warranted first hike to mine of my favorite places near my home.

Here is my digital painting rendition.

My “Big Birthday” surprise

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 13:25:26 +0000

My son Adrian and his fiancé Nicky instead of quite family getting together for my birthday, surprised me by organizing group of my friends and colleagues from U of T to come and celebrate this event. Very touching, and congratulation Adrian and Nicky as it was a complete surprise. It was nice to touch basis with those I haven’t seen for a while and thanks for making it so very special. I had taken only two photos with my camera and normally I do not post my private or family pictures, here they are.

2011 Toronto’s Santa Claus parade

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:45:43 +0000

My fil for parades and public event for this year reached it maximum and joining the Santa Claus parade this year wash planed, but the fact that weather was very unusually nice and warm (14 C). So packing my camera on the spur of the moment I joined thousand of people and kids for this anual event.

The finale of the 3 hour parade was about this guy, but there were many more interesting and colorfully dressed participants, with some incredible people, children patiently waiting for this final show of their “Santa”!

Forks of Credit – revisited Oct-23-2011

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:39:25 +0000

I was back just 2 weeks after my fall hike on October 9th, 2011 this time with my son Adrian and his fiancé Nicky. What a difference two weeks can make! There were hardly any leaves left on the trees so that an opportunity to capture some fall colors were almost gone. However, it was a pleasant walk with Adrian and Nicky as I don’t have many opportunities to do so.

As almost to be Adrian’s signature to do something mischievous (goes back when he was young) he found a small garter snake and started to play with it only later realizing the stench left by the snake was hard to shake off. This resulted that both Nicky and I were walking ahed of him to escape this unpleasant “snakiness” , only after using water and some sanitizer in public washroom, he was accepted back to our group!

The turning point of our short hike was a crossroad just by the Credit River where we had a short rest, small picnic and took some photos of the running water.

On the way back we drove to a picturesque hamlet of Belfountain but didn’t stopped there since it was crowded with weekenders and bikers as alway is on nice weather weekend. The only sane visit is during weekdays!