Dog Day Afternoon

Frankie enjoying the sun on a lovely Sunday afternoon. I was testing a piece of camera gear when I saw her sprawled out on the pavement, so I got real close with my wide-angle lens and got this. There is some flare from the sun hitting the lens but I think it makes a nice affect.

The Flame

I got up before 6:00 am. early this week as I was determined to get a good shot of the Olympic "cauldron" before returning to work. I arrived about 6:30, still dark and there were already about fifteen other photographers there. I thought it would be best to shoot it just at sunrise which I did (see above) I realized afterwards, as I was looking at these shots on the computer, that I may have misjudged the timing. Although the light is nice, the flame exposure is all washed out and I think that during the daylight hours (maybe overcast) will give the best results. So I guess I'll try again sometime before the Para Olympic games are over.















On my way home I came across this tree at Kits Beach just by the pool. I had to stop and take a shot of this too. Note the frost on the ground. A fellow walked by me who said that he lives across the street and has watched this tree for thirty years and never has it bloomed in February. He thought the last week in March was the usual time to see these blossoms.

Vectorial Elevations

Vectorial Elevation is an interactive artwork that allows the public to transform the sky over Vancouver. Using a three-dimensional interface, this web site lets you design huge light sculptures by directing 20 robotic searchlights located around English Bay. A web page is made for each participant with photos of their design from four cameras located around the city.

Vectorial Elevation by Raphael Lozano-Hemmer
20 robotic lights

www.vectorialvancouver.net/home.html
English Bay
Vancouver, British Columbia

The Torch

A huge crowd lined both sides of West 41st Avenue at Dunbar and all along the route to witness the Torch relay. It was quite amazing. Lot's of Canadian flags, mitts and even dogs dressed in Canadian colours. The torch travelled west to the Musqeum Band office then over to UBC and finally into downtown at David Lam Park.

Harry Jerome and Sunrise

I decided that since it was going to be clear this morning, I would arise well before the sun came up and see if I could photograph the Olympic rings on the barge at sunrise. Up at 6:00 am. and at Stanley Park by 7. The lights on the rings were off! Oh well, I remember being impressed by someone else's shots of the Harry Jerome statue so I backtracked and set up. I shot several variations but like this one the best. It was damn cold too, only 2 Celsuis so my fingers were like frozen baby carrots.

Some people that I've shown the photos, have liked this one better (see below).















What do you think?

The Olympic opening ceremonies are this Friday and there is a steady ramping up of traffic, media and tourists. Bob Costas from NBC network has fallen in love with Vancouver and the weather ( he says) so at least we are getting some good publicity for the future.

Grocery Shopping and Sunsets

I had just come out of Stong's and saw this beautiful light to the south. I thought "Damn, I should have had the camera in the car" but when you're on your way to Stong's you don't always think about the camera. You think about dinner food for growing teenage boys. I threw the groceries in the car (there was no fruit) and raced home at 15 km/hour behind everyone else that was shopping. I put the groceries away in record time and this time grabbed the camera and headed out to the closest place I thought I would see the sunset. That would be Marine Drive Lookout. It's the place we like to go and rest when we're riding, where even in January it's warm when the sun's out.

I was about ten minutes too late. That beauty light that I'd seen was mostly gone, but heck I had the camera so I shot a few frames and figured "I could fix it in post" as they say in the film biz. Well they're right. I ran it through a couple of programs, tweaked it a little here and there and came up with an acceptable image. I hate going out with the camera and coming back with nothing. I'd gone out last night to shoot a new building at UBC but I was about two hours two late for that one. I thought it would photograph well at night but I was wrong. I'll try that one again sometime at twilight. That's the shot just below.

Fundraising for the Ride to Conquer Cancer has been going very well. With cash donations that I'm picking up on Tuesday, I should be around $2100 and that's from only about a dozen donors and I still have four months left....lot's of time for other people to donate. Now at least I'm motivated to ride my bike when I can and it will probably help motivate me to commute to work more often.

The 2010 Winter Olympics are one week away with the opening ceremonies on Friday February 12th. Yikes! Parking restrictions are in effect all over but it won't get really crazy until tourists start arriving next week, then watch out. I hope to go to Holland House in Richmond at Minoru Ice Rink. It sounds like that would be really good time there, lot's of beer and herring.