Uploads from v1ctory_1s_m1ne, with geodata

"I see you..."

nobody@flickr.com (v1ctory_1s_m1ne) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:50:44 -0700

Well, I'm back :)

The last 18 months hasn't exactly seen me particuarly active on Flickr as I've been doing lots of very necessary (but dull) grown-up stuff in the way of moving house, decorating, gardening, and not much else, and in spite of the fact that I've still taken shedloads of shots, I've uploaded a big fat nada (and spent precisely 0 minutes on anyone else's streams either...). Boo!!!

However, if I'm going to get back on the old Flickr Horse, then I might as well do it with some of the spoils of what I got up to yesterday, mightn't I?

Just over a month ago saw me turn another year older, and as way of an awesome present, my parents and grandparents (with some sneaky planning assistance from PG), all clubbed together to buy me a 1/2 day macro photography workshop session as a present. Safe to say I was quite pleased, as I've always had a soft spot for the smaller members of the animal kingdom since I was a little kid, so the opportunity to get properly up close with a few of them and take some shots in a studio setting, with someone on hand who knows what they're doing (thank you Janet! :), was something I wouldn't have wanted to miss out on for pretty much anything ("Stick your Aston Martin track-day, I'm photographing frogs!")

So Tuesday morning saw me arrive at the Wild Arena Macro Studio in Hampshire for my half day Macro Studio Experience session, and safe to say, I had a great time (part-way through the morning saw me text PG "Best. Day. Ever", and it kind of was :)

The session saw myself and two other studio newbs being expertly tutored and guided by Janet Robini from Wild Arena, who gave us a run down of what would be the best ways to shoot in the studio environment, and what to watch out for when shooting macro (high f's all the way. Who knew?).

The first of our subjects for the day was this awesome female Gargoyle Gecko, (whose eyes had to be seen to be believed), who sat very patiently for us (most of the time X), while we fired off barrages of shots and lit the place up like a nuclear test site from the studio flash rigs.

Oh and before I forget, Janet lent me a suberb Nikkor 105mm macro lens for the morning to ensure I got what I came for. This is now top of my Christmas list and then some :)

"It's not easy being, erm... tan?"

nobody@flickr.com (v1ctory_1s_m1ne) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:48:46 -0700

v1ctory_1s_m1ne posted a photo:

This little fella was our second subject of the morning, and he's a male Peacock Tree Frog. Compared to the female of the species he's quite dowdy in his colour scheme, but that doesn't seem to get him down :)

This little guy was my favourite of the day, mainly due to his googly eyes and winning smile :)

Googly

nobody@flickr.com (v1ctory_1s_m1ne) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:42:41 -0700

v1ctory_1s_m1ne posted a photo:

Frogs have always made me smile ever since I was a kid, and when you're face to face with something that looks this freakin' adorable, it's not very hard to understand why :)

Plus, there's that winning smile I was on about earlier. Superstar in the making this little fella :)

"You ain't seen me, right?"

nobody@flickr.com (v1ctory_1s_m1ne) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:45:51 -0700

v1ctory_1s_m1ne posted a photo:

Our fourth and final subject for the day were four adorable baby harvest mice who were no bigger than an AA battery. Only with whiskers. And tails.

Easily the hardest thing to shoot of the day, as no sooner had you lined up a shot ("oh look, he's trying to reach my lens!"), than they were off, doing something else, sniffing something else,and generally playing awkward buggers for the duation of the shoot. Little so-and-so's :)

Regal

nobody@flickr.com (v1ctory_1s_m1ne) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:41:02 -0700

v1ctory_1s_m1ne posted a photo:

The white lipped tree frog looking majestic.

Right before he did something downright reprehensible :(

"I'm not fat..."

nobody@flickr.com (v1ctory_1s_m1ne) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:47:45 -0700

v1ctory_1s_m1ne posted a photo:

Third up for the morning was the White Lipped Tree Frog, who was on a scale slightly different to the Peacock Tree Frog. And then some...

He was the most amazing shade of green, and for a fair amount of the time was posing quite regally for the camera. When he wasn't leaping onto the flash rigs.

Or squirting water at us.

Out of his bum.

Pokémon wasn't like this when it was on the telly :(

Dinosaurian

nobody@flickr.com (v1ctory_1s_m1ne) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:44:13 -0700

v1ctory_1s_m1ne posted a photo:

Another shot from my session with the Gargoyle Gecko. Awesome wee beastie :)

Twitch

nobody@flickr.com (v1ctory_1s_m1ne) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:39:08 -0700

v1ctory_1s_m1ne posted a photo:

A rare moment of veritible calm in a harvest mouse's otherwise seemingly Red Bull fuelled day :)

Wachiya!

nobody@flickr.com (v1ctory_1s_m1ne) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:01:48 -0800

v1ctory_1s_m1ne posted a photo:

Or "Welcome!", if you don't speak Cree :)

Seeing the Olympic Winter Games first couple of days unfold over the weekend has reminded me just what a wonderful people the Canadians are, and how welcoming and genuine everyone was that we encountered along the three weeks and 2000 miles of our trip. Which led me back to this photo I took on the shore in Tadoussac, as I walked back from a couple of hours watching Minke Whales in the bay.

Some enterprising soul had collected up some of the chunks of rock that were lying about, and left in their stead an Inukshuk, or more accurately in this case, an Inunnguaq.

These stone figures, and (more commonly) single large upright stones, hold incredible cultural importance and significance for the peoples of Canada's First Nations. Left along shore lines and waterways all over the North of the country, they signaled to those returning from long hunting trips that they were nearing home, thereby acting as navigational reference points and that they were being welcomed back. In fact, the word inutsuk in Nunavik means "something which acts for or performs the function of a person", with many of the most recognisable and well known examples looking like giant stone figures with their arms outstretched in welcome, including (of course!), the symbol and principle mascot of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Ilanaaq.

"I just don't trust this guy...

nobody@flickr.com (v1ctory_1s_m1ne) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:59:58 -0800

v1ctory_1s_m1ne posted a photo:

...he seems a bit fishy to me." ;)

Seriously though, you've got to admit there's something just a little bit disturbing about an anthropomorphised fish-man, who with bulging, staring eyes, bekons you excitedly into his restaurant, to stand there on his "legs" and watch excitedly as you dine on his fishy bretheren. Seemed a bit macabre to me...

But then I can read that into most things can't I? Hmm...

Hello!

nobody@flickr.com (v1ctory_1s_m1ne) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 15:22:30 -0800

v1ctory_1s_m1ne posted a photo:

Down every side-street, on every available temporary (or sometimes permanent) structure in Spadina or Kensington, there's something visually going on, from official, endorsed and approved murals that advertise something or are commenting on some aspect of Canadian life or history, through to more obvious graffiti and stuff that's cheekily appeared when no-one's been looking.

But all of it, whether it's above the law or not, is rendered in gloriously cheery riots of colour that can't help raising a smile, and it all just kind of "fits" and works in the context of the place.

I've no idea if this little guy and his chums were allowed to be there, but he was giving me a little wave as I walked past, so I thought I'd take a pic to remember him by :)

Everything Counts

nobody@flickr.com (v1ctory_1s_m1ne) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:35:59 -0700

v1ctory_1s_m1ne posted a photo:

A couple of weeks ago saw us back in London for a long weekend, but alas, between the weather being utterly crap and spending most of our time rushing between exhibitions and galleries, we didn't get much in the way of photography done.

So with that in mind, here's a few from when we were there in March last year that I never got round to doing anything with at the time. This one's the alternative I took to this shot next to St. Pauls just before the heavens opened (hence the apocalyptic sky), and I think on reflection, I kinda prefer this one to the shot I posted at the time.

Agree/disagree? Yes/No? Interested to know what you think out there in the Flickr-Verse, and whether another year has taught me anything more about photography or if I'm still just winging it ;)

Down and Out in Spitalfields

nobody@flickr.com (v1ctory_1s_m1ne) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:34:12 -0700

v1ctory_1s_m1ne posted a photo:

I don't do reportage photography as a general rule, mainly becase of a lack of confidence, coupled with the over-whelming desire to not get punched in the face too often.

However, when we were in the garden of Christ Church, Spitalfileds, I noticed a tramp (or a Bum to our colonial chums :) sitting around talking to a couple of youngsters in that overly-earnest, intense way that only the truly damaged can. So I'm trying not to get involved, and carry on shooting photos of the church, when I hear Mark's voice off to the side of me come out as a barely audible hiss with "Oh, Jesus, he's not going to...? Oh, great he is, isn't he?", to which I turn round to find Mr. Homeless Chap taking a leak up a wall, in a churchyard garden, in broad daylight, in the centre of one of the busiest cities in Europe. It was too big a target to miss, so "When in Rome" I thought, and took the shot.

Yeah, I feel a bit guilty about it, as the guy was clearly not right but, hey, it's all part of life's rich tapestry, right?

All Flesh is Grass

nobody@flickr.com (v1ctory_1s_m1ne) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:33:13 -0700

v1ctory_1s_m1ne posted a photo:

Apparently.

Not sure when this poster will have dated from, but I saw it in the window of a butchers shop, slap-bang next to this delightful locale, so I couldn't really resist its quirky Biblical authority.

Afterall, I don't think it was intended when said by the Prophet Isaiah to help sell a few lamb-chops ;)

"I'll stick with the Tower Hill Travel Lodge, thanks..."

nobody@flickr.com (v1ctory_1s_m1ne) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:35:06 -0700

v1ctory_1s_m1ne posted a photo:

I'm guessing the en-suite's a little lacking, but at least the other guests are quiet ;)

Christ Church, Spittalfields.

Heading off from Gananoque

nobody@flickr.com (v1ctory_1s_m1ne) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:56:21 -0800

v1ctory_1s_m1ne posted a photo:

The start of our very cold, very windy, and utterly fab boat trip around Ontario's 1000 Islands.

More on this place and all it's glories when I've got a minute :)

Tadoussac Rush Hour

nobody@flickr.com (v1ctory_1s_m1ne) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:58:11 -0800

v1ctory_1s_m1ne posted a photo:

It's that kind of place.

Long may it stay that way :)

Escort Duty

nobody@flickr.com (v1ctory_1s_m1ne) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:40:32 -0800

v1ctory_1s_m1ne posted a photo:

Couldn't decide what to upload with this guy, so decided I'd upload him on his own tonight (I think he needs the space anyway :)

After we'd set out on the 1000 Islands boat trip from Gananoque, our ferry was accompanied by this particular persistent companion for quite a distance, which made getting some bird-in-flight shots a lot easier to get than they would have been normally!

Go Large, he's much better viewed up close :)

Dead Robot - I

nobody@flickr.com (v1ctory_1s_m1ne) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 15:20:37 -0800

v1ctory_1s_m1ne posted a photo:

On a lot of the roads and near crossings in Spadina, were these little cut-out 2D figures, made from some sort of hard-wearing material, and resembling, if nothing else, the kind of wind-up tin robots kids would have from the late 50's. Only ones that went for a walk on the streets of Toronto, and were then squashed flat by passing traffic.

If anyone knows what the story is behind these little guys, please can they let me know, as my curiosity's driving me nuts! ;)

Kensington - stuff to see, notice, and going on, absolutely chuffing everywhere!

THEM!

nobody@flickr.com (v1ctory_1s_m1ne) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 15:24:06 -0800

v1ctory_1s_m1ne posted a photo:

I loved Spadina and Kensington, Toronto's cultural and style melting pots, home to all sorts of people, with a really bohemian, arty, and absolutely "anything goes" feel to it.

I could live without the damn giant ants though, the flamethrowers you have carry around to protect yourself with while you're there get a bit tiring after a while ;)