Memorial Dr - water main break - plows

Memorial Dr - water main break - plows, a photo by Wanderfull1 on Flickr.

Two plows clear away icy slush.

This morning a water main break in the Crescent Heights area flooded and closed down east bound Memorial Drive. These photos were quickly taken (it was -28) around 8:00 a.m. on my way to work.

The area was totally cleared by afternoon rush hour.

Just learned that only moments ago a second water main break occurred in the same area, only a block away from my place.  GlobalNews  Yikes!

Still, not as bad as some places.  Winnipeg residents got a little testy after being flooded almost 12 times in 3 weeks.  Fire crews called the police for assistance. Saskatoon has seen more water main breaks than normal, as well.

Links:

• Google News

Shooting in Auto Mode

thoughtful, a photo by Wanderfull1 on Flickr.

It's been a long, wicked cold winter. Or maybe I'm just feeling the cold more. The desire to go out and take street shots has been minimal.

Still, there's a need to take a photo of something. So, much as Kit hates the camera, she's the most interesting person near me.

Photo instructors will tell you to not shoot in Automatic mode. Since I usually shoot in every mode, except Auto, I decided to see what the big huff was about. Also, I wanted to just compose without thinking about settings. I can't speak for all cameras, but with the Pentax K-5 the White Balance is not great and not adjustable in Auto mode. (For instance, everything has an orange hue when shooting with tungsten light.) Then again, I've read that the K-5 has WB issues in any mode. Which is why I patiently wait for the K-3 to come down in price.

While it's kind of nice to not have to figure out the technical stuff to get the shot, I'm thinking I will continue to choose Program (P) mode, where I can adjust everything or nothing, over Auto mode.

Influential Movies for Photographers

wind turbines, a photo by Wanderfull1 on Flickr.

Years ago I saw a black & white Max Von Sydow movie called The Seventh Seal. One image of silhouettes dancing on a hill top, known as the dance of death, stuck with me. The image came to mind when I shot these wind turbines near Pincher Creek.

Which comes to mind a list that I've been thinking about creating for a while. A list of movies with photography that I have loved or been influenced by.  You know, scenes where you stop paying attention to the movie and go "oooh."

Links to memorable movie scenes:

• The Seventh Seal - Google Images - IMDB - Favorite Image : the dancing hill top silhouttes. Weekly Classics - The Seventh Seal

• Symbolism beautifully photographed, Melancholia (Google Images - IMDB - Favorite Image) is an end of the world sci-fi film.  My favorite scene has the main character, who is clinically depressed, walking in her wedding dress, her legs dragged down by tree roots.

• There are many beautifully photographed scenes in Black Narcissus (Google Images - IMDB - Favorite image), but my favorite would be the nuns praying before an altar.

• The Matrix Reloaded - Google Images - IMDB - Favorite image : the Chateau staircase fight scene where they leap from one staircase across to another.

• Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid - IMDB - Favorite image : the opening scene where they are ambushed in the cabin

• Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End - IMDB - Favorite image : miles and a multitude of rock-like crabs lined up in rows on a white sandy plain.

MORE:

     [Added April 4, 2014]

• The Bang Bang Club is the story of four combat photographers in South Africa during the wars to end Apartheid.  Based on actual photographers and events.  Makes street photography look like a walk in the park.

• Five Broken Cameras is a documentary about a Palestinian man who videotaped his village's resistance to Israeli occupation.

• Fur, a kind of tribute to famous photographer Diane Arbus, imagines how Diane became a photographer of society's outsiders.

• In Aa Dekhen Zara a photographer inherits his grandfather's camera. A camera that predicts the future. While not necessarily photographically inspiring the idea of a camera that shows you what will happen is kind of cool.

• Fourteen years after being severely disabled in a magical performance gone wrong, a former magician petitions his government to allow him to commit suicide.  Stunning cinematography throughout, but my favorite scene is the magic trick where he appears to slide down a light beam.

Waterton - self serve

Waterton - self serve, a photo by Wanderfull1 on Flickr.

Yesterday I took a road trip with some friends to Cardston to see the Remington Carriage Museum.

Decided to see Waterton Lakes National Park on the way back. Ran into a bit of weather.

I love weather!

watchdog

watchdog, a photo by Wanderfull1 on Flickr.

Did a walkabout this afternoon with my 50mm... a lens I don't use enough, I think.  Saw this pooch guarding her home.  Edited in-camera... toy, monochrome, brighten, and sharpen.

downtown murder - Delta / Hays

downtown murder - Delta / Hays, a photo by Wanderfull1 on Flickr.

A downtown murder had 4th Avenue closed off from Memorial Drive (4th Street flyover) to Centre Street. A stabbing victim stumbled into the Delta Hotel earlier.

My first thought was, it's by the DI (Drop-In Centre). Then my hope was that it wasn't one my regular customers from work.  Things have been a bit tense, lately.  Even people who are usually quiet and easy going were feeling agitated.

More likely, it was another drug related incident.

The area on 4th Avenue from 1st Street to Centre Street was still closed off this afternoon, with police still scanning the ground in the area around the Delta Hotel and the Harry Hays buildings.

Morning traffic backed up past Centre Street and 7th Avenue N.

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Fourth Avenue closed off from Memorial Drive to Centre Street.

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Two o'clock in the afternoon and 4th Avenue between Centre Street and 1st Street, as well as sidewalks, are still closed off.

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Links:

• CTV News - Police release identity of man killed in downtown stabbing
• Global News - UPDATE: Police release identity of downtown stabbing victim
• CBCNews Calgary - Man fatally stabbed in downtown Calgary
• Calgary Herald - 4th Avenue flyover reopens but other downtown streets still closed as police investigate fatal stabbing

A Familiar Face

Neil Young Concert Demonstration - listening, a photo by Wanderfull1 on Flickr.

Tonight I was catching up on episodes of Arctic Air when I saw a familiar face. This photo was taken at the Idle No More protest that happened during Neil Young's Honour the Treaties tour.

Not sure, but I think the lady listening might be the actress Michelle Thrush.

Here's an interview with CBC's George Stroumboulopoulos.  What do you think?

Sochi Blogging

Sports don't usually interest me, but Jeff Cable, one of the photographers whose blog I follow, has been posting some interesting shots.  Which inspired me to do some trolling for other photographer blogs on Sochi, Russia.

These are some of what I found.

• Jeff Cable - 2014 Winter Olympics
• Rob Hornstra - An Uncensored Look at the Real Sochi
• Matt McCain (New York Times) - In Olympic Sochi, a Photographic Pregame 
• 8 Instagram Accounts to Follow for Amazing 2014 Sochi Olympic Photography - Canvas Pop
• Marc Martin (LA Times) - Best of 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics

Alberta Pride

Alberta Pride, a photo by Wanderfull1 on Flickr.

A Pride flag flies at City Hall.  It will be up during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.  Russia has anti-gay laws.  Raising the Pride flag (many cities are) is a show of solidarity. Again, very proud of our mayor.

The media photographed the Pride flag only, making appear that it was the only flag hoisted.  At least a few media commentators assumed that it was the only flag up. There are actually four flags; currently they are Canada, Calgary, Alberta and Pride.

I thought it was important to show it as it is, because in spite of the freaked-out redneck comments (especially on the Calgary Herald web site) I think there are more inclusive than exclusive people in Alberta.

Also, I believe "any love is good love" (BTO). Since there seems to be so little love around, any sign of it gives me warm fuzzies.

Even Google got in on the protests by uploading a rainbow Doodle.

This photo was shot quickly during a -30 windchill (I attempted only half a dozen tries). It was cropped and re-sized in camera (Canon G10) and uploaded using a Library computer. Had to... my laptop crashed again! No love there. : (

Links:

• Google News
• Russian Anti-Gay Law - Google News
• LGBT Rights in Russia - Wikipedia
• Google 2014 Olympic Doodle

Pride 2013 demonstrators.

somewhere in northern BC

somewhere in northern BC, a photo by Wanderfull1 on Flickr.

One of my all time favorite photos taken on the Alaska Highway, heading east somewhere in northern BC.  This was shot with a Canon G10. For some reason, the shutter that covered the lens kept getting stuck. The vignette in the two corners is the lens cover not quite opened. Strangely enough, it's never gotten stuck before or after the Yukon trip.

Funny thing, too.  I posted a cropped version of the guy with the umbrella on Facebook.  A friend asked if I was advertising for Toyota.  The umbrella had Toyota and their logo.  Shot years ago and I never noticed!  Decided to clone out the logo.

kit - red & grey

kit - red & grey, a photo by Wanderfull1 on Flickr.

Too cold to shoot outside, nothing interesting near the windows, that leaves the cat who finds me annoying.

Played with the Lumix DMC-FZ200 and discovered it has some "Creative Retouch" editing filters -- used One Point Color (capturing the orange t-shirt) and Soft.  Then did some minor editing (Levels, Contrast) in Photoshop.

I like how the sweatshirt looks like a hand colored vintage photo.

ugly street

ugly street, a photo by Wanderfull1 on Flickr.

People who promote hatred and racism really tick me off. At first I wasn't going to post anything, because he seemed so proud of what he was doing and happy that I was taking his photo.

Then today I learned that two men, a former mayor candidate and his son, were charged with inciting hatred in Chinatown.

I say "yeah!" But I also think there are more than two. This one hid behind his sunglasses Wednesday, January 22nd.

Copies of these photos have been emailed to Calgary CrimeStoppers to hopefully help them stop this kind of thing.

Update, February 6, 2014:  CrimeStoppers sent an email reply to the photos I sent.  Apparently, they don't accept evidence via email... it's not anonymous enough.  I'd have to phone the numbers on the CrimeStopper web site instead.  They deleted the email I sent them.  Weird.  Oh, well.  The photos are on Flickr if the police are interested.

Links:

• Former Calgary mayoral candidate and his son charged with inciting hatred - CTV News
• Son of former Calgary mayoral candidate Milan Papez, Sr. facing same hate crime charges as father - Calgary Sun
• Calgary police charge second man with inciting hatred - CBC News