Toronto Wide Perspective

I went for a photo walk recently in Toronto starting at City Hall. The purpose was to scout unique and iconic perspectives of the great city. Although I barely made a dent as far as covering ground, one thing that was different for me on this walk was the perspective I had due to the lens I chose to use. My choice of lens this day was my ultrawide angle Nikkor 14-24mm f2.8. It's not a lens I use often but was I glad to use it! Such a wide field of view does require a shift in how you compose your shots and allows you to contemplate the scene around you differently. The images created can really immerse a viewer into the world captured in the photo because a single image can capture so many more elements of the scene just like what you saw when you were there. I hope you enjoy these images. 

In the first photo, the triangle shape was created by the elevated walk under which I was standing; a perspective possible only with the ultrawide lens. 

Pyramids of Toronto  

Nathan Phillips Square Ice Rink

The Toronto sign in front of City Hall

Spidey sense tingling... 

I am standing under a tree and due to the wide angle lens I'm able to include the branches into my shot of this very large structure in front of me.  

OCAD U with pedestrian crossing

Standing across the street I'm able to capture the massive structure. 

OCAD U

The following 4 images I wanted to show the iconic CN Tower while including the OCAD building to give context.  

OCAD U belly with CN Tower

OCAD U belly with CN Tower

OCAD U with CN Tower

OCAD U with CN Tower

An alleyway off Spadina Ave just north of Queen St. Notice with such a wide field of view I was able to stand in the middle of the alley and capture the buildings on both sides of me from road to roof!  

Unionville Pirate Ship House

Historic Main Street in Unionville is unique due to its history, charm, buildings, and lively merchants and residents that call the area home.  Living on Main street shouldn’t be taken lightly and tends to attract residents who are faithful in conveying the Unionville charm by presenting their homes to the street with unique appeal.  A great example of such a house can be found just north of Highway 7, themed the Pirate Ship House, during the month of October, it is, by far, one of the most amazingly decorated homes. Barely a detail is overlooked and takes passersby into an enchanted other world. Here are some photos….

Engagement Session - Daniel & Sally

I had an opportunity to share an afternoon with an amazing couple, Daniel and Sally, to help document their new life together.  The days leading up to the photo shoot was gloomy with heavy showers that are all too common these days. It was going to be hit and miss and in fact my drive to the location up in Georgina was met with uncertain weather as the sky looked heavy and dark with clouds.  Just as I arrived within a 5km radius of my destination, the pavement was soaked from a heavy rain that had obviously just fell, yet through it all, the sun began to peak through what were now scattered clouds!  My hopes were up and I was getting excited to meet Daniel and Sally to begin our session!  The day became perfect!

Sally came prepared with some cute home made signs that read, "Mr. Right", and "Mrs. Always Right - to be".  And with that, please enjoy a few of their images.

Seaton Hiking Trail - Whitevale

Our group's second outing was to this hiking trail in the Hamlet of Whitevale. A small river runs along part of the trail. This past winter was brutal and the carnage of the ice storm continues to be front and centre with broken tree limbs abound. Also notable was the lack of much plant growth, still stunned by the late cold and snowfall. The sky was mainly overcast, but through it all, I found some inspiration from a few pieces of last year's pond grass.    

Photo meetup groups

Like most photographers, I always think about photography. If I'm not shooting I'm thinking about what kind of images I want to make, or I'm learning new techniques and testing them out. I keep honing my skills and continue to develop and evolve my style. It's always fun, but sometimes feels a bit isolating too. Photographers like to talk shop. It helps to share ideas and ask questions with like-minded people. But mainly it's so we know we are not going crazy with this obsession, or at least not alone it in. 

Last month I joined a local Meet Up group called Adventures with Photography & Documenting Your Life. :) .  The organizer is enthusiastic Giulia Ciampini and she's been great! Below is some of us at the end of the Seaton Hiking Trail in Whitevale. Yours truly is in the black vest about the get pummelled by a monopod! 

My first...

first blog, first post...

Everyone has a beginning, at least that's a reasonable presumption!  In this case, its the beginning of my blog.  Can I say I am giving birth to this thing? Maybe not, but I am bringing it to life.  It's not going to be simple to keep it going; so I have always suspected, thus its late arrival into the world.  But, it just seemed that it was time, and I'm excited!  Let me be first to say, "welcome!"  I hope you will follow and enjoy.  

This blog will be about photography, which is a broad topic.  It will be a sharing of my personal thoughts, experiences and images as well as the opinions and images of others whom I respect and/or simply find interesting.  Photography has always represented for me a fantastic marriage of art and function; so I'll talk about both. Cheers!