Frost

While shooting through my living room window at the glorious autumn color on my liquid amber tree I caught this unusual reflection. I believe it is reflecting the railing of the stairs. I have no idea why it went the golden color, but as I looked out at the tree I could see these four golden columns, so I snapped them of course.

The frost photo is in macro mode of the deck railing. Ken Anderson told me how to get sharper photos with my Canon S3 IS by setting the 'my colors' to a custom setting with sharpness and contrast pumped up. I think it works much better now. Thanks so much for the help, Ken.

We have had cooler weather with ice on the bird bath, the water table and the water features. My pond is beginning to fill again from the rains. I raked leaves the other day but, of course, the grass path is covered with the lovely colored leaves again.

Photoshop and stuff

A couple of days ago I spent quite a bit of time trying to learn a bit more about 'layers' in Photoshop. I have learned how to open the files, put the menu in 'window/arrange/cascade. Then I can drag any of the photos I have open over each other with the move tool while holding down the shift key. Then the layers palette shows the new layers. If I right click on the top layer I get a menu for the blending modes. I carried on from there, just mucking about to see what different things do.

After looking at some of the grunge photos in Flickr grunge groups, I decided I needed edges. These are not official or proper edges but I had fun doing this with the smudge tool, the dodge and burn tool and a few other things, while learning how to use those tools too.

Gardening and stuff

I have finished loading photos to the Victoria Grid Project on Flickr, for this month. Its a very scenic grid, but rather remote. Not very many people have posted yet. Hopefully there will be more.

I got the lawn mowed today. Most of the leaves that had fallen were sucked up by the mower. I left this on the vegetable garden as a winter mulch. I really should get over to Cannor and get about 8 new little trees and some tulip bulbs. I must get started on trimming back any trees and shrubs that I don't want. It froze last night, so pruning now should not really affect the trees untill the new growth in the spring. For all the attention I pay to the garden, now, it is really looking pretty good. I love lillies, but it is all clay. I may fill a couple more big pots and put lillies in them, surrounded by trees and the taller perennials in the front they could fill in some good color and interest for the summer.

Ken F. is doing an article for the Vintage Car Magazine and asked to use some of my photos. Yeaaaaa, I get more bragging rights.

We are thinking of getting a newer, wide body camper van. Pat is dealing with Pedens on a trade in on our old one. Or, if they cannot come to terms on it, we keep the old one. Its still in good shape and clean. Just has rather high mileage and is a 1995. Still has some features we like that the new ones don't have. We will see.

Yesterday we were to the Dunlop House for a scrumptious lunch with Jim and Sheila. Was good to see them. Pat has been over to show people Jim's collection but I did not go as its more a 'guy' thing, I think. We spoke of going up to the Chalet to meet the guys on their way back from Red Deer. We missed last year. But I did get some gardening done and enjoyed the time to myself.

Victoria Grid November

Yesterday we watched the Regina Roughriders win the Western final for the CFL, against our B.C Lions. Next weekend the Riders play off against Winnipeg for the Grey Cup. This should be quite a good game.

Tonite we were out to Spinnakers pub for dinner with the Grants. Very good food and on a Monday nite, we nearly had the place to our selves. Very civilized.

More Victoria Grid Project

Yesterday I went for my Phlebotomy. Pat drove me there and waited. It took about 20 minutes and then they had me wait another half hour. I don't feel any different. I guess the lab tests will show if there has been any change.

Its a grey day and I feel much like the daisy in this group of photos. I am sure I will be in a better mood tomorrow.

Victoria Grid Project N24 November 2007

On Friday afternoon Pat and I went to the vantreight Park area. He waited for me in the van while I went to shoot for the Victoria Grid Project in this Gordon Head area. It was a lovely sunny day. I had my polarizer filter on when I was trying to shoot the seascapes. These photos don't have the polarizer. The sky is washed out and white looking. It shouldn't be as I thought the light was better than that.

Later Friday the Jim, Grace and Laura arrived after a few adventures and being up for nearly 24 hours in getting here from Scotland via Amsterdam. They are all fine and looking good.

On Saturday I went out and cleaned the leaves out of the waterfall, as half the water was gone out of the pond from flowing out of the side of the waterfall. I also got the Japanese garden area cleaned up. Hopefully the moss will be able to grow now. I have to keep after those wretched violets to keep them confined to their area and out of the moss. They are soooooooo invasive. Who ever coined the phrase shrinking violets knew nothing about these viotlets.

Yesterday (Sunday) I made up an apple pie from the golden delicious apples on our backyard tree. There are quite a few apples on the tree yet. I am making applesauce to freeze too.

This morning our power was off for about 2 hours. We have had high winds and rain overnite and early this morning. The pond is starting to fill up with water again.

Steve C. showed me the website he made years ago for the small city he lives in. It is a very interesting page and I learned a lot about Bahau, Malaysia. Was a pleasant way to spend some time. I have yet to read the rest of Ken A.'s short stories, and to must read more in Bill B.'s Graffiti documentation. I hope to find time to get into his book, also. It really is very interesting.

Beetle Blacklight Ballet

I found this lady bug in my house. I have had these beetles on my house plants for a few years now. Once in a while one will excape to the dining room table or somewhere I notice it. When I found this one I tried to do a few macro shots without very much success. Well, if you consider the size of the bug to the pen point, I guess I was having more success than I thought. I just want MORE macro which is just not possible with my Canon S3 IS, as it is not DSLR and I cannot add any macro lens or extenders... I think... I should look into that, as I can add a Canon macro 500D and others use a Raynex or some such name.

Anyway, after shooting a few of the lady bug, I got out my blacklight and fired it up. Cyrus said in one of the photo discussions that he used blacklight, overhead light and ambient light, and a ordinary lamp for lighting on one of his gorgeous dragon shots. So, here are my blacklight with just ambient light. I am calling it the Beetle Blacklight Ballet. The first photo is the Auditon..2. Signing the Contract... 3. Rehearsal... 4. Stage fright... 5. Preformance... 6. Encore

Into the light

Just because I like it. Deliberately trying to capture the light rays and the flare. The sun was peeking out from behind the clouds for a very contrasty, moody light. I am quite pleased with the color of the flare. This is pretty well how it was directly from the camera. Minimal photoshop adjustments.

Flower Petal Art

Eileen called today. What a wonderful treat to hear from her. They are going to be in PoCo end of Nov. and might just get over to the Island. Would be great to see them. After hearing from her I read my email from Irene. Her dearest friend has recently had some very invasive surgery. Hope you heal quickly Vicki!

Tomorrow we go look at the newer camper van with a view to upgrading. Now that we have the Passat we do not seem to need the Van for running about to fetch things so often. So, the slightly wider van should be better for camping. It looked good when we saw it last week end.

Flickr has some real characters and interesting groups. So many groups of interest. Cyrus is working like mad to get his site up and running. Its gonna be one fabulous mega photo upload site, with endless up to date features. Its quite exciting to watch this site being conceived and built.

Flower Petal Art

While out shooting for the Victoria Grid Project last week I found some flowers to try shooting in macro and super macro mode, for Chrissie's Flower Petal Art group. The kale is not allowed, since its a leaf.

I made some applesauce today. The days has been sunny and lovely, deceptively warm in appearance. Was quite cool when I went out.