Hobbies......

 

I've touched on the subject of hobbies here a few times.... and getting back to some of my hobbies might be an answer to my 'blues' and inertia.  Then yesterday kdpierre was looking for pics of our Asian wear for our celebration and he challenged me to do some photo editing.......... 

So first a little history........ when I was 8 or 9 my father gave me my first camera ... I LOVED it and dragged that camera everywhere - in my late teens my dad gave me his old 35 millimeter camera - I would venture off to downtown and find 'arty farty' subjects.

BUT then life took over - got a job - got married - had kids - went back to work and my love of photography disappeared.

Fast forward to the year before I retired - I purchased my first DSL camera...... it was SO complicated -- but I loved that I could just shoot and shoot and not have to worry about wasting film.  BUT ya know spending hundreds of dollars on a 'point and shoot' camera seemed ridiculous.  SO I made plans to take some photography classes when I finished working.

Fast forward again to 2014 - am now retired with a whole lot of time on my hands... so I registered for Photography 101 at our local community college... The teacher was a well known photographer...... and she was OLD SCHOOL.  We were warned when we signed up - absolutely NO photo editing allowed.  She banged it into all our heads that if you take your time... you shouldn't need to photo edit.   She had cut her teeth - made her name - taking 35 millimeter film pictures........ I remember one of the younger students (working towards his photojournalism degree) asking (while she was showing us SLIDES of various shots and techniques) what photo editing program she used!!!

I loved my classes with her!!  I took 101 and 102 with her...... 103 was by invitation only at her home studio.  I got the coveted invitation!!  BUT I also got cancer......... so photography 103 was put on hold..............(and because life stepped in - I never got to take it)

Soooo - all that to say - I don't now own a photo editing program...... it's a matter of pride/ego to be honest.  I've had fun the past couple of days going back through hundreds of pictures ...... bringing back memories...... and making me smile... 

Here's some of my favourite pictures that I took back in 2014 and 2015............. 

winter ice....... 

 

walk in the woods........

 

 some arty farty shots...

And as it happens an old friend sent me a challenge this morning... take a look at this picture - is it a fairy?? or something else??

(it's actually a dragonfly )

She challenged me to try my hand at creating similar photos this summer.......... and who knows I might just take up the challenge............ 

1st Day of Spring

Yesterday - first day of spring - actually dawned sunny and the temps were close to spring like (CLOSE  -- but not really!)

I decided to take the day .... and my camera ....... and go exploring.  I have been here for 2 years and have not taken one day to go explore and shoot photos.  Back when I first retired I took photography classes at the local college.  I loved them !!!  We learned not to rely on photo editing programs ...... and I still believe that.... photo editing can correct a lot of mistakes you make -- it can turn your photo into a work of art that has nothing to do with the reality.

I got dressed in my arty farty photographer clothes ..... packed up my camera and my lenses and headed off.  

I love -- absolutely LOVE - abandoned run down buildings.  Just 2 minutes from our house is an area called the Cotton Mill (obviously many years ago it was a cotton mill) They are starting to 'gentrify'  the area -- turning the weaving warehouse into $400,000+ condos.... and the other buildings are already undergoing change....... so I got in just under the wire.

Enough chatter........ here are some of the pics I took....

Old and New

    

Just Old

wandering around the buildings -- I turned a corner and this made me jump... and then laugh....... it's an old water heater that someone gussied up.......... 

and then I moved on around the city...........  and took some nature shots...

 before I headed home I took this shot of a museum the lil one and I visited the first summer I was here...........

Life is good when I have my camera and a free day ...........

Field Trip

Sir Steve came up with the brilliant idea to go to 'Pumpkin Inferno' in Morrisburg at Upper Canada Village on Saturday evening with his parents.  I have only been once before - in the rain and damp.  This Saturday was gorgeous  -- a clear night and so very mild that we didn't even need a sweater!

(and because I am still under the weather with this bug) I thought I would share some of the photos I took on Saturday evening.  Keep in mind that every single 'sculpture' is actually constructed of multiple pumpkins !!  You really have to see it to appreciate the work and the beauty.........



The entrance way..............  

 There are different themes inside -- the first one was dragon's lair............ 

This picture of the rainbow (reflected in the lake) has to be my favourite.......... 

There was a section of trees from each province -- I am sharing only a couple of the ones I took...........

There were sculptures of Canadian culture.........

and an actual art display.......  

AND 
it wouldn't be 'Upper Canada Village' without a cannon or two............

What an amazing time we all had!!  Now Sir Steve has plans to go to their Christmas display "Light at Night"..... I can hardly wait !!
 

Indian Summer

The best spirit lifter is to wake up to Indian Summer.  Yesterday was amazing -- sunny and warm.  

I had a nice chat with CG and made tentative plans to see her today (as long as the Boss has no objections).  Wednesday is cardio day and I have made up my mind to exercise more to handle this weight issue ..... so Indian summer PLUS my goal to work out more EQUALED a trip to a local conservation area.

Usually when I go I don't venture too far in.  I follow the main path and go down to the water.  But yesterday I wanted to explore and put in a whole lot of distance.  I studied the map 

and decided to follow the outside path.

It really was a gorgeous day and despite that most of the leaves are finished it offered a whole lot of opportunity for pictures.

I ambled along and decided to take some secondary pathways -- maybe see things I haven't seen.  The woodland creatures were surprisingly friendly 

This  charming fellow jumped up on the tree stump and I swear posed for me........ 

As I walked further into the conservation small flying things kept swooping around me -- they really made my heart jump -- all I could think was "bats" and yes I know it was illogical as it was a bright sunny day -- but I couldn't figure out what else would be swooping around me and occasionally diving bombing me.

I stopped to try and get pictures of some bright yellow leaves when the swooping creatures gathered around me...... and when I say tame I mean TAME -- they didn't move while I took pictures

I loved walking off the path -- swishing my feet through the fallen leaves smelling the smells of fall.....

I didn't notice where I was going or where I had been... just happily wandering around....... 

Finally after an hour of wandering aimlessly I decided I should think about heading back to the parking lot..... only problem was I was completely turned around -- off the beaten track and had no idea where I was.  I couldn't even see the water that I knew would lead me back to the parking lot.

I'll be perfectly honest -- I have a terrible fear of getting lost (right!  I've told you that before haven't I??) BUT this fear was even worse -- when I am driving I can always pull over and ask directions.  But walking through a conservation area there aren't a whole lot of people hanging around to offer directions.

I started walking - what I hoped was - north and kept slogging along and finally spotted a pathway.........

 From there it was fairly easy to find my way back to the main path and some friendly reassurances from fellow wanderers that I was indeed heading in the right direction.

Climbed in the car -- checked my fitbit and discovered I had just about walked my daily quota of steps and felt pretty damn good about my adventure on an Indian Summer day.

Raising the bar

As most of you know I have a great love of photography.  I tend to take pictures of obscure interesting patterns found all around us.  However -- I have had a secret goal -- I have wanted to take more kinky pictures. 

BUT I don't do well with portraits.  I get nervous which in turn makes my 'subject' nervous -- end result is disaster.

A couple of years back I had a willing subject who agreed to sit for some sexy kinky pictures.  He was a good sport and was very comfortable in front of the camera.  BUT I wanted to show him that cock pics really aren't that sexy -- a hint is sometimes sexier.  And I took this picture  

I don't think I sold him on the idea but I had fun and learned some lessons on kinky photo shoots.

A week ago -- someone approached me and asked if I took pictures.  They are apparently looking for photographers for the Kink Carnalval in November.  I didn't bite.  My nerves and lack of confidence got the better of me.

Then a funny thing happened.  Remember "The Sadist" I played with for a while?? Well he and I still keep in touch -- and he emailed over the weekend to see if I would/could do some new shots for his profile.  And he wanted some shots of 'toys' in a nefarious manner (grinning) "nefarious" - really?? I would think one would want inviting pics on their profile -- lots of time to scare the hell out of the victim later right???

Anyway yesterday I decided to do some experiments with pictures of my toys.  Test out lighting and back drops ...... just playing really.  I sent them off to him to get some feedback -- but thought I would share my efforts with my critical audience...... Tell me what you think..............