Sunday, November 8, 2009

I appreciate our farmland...


London is constantly expanding, urbanizing the surrounding farmland. Face the setting sun and one captures a purely rural image. Turn around you have a picture of new homes butting up against the open field. I should have turned around and taken a second picture, which I could have run smaller than the main image. Sorry.

I was just so excited by the sunset. I knew there had to be a picture and headed out of town on Byron Baseline. At the top of the first hill, there it was — picture. I parked my car, climbed the fence and ran into the field. I ran from tree to tree trying to create some foreground interest. In the end, I chose one of the shots taken as I ran from one tree to the next.

When I was young I didn't appreciate Southwestern Ontario. But after driving through the American West a few times, I appreciate our rich farmland. I wish other did.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Trying to catch the wind


When a still shooter tries to catch the wind he uses a slow shutter speed. Then the stuff that is blowing in the wind will be a bit of a blur in the image. It is hoped that this motion blur will capture that feeling of movement, of swaying, buffeting by the wind. It's an effect difficult to control with a simple point and shoot camera.

Now, about the picture...It was taken from a hill overlooking southwest London, Ontario. On a clear day, from here one can see the farm silos of Arva above the northern edges of the sprawling southwestern Ontario city.

Cheers,
Rockinon

A sign of the past


It has been years since Walter Spivak trucked gravel, sand and other aggregates from this site. But two decades ago sections of the open space behind the Byron Somerset Public School were deep gravel pits which were coming to the end of their productive lives.

The aggregate business is an interesting way to earn money. You dig a hole in rocky land and make oodles of money selling the stones. You then charge folk to dump clean fill, dirt dug from other sites, and you make more money. With the land restored, you sell it and make another killing. And the really funny thing is that society benefited every step of the way. (At least, society benefited here. Spivak supplied a lot of important aggregate to a growing city and the reclaimed gravel pit has provided land that has been put to excellent use. For once, we are building on something that wasn't A1 farmland.)

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Geek Dinner features caribou


The monthly Geek Dinner, held last night at the Black Shire Pub, featured caribou — oh, not on the menu, just on the program.

SocialMedia, a Toronto company specializing in the fermenting of word-of-mouth campaigns, gave the organizer of last night's dinner a kit to promote a campaign being waged to save the woodland caribou.

If you're thinking you don't give two-bits for the woodland caribou, you're wrong; It's antlered head adorns the Canadian quarter. Once abundant across the country, they are now found only in Ontario and in people's pockets. Boreal woodland caribou require undisturbed habitat — no logging allowed — if they are going to survive. They also require a lot of support from concerned Canadians.

What groups use the talents of Social Media? Well, the David Suzuki Foundation , Greenpeace, Canopy and ForestEthics all are behind the Save the Bou campaign. Like to sign the online petition? Click the Save the Bou link above.

Geek Dinners are always interesting 'cause Geeks are cool.

Café Milagro


I love this little story. I'm going to write it, post it and tell Mai, the lady whom I believe is shown in the picture. If there are errors, she can let me know.

For years the Café Milagro has been a fixture in the centre of Byron, the now suburb but former village in the southwest of London, Ontario. The little restaurant was already here when I moved to Byron eons ago. I believe it was a Spanish-owned café at the time, hence the name.

Today it is owned by a lovely woman named Mai, who came to Canada from Thailand. Under her ownership the menu changed and expanded,  now featuring an international mix with an emphasis on Thai cuisine.

Where else would one be able to order pad Thai, Italian wedding soup or a Chicken Fajita Wrap from the same menu? I've heard the pork tenderloin with roasted red potatoes is delicious and others have remarked on a cheesecake dessert served warm with a hot fruit sauce.

I've been there a couple of times and it can be crazy. Mai was the only one waiting on tables the evening that my wife and I were there. We were not in a hurry and so it was not a problem. The food was good, the service friendlybut Mai did look a little stressed.

I love supporting local businesses, especially ones that I can walk to. I find the Café Milagro worth the walk. Be warned: the last time I got enthused about a place, my review got mixed reviews. Some folk had a good experience and others... 

Cheers,
Rockinon

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Row of Houses on Pall Mall Street




At one time this row of houses on Pall Mall Street facing the CPR tracks and the former CPR passenger station were looking a little worse for wear. Today they show what can be done with a little money and a lot of imagination. You may notice that there are no driveways to be seen. There is a rear laneway running behind these homes.


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Monday, November 2, 2009

Midnight Fog


Spring and fall are the best seasons for fog in the London, Ontario, region. Some might question the use of the word 'best.' As a photographer, I like the stuff.

The other night, passing through our front foyer, I noticed this thick midnight fog. The lights on our suburban street actually do have a warm glow.

I admit the effect is greatly enhanced by my digital camera. I thought of shooting the scene with other settings, but I liked the warm look.


Cheers,
Rockinon