A Gaggle of Londoners

What the Toronto Star says our American neighbours are just now learning, that Canada geese are pests, London, Ontario, has known for years. According to an article in the Star, "In the U.S., Canada geese have gone from nasty nuisance to avian terrorist. Forensic evidence – smashed feathers and gooey bits – nailed them as the culprits that forced a US Airways plane to ditch in the Hudson River in January. Now New York City is waging war, already killing several hundred of the squawkers as security risks and aiming for a total of 2,000 over the next few weeks."

London, being a Canadian city, doesn't gas the pests, as they do in New York. We toss bread crumbs at them and hope they will die from malnutrition. Adaptable creatures they seem to thrive on fortified, tasteless, white fluff. It seems to be building stronger bird bodies seven ways. And anyway, the little golden goslings are just so darn cute.

Photo Tip: When shooting animals, getting down on eye level with your subjects will often result in stronger images.

A Death in the Family: Kodak Kills Kodachrome

Kodak has announced the end of an era; Kodachrome film is being discontinued. By the end of 2010 the last plant processing this unique film will shut down. Kodak is running a slide show, click on the following link:
Tribute to Kodachrome. See how many of the images you recall.

My first lily of the year

I am not a gardener. I plant 'em; I kill 'em; I plant 'em agin'. Juanita, a lady with whom I worked at the paper, encouraged me to plant lilies. One of the best suggestions I have every been given. If you live in London, check out the Horner Lilies Internet site. Located northeast of the city, Horner Lilies has over a hundred different lily hybrids in numerous flower beds. I bought some day lilies and some Asiatic varieties, too. Come back next week and I will post some of the other lilies as they open. Lilies add a great splash of colour to any garden, I have them at the front of my home. And, they seem rugged. Gotta luv 'em.

Photo tip: Many digital cameras have trouble accurately recording hot colours, like reds and oranges. Try to underexpose slightly, maybe half a stop, and do not over-enhance. Even setting a highlight on the main flower can be quite damaging to the image.

Misty London Morning

This horse is a Londoner living in a southwestern suburb of London, but not, as you might expect, on the edge of the city. Heading south by car, it takes me ten minutes to get out of London, and this horse and others are but a short walk from my home. The way they draw the city boundary on maps today gives a whole new perspective on urban sprawl.

Spectacular! Take a bow, London.

The wide, long, straight sidewalk is bordered by two parallel roads and a multitude of trees planted in neat rows to border everything. The spectacular bower on the former London Psychiatric Hospital grounds leads to the present Regional Mental Health Care London, part of St. Joseph's Health Care London.

Deer London . . .

London is one large city on a map. In reality, a lot of that land is undeveloped. You see, a few years ago London annexed a big chunk of the surrounding countryside. That is why today there are many areas on the edge of the city where deer can be regularly sighted.

Photo Tip: I don't have a telephoto lens, which is so important for pictures like this. Limited by my wide angle lens, I framed the deer with the small pond, the trees and the fence. And yes, I did frame the deer--this picture did not just happen. When I spotted the deer, I was down the road in a different location. I moved quickly and quietly to this new vantage point in hopes of getting the picture before the deer bounded off. Work with the equipment you have and not against it.

Cheers, Rockinon.

Earth Tones

When I was in art school, we were taught about earth tones. I balked at the concept. (No surprise there; I balk at everything.) But in this case, I discovered that my wife, a very agreeable sort who also attended an art school, found the earth tone label a misnomer. Like me, she saw the world as filled with colour. Have you ever been to Georgia, or even the badlands north of Toronto on the escarpment? Then you know how very red earth can be.

Photo tip: On strongly lit sunny days, it is the bright highlights and deep, strong shadows that define things. On overcast days, it is rich colours that define the world. Shadows open up, colours are oh-so-vibrant and, if the cloud cover isn't too thick, the soft, directional light will create diffused shadows gently giving shape and volume to the world.