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Happy Valentine's Day!
And, for the second year in a row, I'll be alone for the proclaimed 'most romantic' day of the year. Yes, again, Girl Guides has abducted my wife for the weekend. But I didn't mope. I did what any single manly man would do in these circumstances... I went antiquing with my good friend Richard! I had heard about antiquing before, but I only found out today that it's a professional sport (just watch for it in Vancouver 2010!). But let me back up a bit.
Richard and I had been discussing tilt-shift lenses. These are specialty lenses that allow you to - get ready for this - tilt and shift the lens with respect to the camera body, thereby changing the focal plane. These lenses are most commonly used in architecture photography to ensure the focal plane is parallel to the film/sensor, in order to prevent the keystone effect. But, you can also use these lenses for selective focus, and creating some neat effects.
Unfortunately these lenses typically cost over $1000.
Now, there is a special lens called a Lensbaby that is a low-quality tilt-shift lens, but it still runs $100+.
So, Richard and I decided it would be fun to try and build a tilt-shift lens for ourselves. There are many other frugal (cheap) photographers out there, so we found out how to do it. The first and most difficult step would be to find a lens for a medium-format camera. To buy a new medium format lens could cost $500+. And thus, the antiquing.
I'm not sure how long we spent in that 30,000 sq. foot warehouse, but I've never seen so many small tins, gaudy light fixtures, and nearly matching tea sets. Having said that, there were lots of cool things too, like old wooden radios. There was a small selection of antique cameras too, but no medium format ones. However, I did find a new (well, actually quite old) tripod, for $14.50! It's nice and sturdy (meaning heavy).
So, dejected but not defeated, we ate lunch (fancy mac & cheese!), grabbed our cameras, and took a stroll along the Grand River in the Galty part of Cambridge.
Majestic.
Richard admiring the Central Presbyterian Church.
Now that's a real photographer!
There are a lot of churches in Galt.
A lovely couple getting their photo taken.
It was cold.
Happy Valentine's Day! Amazingly enough, there was a heart-shaped depression in the rock beside the Grand River, and some water had frozen in it.
Richard tells me that this character is from the Space Invaders arcade game. I've seen similar icons all over the globe. (I recall seeing the slime character from Dragon Warrior in Spain). Is this a global movement, or random acts of nostalgic graffiti?
Apparently Richard's wife was good enough to stay in town for this special day, so I had to drop him off in the afternoon. Unable to find any used medium format lenses at Henry's in Waterloo, I went home and decided to play with my infrared filter instead. My awesome wife bought some tulips before she left, so I took the liberty of taking some photos (using my new tripod). It's an interesting effect, and I'm curious to see what kind of results I'll get in the spring when there is foliage everywhere.
Richard and I had been discussing tilt-shift lenses. These are specialty lenses that allow you to - get ready for this - tilt and shift the lens with respect to the camera body, thereby changing the focal plane. These lenses are most commonly used in architecture photography to ensure the focal plane is parallel to the film/sensor, in order to prevent the keystone effect. But, you can also use these lenses for selective focus, and creating some neat effects.
Unfortunately these lenses typically cost over $1000.
Now, there is a special lens called a Lensbaby that is a low-quality tilt-shift lens, but it still runs $100+.
So, Richard and I decided it would be fun to try and build a tilt-shift lens for ourselves. There are many other frugal (cheap) photographers out there, so we found out how to do it. The first and most difficult step would be to find a lens for a medium-format camera. To buy a new medium format lens could cost $500+. And thus, the antiquing.
I'm not sure how long we spent in that 30,000 sq. foot warehouse, but I've never seen so many small tins, gaudy light fixtures, and nearly matching tea sets. Having said that, there were lots of cool things too, like old wooden radios. There was a small selection of antique cameras too, but no medium format ones. However, I did find a new (well, actually quite old) tripod, for $14.50! It's nice and sturdy (meaning heavy).
So, dejected but not defeated, we ate lunch (fancy mac & cheese!), grabbed our cameras, and took a stroll along the Grand River in the Galty part of Cambridge.
Majestic.
Richard admiring the Central Presbyterian Church.
Now that's a real photographer!
There are a lot of churches in Galt.
A lovely couple getting their photo taken.
It was cold.
Happy Valentine's Day! Amazingly enough, there was a heart-shaped depression in the rock beside the Grand River, and some water had frozen in it.
Richard tells me that this character is from the Space Invaders arcade game. I've seen similar icons all over the globe. (I recall seeing the slime character from Dragon Warrior in Spain). Is this a global movement, or random acts of nostalgic graffiti?
Apparently Richard's wife was good enough to stay in town for this special day, so I had to drop him off in the afternoon. Unable to find any used medium format lenses at Henry's in Waterloo, I went home and decided to play with my infrared filter instead. My awesome wife bought some tulips before she left, so I took the liberty of taking some photos (using my new tripod). It's an interesting effect, and I'm curious to see what kind of results I'll get in the spring when there is foliage everywhere.
Wightenburg Wedding
Nearly 1 month ago my two friends Ryan and Joy got married.
Here are some photos that I took while getting ready for the event: http://www.flickr.com/photos/georgevnoucek//sets/72157613299173748
And here are some photos that Carolyn took while getting ready with the bride: http://flickr.com/photos/carolyn_welch/sets/72157613267588165/
Here are some photos that I took while getting ready for the event: http://www.flickr.com/photos/georgevnoucek//sets/72157613299173748
And here are some photos that Carolyn took while getting ready with the bride: http://flickr.com/photos/carolyn_welch/sets/72157613267588165/
Flashback: West Montrose
Another round of organization has been done, and I'm up to 317 archived photos (i.e. photos that I've tagged and "developed") now. I just finished March of 2005, which saw Carolyn and I journey from Richmond, VA back to Kitchener. I was still getting the hang of the camera back then (and still am) so the photos of Shenandoah National Park are nothing to write home about. When we got back, Carolyn took me to Elora and to the West Montrose Bridge, otherwise known as the Kissing Bridge. For a comparison, check out the photos we took when we went back in 2007.
Flashback: Washington DC
Lest you think I have neglected my promise to organize and upload my photos, I present to you my first update:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/georgevnoucek/sets/72157612914551057/
Waaaay back in 2005, Carolyn and I were stationed in Richmond, VA. In preparation for our first road trip, I had bought my precious Nikon D70. My first subject was the United States capital: Washington, DC. Click here to view my original blog posts about the trip, including original versions of the photos I've touched-up.
I suppose the timing is fitting, considering Obama-rama.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/georgevnoucek/sets/72157612914551057/
Waaaay back in 2005, Carolyn and I were stationed in Richmond, VA. In preparation for our first road trip, I had bought my precious Nikon D70. My first subject was the United States capital: Washington, DC. Click here to view my original blog posts about the trip, including original versions of the photos I've touched-up.
I suppose the timing is fitting, considering Obama-rama.
Blowing Bubbles
Four-score and half a lifetime ago, I failed my Maroon level swimming lessons... for the second time. I can't recall ever being a water baby, but I certainly wasn't during those years. I can still recall the feeling of impending doom as I waited for the lessons to start, made no more enjoyable by the irrepressable shivering caused by showers that spewed not only frigid water but inspired hate as well.
Perhaps it wasn't quite that bad, but I certainly didn't enjoy it, and I certainly wasn't very good at it.
So that begs the question: why am I taking adult swimming lessons?
My first lesson was two nights ago. If I didn't know this by the calendar, I would know because my legs are killing me. The pain is reminding me of more reasons why I chose the life of a landlubber. But the truth is, just because something is hard or uncomfortable doesn't mean it's not good for you. Carolyn and I plan on doing a canoe trip in Algonquin this summer, and we thought it would be good for me to be more comfortable in the water.
I'm signed up for AquaAdult II at the Waterloo Rec Centre. It's great because I've already learned something: when doing front crawl, you're supposed to breathe out underwater. I had always thought that you held your breath while underwater and then do a full breath above. Not that I was any good with the first technique, but this new technique added a whole new dimension of panic I hadn't experienced before. So while other students were practicing their front and back crawl, I stood at the end of the pool, face partially submerged, trying not to choke as I blew bubbles in the water.
So my question to you, the loyal reader, is: how do you breathe when you're swimming? Do you breathe out your mouth, or out your nose? Do you count to 3 before taking a breath? I am curious to how other people do this, as it is a foundation of swimming properly. If you have suggestions on how I might get more comfortable with my face underwater please pass them along.
In the meantime, you may find me at home in my bathroom, playing with my rubber ducky and blowing bubbles.
Perhaps it wasn't quite that bad, but I certainly didn't enjoy it, and I certainly wasn't very good at it.
So that begs the question: why am I taking adult swimming lessons?
My first lesson was two nights ago. If I didn't know this by the calendar, I would know because my legs are killing me. The pain is reminding me of more reasons why I chose the life of a landlubber. But the truth is, just because something is hard or uncomfortable doesn't mean it's not good for you. Carolyn and I plan on doing a canoe trip in Algonquin this summer, and we thought it would be good for me to be more comfortable in the water.
I'm signed up for AquaAdult II at the Waterloo Rec Centre. It's great because I've already learned something: when doing front crawl, you're supposed to breathe out underwater. I had always thought that you held your breath while underwater and then do a full breath above. Not that I was any good with the first technique, but this new technique added a whole new dimension of panic I hadn't experienced before. So while other students were practicing their front and back crawl, I stood at the end of the pool, face partially submerged, trying not to choke as I blew bubbles in the water.
So my question to you, the loyal reader, is: how do you breathe when you're swimming? Do you breathe out your mouth, or out your nose? Do you count to 3 before taking a breath? I am curious to how other people do this, as it is a foundation of swimming properly. If you have suggestions on how I might get more comfortable with my face underwater please pass them along.
In the meantime, you may find me at home in my bathroom, playing with my rubber ducky and blowing bubbles.
