Day 365 of 365 – The Swan Song

The End

Well, this is it. The final episode of a year long venture.

I wasn’t sure what the end would look like but, as chance would have it, I had spent the evening at Doug & Betty’s partying and making loud music with friends of 40+ years. In the cold, grey light of morning as I looked out the kitchen window, I saw this image & went after it. (Looks best in full screen.)

Symbolically – leaving the confines of the yard to strike out on another adventure. I won’t simply be wandering off into the sunset to disappear. I’ve decided to take on a project – yet to be defined – but it will involve people. People live their experiences and tell their stories. Maybe I can capture some of that.

The past year has been a challenge and a learning experience with the odd day (or days) of frustration and yearning for it to end, but mostly satisfaction at capturing some images that I like. I’ve learned a lot. I’ve achieved what I set out to do – reinvigorate my passion for shooting. Along the way I have realized that, as an art form, photography takes effort, knowledge and continual learning. As with a traditional art form, simply taking a picture or making marks on paper do not an artist make. The effort is a combination of indulging the artistic eye with as much background & technical information as one can possibly call on to make it work.

So, thank you to the folks who have shared my view of the world around me, have commented on it and have decided to follow this adventure. It’s been a kick start to whatever comes next. And it has been a heck of a documentary on one year of my life.

November 17, 2013

Day 361 of 365

Photojournalism class.
Quick lessons in lighting for portaiture.

Day 359 of 365 – Remembrance Day

Veterans

Human nature has it that there have always been those who would oppress and those who will resist. Freedom is something that we inherently seek out and struggle to maintain. Remembrance Day is a way to bring to light the sacrifices made in the fight for liberty and to teach the young about simple freedoms. One day a year is really not enough; however, it seems that honoring our veterans and their efforts is becoming more widespread.

What these 3 images mean to me:
– reflections of a veteran, many of whom do not speak of the horrors they have lived through;
– the young who believe that service in the defense of their country is a personal calling;
– respect for those who have sacrificed personal comfort and even their lives and teaching the young that it counts.

Medic

Honor the sacrifice

Day 358 of 365

Senator Anne Cools

Bomber Command played a vital role in the war effort during WWII.
This role has gone largely unacknowledged. Last Saturday and today, I was on hand to view a documentary on the building and unveiling of a memorial to Bomber Command in downtown London, England. Aluminum from a recovered bomber, RCAF Halifax LW682, was used in the construction of the ceiling of that memorial.

On a separate occasion, Senator Anne Cools traveled at her own expense with Bomber Command Museum of Canada contingent to the Virginia War Memorial dedication (on Oct. 22, 2013) of a special stone tablet and plaque dedicated to the 16 Virginians killed-in-action in the RCAF.

The photo in Senator Cools’ hand shows Laurie Hawn MP, Karl Kjarsgaard and Senator Cools just after the dedication – the Canadian representatives at this special ceremony.
This photo which was presented to the Senator as a token of appreciation for her long standing support of the Bomber Command Museum of Canada.

The metal plaques are made of aluminum from RCAF Halifax LW682. An ingot is shown sitting on the stool, bottom left.

More on this story at:
http://www.57rescuecanada.com/
http://www.dunrobincastle.com/

Day 353 of 365

Jacobson’s on Beechwood opens its doors for its annual Christmas cheer evening.
A complete make over for the store is conducted each year to decorate for the season and reopens for an evening of drinks & sampling of its fine imported cheeses, gourmet foods and fashion accessories.
These cheerful staff make the shopping experience personal and fun.
http://jacobsons.ca/

Day 351 of 365

Art

Cassandra & Mike spent a 30 hr. (or so) weekend at a local restaurant creating this masterpiece.
Now back to school.(Detail & Panorama by photoshop.)

For more of their work:
http://ottawaurbanarts.com/

Art 2

Day 350 of 365

Bomber Command aviators & friends

The WWII pilots who flew as part of Bomber Command had a high mortality rate – 1 in 4 survived.

Karl and James, board members of Halifax 57 Rescue Canada (H57RC), have worked for several years to help bring their forgotten story to the public attention. Today, a copy of a remembrance wall was presented to Canada’s Aviation and Space Museum with some Bomber Command vets in attendance. The original is in Nanton, AB.

For more on the work of H57RC:
http://www.57rescuecanada.com/

Day 347 of 365

Al & Renee

Renee and Al got married today – October 30, 2013.
Nothing like a wedding to bring out the smiles.
Gotta love the food & drinks that go along with it.

 

Day 346 of 365

Ashley

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Ashley was the volunteer coordinator for this year’s Animation Festival.
Appreciation night with pizza and Halloween cupcakes, then animation shorts & popcorn.

And more helper outers.

Day 344 of 365

Zombies

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Ottawa Zombie Walk 2013.
More on my web site:

Zombie Walk – Ottawa 2013