Day 358 - Ever have one of those days...

I guess this photo can now be from "the archives"... it's been about a year since I took this photo. It was one of many that I took trying to get the shot I wanted.  I was looking for a picture to edit and post for today, and this is the one I chose, because while looking at it, I realized, it perfectly reflects how my head is feeling right now.

Day 354 - Set lists

Haven't had a chance to look at my camera, so today's entry is from the archives, sort of.  Here is some background:

I remember years ago I was at an album preview event that was part of a free summer concert series in the business core of the city.  As throngs of fans waited to meet the artist and the staff cleaned up the temporary stage, I walked aimlessly onto to the stage.  There I noticed that artist had a set list printed on a simple white 8 1/2" x 11" paper that was on the ground next to his mic stand.  Next to it were the lyrics to his newest song. Knowing this artist, I knew it was because he admitted that with new songs he often couldn't remember the lyrics new songs until he had performed them for a while.  I still have both of these.

Since I have been volunteering for arts and cultural festivals, I've had many more opportunities to observe artists and how they function.  One of the things I always take note of is where they keep their set list.  The following are two such lists.

This photo was from a couple year's ago. I was with the artist while he sat in the Green Room/Staging Area figuring out his set list. I was thoroughly amused as he wrote it on his wrist; he humoured me later and allowed me to take this picture of his wrist/list.

This set list was from the event last week. The performance came together sort of organically, as we chatted about life in the interview portion, so there was no fixed set list.  The artists did however want to remember a couple of requests that had been made, so he jotted them down on a piece of paper and laid them on the drum that was by his mic stand during the performance.

Day 219 - More doorways...

I was looking for something on my HD, and I found some photos from a "photo walk" I did years ago.  Apparently I always had a thing for architecture - doorways and arches in particular.  I liked this photo in particular from that walk.

Day 201 - Happy 2014!

I have been a little busy with life recently... which is not a bad thing.  So, I didn't get a chance to shoot a new photo for New Year's, as I had intended. I spent some time looking for an appropriate for the occasion.  I found this photo I had done to experiment with light writing for a contest I wanted to enter.  Again, I never did enter the contest with this photo, but thought it was time to share this one.

Salaam to the New Year! Hope it is filled with all that is bright, peaceful, and good!

Day 181 - You can find love everywhere...

If you are a Facebook friend, you may have seen this one.  I took this about 2 years ago when I was at the airport seeing a friend off.  We were waiting for boarding time, and I started playing with the paper sleeve from my coffee cup. Yup, I made a heart and took a million pictures of it.  This was one of my favourites.

Day 180 - Contradictions?

From the archives again.  This picture was out of focus, so I decided to use a filter on this one.  I like it so much better as a drawing.  As I was editing, I noticed the word... COMFORT, AUTHORITY, JUDGEMENT, EFFICIENCY and VIRTUE.... I'm not sure they are words I would put together, and may be that is why I took this picture.

Day 178 - Reflecting with the ducks

Also taken the my sister's birthday years ago. I just liked the way this one looked.  My brother. Reflective.

Day 177 - Sunset in the Park

This is from 2009, on my sister's birthday.  We had a mini picnic in the park and then wandered around taking pictures in the incredible light.

Day 176 - Early morning construction

I'm obsessed with pictures I've taken of the sun, whether they are sunsets or sunrises.  This is one I took January of last year at a Habitat for Humanity Toronto build.  I remember getting to the site when it was still a little dark.  As we got ready for the safety speech, I could see the sun rising through the homes we were framing.

I was so glad that I took this photo that day, as it was that day that I came to really and truly understand and appreciate what Habitat does.  It was FREEZING that day!  Throughout the day I had to take breaks in the volunteer trailer, since I could feel my fingers and toes; I couldn't wait to get home, take a long hot shower and just surround myself with warm! What do people who don't have a home do on days like that?

Day 175 - The end of a long day

This was taken on the Summer Equinox last year. There is so much I love about this photo... I was fasting that day, and I really welcomed the sunset, and what was more amazing than being greeted with this view? No editing on this one!

Day 174 - Being comfortable

More than mastering your tools, as a photographer, I think the most important thing a photographer must have is the ability to make your subject feel comfortable.  Ok... maybe they are both equally important. This photo is one I took of my friend/model during the shoot I was doing for the contest.  We were in between ideas, and she was just relaxing.  I just love how natural and relaxed she is in this shot.

Day 173 - "Am I ready?"

Final picture/entry I'm going to post from the contest I had intended to enter.  This photo was supposed to tell the story of a girl contemplating wearing the hijab. I wasn't able to capture the exact images I wanted, so I just didn't bother entering the contest.  Next time, I have to bring a tripod to set up my camera and leave it!

Am I ready?

NOTE: I actually recall, I did enter the contest, they just never accepted the entry.  I guess I didn't submit what they were seeking, OR I wasn't up to par.

Day 169 - Being rained out

This is also from the photo contest I intended to enter.  I was trying to set up a shot, where it looked as though children had abandoned their play.  Before I completed my set up, it started to rain, and I did have to abandon it.  The rain actually made this picture for me!

Day 168 - Ribbons of light at night

So, I'm finally getting around to editing photos I took in the past. This is from a contest I was going to enter.  I was trying light writing, and well, that didn't work out too well.  This is one of my test shots to figure out composition and settings.  I liked the ribbons of light from the passing cars.

Day 160 - Wedding bouquet

Ever take a picture that you take and feel that it's nice, but not the greatest, but everyone else loves it?  This is one such picture.  This was from the friend's wedding from a few years ago.  I love the bouquet, but not in love with the photo.  I guess, at the end of the day, when you are taking pictures for a friend, it's about what they like and not your vision.

Day 159 - Colourful make-up

This is from a few years ago when a friend was getting married.  She asked me to come along for a make-up trial, and while the artists worked away, I took random pictures for my friend.  Although I think there are way too many colours of various make-up products out there, I love colour! So, I took pictures of the eye shadows.

Day 158 - A place to call home

I'm volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, and I have to say it is one of the most rewarding experiences. I love charity that you are invested in more than merely donating money.  With this organization you can see your "donation" (of time) at work in a real way, touching the lives of real people.

I love this tradition that they have at Habitat, where the volunteers are allowed to write messages to the families receiving the homes, and these get built right into the supports of the home.

Day 147 - Memories revisited

I've been a little busy over the last week or so, and then I wasn't feeling well, over the last couple days, so I've had to pull some pictures from the archives. I came across this one, from my brother's first convocation.  Good memories, of his graduation and of UofT.  Yes, I have a renewed appreciation of the things I have experienced, including my time at university.

Day 146 - Tomb of the unknown soldier, Canada

As I was posting about Tour Hassan, I remembered that it was the location of the Tomb of the unknown soldier for Morocco.  I remembered this photo I took of the Tomb of the unknown soldier in Canada in 2007.

Day 90 - Trillium splashed with colour

This is an old photo from the summer of 2007 that I found on my new phone, go figure.  I wanted to try the colour splash on the app I downloaded. It took a while to edit the with precision I wanted, and still it's not perfect.  The effect is interesting, nonetheless.

If anyone is wondering, the app is "Photo Studio".  I'm a little disappointed with it, since the first time I tried to "colour splash" it did something funny when it saved.  I just have the free version of it, and I'm trying to convince myself to actually purchase the full app.