Chocolate cupcake with chai infused whipped cream

Life's been busy, so I haven't had time to do much photography, whether editing photos (I have tons to edit!) or taking new ones. A couple days ago I decided to bake for my neighbours, and experiment with flavours, so I dusted off my camera too.  

I am still using my Canon Power Shot Pro1, and this picture is only somewhat better than the one I took on my phone... Technology has definitely developed in leaps and bounds since the Pro1 was released. 

The purpose of this photo was to test different methods of diffusing light, without the use of a lightbox.  In this shot I just put some paper towel over the LED lights I was using. It did an amazing job, but I still want to tweak my set up, as I'm not thrilled with some of the glare on the plate. 

And, if you are wondering... These cupcakes turned out amazing!

Event: Islamic Relief Canada benefit concert featuring Raef and Maher Zain

So, earlier this month, I went to this benefit concert at the very BEAUTIFUL Rose Theatre in Brampton and took pictures from where I was sitting, in the balcony. If I had actually been shooting the event, I would have more access, and would have moved around the theatre. Here are a few of my favourites... tell me what you think!

Raef starting his set.

Raef

Raef again...

Drummer

Keyboardist

Raef.... never noticed he had a dimple.

Almost done his set... yes, stage lights are really that hot!

Taking a picture of the crowd.

Thanking the crowd... It was a great set... even if we didn't hear "Dream".

The illustrious Maher Zain...

Maher Zain

More Maher Zain

Now in purple. The stage lights were pretty cool.

Feeling the music

Listening to the crowd singing.

Now in blue-green.

Interacting with the crowd... who is loving it.

Taking a video selfie with the crowd.

Final song of the night.

Getting a shot from above.

It was a fun night, and for a really great cause.

Day 364 - Light and dark

Came home and saw this petal on drive way.... I saw it there sitting in the light, and the darkness  encroaching. The petal still was looked bright and defiant, even unattached from the flower from where it came.

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 347 - More cupcakes!

So, this was yesterday's experiment, which I have to admit taste AMAZ-ING! I actually found some store bought frosting in the house, so made some cupcakes to use them on.... I didn't want a run-of-the-mill flavour, so I tried making almond and cardamom cupcakes.  I then flavoured the frosting with rose water. Still drooling...

So, if you look at this picture, the left is really warm and the right really cool.  I had two different light sources, and they cast very different temperatures of light. I couldn't balance it too well in post.  It's just something I need to be more cognizant of in the future.

Day 345 - Using obstructions

So, I was at a concert last night, and wanted to take some pictures, but my camera cooperates less and less with me.  I have a lot of very blurry pictures of my friend performing.  I realized how I would be able to take a half decent picture after much fiddling, the only thing is I kept getting peoples head in my shot.  It wasn't artistic in the least. At one point the person in front of me turned to the left, and I thought maybe I could use that.  This is the result.

Day 304 - Synapses branches

When I first got to the university for a meeting, I noticed the branches in the sky.  There is something about the branches all intertwined and messy, that grabbed my attention. As I looked for the best way to photograph them, they sort of reminded me of synapses in our brains. I think its neat that we can see the order within ourselves reflected in the world.

Day 301 - Outdoor Hallway

One of the places that is completely overlooked at University of Toronto is Knox College,and I was completely happy about that when I was a student.  During exam season I would steal away to this library at Knox College, not only because it was beautiful, but because it was rarely occupied.  This is one of the outdoor hallways.

Day 300 - Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library

I have been dying to take some photos at the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library forever.  I just never seem to be in the area when it was open.  I happen to passing by today, just as it was closing, and the woman at the entrance said I could take a few quick pictures from the main floor.  That is just what I did.

There is something that is just so enchanting about this place. I remember the first time I went to this library... it reminded me of Beast's library from Beauty and the Beast. I know it doesn't look like the library in the movie, but it just reminded me of the walls of books and just the pure joy of being surrounded by so many books... so much knowledge.

I definitely want to go back and take some more pictures from different floors and different angles.

Day 297 - Knox Presbyterian Church

Back to my love for buildings in the night.  I quickly snapped this photo as I was headed home from a workshop.  I noticed the Knox Presbyterian Church on my way to the workshop, and had hoped that there would be time during a break to take some pictures, not only of this building, but others in the area.  Unfortunately, the breaks were not long enough for me to escape. As I walked past the church, I admired it for a bit, and then took this quick snap.

Day 294 - Mystery

I don't know what it is about this photo, but it makes me want to tell a story... a mystery of sorts.

Day 290 - Light

Yesterday was Earth Hour, and though my family (somewhat) observed.  This year we didn't light candles, or use our charged electronics, we just sat in the dark. I know it sounds odd, but I had a pounding headache, so I was all to happy to have an hour of dark and (relative) quiet. During that hour, I cheekily stated that my photo of the day would be a dark abyss to represent the darkness we were sitting in, and I in fact took a picture of the dark ceiling.  It would have been a black rectangle.

I sat in the dark thinking about what having electricity and artificial lights have done for us as a society.  There are a lot of benefits, but we have lost that natural rhythm of life. I can liken it to when we were children, our bodies functioned naturally, ie when to eat, when to sleep, etc. But, now with technology and life the way it is, we have conditioned ourselves to function differently, ie staying up late, working through the night, etc. While I thought more about life and the use of light to be more productive, my thoughts turned to photography.  Despite all the advances in technology, and artificial light that we can manipulate, the light photographers love the best is the golden hour... natural light at it's finest.

So, this is a picture I took during the golden hour (sunset)... a reminder of simpler times.

Day 284 - Building at night

I know there are a lot of people who don't like the night, for whatever reason, but I do.  It's a little hard to verbalize why it is I love the night, but I think it has to do with perspective. Not only does the world look different at night, but the quiet offers moments for reflection, if even just those few minutes as you drift off into a world of slumber.

When I saw this building lit up, I had to take a quick snapshot.  I hadn't really noticed it when I arrived at my destination, but seeing it lit up like this, it was like a piece of art.  I wish I could have really looked at it and taken some more photos, I just didn't have the time.

Day 273 - The light at the end...

I was looking for interesting things to photograph when I was at a conference the other day, and honestly, I was much to tired to be creative.  And then there was the issue of my camera really being on it's last legs, so to speak.  Oh Canon Powershot Pro1, how you have served me well.  How I will miss thee when I when I finally have to let you go.  So, this is what one of the only shots I took.  There was a window at the end of the hall, and although I couldn't get the picture I envisioned, this did capture the essence.... there is a light at the end of the tunnel/hall.  That it doesn't matter what hall/tunnel your are in, there is a light at the end.

Day 260 - Where my head is at...

So, I overdid it at the gym yesterday, and I can barely walk... and this picture perfectly represents how I feel right now.  Note to self, after a sleepless night, not a good idea to go hard at the gym, because I will over do it.

Day 246 - What is the focus?

I've been taking some online photography classes, and any opportunity I get, I try to implement what I learn.  So, at my friend's brother's wedding, I tried a few different shots, including this one.  I really liked how it turned out. The focus of this picture is the cake, but framed to show the couple.

Day 245 - Happy Valentine's Day!

I honour of Valentine's Day, here is a picture of a chocolate box.  I actually really liked the box, and the lighting in the store where I found this box.  I hope you celebrate the people in your life everyday, and not only on this one day!

Day 242 - The sun sets on another day

I don't know why I had to take this picture, I just did.  The sun was lower in the horizon, but not quite ready to set.  My friend and I were ready to leave the trail, the quiet, and the souls that had been laid to rest.

Day 235 - Peeking through the crystal curtain

Working on photos from my friend's brother's wedding, and I really liked this one.  I took a lot of atypical pov photos that day.  I had to try this one a couple times before I was happy with it.  First, there were too many of the crystals in the shot, and then the focus was not to my liking, etc.  I would have loved this one more if the bride was visible, and looking over her shoulder towards me... that would have been the shot!

Day 224 - Edited Ferris Wheel

This picture might look somewhat familiar.  This was a picture that I also took at the CNE in late August. I like the picture enough to want to post it, but I really didn't like that the lights were missing on the ferris wheel, so I spent some time editing it to add the lights where they were missing.  I have to say, I like this shot a lot more now, but it has made me very weary of what you can do with just a little knowledge and the ability to Photoshop!