Cloud Chamber

My love of clouds should by now be apparent. If you ran out and bought Mozetich's "Post cards From the Sky", like I suggested in an earlier blog, you should put it on and play "Unfolding Sky" and watch this short video. (When you get to the link, go to the thumbnail photo on the right side of the page entitled 'Wide Shot Of Clouds Forming In a Cloud Chamber' click on that and then click on the title to watch it full screen.) (This link no longer goes to the intended destination. Sorry) Something by Debussy, Satie or Brian Eno might do if you don't have the Mozetich. Actually, put on just about anything. The above photo is an early morning on English Bay, 2009.

Iona Panorama

Photoshop's 'Photomerge' feature is easy to use. Just make sure you keep the exposure settings and focus close on all the shots and keep the horizon at approximately the same place. A tripod helps.

Vancouver Morning

The time of day I love the most is the time of day I'm usually sleeping. What a shame. Once again, from Jericho pier.

The Ironies Of Art

As a small 'a' artist, that is, one who has not tried to make a living through his art, I have profound admiration for those who have lived the life of an artist. Whether they did so successfully or not doesn't matter. It is a struggle just to create a personal art form; to have it understood and accepted can be an even more difficult task. To do this and get financial recognition is almost more than can be hoped for.

I have written in earlier posts about my appreciation of Japanese printmakers. Most people know that they had a profound effect on the French impressionists and, therefore, on modern western art. What I learned just recently was that the French discovered these amazing works of art because the prints, which had gone through periods of increasing and declining popularity in Japan, were thought of such little value in their native land during the mid-nineteenth century, that they were used to wrap other goods which were being exported to Europe. This is how the European artists discovered them, as wrapping paper.

The above print is by Hiroshige who lived from 1797 to 1858.

Airport Clouds

As seen from the Iona Park breakwater.

Sechelt, B.C.

The morning was waiting for us when we arrived.

Winnipeg Back Alleys (West End)

To paraphrase John Lennon, "Life is what happens on your way to someplace else."