Tanked at the aquarium

May 18, 2015 by Created by RCW

I recently signed up for a 3-week photography workshop at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada in Toronto, which basically means running around gob-smacked at coral reefs, sharks, jelly fish and kilometer after kilometer of living colour.

Here are some picks from Week 2.

Farmer’s Market & The Grove – Los Angeles

October 20, 2014 by Created by RCW

While visiting Los Angeles, I stayed on the west side of town not too far from Beverly Hills, near The Farmer’s Market and The Grove shopping complexes…right next to each other and yet world’s apart in so many ways.

See also: Graffiti and Signs and Tar Pits

Hollywood Hills – Los Angeles

October 18, 2014 by Created by RCW

And then, a friend drove me into the hills around Los Angeles, so I could do a little house-hunting for when I finally make it big.

Tar Pits – Los Angeles

October 16, 2014 by Created by RCW

And when I wasn’t looking at signs, one of the few touristy things I did in Los Angeles was visit the La Brea Tar Pits and the George C. Page Museum.

Graffiti and Signs – Los Angeles

October 14, 2014 by Created by RCW

As I mentioned in my recent posts, I visited Los Angeles a couple of weeks ago (my first time there), and took my life into my own hands by braving the city streets on foot (less worried about muggers than drivers).

While I found much of the city surreal (vs Toronto), I was enthralled by the various graffiti and signage that lined places like Melrose Avenue. Here is some of what I saw.

Crunchies, High Park, Toronto

September 14, 2014 by Created by RCW

And of course, what would a photography trip of mine be without a survey of all the things that crunch at Toronto’s High Park.

: Spiders may be less pretty from the victim side of the picture

: This gal seemed to clutch for dear life when it hit a flower

: Looking more monarch than moth, this one took a moment to rest

: Can’t figure out what type of wasp this is

: Hard to see here, but the wings are transluscent

: If two limbs were less than 3 feet apart, you probably found one of these

: Background matting doesn’t help photo, but not my choice

: Slow to start the summer, monarchs are popping up everywhere

: Had to really drop exposure so moth wouldn’t blot image with whiteness

: Yellow on yellow makes for a very surreal image

: Luckily, the web seemed empty as this monarch tried desperately to break free

: One of the many spiders packing its lunch today

Gardens and Zoo, High Park, Toronto

September 13, 2014 by Created by RCW

Aside from the more natural wilderness of Grenadier Pond, High Park is also home to beautiful gardens and a small zoo of various hoofed animals.

: Park planners have engineered a beautiful terraced garden

: Water falls quietly along the grade of a hill of many colours

: Snails, I am used to…this was the first slug I’d seen in my Toronto journeys

: A squirrel lies quietly, its tail as a blanket

: Not just for breakfast, rhubarb forms a colourful display

: Calm, the bison keeps a wary eye on the guests

: Sometimes you don’t have the strength to hold your head up

: A quick nap on a lazy afternoon

: School groups take tours through the gardens, learning about flora and fauna

Taking aim

August 16, 2014 by Created by RCW

I aimed for the mountain top, but found only sky.

I aimed for the clouds, but found only air.

I aimed for the moon, but found only coldness.

I aimed for the stars, but found only emptiness.

Head bowed in sadness, I finally looked around,

To find a universe of wonder lying at my feet.