MacMillan Space Centre HDR 06 Mar 31 2011.jpg

MacMillan Space Centre HDR 06 Mar 31 2011.jpg, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

The blossoms have finally arrived here in Vancouver with the city erupting with color, fragrance and, literally, flowers falling from the sky. One of my favorite locations early on in the bloom is the backyard of the HR MacMillan Space Center in Vanier Park just south west of the Burrard Street Bridge. This hidden gem's combination of unique architecture and numerous blooming trees provides any photographic technique (HDR, Infra Red, Macro, Ultra Wide Angle, B&W, etc.) infinite possibilities.

Springs First Blush 02 Sunset Beach Mar 23 2011.jpg

Springs First Blush 02 Sunset Beach Mar 23 2011.jpg, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

Spring has finally arrived here in Vancouver after a wet and cool winter that at times seemed to never end. Winter's been banished and at last the eclectic mix of annual flowers at Sunset Beach in downtown Vancouver have started to bloom. Here's one of the early blossoms - what I think is a pair of Spotted Langloisia right at their unfurling.

English Bay Tidal Pool HDR Rock Study 01 Mar 23 2011

English Bay Tidal Pool HDR Rock Study 01 Mar 23 2011, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

Tidal pools rock. One theory about evolution is that given the low tide/high tide nature of tidal pools (caused by the moon's gravitational tug) the minerals and such in the pool would, day in day out - millienium in and millenium out - spend half their time in a concentrated state.

This concentration cycle lead to the creation of proto-DNA that eventually led to the emergence of my cats and me. So says the theory. In essence then, if true (which I think it most likely is), we owe our very existence to the moon - source of the tides that in turn give life to her pools.

Seawall at Second Beach HDR Mar 23 2011

Seawall at Second Beach HDR Mar 23 2011, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

Here's a nice shot of the Vancouver Stanley Park Seawall .. the seawall part. :)

Over the past 18 months the economic recession of 2008 to 2010 has provided this very yummy stash of cash called the stimulus fund (among other names). It's for "shovel ready" projects (read construction) that will benefit Canadians. As luck would have it we Seawall walking Vancouverittes would up with a multi-million chunk of this cash. Major reno on the Seawall but with a respect to it's heritage masonry (see photo above) form and flow. One day, God whiling, they will finish the reno and we can walk on it. :)

Spring's First Blush 01b Sunset Beach Mar 23 2011

Spring's First Blush 01b Sunset Beach Mar 23 2011, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

Flower A: Finally. ... Sunshine.

Flower B: 'bout freakin' time.

Deep Sunset Feb 16 2011 DSC_8283.jpg

Deep Sunset Feb 16 2011 DSC_8283.jpg, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

Nothing but clouds caught in sunset light reflecting off the waters if the Straight of Georgia - British Columbia Canada.

Jericho Beach Vancouver Feb 16 2011 DSC_8211.jpg

Jericho Beach Vancouver Feb 16 2011 DSC_8211.jpg, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

Sunset light. The magic light. The magic hour for us photo-geeks.

Here's Jericho Beach in Vancouver - the south western point of English Bay. Looking very much like polished teak in the light of a setting winter sun.

Station Keeping English Bay Feb 16 2010 DSC_8184.jpg

Station Keeping English Bay Feb 16 2010 DSC_8184.jpg, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

Pointed into the wind one of the many deep ocean cargo ships that park themselves in Vancouver's English Bay maintains station keeping and waits for it's turn to fill up.

Sirrus Asleep With Her Favorite Toys Feb 13 2011

Sirrus Asleep With Her Favorite Toys Feb 13 2011, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

Ahh cats. My favorite animal next to humans.

Here's Sirrus. Semi-asleep with two of her favorite toys in the afternoon sun. Sirrus just loves cat toys - any type - any size - any color - etc. But she has over the years adopted several as her favorite and will cuddle up with them and snooze away an afternoon.

Winter Sunset 01 HDR Feb 08 2011.jpg

Winter Sunset 01 HDR Feb 08 2011.jpg, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

A nice delicate stratospheric sunset over English Bay Vancouver on Feb. 08 2011. Painting with light.

The Erickson Vancouver Feb 04 2011 DSC_8039.jpg

The Erickson Vancouver Feb 04 2011 DSC_8039.jpg, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

The Erickson at False Creek in Vancouver. One of Vancouver's signature buildings designed by one of Canada's foremost architects Arthur Erickson. Sadly Mr. Erickson passed away just before his 85th birthday and just before this building was completed.

The Erickson is located at the corner of Beach Avenue and Homer Street and overlooks the inner bay of False Creek. This eye-popping masterpiece never ceases to amaze me and I've watched it 'grow' from an empty lot to this stunning nearly organic fusion of steel, glass and curves. For me this building, like no other, evokes a feeling of a man-nature hybrid emerging from the ground in a twisting dance of life. I can't help but think of those countless time lapse films I've seen of a flower opening each time I look at this icon.

If only all of Vancouver's buildings could be designed with such genius and attention to the art of architecture.

Vancouver West End 01 Feb 04 2011 DSC_8057.jpg

Vancouver West End 01 Feb 04 2011 DSC_8057.jpg, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

The West End of Vancouver Canada as seen from under the north end of the Burrard Street Bridge on a lazy and hazy early February Friday afternnon. Spring has started and already the trees are starting to show a gossamer thin blush of green. Eggzellent. :)

HDR Tennis Game 7 London

HDR Tennis Game 7 London, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

A new High Dynamic Range treatment I've been working with for the past few weeks. No, I didn't zip over to London England last weekend but I did borrow a photo sequence from the gang running a rather fun 'contest' on Facebook called "HDR Tennis". The sequence they posted a few weeks back I felt needed an emphasis on black and white given the vintage nature of the House of Parliament's architecture along with respect for and attention to the warm tones of the late day sun.

The nice thing about the digital darkrooms of the 21st century is that you can save a technique created with a sequence like this and then apply it to other images. As I've found since creating this treatment it works great for low light sunsets.

Kits Gulf Island Sunset Vancouver Feb 3 2011 DSC_7976.jpg

Kits Gulf Island Sunset Vancouver Feb 3 2011 DSC_7976.jpg, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

During a winter sunset here in Vancouver it's not uncommon to have a bank of cloud suspended over the city but clear sky over the Straight of Georgia due west of us. When this happens the light from the setting sun bounces off the waters of the straight and up into the cloud base suspended over the city. When this happens we get this spectacular underside illumination of the cloud bank that shows a side of mother nature that's nothing short of drop-dead-gorgeous.

1000 Block of Beach Ave Vancouver Diana Lense HDR DSC_8015 Feb 4 2011.jpg

1000 Block of Beach Ave Vancouver Diana Lense HDR DSC_8015 Feb 4 2011.jpg, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

Looking east along the 1000 block of Beach Avenue in Vancouver on a semi sunny and somewhat lazy Friday afternoon. A view that's hard to come by once spring begins and the ancient elms become thick with leaves and ravens. Dead center in this photo is the north end of the Burrard Street Bridge. On the right side is a nice lens flair looking nearly physical thanks to the magic of High Dynamic Range post-processing and the Diana lens from PhotoJoJo.

Burrard St Bridge Sunrise 03 Vancouver HDR Diana Lens Jan 30 2011.jpg

Burrard St Bridge Sunrise 03 Vancouver HDR Diana Lens Jan 30 2011.jpg, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

Vancouver's iconic Burrard Street Bridge caught in the low light of a mid-winter sunrise. Made all the more fantastic thanks to High Dynamic Range post processing and my ever-fun Diana lens.

Vintage Sunset HDR Kitsilano Vancouver Jan 26 2011.jpg

Vintage Sunset HDR Kitsilano Vancouver Jan 26 2011.jpg, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

The fun you can have as a photographer, thanks to digital photography, never ceases to amaze me. Recently, while playing around with a series of photos of London England, I found a rather cool High Dynamic Range (HDR) treatment that punches up any warm tones and shuffles off everything else into the realm of black and white.

Here's a mid winter sunset over Kitsilano Vancouver looking quite vintage.

Medium Format 04 Shanon Falls BC Scanned Jan 29 2011

Medium Format 04 Shanon Falls BC Scanned Jan 29 2011, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

The mid section of Shanon Falls in British Columbia Canada. Located roughly an hour or so north of Vancouver Shanon Falls is perfect for slow exposure shots of roaring water. This photo was taken using a 40 year old twin reflex Yashicamat 120mm mid-format camera using Fuji Velivia film. The positive was then scanned at 1200 dpi (25 Megapixels) and post-processed in Nikon's Capture NX/2.

Diane and Doug June 1963 Werl W Germany Jan 29 2011

Diane and Doug June 1963 Werl W Germany Jan 29 2011, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

Doug and Diane in Werl West Germany - June 1963. What I find totally cute about this photo, apart from my always in-style tartan Lederhosen, is my beseeching pose and my sister's grin. Hey! So do I get an apple too or what?

Seagull Sunset English Bay Vancouver HDR Jan 18 2011

Seagull Sunset English Bay Vancouver HDR Jan 18 2011, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer. Albert Camus

And a whole bunch of seagulls. :)

Straight of Georgia Winter Storm HDR 02 Jan 07 2011

Straight of Georgia Winter Storm HDR 02 Jan 07 2011, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

Vancouver during winter has two states - It's raining, warm and calm or it's sunny, cold and blustery. Both pretty much rock once you embrace both states 'o being.

Here's Jericho Beach during a sunny, cold and blustery day. I really like this shot in that it (a) I got a freebee circular flair thanks to the spray reflecting off the setting sun (b) it nicely shows the shallow to deep water divide that separates English Bay and the Straight of Georgia and (c) the color of the leaf free deciduous trees contrasted against the pines (left side of the shot) is pretty much winter for us.

Kitsilano Painterly Sunset Jan 01 2011 01 HDR

Kitsilano Painterly Sunset Jan 01 2011 01 HDR, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

Nothing but soft pastelles in this dreamy midwinter sunset looking out over Kitsilano - Vancouver's south end urban-burb.

Silvia Hotel Beach Ave Vancouver HDR Diana Jan 03 2011

Silvia Hotel Beach Ave Vancouver HDR Diana Jan 03 2011, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

The start of every new year is more often than not the height of winter for Vancouver. After months of wind storms the trees are nearly free of last seasons leaves, the shadows, even at 'high' noon are long and wispy, the nights are cool (sub-zero) and the days are short with the sun rising near 8 am and setting around 4 pm. As such, a vew like this from English Bay of the famous Sylvia Hotel shot through the winter bare trees along Beach Avenue is of a magic and fleeting moment.

Sirrus HDR Diana Lens Ghost Cleanup Test Jan 01 2011

Sirrus HDR Diana Lens Ghost Cleanup Test Jan 01 2011, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

I'm onto my third major revision of Photomatix which is the software I've used since nearly day one to generate HDR images. This version I'd consider the most evolutionary yet and adds much needed noise reduction as well as the ability to fix 'HDR ghosts'. Ghosts in the HDR world occur when part of scene moves while you are taking a sequence of shots that will be merged, via programs such as Photomatix, into a single HDR composite image.

Ever one to push things into the insane I took a sequence of slow natural light exposures with my spiffy new Diana lens of my cat Sirrus and then used the anti-ghosting tool in Photomatix 4 to pick just Sirrus in just one of the 9 shots in the sequence to be included in the final composite. It worked out rather well expect for the missing top of her head. Sorry about that sweetheart. :)

Straight of Georgia New Years 2011 Power Sunset 01

Straight of Georgia New Years 2011 Power Sunset 01, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

Here in Vancouver the first sunset of 2011 proved to be one that was a few levels past totally awesome. Two or three times each year the conditions are just perfect enough to make the sky literally explode with fire. Jan 01 2011 was such a sunset. The killer band of purple right in the middle was an unexpected and here-to-for not seen bonus.

God does indeed paint with light. :)

DSCN0072

DSCN0072, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

As a photographer you eventually realize that 50% of the picture is being in the right place at the right time. Timing counts for much. The other 50% of the picture comes from your skill at composition and your ability to let your camera fully express 'itself'.

This is one of my favorite shots from the first decade of the 21st century. On the far left is me, holding my first digital camera, the 1 mega pixel Nikon Coolpic 950, bundled inside Snowbird 1 5,000 ft above the Fraser Valley in British Columbia Canada. In the middle of the shot is Snowbird 3, 15 feet away, upside down. Ahhh to live that moment again.

Winter Sunset Vancouver Dec 29 2010 Diana Lens HDR

Winter Sunset Vancouver Dec 29 2010 Diana Lens HDR, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

A black and white rendition of what was a pretty colorful deep winter sunset in Vancouver - December 29 2010. This was a high dynamic range (HDR) composite of 3 images shot in color with a Diana fuzz-o-rific lens attached to a Nikon D300 digital SLR. Post processing of the HDR set was accomplished via the latest version of Photomatix Pro (4.0.2) using the B&W setting.

Post post processing via Capture NX/2.

Vancouver West End At Sunset Diana Lens HDR Dec 29 2010

Vancouver West End At Sunset Diana Lens HDR Dec 29 2010, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

I've decided that my first resolution for 2011 is to let my inner impressionistic painter take control of my photographic moments.

2009 and 2010 were all about exact focus and hyper focal calculations (yes there is an iPhone app for that). What became an often futile quest for perfect focus. It was as though each image I took had to measure up to a National Geographic cover shot. While I loved the results (mmmmm crisp) it's time to tack a new course in this infinite digital photographic sea. I resolve to let 2011 become a year of soft tones, much fuzziness and a total disrespect of laser sharp focus. My Infra Red camera is going to love me. :)

As part of this quest I've picked up a Diana lens from Photojojo and really like the first set of HDR shots we've produced.

Mmmmm .... fuzzy. :)

Burrard St Bridge Winter Sunset Dec 04 2010

Burrard St Bridge Winter Sunset Dec 04 2010, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

The venerable and historic Burrard Street Bridge that connects Vancouver's Kitsilano region to its downtown core. Looking all warm and magical on a cool winter's night.

North Shore Snow Laced Sunrise Dec 03 2010

North Shore Snow Laced Sunrise Dec 03 2010, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

After days of rain in Vancouver the perfect cure is a warm golden sunrise reflected off the snow dappled North Shore mountains.

English Bay Blast of Sunshine DSC_7284_5_6_tonemapped

English Bay Blast of Sunshine DSC_7284_5_6_tonemapped, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

Who says Vancouver never gets sunshine during the winter? We do - in bite sized chunks 20 km away. :)

HR MacMillan Space Centre Vancouver Nov 25 2010 HDR.jpg

HR MacMillan Space Centre Vancouver Nov 25 2010 HDR.jpg, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

Snow arrived early in Vancouver near the end of November 2010 and while it didn't stay long it created it's usual level of chaos and, as always added a soft and gentle charm to the city core.

Looking appropriately like something straight out of a remake of the TV series Stargate or Battlestar Galactica (both filmed in Vancouver) here's the H. R. MacMillan Space Centre preparing for lift off from the late fall snow. "We're go for launch ... 10 ... 9 ... 8 .... main engine start ... 5 ..."

Beach Fireworks 01 Sunset Beach Oct 30 2010 DSC_7083.jpg

Beach Fireworks 01 Sunset Beach Oct 30 2010 DSC_7083.jpg, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

Vancouver, and most of the British Columbia lower mainland and island for that matter, is nicely laid back when it comes to fireworks. In particular during 'key moments' such as Halloween, New Years eve, Christmas eve, John Lennon's birthday, International Soap-On-A-Rope Day, etc. A popular spot for launching those $39.99 bad boys, perfectly devoid of "other stuff that can accidentally burn", is Sunset Beach in Vancouver's West End. Here's a shot of a couple close enough to feel the heat of their personal pyrotechnics last Halloween. Rock on.

Beach Ave and Cardero St Vancouver Looking South IRHDR Nov 10 2010

Beach Ave and Cardero St Vancouver Looking South IRHDR Nov 10 2010, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

As fall slowly trickles towards Vancouver's two weeks of winter here's a nice flair shot of Beach Ave and Cardero St just before Remembrance Day.

We Come In Peace Nov 10 2010_DSC2819_20_21Enhancer

We Come In Peace Nov 10 2010_DSC2819_20_21Enhancer, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

The English Bay Inuckshuk looking all ambasadorial in the later afternoon November sun. "Greetinks peables of da urt. We come in pieces."

Biennale Arc Sunset Beach Nov 10 2010 IRHDR_DSC2810_1_2Enhancer

Biennale Arc Sunset Beach Nov 10 2010 IRHDR_DSC2810_1_2Enhancer, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

B&W goodliness thanks to Infra Red High Dynamic Range. Sort of like the colorful icing on top of the B&W cake.

Sunset Beach Concession Stand Nov 10 2010 IRHDR

Sunset Beach Concession Stand Nov 10 2010 IRHDR, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

Winter, or as close as we Vancouverites get it (6'C brrrr), is settling in. The city however is not without it's Infra Red High Dynamic Range photo-ops including the silent summer time concession stand at Sunset Beach.

HDR Hibiscus Feb 182008 Rev 2010

HDR Hibiscus Feb 182008 Rev 2010, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

I loved it when the world of 35mm faded into the digital age in 1999. Since then we've gone from 1 million pixel cameras to 16 million pixel CMOS equipped devices previously the stuff of Star Trek. And, as the software and hardware evolves those HDR sequences of yesteryear get to be reborn.

With my new 8-core i760 computer system from Gateway I can scream through the latest HDR software. New software used to process an old (2008 in this case) series of HDR shots. It's like being able to process your negatives through new and improved chemicals.

I love this shot so much more than the first rev. It's more 3D.

Three years of working with Photomatrix (the HDR software I use) has taught me much. I can't wait to redo this shot in 2020.

Foggy Kits Nov 02 2010.jpg

Foggy Kits Nov 02 2010.jpg, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

Kitsilano BC, an urban-burb of downtown Vancouver, caught in a sunrise fog. Looking all '90s rotoscope and such. I love this treatment.

Foggy Sunrise Burrard St Bridge Vancouver Nov 02 2010.jpg

Foggy Sunrise Burrard St Bridge Vancouver Nov 02 2010.jpg, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

A gentle fog rolled in from False Creek towards English Bay Tuesday Nov 02 2010. A perfect mix of humidity, temperature and prevailing winds reversed the usual English Bay to False Creek path of the English Bay fog.

Foggy Sunset English Bay Vancouver 02 Oct 2010

Foggy Sunset English Bay Vancouver 02 Oct 2010, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

Combine fog with a mid fall sunset over English Bay Vancouver and the effect is almost magical. Long shadows track across the top of the clouds as the sun sets behind the UBC campus off to the west.

08 Aug 06 2010 Manotick 034b.jpg

08 Aug 06 2010 Manotick 034b.jpg, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

Part 3 - Manotick Lily. Without a doubt this collection has proven to be my favorite of this year (2010). I'd admired the lilies in front of sister's home for days while back in Ontario on vacation and knew they'd look awesome right after a rain. I was right and the hardest part was waiting for the afternoon rain storm to end before I could head out with my camera and photograph the lilies.

Foggy Planetarium Vanier Park Vancouver Oct 20 2010.jpg

Foggy Planetarium Vanier Park Vancouver Oct 20 2010.jpg, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

Looking nearly like an Egyptian pyramid Vancouver's MacMillan space center and planetarium emerges from the fog at sunset. Suddenly I want to watch the movie "Stargate" again. :)

Bay Fog at Beach and Thurlow Vancouver Oct 20 2010 from 1011 Beach DSC_6976_7_8.jpg

Bay Fog at Beach and Thurlow Vancouver Oct 20 2010 from 1011 Beach DSC_6976_7_8.jpg, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

The corner of Beach Avenue and Thurlow Street in Vancouver's West End during a recent visit by our perennial visitor - the bay fog. As a photographer I love the bay fog. It adds nearly infinite compositional and lighting options to my craft.

Bay Fog English Bay Oct 20 2010 01_DSC_6964_5_6.jpg

Bay Fog English Bay Oct 20 2010 01_DSC_6964_5_6.jpg, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

Mid to late October, if we're lucky, English Bay in Vancouver gets this most fantastic fog. The air is moist enough and the temperature low enough to, every few hours, let this moist bank of air roll in to the city, chill (hey it's Vancouver) and cover use with this delicious fog. It's a very organic phenomena to the point that, with enough pot, the fog banks become almost alive. Fog rocks.

English Bay Oct 19 2010.jpg

English Bay Oct 19 2010.jpg, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

My first digital camera, the totally amazing Nikon CoolPic 950 had a gigantic 1 million pixels. Ten years later the 5 million pixel camera in my iPhone 4 captured this photo. My how times they are a changin'.

Nelson Park West End Vancouver Oct 10 2010

Nelson Park West End Vancouver Oct 10 2010, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

Nelson Park is pretty much the upper most geographical point in the the West End of Vancouver. Recently renovated it's a 'tranquil oasis in the midst of the chaotic maelstrom that is the heart of Vancouver". Actually, I only wrote that to see if Google Chrome could spell-check 'maelstrom' (it did). Downtown Vancouver being mostly residential is only a chaotic maelstrom when the Vancouver Canucks loose a Stanley Cup final or Canada's Olympic hockey team wins a gold medal ... and during the fire works festival. :)

Six Trilliums - Pen and Ink - 1981

Six Trilliums - Pen and Ink - 1981, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

Drawn near Westport Ontario during a lazy, hazy spring after in the forest. The provincial flower of Ontario - the trillium.

I really think my many hours spent drawing nature scenes has helped with my compositional skills when it comes to photography. Nothing teaches you more about structure and form then starting at something for the 2 hours it takes to sketch it. :)

Rain Sprinkled Lily

Rain Sprinkled Lily, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

Rain + thunder + flowers = A nice mix.

I'm working on the greeting card series for 2010 and this one is certainly a contender.

English Bay Falcon Sept 25 2010 03 DSC_6455.jpg

English Bay Falcon Sept 25 2010 03 DSC_6455.jpg, originally uploaded by VancouverDoug.

Yesterday, as I approached English Bay beach along Vancouver's Seawall walk I noticed the resident flock of ravens and seagulls were going nuts. Either they'd re-watched Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" the night before or a raptor was somewhere in the vicinity. It turned out it was the later and a large falcon had popped in to check out the view. Looking to snatch a tasty apartment sized doggie perhaps. :)

Each fall we Vancouverites (those that venture out into the rain that is. :) ) are treated to numerous moments like this in and around Stanley Park as the falcon and eagle 'collectives' make their way to and from the salmon feeding grounds north of here. It's always a thrill to not only see such majestic birds in the flesh but also to watch the reaction of the resident seagulls and ravens who are anything but impressed.