Through An African Lens

There is an inspiring exhibit at Dales Gallery on Fisgard St. in Victoria. The gallery is showcasing photography that illustrates life in Swaziland seen through the eyes of young people who were given 'point and shoot' cameras and directed to take photos of where they live. The photos are soul stirring portrayals of struggle and triumph. Proceeds from the sales of these photos go directly to fund the education of these youth. I was captivated by each photo and read about the hopes and dreams of each one of these young women. It reminded me of the experience of Zana Briski who worked with children in Calcutta to photograph their world. I highly recommend viewing this exhibit.

Beautiful Eyesore #3~ Corroding Mailbox

I took this shot on a hot afternoon at Vigneti Zanatta Winery. The mailbox precariously perches on the side of road. If you ever wish to visit Italy without leaving the island, drive to this beautiful valley and sit outside on the century old marble veranda, gaze over the vineyard and sip a glass of Damasco. Ahhhh....

Robbie Burns Day ~ January 25

This memorial to Robert Burns was erected in Beacon Hill Park in 1900. A putting green was created beside the memorial in 1974. Apparently, those of Scottish heritage were not amused and thought such a frivolous development was offensive. The putting green remains and it is frequently used by lots of people in the summer. Somehow I don't think Robbie would mind.

Beautiful Eyesore #2~ Winsome Hydrant

1.

2.


3.

I saw this hydrant while walking along the narrow path of Cowichan Bay Village. I was carrying just a standard lense so I sat right down on the sidewalk to take these pictures. I was drawn by the complementary colours of the dandelions but I don't think I nailed the shot. I was blocking the sidewalk after all and I was self conscious about blocking the pedestrian traffic. People are quite friendly in Cowichan Bay so many people struck up conversations about what I was shooting and given that I was blocking their way I felt compelled to chat. Since dandelions are hardy weeds I may be fortunate to return and take this shot again-maybe I'll wear a t-shirt that says, "I don't want to chat right now."

Given my struggle to get the right shot, which one do you prefer #1,2. or 3.?

Beautiful Eyesore Series

Inspired by Victoria Daily's great shot of the mailbox I've decided to present a series of objects considered ugly by the human eye but cast differently through the lense. So as not to offend Postie this by no means suggests that I think mailboxes are ugly. I love mailboxes....love getting mail...I love my patient postman who cheerfully pets my yappy dog. :)

Here's the first of the series. This wheelbarrow was taken on a trip I took to Maple Bay last summer. The electric blue hue of the wheelbarrow and distinct shadow caught my attention.

Forgotten Wheelbarrow

Finally a day with sun! This photo was taken in a rododendrun forest.

"It is impossible to watch a sunset and not dream"
Bern Williams

I remember listening to a photographer who discouraged us from taking photos of sunsets. He suggested that we put the camera away and enjoy the sunset. He said, "Rather than take an 'average shot' of a spectacular scene take a spectacular shot of an average scene." Still, I can't help myself. Sunsets feel like firework displays. Just when you think you have seen the best in the sky the light changes once again and you are caught up in a lavish dance of hues and shadows.

Where is your treasure?

The gray January days don't inspire me to take photos. I am impatient with the long dark days and I find myself dreaming of far away places where I can discover a world that challenges my arrogance.

I took this photo in Barcelona a couple of years ago. This is an image that comes to mind when I hear people talk incessantly about the doom and gloom of this world. It reminds me of those treasures of life that 'moth or rust cannot destroy'.

A funnel cloud? Or just another spectacular show with the Olympic Mountains as a backdrop?

Answers

Here are the answers to the mystery shots.

1. My favourite city (in North America) -Portland, Oregon
2. The most beautiful church is Antonio Gaudi's Church-Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain
3. One of my happiest afternoons was on The Great Wall, 2 1/2 hours north of Beijing, China
5. My favourite place to watch the world run by is Victoria Station, London
6. My place of solace is Ruckle Park, Salt Spring Island
7. The weirdest place for a Starbucks....smack dab in the middle of The Forbidden City

Seven Things You Don't Know About Me

I was challenged by V Yonkers to illustrate
Seven Things You Don't Know About Me

1. My Favourite City.
Best downtown, best bookstores, best cycling trails, best jazz, best restaurants. Any guesses?


2. What I consider the most beautiful church in the world. Everything about this place breathes.



3. One of the happiest afternoons in my life.


4. My favourite flower. A neighbor once told me she hated daffodils. Shortly after she made this declaration, I carefully planted three hundred of these in my front yard.




5. My favourite place to have a pint and watch the world run by.



6. This is my favourite Gulf Island. I spent twenty summers here and this is where I find solace.



7. This is the least likely place I thought I would ever discover a Starbucks. Guess where?

Mt. Doug

This was taken on a blistery afternoon at the top of Mt. Doug Park. Mt. Doug was known by the Songhees Nation as 'Hill of Cedars' and even temporarily adopted the name, 'Cedar Hill' before it became officially known as Mount Douglas Park. The large cedar trees that grew here were used to build parts of Fort Victoria. Now it's a public park and you will often see wild 'workout warriors' participating in 'boot camp' activities.

Breaking The Rules

I was always told, "Don't bother taking shots directly into the sun" since the exposure would be flawed. But then I attended a presentation by Deddeda Stemler and she declared that she loved shooting into the sun. I think I'll take a beautiful day and shoot all my photos into the sun then check out the results.

I don't like unpacking. It signifies a decisive end to an adventure and I resist its anti-climatic finale.

~Christmas in Vancouver~
2008

Christmas Eve 2008 -False Creek Vancouver.
Roads are impassable, buses stopped running but the Aqua Bus keeps chugging.

Despite the challenging weather conditions I had a spectacular time in Vancouver. I also discovered the beauty of living without technology and the opportunities to connect with others in the absence of technical self sufficiency.

Let me explain.

All my friends and family in Vancouver own cell phones. I love using technology but I purposefully nourish a healthy detachment from the lure of the latest and greatest gadgets. I guess I am one of the remaining 'cell phone resistors' left among people in my demographic. Sometimes I find myself stranded without immediate access to communication. This happened on my way home to Victoria.

The Pacific Coach Lines bus was suppose to pick me up at a designated stop that I previously arranged by phone (land line of course:); however, when I arrived at the stop and waited a few minutes the bus just zoomed by me despite my frantic waving and shouts to stop.

I found myself shivering in the freezing cold thinking about my options. I looked around me and saw a public phone across the street and a despised Cash Store behind me. I decided to go inside the Cash Store to see if they had a phone book I could borrow. As I entered the store I approached a bored looking employee behind bullet proof plexiglass. I asked for a phone book and without even looking away from her computer the employee said that she did not have a phone book. I took a breath and explained that I was visiting from out of town and expected to take the Pacific Coach Lines bus. I asked if she could look up the number of the PCL bus line on the computer. Her demeanor softened and she was very gracious and even printed out a sheet of numbers that I could use. Bolstered by this considerate response I walked back to the bus stop and asked an elderly gentleman if he had a cell phone that I could use. He couldn't speak English well but when I slowly explained my situation he phoned the PCL bus line for me. I'm not sure what he said since the traffic noise was ear splitting at that point but when he passed me his phone I heard a very apologetic representative say that the next bus would be along in 30 minutes and I would receive the ride to Victoria for free.

Randy Pausch said 'Sometimes you just have to wait a little longer to discover the best qualities in people'.
I witnessed the best qualities in several Vancouverites that day. Being a little vulnerable and not so self sufficient allowed me to experience the kindness of strangers.

Quintessential Victoria.
As cars slip around the city in their bald all season tires there are still cyclists dodging traffic and probably arriving at their destinations faster.

What a beautiful day...if you were able to dig out. This is taken on Pandora and Government. This dragon has been on the corner for a couple of years. Very occasionally a dragon may be depicted as carrying a dragon orb known as the Yuh-Yi-Joo in its claws. Modeled after the mythical Cintamani jewel or pearl, it was said that whoever could wield the Yuh-Yi-Joo was blessed with the abilities of omnipotence and creation at will.

Nine days and counting.
That's how many days we have been living with snow in Canada's lotus land.

This is why the world thinks we live in igloos.

It's not cold enough to skate on ponds or lakes. It's not warm enough to drink a latte outside.
But I'm savouring the silence that descends upon the city after a snowfall. The traffic disappears and the loudest sound is the courageous birds who have stayed for the winter and forage for food among the firs and cedars.

Well, at least the dog is in his glory! Victoria has been under a blanket of snow and ice for a couple of days. Much to the amusement of other Canadians, Victoria shuts down when a couple of centimeters of snow descends on the city.
Since I couldn't be bothered to replace my bald tires I took the bus to work for the first time in years. I discovered that people really are polite in this quirky little town. Young and old shouted, 'thank you' to the bus driver when stepping off the bus and people patiently held doors open at the local grocer. Inclement weather brings out the best in islanders. Maybe I'll leave my car in the driveway for another day!

Here is another shameless photo of my companion, D.J. He is sitting on the rocks at Cattle Point just outside Victoria in the "oh I forgot we're no longer a colony" district of Oak Bay. Cattle Point earned this name because it was once a drop off point for Uplands Farm, which occupied the surrounding land at the time. Cattle would be barged to the bay in front of what is now the parking lot to swim and wade the short distance to shore. Hmm... sounds like a selling feature to me. Get your organic, sea infused steak here! In the distance is a Great Blue Heron probably patiently waiting for his next snack.