photography

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noreply@blogger.com (Vadym Graifer) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:31:00 +0000

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Grand Bahamas, some more

noreply@blogger.com (Vadym Graifer) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:39:00 +0000

Freeport, Bahamas, Our Lucaya

noreply@blogger.com (Vadym Graifer) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 14:30:00 +0000

Paradise needs no comment.

More New Year illumination

noreply@blogger.com (Vadym Graifer) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 01:15:00 +0000

As conference on the Bahamas approaches rapidly meaning next series are going to be so tropics. I need to post quickly some of New Year shots. Here goes.

Christmas lights

noreply@blogger.com (Vadym Graifer) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 02:07:00 +0000

Downtown is quite a view with all the lights these nights.

Winter stroll

noreply@blogger.com (Vadym Graifer) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 03:21:00 +0000

...or at least what goes for winter in this neck of the woods.

and of course beautiful Mt.Baker - that's where 70-300 comes handy.

Fall colors - tired yet?

noreply@blogger.com (Vadym Graifer) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:14:00 +0000

We just don't seem to run out of them, and it's hard to stop photographing them.

More fall colors (and yes, UWA lens)

noreply@blogger.com (Vadym Graifer) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:10:00 +0000

UltraWide Angle lens

noreply@blogger.com (Vadym Graifer) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:21:00 +0000

New toy, 9-18 lens on its first walk. Sidney Marina:
Oceanside walk:
These two, captain and damsel with a doggy, were erected recently.

Driftwood on the shore (I need to do a separate series with driftwood, amazing subject):
And finally, my favorite from this walk:

Salmon run

noreply@blogger.com (Vadym Graifer) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:35:00 +0000

Every year in October-November we are treated to this amazing spectacle - salmon running up the river, playing, fighting, spawning and, well, dying. Challenging to photograph but quite spectacular. So, I've got a few killer ones... and most of them got lost in hard drive crash over this weekend. Showing a few...

This mountain serves as a backdrop...
...to a river (well, water stream rather, river is a bit too loud) which fills up with rain runnoff as fall comes.
Water is even more shallow near the shore, fish is frolicking right under your feet, you can extend your arm and actually touch some:
Closer...
... closer...
...and closer yet...
... and this is where that brilliant shot should have been placed proudly: close-up of chum salmon's open mouth, teeth are sharp, one eye looks right at you... no luck recovering that one. Very disappointing. Oh well, look at pretty autumn leaves instead:

More autumn colors

noreply@blogger.com (Vadym Graifer) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:10:00 +0000

Olympic torch relay

noreply@blogger.com (Vadym Graifer) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 01:05:00 +0000

Olympic torch started it's long rip through Canada - about 3 months and 45,000 km. I guess it's going to be old news very soon but today was the first day of this trip.
A few parade trucks:

Flame is being transferred between bearers:
New bearer:

... and these two sleepy observers just can't understand what all the hoopla is about

Fall colors

noreply@blogger.com (Vadym Graifer) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:52:00 +0000

I am sure we will have more of beautiful fall colors (by the way, why does British "autumn" sounds so much better?). For now, these:

What a way to do your homework!

Sidney in the night

noreply@blogger.com (Vadym Graifer) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:00:00 +0000

There is something abut night photography... not being the easiest from technical point of view, it yields spectacular images - when you get it right. Colors are amazing, and if there is water to give those wavy reflections...

Fall flowers

noreply@blogger.com (Vadym Graifer) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:11:00 +0000

Giant Pacific Octopus

noreply@blogger.com (Vadym Graifer) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 03:23:00 +0000

Some creatures are totally alien-looking, hard to believe they share the same planet with us. This one, living in Sidney Ocean Discovery Center is a good illustration. Took quite a few visits to catch it moving around - most of the time thing just curls up and sleeps. Finally it rewarded me with quite a dance. Below are just 9 out of 68 shots. Thanks technology for usable ISO 2000 (that's for gearheads, normal viewers just never mind).

Finally, let's look him in the eye (wasn't easy to find one):
Right out of a nightmare, eh?

Past curfrew, part II

noreply@blogger.com (Vadym Graifer) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:07:00 +0000

Inner Harbour in the night, quite magical sight

Frolicking whales

noreply@blogger.com (Vadym Graifer) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:22:00 +0000

On the ferry from Victoria to Port Angeles; unexpected encounter made the trip an unplanned "whale watching excursion":

Unfortunately I didn't have my long focus lens with me so there are some ungodly crops involved... but that's what we have those 12 MP for, right?

Past curfrew

noreply@blogger.com (Vadym Graifer) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:54:00 +0000

Some late night shots in Inner Harbour

Three exotic birds

noreply@blogger.com (Vadym Graifer) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 17:19:00 +0000

These three guys live in Victoria Butterfly Garden - quite magical place some photos of which I'll add in the future. This is kind of place where grown-ups wander around with childish smiles on their faces.

This is Leo - green parrot with piercing eyes:

This is green turaco:

Finally the most sociable one. You can often find him doing one of two things: playing with someone's shoelaces

or feeding fish:

Dreamy town of Sidney

noreply@blogger.com (Vadym Graifer) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 18:01:00 +0000

Favorite place for stroll along the seaside,

amazing views along the way

stroll toward Sidney Marina

and marina with beautiful yachts

Walking those cute streets of typical resort town
don't forget to drop by to Janet's Special Teas; if you are a fan of a good tea you are guaranteed to find quite a few to your liking. Just ask Janet to open some of these jars and heavenly smell will help you chose:

Oh, and take another walk near the ocean shore at the sunset

Shiny shiny stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Vadym Graifer) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 00:27:00 +0000

There is something very pretty about glassy shiny handiwork. Judge for yourself

In this one I was fascinated by the combination of the things behind the window and street reflections:

Fisherman's Wharf

noreply@blogger.com (Vadym Graifer) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 20:33:00 +0000

This is quite an interesting place, especially if you haven't lived on the ocean. Look at these houses. Yup, they are floating ones. Boats are parked next to them as we park our cars on our driveways.
There are stores and restaurants,
whole streets,

ships, historic and working ones, many go out to a sea daily and return with fresh catch.
To envision this lifestyle, imagine sitting on this deck watching floatplanes landing and taking off:
Some don't even look like houses:

Residents must be very patient folks to put up with endless tourists snapping their photos (yeah, much like these you are wieving), feeding seals
and just imagine this endless bustle right outside your porch:

If you are intrigued - well, one of those houses above has "For Sale" sign, noticed?

Walk into the ocean

noreply@blogger.com (Vadym Graifer) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 17:59:00 +0000

This is what it is. About 700 metres (almost half a mile) long walk from the shore to the lighthouse at the end of the breakwater - one of the best short walks in Victoria. Fresh ocean breeze,
sometimes splash of cold water,

popular place for runners with amazing mountain backdrop for their exercise,
spot to watch cruise ships coming and going
or staying docked and offering beautiful views both in the day
early evening
and later when their lights go up,
and of course sunsets...

Just gotta be careful staying right at the edge - the water IS cold!

Can you think of better walking trails

noreply@blogger.com (Vadym Graifer) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 04:19:00 +0000

...than these

...and of better end to the walk than this: