January 26, 2014: Blue Jay

365 Project, Day 155

Here is my day 155 submission to my 365Project:

It was a beautiful sunny day this afternoon in Edmonton and the birds and squirrels were out in full force. Normally in Victoria I must get out and take some photos when the animals are around and the sun is out. The one thing I didn't take account of is how different it is to be taking photos outside in the sun in -15C. I didn't last more than 20 minutes before it started to feel like frostbite was going to set into my fingertips. Typically on a sunny afternoon like this in Victoria I would spend an hour or two wandering around taking pictures but this just wasn't possible in Edmonton. 

A real Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)...we only get the Steller's Jays (Cyanocitta stelleri) around Victoria so photographing one of these guys is a treat for me

Red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)

Black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

Black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

January 25, 2014: Curious Baba

365 Project, Day 154

Here is my day 154 submission to my 365Project:

We were back at the hospital again today visiting with baba, helping her with her meals and making sure she got her pain meds when she needed them. I snapped some more photos and I loved this one of Baba looking at me curiously. She was quite taken by my camera and seemed very perplexed while I was snapping away. I suppose she hasn't seen many digital SLR cameras!

Curious Baba

Baba and my mom looking at photos with her flowers in the foreground

Not to sure about this photography stuff

Eating out for Italian before going to a blues concert

January 24, 2014: Baba and me

365 Project, Day 153

Here is my day 153 submission to my 365Project:

This week I am visiting extended family in Edmonton, Alberta. I haven't been to visit them for over a year now and, unfortunately, my great grandmother (she's 103!) recently broke her hip, so I decided it was an appropriate time to be there to support her and the rest of the family who would be busy paying her daily visits to the hospital and helping the nurses. 

While visiting today I got this photo of the two of us together at the hospital...she was doing quite well considering the surgery she just had!

Baba and me

My aunt (mom's sister), Baba and my mom

Baba, me and my mom

Baba, my aunt and my mom

Afternoon sun on an empty hospital bed

Hospital bed

Afternoon light

Hospital equipment in afternoon light

January 21, 2014: Seal Gaze

365 Project, Day 152

Here is my day 152 submission to my 365Project:

This afternoon I went for a lovely walk along Willows Beach and Cattle Point in Victoria. I used to live in a house right on Willows Beach (lucky me!) so I always enjoy a wander along the beach remembering the days I spent when I was young running and playing up and down the beach and drifting around on the log rafts I constructed. I was much more tolerant to the frigid waters in those days! 

Of course, what would a visit to a beach in Victoria be without the sighting of some sort of marine wildlife. Today we spotted a harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) swimming around just off the beach, at one point chasing a fish underwater right in the shallows. I loved this photo of him (or her!) glancing  back towards us looking a little uncertain.

Cattle Point landscape looking towards Oak Bay Marina

Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)

Juvenile Glaucous-winged Gull (2nd winter, Larus glaucescens)

Cattle Point Landscape looking towards Chatham and Discovery Islands and San Juan Island, WA in the background

View from Cattle Point looking towards Oak Bay

American Wigeon (Anas americana)

American Wigeon (Anas americana) in flight

harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) 

harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) 

Willows Beach out of focus

Willows Beach in focus :)

January 19, 2014: A House In The Woods

365 Project, Day 151

Here is my day 151 submission to my 365Project:

Needing to get away from the busy-ness of downtown Victoria where I live I went to my friend's house in the forest in Langford for the evening. We had a lovely bonfire (I just missed the Barred Owls (Strix varia) calling back and forth to each other before I arrived!) and I enjoyed playing around with my camera to get some night photos. 

I loved the effect of the Christmas lights on the house with the trees silhouetted in the background. 

Downtown Langford

Campfire and car headlights

Bonfire sparks

Night time canopy

Woodpile and wheelbarrow in bonfire light

I was using the Gorillapod for this portrait oriented shot...and the camera slowly started tipping to the side causing the motion effect 

January 18, 2014: Play time!

365 Project, Day 150

Here is my day 150 submission to my 365Project:

Here are some photos of some entertaining dogs I photographed while walking along Dallas Road on the Victoria Waterfront. This doberman and dalmation had a great time romping around on the grass...although I'm not too sure the doberman is too pleased with what is going here!

I loved this big shaggy guy running along with his rasta style hair flowing as he ran! 

Play time!