I’m re-prioritizing things in my life and looking at what is truly important and what’s merely distraction. It will be a slow process as I try to find out what I need to be centred and peaceful and what is just ’stuff’. I do know that I will be making an effort to simplify and that material things shouldn’t have that much importance, so I say now…

Sitting around as photos are filed to ftp server. I’m not much for lounging in coffee shops but the wifi is very useful so I can live with it. This was on the Danforth, sun was warm, people were out…

Heading back to the car after an assignment downtown, I came across this great meeting of light and shadow. It was moving quickly but I watched and waited for the right elements to coalesce.

We often forget as photographers what we actually do. We pay sometimes, too much attention on what we see and not enough on what we should see.

There aren’t alot of open spaces left in downtown Toronto such as this parking lot on Queen St. East near Church St.. I imagine it’ll soon become a condo development like all empty spaces this city has. I guess it’s a good thing in that density is focussed in an area where public transit is close and one can walk to many things.

It would be terribly brilliant if TPTB made this into a park, not unlike Bryant Park in Manhattan. This city hasn’t had a leader with vision in a long time, too bad.

For the photoheads, this was shot with a Mamiya 7II and 43 mm lens. Tri X, Rodinal 1:25 for 7 minutes. Scanned on an Epson 2450 with Epson Scan software.

With all the snow we’ve recently suffered, it was time to finally get out and make the most of the stuff. We hadn’t skiied all year so that was out…snowshoes would be it.

We headed out to Mountsberg Conservation Area west of Milton, Ont.. We’d been there before for an agm and also got to see some of the raptors they have there.

Wonderful day, trail was kinda groomed so snowshoes weren’t really needed for parts of it. Cool weather, bright sun and not very many people.

Then it rained the next day….

It is December after all so the first good snowfall was bound to happen. We’d had some before but this was a decent one with the usual Toronto driver entertainment. Let it be said here that Toronto has some of the worst winter weather drivers I’ve seen. Of course, everyone is running all seasons which doesn’t help matters. Lost count of how many drivers were stuck without shovels, spinning their wheels with that high pitch squeel that only rubber on snow makes.

Almost got beaned by an eejit driver trying her best to spin her way out of a spot on Huron St.. Think my horn scared the beejesus out of her.

Anyhoo, got up with the roosters for the ritual Sunday morning shovel. Very few souls out so the only sound of shovel scraping sidewalk was outside our place. Snow was deceivingly heavy so it was a bit of work clearing the walk. Also had to clear the back parking spots as well, no ploughed laneway for this poor sod. Worse part of shovelling is where the heck do ya dump the stuff ?

All reports now say this is going to be a brutal, deep freeze kinda winter, at least as far as southern Ontario goes. As long as there’s tons of snow up north and the weather’s dry down here, might as well join the party.

Can’t remember exactly where this is but I know it’s somewhere in northern Ontario. Most likely we’re camping, wish I knew where, and Katrina is trying to enjoy the peace and quiet before I start banging around the pots and pans as I make breakfast.

We haven’t been out much lately and didn’t see trees very much this year. Haven’t tripped in a year or two and am missing it alot. Wish the bush were a lot closer to Toronto than it is. Makes for a long drive to peace and quiet…

If you’ve camped with me, you know that I’m not averse to burning some sticks. Evening’s a nice time for some burnage with everyone chillin’. Gotta admit, I’m partial to early morning fires. The whole place is still and I’m usually the only one up. Nice and quiet, me and my thoughts. Me and my coffee…with Baileys.

So I come home one day to find by the porch steps, the most ginormous splat of bird shit I’ve seen in a long time. Look around and there’s this bird perched on a branch trying to make like stealth. I watch it/him/her for a bit before thinking I should probably get a photo of the guy/gal/it.

Most of the birds in our backyard are ultra skittish save for the woodpecker but this one took the cake. I was working that thing like no tomorrow, shooting from the left, from the right, from underneath, every which way I could until I got bored. And not once did the little guy budge. I’m not a birder so I didn’t a clue what it was but the missus thinks it could be a baby robin (reddish chest patch). Anyone know what it is ?

I discovered this nest and two eggs beside my garage, built upon a pile of bricks but hidden by some branches. Again, a clue someone ?

I check on it everyday since we have some very pesky and very bothersome ‘coons as well as a friendly neighbourhood cat who would probably make short work of the fragile packages.

Hopefully I’ll be able to photograph it as things develop if I haven’t scared off the mother.

That’s where I am till Sunday after arriving Thursday.

I’m here on assignment and my first day/ night was in some ways depressing. I was not depressed myself but wandering around the lobby and casino of the hotel and seeing people sitting blank eyed in front of the slots left me with a feeling of sadness.

Sadness, and I’m generalising, at what people will do for ‘entertainment’. Maybe I’m feeling smug because I don’t gamble but I had to wonder why people flock to something which is designed to take their money with slim if little hope of getting any back.

I have peripheral experience with the effects of gambling and it is very unpleasant. It robs people of their souls and their hopes. It takes people away from their families. It takes food out of mouths. It’s an addiction which is not discouraged at any level.

I see in some people, a resignation that has taken over. Ennui. A look of knowing that they may never win anything but for some reason, keep feeding the coins.

Indeed, a boulevard of broken dreams.