August 29th Walkabout

Tags

don valley parkway, duct tape, google map, Lower Don Recreation Trail, Nikon 1 V1, Pedestrian Bridge, polaroid transfer, Railway trestle, Streetcar

With all the buildup and excitement leading to my daughter’s wedding, I haven’t been able to maintain my regular schedule of daily walkabouts. But today I managed to get out for a walkabout.

I have written about Beechwood Drive before and it is a roadway that leads down to the Don Valley and the Lower Don Recreation Trail. Branching off from that trail is another path that takes you into Crothers Woods Trail. The Google Map below shows where Beechwood Drive goes north from O’Connor Drive and descends into the valley. I have marked on the map the Railway Trestle and Pedestrian Bridge which you will see photos of as you scroll down. And as always, click on any photo to see a larger version.

Google Map showing the Lower Don Recreation Trail and Crothers Woods Trail and the location of the Railway Trestle and Pedestrian Bridge.

This is the underpass at Beechwood Drive. Above is the Don Valley Parkway:

Here is the Railway Trestle taken on an angle. What follows are 3 versions of the same photo. I don’t normally use filters or tricks in post-processing my shots, but I installed some new plug-ins that produce different effects. The first photo is straight from the camera with a small tweak done for colour correction in Aperture:

The second version is a black and white that I made in Aperture:

And this last version is a filter that vignettes and ages the photo. I think the subject matter lends itself well to this effect. The only tip-off that this is a modern day photo is the visible graffiti.

Here’s a straight on view of the bridge. I posted many of these on my 500px page: http://500px.com/PeterVisima The straight on view was a crowd favourite. Again I did 3versions. The first is straight out of the camera with minor colour correction:

Next is a black and white version:

And last is a version with a filter called Polaroid Transfer. This garnered the most number of votes as was favoured by many people on 500px. This photo was my highest rated, receiving a 500px “pulse” of 94.1%:

It is worthwhile noting that this track is in daily use. It carries the GO train and is the same track you see if you drive down Pottery Road to Bayview Avenue. Since there are no vehicles here, there are no gates or barrier, just the warning signals. Note to self: don’t be standing here taking photographs while listening to my music on my iPhone!

Further along this trail is a new and modern Pedestrian Bridge that leads to the Crothers Woods Trail:

I added a photo filter to age the photo and give it a border as well

I found this spider web on the Pedestrian Bridge. I have to say it’s the oddest jumble of a web that I have ever seen:

Here’s my obligatory self-portrait. There are long shadows at 7:30 in the morning:

Back up onto the streets on my way home, I found this vehicle. Obviously the owner knows the finer points of how duct tape holds anything together. I’m guessing he’s probably a big fan of WD-40 as well. What’s the old saying; if it moves use duct tape, if it doesn’t move use WD-40:

My last photo for today’s walkabout is this streetcar. I think it’s a clever ad:

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August 25th Wedding

Tags

Kirsten, Mike, Sunnyside, wedding

My daughter Kirsten married the man of her dreams, Mike last Saturday, August 25th. As the father of the bride, this was one of the happiest occasions of my life. We held our breaths worrying about what the weather would be like plus any and all other things that could have gone wrong on this special day.

As it turned out, the many, many months of planning with countless hours of hard work by Nancy and Kirsten all paid off.

The weather was great albeit quite warm. But our venue was at Sunnyside Pavillion right down on the lakeshore on Lake Ontario so it was a bit cooler down there and we had a welcome breeze off the lake every now and then.

Myself, 3 bridesmaids plus my mother and the bride all rode the limousine which I successfully prodded everyone into loading exactly at 4:00pm. The reception was 5:00pm but due to traffic in Toronto plus the fact that the CNE was going on, nobody could predict what the traffic would be like. As it turned out, traffic was virtually non-existent and we all arrived at Sunnyside with almost 1/2 hour to spare. My daughter was a bit nervous so she literally kept herself cool in the limousine while we waited for our 5:00pm cue.

At 4:55 it was showtime. We cued up, the music was playing, and I was literally beaming while escorting my beautiful daughter down the aisle. The ceremony was short and sweet and the officient was fantastic.

The ironic thing about this wedding from my perspective as being a photographer, was that I did not have the opportunity to photograph this wedding as I have done for countless friends and family many times in the past. My son Ryan was taking lots of photos which we are looking forward to seeing, but I could not photograph this wedding as I would have liked.

The dinner was great, the music was playing and then it happened… a total power failure at Sunnyside! We weren’t in total darkness thanks to some ambient light after the sunset, plus the great choice of having candles as the center-pieces on all the tables. But we had no music. Our DJ Jeff quickly figured out he could “borrow” some electricity by hooking many extension cords together to reach a local Pizza Pizza kiosk not too far away. Shortly we had music, light from the candles, and the party was on!

I’m sure that guests will be talking about the power failure for years to come and how we all made the very best of it.

Here are some photos from that epic event:

Me, the proud father en route to the wedding.

Waiting for the big event to start:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp2l3B8u2qw&feature=youtu.be

Kirsten and Mike exchanging rings

The beautiful bride Kirsten and one of her bridesmaids, Allyson.

The bride and groom being photographed on the beach at Lake Ontario.

Thanks goodness for the candles in the table center-pieces.

The happy couple.

August 16th Walkabout

Tags

Beechwood Drive, Bloor Viaduct, Bridgepoint Health, Don River, Don Valley, Lower Don Recreation Trail, Riverdale Park

Today’s walkabout took me down a road that I haven’t been on in at least 25 years. When Nancy and I lived on O’Connor Drive, directly across from our house was Beechwood Drive. This road lead downhill towards and under the Don Valley Parkway. Beechwood ends and the Lower Don Recreational Trail passes by this point.

If you turn to the right (north) the trail takes you up the west side of the Don Valley Parkway up towards Overlea Boulevard. It also branches into Taylor Creek Park and takes you east to Dawes Road. I love that little stretch of Taylor Creek Park.

If you turn left (south) from Beechwood you cross Pottery Road near Bayview and then pass under the Bloor Street Viaduct. Opposite Riverdale Park near Bridgepoint Health the trail crosses a bridge and you are now on the east side of the Don River. I took another bridge near Bridgepoint that took me up and over the Don Valley Parkway towards Broadview Avenue and my trek home. I did just a bit over 11km in about two hours time. I was off my 10-minute per kilometre pace since there were so many great photo opportunities that I saw today. Here are some of the images and as always, click on any to see a larger version:

This is probably the tamest rabbit I have ever seen. I spotted it about 30 feet away from me and literally got to within two feet before it darted into the woods. This was on Beechwood Drive.

Beechwood Drive as it passes under the Don Valley Parkway

It’s great that the city has lots of information boards plus signage for directions and distances

Some of the early morning mist and fog make for some great photos in the valley

The vegetation is lush and full of flowers

At some points, the Don River looks deceptively calm, but this is a significant river which would cause you difficulty if you fell in.

This is the new pedestrian/bicycle crossing on Pottery Road near Todmorden Mills.

You are forced into a small zig-zag so you cannot directly cross Pottery Road. Obviously to prevent accidents as the cars really do whiz by here at high speed.

At the Bayview/Bloor offramp the Trail is right beside the Don Valley Parkway

An old elevated railway trestle. This is part of the same trestle you see on the Bayview Extension near the Don Valley Brickworks (Evergreen Brickworks).

Railway trestle and support column

Photographers learn to always look back to where you have just come from. There’s always another photo op over your shoulder.

A scourge on our modern landscape–graffiti is everywhere.

Another look back to where I have come from.

This is underneath the Bayview/Bloor exit ramp from the Don Valley Parkway.

This bridge provided for some great photo ops.

Same shot as previous but converted to black and white.

This is my favourite image from today

The Bloor Street Viaduct

I love the sign! Now I can’t get that song out of my head.

The Don Valley Parking Lot. It was actually moving fairly well today.

August 13th walkabout

Tags

1953, Cullen Bryant Park, East York, manhole cover, Stan Wadlow, Taylor Creek

It was a perfect 20°C and slightly overcast for my morning walkabout. I never have a pre-planned route when I start out on my walks. Turn left or right, go north or south, I never know which. If it’s really hot and sunny I try to make my way east so that on my return leg home the sun will be at my back.

At the very north end of Coxwell Avenue at O’Connor Drive, Coxwell becomes Coxwell Boulevard for a very short two blocks. Where Coxwell Boulevard meets Taylor Drive, there is a small park called Cullen Bryant Park which contains a hidden entrance with stairs leading down to Taylor Creek Park. You cannot see the entrance from the street because it is located at the northern most point of the park.

Once in Taylor Creek Park I usually turn right and walk towards Dawes Road. Today I turned left and was disappointed to find that the trail shortly ended at the parking lot which leads in off of Don Mills Road. There is a massive sewer construction site going on but the site had a sign pointing to a Walkway. I followed it and a rough gravel path became narrower and narrower and eventually turned into a pretty rough and narrow dirt path. Before I knew it I was deep in the woods and had no idea where I was. The GPS on my phone showed that I was deep inside Coxwell Ravine. The path was not very well travelled but there were recent bicycle tire tracks. I thought that perhaps the trail would lead me up towards O’Connor Drive. Wrong! It brought me back to the construction site after about half an hour slogging through the woods. I won’t be turning left at the bottom of those stairs again!

The hidden stairway in Cullen Bryant Park leading down into Taylor Creek Park

I love the thickness of the vegetation as you get down into Taylor Creek Park. The temperature is noticeably cooler that being up on the streets.

This is Taylor Creek. From the direction of the water it runs right into the Don River which runs into Lake Ontario.

The path leading into Coxwell Ravine Park

Deep inside Coxwell Ravine Park. Not a person in sight.

The arrow in this Google Maps link shows exactly where I was when I took this photograph. My Nikon 1 V1 camera has the optional GP-N100 GPS device which tags every photo I take with the exact location of where I was when I clicked the shutter button. You can see the exact GPS coordinates in the link below. The camera imbeds that data directly into the EXIF header data of the file. That is great technology!

http://maps.google.com/?q=43.6994500000,-79.3314333333&spn=0.05,0.05&t=h&om=1&hl=en

Back on the normal trail in Taylor Creek Park

This is a great place to come and enjoy the fall colours

My elusive search for a 1952 (the year I was born) manhole cover continues. I found this one at the corner of Cosburn and Cedarvale Avenues near Stan Wadlow Park. And no, I’m not walking around the city with my head down looking at manhole cover dates all the time!

Leslieville Farmers’ Market–BaconFest

Tags

BaconFest, Crosswind Farm, Farmers' Market, Forbes Wild Foods, Glas Wine Bar, Haystrom Farm, Hooked, Jonathan Ashbridge Park, Le Matin, Leslieville, This Little Pig, Waffle Bar, Wheelbarrow Farm

On Sunday I attended the Leslieville Farmers’ Market located at Jonathan Ashbridge Park near Queen Street East and Coxwell Avenue. If you are travelling by car there is lots of free parking on Eastern Avenue just west of Coxwell.

The Sunday market was featuring BaconFest. A couple of new vendors were in attendance including “This Little Pig” makers of artisanal bacon: http://thislittlepig.ca/

Also in attendance were members of Glas Wine Bar: http://www.torontolife.com/daily/daily-dish/opening-daily-dish/2012/07/31/introducing-glas-wine-bar/

My first visit is always to the friendly people at Hooked, one of the best fishmongers in the city. They cook up an awesome fish taco for $4.

I believe that BaconFest was a huge success due to the fact that I have never seen it so crowded as it was on Sunday. Kudos to the organizers for bringing in new vendors and keeping things interesting.

BaconFest

The always awesome Fish Taco from Hooked

The hard-working gals from Hooked

Jim Hayward from Haystrom Farms in Picton. His sweet corn is fabulous. I have bought this two weeks in a row. 6 for $3.

Kind Organics featuring Salad Blends & Sprouts, Wheat Grass & Micro Greens, Fine Culinary Herbs, Edible Flowers & Baby Greens.

Merchants of Green Coffe: Fresh Coffee, Fair Trade, Green Business

Merchants of Green Coffee

I purchased a package of this artisanal bacon made by This Little Pig: http://thislittlepig.ca/

This Little Pig Hardwood Smoked Bacon

Cooking up some fine bacon at This Little Pig

$2 tasting samples from This Little Pig

Wheelbarrow Farm, Sunderland Ontario: ecological growing practices including mulch, cover crops, hand tools, and compost. No artificial fertilizers. No pesticides or herbicides.

Forbes Wild Foods: foods are harvested from the Canadian wilderness by trained pickers who practice sustainable harvesting methods

Waffle Bar: handmade Belgian waffles

Le Matin Bakery by Jean-Pierre Challet

A great selection of French pastries and breads from Le Matin

Crosswind Farm, Keene Ontario: goat products including milk, yogurt, chesse and goat meat

Lots of tasty samples from Crosswind Farm

Backyard flowers in the rain #2

Tags

flowers, hosta, Nikkor 18-200mm lens, Nikon 1 V1, Nikon D90, Sigma 105mm macro lens, spider web

I love shooting macro shots with lenses that can get extreme close-ups. The lighting today was different than yesterday and I took some shots with my Nikon 1 V1 along with its lens adapter that lets me use my full-size Nikon lenses on the little V1. For some of the shots I used my Nikkor 18-200mm lens. On my V1 that lens has a 35mm equivalent focal length of 48-540mm. I had to focus manually and as per yesterday, did not use a tripod for any of these photographs.

I also used my Sigma 105mm macro lens which has a 35mm equivalent focal length of 283mm.

For the final shots of the spider in its web I did cheat and added some “rain” via the mist setting on our garden hose! I used my Nikon D90 with the Sigma 105mm marco lens.

Please click on any photograph to see a large version.

Hosta ready to bloom. Nikon 1 V1 with Nikkor 18-200mm lens

Same information as per the first photo

Host photographed with the Nikon 1 V1 and a Sigma macro 105mm lens

Extreme close-up of the hosta leaf with Nikon 1 V1 and Sigma macro 105mm lens

Same information as per the previous photo

Spider and its web with the Nikon 1 V1 and Sigma macro 105mm lens. The web needs some raindrops on it so…

Voilà, raindrops courtesy of the misting setting on our garden hose

The next four photographs were are done with the Nikon D90 and Sigma 105mm macro lens

Backyard flowers in the rain

Tags

backyard, flowers, Micro Nikkor 40mm, Nikon D90, raindrops

It’s great to photograph flowers when it’s overcast since you don’t get those nasty hard shadows. And I love the natural raindrops sitting on the petals. I have been known to create my own raindrops by using a spritzer! Photographers all know a few tricks and if Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate then you have to do what you have to do.

These were all taken with my trusty (but getting old) Nikon D90 using a Micro Nikkor 40mm f2.8 lens. The lens is incredibly cheap and incredibly good! That doesn’t happen very often. I was feeling a bit lazy so I didn’t break out the tripod for these–they are all handheld photos.

Today’s Walkabout-August 8th

Tags

Chino Locos, Danforth Avenue, Greenwood Avenue, Lee Avenue, Main Street, Old Man Sleeping, Queen Street East

Today’s walkabout took me across Danforth Avenue, up and over Main Street, along Kingston Road, down Lee Avenue, across Queen Street East and back up Greenwood Avenue to home. My total distance covered today was 10.6km at a decent temperature of 24°C.

I always have my Nikon 1 V1 camera with me and today I was using the 10-30mm zoom lens. Although I have walked this same route many times in the past, I always seem to find great photo opportunities–they are always there, you just have to look for them and be ready to shoot.

The morning sky

Danforth Avenue looking east towards Main Street

Keeping the sun away on the Danforth

This little semi on Lee Avenue is totally leaning to one side. The porch is crooked as are the porch supports and the porch roof.

The crooked porch roof support

A great wall mural painted on the side of Beach IGA at the corner of Lee Avenue and Queen Street East

For the second time this week I have seen a lineup of people wanting to get into their local library. This one is at Lee Avenue and Queen Street East adjacent to Kew Beach Park/Gardens. Either they have some great hot new titles, or people are wanting to enjoy the air-conditioning in the library

Cobs Bread at 1975 Queen Street East, east of Woodbine Avenue

I bought the Cape Seed Loaf

Cape Seed Loaf from Cobs Bread

http://www.cobsbread.com/product.aspx?id=1742

A friend of mine has visited Chino Locos and says their tacos and burritos are excellent. Located on the west side of Greenwood Avenue just north of Queen Street East

An old man having a snooze on his front porch on Greenwood Avenue. I guess he doesn’t like facing the street

Sleeping on the porch

This homeowner on Greenwood Avenue values tomatoes more than grass. Good for them!

East York Civic Centre Farmers’ Market

Tags

Civic Centre, East York, Farmers' Market, Monforte Dairy, Thiessen Farms, tomatoes

Every Tuesday a Farmers’ Market is held at the East York Civic Centre (Coxwell and Mortimer). Today I picked up some fresh blueberries, corn, cherry tomatoes, and organic butter and cheddar cheese from Monforte Dairy.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/East-York-Farmers-Market/316211965127347

Tomatoes from Thiessen Farms.

Naomi from Monforte Dairy.

Chicken on The Big Green Egg

Tags

BGE, Big Green Egg, chicken, West Side Beef Col.

Last night I barbecued a spatchcocked marinated chicken on The Big Green Egg. As always, the chicken was moist and tender. The Big Green Egg always produces amazing results. After the chicken was done I tossed on a flatbread pizza. We usually buy pre-made flatbread and then just add some simple toppings.

Here’s the Egg ready to go at 350° F.

After 1 hour, the chicken is done. I added about 1 handful of pre-soaked Alder wood chips to provide a nice smokey flavour:

A simple flatbread pizza: