This will be of interest to my photographer friends, Bermuda friends and just about anyone else. I followed some links from the Royal Gazette to come across these 1930's photos, that have been redone in colour, of the island. Just amazing. To the Bermudians, read the comments, some of them are fascinating in the discussions as to where the photos were taken and there are comparisons to today.
Old Bermuda in the 1930's
Enjoy, I know I did.
Mar 5, 2011
Mar 1, 2011
Still Alive!
Although some days I wonder ;-)
Life has been crazy lately. Work is insane right now, although it's tapering off a bit, even managed to get some paperwork caught up that I've been trying to do for the past 6 months. Cathy has finally rejected all offers of mediation so she went off to a lawyer to settle our separation. So now I'm in the process of hiring my own lawyer at 325 bucks per hour (ouch!) to get this over and done with. Thus I'm filling out more paperwork then you can image and photocopying every piece of paper imaginable. It's a good thing I save things like taxes and bills, can't image trying to get all this stuff done without it. First interview with the lawyer is on Monday so you know what I'll be doing all weekend.
Let me give those few single friends of mine some advice, and this might sound nasty but it's the truth. Never, ever get involved with someone who isn't a similar pay level or has their own pension plan like your own. If they don't, many will try and bilk you for it all and by law they will get it. They will get 50% of your pension and a huge chunk of your pay in spousal and child support. If your married for over 15 years they will get spousal until the end of time (unless they marry or common-in-law). They are leeches for life. Find a woman (or man) who is the same social level as yourself. Trust me on this one, by the end of this I expect that I will have lost over a quarter of a million in pension and assets. Spousal could be as much as another quarter of a million over 25 years. If she would have had her own pension and pay cheque I'd only owe child support and split the assets. Think about it when you try and be nice and support your family. For many years I said "that's ok dear, you do what you like, we can make ends meet based on my salary". I was trying to be nice and let her stay at home because I had a good paying job. I worked all the hours so she could go on dog walks, the gym, Tim Horton's with the friends and spend her summers running around having a good time with the kids. I thought I was being so nice letting the kids grow up with "mom" home all the time instead of a babysitter. Now I get bit in the ass. Guys and Gals - send them out to work for a living so you don't end up being their income until the end of time.
But Jen has been there through it all being very supportive and keeping me happy. Despite all the foolishness life is still good and it'll all work out and be over sooner rather then later. She's my rock these days and I thank her from the bottom of my heart.
Beyond that not much new. We've had a bit more snow but haven't been out snowshoeing in a few weeks or taking photos. Last weekend was Jen's dad's birthday so we hosted a small dinner and the week before we were out to a friends for a formal diner party. Thanks John and Jill! Not to mention some time in front of the 3rd Family Guy Star Wars and 2 of the Robot Chicken Star Wars DVD's hahaha
Hope everyone hasn't abandoned the blog, I'm still here and kicking. Just the time of year and the foolishness surrounding it all. We're talking about snowshoeing or going into the downtown core this weekend, but depends on the weather. So might get some photos this weekend. Cheers fer now!
Life has been crazy lately. Work is insane right now, although it's tapering off a bit, even managed to get some paperwork caught up that I've been trying to do for the past 6 months. Cathy has finally rejected all offers of mediation so she went off to a lawyer to settle our separation. So now I'm in the process of hiring my own lawyer at 325 bucks per hour (ouch!) to get this over and done with. Thus I'm filling out more paperwork then you can image and photocopying every piece of paper imaginable. It's a good thing I save things like taxes and bills, can't image trying to get all this stuff done without it. First interview with the lawyer is on Monday so you know what I'll be doing all weekend.
Let me give those few single friends of mine some advice, and this might sound nasty but it's the truth. Never, ever get involved with someone who isn't a similar pay level or has their own pension plan like your own. If they don't, many will try and bilk you for it all and by law they will get it. They will get 50% of your pension and a huge chunk of your pay in spousal and child support. If your married for over 15 years they will get spousal until the end of time (unless they marry or common-in-law). They are leeches for life. Find a woman (or man) who is the same social level as yourself. Trust me on this one, by the end of this I expect that I will have lost over a quarter of a million in pension and assets. Spousal could be as much as another quarter of a million over 25 years. If she would have had her own pension and pay cheque I'd only owe child support and split the assets. Think about it when you try and be nice and support your family. For many years I said "that's ok dear, you do what you like, we can make ends meet based on my salary". I was trying to be nice and let her stay at home because I had a good paying job. I worked all the hours so she could go on dog walks, the gym, Tim Horton's with the friends and spend her summers running around having a good time with the kids. I thought I was being so nice letting the kids grow up with "mom" home all the time instead of a babysitter. Now I get bit in the ass. Guys and Gals - send them out to work for a living so you don't end up being their income until the end of time.
But Jen has been there through it all being very supportive and keeping me happy. Despite all the foolishness life is still good and it'll all work out and be over sooner rather then later. She's my rock these days and I thank her from the bottom of my heart.
Beyond that not much new. We've had a bit more snow but haven't been out snowshoeing in a few weeks or taking photos. Last weekend was Jen's dad's birthday so we hosted a small dinner and the week before we were out to a friends for a formal diner party. Thanks John and Jill! Not to mention some time in front of the 3rd Family Guy Star Wars and 2 of the Robot Chicken Star Wars DVD's hahaha
Hope everyone hasn't abandoned the blog, I'm still here and kicking. Just the time of year and the foolishness surrounding it all. We're talking about snowshoeing or going into the downtown core this weekend, but depends on the weather. So might get some photos this weekend. Cheers fer now!
Feb 17, 2011
Miss My Dogs
Really missing my 2 dogs these days!
Jen sent me this today - Rolo
Jen sent me this today - Rolo
I so want to run out and adopt this cutie hahaha.
And then Jen took off and got another tattoo today, I want one of those too :-( It's another nice one, hopefully she'll let me post a picture after it heals. I'm never going to catch up if she keeps getting into the tattoo guy before me! LOL.
Feb 5, 2011
Snowshoeing!
What a beautiful day in the Ottawa region. Blue skies and temps above 0c. As a result we had wonderful blue skies with lots of fresh white snow thanks to the storm the other day. Santa brought new snowshoes to Jen and I at Christmas but we really haven't had enough snow to try them out. Today was the day! At the same time it was a perfect day to try out the 2 new lenses. I've only had the Tamron 17-50mm for 2 days so this was it's first real workout and the more I use the Nikon 80-200mm the more impressed and happy I am with the purchase. It has to be the best lens I've ever used. Along the walk we enjoyed the company of 2 of the farms dogs. Jessy and Monchique (I think I have the names and spelling correct).
Be sure to click the image to see full size.
Jessy and Monchique (I think I have the names and spelling correct) playing with Jen. They are her new best friends ;-) Seems throwing snow for hours is something they enjoy.
D200 w/Nikon 80-200mm
Be sure to click the image to see full size.
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| Make note of the snowball at the top of the image heading my way. D200 w/Tamron 17-50mm |
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| Jen showing off the new snowshoes ;-) Made by an Ontario company called BIGFOOT D200 w/Tamron 17-50mm |
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| Wanted to see what would happen shooting into the sun. It works! Nice star burst at F32 D200 w/Tamron 17-50mm |
A couple of shots of my pretty lady ;-)
D200 w/Tamron 17-50mm
A couple of horse portraits. These are with the big 80-200mm
D200 w/Nikon 80-200mm
D200 w/Nikon 80-200mm
Hope everyone else is having a great weekend as well!
Feb 3, 2011
Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 VC First Look
Happy Anniversary to Jen and myself today! 6 whole months and the future looks bright ;-) Love you babe!
Received my new Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 this afternoon just as the sun was setting. Not enough time to get outside and see what I can do but tossed it onto the camera, didn't read any instructions, and snapped a few indoor shots. Not bad, not bad ;-) First impressions are pretty good. First, the price was right. Got it though an E-Bay store located here in Ontario that is hundreds cheaper then Henry's on new Tamron products. Ordered the lens late on Monday and it would have been delivered on Wednesday if the snow storm wouldn't have stopped the truck. But got it today (Thursday). The weight and feel seem really good and professional, not cheap plastic like I thought it might. Considering the Nikon 2.8 is around $1300.00 and this is the third of the price, well lets just say no complaints from me.
Now that we have snow on the ground, Jen and I are planning on some snowshoeing this weekend, hope to take many more pictures to put this and the 80-200 F2.8 through their paces.
Received my new Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 this afternoon just as the sun was setting. Not enough time to get outside and see what I can do but tossed it onto the camera, didn't read any instructions, and snapped a few indoor shots. Not bad, not bad ;-) First impressions are pretty good. First, the price was right. Got it though an E-Bay store located here in Ontario that is hundreds cheaper then Henry's on new Tamron products. Ordered the lens late on Monday and it would have been delivered on Wednesday if the snow storm wouldn't have stopped the truck. But got it today (Thursday). The weight and feel seem really good and professional, not cheap plastic like I thought it might. Considering the Nikon 2.8 is around $1300.00 and this is the third of the price, well lets just say no complaints from me.
Now that we have snow on the ground, Jen and I are planning on some snowshoeing this weekend, hope to take many more pictures to put this and the 80-200 F2.8 through their paces.
My now famous icicle at sunset. Notice it's getting bigger! As you can see from the background, the DOF is going to be fun with this lens.
My computer and desk in a dark room. This was shot handheld no flash. The VC works very nice.
And my front room in the dark. Again handheld and no flash. The F2.8 combined with VC is doing it's job.
But as I said, more tests to come. But looking forward to trying it out. Have to go on a road trip tomorrow and going to throw this lens in my bag. Will see if I get anything to shoot.
Anyone interested in purchasing my Nikon 18-200mm VR, or my Sigma 75-300mm? I think my world now revolves around 2.8 glass ;-)
Jan 29, 2011
Weird Weekend
Bit of a strange weekend on this end. The first weekend in my memory that I haven't been hanging out with Jen. An weekend of unforeseen circumstances. Normally I would have been at Jen's this weekend but Keaton decided he wanted to come up here to study for his hardest exam (but I think he just likes the piece and quiet and more importantly the high speed internet). On top of that Jen came down with the flu earlier this week and has been feeling terrible, although she seems more on the mend today and to top it all off she's carless. Her car decided to die during the cold this week. I was unable to boost it and the battery seems fine. Sucks that I couldn't help her out more. But it's been towed off to a garage and hopefully will be an easy, and cheap, fix on Monday. As a result she's at her home and I'm at mine. :-(
Got up this morning and the snow was coming down. Would have been a good day for a walk in the woods but instead spent the day working on Bermuda Images. For years I've been putting off organizing and naming many of my images. So today was Bermuda! Found a good program for making galleries called JAlbum, so after figuring it out, naming images, uploading and changing all the html code I looked up to discover it was dark again. Ouch, an entire day! I'm still not 100 percent happy with the home page but the galleries have come together. Bermuda images is now up to page 3 on google so I'm hoping it will continue to move up and start getting some hits. Anyhow, check the site out and see what you think. I'm always open to constructive criticism, just remember I'm not much of a web designer ;-)
I also realized today that this is the 1 year mark of when I made one the toughest decisions of my life. It was 1 year ago today that Cathy and I sat down and decided to separate. As a result this past year has involved a complete lifestyle change along with the ups and downs associated with it. Unfortunately much still needs to be resolved with things not going as smooth as I had hoped. But in evaluating the past year I can honestly say I have no regrets. I'm so much happier and healthy now, I feel so much younger and am enjoying life. Having Jen with me has made my world such a wonderful place.
No pictures to post but I did post almost 200 over on Bermuda Images, so if you wanna see some warm temps and ocean views, head on over and check them out. I'm watching the airfares to Bermuda right now, Jen and I are trying for a trip to the island in May. It can't come soon enough! And looking forward to showing "my island" off to Jen ;-) She's going to love it.
If the weather is clear I'm going to try for a few landscape and horse shots in the morning. Check back to see if I got off my lazy ass and made it happen! ;-)
Got up this morning and the snow was coming down. Would have been a good day for a walk in the woods but instead spent the day working on Bermuda Images. For years I've been putting off organizing and naming many of my images. So today was Bermuda! Found a good program for making galleries called JAlbum, so after figuring it out, naming images, uploading and changing all the html code I looked up to discover it was dark again. Ouch, an entire day! I'm still not 100 percent happy with the home page but the galleries have come together. Bermuda images is now up to page 3 on google so I'm hoping it will continue to move up and start getting some hits. Anyhow, check the site out and see what you think. I'm always open to constructive criticism, just remember I'm not much of a web designer ;-)
I also realized today that this is the 1 year mark of when I made one the toughest decisions of my life. It was 1 year ago today that Cathy and I sat down and decided to separate. As a result this past year has involved a complete lifestyle change along with the ups and downs associated with it. Unfortunately much still needs to be resolved with things not going as smooth as I had hoped. But in evaluating the past year I can honestly say I have no regrets. I'm so much happier and healthy now, I feel so much younger and am enjoying life. Having Jen with me has made my world such a wonderful place.
No pictures to post but I did post almost 200 over on Bermuda Images, so if you wanna see some warm temps and ocean views, head on over and check them out. I'm watching the airfares to Bermuda right now, Jen and I are trying for a trip to the island in May. It can't come soon enough! And looking forward to showing "my island" off to Jen ;-) She's going to love it.
If the weather is clear I'm going to try for a few landscape and horse shots in the morning. Check back to see if I got off my lazy ass and made it happen! ;-)
Jan 22, 2011
A Couple More....
A couple of more shots from the new lens:
Shot through the kitchen window.
A portrait of the most beautiful woman! ;-)
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