Times Square

Off the highway near Banff is a lookout above Peyto Lake and any of you who have been here in summer know why I titled this shot

Off the highway near Banff is a lookout above Peyto Lake and any of you who have been here in summer know why I titled this shot “Times Square”. I did a bad thing. I climbed over the lookout and went to a rock on a ledge to compose this shot. If I could widen the angle on this shot just two degrees, you’d see another twenty people that did the same thing. Doesn’t make it right. After I captured this I climbed back onto the platform and pushed my way past the four hundred other people standing on the platform or waiting for a chance to stand on the platform. But I digress, because the real point of this shot is beauty we have on this Earth. Let’s try and preserve it, eh?

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Through My Lens

In Vancouver near the Westin Hotel there is this little semi-circular walkway over the water that offers a great view of the harbour. One day I watched an otter from this spot and overheard someone mention that he frequents the outdoor pool at the Westin. Animals are respected here in Vancouver like no other city, they seem to be residents accorded all the rights, and maybe even a little more. And as far as I'm concerned that's the way it should be. This is the Coal Harbour section of Vancouver at night.

In Vancouver near the Westin Hotel there is this little semi-circular walkway over the water that offers a great view of the harbour. One day I watched an otter from this spot and overheard someone mention that he frequents the outdoor pool at the Westin. Animals are respected here in Vancouver like no other city, they seem to be residents accorded all the rights, and maybe even a little more. And as far as I’m concerned that’s the way it should be. This is the Coal Harbour section of Vancouver at night.

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Bradenton Beach Pier

This is the clock tower and pier in Bradenton Beach Florida. I was trying to get a good picture of the moon as it sunk into the beach just before dawn, but that didn't work out too well. Moons are hard. So I turned around and walked around this deserted beach village just before sunrise. The local bartender on Bridge Street was still sweeping up from the previous night and gave me a sideways glance as I walked the empty streets with my camera. I need to give up on moons and try this a little more often.

This is the clock tower and pier in Bradenton Beach Florida. I was trying to get a good picture of the moon as it sunk into the beach just before dawn, but that didn’t work out too well. Moons are hard. So I turned around and walked around this deserted beach village just before sunrise. The local bartender on Bridge Street was still sweeping up from the previous night and gave me a sideways glance as I walked the empty streets with my camera. I need to give up on moons and try this a little more often.

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View of Granville

I took this last year while walking around Vancouver one evening. I walk a lot when in Vancouver because no matter where I go there's so much to see. I'm in love with that city for a variety of reasons, not the least is which it suits my personality. But then there are a lot of other cities I need to see, Berlin is way up there. But Vancouver is just plain cool, laid back and the best example of the new age in North America. This is a view of Granville Island around dusk and as I recall it was a two mile walk back to my hotel from here, not that I minded one bit.

I took this last year while walking around Vancouver. I walk a lot when in Vancouver because there’s so much to see. There are a lot of other cities I need to see, Berlin is way up there. But Vancouver is just plain cool, laid back and the best example of the new age in North America. This is a view of Granville Island around dusk and as I recall it was a two mile walk back to my hotel from here, not that I minded one bit.

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Southern Fresh

This is a little restaurant called Southern Fresh in Safety Harbor Florida that I had lunch at last week. Safety Harbor is a village near Tampa. I’d never been here so didn’t know what to expect but left a huge fan. The name says it all. The meals they prepare are indeed southern, I had BBQ pork and collard greens. I don’t do restaurant reviews so I’m not about to go into great detail other than to say it was the best pork and greens I’ve ever had. The waiter apologized on how long it took to prepare our meal, as he explained they make each order from scratch. I can attest to the taste and quality of food. Anyway, I snapped this with my iPhone on the way out. Check it out if you’re in the area.

This is a little restaurant called Southern Fresh in Safety Harbor Florida that I had lunch at last week. Safety Harbor is a village near Tampa. I'd never been here so didn't know what to expect but left a huge fan. The name says it all. The meals they prepare are indeed southern, I had BBQ pork and collard greens. I don't do restaurant reviews so I'm not about to go into great detail other than to say it was the best pork and greens I've ever had. The waiter apologized on how long it took to prepare our meal, as he explained they make each order from scratch. I can attest to the taste and quality of food. Anyway, I snapped this with my iPhone on the way out. Check it out if you're in the area.

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Vermillion Lake

Vermillion Lake is just outside Banff in Alberta Canada, part of Banff National Park. It’s impossible to drive anywhere and not be impressed by the scenery and grandeur at every turn. I was here last summer and headed out to capture this around dusk on the last day. The summer days were much longer so this was probably around eight or nine at night. I remember being swarmed by mosquitoes as I setup for this frame and then made a dash back for the car. Now looking back and remembering this, I just want to go back. Perhaps I will this summer.

Vermillion Lake is just outside Banff in Alberta Canada, part of Banff National Park. It's impossible to drive anywhere and not be impressed by the scenery and grandeur at every turn. I was here last summer and headed out to capture this around dusk on the last day. The summer days were much longer so this was probably around eight or nine at night. I remember being swarmed by mosquitoes as I setup for this frame and then made a dash back for the car. Now looking back and remembering this, I just want to go back. Perhaps I will this summer.

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Underworld

I took this of the DuSable Bridge a few weeks ago in Chicago. The subterranean street levels are only a few feet down but worlds away in their appearance and feel. Undoubtably these have inspired writers, artist and uh, …photographers. For whatever reason there were few cars going in this direction which allowed me to stand in the middle of the street to compose the shot. I kept glancing over my shoulder as I have a tendency to get engrossed when shooting which can be a little hazardous when standing in the middle of a dark street. Probably not very smart either.

I took this of the DuSable Bridge a few weeks ago in Chicago. The subterranean street levels are only a few feet down but worlds away in their appearance and feel. Undoubtably these have inspired writers, artist and uh, ...photographers. For whatever reason there were few cars going in this direction which allowed me to stand in the middle of the street to compose the shot. I kept glancing over my shoulder as I have a tendency to get engrossed when shooting which can be a little hazardous when standing in the middle of a dark street. Probably not very smart either.

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Old Town Verandas

When I was in the old town section of San Juan Puerto Rico last fall I became enamored with the charm of the place. By charm I mean the sense of community and character. I think the verandas play an important role in all that. Folks like to hang out on their verandas or the streets below talking, playing cards or just watching other people walk by. I have a veranda out the back of my house were I like to go to relax sometimes, so I guess I relate to these older, more storied versions. I imagine these have been here for a hundred years, but I can’t imagine all the scenes that have transpired on or below them. Fun to think about nonetheless.

When I was in the old town section of San Juan Puerto Rico last fall I became enamored with the charm of the place. By charm I mean the sense of community and character. I think the verandas play an important role in all that. Folks like to hang out on their verandas or the streets below talking, playing cards or just watching other people walk by. I have a veranda out the back of my house were I like to go to relax sometimes, so I guess I relate to these older, more storied versions. I imagine these have been here for a hundred years, but I can't imagine all the scenes that have transpired on or below them. Fun to think about nonetheless.

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Clearwater Beach

Florida has more than it’s share of pirates, they’re everywhere. I took this last weekend at Clearwater Beach where it appears the pirates where just off shore. We also have a lot of bikers in Florida. More often than not they’re just fun loving retired dudes with big beards and bigger paunches, like my neighbor a few doors down. My theory is that the pirates of old reincarnated as bikers in Florida, and when they’re not riding their bikes they’re pretending to be pirates. That’s my theory and I’m sticking to it.

Florida has more than it's share of pirates, they're everywhere. I took this last weekend at Clearwater Beach where it appears the pirates where just off shore. We also have a lot of bikers in Florida. More often than not they're just fun loving retired dudes with big beards and bigger paunches, like my neighbor a few doors down. My theory is that the pirates of old reincarnated as bikers in Florida, and when they're not riding their bikes they're pretending to be pirates. That's my theory and I'm sticking to it.

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Navy Pier

By the time I took this picture of Navy Pier in Chicago last week, the cold snap known as Polar Vortex had passed, yet wherever I walked I could see evidence of it, and none more so than the frozen Lake Michigan. But by this time it had warmed up to around 32f/0C and so people were out enjoying the “balmy” weather. The Magnificent Mile on North Michigan Avenue was busy and crowds where here at Navy Pier as well. Three more months to go and the whole place will be covered in tulips and Chicagoans going crazy with spring fever, and who could blame them?

By the time I took this picture of Navy Pier in Chicago last week, the cold snap known as Polar Vortex had passed, yet wherever I walked I could see evidence of it, and none more so than the frozen Lake Michigan. But by this time it had warmed up to around 32f/0C and so people were out enjoying the