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Neighbors

One day while walking through Vancouver I noticed these front steps all nicely aligned in a row. Even though they look the same, beyond each threshold lies a vastly different story. I live in a townhouse that looks just like the one next to it and so I suppose that to someone from a different culture my neighbor and I might appear very similar. And to me, folks in a village on the opposite side of the globe might also appear similar. But we’re not, and the chances are that I have more in common with someone on the opposite side of the globe than I do with my next door neighbor. Good morning neighbor, wherever you are.

One day while walking through Vancouver I noticed these front steps all nicely aligned in a row. Even though they look the same, beyond each threshold lies a vastly different story. I live in a townhouse that looks just like the one next to it and so I suppose that to someone from a different culture my neighbor and I might appear very similar. And to me, folks in a village on the opposite side of the globe might also appear similar. But we're not, and the chances are that I have more in common with someone on the opposite side of the globe than I do with my next door neighbor. Good morning neighbor, wherever you are.

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Bow River Sunrise

This is the Bow River Valley in Banff Alberta, one of many beautiful places you must visit in Canada. As I had never been here before I wasn’t sure how to catch a sunrise or sunset. The timing of sunrise and sunset is quite a different matter than in Florida where I live. It’s not enough to simply watch the sun as it approaches the horizon, up here the mountains obscure the sun for a while before sunset and after sunrise. So you just have to stand there and wait, which is what I did this morning. I’m not always so patient and so it’s usually better if I don’t have a lot of time to take a picture. On this morning I timed it pretty well so I didn’t have to wait too long. If my memory serves me, I quickly packed up to get back and catch an extra hour of sleep.

This is the Bow River Valley in Banff Alberta, one of many beautiful places you must visit in Canada. As I had never been here before I wasn't sure how to catch a sunrise or sunset. The timing of sunrise and sunset is quite a different matter than in Florida where I live. It's not enough to simply watch the sun as it approaches the horizon, up here the mountains obscure the sun for a while before sunset and after sunrise. So you just have to stand there and wait, which is what I did this morning. I'm not always so patient and so it's usually better if I don't have a lot of time to take a picture. On this morning I timed it pretty well so I didn't have to wait too long. If my memory serves me, I recall that I quickly packed up and went back to catch an extra hour of sleep.

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Vancouver Walk

Not too long ago I took a walk along the entrance of Stanley Park in Vancouver, British Columbia and ended up here. At this spot is where the rowing club is and in the evening you can stand here watching the crews work out. Rowing is another one of those sports I’d like to try, I think it would be much funner than the rowing machine at FitLorenzo (my gym). Even though I’ve been to this spot many dozens of times, there’s always something new to see or notice. And even if there isn’t I find it hard to leave, especially at dusk when the light is slightly muted and everyone is out running or cycling along the path. After I took this shot I headed back to the hotel and was surprised by the harvest moon, I didn’t realize it was on this day. I tried taking a picture of it but moons are tricky and I find it hard to capture it the way I see it with my eyes. Maybe one of these days they’ll figure out how to download the photo’s in my head. Until then I’ll keep trying with my camera.

Not too long ago I took a walk along the entrance of Stanley Park in Vancouver, British Columbia and ended up here. At this spot is where the rowing club is and in the evening you can stand here watching the crews work out. Rowing is another one of those sports I'd like to try, I think it would be much funner than the rowing machine at FitLorenzo (my gym). Even though I've been to this spot many dozens of times, there's always something new to see or notice. And even if there isn't I find it hard to leave, especially at dusk when the light is slightly muted and everyone is out running or cycling along the path. After I took this shot I headed back to the hotel and was surprised by the harvest moon, I didn't realize it was on this day. I tried taking a picture of it but moons are tricky and I find it hard to capture it the way I see it with my eyes. Maybe one of these days they'll figure out how to download the photo's in my head. Until then I'll keep trying with my camera.

Follow link to obtain a limited edition print of this photo.

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City Hall

This is Vancouver City Hall. I came here one evening after work to look around as I’d always seen this on the skyline but never up close. This is a very trendy section of Vancouver and there are a lot of cool places to eat and shop. My favorite place to shop is the Mountain Equipment Co-op about two blocks away. As you might guess, people that live in western Canada are zealous about enjoying the wilderness and the co-op has every little thing to help facilitate that spirit of adventure. And the restaurants in this section are eclectic if nothing else. I might even venture a guess that there are more Gluten-free restaurants here than any place in the world. That’s just a guess and as usual, I have no idea if that’s true, but you get the idea. In any case, as I was standing here composing this night shot with my tripod, a young couple where sitting right behind me smoking a joint and offering encouragement, right there in front of city hall. Only in Vancouver.

This is Vancouver City Hall. I came here one evening after work to look around as I'd always seen this on the skyline but never up close. This is a very trendy section of Vancouver and there are a lot of cool places to eat and shop. My favorite place to shop is the Mountain Equipment Co-op about two blocks away. As you might guess, people that live in western Canada are zealous about enjoying the wilderness and the co-op has every little thing to help facilitate that spirit of adventure. And the restaurants in this section are eclectic if nothing else. I might even venture a guess that there are more Gluten-free restaurants here than any place in the world. That's just a guess and as usual, I have no idea if that's true, but you get the idea. In any case, as I was standing here composing this night shot with my tripod, a young couple where sitting right behind me smoking a joint and offering encouragement, right there in front of city hall. Only in Vancouver.

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Under the Granville Bridge

The thing about Vancouver is it’s hard not to find a good view. Everywhere you look there seems to be something interesting to look at. I think that’s one of the things that makes a great city, the visual appeal. Years ago I used to work in New York City. When I first arrived I’d be walking around looking up at all the sights around me. Later, as time when by I found myself looking down at the sidewalk as I walked to the subway or wherever. And when I saw someone looking up I knew they were a tourist. I guess that’s the nice thing about photography, now I never lose interest in what’s around me. I’m less likely to get pulled back to the norm of looking down and living in my own world. Vancouver is one of those great cities where if you keep an open eye and an open mind, you’ll see something at every turn and every corner.

The thing about Vancouver is it's hard not to find a good view. Everywhere you look there seems to be something interesting to look at. I think that's one of the things that makes a great city, the visual appeal. Years ago I used to work in New York City. When I first arrived I'd be walking around looking up at all the sights around me. Later, as time when by I found myself looking down at the sidewalk as I walked to the subway or wherever. And when I saw someone looking up I knew they were a tourist. I guess that's the nice thing about photography, now I never lose interest in what's around me. I'm less likely to get pulled back to the norm of looking down and living in my own world. Vancouver is one of those great cities where if you keep an open eye and an open mind, you'll see something at every turn and every corner.

Follow link to obtain a limited edition print of this photo.

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Lake Minnewanka

Don’t let the clear water and sunny day fool you, this water is about 3C/38F. For a guy from Florida that’s just about the temperature I want my drink to be, not my swim. Even so there were a few brave hearts jumping in this mid-summer day. Apparently the Canadian Coast Guard uses this lake for cold water rescue training. That’s good enough for me, …moving on. The mountains on the left have had prescribed burns and so the forest is healthy, vibrant and growing, however fire suppression on the right has left the soil acidic and unfit for wildlife. Even though the forest looks more healthy, it is not. In any case, I was fascinated about that fact. It seems that the more enlightened we become, the more we realize that mother nature had it all under control in the first place. Go figure.

Don't let the clear water and sunny day fool you, this water is about 3C/38F. For a guy from Florida that's just about the temperature I want my drink to be, not my swim. Even so there were a few brave hearts jumping in this mid-summer day. Apparently the Canadian Coast Guard uses this lake for cold water rescue training. That's good enough for me, ...moving on. The mountains on the left have had prescribed burns and so the forest is healthy, vibrant and growing, however fire suppression on the right has left the soil acidic and unfit for wildlife. Even though the forest looks more healthy, it is not. In any case, I was fascinated about that fact. It seems that the more enlightened we become, the more we realize that mother nature had it all under control in the first place. Go figure.

Follow link to obtain a limited edition print of this photo.

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Light in the Mirror

I’m not much of a furniture buff but place it in a castle and turn down the lights and suddenly my imagination seems to take over and I’m transported away from this world. Mostly I imagine the scenes of past ages playing out with me as a bystander, as though watching a movie or viewing a prior life. Certain music does that to me also, for instance when I listen to Loreena McKennitt scenes and emotions from a different place and time play out. So it is that when I take photos like this they are not so much about the furniture but the images they evoke in my mind and the portals they open to other worlds and other times. But then a hotel guest walks by in flip flops and I’m brought back into this world.

I'm not much of a furniture buff but place it in a castle and turn down the lights and suddenly my imagination seems to take over and I'm transported away from this world. Mostly I imagine the scenes of past ages playing out with me as a bystander, as though watching a movie or viewing a prior life. Certain music does that to me also, for instance when I listen to Loreena McKennitt scenes and emotions from a different place and time play out. So it is that when I take photos like this they are not so much about the furniture but the images they evoke in my mind and the portals they open to other worlds and other times. But then a hotel guest walks by in flip flops and I'm brought back into this world.

Follow link to obtain a limited edition print of this photo.

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Siwash Rock

This is Siwash Rock which is at the western tip of Stanley Park in Vancouver. The first time I walked around the seawall I was struck by it’s shape and position, as though it were some mystical sentinel. I’ve tried several times to take a picture of this with poor results, in fact I was a little obsessed with this. How so? Well, when I’m in Vancouver I stay at the Marriott, and in each room of that hotel is the same black and white photograph of this rock, from roughly the same position. I don’t know who took that photo, but who ever you are it’a a really beautiful shot. So, I had it in my mind to do something like that. This is my spin, as it were, but of course I’m emulating another photographer who’s work is in every room of the Marriott. So there you have it, I got my inspiration from a hotel wall.

This is Siwash Rock which is at the western tip of Stanley Park in Vancouver. The first time I walked around the seawall I was struck by it's shape and position, as though it were some mystical sentinel. I've tried several times to take a picture of this with poor results, in fact I was a little obsessed with this. How so? Well, when I'm in Vancouver I stay at the Marriott, and in each room of that hotel is the same black and white photograph of this rock, from roughly the same position. I don't know who took that photo, but who ever you are it'a a really beautiful shot. So, I had it in my mind to do something like that. This is my spin, as it were, but of course I'm emulating another photographer who's work is in every room of the Marriott. So there you have it, I got my inspiration from a hotel wall.
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Another Century

Despite the old world look, this picture was taken this summer while in Banff. This is the front of the Banff Springs Hotel and is usually crowded with cars, buses and people coming and going. However, if you’re eager enough to get up at the break of dawn you just might glimpse a view that’s perhaps more reminiscent of the old glory days. Not much of the Banff Springs architecture has changed in a hundred years and walking inside or around this structure you appreciate the old world grandeur normally reserved for faraway places and long passed eras. In any case, I was just glad to get this shot before the first tour bus pulled up about five minutes later.

Despite the old world look, this picture was taken this summer while in Banff. This is the front of the Banff Springs Hotel and is usually crowded with cars, buses and people coming and going. However, if you're eager enough to get up at the break of dawn you just might glimpse a view that's perhaps more reminiscent of the old glory days. Not much of the Banff Springs architecture has changed in a hundred years and walking inside or around this structure you appreciate the old world grandeur normally reserved for faraway places and long passed eras. In any case, I was just glad to get this shot before the first tour bus pulled up about five minutes later.

Follow link to obtain a limited edition print of this photo.

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Cascade Pond

I hired a taxi to take me to a few places around Banff so I could snap some pictures before heading to the airport. My sense of direction was off so I ended up here facing away from the sun. Just as I was about to ask the cab to leave I noticed the full moon rising above the trees. I told him to wait until the moon got into the right position and he was more than happy to oblige and, keep the meter running. Just as the moon rose above the trees, clouds obscured it. I figured I was already this deep so I might as well let the meter run. And it ran. And ran. …FINALLY after another ten minutes the moon emerged from behind the clouds and I took this picture. I got back into the cab and headed back to the hotel and, arrived about fifty dollars lighter. Money well spent.

I hired a taxi to take me to a few places around Banff so I could snap some pictures before heading to the airport. My sense of direction was off so I ended up here facing away from the sun. Just as I was about to ask the cab to leave I noticed the full moon rising above the trees. I told him to wait until the moon got into the right position and he was more than happy to oblige and, keep the meter running. Just as the moon rose above the trees, clouds obscured it. I figured I was already this deep so I might as well let the meter run. And it ran. And ran. ...FINALLY after another ten minutes the moon emerged from behind the clouds and I took this picture. I got back into the cab and headed back to the hotel and, arrived about fifty dollars lighter. Money well spent.

Follow link to obtain a limited edition print of this photo.