An unexpected "camera bag"

I was handed a plastic bag, similar to a bag filled with water and a goldfish. Except the bag didn't contain a new pet.  Instead it held bits and pieces to one of my favourite cameras I have ever had...my Canon s90. 

I have many different types of cameras for different occasions and my s90 was my pocket camera, a trusty friend that I carried with me daily almost everywhere for all of those "just in case" shots.  On a 3.5 month trip in Europe in 2013, this trusty friend became my main camera when the lens for my DSLR randomly stopped functioning on the first week of the trip.  This little gadget was well used and loved, but also banged, dinged, stuffed, and carted around on many adventures.

Last month I was in Tofino and was taking some shots in the water of a friend learning to surf for the first time.  I had no idea that these images would be the last ones taken using my s90. The initial appraisal to fix it was not super cheap ($169) but in the grand scheme of things it seemed worth repairing what appeared to be just a power switch problem.  But once the technician opened the camera, bits and pieces fell out and signs of salt water damage were throughout...making repairs not impossible but difficult and well over the cost of replacement.

This little video clip was the last official recording.

Anyhow, thank you little camera for being a trusty friend!  Your images will live on!

Mount Aerosmith...One of the first shots...used timer for first time

Pacheena Bay, Bamfield

Nelson, BC

Relish, Victoria

Strathcona...Mouse in food cache

Nanaimo River...above climbing area and gorge

Jimmy Cliff plays at the Phoenix in Toronto

Harz Mountains on the "East" side

Prepped for the 2014 Sooke Fine Arts Show

Getting ready for the Sooke Fine Art show takes a bit of work.  Here are some goodies ready for the show and the gallery shop.  

This years entry, November in Erzgebirge is one of my favourite images from 2013 taken on an afternoon walk in "East" Germany.  I love how the image feels like you are entering into a magical world.

This years show runs from July 25 to August 4 at SEAPARK Leisure Complex in Sooke.  I will be doing an "artist demo and display" about Plastic Toy Camera Photography on July 25 from 2- 4 and August 4 from 2-4.  Hope to see some familiar faces!

Ossies surf the West Coast of Canada

 When they met as teenagers in the ore mountains in East Germany, they probably never imagined surfing on the west coast of Vancouver Island together.  The realities of surfing and learning to surf are refreshing, exhausting, humbling, and healing.

Mobile Phone Cameras and Superheroes

Sometimes, the best camera you have is the one you have with you...in this case it was a mobile phone camera.  The quality of the images are not so fine, but the moment and mood are obvious.  It's not every day you get to hang out with a superhero so you better get some shots to remember it all. 

Anything can happen at Drink and Draw! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Logans-Drink-and-Draw/440799602712166

Anyone else get to read comics with Batman this week?

Streamers and Fascinators at Urbanite

Taking time to act a bit silly at Urbanite!  

The amazing hats and fascinators were designed and handmade by Tierre Joline http://tierrejoline.com/ .

Climb Like a Dancer

I have always known that dancers make the best climbers, but after seeing ballerina Amanda and the breakdancer-ballerina Freyja boulder at Fleming Beach for the first time...I am convinced you should climb like a dancer!  

Stay tuned for a dance-climbing video in the near future ;)

 

Giant-sized, human engulfing rhubarb!

Outside Painting Challenge

Opus Art Supplies in BC stores sponsored an Outdoor Painting Challenge today, which got me off my butt...no, actually on my butt...and I painted for the first time in eons.  The challenge was to paint outdoors in a designated area between 10am and 3pm.  I started around 12:45, just in time for the pouring rain to begin.  So I found a great sheltered spot in Market Square, and "arted" away for a few hours.  

The place was almost barren except for one other painter who took my photo and a some guys playing sweet tunes on guitars.  Interestingly, a security guy came and made the musicians stop playing even though they were not busking for money.  The security guard left me alone in the middle of the courtyard. I guess watercolour paints don't have the acoustic effects of guitars; too bad since the music was so nice.

While most of the artists painted what they saw around the city, I went down a different path...for some reason I have been thinking about monsters down under...under the bed...  

The monsters I painted today were influenced by the graphics and illustrations of Elise Gravel.  But I am excited to transform and create more monster friends in the next while...words and paintings to come...

Friday night musical headliners at the Makehouse

An island in the Pacific, ukulele, and Yoko Ono??

I was just told I look like Yoko Ono in this selfie...hmm does she play the ukulele too?  I wonder!

It's so sweet to live on an island in the Pacific ;)  Ocean breeze, otters, pods of porpoises just offshore, crashing waves...should've brought a board but at least I brought the uke.