Frogpond Design Art Photography and Life Stuff

Pentax Spotmatic II Film Photography with my Soligor Zoom Lens

Last week I headed out to shoot with my super big Soligor Zoom Lens which is a 4.5... I think. To be quite honest, I'm not sure of its number. It's just big and I felt cool carrying it around - all "photog-like". It looks a bit like the image below but mine seems older:

http://freeimagefinder.com/user/14302756@N00.html

Since I'm still learning a lot about this, my very camera-savy friend provided me with an indepth explanation of the inner workings of the lens and how to get optimum results. This is what I retained:

Lens very long = less light. Add more light = big aperture. Lens heavy and hands shaky + shutter speed high = no blur. 

Some of this I remembered but luckily enough I had 800 film in so I think it let me get away with some exposures that would have otherwise been blurry due to my slower shutter speed. I found the lens surpisingly easy to focus but I could see right away how I lost the broad view that my little wide angle lens gave me for my landscapes. Either way, I'm a bit of a kinesthetic learner so  trial and error often teach me best. Here are some of the photos I liked from this role.

Near Cherry Beach, Toronto

Cherry Beach, Toronto

Cherry Beach Dog Park, Toronto

Family Time at Cherry Beach, Toronto

Little Yellow, Distillery District, Toronto

Arches, Toronto

TDot - Ya I know... Sappy shot with the tower, but hey - that's our "Tranna"
For those who don't know, Torontonians are known to mush the word Toronto into something that sounds like Tranna, Tranno or Tiranna... 

Portraiture in Oils - Art Class for the Soul

Wow - already February 2012. I hope your year is going great so far. I signed up for an art class called Portraiture in Oils. This way I was doing something I loved and was forcing myself to set aside 3 hours a week for one of my passions. And so far it has been amazing! The professor instructs us in some of the techniques that the old masters perfected - something I've never done before, and, we also paint using live models - another first for me. I'm pretty excited with my results so far so I thought I would share them with you. 

First Class: Here we painted in the figure and the values using Ultra Marine and Burn Umber and solvent (non-smelly).

Second Class: Here I've started to lay in the mid range flesh tones, background and shadows.

Third Class: Here I've covered the painting (not the highlights) in a glaze (Linseed oil and dominant colour) then I've finished off with the lightest points, details and corrections and voila - first painting done! 

Fourth Class: This was our second model and we only had two sittings. I missed taking progressive photos of the development so this is the finished product. I will say that although I don't believe it looked like the model in the end - I still think it's pretty cool.

Here is a close-up.

Thanks for looking and at the end of the day, if there's something you love - MAKE TIME FOR IT! Do it right now! Have the courage to do the things that you love, not what others think you should be doing. 

And I can promise you it will be time well spent. :) 

Falling off bicycles, pentax film photos and other fun...

It's New Years Eve 2011. I lost four days of my vacation to the flu and I told myself I was not allowed to complain about that on my blog... so I won't...

I hope all of you have had a great holiday - be that Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, Yule or any other celebrations I may not have mentioned. Christmas was great for me. Time with the family, lots of delicious food and drink, certainly some spoiling going on, and lots of generosity and love that I have to be thankful for.

Ok, so I wasn't going to complain about it and I'm not, however, since I was sick for most of my vacation, I didn't get the chance to make any real art. I'd started a sweet landscape painting that I wanted to finish and share with you but I haven't, as of yet, had the energy to paint. I did have some film developed which I will share with you in place of my awe-inspiring art (note sarcasm).

The Back Story

The following shots were taken in late November. I'd just finished a roll of film and wanted to take it to be developed. I'd been riding my bike in the city much more frequently and decided it would be fun to ride along to the beaches where I could get my film developed quickly. So off I went, through thick Toronto traffic on my old bike, being ever so vigilant of pedestrians or car doors or anything else that I could collide with.

After about half an hour, I arrived unscathed at the film store and as I began to disembark from my rust-o-cycle, I realized that my left foot (the leg that was to serve as my support) would not move from my pedal. At this point, I'd already started to lean left while swinging my right leg over. A microsecond later, with my left foot frozen to the pedal and all of the rest of me getting off the bike, gravity began to take over.

I landed fast and hard on all-fours, the bike quickly followed as if it was strapped to my back. I was a little clam topped off with bicycle or it must have appeared as if I decided to start praying in the street and wrap myself in the warmth of my bike frame. However, my humiliation was not over! I couldn't get up. I was semi hog-tied to my bicycle by my shoelace and the more I tried to stand up, the more the bike pinned me to the ground.With heart pounding and face to the pavement, I began to comprehend my predicament. I would need someone to hold the bike while I untangled myself. I awkwardly turned over my right shoulder and starred through my bike frame at the sidewalk looking for that kind Samaritan that would stop and help and finally a lady came to my assistance.

Knees scraped, ego bruised, and having given myself a good scare, I limped to the film store. While I waited for my film to develop, I figured I would try and calm my nerves by taking some photos in Kew Gardens and down at the beach. Enjoy the following shots of soothing fall vistas and imagine me, weak in the knees thinking I was being smushed by a car.

Folks - always where a bicycle helmet! I know they're ugly as sin but you just never know - cars, trucks, pedestrians, monster bunnies or killer shoelaces might just be coming for you next.

See you in 2012. ;)

The last little while...

So yes, I've been absent from my blog for over a month, and I've been slacking on Twitter and only having quick check-ins on Facebook - so much social media and so little time.

Well, I wanted to take the time and give you an update. Life's been insane as of late. School became extremely demanding, work has gone bananas and I'd really lost any creative juice that I was desperately clinging to. My hubby and I had a stay-cation back a few weeks ago and I swear that all I did was sleep. And I didn't even care. It was time to re-fuel I guess, because I usually can get a little AADD if my life's not planned and filled to the gills. I also find I can really get mopey once the daylight hours begin to dry up during our Ontario winter months and I swear it's been overcast here for three weeks!

 I digress. Back to the creative stuff.

By the end of my stay-cation, my better half dragged me to the art store and ordered me to buy a canvas. I returned home, set up my little studio and finally started to paint... after about a two-year hiatus.

As I painted I felt a little spark deep down inside and as I painted more, the spark grew. Before I knew it, two days had past and I was thoroughly immersed into two paintings. Finally I am confident that my artist's block may be over.

This got me reflecting on 2011. It's not been a bad year by any means and truly I have nothing to complain about, however I did start to think maybe I'd missed something somewhere. In 2011 I think I'd lost sight of what actually matters in my life. I'd worked on career, taking steps to expand my skills and business savvy and completely omitted any thought for my passions.

I felt hollow.

All of this reflection got me thinking more and more about life and what it was that I truly wanted out of life. Now... I am still thinking about this and haven't come to any brilliant epiphanies or realized the meaning of life. Chances are I will still be thinking about that until I'm old and grey. I live in my head a lot - as you can probably tell. But I did realize one thing:

In 2012, I plan on making the things I love and am passionate about a priority.

Time slips through our fingers so quickly. You turn around and another year is gone. I think back on past years and try to look at what I remember, and what was important to me, and only then, have I realized what it is for me that matters most.

I remember biking in the alleys, walking on the Leslie street Spit with the love of my life. I remember working with my dad and taking photos on city streets. I remember drawing while listening to CBC radio in the still air of my dining room. I remember getting advice from my mom, alone, in the middle of the ROM. I remember driving for the first time and then thinking I broke the car because I drove with the hand break on! I remember practicing yoga, riding mopeds in Mexico and snorkeling the most beautiful reef I'd ever seen.

I guess these are the things that matter most to me. Thanks for reading.

Fropond Design Reviews: Fu Manchu at The Horseshow Tavern - Nov. 11, 2011

It's only been within the past two years that I've really started to explore the rhelm of rock concerts. Hey - I'll be the first to admit that in my 20s I didn't go see bands, I went to see DJs. However, as I've become a bit older my audio tastes have broadened and these days I am all about new experiences. If I haven't seen it or tried it, then it's about time I do. 

My first foray into rock was accepting an invitation to a Judas Priest concert. I was not a "fan" of Judas Priest per se, however I did know that they were iconic, therefore likely to deliver in the "experience" department. I was able to sample Motorhead, Heaven and Hell followed by Judas Priest. From the live performance to the overwhelming sensation of a crowd of thousands chanting together, it was amazing, even if I didn't totally love the type of rock. The people-watching was great too!

Since then I've tried to attend some more, but when my better half brought home surprise tickets to see Fu Manchu at the Horseshoe Tavern on Friday, Nov. 11, 2011, I was stoked! Small venue, great music, and not even that expensive.

Keep in mind, this review is from a "rock layman" perspective, so here goes.

The Show

 We got to the Horseshoe Tavern at around 9:00pm. Over 12 years in Toronto and I'd never been there before. Toronto never ceases to amase - you turn a corner and there's another undiscovered treasure. The Horseshoe Tavern is a pretty unassuming space, low ceilings, dark corners, unpretentious and authentically showing wear, just the way I like'em. We grabbed a beer and waited for the show to begin. 

The Shrine

The first was The Shrine. The Shrine is a three member group out of Venice Beach, California playing deep rock. You can check them out at www.theshrineband.com.

When the next act came on, we ran into The Shrine lead Josh walking through the crowd. Luke (my better half), who is an avid guitarist got to talk with Josh and then bought Josh and his band-mate a beer.  Not only was their music seriously good but they were totally solid guys. We bought their self-titled cd and I'll be making that part of my regular playlist now.

Honky

Next in line was Honky, another three member band. They were fully engaging and played their asses off. They're described on their website as "the ultimate true rock experience from three Southern gentlemen!" which I believe is a bit tongue in cheek. They were thoroughly hilarious and gave great energy. Luke grabbed one of their cds as well called "Balls Out Inn". Check them out at: www.honky.net

Fu Manchu

Bring on the Fu! Now I can say there were people there who knew a lot more about Fu Manchu then I do, but once they got on stage, there was no more going to the bar, there was no going out for a cigarette, there was no more talking. There was only me standing on the bench to see over the crowd and listening as intently as possible. As described on Wikipedia:

Fu Manchu is a Southern Californian stoner rock band, who released their debut single "Kept Between Trees" in 1990.

 

Check them out at:www.fu-manchu.com Their set included a few songs I knew and some I didn't and before I knew it, it was over. You can see their set list here. They came back on stage for a two-song encore. I swear I could have listened to them all night. Their performance and deep and heavy sound seems to resonate with me and I will for sure see them again.

Note: My photos are pretty crap - thinkin' I will need to up the camera if I want to keep doing this and be a bit more brave :). All with experience I guess. However if you want some really great photos, check out this review by a well-seasoned rock aficionado: http://gruesomeviews.com/

 Source: Fu Manchu logo, The Shrine poster and Honky album cover artwork sourced from their websites.

Just Some Pumpkin Fun

So yes I know... Halloween has been over for a week and a day. But I still wanted to share my little pumpkin collage with you. I have a few more blog entries to catch up on since the events of the weekend but school work beckons as does the office. Les "sigh".

Thanks for lookin'.

Exploring The Leslie Street Spit: Film Photography 1973 Pentax Spotmatic II

It's been a while since I took some time to be creative. My work and studies have taken the wind out of my sails a bit, so I felt it was time to set aside a day to be creative, doodle, sketch, photograph and exercise my artistic muscle. I don't know about you, but if I don't scratch that artistic itch on a regular basis, I can get a bit crabby.

Following essential coffee consumption, my better half and I took the morning to explore the Leslie Street Spit. It's quite an unusual place and I'm glad I brought my camera so I could share with you. Some parts provide lovely views of Lake Ontario, while other parts seem very post-apocalyptic where old buildings have washed into the sea, leaving a landscape constructed solely of twisted rebar, bricks and cement. Weird and wonderful. Oddly beautiful.

I look forward to going back soon.

 If you're not from Toronto, then here are some snippets from Wikipedia on the Leslie Steet Spit.

The Leslie Street Spit, or officially the Outer Harbour East Headland, is a man-made headland in Toronto, Ontario, extending from the city's east end in a roughly southwesterly direction into Lake Ontario. It is about 5 km long. Its common name is technically incorrect, since it is not truly a spit, but Torontonians almost never use the official name. The road running along the peninsula is a southern extension of Leslie Street, hence the popular nickname.

Quite a number of bird species are also to be found on the Leslie Street Spit. More than 300 species of birds are to be found, 45 of which actually breed on the headland.^[3] Among the birds that may be observed on the headland are the ring-billed gull, the black-crowned night-heron, the double-crested cormorant, thecommon tern, the Caspian tern, and the herring gull. ^[4] Owing to the Leslie Street Spit's importance to so many bird species, it has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by Nature Canada and Bird Studies Canada which are the Canadian partners of BirdLife International.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Street_Spit

I bleed for you. Watercolour, Pen & Ink.

A new addition to my watercolour, pen and ink series, except the eyes here are closed. I think it could be a bit more refined yet, but it's a step in the right direction. Enjoy.

Dirty Little Graphite Goodies - Inspirations from the Sketch Book

 

Taking it Easy.

After a hectic week of work, class, reroofing and a condensed Thanksgiving visit, we're back home and I have found not a speck of motivation to do anything I was supposed to do today. Perhaps it's the absolutely glorious weather, perhaps my thoughts are elsewhere daydreaming about this and that. Therefore I'm content having decided to give myself over to my frivolous side and enjoy my liberty before the work week swallows me whole.
Here are some random pictures of the last little while. :)