The Viterra grain elevator in High Level, Alberta is the subject of this shot. Weather attracted me to this shot. The day has been cold starting at -31C and warming to -17C this evening when this photograph was taken. The grain elevator shares railroad tracks with the local lumber mills and a sulphur car loading station. Steam blows from the mill from right to left (east to west) surrounding the grain elevator, blurring. In this shot I’ve used shallow depth of field (f-5.6) with an exposure of five seconds . The point of focus is the structure holding the light on top of the elevator; it is the clearest area of the photograph. Also, I’ve been using ‘live view’ on the Canon 60D as a means to find better, more crisp manual focus with regard to the subject. As I left the site, two deer crossed in front of me … perhaps having accessed grain spillage.
One of five shots, painting with light out in Fort Vermilion, Alberta. Note that by the front deck/porch the maglite has been turned back toward the camera and captures a streak of light. Also, note the ghosting image of the person at the bottom right corner – that’s me, I’d been there long enough for the exposure to pick me up.
At day’s end, this fiery sky confronted me. I gathered my tripod and camera. Making an image would be about camera placement and framing an appropriate foreground, then working out which aperture settings best served the image. I tried several shots with varying apertures, exposure times and lens lengths. Wide open, the lens limited cloud movement and the sharpness around lights within the scene. At f/22, a sharper image was possible, but lights on the school building blew out at the center and a star effect was produced via the lens shutter leaves.
The scene – a tall tree and playground swings in front of an elementary school. A warmer start to winter has yielded little snow on the ground and a cloud-filled day. The camera faces southwest, and at 3:45 p.m., the sun has fallen beneath the horizon yet is reflected briefly along an interesting billow of clouds producing a fiery red outcome above. High Level is at 58 degrees north. In December, we are familiar with diminishing sunlight. At the winter solstice, we may have the sun for less than five hours in our day. This sight is quirky and unusual at the start of the year’s twelfth month.
Later that night, I would photograph firefighters at a nearby lake – their training for ice rescues would see them plunging into the icy, frigid water and pulling each other out from the ice for their practice.
Quote to Inspire – “To be surprised, to wonder, is to begin to understand (José Ortega y Gasset).”
Listening to – David Gray’s ‘Shine,’ ‘Flame Turns Blue,’ ‘A Clean Pair of Eyes,’ ‘The Other Side,’ ‘My Oh My,’ ‘Babylon,’ and ‘Sail Away.’
If you’ve found your way to this photo blog, you are likely keenly interested in photography or appreciate quality photographic images resulting from skillful camera work. I am a photographer about to engage in the 365-day, photo-a-day commitment. I will appreciate your stopping in regularly to look around, check things out and share in the ensuing dialogue.
About Project 365 – this photo-a-day project holds my interest in terms of its potential for grappling with photography through practice and dialogue. Within this project, I should be able to tackle one concept or skill or understanding for short periods, work with it, post results and comment about what occurred daily.
My intention for this photo blog project is best explained by analogy. Concerning fitness, a friend explains his need to go beyond weight training to keep a 5 km run in his back pocket. Daily, he will direct part of his workout to ensure he is ready and able when the invitation of a 5 km run presents itself. His point is that none of us should ever be found sidelined or underprepared for Life’s challenges. Daily discipline and practice help us maintain, in readiness, our strength, stamina and competencies to challenge any such opportunity. To this end, he adds fifty minutes of long, slow-burn cardio exercise to his morning workouts. And, you’ll find he’s more than prepared to engage in a 5 km run or most other Life challenges whenever they arise.
Moving toward Photography that’s ‘In My Back Pocket‘ – Working a little each day at this year-long, photo-a-day project, competencies should develop and strengthen, understandings should gel and solidify, and quality photographic results should occur with greater consistency. I anticipate that my talk surrounding photography will evolve, as will how I include camera work within each day. Best images result from competent camera work and a good understanding of practice and our intent, things each of us should have in our back pocket when the opportunity of a photograph presents itself. I hope you will dialogue with me about these matters and that you’ll find the grace to share your knowledge, questions and comments (and ‘likes’) along the way. Your interest and goodwill are appreciated.
In My Back Pocket - Photography 
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