This site is moving to FotoSage.com

•October 1, 2010 • Leave a Comment

I had no control over the google ads that were popping up all over the place on this WordPress site.
I have therefore migrated my blog and all it’s contents to my own blog site at FotoSage.com – the lens is the sage.
Please update your bookmarks.

My other two photography sites are:
Fotomoods.com – capturing moods and moments through photography
FotoStop.biz – if you would like to purchase prints

Thanks

~Dene

Moving to FotoSage.com – the lens is the sage

•September 29, 2010 • Leave a Comment

A new broom sweeps clean

I had no control over the google ads that were popping up all over the place on this WordPress site.
I have therefore migrated my blog and all it’s contents to my own blog site at FotoSage.com – the lens is the sage.
Please update your bookmarks.

My other two photography sites are:
Fotomoods.com – capturing moods and moments through photography
FotoStop.biz – if you would like to purchase prints

Thanks

~Dene

Trophies of life or trophies of death

•September 26, 2010 • Leave a Comment

Trophy of life or death?

I have just returned from having a meal in the restaurant of the hotel where I am staying in Whitehorse, in the Yukon. I couldn’t help overhearing the conversation going on between two hunters who happen to be trading stories after coming out of the bush. I could hardly eat my meal, I was so sickened by their conversation.

As they shared their stories, both hunters, an American and a Frenchman, recalled how they had gone for the big one, whether it was moose, bears or Ptarmigan.

I never once heard them talk about the unique characteristics of these wonderful animals. As they invaded the natural world of these creatures, the minute the animal was within range and in the cross-hairs of their telescope, BANG, and another big one’s life was abrubtly ended.

I couldn’t help thinking how these people, like blunt instruments, are destroying the natural evolutionary process by murdering,  [that's what it really is], animals with the strongest genes that ensure the survival of the species. They have no real knowledge of the animal, its unique features, how it survives, how it interacts with the environment and other animals and how it contributes to the ecology.

And what further sickened me, the American had a list of animals, big ones, that he was still going for. I can just imagine, as each year goes by, he will tick of the big one’s on his brag list, and hang the trophies in his study for his band of admirers to see.

The philospher Hegel was right. History teaches us that we learn nothing from history. Just look at the systemic killing of the millions of bison by hunters. Just one more, just one more, until the planet is denuded like Easter Island. And when they killed the last tree, Easter island died.

Contrast these blunt instruments with wildlife photographers, who bring back trophies of life, learning and a wonder of nature for generations to enjoy. The work of photographers like John Marriot and many others helps protect the species from eradication and contributes to our knowledge of this magnificent planet.

And the animals they photograph live on, unless they end up in the cross-hairs of the blunt people . . .

Another perspective

•September 15, 2010 • 1 Comment

During the CAPS chapter leadership summit in Toronto from Sept 12-14, we were invited to go on a sunset boat cruise just off the harbour in downtown Toronto. [CAPS = Canadian Association of Professional Speakers. I'm the current Vancouver & BC President for 2010.]

I only had my point-and-shoot digital camera with me and of course, no tripod. After trying a few conventional shots that turned out pretty blurry, I decided to make the most of the blur effect and use it as an advantage rather than as an impediment.

Larger versions of these pics are available at my new photographic site, FotoStop.biz

This photograph is looking West as the sun sets. The western section of the city of Toronto is part of the blur.

TorontoScape 1 - Sunset over West Toronto on Lake Ontario

Toronto skyline – and this perspective after one glass of punch. Imagine after two glasses . . .

TorontoScape 2

TorontoScape 3

TorontoScape 4

Two glasses of punch later . . .

TorontoScape 5

TorontoScape 6

Duffey Lake

•August 26, 2010 • Comments Off

Took this picture on a perfect summer day of Duffey Lake with stunning views of the glacier-covered peak of Mt. Rohr while on a road trip to the Cariboo.

Duffey Lake


Classic style

•August 21, 2010 • Leave a Comment

Style

Astral worlds

•August 2, 2010 • Leave a Comment

The Vancouver Celebration of Light was visited by aliens from astral worlds so close, yet so far away from us. Like the flight of the Kingfisher, if you blinked, they were gone.

Astral jellyfish

Astral pincushion

Universal flower power

Light years

Pride Vancouver

•August 1, 2010 • Leave a Comment

A friend and I marched with the PFLAG group [Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays] in the Vancouver Gay Pride Parade. The streets were crazy with 650,000 people cheering on the gay community. We had flags in our group marked with black representing those countries who still have a pre-scientific understanding of homosexuality, resulting in death or jail terms for gays who come out in those societies.

Come to think of it, there are still many religious people in civilized countries who still to this day take refuge in pre-scientific religious texts to avoid confronting their own demons about sexuality and homosexuality.

The words “I have a dream” in this photograph represent the aspirations of civilized people, both gay and straight around the world, who want those minorities to come to personal insight, understanding and acceptance of people who happen to be gay.

I have a dream

Green machine

•July 31, 2010 • Leave a Comment

Every Friday evening in summer car enthusiasts in North Vancouver gather at a local carpark display their handiwork and to talk cars. I’m no expert on cars but I am attracted, like a humming bird to nectar, to the classic lines, colours and atmosphere of the 30′ 40′s and 50′s.

Green machine

Dancing dervishes

•July 30, 2010 • Leave a Comment

During July its the Celebration of Light in Vancouver.  This year’s competing teams are Mexico, USA, China & Spain. I caught these dancing dervishes flitting across the night sky.

Dancing dervishes

 
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.