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

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

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 . . .

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

Style

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