The Central Library Tour

Sat November 24 was the big day for the Central Library workshop/tour. Neil Zeller wangled this with the library staff, so we could get in early, as in 6am, so as to avoid the public. There were only 20 or so of us, plus a few library staff, all spread out through this amazing building. Even better, when it's other photographers, there's a lot of respect for the shot you're trying to get, and people trying not to get in the way.

This is probably one of the most photogenic indoor spaces in Calgary. The central space, the wood, the lighting, all those curves! I suspect that nearly every piece of wood in the building had to be individually measured and cut, and many would have had to be bent to shape. Just like some people make a point of seeing the Peace Bridge when they come to Calgary, I can see people coming to see the library, especially if they are also going to the nearby National Music Centre.

As I said in my regular blog, this isn't your parent's library, with Miss Grundy shushing you if you breath loudly. It's intended to be a living space, and it sure is. Shortly after the building opened to the public for the day, people were coming in and finding their space. Some came to the coffee shop, where we were hanging out and discussing the morning. A few of the people that hadn't seen it before were absolutely gobsmacked.

The shapes and curves of the library are quite evocative. Some say an eye, some say other body parts. Many people think a ship, and I have several images that support that. I deliberately emphasized the ship feeling by not straightening out the verticals.

This first thing, just arriving. The wood roof arches over the entry in a set of complex curves, setting up your brain for more.

City Hall looks so old and dowdy, though admittedly this is the back end of it.

One of my fellow workshop attendees, working on a shot.

 This is the view looking straight up from near the entrance. I was lying flat on my back for this, wishing I had an even wider lens.

More shots of the amazing curves, the lovely warm wood, the light and shadows, and all of those lines.

I'm a big fan of reflections, and I was really liking the way the lights showed up in the windows against the backdrop of the outside wood ceiling.

Most of the workshop attendees. I like to get away from the herd, so I can take photos of the people in the workshop.

Trying for a selfie reflection shot.

The metal buttons at the top of the stairs are lovely leading lines when you get close.

This reading room is amazing! At least some of the attendees took turns playing with books on the table in the foreground, some with more, some with fewer, some with none. I arranged for symmetry, with just one book to break it.

The shape and curves of the central area suggest many things, but ships often come to mind. I was flat on my tummy to get this shot, playing with the camera to get just the view I wanted.

Yes, I was hanging onto the camera quite firmly. It's a long way down. I could go back and just shoot the stairs.

Probably my best 'overall' shot of the central space. It's so big, with so many curves and viewpoints there really is no one perfect shot to show the whole thing. Things to look for in this image. The bison, which has a close up below. The scaffolding to repair a broken window. Another photographer working on their shot.

 This one is actually an impossible image to see in real life. I cheated in Lightroom to improve the composition by flipping it horizontally, so the lines open up and to the right.

Photo Ramble 20180926 Fish Creek Bridge 4 and 5

Calgary normally has a lovely autumn, but not this year. We've had what seems like endless weeks of Vancouver weather. However, today (Sept 26) was a perfect day for being outside looking for photos. I started where the path begins near the elementary school, and walked down the gully to end up between bridges 4 and 5. I walked along, but not in the river, for a while, then took a different path back up the hill. This is what I saw along the way.

A flat rock had a bit of water in it for a reflection shot.

Excited to see the first bit of red.

I turned a corner and oh my!

Just a nice path wandering downhill through the trees.

Lots of orange, shimmering in the sun.

This is the first snake I've ever seen in Fish Creek. It was basking in the sun and I disturbed it.

This log looked sort of sinister in the light, something vaguely reptilian having breakfast came to mind.

I hung around waiting to see if the light would hit those orange leaves and really make them pop, but it didn't happen.

Bridge 5 from below.

Shimmering reflections just below bridge 4. This was image of the month for September.

I probably don't need to tell you this is bridge 4.

Back near bridge 5, hanging out on a rock, listening to the creek, enjoying the warmth of the sun. I saw only a couple other people. It was quiet and peaceful. I found some red and orange.

Up the gully for another look at bridge 5. I'm thinking about getting this one printed big. A runner up for September image of the month.

Taken as part of a planned panorama that didn't work out as the light changed. Look how much flatter the light is on the trees.

Last bit of red before heading home.

Photo Ramble 20180917 Fish Creek Bebo Grove

These were spread out across several days worth of my other blog, but I thought I'd get them all together in one place. At the same time I think I'll start a new feature where results of photo rambles are collected together, along with recollections of the ramble itself.

Since Bebo Grove is closed to vehicular traffic because of construction, I parked up on top of the hill and walked down. There are some lovely vistas to be had looking down into the park. From the right places, one could be forgiven for not realizing the park is almost entirely surrounded by city.

Some of these have been processed in Photomatix Pro to help bring up the colours a bit, and let you see what my mind's eye saw. I like playing with focus. I was hoping to have the background be even creamier but I'm pretty pleased.

This little guy held still just long enough for me to get the behemoth lens on him, then he was gone.

I love it when reflection shots turn out!

I walked from the top of the hill, down the stairs from the parking lot, and more or less directly through the grove to the creek. Quiet. It was almost too quiet, but I love listening to the creek trickle over the rocks.

I was looking for red.

People walk past this all the time and think there's nothing to see because it's a swamp, but I keep coming back to it.

I could not get the silver to come out of the camera the way I saw it, but this is almost right.

Look for the cyclist.

This is the first time I've ever seen the parking lot empty.