Opportunity or just a free tattoo?

I've been looking for some 'candid portrait' shots to submit in the camera club competition so during my walk today I was really looking for some interesting people.

As I was going down Rideau Street, I saw this young girl sitting in the open doorway of a tattoo parlor, enjoying the sun and the tail end of her lunch. I could see that she had some half completed tattoos on her arm and decided I'd take a few photos of her. Unless people are really engrossed in something, most will usually become aware of being photographed, and can understandably become suspicious, or at the very least, have some questions as to what the heck you're doing and why. Once she realized I was shooting her, I went right over and introduced myself and asked if I could take some more photos. I explained I was a photographer and used these types of photos for various reasons...all legal and highly moral...and she agreed.

Her 'partner' came out...I took a few more photos and we talked for a few minutes. He asked if I would be interested in taking some photos for the shop. They are both tattoo artists and wanted some pictures of their completed tattoos and perhaps some larger photos to hang in the shop.

I gave him my business card and told him I'd give him a very good deal on a series of shots. "Let's talk", says I.

Tomorrow I'll drop off a couple of photos that I took of them today...just to jog his memory. Anyone interested in a tattoo? I know somebody.

Another interesting day.

The Umbrella Man

Now that the nice weather is here, I've started walking again over lunch hour and trying to take some photos of everything..and anything that looks interesting. Yesterday (Tuesday) I was walking down Rideau Street, with no camera, and saw a fellow who appeared homeless--he seemed to have most of his belongings with him--but what I noticed first was the large white umbrella sticking out of his cart.

I've been looking for a white umbrella for three years!! Haven't found one anywhere!! On really sunny days a white umbrella is a MUST if you want to take close-up photos. Every store I go in, the first thing I do is look for one and then ask the sales clerk if one can be ordered. Every time I ask, the answer is the same..."Never seen one, and can't order one"....AND THIS HOMELESS PERSON HAS ONE!! NOT FAIR!!

It only took me a second to decide I had to have it..assuming that on closer inspection it really WAS white...and without bugs. I went over to him and struck up a conversation and found out his name is 'Alonzo' and he's originally from Montreal. I got right to the point and asked if his umbrella worked and would he consider selling it to me....after I inspected it. "Oh sure", he said, "How about $20?"

I opened it and it was a thing of beauty! Gotta have it! "How about $10", says I. Perhaps he figured it was the best deal of the day because we exchanged umbrella for a $10 bill and both seemed pleased with the deal.

I went back downtown today, with camera, and met him again. When I asked him if I could take his picture, he wanted to know how much I'd pay him. "You made your best deal yesterday Alonzo", I told him. "How about a cigarette?"

It's the second day in a row that we both figure we got a good deal.

Ty Goes on Safari

When we were in Puerto Vallarta, we saw this camoflaged 'Tilley' hat for babies and fell over ourselves blatting and slavouring to buy it. The hat was our first purchase of a useless, rather ugly, souvenir for our new grandson...and I expect not our last. It's the kind of thing that souvenir marketers inherently know that people like us will spend money on simply because it's just so darn cute and we can close our eyes and visualize our little man wearing...we don't think about exactly where he'd wear it...but we know he'd look adorable in it.

Thank goodness for understanding daughter-in-laws who realize that buying this stuff is kind of a 'right of passage' for new grandparents. Kim must hope that good taste will soon prevail and Ty's Honey & Poppa will come to their senses before the next holiday. The problem is...we hardly have any control over the urge to buy this stuff. This hat is a case in point. Wayne and I each went shopping, on different days, in different parts of the town...and each came home with the same hat!

In the meantime, Kim has taken some photos of our baby HoneyBee, wearing his hat, and the reaction was just as she expected...I've forwarded them to family and friends, printed out copies to plaster in my office and looked at them a hundred times over. He's just had his second round of innoculations, which he took very well initially, but is feeling a bit under the weather with now. They will be down at Easter and we are anxious to see his smiles and hear his giggles.

I decided that I'd pack up the new camera (Oly E-500) lenses, and all other equipment in the new camera backpack and head for Andrew Hayden Park. The sun was shining and I was anxious to get back outside and do some photography. I put on the long underwear, ski jacket, warm boots, etc and got to the park only to discover it was a huge sheet of ice! The thaw and subsequent quick freeze had turned the whole place in to a big, bumpy skating rink and walking was very trecherous. By the time I had gone half way into the park I was freezing..the wind was blowing a gale and the sun wasn't doing anything to warm me up. The only other lifeform besides me were two lonely Canada Geese and I decided this whole expedition was an exercise in futility and headed home, fingers frozen and cheeks raw.

There ARE some signs of hope though. This morning I heard a Morning Dove coo-ing outside (I'll curse them later in the year for waking me in the morning), and saw frozen Robin hovering in the grass. Hope spring eternal! I did get the camera out an took some photos of common house sparrows..they seem to be the only thing at the bird feeder these days although once in a while a Cardinal will show up and scatter the rest of the birds, although I never seem to have my camera close when that happens. Once the feeder goes back under the trees I should have more luck. I'm anxious to start using my new lenses and see something other than sparrows.

Corky's birthday celebration was the first chance we've had in a few years to get a photo of the Scott & Brenda, Corky & Debbie, and Wayne and I. It turned out well and I think it's worth printing and framing. I had set up the tripod and used the remote control, which I wouldn't be without for anything. It allows the photographer to relax and be part of the photo without the "click and run" and hope you don't end up as a big blur.

Birthdays and Honey Baby

The past weekend was a family filled 4 days that was fabulous. We started off in Bowmanville going to baby brother Corky's 50th birthday party which was a surprise organized by wife Debbie. Scott & Brenda were there as well so it was great to be able to spend some time together. We don't get to see each other as often as we'd like which is something I intend to change once I retire. I've told Debbie that having baby Ty in Toronto is best thing that has happened to us. Beyond the obvious, it has given us a reason to stop and see them each time we go up. The next time we go to see Ty, we will stop at Scott's so that every 3 months, we will see one of them.

The party was a huge success...he was so surprised and very pleased to see all of his & Debbie's family at the restaurant. We went back to the house for cake & coffee and Jackie presented him with a wonderful scrapbook of his 50 year history. She did a great job on it and included photos of things that have happened over his lifetime. On the last page she included things that showed Debbie has bought him (& her) tickets to go to Banff for a week at the end of April.

We continued up to Toronto to see our little HoneyB and oh, has he grown since we last saw him in early Feb. He has discovered his voice and takes a deep breath and lets out this loud sing/song sound that surprises him as well as everyone around him. His eyes get big and he looks at you as if to say "I don't know what just happened but boy, am I clever!" He is rock solid and after an evening of playing "I want to sit, now I want to stand, sit, stand...etc" my shoulders and chest muscles were sore! Everything about him is amazing and we never get tired of looking at him and reacting to all of his funny faces and sounds.

I knew we would love him but I honestly never expected this overwhelming sense of love and wonder for this grandchild. It's close to the feelings a Mother has for her own baby...especially those quiet moments very early in the morning when you are sitting alone in a darkened room, feeding it and just having some quiet time alone. However, it's different in that you know this is the child of your child...and the memories flood back so that you can hardly look at that sweet baby without remembering some of those long forgotten sounds, smells and joy of your own grown child. It's a double gift and one which you want to experience over and over.
Ty is amazing and I'm looking forward to watching him grow!