Bentley Images

dougal2.mpg

2010-10-20T16:08:00.000-07:00

I had to learn how to use some new software today, so I put this little slide show together....

Days 10 and 11 - Nova Scotia

2010-10-19T09:25:00.000-07:00

We had friends waiting for us in Halifax, so we said goodbye to Quebec City and hit the road toward the Maritimes. Halifax was almost 12 hours away, and we had just put in a full day of sightseeing in Quebec, so we stopped somewhere near Moncton for the night, and made it to our destination the following afternoon.

View Quebec City to Halifax in a larger map

Day 9 - 400 years of stuff to see

2010-10-19T09:02:00.000-07:00

We decided that since we only have a day in Quebec City, we should find a tour guide to show us the highlights. We hired a horse-drawn carriage to take us on a one-hour trip around the old city, which was well worth the time and cost. Every building has a story.

Although I was impressed with the architecture and history of the buildings, it was the Plains of Abraham that really got to me. This beautiful park was the site of the 1759 battle that determined the fate of North America. It's no doubt the most important piece of real estate in the country, and one that every Canadian should see.

Well, you can't go sightseeing on an empty stomach!

Dougal meets his driver.

Plains of Abraham is a good place to throw a frisbee too.

Day 8 - On to Quebec

2010-10-19T08:35:00.000-07:00

After a day of stationary serenity, we got the urge to ramble once again. Picked up a car in Ottawa, and moseyed up the St. Lawrence to Quebec City, a destination I was really looking forward to, since I had never been there.

We got off to a good start: found a cheap room in the best hotel in town (and one of the best in North America), the Auberge Saint Antoine. To celebrate, we took in an unforgettable meal at Panache, the hotel's restaurant. The food was amazing, of course, and the setting was truly Old World: the building was once a warehouse, and on display throughout the hotel were artifacts that had been dug up during the restoration process. The property has been in continuous use since the mid-1600s. Although the weather wasn't the best, we were looking forward to a full day of sightseeing in one of Canada's oldest cities.

View Cantley Quebec to Quebec City in a larger map

The perfect dessert to follow Spit-roasted St. Appolinaire Duck!

Day 7 - Chillin' in Cantley

2010-10-19T08:31:00.000-07:00

Finally, a day with no driving. Just sitting by the Gatineau River...

Day 6 - Ottawa awaits

2010-10-11T11:18:00.000-07:00

I think my shutter finger was getting sore, because we only took a few photos despite the beautiful scenery. We made it to Ottawa easily, and enjoyed our first home cooked meal in a week.

View Day 6 - Sudbury to Ottawa in a larger map

Steak dinner for Dougal. Is this Ottawa, or am I in doggy heaven?

Day 5 - Thunder Bay to Sudbury

2010-10-11T10:34:00.000-07:00

Lotta driving today, not much time to stop and take photos. We had to take some shots of Lake Superior, though. It was a very windy day and the lake had ocean-size waves rolling across it. This was a very beautiful, but rugged, part of the trip. The highway was only 2 lanes wide with lots of curves as it hugged the lake for several hundred miles. This was the only leg of the trip where we saw an accident. Two of them, actually, both moving trucks that appear to have just slid off the road. Furniture everywhere. Talk about a yard sale...

That night we said goodbye to our traveling companion Chris, who was on his way to his new home in Huntsville the next morning, while we had our sights set on Ottawa.

View Day 5 - Sudbury to Thunder Bay in a larger map

Proof that dogs can indeed take catnaps.

Northern Ontario going for the southern California look.

Goodbye, you crazy old U-Haul, you...

Day 4 - Thunder Bay

2010-09-26T09:07:00.000-07:00

The motel in Verdin was a little underwhelming, to say the least. I thought all those big rigs parked in the lot meant the place was pretty nice. I guess truckers can be wrong sometimes too. It was next door to a Tim Horton's though. But then again, pretty much everything on this highway is next to a Tim Horton's.

Since we had only planned on getting as far as Regina the night before, we were now officially ahead of schedule, which was a good thing because the eastern Ontario leg is only two lanes, and the weather was starting to get dicey. Thunder Bay was our destination tonight -- a good 12 hours of driving awaited us. Plus a stop at the Royal Canadian Mint in Winnipeg. We found a nice little motel in the country that night, and collapsed into bed.

View Larger Map

Typical road fuel. A cross country drive is not a good place to start a diet...

A very rare giant quarter where the Queen looks kind of like a fluffy dog...

Sunflowers as far as the eye can see.

Our hideaway for the evening. this shot was actually taken the next morning cause we didnt get to the place until very late the night before.

Day 3 Picking up speed

2010-09-21T08:53:00.001-07:00

After a detour to the Calgary airport to drop off one wife, one dog and two kids, the three remaining humans, one dog and two birds continued eastward, through the wheat fields and oil wells of Alberta and Saskatchewan. We stopped every few hours to get some exercise and take a few photos. The mosquitoes were waiting for us at every turn. We made it as far as Virden Manitoba that night, a little over 1000 kilometres. I was expecting miles of parking-lot flat vistas and acres of wheat fields, and was surprised at the rolling terrain and beautiful scenery.

View Day 3 - Calgary to Virden Manitoba in a larger map

There's a dog in there somewhere...

There he is! Frolicking through the wheat fields...

... As opposed to Swift Current, 'The Standoffish, Snooty, Unfriendly City'.

Road Trip Day 2

2010-09-21T08:31:00.000-07:00

After an easy drive to Kamloops the first day we decided to get serious about making some progress. We were determined to make it to Calgary the second night, so Rockies here we come. I was pretty impressed that a U-Haul filled with furniture and towing a minivan made it up and down those mountains with nary a complaint.

View Day 2 Kamloops to Calgary in a larger map

This is the location of the Last Spike on the Canadian Pacific rail line.

Dogs wearing hats. They are everywhere in Lake Louise!

This is our rig: no sharp turns and no backing up - ever.

Road Trip!!! Day 1

2010-09-21T08:11:00.000-07:00

For almost 3 weeks it was just me, Sylvie and Dougal with nothing but miles of highway in front of us - destination: Halifax. Why? Because I've never driven across Canada before, and it just seemed like a good idea at the time.
We were travelling as far as Sudbury Ontario with some friends who were moving there, so we started out with 4 adults, 2 kids, 2 dogs, 2 birds, one station wagon and one 26-foot-long U-Haul moving truck towing a minivan. First stop was Kamloops, where our convoy invaded my sister's place for the first night.

View Larger Map

When I see a 30 foot high statue of a duck, I have to take a picture of it. That's just the way I roll.

The Merry Pranksters. Plus my sister.

Hendrix was here

2010-08-20T22:42:00.000-07:00

...Grandma and Grandpa Hendrix that is. According to the plaque on the front lawn of this Strathcona heritage home, the Hendrixes lived here from 1938 to 1952. Grandson Jimi apparently came up to visit from time to time. I was asked to shoot this beautifully restored home by the good folks at Trillium Projects. Hendrix House can be found at 827 East Georgia.

Front Row Centre

2010-08-10T22:08:00.000-07:00

Usually when I walk in a room with floor to ceiling windows like this I get a little nervous. Lighting up a room this size, and avoiding huge reflections in the windows from my flashes, can be daunting. But I recently switched over to a new photographic technique which involves taking the same shot at different exposures and blending them together. What you end up with is an image that has very few dark shadows or overexposed areas, and it's all done with ambient light - no flashes.

I shot the larger rooms and the window views that way, and I'm pretty happy with the result. It's more time on the computer, but less time on location.

... And Man Created Dog

2010-08-09T08:43:00.001-07:00

If you're a dog lover (and if you aren't, what's wrong with you?) you will want to check out this National Geographic special

Another Trillium Project

2010-08-08T07:42:00.000-07:00

Shooting renovations is much different than shooting for realtors. For reno jobs, I can focus on the details of the room, rather than trying to make the room look as big as possible. And views are not important at all, so I can use more subtle lighting for the interior.

The images below are from a recent Trillium Projects renovation. They are revamping their website and are sending me around to take some high quality photos of their recent work. It's always a pleasure to shoot for these guys, their work is first rate.

On the Golden Mile

2010-07-19T22:54:00.000-07:00

I just shot both units of a duplex at the corner of Alma and Point Grey Road - that's either the beginning or the end of the Golden Mile, depending on where you start, I suppose.

Both units have been completely restored to include vaulted ceilings, marble counters, and Texada Island maple finishings. The sunshine and professional staging made my job easy. See the complete listing at Debbie Custock's website.

Buried Treasure

2010-07-09T10:10:00.000-07:00

Waterfront homes in Crescent Beach don't come up for sale very often, so this is a pretty rare listing. This home's stone and wood interior makes it feel like a cottage, but with top of the line appliances and finishings it is anything but.
This is a private sale, so if you're interested drop me a line and I'll hook you up!

Congratulations

2010-07-01T08:08:00.000-07:00

Just have to post a congratulatory note to one of my clients, Sebastian Albrecht, for setting a new record of 14 ascents up the Grouse Grind in one day!

My own Twilight Saga

2010-07-01T07:29:00.000-07:00

The idea behind a twilight shoot is to capture images between the time the sun sets and complete darkness. That way you can get a long exposure indoors, while sucking in the remaining light outside for a nice rich blue colour in the sky as well as the twinkling lights of the city.

So the other night I loaded up my car and headed towards Cypress Mountain at about 8:30 pm, to this beautiful penthouse suite with a 180 degree view of the city. Although it was built 20 years ago, it is a beauty, with floor to ceiling windows, a rooftop pool, and the most sophisticated lighting system I have ever seen in a home.

There were literally dozens of light switches for each room, all on dimmers, so I spent the majority of my time looking for the right switch and playing with the levels to get the lighting just right. Twilight doesn't last very long, so before it got dark I had to scope the place out completely, and figure out the shots I wanted to get during that half hour of golden time.

Once the sun sets behind the mountain it disappears quickly: it took about 10 minutes for the sunset to move from Point Grey to downtown.

Once the interior lights were dimmed and the sky became darker, the views were breathtaking, and changed every few minutes. I didn't get home until late that night, but I just had to download these images and check them out before I hit the sack. It took quite a while to select and process the images, but I was very happy with the result. Hopefully my client, Eric Christiansen, is too!

If it's in the New York Times, it must be true

2010-06-22T09:05:00.000-07:00

Here's an article about the value of good real estate photography.

Change of Scenery

2010-06-20T22:40:00.000-07:00

My niece got married a couple of summers ago, during a torrential downpour which prevented her from getting some photos with her favourite horse. Enter Uncle John, camera in hand, for a restaged photo session with Robyn all done up in her wedding dress and fancy hairdo, a freshly scrubbed horse, and some perfect early evening sun the other night.

This was my first try at a portrait involving a horse. It was a lot of fun, but tricky. Horses are big, often dark, and don't stand still. Especially when there are big flashy lights going off in their face. Must remember that for next time...

Bigger IS better!

2010-06-15T08:18:00.000-07:00

It has always been a big source of frustration to me when I see some of my photos reduced to tiny thumbnails on some realtors site. I work hard on my images, and to see them reduced and compressed until they are almost unrecognizable is heartbreaking sometimes.

It's not the fault of the realtor. They don't usually have a choice when dealing with sites like realtylink.org and website templates designed by Ubertor and the like. They were all built with bandwidth costs in mind. It's a lot cheaper to display a small, compressed image than a large, high resolution one. But that's not a big issue any more. Bandwidth costs are relatively cheap, and according to one recent report, 87% of home buyers are using the Internet to search for homes (I would have thought it was closer to 100%). And, based on the comments of virtually all of my realtor clients, good quality photos play a huge part in generating interest for properties.

So it looks like someone finally heard my whining and built a realtor website application that can handle big photos. Judith Matheson just showed off her latest listing here using a template designed by VisualTour.com . According to Judith, it's so easy to update that even she can do it!

Looks to me like this Flash application determines the size of your monitor and delivers the largest possible image to you. Which can be good or bad, depending on the quality of the photos. In the case of Judith's listing, I sent her the usual size images, which are pretty small, so as a result they look a little fuzzy on my 24 inch monitor. We're going to have to fix that. Here are some of the same images from that shoot, which by the way, is a stunning townhouse in Richmond.

Less is More

2010-06-08T22:06:00.000-07:00

I was pretty impressed when I walked into this L'Hermitage condo in Yaletown yesterday. I thought the staging was really well done -- lots of white to avoid distracting from the spectacular view, splashes of bright colour here and there, and no clutter. Then I found out from ace realtor Dale McGauran that it always looks like that. No staging, just real life. I can't understand how people can live like that. I mean, where do they put all their stuff? Everybody has stuff. Don't they?

Classy reno

2010-06-05T08:59:00.000-07:00

If you've ever dreamed about having a big studio in your home to pursue your artistic passions, here it is. This east side beauty includes a coach house in the back yard big enough for you to finally build that scale model of the Eiffel Tower out of toothpicks. The rest of the house has been beautifully renovated too. Check out the complete listing on Lorne Goldman's site.

The Big W

2010-06-05T08:50:00.000-07:00

I have shot many places in the Woodward's building in the past. There was a lot of turnover last year, when the construction was finally completed. This latest condo has the best view that I have seen from there though. On the 23rd floor, it has a huge wraparound deck, giving you a view from Coal Harbour to the big W. Which is pretty cool, unless that thing is lit up at night. Is it?

Wet Dreams

2010-05-29T08:33:00.000-07:00

I fnally have some down time to get caught up with blog posts and other indulgences, like sleep. May has been non-stop shooting, with over 40 properties, 3 weddings (one of which was in Prince George, fer cryin' out loud), a birthday party and some product photography. Not that I'm complaining. I still remember late 2008 when I thought my phone was broken because it didn't ring for about a week.

Got a lot of new clients this month too, particularly on the North Shore. I shot two waterfront homes in Deep Cove recently. They don't come on the market very often. I think Deep Cove has got to be one of the very few places where you go in the front door, and walk down a flight of stairs to get to the living area.

Both of these places pack a lot of house onto a small property, with multiple levels. And of course lots of windows on the water side.

Here are some photos of the first one. you can see the complete listing on Patricia Houlihan's website

The second listing is just down the road, and can be found on Eric Christiansen's site.

Portrait session: Jason Cohen

2010-05-01T22:13:00.000-07:00

Local musician Jason Cohen and I were going for a gritty, urban look for his portrait session, to match Jason's style of music. So we decided on an evening shoot somewhere in Gastown, and since it was raining we opted for an indoor location. I mean, we're both dedicated artists, but come on, it's cold and wet out there.

We agreed to meet at the Lamplighter, which, I recalled from the lost days of my youth, was a pretty run down pub with quite a few windows for light, a perfect backdrop. I guess I don't get out much any more, because when I got there I found that it has been converted to a relatively upscale sports bar.

But we went for it anyway, trying hard to avoid the dozens of plasma TVs lining the walls, until management noticed my Speedlights popping off in the corner and politely asked us to leave. Not the first time I've been kicked out of a bar...

So we ended up in the back alley, thankful that the rain had stopped, leaving a lot of shiny bricks and concrete for our backdrops. After a couple of hours we retired to Salt Tasting Room to warm up.

To get enough light I had to shoot at a high ISO, which meant lots of grain on the images, but that just added to the look we were going for. Both Jason and I were very happy with the results.

Sure, I take bribes

2010-04-29T06:36:00.000-07:00

This classic looking bottle was a gift from a homeowner whose house was going up for sale. He had 28 years worth of stuff in his basement so he asked me what kind of booze I drank. I told him scotch, but he had already given that out, so I took this bottle of Old Grandad bourbon. It was bought by his father 40 years ago and never opened. I happened to be taking a course in glass photography so we used it as a prop. It's still unopened. I'm going to wait for a special occasion, like maybe the Canucks winning the Stanley Cup. Or the next time it rains. Whichever comes first.

Leavenworth is worth the trip

2010-04-25T13:06:00.000-07:00

Having been raised in Kitchener Ontario with a mother of German extraction, I grew up on a steady diet of schnitzel and saurkraut. So when I learned of a little town in Washington State called Leavenworth I had to pay a visit. It's an easy drive from Vancouver, about 4 hours. After you get off I-5 at Everett, take Highway 2 which winds through a narrow valley, up the Cascades through Stevens Pass.

After the railway abandoned it in the 1930's Leavenworth fell into a prolonged depression, but around 1960 it went through a makeover, and was reborn as a Bavarian village. I believe they chose the theme because the town is nestled in a very narrow valley surrounded by towering mountains. Buildings along the main street reflect the Bavarian motif, as do many of the restaurants and shops. The town is thriving, with over a dozen festivals that attract more than a million tourists a year. We spent two days there before heading to Stevens Pass for a morning of skiing and enjoyed it thoroughly.

If you're looking for a cheap, quick holiday off the beaten path, I recommend it highly.

I can see my house from here!

2010-04-23T21:58:00.000-07:00

While shooting a penthouse suite at a downtown highrise this week, I went out on the rooftop deck and found a ladder that took me to the very top of the building. You don't often get an unobstructed view of Vancouver from that height on a sunny day very often, so I took advantage of it and shot a couple of panoramas.

Here's a small version of one...

Tulip time in La Conner

2010-04-18T09:02:00.000-07:00

If you're not busy next April I would highly recommend a trip to La Conner Washington for the annual Tulip Festival. I've been there a couple of times and enjoyed it immensely. There are thousands of acres of tulips, daffodils and irises. I'm not a huge fan of flowers, but I don't think I have ever seen such huge, brilliant colours in nature anywhere else.

If you decide to go, phone them in early April, since the blooming period is only a couple of weeks long, and the timing depends on how sever the previous winter was. This year we almost missed it since the winter was so mild.

Bring your camera and some gumboots, it can get a little messy...

De-clutter de place!

2010-04-09T22:56:00.001-07:00

I have to hand it to realtor Dale McGauran - she has her clients well trained. Every time I show up at one of her listings for a shoot the place is spotless. Today her client said she had been cleaning for 4 hours before I got there. All the knicknacks and miscellaneous clutter were carefully tucked away in closets and under furniture. And to top it off, the sun was shining for a change. It makes my job so much easier, and Dale enjoys a steady parade of potential buyers to her listings, mainly (well, partly) because of the great photographs we end up with. Her last listing sold for $25K over asking. She knows what she's doing!

Grand Entrances

2010-03-27T09:58:00.000-07:00

I've been shooting a lot of high end homes recently with some nice dramatic entries. thought I would share...

Sunset photos

2010-03-20T09:17:00.000-07:00

I often get asked if I can shoot a west-facing property just as the sun is going down. The view looks great to the naked eye, but the camera doesn't have the same dynamic range as our eyes, so photos shot directly into the sun will be nothing but blown out highlights and dark black shadows. The best time to shoot a west-facing view is in the morning with the sun behind you. Then you'll get a perfect blue sky, and lots of light shining directly onto your subjects. The other option is to wait until the sun sets, and you'll have a window of magic time when there's still a little bit of light in the sky and the lights come on in the buildings. I'll post some samples of the latter in a future post, but in the meantime here's a few shots of a west facing False Creek penthouse that I had to shoot at 6 pm the other day for Elizabeth McQueen. Fortunately I was able to point the camera south, and avoid the harsh glare of the evening sun. Even then I had to use every light in my bag, as well as some significant post processing work in Photoshop to get the interior and the view exposed properly.

Big returns for a small investment

2010-03-13T21:44:00.000-08:00

Being the modest person I am, I don't usually post kudos and compliments from my clients. But I thought I would share this one from a client whose cottage I photographed last year in Comox. I'm posting it for two reasons: to prove that good photographs can indeed help sell, or in this case rent, a house, and also because I'm looking for another cheap summer holiday. Photos in exchange for a few days at your summer home, anyone?

"Thanks again for the wonderful photos. I have the house rented until early Sept apart from one week. We use two different owner websites and I've only put the new photos on one of the two and every single rental has come from the one with the new photos. As a scientist, I would say that is absolute evidence that you are a gifted photographer!"

Don't try this with your point and shoot camera!

2010-03-13T21:19:00.000-08:00

This impressive kitchen posed one of the toughest challenges I have faced in a long time. The house was perched on a hill in West Van with a stunning view of the Lower Mainland. The day was sunny and bright, and I tried for half an hour to get a shot of the room showing the great view out the window. But as you can see, the room was full of dark furniture and appliances, which looks great in person but was impossible to shoot. I used every flash I had with me and still couldn't get enough light to expose the room and the view in the same shot. Rather than resort to a double exposure in Photoshop, I turned the camera around and shot the room with the window behind me, and shot the window view in a different image.

Reno photos

2010-03-06T01:33:00.000-08:00

The stars were all aligned for this North Vancouver shoot: late afternoon sun coming in just the right direction, and a beautifully staged home that has just been renovated by Jen Eden of Occupy Design and Erin Root of Trillium Projects.

I really like this shot (below). It looks like there's a window behind the couch to the left, but there isn't. I just pointed a flash at the wall behind the sofa and got a nice reflected light that looks like it's coming from outside.

Traffic? What traffic?

2010-02-20T09:38:00.001-08:00

I'm surprised that the real estate business is still booming along during the Olympics. I thought I would have a little time off since there's so much going on in town, but I've been busier that ever.
And I have to hand it to the Olympics organizers. I have been driving all over town this week, and have not had a single traffic or parking problem. It has been smooth sailing wherever I go. Yesterday, I went from UBC to Yaletown to east Vancouver, then south Vancouver, then to the heart of the city at 3:30 in the afternoon, right at the start of rush hour. I was amazed at how easy it was.
Here's a shot of the view from the condo in Coal Harbour from yesterday. Talk about a front row seat!

Olympic photo opps

2010-02-17T23:14:00.000-08:00

Today the sky was clear, the sun was shining, and I was digging all those banners wrapped around the buildings downtown. I've lived here a long time and I can't remember when Vancouver looked so good.

Studio session with Nancy Ruth

2010-02-15T22:11:00.001-08:00

Recording artist and good friend Nancy Ruth has returned to Vancouver after spending the past few years in Spain. She asked me for some new headshots, and after juggling our schedules around, we managed to fit a session in over the Christmas break. Here's a handful of the results. Hair and makeup by Tracy Juliver

My new hobby

2010-02-14T22:29:00.001-08:00

Not that I really need another one, but when an 8 pound 10 ounce bundle of joy comes along that will soon start calling me 'Grandpa' I really have no choice. I'm looking forward to documenting little Ben's progress, and getting some practice as a baby photographer.

The Cherry on Top

2010-02-13T07:14:00.000-08:00

I've been in Vancouver long enough to remember when False Creek was a run-down industrial area. Then came Expo 86, followed by Li Ka-Shing, and the rest is real estate history. So when Concord Pacific staged some of their last remaining penthouse suites and asked me to take some photographs for the marketing material, it made me think about the remarkable transformation this area has enjoyed over the past 30 years.

The False Creek area is one of my favourite spots to shoot in the entire Lower Mainland. I have shot countless weddings, engagements, and portraits down there, not to mention literally hundreds of condos and townhouses. The turnover in real estate in this area has kept food on my table for many years. I now have an enormous database of building exteriors, gyms, saunas, party rooms, and views that I can draw upon whenever a new listing comes up in the neighbourhood.

These condos are right on the water on the North side of the Creek, beside the Cambie Street Bridge. Too bad it was overcast the day I was there, the views are some of the best I've ever seen!

Top of the world

2010-01-09T17:10:00.000-08:00

I had the privilege of shooting this luxurious penthouse in downtown Vancouver the other day. Even with gloomy skies the view is spectacular, almost 360 degrees. Oh, and by the way it's for rent from Merlo Resorts.

Your own private oasis

2009-08-24T09:28:00.000-07:00

As a real estate photographer in Vancouver, I get to see a lot of interesting properties, but this one takes the cake. Only a few minutes from downtown Vancouver, this 3.5 acre estate boasts its own lake, 2 swimming pools, stables and a tennis court. Not to mention 15000 square feet of living space. If you have to ask the price, you probably can't afford it :)

Island Images

2009-07-15T08:34:00.000-07:00

I got a chance to stay in this beautiful home in Comox, BC for a few days while shooting some images for the owners. The weather was perfect, the view of the ocean was breathtaking, and the local deer are plentiful and friendly. All in all a terrific vacation!

How wet dogs get dry

2009-07-02T09:21:00.001-07:00

Dougal likes to swim, but doesn't like being wet. So this is how he dries himself off. I just like the textures in this photo and enhanced them a litle in Photoshop.

Afghanadian

2009-05-19T13:17:00.000-07:00

This regal looking hound belongs to my nephew Greg and his lovely wife Sylvia. They live in a cozy little house in Kitchener with their Afghan Bentley, another Afghan, an English sheepdog, couple of cats, and a ferret or something. A good basis for a reality TV show I think.

Get out and vote!

2009-03-31T09:42:00.000-07:00

My boy Dougal needs your support in his bid to become rich and famous --- well, famous, anyway. Please go to Modern Dog Magazine and cast your vote for the big guy. His name is Dougal and he approves this message.

The Mennonite Hunter

2009-03-03T06:34:00.000-08:00

I was in Kitchener, Ontario recently, which, as you may or may not know, is in the middle of Mennonite country. I grew up back there so I was used to seeing the occasional black buggy clopping down a country road when I was growing up. But it was a beautiful Sunday and my sister and I decided to do a little exploring, starting at Ontario's only remaining covered bridge in Montrose. I was hoping we would get lucky and spot a few Mennonites on the way.

Just as we got to the bridge, a horse and buggy came trotting over it towards us. I grabbed the camera and shot through the windshield thinking it might be my only chance at a bridge and buggy shot. After it passed we pulled over to the shoulder, got out and took some more photos of the bridge, when we noticed a small parade of buggies on the other side of the river, heading over the bridge towards us. Jackpot! One after another came flying by us, the horses's breath streaming behind them. They continued for a good 15 minutes until the bridge was finally quiet. If we had gotten there half an hour earlier or later, we would have missed the whole thing. Could it have been Divine Intervention, intervening, in its, um, divine way? Or just luck? Probably luck, I'm thinking.

More photos here.

Trying the vegetarian thing

2009-02-17T21:55:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder what's going through a dog's brain at time like this? I do.

Hey buddy...

2008-11-25T22:59:00.001-08:00

Why the long face?

Vicious? Me?

2008-11-17T22:31:00.001-08:00

Apparently nobody told this mild-mannered, friendly girl that she's a Staffordshire Terrier.

Last gasp of summer

2008-10-29T12:50:00.003-07:00

These guys were enjoying the sun and rasslin' over a stick down at the beach.

End of Days

2008-10-29T11:27:00.000-07:00

Well, summer weather is finally over in Vancouver I think. The days are getting shorter and colder, and the rain clouds are looming. Time to start working on some indoor lighting setups... in the meantime, here are a couple of recent outdoor shots of my two favorite kids, Luna and Dougal.

He's a what????

2008-10-05T22:14:00.000-07:00

I had never heard of a Pyrenean Shepherd until I met Levi on the street the other day. But it's a real breed, and waaaaaaay up there in the cute department.

Brains and Brawn

2008-08-30T23:09:00.000-07:00

Here's the newest edition to the family. Brandy is one third border collie, one third rottweiler, and one third gettin' into trouble all the time.

Who says dogs can't fly?

2008-08-30T23:06:00.001-07:00

Don't tell this guy...

Nailed it

2008-06-23T20:17:00.000-07:00

Dougal's pretty proud of himself for catching this frisbee on the fly.

Raised by wolves

2008-06-23T20:15:00.000-07:00

I took this the other day at Spanish Banks during low tide. You can really see the Dingo heritage in Luna's breed in this shot.

A day at the beach

2008-06-04T17:16:00.000-07:00

Dougal met a bunch of new friends at the beach the other day.

Aerial Acrobatics

2008-05-31T22:00:00.000-07:00

Bald Eagles are as common as seagulls in the Queen Charlottes. This guy just got some sushi to go.

I call shotgun

2008-05-31T21:56:00.000-07:00

Saw this cute little Cairn Terrier on my recent trip to the Queen Charlotte Islands.

Finally

2008-05-21T18:24:00.000-07:00

It's mine, all mine!

Waiting....

2008-05-21T18:22:00.000-07:00

So, you gonna throw that thing? Or what?

Business in the front...

2008-05-03T22:55:00.001-07:00

...party in the back. Dougal shows off his mullet.

Farm friend

2008-05-03T12:26:00.000-07:00

I thought the flash might spook him, but he was pretty cool.

Luna the wonder dog

2008-04-25T23:50:00.001-07:00

Nothing will stop her from getting to that ball.

Summer's here

2008-04-25T23:46:00.000-07:00

Who says it's cold in Canada? These shots were taken today, April 25 at Wreck Beach.

2008-04-22T23:31:00.000-07:00

Caught Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed at Whistler the other day. Apparently they bought a house. There goes the neighborhood...

Meet the mastiff

2008-04-22T23:27:00.000-07:00

Here's Bentley, a one-year old American Mastiff. He's afraid of everything, doesn't yet realize how big he is.

I'll be good

2008-04-16T18:15:00.000-07:00

Spot looks like I'm going to hit him or something. But he always looks that way.

Sand creature

2008-04-16T18:07:00.000-07:00

Dougal looks like Sandman from the Spider-Man movie.

It's OK, I still have another kid

2008-04-16T17:51:00.000-07:00

Spencer jumping off a cliff at Whistler. I would have done it too, but someone had to hold the camera.

2008-04-16T17:41:00.001-07:00

Caught this little bandit exploring my back porch this morning. He (or she) had two little ones in tow, but they didnt' get too close.

2008-04-16T17:37:00.000-07:00

My boy Dougal the golden doodle loves the water but doesn't like getting wet. Here are a couple of shots of him shaking off. Kinda freaky, cause under all that fur is a pretty skinny dog....

2008-04-15T23:05:00.000-07:00

My dog Luna's favorite pastime. She drops the ball down the steps to me, and waits until I throw it back to her. Then we do it again. And again. And again.....