Some scary orange skies over Calgary circa 2017
Flashback Friday: North central Calgary times
Going through files — if I can get my files in order then I can get my life in order, right — and found a couple of gems from my Calgary life back in 2017.
One is of the Rosso, one of the few local coffee chains that has bothered to open a location in the North (looking at you Phil & Sebastian). The South always felt cooler so it was nice to have a local spot to go to.
The other is from a Confederation Creek protest march. Those were the days of raucous watershed activism.
It goes on and on my friend
Recently someone asked me if I ever thought I'd catch up on my old photos, if I'd ever manage to go through them all and do whatever it is that I plan to do with them.
I answered no. Partially because that would take a really long time, even if photography was the only thing I was doing, which it's very much not, it would take a really long time. Then it would reset. Every photo, every new platform, every new disruptive technology is a new photo that needs editing and posting and doing something with.
Those photos in my backlog, for the most part, I did do something with. They're on Flickr or were on a blog. They got posted somewhere at some point. Just in a place that I no longer spend time or that is no longer up or a blog that ran out of free storage so I migrated to another to another to another.
It never ends. I'll always be dealing with it. I just hope I can do a smarter better job.
I'd love to get more of my photos up but I don't even know if that's really the point anymore. Having the files in order, tagged and well backed up, that's a good goal. Having a place where I post all of them, nah.
If I get them all up here or on Instagram or wherever who knows if it'll last.
These things generally don't. They're fleeting.
I have this place now. I can do what I can do and then deal with whatever's next when it hits.
In this age of crisis and chaos it's hard to think about the future, honestly I try not to because it just feels too scary and sad. All we have is this moment, we are promised nothing else. So for now I'm trying to keep Hootsuite fed. I'm trying to get print on demand running again. I want to post here. One day when money is less of an issue I'll do right by my files and have hard drives upon hard drives and some cloudy meatballs.
It's an imperfect mess but it is what it is.
I can still take pictures. I am going to enjoy it. I'm going to try not to repeat the file management mistakes I've made in the past.
Assorted adventures
Some shots from when my sister was in town.
This city'll Drive you crazy
From the Drive, etc with my sister.
Island life
From when Sister was visiting.
Westham Island and farm adventures in Richmond and Delta
One of my friends knows I like snapping pics of flowers and invited me to explore Westham Island and some other spots in Richmond and Delta. It's beautiful out there.
Polygonna explore Lower Lonsdale
I'm a fan of the Lonsdale waterfront. I like where it's going and how it's transforming. Just a fun place to be.
Lynn Valley
From hiking at Lynn Valley. I've been meaning to check it out for a while.
I made it across the suspension bridge. It was harrowing and my heart race took a few hours to go back to normal but I did make it. Bridges are not my favourite thing. Suspension bridges are basically the worst thing ever. So I was pretty proud. Overcome your fears and what not. Try not to get stuck or curl up into a ball halfway across.
I did find a route that involves not crossing a suspension bridge so if I'm there in the future I'll probably do that instead.
The hike was pretty. I find the cliff diving thing confusing. At first I saw the signs and was like well that's a bit much then I was like oh yeah that makes sense.
I mean I hardly managed to cross the suspension bridge so there's no way I was gonna jump off a cliff.
Humans are weird.
It was cool watching the splashes after people jumped in. And the water was a beautiful greenish colour. Fantastic.
As usual I felt over dressed and hard core. Having a father whose catchphrase could be "Ticks really freak me out" has motivated me to take tick precautions whenever I hike even if everyone else is in flip-flops. I already have enough nerve damage going on. Not looking for any more.
Trees in black and white
I spend a fair amount of time in parks and forests — something something landscape architecture. Something I've noticed is the intense contrast between the light in the shade where the leaves block the light and the light where the sun gets in and makes it to the ground. It's a big difference. So I figured I'd take some shots of it and edit them into black and white and push the contrast.
I don't know if this works.
Arbutus Greenway wanders
Some shots from a stroll along the Arbutus Greenway. One of my favourite spaces in Vancouver.
Spirited away b + w
Now in black and white.
Spirited away
Some strolls in Kerrisdale/Dunbar and Pacific Spirit Regional Park. The trees and flowers are gorgeous.
No 8.31.24 AM
Apparently these photos didn't make the cut. For something. I have no idea what.
A portfolio presumably.
Sounds kind of like the title of a Simon and Garfunkel song.
MOOOOOOOO
Some photos from a folder from an old Moo business card order.