Glow

Hard shadows can emphasize texture and edges. Find a scene with lit with hard shadows today and make a photo.

This past week has been unbelievably hectic where I work and I've found myself pulling 12 hour days as of late. With school last night and the long work hours, I really haven't been able to come up with some stellar shots...this post is no different. Feeling the need to relax and unwind, I illuminated the living room by candlelight and decided to take the new toy out for a spin. While I'm still getting familiar with the new camera, I've been amazed at the difference between what I was using and what I am using now. I decided to post the photo of the candles softly glowing with the hard shadows cast on the bed of river rocks.

Mags.

Alcohol: Pleasure or Poison?

Plastic or glass? Today's challenge was to make a photo of a bottle or grouping of bottles.

Drinking alcohol can do a lot of different things to our bodies. It can help us "loosen up" in social situations, can be enjoyed with a meal or quench our thirst on a hot day. People react differently to alcohol depending on their size, age, gender and experience with drinking. It is important however, to know the signs of alcohol poisoning.

Alcohol poisoning is a very serious and dangerous condition, in which alcohol depresses (as it is a depressant), the central nervous system and depresses involuntary actions – such as breathing and the gag reflex. There are varying degrees of alcohol poisoning. Vomiting can be considered a sign of mild alcohol poisoning. Alcohol is an irritant to the stomach, which is why bodies reject it if too much has been ingested. More critical signs of alcohol poisoning are mental confusion, stupor, and the inability to be roused, which are all things that can lead up to an eventual coma. Other signs are seizures, slow breathing and irregular breathing (which is considered fewer than 8 breaths per minute, and 10 seconds or more between breaths respectively), and hypothermia with blue-tinged or pale skin. 

Don’t fool yourself into thinking that things will get better before they get worse. Even if the person has stopped drinking and/or is passed out, alcohol continues to be released into the bloodstream after their last drink. If someone has alcohol poisoning, the best thing to do for them is to get medical attention as soon as possible. When a friend is vomiting, and cannot wake up, their life is in danger. It is important that you role them onto their side and assure that their airway is clear, and they have ample ability to clear their system of vomit.

Here are some steps if you encounter someone who is passed out and could be suffering from acute alcohol poisoning:

1. Try to wake the person

Can the person be woken up? Do they respond to their name being called? Pinch their skin – they should have a reaction. Alcohol is a depressant and it will numb the nerves, by pinching you can roughly gauge how far along in the “overdose” process they are. If they do not respond, they may need medical attention.

2. Turn the person on their side – do not leave them alone.

Turning them on their side ensures that if they vomit, their airway will not be blocked and they will not choke. Stay with them – only leave them if you have to get someone to help you. 

3. Check skin colour and temperature.

Is enough blood getting to the skin? A clear sign that you need to get help if the skin is pale or bluish in colour, or the skin is cold and clammy. These signs indicate that the person is not getting sufficient oxygen and they need immediate medical attention.

4. Check their breathing

Irregular breathing, with a few breaths and then nothing for awhile, is a sign that medical attention is necessary. If the person’s breathing is too slow or shallow – less than 8 breaths a minute, or more than 10 seconds between breaths – this is another sign that they need help. These are just some of the potential signs of acute alcohol poisoning. A person may have one or all of these signs. Use your instincts when assessing a situation. If you cannot wake the person up at all, it is a serious situation. If you are at all concerned, don’t hesitate to get help.

Mags.

Colourful Indoor Water Fun....

Water sustains life. Colour enhances life. Today's challenge was to make a photo combining colour and water.

With the weather being cold and yucky today, I needed to figure out a creative way to combine colour and water together in an indoor environment. Rooting through my kitchen cabinets, I came across some bottles of food colouring and began to experiment by adding a drop or two into a container of water. I realized I needed to move fast as the food colouring sank quickly to the bottom. I played around with different shots stirring the food colour until the water became solid colours of blue, yellow and red. I even took it one step further by combing the primary colours into solid secondary colours ( orange, purple and green). I eventually settled for this shot. I liked the way the movement of the food colouring in the water took on a ribbon-like appearance.

Mags.

Absolut Chill

Today's challenge is to make a photograph of something cold.

This is a macro shot of one of my favourite vodkas taken straight out of the freezer. I'm not a fan of using ice cubes in my "adult beverages" as I find it dilutes the drink and, depending on how long the ice cubes have been in the freezer, can leave a funny taste. For these reasons, I store my glass vodka bottles in the freezer so that the cold alcohol keeps the beverage cold without diluting it.

Mags.

Glass

Today's challenge was to make a photograph of something made out of glass and to go for interesting reflections or highlights.

Was a little sidetracked today with other things that needed to be done so today's photo shoot was a little last minute. This photo is of an antique wine decanter that my grandmother gave me before she passed away. Sadly, within the first month of owning it I accidently smashed the crystal topper that went with this, so, this is what I use in it's  place: http://365project.org/mags/365/2010-05-04 . I know, the styles don't really work together but, it does the trick. I liked the way the incandescent bulb that is shining from the top of the decanter has created the sunburst effect from the cuts in the crystal base. Overall I'm pretty satisfied with how this shot came out considering how rushed and last minute it was.

Mags.

It's All Fun and Games.........

Today I went down to The Exhibition (aka "The Ex") to take in my first professional soccer game between Toronto FC and New York Red Bulls. Sadly, our team was massacred by a score of 4-1. Ouch! Afterwards, we walked around the grounds at Exhibition place taking in all the sights and sounds of the CNE. It was a visual and auditory feast with flashing lights, ringing bells and game hosts yelling into their mics trying to lure you out of your money to play their games. This shot is of the ring toss game. The object is to toss the red rings onto the bottle necks. A special prize is awarded if it lands on one of the golden bottles.

Mags. 

Another One Bites The Dust.....

It seems to be a daily ritual this summer: grab a glass of wine (or a martini, vodka and something, etc) and sit on the front porch to unwind after work and enjoy the beautiful summer. While this is all fine and dandy, the problem seems to by that I can only take a few sips of whatever it is I'm drinking before I have to pour it down the drain. The issue? Seems like I'm not the only one who likes to have the odd drink here or there....without fail, flies, bees and other flying insects seem to find their way into my glass. They usually last only a few second before they die from alcohol poisoning. This little guy lasted a good 5 minutes before he met his demise......I actually saw him doing the backstroke in my merlot.....

Mags.

Reflections

After some late afternoon showers threatened the possibility of an evening photo shoot, I was glad when they passed through quickly. I made my way over to the Brampton Soccer Centre in hopes to capture some interesting shots of the unusual architecture that forms this building. I captured this shot as the sun setting was reflecting on the glass.

The Brampton Soccer Centre is a community soccer facility that opened in June 2007. Located on the southwest corner of Dixie Road and Sandalwood Parkway, this landmark building was created at a cost of $26.9 million dollars. The initial concept for the building was to have it host Ice Hockey, Basketball / Volleyball and Soccer. Feedback from the community resulted in a change of plans, thus rendering the inside of the building as a soccer only facility.

Mags.

Jolly Rancher Martini

Everyone loves food photos! Today's challenge was to make a close-up of food that I was enjoying today. While this is technically a beverage, I was still enjoying it and it is something that I did consume...so...I'm going to say it counts.

It's the end of the week (Thank Darwin it's Friday!) and to celebrate I relaxed with this cold, tasty martini. Mmmmmmmmmm........Named after the famous cubed hard candy, this Jolly Rancher martini tasted just like the real thing.....


Mags.

"Absolute" Domination

Today's assignment was to find a scene that's dominated by one colour.

I travelled to the "downtown" section of Mississauga today to purchase my new iMac. This area is booming with new condo developments popping up overnight! This particular project has been labeled a graceful, curving architectural wonder.

This is the fourth in the "Absolute" master planned community. This 50-storey landmark tower is not just the tallest tower in the neighbourhood , but is also catching the attention of many for its breakthrough in condo design. Eschewing straight lines, fixed points and verticles, this tower will be a slender, graceful, curvaceous form of glass and steel. Stunning!

Mags.

The Glass City

Yesterday, I travelled to the Big Bad City to meet a few friends for dinner and drinks. Anyone who knows me knows I love the city. I love the concrete jungle, the hustle and bustle of people, the constant activities that have the city buzzing. I love trying out the swanky restaurants, peering into the unique boutiques and watching all the weirdos go by. This is the view from my friend's office window and shows a great depiction of all the glass used in the office towers, condos and hotels that make up this fantastic city. I love how the mirrored building reflects other buildings in the surrounding area.

 

Mags.

Asymmetrical Balance

Asymmetrical balance occurs when several smaller items on one side are balanced by a large item on the other side, or smaller items are placed further away from the center of the screen than larger items. In this case, we can say that the two small darker glass insulators weigh more heavily than the clear larger one thus creating more of a heavier feel on one side of the photograph.

 

I used glass insulators for my picture today. They were first produced in the 1850's for use with telegraph lines. As technology developed, insulators were needed for telephone lines, electrical pwer lines and other applications. People started to collect these in the mid-1960's. I bought them many years ago at a garage sale. I loved the uniqueness of them and thought I'd group them together as a display. Truth be told they make awesome doorstoppers.....

Mags.

50 Million Bubbles

JUNE 3, 2010

"Hello. My name is "Mags" and I'm a Perrier-oholic. "

I'm not really a huge flat water drinker; however, I became addicted to the sparkling water in the signature green, tear drop-shaped bottle a few weeks ago on a hot and sunny afternoon. The cold, refreshing water really quenched my thirst and the carbonation danced on my tongue and tickled my throat as it took away the blandness of regular boring flat water. While I do enjoy the Lemon Perrier, I've developed a fondness for the Regular, Lime and Pink Grapefruit flavours as well. Add a little vodka to it and you've got a refreshing, low-calorie drink...........

P.S.:  Did you know that carbonated water is not only equally hydrating as flat water, but that it can also keep calcium locked in the bones?

Mags.

Looking At The World Through Different Glasses

MAY 1, 2010

Sometimes we need to step back, evaluate and look at things in a different way to really figure out where we're going.  I haven't blogged for several months now.  Did I run out of ideas?  Things to say?  Perhaps.  Truth be told, I've been caught up in my studies and just haven't had time to blog.  Now that I am done and ready to graduate, I'm looking for a new bag of tricks to occupy my time and keep my creative juices flowing.  I've decided I would like to make photography my new passion.  While surfing on the internet one day, I came across an interesting site: 365 Project.  The concept is simple: Take a photograph every day for the next year.  I thought this would be an awesome way to work on new photographic techniques while creatively showing my world and how I see things.  I may blog a little about the daily photo or may have nothing to say at all. 

I look forward to sharing these photos with you and welcome any feedback you may have (both positive and negative).

Mags.