Tundra Swans 2015

Past years I've shot thousands of shots of the migrating swans landing, taking off, soaring overhead.  Over the last few days the moon has risen early and bright giving me a new perspective on an age old subject.

Weekend Concerts

On Friday, we went to the Aeolian Hall in London.  It's a great little 300 seat theatre located in an old fire station.  We've been there several times and so far flash free photography is overtly allowed.  We bought our Jill Barber concert tickets well in advance and got front row seats, albeit quite close to the extreme edge of the audience.  Maybe the house allows photography because they know what challenges their presents to photographers.  Usually "ghoulish" lighting comes from below.  No so on Friday.  With two strong spot lights on the star of the show, it was only when light reflected up from the stage that the overall lighting was adequate for images.  FYI, for those of you who may be interested my ISO for the following three shots was 1000, 6400 and 3200 and all were hand held.  As for the music, Jill Barber is a jazz singer.  She and her 5 piece band play mostly her own songs.  Watch out for her, she's very good.

As I said the lighting was a challenge.  Fortunately, I caught this near black out moment.  I liked it instantly.

On Saturday night, we were at the Aylmer Old Town Hall for an Aylmer Performing Arts Council production of Danny Michel.  The Old Town Hall seats about 200 and has absolutely fabulous acoustics.  I'm always amazed at how much sound gear some bands bring and don't use simply because they don't need it.  Anyways, the lighting for this concert was very conducive for photography.  The music was good too.  A singer songwriter who now plays with International Space Station Commander Chris Hadfield.  (Does Major Tom - Ashes to Ashes come to mind?)  Too bad we didn't have the Commander in the house last night but the drummer and base player filled out Danny's sound quite well.  Technical stuff - all images were at ISO 3200.

Aylmer Walkabout

I went walking around "downtown" Aylmer and came away with these images.  It's funny how in mental preparation for this shoot, I had ideas about what to target.  None of these subjects were a target.

Below, I liked the colours in the brick and the blue tones in the window.  Neither of those were what caught my eye.  I was shooting the reflection of the window arches in the window panes.

In the back loading area of some shop, the strong morning sun lit up the iron and wood nicely.

Again, I was shooting the reflection but in post, I liked the detail and grit that contrasts the smooth wavy reflections.

This chinese restaurant has now been closed for years.  Looking inside you can see booths and counters that take you back in time.

Sure Sign of Spring

Every year the Tundra Swans fly home to the Arctic from their winter homes along the northeast US coast.  Many thousand of them stop to visit us in Aylmer.  This year they had to wait for the Great Lakes to thaw enough to provide some open water.

Aylmer's Town Hall

Former Post Office and now home to our municipal administration.

Aylmer's Old Town Hall

Downstairs is our town's library.  Upstairs is the nicest theatre with great natural acoustics with a Union Jack painted on the ceiling.  It is said that Sir John A MacDonald once gave a speech from the stage.