I couldn't believe how cool this house was and how near to where I live.

Over the past few months a friend had emailed me collages of this old house and its surrounds.  I finally made it there shortly after Christmas.  The cold wind coming in off Lake Erie set the mood.  This would have been a very grand house in its day.

Don I hope you like these.

 

Lunchtime Picnic

When we speak of backyard lunches, warm summer days come to mind.  Not true for this Broadwing Hawk (or his quarry).  Can you see the snow flakes falling?  Shot from inside our house, through two panes of very dirty glass, this hawk ate his lunch then proceeded to "brush his beak" with the tree branch at his foot.  Very cool.

Return Visit to House and Barn

Our first visit here was in October.  I remember thinking how cold it felt that morning.  Wow, that day had nothing on this January morning.  Fortunately there were lots of walls to hide behind to avoid the bitterly cold winds.  No matter how well dressed, the cold penetrated.  The house was made with mud walls about a metre thick.  Out of the wind but still sub-zero temperatures in the house left my fingers numb in short order.  Even still I was almost the last person to pack up my gear.

Port Bruce, Winter 2014

Yesterday, after a night and morning of snowing, the roads weresurprisingly clear and the sky started to clear up. I'd been wanting to get to Port Bruce for a few weeks now.  These conditions were perfect, except for the temperature of minus 10 degrees Celsius with a wind chill probably below minus 20!!

I stayed out there long enough to go from blue sky to having some colour with the setting sun.

I really liked the shadows in the snow of this picnic table.

Boats on Ropes

Port Stanley, Ontario is known more for suntans and volleyball than as a destination for photographers in January.  However, while there this morning our group met a second group, both groups looking for interesting subject matter.  We all had the same problem - a very dim, grey sky.  No distinct shadows.

Abandoned Barn & House

Note the moon.

Shed

Sunrise.

Inside the dining room looking into the living room.

Living room

Inside a bedroom

Mayan Riveria 2013

This past summer I participated in a Google+ Artistic Photographic Mentorship program.  We (tried to) learn how to use the great masters (VanGogh, Picasso, etc) as inspiration for photography.   I think it was the second week that we were challenged to photograph something we don't normally like to shoot.  For me, that would have to be people.
Now, three months later, I have a blog post that is almost entirely of people.  A few of the people I know but most are strangers.  Some knew I was photographing them, some didn't and some I'm sure pretended not to know.  I thank them all.

This year I had to travel to Mexico for a series of meetings.  Our first night there was the hotel's Mexican Fiesta night.  This chef watched my camera all the time I had it in my hands.  He loved having his photo taken.  BTW, the food, especially the mole was fabulous.  After dinner the floor show was bright, colourful and active.  Great testing grounds for my still new to me NEX 6.

Mid week, 12 accountants decided that we'd had enough indoor meetings.  We hired a mini bus to take us to see the real Cancun.  After a brief stop at a trinket market, we convinced our driver Emilio (first image below) to take us to a real market.  That was great.

Emilio

Best dollar I spent all week.  Not only did I get the shot I wanted she maintained her dignity and earned some cash to feed her baby (who was sleeping inside her orange sash).

 Every morning I woke up as the sun rose - yes I really did.  Every other morning I went back to sleep.  Not this day.  I got up and got out.  Unfortunately this morning as I left the room, the thermostat read 67.  Instantly, upon leaving our room, my glasses fogged up.  My heart sank.  I made it to the beach and sat on a lounge chair for what seemed like an eternity.  The sun hadn't risen yet.  I though that I might be able to catch it still.  No way.  New lightweight camera or not, it could not clear the fog from its lens quickly enough.  The lens did clear shortly after sunrise for this little guy to pose for me.

On Friday, six of us went on an all day excursion.  In the morning  we went to a Mayan village for a quick rappel down into a cenote, followed by a couple of zip lines through the jungle and across another cenote. Kayaking back to yet another cenote for a swim after a Mayan cleansing prayer and shower.  Lunch was fabulous.

Part of our group, a newlywed couple from LA.  They asked me to take their photo.  I was amazed at how naturally they posed for this quick shot.  

The real purpose of the tour for me was to see the Mayan ruins of Coba and to try to climb its"pyramid".  This is the last remaining ruin open to the public for climbing and it is to be closed to climbing by the end of this year.
We got to the sight at about 3:30 pm.  The heat of the day was gone but it was still quite hot and very humid.  The sun was starting to drop low in the sky.  There's a rope up the middle of the stairs that are so irregular you quickly learn that no two are the same.  The only consistency is that they are higher and narrower than normal steps at home. Below, Andrea seems to be looking at me as if to say, "Come on.  Get climbing."  I bet the climb took only about ten minutes.  Yes I did it.

 No to go back down.  That's Nancy sitting near the base, the farthest to the left.

From the base, Nancy captured this image of the Coba lean.  Although I don't know how to explain Julia and Andrea's vertical stance.

I bet the rates on the rooms is pretty attractive.

Sandy wanted her e-bike and I bet Keith just wanted real brakes.

Puerto Morelos