Hikes with Dad. . .

Cloud City.

Went to Niagara Falls last weekend. It reminded me of the Cloud City in Star Wars.

The Unintentional Owl.

Mr. Kitchen was showing me Osprey nests today when this guy flew almost right beside the truck and perched in a tree not ten yards from the road. Mr. Kitchen pulled a u-turn, threw on the four-ways and I snapped a picture before watching him fly away. Thanks Mr. Kitchen for the quick eyes!

Leslie Street Spit Round 2.

2 Weekends, 3 owls. Special thanks to my Uncle Tim for coming with and letting me use his 600 mm lens.

Strumming away. . .

I'm back!

The alarm goes off at eight o'clock. I sit up and am mildly concerned that I will be late for work. Then I realize it's Saturday and I have a mission. Travel to the Leslie Street Spit in search of owls. I pack my gear and hop in the car. When I arrive the gates are still locked so I park on the road and made for the woods. I was filled with a sense of childlike wonderment at the thought of photographing my first owl. I scoured trees and zoomed in on anything I thought might be one, but the elusive creatures they are I knew it would not be so simple. I had already been walking almost an hour and all I had seen was a Red Tailed Hawk and some ducks. I traversed side trail after side trail to no luck and, even talked to one of the conservation Rangers in hopes of getting a lead. He told me they were around but he was yet to see any today. Eventually I made my way to the end of the Spit. The snow was now starting to fall and it was time to head back to the car. I ventured down a few more side trails and ran into a birding couple. They informed me that less then 10 minutes ago they had seen a Long-eared owl. The gave my directions and I was off with a renewed sense of purpose. I followed the path they told me about and as I turned the corner there was the conservation ranger. He simply pointed and there he was. My first owl. He was not phased by our presence at all. I snapped as many photo's as I deemed necessary and thanked the Ranger and the owl for the experience. The cold weather no longer phased me as I walked back to the car. What a magical morning. Hopefully this will be the first of many owl encounters for my camera and me.

Photo A Day #365

I started this blog with the intention of making a print worthy photograph everyday, however it took me a good long while to figure out that it's not about making art everyday; it's about making art out of what everyday gives you. So here I am. Day 365. I did it. I'm not sure I have ever done something everyday for an entire year straight? Until now that is. I would like to just say a quick thank you to everyone who participated and supported me, especially my parents. You all were part of something that I will never forget and can look back on everyday and be proud of. Also I would like to thank Mike Dach, who without, this photo a day project might have never started. Even though we don't talk anymore I still check out his photo of the day and wish him all the best.

So what now? I will continue to take pictures and update the blog from time to time. I hope you all look forward to what comes next. This may be the end of project 365 but by no means is it the end of Jamie and his camera.

THE END. . .

Who am I kidding; I'll be back.