This was the last image on my phone for March and I am hoping it is winter’s last gasp for 2023. I guess time will tell.
Image was captured in March 2023 in my neighbourhood, Waterloo, Ontario
Equipment: Google Pixel 7 Pro (Rear Camera)
Settings: 19mm | 1/110 sec. at ƒ/3.4 | ISO12600.
No additional processing. Watermark added via Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop.
This was an attempt to capture the big colourful sunset sky as I drove my son to his Karate class. I know phones and driving are a no-no but how could one resist that colour.
Image was captured in December 2022, Northfield Road at Hwy #85, Waterloo, Ontario.
Equipment: Google Pixel 7 Pro, Rear Camera.
Settings: 6.81mm | 1/247 sec. at ƒ/1.9 | ISO486.
Watermark added via Adobe Photoshop.
“Looks like we are in the syrup this time, Alveolus.”
“Yep, it’s a real sticky situation,” Al replied.
“Stop buttering me on both sides,” Dimples shot back, “…and think us a way out of this gooey mess.”
But Alveolus couldn’t move. His edges had melted into the sugary maple and were stuck to the plate like glue. There was no escape this time. He and Dimples had managed to go undetected at the bottom of the icebox for so long that they had almost forgotten the monster existed.
The notorious monster known as Nathaniel the Devourer had returned. It had been chomping down grid-iron goodness in pairs with some regularity. In fact, the six companions they’d been travelling with, including Dimples sisters, Nooks and Cranny, had all met the same gruesome end at the paws of the beast. Alveolus and Dimples were the only survivors.
Nathaniel had grown tired of devouring the same prey for breakfast, day in and day out. It had turned to scrambling eggs, drowning cereal flakes, or attacking stacks of pancakes. Still, Dimples felt that twinge every time the freezer door popped open. Al could almost feel her discomfort when the hand of Mom began rummaging down through the icebox’s contents. Although he’d never let Dimples see, the truth is it made him feel a little bit uneasy too.
All they could do was hope freezer burn would spoil them enough that they’d be set free. Sent on a journey to municipal waste heaven before the monsters return. They both lived with the understanding and fear that the day could come when Nathaniel’s fancy turned to dreams of syrup-filled pockets again.
Alveolus and Dimples promised to stay strong for each other, but as they waited on the plate it was difficult not to waffle. The pair wore smiles as they melted into one final embrace. Alveolus kissed Dimples and whispered “I love you” one last time before the monster was on them.
The above photos were taken near a storm management pond in Northwest Waterloo. The unnamed area is a small oasis of engineered nature tucked into the suburban landscape that cradles it.
As I walked the trail with my camera the signs of abandonment were evident. The milkweed seeds have long flown, mature enough to leave their summer womb behind. An empty nest that sheltered a new generation once hidden in the dense foliage now barren and exposed. The small white seed globes are all that remain where the flowers of a Canadian Horseweed plant once bloomed, its remaining leaves black and shrivelled from an early frost.
The chlorophyll-laden hues of summer and the fiery shades of early autumn have long since faded, replaced by muted tones and subdued colour as this place waits for the snowy white of winter’s grip. For now, there is still plenty of beauty to be found in that which has been left behind and abandoned.
Images were captured in November 2022, in Northwestern Waterloo, Ontario.
Photo Details (left to right):
1) Canon EOS 60D, EF70-200mm ƒ/2.8L IS II USM | 200mm, 1/400 sec. at ƒ/2.8, ISO100
2) Canon EOS 60D, EF70-200mm ƒ/2.8L IS II USM | 130mm, 1/60 sec. at ƒ/4.5, ISO100
3) Canon EOS 60D, EF70-200mm ƒ/2.8L IS II USM | 200mm, 1/13 sec. at ƒ/11, ISO100
Additional processing via Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop.
Abigail’s students gathered along the escarpment edge.
“I can see my home,” one student said pointing.
“Everything below, including your home, was once at the bottom of a great inland sea,” Abigail replied. “This outcropping was one point along a thalassic shoreline, nine times longer than today’s remnant lakes combined.
This late blooming Milkweed, well maybe bloomer isn’t the right terminology as we are talking seeds and not flowers, is just releasing its payload now in November. In early fall the pods of this Monarch butterfly favorite split open to reveal silky tufted seeds. Most have already blown away on the autumn wind but as I walked along the edge of the Grand River I happened upon this stubborn plant just getting to it. I took the opportunity to capture some images of the mini blizzard spilling from the dried pods. When I was done my son helped the seeds on their journey by grabbing them in handfuls and throwing them up over his head and into the breeze.
Images were captured in November 2022, Claude Dubrick Trail along the Grand River, Waterloo, Ontario.
Photo Details (Clockwise from top left):
1) Canon EOS 60D, EF70-200mm ƒ/2.8L IS II USM | 200mm, 1/400 sec. at ƒ/3.2, ISO100
2) Canon EOS 60D, EF-S18-135mm ƒ/3.5-5.6 IS | 135mm, 1/250 sec. at ƒ/5.6, ISO200
3) Canon EOS 60D, EF-S18-135mm ƒ/3.5-5.6 IS | 135mm, 1/250 sec. at ƒ/5.6, ISO200
4) Canon EOS 60D, EF-S18-135mm ƒ/3.5-5.6 IS | 135mm, 1/250 sec. at ƒ/5.6, ISO200
Additional processing via Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop.
Image was captured in October 2022, Snyder’s Flats Conservation Area, Woolwich, Ontario.
Equipment: Canon EOS 60D, EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6.8 IS.
Settings: 106mm | 1/160 sec. at ƒ/5.6 | ISO100.
Additional processing via Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop.
Copyright 2022 Greg Glazebrook @ GMG Photography, All Rights Reserved.
“Pride and Joy” marks the final week of the “Queens of the Diamond” summer photo series. The four images above depict my daughter both in the field and at the plate. She is a phenomenal young woman and as her Dad, I couldn’t be prouder.
Sports photography is not my forte but when the softball season began I set out in an effort to expand my photographic range and to capture a few magical moments for my daughter’s fastpitch team. These four final image mark the end of this creative journey for me and although I know I am only starting to push the boundaries I am pleased with my growth and the results of my efforts. I hope you have enjoyed this summer series and hope you will check back often to see what new adventures I may chronicle at Greg’s Blog. Please take a moment to let me know what you thought of the series, I look forward to any feedback you may have to offer. Thank for following along.
Image Details (Clockwise from top left):
Image 1
Equipment: Canon EOS 60D, EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM.
Settings: 102mm | 1/1250 sec. at ƒ/2.8 | ISO100.
Additional processing via Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop.
Image 2
Equipment: Canon EOS 60D, EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM.
Settings: 200mm | 1/8000 sec. at ƒ/2.8 | ISO1600.
Additional processing via Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop.
Image 3
Equipment: Canon EOS 60D, EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM.
Settings: 200mm | 1/1600 sec. at ƒ/3.2 | ISO100.
Additional processing via Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop.
Image 4
Equipment: Canon EOS 60D, EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM.
Settings: 200mm | 1/1600 sec. at ƒ/3.2 | ISO100.
Additional processing via Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop.
Images 1, 3, 4 captured in June 2022 at the Dundalk Baseball Diamond, Dundalk, Southgate, Ontario.
Image 2 captured in May 2022 at the Steve Brown Sports Complex, Brantford, Ontario.
Copyright 2022 Greg Glazebrook @ GMG Photography, All Rights Reserved.
This week features two images, the pitcher and catcher also known as “Batterymates“. They represent the twelfth and thirteenth images in the “Queens of the Diamond” summer photo series. In fastpitch or any similar game such as baseball the term ‘battery’ refers to the pitcher/catcher tandem. This weeks images depict both halves of the battery, one showing the pitch moments after it has left the pitcher’s hand, the other shows the catcher receiving the pitch and framing it for the umpire as they await the call.
There was going to be a third image showing the batterymates celebrating an inning-ending strikeout as they ran off the field however as is often the case the images did not turn out.
Sports photography is not my forte but I have set out to capture some special moments for my daughter’s fastpitch team. I will post some of the best images here on Greg’s Blog throughout the summer. I hope you decide to follow along as I chronicle the girls’ journey while expanding my photographic range. I look forward to hearing what you have to say. Please leave feedback in the comment section below.
Pitcher
Equipment: Canon EOS 60D, EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6.8 IS.
Settings: 55mm | 1/500 sec. at ƒ/5.6 | ISO100.
Additional processing via Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop.
Catcher
Equipment: Canon EOS 60D, EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM.
Settings: 200mm | 1/1250 sec. at ƒ/2.8 | ISO100.
Additional processing via Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop.
Images captured in June 2022 at the Dundalk Baseball Diamond, Dundalk, Southgate, Ontario.
Copyright 2022 Greg Glazebrook @ GMG Photography, All Rights Reserved.
“RIP-IT!” is the eleventh image in the “Queens of the Diamond” summer photo series. Just as it says on her helmet the batter looks out at the pitcher from the home plate, fully loaded and ready to RIP-IT, the pitch, back through the box.
As I have stated throughout the series, I am attempting to expand my photographic chops beyond my usual subject matter. This is an example of that growth. Although I am satisfied with the overall quality of the image I believe the composition would benefit greatly if the batter’s hands and the entire length of the bat had been captured in the initial picture. I should have used a shorter focal length (or step back from the subject) to include the missing elements and more of the background. You can always crop out extraneous bits in post-production but details that are not captured can never be recovered.
Sports photography is not my forte but I have set out to capture some special moments for my daughter’s fastpitch team. I will post some of the best images here on Greg’s Blog throughout the summer. I hope you decide to follow along as I chronicle the girls’ journey while expanding my photographic range. I look forward to hearing what you have to say. Please leave feedback in the comment section below.
Image captured in June 2022 at the Dundalk Baseball Diamond, Dundalk, Southgate, Ontario.
Equipment: Canon EOS 60D, EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM.
Settings: 200mm | 1/640 sec. at ƒ/2.8 | ISO100.
Additional processing via Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop.
Copyright 2022 Greg Glazebrook @ GMG Photography, All Rights Reserved.
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