Comet Neowise - C/2020 F3 [50mm, f/2, 10s, ISO800]

Comet NEOWISE in Vancouver

We have a surprise celestial visitor right now, comet NEOWISE (named after the observatory that discovered it: Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer). The comet's visit is fleeting, it will be gone by the end of July and not return to earth for 6800 years!  If you want to catch a glimpse, find a dark area and look north just over the horizon after sunset.  It's faint but visible to the naked eye, and easily viewable with binoculars.  Here are a few shots from West Vancouver taken on July 13th.

My first few shots were with my longest telephoto lens, a 500mm.  Not that easy to find and frame at this focal length but I did manage to get some shots of the comet with it's long tail (click for larger).

Comet Neowise - C/2020 F3 [500mm, f/5.6, 2.5s, ISO6400]
Nikon Z7, Nikkor 500mm f/5.6 PF, 500mm, f/5.6, 2.5s, ISO6400, processed from RAW using Capture One v20

A more expansive view, showing some of the landscape and what could be some aurora.  I think I even managed to catch a small meteor in the shot.

Comet Neowise - C/2020 F3 [50mm, f/1.8, 10s, ISO400]
Nikon Z7, Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 S, 50mm, f/1.8, 10s, ISO400, processed from RAW using Capture One v20

The comet with a passing ferry.

Comet Neowise - C/2020 F3 [50mm, f/2, 10s, ISO800]
Nikon Z7, Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 S, 50mm, f/2, 10s, ISO800, processed from RAW using Capture One v20

Wider still, with the big dipper and most of the little dipper in the frame.

Comet Neowise - C/2020 F3 [15mm, f/4, 10s, ISO1600]
Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30 f/4 S, 15mm, f/4, 10s, ISO1600, processed from RAW using Capture One v20

Downtown Toronto Panorama at Night

Visit to Toronto

I had very little time to take photos in Toronto, just one night after work.  Ventured to the islands off of downtown and managed to get a few nice shots.  I'll try to update this post once I edit a few more.

Downtown Toronto Panorama at Night
Toronto, Canada

Perseid Meteor Shower 2015-08-13

Perseid Meteor Shower

One shot from the Perseid Meteor Shower. Taken on August 12 near Horseshoe Bay (West Vancouver, BC).

Perseid Meteor Shower 2015-08-13


Slow Road To Squamish: Cleveland Dam spillway

Slow Road to Squamish: Long Exposures on the Sea to Sky

A couple of weeks ago my friend Eli and I did a photohunting trip from Vancouver to Squamish.  The goal was to capture some long exposure shots along the way, below are some of the results.  Eli's Gitzo tripod was conveniently lost by WestJet, and a loaner fell through at the last minute.  A stop at the Salvation Army saved the day though as he was able to pick up a "pro quality" tripod for $9!

Slow Road To Squamish: Eli's Awesome Tripod

 

 

 

First stop was the Lions Gate Bridge.  Not a great day for long exposures as it was mostly clear skies.  We gave it a shot though.

Slow Road To Squamish: iPhone 5S Lions Gate Bridge - Eli

 

A shot with my iPhone 5S first.

Slow Road To Squamish: iPhone 5S Lions Gate Bridge

The resulting long exposure shot with my D800 and 24-70.

Slow Road To Squamish: Lions Gate Bridge

 

Next we went to a spot that I have never been to, the Cleveland Dam in North Vancouver.  I didn't even know this existed but, while waiting for Eli to do whatever it is he was doing, I found it on Google Maps.  It's a great spot that is worth visiting again. Eli set up on top, my tripod also ready to shoot the spillway.

Slow Road To Squamish: Shooting on the Cleveland Dam

 

A quick way to lose gear when looking over the edge :)

Slow Road To Squamish: Cleveland Dam spillway

 

There are a couple of holes in the fence where you can get a shot of the reservoir.

Slow Road To Squamish: Cleveland Dam Shooting

Too bad the clouds are not more interesting, you take what you are given I suppose.

Slow Road To Squamish: Capilano Reservoir

 

You can also shoot the spillway from below, here Eli stands on the edge shooting his long exposure.

Slow Road To Squamish: Eli on the ledge

 

Mine from that spot.

Slow Road To Squamish: Cleveland Dam spillway

 

We left Vancouver and stopped in Horseshoe Bay for a few shots.  I have a few more to look through, but in general I didn't get anything here that I was that happy with.  If I get something worth posting I'll just do an update.  However, on our way out I decided to set up my camera in the passenger seat of my truck, then use the remote release to get some shots while I'm driving.  I used a 6-stop ND filter and a circular polarizer to take out the glare from the windshield.  Looks odd, maybe like photo radar :)

Slow Road To Squamish: in-car camera setup

Considering that this was highly experimental, the resulting shots were not too bad.   Some were completely unusable, but others show promise.  I want to try it again, but play with the settings to see if I can get something better.  This shot was a 1-second exposure at 100Km/h, that is Eli in front of me.

Slow Road To Squamish: Long Exposure Experiments

We hit Squamish, had lunch at The Watershed Grill, and parted ways.  On my way home, I stopped at Shannon Falls.

Slow Road To Squamish: Shannon Falls

This is the creek below the falls.

Slow Road To Squamish: Creek near Shannon Falls

 

My final stop was at Porteau Cove, where I have been many times to dive but never to take photos.  Turned out to be my favourite shot of the day.

Slow Road To Squamish: Porteau Cove Ferry Dock

 


Black & White Long Exposure 2014-03-30: HR MacMillan Space Centre - Sculpture

Vancouver Long Exposure Black & White

A few long exposure black and white photos from a night in Vancouver.

Black & White Long Exposure 2014-03-30: Vanier Park

Black & White Long Exposure 2014-03-30: HR MacMillan Space Centre - Sculpture

Black & White Long Exposure 2014-03-30: Granville Island Harbour, Vancouver

Black & White Long Exposure 2014-03-30: Granville Island, Vancouver


False Creek Fog - 2013-02-03 : BC Place

Vancouver False Creek Fog

It was a foggy afternoon and I decided to venture down to Granville Island to see if I could get any interesting shots.  I couldn't get inspired, so I just watched a few street performers to pass the time.  I thought the evening light would make a difference but again, things just didn't come together as expected.  I took a few shots but didn't get anything great.  After sunset, I walked around the seawall to Science World and took a few shots in the area.  It was one of those nights where I went out to get a specific shot and just couldn't get it.  Some people things you can just go out and get a good shot, but in reality I may have to visit the same site 10 times before I get a shot that I'm happy with.  Here are a few shots from that night.


Lynn Valley Hike : Suspension Bridge and Twin Falls 2012-12-29 : Twin falls long exposure

Lynn Valley Hike - North Vancouver

I took a very short walk in Lynn Valley just after Christmas, it was a break from shopping hell.  I went to the suspension bridge, then down to twin falls. I also wanted to try out the 10-stop ND filter.  Results are promising, looking forward to trying a bit more of this.


Amsterdam Dec 2011 long exposure train

Photo: Amsterdam Tram at Night

Another shot from Amsterdam.  This time a long exposure night shot of tram lights heading towards me then veering off to the right.

Amsterdam Dec 2011 long exposure train

 


Vancouver Skyline from Olympic Village

Photo: Vancouver Skyline from Olympic Village

An HDR image of the Vancouver skyline showing the new BC Place Stadium.  It was a clear and chilly night, the water was calm just long enough to get a good reflection.

Vancouver Skyline from Olympic Village

 


Campfire Fun

Photo: Campfire Fun

On a camping trip around Harrison Lake, I decided to have some fun around the campfire with long exposure photographs. A friend did the light painting with one of the ashes from the fire.

Long exposure photography, Campfire Fun