bart_b._van_bockstaele

Toronto is one of the most exciting cities on this planet, but people are VERY suspicious of anyone who takes pictures. They may, and probably will, insult you, possibly worse. I have myself been thrown out the subway system once by the "special constables" for taking pictures, in spite of the fact that the TTC actually encourages people to take pictures on its own information screens in that very same system. I have even been yelled at for taking pictures of those screens...

 

It is sad really, for Toronto has so much to offer tourists. The anti-photography stance can make it very unpleasant and uncomfortable for a tourist. I have never understood why. People happily let themselves be filmed and photographed in nearly all shopping malls, on countless street corners, all places where Big Brother is actually watching, but a simple photographer/tourist, no, that is something they can't tolerate.

Toronto is one of the most exciting cities on this planet, but people are VERY suspicious of anyone who takes pictures. They may, and probably will, insult you, possibly worse. I have myself been thrown out the subway system once by the "special constables" for taking pictures, in spite of the fact that the TTC actually encourages people to take pictures on its own information screens in that very same system. I have even been yelled at for taking pictures of those screens...

 

It is sad really, for Toronto has so much to offer tourists. The anti-photography stance can make it very unpleasant and uncomfortable for a tourist. I have never understood why. People happily let themselves be filmed and photographed in nearly all shopping malls, on countless street corners, all places where Big Brother is actually watching, but a simple photographer/tourist, no, that is something they can't tolerate.

No, Kurt. However, it has two USB slots. One is meant to connect it to a computer, the other one is meant to connect a card reader. I use a little Lexar JumpDrive, and it works like a charm.

 

You can find more information here (sorry for forgetting to post the link): http://www.archos.com/

 

You will see that they have quite a few other models, smaller and larger.

 

I chose the AV-500 because the rechargeable battery is user replaceable, which is quite uncommon for these devices, and also for its size and its weight. They have a model with a bigger screen, which is nice, but a bigger screen obviously also means a bigger and heavier device, and I was not prepared to lug around a big thing.

 

In my opinion, the AV-500 is a near-perfect balance between functionality, size, viewable area, battery life and replaceability and weight. I am studying Japanese, and the original reason I bought it was to watch language video's (it is also a video recorder). However, 30GB is not negligible and I found that I could easily use it to store pictures as well.

Oh, and by the way, if you are really intent on editing pictures, you may want to choose one of the ultraportables that are on the market now. The oqo 01+ springs to mind. It weighs 400 grams and is equipped with Windows XP, enabling you to install all the editing software you want.

I have an Archos AV-500. It is not strictly speaking just a storage device for pictures. It is also a music player and a video player. The smallest one has 30 GB of storage capacity (about 250 grams, case and battery included), and it goes up to 100 GB (but anything above 30 GB is a bit heavier though).

 

I always use it when I am on the road (I bought it the very day it became available here in Toronto, sometime in November last year) and it has not let me down so far.

Erik Hammarlund said:

 

*****

If I go to a downtown busy city street, I'm "in public". But if I"m sitting on my stoop or going to get mail across the street, in MY VIEW I'm not "in public" in the same way. Which is to say, i feel invaded if a random stranger is snapping pictures of me.

 

Anyway, how to deal with it? Simple. Learn these words: "Hi, I'm a practicing photographer, my name is ___" "Is it OK if I take street candid shots here/of you/in this area?"

*****

 

Thank you for this explanation. I have been yelled and screamed at, at countless occasions because I was taking pictures. Never have I had an answer when I asked what the problem was, only more yelling.

 

There is a problem though, in my view. Cities want tourists. Tourists take pictures. Most of the time, they don't take pictures of people. They take pictures of buildings, streets, ... things that serve as a souvenir from a trip. They don't want people in their pictures, but they can't wait until the streets are deserted. So, they take pictures of streets that are "polluted" with people, i.e. those people are not the subject, they just happen to be there. It is a bit tough to ask every single person in the field of view to ask for permission to take a picture. The day is short.

 

The bottom line is, that being in pictures is part of life. I have a problem when someone yells at me because they presume that they are in my picture, and then happily go to a shopping mall, a bank, a grocery store, ... where not only their picture is taken, but where their every move is filmed.

Creating such filters is a nice challenge. I am sure that they would have some value in the creation of "artistic" pictures. However, I would never ever use them. When I make pictures, I want to show people what I see, not what I'd like to see. Smog or haze is part of what I see, and I wouldn't dream about removing it, or changing it in any way. So, for me, haze is not a challenge, but merely a fact.

I had just a look at the adapter of my own DVD-burner. It says:

 

INPUT: 100-240Vac, 50-60Hz

0.85A Max. 50VA-80VA

OUTPUT: 5Vdc === 1.5A

12Vdc === 1.5A

 

Except for the very first line, all this data is irrelevant on the condition that you only use the adapter with the equipment it was intended for. One piece of advice: NEVER use an adapter with other equipment. It MAY well work, but sooner or later, it WILL land you in trouble if you try to "outsmart the maker".

 

In any case, the data on my adapter indicated that I can safely use it wherever they have a voltage between 100 and 240 and a frequency between 50 and 60Hz. All I would need, is a cheap plug adapter.

Nope. The replies are not conflicting. They are several different possible aspects of the problem.

 

First and foremost: you need to look at the charger of your D70 battery. If it has a universal/switching voltage (110-220 volt)adapter, all you will need is a plug adapter. Those usually go for a dollar or so.

 

Same goes for your CD burner. Every CD burner has its own characteristics. There are no universal answers here. Look at the CD burner's adapter. It should state what voltages it will work on, or it will indicate a range (e.g. 110-220 volt). If that is the case, again, all you'll need is a plug adapter.

 

If your adapter is not a switching adapter, the safest way is to buy an extra adapter: one that transforms from 210V, 220V or 240V or whatever it may be in Sicily (careful, this is not an advanced country and voltages will probably differ from one place to another. What works on one side of the island may not work 20 kilometers further.) to 110V. Connect the existing adapter of your equipment to this extra adapter. That should protect your equipment if something goes wrong.

 

In any event, no amount of advice can replace reading the manual. It should contain this type of information. It may not tell you what to do, but it will tell you the characteristics of the adapter that came with the equipment.

The Toronto Islands are fantastic. The main Island, although in one piece, has three names, depending on where you are. The Western part is called Hanlan's Point, the centre part, Centre Island, and the Eastern part is Ward's Island. There are ferries to all three of them from the ferry terminal just behind the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel. Price is 6 CAD for a ticket. All tickets are return tickets. It is just over 5 kilometers from the ferry dock on Hanlan's Point to Ward's Island.

 

Ward's Island and Algonquin Island are home to small communities, about 600 people total if I recall properly.

 

As for a good vantage point for the Toronto skyline, I prefer Algonquin Island and Snake Island.

 

There are restaurants on Centre Island (they close very early, and they are only open in the summer months) and there is one year-round restaurant "The Rectory CafﾁEquot; on Ward's Island. During the summer months, it is open every day from about 10 am to 10 pm. We are September now, and the website is *not* accurate. Better phone them before you go, to be sure.

 

If you plan on staying for more than a few hours: bring water. Although it and pop can be found in vending machines, they are far and between and outrageously expensive (2.75 CAD for a can or a bottle).

 

The ferries have different times depending on the destination. Ward's Island starts earlier, and finishes later during the summer, and is often your only option during winter.

 

For a general idea of the Islands, you can see my blog on http://bartvb.blogspot.com/

 

Have fun there. I know you will. I love the islands. I often go there, to mae pictures, to walk, to work. I toss my laptop, Internet PPC, a ew bottles of water and some food in my backpack, and stay there, working the whole day. My customers don't care, to them, it looks as if I were home while in reality, I am sitting in something that is close to heaven.

both previous responders have very good advice.

 

As a Fleming, I was born in Brugge, and I have lived there and in the region for close to thirty years, before moving to Brussels where I have been living until I came to Toronto, Canada close to 10 years ago.

 

Brussels has tons of interesting buildings, but I think you will not be particulary happy. Brussels is a badly maintained, dirty, gloomy-looking city with a year-round dense smog in many streets, and the more interesting buildings besides the obvious Grote Markt, Royal Palace and Beenhouwerstraat are not easy to find.

 

On the other hand, Brugge is one of the most conservative reactionary cities of the country. The advantage of that is that it is without a doubt one of the best preserved mediaeval cities of Western Europe. It is a lot cleaner than Brussels, its buildings are far better preserved, the views can be spectacular, and because tourism is their main industry, they are a lot more responsive to the (well-paying) tourist.

 

You may find that taking pictures is a lot easier than in North America. Although people will often duck, wait, or run around when you point a camera in their direction, it is because they think that they are in the way, and they don't want to destroy your picture.

 

In North America, on the contrary, one gets often yelled and screamed at by people who seem somehow convinced that you are taking a picture of them. I usually explain that I was only waiting for them to get out of the way, because I don't want them in my pictures. That satisfies some, but makes others yell and scream even louder. I have as yet to find the solution. Any sugestions are apreciated!

 

On the other hand, In North America, streets are usually very wide and bright, the sidewalks are flat and comfortable, they have slopes to make it easier to cross the streets, all of which is quite helpful to a photographer. In Europe, and especially so in Belgium, streets are very narrow (and therefore quite dark - which often makes for very uncomfortable contrasts if the sky is bright), sidewalks are narrow, there are lots of cobblestones (make sure you carry everything, or if you use wheels, make sure you use some serious padding), no slopes (being physically challenged in Europe is a genuine challenge), and there are lots of people on the sidewalks, and that turns taking pictures into a challenge.

 

Also, you will probably find that taking pictures in museums is usually not allowed. Do not try to circumvent that. The police system is very different from the North American one, and you will profoundly regret it if they call for them.

 

Depending on how long you plan to stay in Europe, and Belgium in particular, there are some other places you'll want to go to. Also, you may want to consider the Netherlands as well.

 

These are just some of the things I think of, but if you have any questions, I'll be glad to answer them!

If you use common sense: your photo bag will do fine. If you go on the Maid of the Mist, something I recommend for first time visitors, wrap them in a plastic bag as you *will* get soaked. Taking pictures on the Maid of the Mist is just about useless, and in my opinion not worth risking your expensive cameras for. Better take pictures from a safe distance with a good zoom.

 

To have a really good view of the falls, you will need to be on the Canadian side of the Niagara river.

 

Plan for a long visit. The falls are one thing, but there is so much more to see in Niagara Falls.

I have been to the Toronto Islands. I go quite often and have taken hundreds of pictures there. The islands are great. The vegetation is abundant, there are lots of animals, and the peace and quiet is fantastic. As for the skyline, I think that the best spot would be more or less in the middle, maybe Algonquin island or Centre island.

 

You can see a few small pictures I made on the islands very recently on bartvb.blogspot.com.