agitater

My sister Bev tells me it's a Blue Passion Flower, a native of Brazil and Argentina.

I liked the contrasts and juxtapositions of the wall-like paving stones, the reflection and the watery, late winter sidewalk. It is a natural scene or view that I never notice unless I have a camera in my hand.

Too many monuments in too many parts of the world suffer for years from lack of care, maintenance and respect. Pieces occasionally now fall off this one. Though much smaller than its sister in Paris, the Arc in Marseille was commemorated just as seriously so many years ago, but is now occupied by homeless people and street people, and seems to also be a rallying point for indigents, drug dealers and worse. What a sad and insulting commentary on contemporary economics and western society.

Late afternoon sun during autumn in Paris is something lovely to behold. Among other reasons, Paris has always had my attention because of these kinds of scenes. I just love the light, the textures and everything else about them.

The Cathédrale de la Major was built by Napoleon. It is filled with great paintings and a considerable amount of stunning architecture. The enormous number of stained glass windows on the west side of the cathedral allow the afternoon sun to stream through and tint the deeply cut stone window sills and casements. They are gorgeous - I made a lot of these shots - but it was difficult to pick one for this album. I liked the silhouette of the saint because at first glance it looks like a real person standing, head tilted, admiring the windows and the sunlight.

There are these mannequins dressed up in front He & She, an eclectic shop on Queen Street East in Toronto, and they seem to exude a kind of shabby realism which both deceives and attracts.

I liked the rust, chrome and reflection of the deep blue sky on what was actually a cold, late afternoon, busy winter Saturday.

The 60mm Nikkor Micro lens really made this bud and its single flower pop out of a sea of marshy plants. The background is actually a reflection in the pond of the clouds and sky above.

We were perched precariously on slippery rocks in a little brook, trying to capture the light so suffused with green reflections from the dense foliage that the air and rocks and every surface looked green too.

On the Mizzy Lake trail after a brief rain shower, the sun crept out for a few minutes on an otherwise dreary day.

I found this large leaf in the King's Garden restaurant in Kensington Market. Good restaurant. Nice leaves.

The grounds of the University of Toronto contain a wealth of gardens, wrought iron fences, vines, ornamentals and trees. There are details like this - nature wrapping itself around constructed things - all over the place.

A heavy rain was followed by a burst of sharp sunshine and clearing skies. I like the way this clutch of flowers seems detached from its far less colourful surroundings. Maybe a tighter composition would work better.

The Allen Gardens botanical conservatory greenhouses are an oasis in later winter in Toronto. I like the lonely flowering plant in front of the condensation stained window and sill, and I like the way the backlighting shines through the petals. It's cheerful.

In the Fall, early morning in a tiny park in an old neighborhood, the gardener had lined up a bunch of pots and staked vines. The sharp light was so colorful and warm, but there was a hint of winter in the strengthening breeze.

I am so bored with photos of the CN Tower that words escape me. But every so often I find a new angle that catches my attention. This is shot from the Bathurst Street Bridge about an hour before sunset.

During a walk down Yonge Street just below Richmond Street, I could not help noticing the amazing variety of interesting sculptural effects created with exterior commercial lighting.

The main spire of the Portugese Catholic church on south Bathurst St in Toronto, as the sun sets on a mid-summer evening.

Thanks Bert.  After a rather grim, rainy mid-Spring day, the sky cleared somewhat for the setting sun to light up the broken cloud and silhouette some old evergreens. I love the almost-balance and almost-symmetry.

This store window, a monument to lousy teeth and bad diet, is a tourist trap which also lures in the unwary local parent and child. The shop owner also sells bulk nuts, dried fruits and grains - go figure. Late afternoon sunlight helped the colors really pop.

The light attracted me to the subject, the hints of reflection not quite there, the steely late afternoon softness, and the angle of the wrought iron traversing the field of view. I like the balance.

The late afternoon light, on the day before the first day of Spring, made the colors pop and emphasized the painterly qualities inherent in aging buildings used roughly.

In early Fall in Toronto, late day light can very strong and harsh. But the stone and wood of the the basilica softened everything into rich oranges and browns. The old church is beautifully maintained.

A late summer night, darkness fallen, people in their cars rushing somewhere. Home maybe. These shots were made while zooming into the scene at a busy intersection. The taller lights are the remnants of late nights in an office tower. I love the soft patterns.

At around 7:00 PM on an October evening, a rain shower cleaned everything in sight then cleared out of the area leaving a sunset of orange light, strong reds and lots of blue reflections from the sky. I love colours!