It’s been a year, folks. It’s been a good year. Let’s look back on it with a selection of my favourite photos.
In 2016, some friends were doing a photo-a-day challenge, and I tried to do it too. However, I couldn’t keep up the discipline. Part of it was that I’d never done this kind of thing before; in the past most of my photography had been in surges: taking a lot of photos at a time for special events, posting them, then waiting for the next big thing. Also, I think I was making it too hard for myself: my first plan was to post it to both this blog, and Flickr at the same time. But posting a photo to WordPress just takes too many steps, and the Flickr app’s UI is horrible. I needed something simple and quick.
So I decided to dust off my Instagram account, which I’d had for a while but never used. On New Year’s Day, after waking up in my brother’s apartment in Montreal, I took a picture of the street outside and posted it. Based on my history I didn’t think I’d continue, but I figured I should give it one more shot.
And here we are. One step at a time, one day at a time.
A trinket on Nelson Street, March 28
Looking back, this is the first photo I feel really happy with. Before, I was just sort of feeling my way—and yes, kept trying and got some good photos, but no great ones. None them really spoke to me.
This one did, though, and still does. The framing, the colours, the mystery of how it came to be there, it’s all a perfect package.
PS: the trinket was still there the next day, so I took it home.
I got off the bus at Denman & Georgia and took a lot of photos waiting a while for the setting sun to hit the trees just right. I didn’t know what “just right” would look like, but I hoped I’d know when it happened. I’d say it was worth the wait.
My first trip out of the country in decades! It was a big step and I was nervous, even though intellectually I knew I had no reason to be. It all turned out fine, and my family and I had a lovely time in Belgium and Amsterdam.
During those two weeks I took way more than one photo a day, of course. Here are just a few of my very favourites:
Top of the Bruges belfry, May 8
That was a fun trek (also, good cardio) and the photos were well worth the effort. Bruges is a gorgeous town, from ground level or high up.
What’s unique about this cathedral was the white or very pale stone, coupled with windows whose glass largely wasn’t stained but clear, adding up to a space positively drenched in natural light. It looks like the altar received even more light from directly above.
Amsterdam’s Golden Bend, May 13
First day in Amsterdam, and I was already in love with the city. We had a few hours to kill after arriving, so we took a canal tour of Amsterdam right after checking in at the hotel. Everything was gorgeous, from the houses to the boathouses to the churches to the little pedestrian bridges. I don’t remember exactly where I took this photo, so it might not have been the actual Golden Bend. Still, this looks like a super-expensive house, so we were probably pretty close.
Zaanse Schans and Volendam, May 15
We took a day trip to visit some heritage sites north of Amsterdam: Zaanse Schans with its windmills, Edam with its cheeses, and the quaint little fishing village of Volendam. That was a lovely day. The Dutch countryside is beautiful, and I’m amazed that such a densely populated country still has so much open green space. But that’s because (a) there’s none (or almost none) of the car-centred suburban sprawl we take for granted in North America, and (b) the Netherlands have very strict rules about development and preserving green & heritage spaces like these. As they should.
Banquet at the Crossbowmen’s Guild in Celebration of the Treaty of Münster (1648) and Portrait of Marie Jeanette de Lange (1900), May 18
On our last full day in Amsterdam, we visited the Rijksmuseum. Oh, the Rijksmuseum! Full of so many amazing works of art, and not just the Golden Age masters. I took many, many pictures, most of them closeups of artwork.
Here are just two: one commemorates a treaty marking the end to the 80 Years War with Spain, as well as official international recognition of the Dutch Republic as a sovereign country. I cannot get enough of this exquisitely detailed, almost photorealistic, work. The second is a portrait of an early feminist activist, done in dots of lovely bright colours.
Tulips in front of the Rijksmuseum, May 18
Three photos from the same day? Sure, why not? This being my last #dailypic in Europe, I wanted to make it special. The tulips weren’t my first choice, but my elaborate plan to shoot the statue of Mercury at sunset fell through. Still, I’m not mad. This both screams “Holland” and commemorates one of my favourite days in the city.
Don’t just look at the petals, folks.
According to Google this must be some kind of poppy. They all have a similar star-like structure in their centre.
On my way to work I spied some pretty-looking roses in front of the Mole Hill houses on Bute Street; after many tries I found the perfect angle.
This summer I decided to quit running the Sunday afternoon dropin at Sunset Beach. Part of me felt a little bit guilty, but (a) I wasn’t on the board anymore and (b) I’d been doing it for years, so why not let somebody take over? Turns out, with VGVA also running beach vball there weren’t enough people to make it worthwhile. However, a few players owned nets and set them up in the evenings. So in addition to regular league play, I got to enjoy late evening vball several times a week.
When I took that picture I hadn’t started my new job, but already I was marveling at the amount of free time I could have, and what I could do with it. Being more social and physically active and less stressed? Bring it on.
I was just headed to work in my WordCamp Vancouver 2015 t-shirt, minding my own business, when a ladybug landed on me. I managed to quietly turn my phone around and take a picture. A random little fun thing to brighten my day.
The other big step this year: a new job, beginning July 4. Between being contacted by the recruiter and signing the contract, things happened very suddenly in just a few weeks. My head was still spinning at that point, and I was equal parts terrified (of this massive change and new challenges) and elated (at this massive change and new challenges).
The Storm Crow–both locations–are hella neat people, super-inclusive and queer-friendly. When some friends and I had lunch at the Tavern on Commercial after the Dyke March, they handed out a couple of these big square Pride buttons to each patron: classic 6-colour rainbow, trans, ace, genderqueer, and a few others. I was surprised to see the new Philadelphia Pride colours, with the additional black and brown stripes, but quite happy to wear it that weekend.
Not the trans one, though. That didn’t feel right to me. I’ve still got it, though, so maybe I could regift it?
Every year I wonder if maybe I wouldn’t have more fun just watching the parade—preferably somewhere in the shade with a cool drink. But every year, I march. There’s a rush that only comes from being in the parade, from being the centre of attention—yes, little introvert moi—and, dammit, call me stupid idealistic, but I believe Pride means something, commercialised and sanitised though it be, and I want to be part of it. I think it’ll mean a bit more next year when uniformed cops are banned, but that’s a whole other conversation.
I don’t think I’m ready for a full shirtless selfie, so for now this is all you get.
Before this summer I hadn’t played beach vball in many years. I had a hard time getting used to it again—the sand was way hot, and too hard in most places. That day though, everything came together perfectly: it had rained a bit the night before, so even though the sun was out, the sand was nice and cool. So for the first time this summer I had fun diving and rolling and getting dirty.
I honestly don’t remember ever witnessing a solar eclipse before. They must have happened, right? Just maybe not where I lived? Anyway, we got a 90% or so total solar eclipse in Vancouver that day, and most of the office went up to see it, with all the rigs you’re supposed to have to avoid watching it directly. The science is absolutely fascinating, but the actual experience was a little underwhelming. It did get somewhat dimmer and cooler, but less than I expected for 90% totality. The distorted shadows were hella neat though.
Sunset on English Bay, September 21
My god this city is beautiful.
Downtown from Granville Bridge, October 4
The perfect, magical, time of day where it’s light enough for my camera to get details, but late enough that everything is a bit mysterious and golden.
Since I’ve got cherry blossoms I can’t ignore autumn, can I?
Strathcona at night, November 17
One of the last photos I took with my old Galaxy S5. It looked a bit too dark at first, but I love it. It’s got a warm, homey feel, and a chiaroscuro kind of thing going on.
Gastown steam clock, November 28
I was still getting used to my new phone, so I could not believe how well this photo turned out. Of course I took care to shoot it right (many times), waiting for the steam to drift in the most photogenic way possible… but damn. That there is a gorgeous pic, I tell ya.
Morning on Nelson Street, December 11
Good morning to you too!
Sienna Blaze and Stephen Scaccia, December 14
I knew going in that I’d be posting pictures of the VGVA Xmas party, and I figured I probably wouldn’t post just one. Here are the evening’s main entertainers spreading some Christmas cheer. I’m not used to taking photos of people so I’m quite pleased how they turned out. Also pleased to have a proper camera in my phone because my old one would not have done these fine people justice.
And the whole thing starts again next year…