Southern Ontario Butterfly Conservatory Event

[Rubi Jane]

A new post full of the details ;)

Anyone and everyone is welcome!!


WHAT: Wings of Paradise Butterfly Conservatory (http://www.wingsofparadise.com/) in Cambridge, ON.
WHEN: Sunday, August 27th 8:00am to 10:am
WHO: so far Photosytes; WannaRam; tomvill; RAitch & Bre; jfrancho; Jenne & BF; Rubi Jane plus there's a person in my course & a friend of hers that plan to join.

The admission rate on their website states $7.75 + taxes for adults, so under $10 CDN.
This facility is wheelchair accessible. No outside food or drink is permitted in the facilty. There is a cafe, gift boutique and outdoor gardens at the conservatory.

The conservatory offers groups of amateur photographers (minimum size of 8 people) a reserved time to photograph before the conservatory opens their doors to the public. The benefit is you're allowed to use tripods/monopods which would usually not be allowed during regular business hours. Also, there would be less people to contend with.

DIRECTIONS
http://www.wingsofparadise.com/Wmap1.jpg

Here's a link to driving directions from everywhere in the Universe, well S.ON. ;)
Driving Directions from all over the place! (http://www.wingsofparadise.com/directions1.htm)

FINAL COUNT NEEDED BY AUG 21st.
Please post if you're coming for sure or if you are a tentative.


I also thought that some may want to spend more time in the area, especially if they are from out of town. So a couple of suggestions if folks are interested. Both are close by.

KITCHENER has quite an impressive 59 acres park right down town, Victoria Park) (http://www.kitchener.ca/visiting_kitchener/historic.html). There's a lake frequented by swans, geese & ducks, statues, bandshell, rose gardens, trails, waterpark, fountains, restored old City Hall clock tower and more. A great place for pics and there's also a geocache (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=7d03a05d-4b18-4d05-8b24-0f60767ae1f2) there if you want to try your hand at finding a geocache (we have a few GPSr folks can borrow).

WATERLOO is a short drive from the conservatory and offers some great architecture if that turns your crank. One that specifically stands out is the Seagram Lofts - rows & columns of windows! And right next door, the old Seagram Museum with an impressive pyramid of barrels. Both make for some great shots. Just google seagram lofts and see for yourself. There's a restaurant, Angie's (http://www.angieseats.com/index.html) for lunch across the street from the the Seagram buildings if people are interested.

[RAitch]

We (Bre and I) are hoping to get there at around 9am... 8am is too early for us to get Tyler ready and get on the road.

I'm looking forward to this!! (although the last time I tried to take pictures of butterflies didn't go so well)

As far as the extra activities goes... I'm up for anything... and will be bringing my GPSr. Multi-caches are my favourite!! (yay)

[Rubi Jane]

Great!
The cache in Vic Park is a multi and will take you around the park's key features.

[tomvill]

I,m in and a friend of mine from the Uk visiting is in also in . I Talked to her this morning and we can definately do the conservatory and then we,ll see what kind of time we have left .. I don't really have the lenses for this type of shooting but I,m gonna give it a try..

[RAitch]

Tom, your 70-200 should be capable... and you can borrow one/some of my extension tubes when I get there for macro... if that's what you're talking about. The tubes work REALLY well with the 70-200.

[tomvill]

Fair enough RAitch .. I,d like to give them a try I was thinking about buying a set but trying them out first sounds like a good deal

Thanks.:D

[RAitch]

No problem!

[Rubi Jane]

I wanna borrow too! Please please please ;)
I was thinking of getting a set of tubes and trying them out seems the ideal encouragment I'll need to make the purchase!

[RAitch]

All's fair in gear swapping... I guess that's allowed Lindsey. I have a set of 3... so we can all even use some at the same time. ;)

Maybe you can let me admire your 2.8 IS... Mmmmmmm.

[Rubi Jane]

All's fair in gear swapping... I guess that's allowed Lindsey. I have a set of 3... so we can all even use some at the same time. ;)

Maybe you can let me admire your 2.8 IS... Mmmmmmm.
For sure you can admire it ;) I'll even let you shoot with it!

[Rubi Jane]

Reminder to the Southern Ontario folks that this Sunday, Aug 27, is the trip to Wings of Paradise

Looking forward to seeing you.

[RAitch]

I'll be there with bells on... only... hold the bells.

[WannaRam]

So I guess it is Vic Park afterwards if Rich wants to do that multi cache.Linz,since we will be in the area at the Conservatory....Rich could grab the cache at the airport......nice quick drive by.....we could also watch him scramble around the war tank cache as we have to drive right by it.See everyone this weekend.

Jamie

[Rubi Jane]

Wow, that would make an easy 3 finds Rich ;-)

[RAitch]

LOL, primary target... photographs.
We're lonely cachers... so I'd rather do what the majority wants to do. I can cache any time.

[RAitch]

Does anybody have any interest in buying a Lowepro Nova 3 AW camera bag in GREAT condition?
What about a lens hood for an 85L?
Or a Haoda split prism focus screen for an XT?
Battery charger for an XT?
50mm 1.8?

Let me know and I'll bring it.

[WannaRam]

Was good to see everyone today,I hope all enjoyed.But as 2 of us agreed ;) it was enough butterflys to last a while.Thanks Linz for use of super lense and also thanks Rich for use of tubes.All the component swapping seemed border line kinky...hehehe :oops: But it is kewl that we can do that...take care to all and talk soon..... hopefully some pics to come soon

Cheers

Jamie

[RAitch]

We ended up going to Caledon for a 5km hike through the trails. Us Lambton county folk aren't used to those dem dere hills!

We didn't get home until around 10:30pm so it was a long day. My pics are still sitting on the Hyperdrive at home.

[jfrancho]

I'm sorry I missed this -- I had a small crisis the day before and couldn't make it up. Is there a picture thread?

[Parmcat]

I am sorry I misses this outing with the POTN folks. I was there today for the first time, and I must say that this place was no where as nice as the one in Niagara Falls. The Niagara one is much more photographer friendly, and has WAY more species of butterfly

I am just pulling mine off the camera. If there is a pic thread, I will post a couple there if that is ok...I didnt get a "KEEPER" shot, but a few worth passing on.

Parm

[RAitch]

How about the first picture not being of a butterfly at all.
I was checking out RubiJane's sweet 70-200 and was seeing what I could do handheld. Here's an example of 1/15s at 195mm while standing. I'm impressed.... and this isn't the only photo that's not WAY too blurry.

I mean, I've shot my 24-105 before at 1/15... but 200mm... I wasn't expecting the same thing.

http://www.richardhoutby.com/Files/waterfall_handheld.jpg

[Rubi Jane]

Oh and I thought you were going to say you were checking out my sweet ride ;)

Nice job Rich...I love that lens ;)

I have a few keepers, in fact I'm dropping off 6 entries (3 are mine, 3 are WannaRam's) for the conservatory's calendar photo contest tomorrow. I'd post them but I'm sitting comfy with my laptop and the images are on the desktop so I'll do it tomorrow.

I'm interested in heading to Niagara for a (long) day and shooting a bunch of different things. Also as I left the conservatory I noticed there is a natrium 5km up the road that has butterflies and humming birds...may have to check that out...think it said no-charge entry too.

[ajbalazic]

I noticed this thread the day before you guys went. I hope you all had fun. Now lets see some shots!

[RAitch]

I was dissapointed for several reasons (non of which were Lindsey's fault)

The facilities were (I guess) smaller than I expected
The number of different species seemed low
I have some OK shots, but I ended up using flash for most of them. Good thing I had the Lumiquest softbox.
I could use some faster glass I guess
The (seemingly) lack of interest from fellow POTNers. I was really dissapointed to find that my wife and I made up HALF of the POTN attendees... and Bre's not even ON this forum.
It's a good thing Lindsey and Jamie showed up.Overall it was fun... and it was the first time in a while that B and I could get out without the monster. We ended up going to Caledon for a long hike and didn't get home until 10:30 or so that night.

I'll obviously consider doing another POTN meet... but the interest here was pathetic. It's not just about the butterflies (assuming people were thinking "I don't care about butterflies") it's about getting together as a community... about sharing information... just having a chat about photography with other people that share the same interests.

Anyway, I hope next time (whatever and whenever it is) more people can show. Having said that... watch... I'll be the one that can't make it.

[RAitch]

The second shot here (http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=210436) is from the conservatory.

[Rubi Jane]

Rich I agree. The location didn't meet my expectations either. I was under the impression there were more species of butterflies and having such a foggy & overcast day certainly didn't help with lighting in most cases. I was too disappointed in the interest from others but I understand folks are busy during the summer and other things come up, plus I have big shoulders and water rolls off my back like a duck's. It wouldn't prevent me from organizing or attending other POTN meets.

Here's 3 shots I got.

http://i.pbase.com/o4/35/682035/1/66074500.TPQKUPyo.Linz7481web.jpg

http://i.pbase.com/o4/35/682035/1/66074501.tJtTFCjE.Linz7489web.jpg

http://i.pbase.com/o4/35/682035/1/66074503.A85Kaos3.Linz7534web.jpg

[ajbalazic]

Lindsey- lovely shots. You wouldn't have guessed it would never guess the conditions were so poor.

Richard- your flower shot is a nice one too. Love the yellow.

I've taken my son to the WOP before (no camera) and I would have to agree with you both, it's very small. Last year I would estimate they had about a dozen species of butterfly's. I hope I can make it to the next gathering! (I've missed two this year- this one and the mother's day weekend meet in Hamilton). Hopefully there will be something to celebrate the fall colours that are just around the corner!

[Rubi Jane]

Hmmmm, Fall Colours, now there's a good idea.
Anyone got any suggestions as to where? Starting Oct 15 Sundays are a no go as I have a photo course that runs for several weeks.

[ajbalazic]

Where are you taking your photo course Lindsey? On Sundays- is it Henry's?

I'll be thinking of some spots around here for a fall meet.

[RAitch]

Nice shots Lindsey!
Thanks Alan.

I would normally recommend Caledon (http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=1535610&postcount=2)... forks of the credit road... but there's construction (we found out) until December (SO STUPID!!). SO many people go up there to see the colours... they should do whatever they're doing in the spring.

It's nice up there though, that road is really cool... but I'm sure there's more interesting things up there. Maybe we should get a SW Ontario Driving tour.

[Rubi Jane]

Mohawk College in Hamilton offers two certificate programs (Applied & Art Photography). I have 3 courses to complete my Applied certificate then I'll think about whether I do the Arts cert.

It's a CE program so courses are mostly nights but some are on weekends. Been fun & educational so far, plus I get a couple of nights out a week and time to myself...a real treat having a 14 month old tearing around the house ;)

Mohawk College Photo Cert Program (http://www.mohawkcollege.ca/dept/carts/aphoto.html)

Thanks for the heads up on the construction Rich. The 4x4 Fall Colour run travels through The Forks so I'll ask the organizer if they're aware of the construction.

[Parmcat]

Here are a couple I took a day or two after your get together. I hope you don't mind.

I really suggest the Niagara Conservatory, and it is located on the botanical grounds, so LOTS of shooting ops there!!!

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/Parmcat/CambridgeButterflies060fixedMedium.jpg


http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/Parmcat/CambridgeButterflies001fixedMedium.jpg

[Rubi Jane]

Great shots! Love the green in the second one, very nicely done. I shot the same species but it's way underexposed and I'm not happy with the PP on it :(

My mum visits from the UK next week, perhaps I'll take her to Niagara and she can entertain the toddler while I shoot ;)

[WannaRam]

A few of mine from last weekend.

http://i.pbase.com/o4/92/699492/1/66125036.WeOAejvz.Jamie7312web.jpg

http://i.pbase.com/o4/92/699492/1/66125038.N1bj6k0T.Jamie7321web.jpg

http://i.pbase.com/o4/92/699492/1/66125040.CG6ecJEe.Jamie7337web.jpg

[Rubi Jane]

Nice shots Jamie!! I think I might have seen these already ;)
My fav is the first one....butterfly is just hangin' out

[ajbalazic]

Very nice shots Parmcat & WannaRam. I agree with Lindsey- the 'Hangin' one is top notch.

[Parmcat]

Great shots! Love the green in the second one, very nicely done. I shot the same species but it's way underexposed and I'm not happy with the PP on it :(

My mum visits from the UK next week, perhaps I'll take her to Niagara and she can entertain the toddler while I shoot ;)

If you have the chance, I would do it. I really enjoyed it, and there are MANY more species there.

[WannaRam]

Thanks for the comments,I was pleased with most of my shots on the day given the light conditions we had.The first 2 pics shown were shot with Lindseys 70-200 (there has got to be a way to take that from her without being noticed).The 3rd one was with my 18-55 kit lens at 1/25 sec.....:eek: I can't wait for next get together......but we are shooting at Ribfest tomorrow in Burlington,should be fun.

Jamie