Hey Gang!
First off, let me tell you -- my photography motivation and activity has taken some serious hits over the past few years. I won't bore you with the details, but suffice it to say that especially over most of the past year, I just haven't gotten out to photograph much. Part of it was the loss of my car a year ago. I did get some motivation going with my "Biking Photog project, but that died down...
Anyway, this year, as the weather warms up, I've been getting some "inspiration". One thing that helped was to hook up with some POTN shooters for a meetup in April in downtown Portland to do some street photography. Street photography is something I do enjoy, but getting there is the challenge. We did have a blast, though:
http://www.pbase.com …r_28_2012_portland_meetup
Then, a few things seem to be coming together. For one thing, I'm trying to get out on my bike there, with my photo gear in my backpack, although it has been a bit challenging (more below).
Then, a couple items! First, a friend posted a Facebook notice about an event/concert in downtown Vancouver, and an invitation by one of the "sponsors", the Vancouver Downtown Association, for photographers to participate in the summer's activities/events on a volunteer basis, no money, but a chance to maybe get some "notice" and publication. Well, I decided to join in, and began some contact with the director, and then showed up on Saturday and shot some photos!
And then, something else came to my attention. I have for some years been a "member" of Meetup, with the idea that I would get involved with a Photography Mettup group, although that died down along with my other photography motivations. But, I do get Meetup mailings. In one that showed up just a week ago, there was a note about a couple Vancouver hiking/walking groups engaging in activities that I could easily get to, and in some nice places, like the Columbia River waterfront, nice parks, etc.
So, I did show up Sunday, but was rushed and didn't grab my photo gear! But I'm going to another one, an "evening" walk today at 7:00 PM so it will still be light enough for some photos...
But, I had a long weekend facing challenges! Here is a post I made about it on Facebook:
It started on Thursday when I set out on a bike ride of several miles with some camera gear, heading for a wetlands a few miles away. But, before I got even halfway, I got a flat tire! I had to walk the bike down to a main road where I could catch the bus.
Friday, I got a new innertube in the tire, thinking I was good to go.
Saturday I had a couple things going on. In the morning, I took off on the bike to run an errand. In the afternoon I had a major local event to photograph. But halfway through my morning ride, the rear tire went crazy! It turns out that when the inner tube went flat it shredded the part of the tire that "sticks" in the wheel and holds it in!
Again, walk and grab a bus and walk it home, then I quickly had to grab a but to the event downtown where I did shoot! Then yesterday I was busy all day -- a Meetup of local hikers/walkers, and then spending Father's Day afternoon and evening with "extended family".
Well, today I put a new tire on the ol' Mountain Bike and everything seems to be up and running! I'm done, and just in time -- tomorrow I have another hiking/walking meetup, and I plan to ride the dang bike to get to it!
Anyone who is interested in event photography (and some Street photography) is welcome to check out my "collection" from yesterday, 87 pics processed and posted out of 267 shots taken!
Well, hopefully things have settled in!
FYI, here's the link to my Saturday "festival" shoot:
http://www.pbase.com …6_2012_vancouver_festival
!
