Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Something to think about: We got scared.

. Email: brqyvn@gmail.com

  

Google + and photography...the best of the best.


Hi Photographer friends.

If you like photography, and I assume you do since you are reading this blog, you owe it to yourself to join Google +. In many ways, it's just another social network, but as far as sharing and loading photographs and videos, it's the best. Furthermore, it took me only six weeks to get to +/- 1,300 friends, in my Photography Friends circle. What's nice about the way you can create circles, you can allow only certain people in your circle. That way, I know that in my Photography Friends Circle, photography only will be talked about. If not...I boot you out of my circle.

It's an excellent way to see what other photographers are doing and learn from each other. No matter what  type of photography you're in, there are other photographers out there with the same taste and aspirations as you. It's like having a direct line to people with the same taste as you.

I often like to feature other photographer's work or blog on this site. Joining Google + has made this task very easy. Everyday, I am privy to hundreds and hundreds of images from photographers from all over the world. I can tell you that it is sometime an humbling experience. There are so many talented people on our little blue planet!

As they say, "The proof is in the pudding" here are some images from some of my Photography Friends Circle:


Copyright: Christopher Hebbert
Copyright: John Neel
Copyright: Leon Leijdekkers
Copyright: Martin E. Morris
Copyright: Ahmad Rezk
Copyright: Elia Locardi

Some of you may   think about online photography school when it comes to looking deeper into this. Google + will have an interesting impact.

Thank yoiu for visiting. Join Google +, and look me up,
Yvon Bourque

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Sweet nostalgia…when the past meets the present





Email: brqyvn@gmail.com

Hi Photographer friends.

Just in case you haven't seen this site, the pictures above are all part of a collection that you can see and also submit your own "Dear Photograph" on http://dearphotograph.com/

I wish I could take some old pictures of my two daughters when they were little and juxtapose them with the places we lived, as they are today. The problem is that we lived all over the Country. I now live in California, one daughter lives in Florida and the other in Maryland.

I command the person(s) that started the "Dear Photograph" site as it's one of the most "feel good" site I know of. Want to see how popular the site is? check this out http://www.scoop.it/t/dear-photograph

Back those days you could not get an online photography degree  but oh are there some great memories. This is a cool project to try.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

I just had to share this tip I read in a magazine.

  Email: brqyvn@gmail.com

Hi Pentaxian friends.

Today's digital cameras all use memory cards. You probably have several memory cards, as their prices are now very affordable. More cards means that you could lose one.

If someone finds a memory card, they likely can look at the pictures but there is very little chances that the card would be returned to the owner. The tip is read is so simple, I wonder why I didn't think of it.  Before using a memory card, write your name, address, email and telephone number on a piece of paper or other media, and take a picture of it (in jpeg format) with the card in the camera. If you lose the card and someone finds the lost card, chances are that they will see your information as a jpeg image and return the card to you.

Now, of course, if the complete camera is lost, with the memory card in it, They might be honest enough to return the camera as well.

Good day...

Online photography classes and photography magazines are good ways to find new info. There is always something cool to learn.
Yvon Bourque

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Beautiful images from one of my Google+ follower.












Hi Pentaxian friends.

There are so many talented people out there. Since I joined Google +, I have nearly 1,500 photographers in my "Photographers Circle". I can sit in front of my computer and look at images constantly being posted. It never stop. Today, Jeffrey Sullivan caught my attention with these beautiful images.

You can see more of his work here:

Friday, August 19, 2011

Miss Peggy has been gone for a while. I miss her but...you don't think that I would buy a rocking chair and rock my life away, do you?

Email: brqyvn@gmail.com

Hi Pentaxian friends.

For those that have been following my blog for a long time, you know about Miss Peggy. For those that are new here, here is an introduction to Miss Peggy. Miss Peggy is a Jeep and we went on many adventures together. She has brought me to places so remote that getting there would have been impossible without her. I captured images from remote locations, from the desert to high mountains, from beaches to deep forests. She was my best photographic accessory for a long time. We both are a little older now and she needed to slow it down.

A young couple now owns her, and with young children, she will be having a new life, going along the beaches, with the top off. I see a lot of enjoyable moments with her new family. The children will have fun and so will the parents. She will not have to climb so much anymore. The new activities are going to be less stressful on her. Here are some of the last pictures of Miss Peggy that you will see on this blog.





I'm not a spring chicken myself, but  you don't think I would buy a rocking chair and rock my life away...do you?  It's just a step to another adventure. Yes, I will rock my life away, but to the sound of ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and the likes. I had to get another toy to replace Miss Peggy. Here it is or rather here they are:

Introducing "Spartacus", my new buddy. Together, we are ready for new photographic adventures and new  adventures period. I think he is beautiful, and full of energy with his 1300 cc of raw power and customized accessories. He was born from Honda in 2008, and his code name is VTX 1300C. Look at him, he's ready to go. He's been around for 9000 miles but is ready for a lot more.




That's not all, with the change, lots of change, I was able to get this next item. It was originally purchased by an elder couple to go to the lake with the grand kids, but the grand kids are now in their teens and don't care much about camping with the grandparents.  This was just good timing, right place at the right time, as I got this 23 foot Prowler Travel Trailer for a dime on the dollar of the actual value. I also shared the cost with my stepson, so that he too can use it at times.

The inside is like new. In fact, the gas stove was never used. It will come handy to spend economical weekends at places like Yosemite and other National Parks. Perfect for long weekends of photography, etc. My own children and their kids (my grandchildren) will be able to use it when they come visit here in California. We named the trailer "Freedom". It's a she. Here she is:



"Freedom" and "Spartacus" actually were purchased for less than what my cameras, including lenses and accessories, were purchased for. Crazy, isn't it?

Thanks for stopping by.

Yvon Bourque

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

The love life of a Preying Mantis, captured with the K20D

Hi Pentaxian friends,

About a year ago, I was amazed at a female Preying Mantis spreading her wings. From what I've heard, in the fall, this is the mating dance the female Preying Mantis performs but I've also heard that it is a defence position. Note that the females are green and the males are brown. The males are usually smaller.


The female is green and her wings are colorful.


The male is brown and usually smaller.

Today, we found two Preying Mantis hiding in the bushes outside our business place. I extended my hand close to the female and she jumped on my hand and stayed there. I then extended my hand toward a male Preying Mantis and miraculously he jumped on my hand as well. Now, it is almost fall and fall is the mating season.


With my free hand, I called my wife on my cell phone and asked her to get my K20D right away. She did and with my free hand , I took the following pictures. It was a bit difficult to handle the K20D/Grip with one hand, and the images are not tacky sharp as I would have liked them to be, but there is a story here. The DA 16-45mm was mounted on the camera and I had no time to change it for a close-up lens. If the old saying "A picture is worth a thousand words" is true, I just saved myself several thousands words in writing this blog. These small creatures never ceases to amaze me.


Here's a little love story:

Above: Boy meets girl, in a very strange place I might add.

Boy: "You come here often"? Girl: "No, this is my first time".

Boy: "You are the most beautiful Preying Mantis I have ever seen. Green looks really nice on you. That color makes you look skinny." Girl: "He, He, thank you very much".

Boy: "I think she's buying my lines...YES!" (Not that much different than humans!)

Boy: "Can I have this dance?" Girl: "Okay, but I don't really know you. You seem like a good Preying Mantis though".

Boy's mind:"I knew I could win her...It's gonna be a good day!" Girl's mind: "That's all they think about. What will my mother say if she finds out? I might just bite his head off". (Again, not all that much different than humans.)

The rest of the pictures have been censored...actually I decided to push the boy Preying Mantis away. He doesn't know, but I saved his life... for today anyway.


Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think.

Yvon Bourque

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

More images from Joshua Tree National Park. ll taken with Pentax K-5, K-7 or K-x.


Hi Photographer friends,

I'm still tired from staying up all night from Sunday morning through Monday evening. But it was worth the trouble as I did get some precious pictures.

The first set of images below tell a story by themselves, but here's is the way it happened. I was walking along the trail when I saw and heard a Blue Jay just chirping away and jumping from branch to branch. On approaching it to see what was going on, I spotted the rattle snake eyeballing the lizard. There is no doubt in my mind that the lizard was going to be dinner. I changed all that. When the snake saw me, its priority changed and suddenly it tried to go away, but I was blocking the way. It was fearing me and went on the attack mode. It curled up and was watching all my moves. I was more scared of the snake than it was of me, but it didn't know that.

I yelled at my stepson, Donny, to come and see. Well, he's crazier than me and he proceeded to grab the snake. He took pictures of it and that's how I wound up in one of the image. I also was shooting away and caught him actually taking a picture of the snake, dangling at the end of a stick.

We finally let the snake go and it was really tired. It went under a rock. The lizard stuck around like it wanted to say thank you for saving it from being eaten.

Both of our hearts were racing and we then thought of how dangerous it could have been. One bite from the snake and we would have been hospital bound. Oh well...that's how memories are created.






Later on, we walked around the park and took some less dangerous pictures of the beautiful scenery.


 Thanks for stopping by,

Yvon Bourque

Monday, August 8, 2011

Overnight at Joshua Tree National Park. I was up all night. Amazing Place.

That's a real Rattle Snake looking at me and ready to pounce on me.

Joshua tree with a stacked rock formation behind.
 
Joshua tree making an arch like an entrance to the park.
 
Although not all of my night sky shots came out as I has wished, the sky was amazing and undisturbed by city lights.

We grilled porterhouse steaks and kept warm with a nice fire.

These two crows looked like they owned the place!

The morning after, looking at my images on my iPad 2. Decisions, decisions...

Email: brqyvn@gmail.com

Hi Photographer  friends,

We spent last night at Joshua Tree National Park, me and my stepson Donovan. I have been wanting to take some pictures, especially night skies images, for a long time. The sky is incredible there as it is not polluted by city lights.

I didn't sleep but for a few hours, so I'm very tired tonight and will not go through all of my images just yet. I will post more on Joshua Tree this coming week with more pictures. I just wanted to upload some images so that you could have an idea of what this wonderful park has to offer for photographers, campers, climbers and nature people.

Good night,

Yvon Bourque

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Going camping at Joshua Tree National Park tonight. I will be back Monday afternoon and share images Monday night.

Check this video below:


Email: brqyvn@gmail.com

Hi Pentaxian friends.

Going camping at Joshua Tree National Park tonight. I will be back Monday afternoon and share images Monday night. Joshua tree is one of my favorite place. I never took pictures of the stars and painting with light there, so I'm going to try that during that overnight trip.


Bringing the Pentax K-5 and K-7 along with an arsenal of Pentax  lenses, since we are driving in. This will also be an excellent opportunity to use the AlettA Stabilizer, since 95% of the images will be taken from 1/30th sec and losger.


Yvon Bourque

Friday, August 5, 2011

So you think you are a creative photographer? Take a look at this...very inspirational indeed.

 Email: brqyvn@gmail.com

Hi Pentaxian friends.

This is a working professional photographer and journalist Laurent Laveder scientist who created the series 'Moon Game', composed of several images that show people interacting with the Moon.


Specializing in pictures of the sky, is part of the collective Laveder 'The World At Night', which brings together 30 of the best astro-photographers in the world.

I found the images shared publicly on Google+ and I urge anyone to join Google+. There are more pictures shared there than on Facebook or other social networks. The images are copywrighted by Laurent Laveder, you the images are for looking at only. Here goes:















Want to see more of his work? http://www.pixheaven.net/galerie_us.php?id=22
 
This guy is very talented. I'm envious. His prints are for sale at the same site.
 
 
You can find me on Google+: Yvon Bourque Google +