And the WINNER is!

Part 2 of todays shoot. You saw the out of camera originals, now here are the final shots I was looking for the day. Which is your favourite?

Click on the LINK to see it LARGER. Check out the ducks flying in on the right.

Hope you like them. Derek

A little "Creative" HDR

Bryan's GTI

Here's a subject talked about a bit lately. HDR and its use. HDR modelling is a great way to add interest to an image for artistic interpretation.

My wife and I have been doing the house hunt as of late and came across its use quite a lot for everyday images and I gotta say this to all the real estate guys out there. STOP USING IT! People don't find an in-camera HDR shot of the interior of a house looking appealing. It doesn't increase the appeal of a space, it makes it creepy.

In camera HDR is uncontrollable and usually results in something weird. If you want to show the outsides coming in through a window with the interior exposed correctly than shoot for the highlight and lighten the shadow with a flash or post process. Better yet close the blinds and get a shot of the outdoors separately.

Here's a shot or two I find perfect for the use of HDR modelling but not in the "add highlight detail" sense but as one more filter at my finger tips. Artistic expression or just cool poster, you be the judge. Note: these are meant to be viewed large.

Click image to view larger sizes or here for the banner version

One tip I'll add. Start with a properly exposed image. It's the detail that makes it.Enjoy and we'll see you tomorrow.

Easter Morning 2012 with the Masons

Well my oh my, I'm finally back on. I've been a little busy outside my blog as of late and thought I should update what's up.

I want to start with easter weekend just past. What a crazy bit of weather. 4 inches of snow to zero by the end of the day.

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As it turns out the bunny got here and left before it snowed. Seems he likes to make morning trails, not the smelly kind, but ones of yummy chocolate.

Thanks to my sons new girl friend who made our morning a little brighter. Thanks Laura.

I'm posting a few pics of the mornings discoveries for you to enjoy.

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Mother Nature thought it best to remind us!

Now as August ended, and September began, Mother Nature thought it best to remind us who's in charge.

With the lure of fabulous weather all summer, best on record, she had the idea it was time for a storm and along came Hurricane Earl.

He hit us direct but did show some mercy. He visited during the day, a rare occurrence for any hurricane, so we had the chance to watch him come and go.

The storm started first thing on the 5th (generator on by 10:00am, power out by 10:30am) and was all but gone by 12:30pm. The power stayed off until that evening.

We were well prepared and watched in awe as seas swelled with surge and walls of spray were lifted from the surface and screamed across the waves like great white curtains.

Here's a small gallery of images I took when it subsided and ventured out to assess any damage.

As you can see, with the storm all but gone, stress is lifted and the fun begins. The wind was still strong enough to knock you down if you weren't prepared for it.

Lots of leaves gone, debris on the beach and the loss of one grove of trees.

Gotta stop loosing trees to storms. That's atleast 15 in the last 15 years, one per year or more. Good thing I planted more in 2008.

Next; RNSYS Club Championship racing in Halifax Harbour - October 2010.

Summer Update from Nova Scotia

Okay, here I am again with updates to 2010.

Last time I left off talking about the Whale Car for the Bay of Fundy (June 5th launch). Which by the way has been a great success.

Terri McCulloch, Executive Director of the Bay of Fundy Tourism Partnership, has travelled all over mainland Nova Scotia and New Brunswick including a couple of trips back and forth across the Bay of Fundy on the Bay Ferries Princess of Acadia.

If you go to the Bay of Fundy Travel Show you can see what she has been up to.

Of course I shared the Route Halifax Saint Pierre Ocean Race start here in Halifax , Nova Scotia on the 10th of July. That race was an amazing one with record finishes and strong winds at the finish. Go to the Route Halifax Saint Pierre site to see the results and to check out more photos. You can check mine of the start at RHSP 2010 July 2010 start.

But now for a few updates. August brought exceptional weather to these waters for one amazing Chester Race week, August 11 - 14. If you've never experienced this event it is a must.

It is an annual regatta that attracts racers from all over the maritimes for the bragging rights of saying you won at Chester.

The weather couldn't have been better and for me it was the most enjoyable to date.

Aboard Ann Acland's new Archambault A31, Anticipation, we battled and won first place position in the A3 class. I must mention this boat was brand new, and as a crew, we had only sailed her for 4 events. The crew, consisting of 7 of the greatest mates I've had the privilege to sail with. I have been consistently racing with most of them for the past 5 years.

So when we won it was fabulous. To top that off we garnered the privilege of landing on the cover of the September issue of Canadian Yachting. That's me in red.

Here's the crew list as we appear in the photo ( Ann is actually between Owen and Phil in the grey cap) : A31 « Anticipation » crew : Rob MacLellan (CAN/Bow) – Derek Mason (CAN/Mast) – Jacqueline Stevens (CAN/Trim) – Owen Grace (CAN/Pit) – Philipe Dumaresq (CAN/Trim) – Cindy Roberts (CAN/Main & Tactics) – Ann Acland (CAN/Skipper & Helm).

To finish this one off, there are a couple of photos of our return trip from Chester on the 15th {HERE}. Even that was amazing. Note how calm the seas were on the way back. You'll also notice a number of fellow competitors sharing the day home.

Tommorrow, Hurricane Earl and Prospect, September 5, 2010.

Route Halifax Saint Pierre Ocean Race

Now although, through circumstances beyond my control, which I don't wish to go into, I was unable to join in the race to Saint Pierre from Halifax.

I t started here in Halifax on July 10 2010 and with a solid and steady 15 - 25 knot wind the race was completed by the first boat in just over 29 hours. If I'm not mistaken the first over was Derek Hatfields "Spirit of Canada".

Anyway, I was at least fortunate enough to go out on the harbour and photograph the start aboard Ann Aclands A31 Anticipation, which I sail as regular crew out of the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron.

Here is the gallery of the days events [http://www.justthat.ca/RH

SP_2010/July_2010_start/].

Those of you who are interested in purchasing any of these just email me at capture@justthat.ca.

The official site for the race is

www.routehalifaxsaintpierre.com.