Mix and Match

There is always some interesting music on the Inner Harbour Causeway and one of the reasons is that the musicians often jam together in various combinations. I've not before seen the trio above, for instance, although I've often seen them playing with others. From the left, playing the big stand-up bass is Cairo Kennedy, who often often plays with his sister Autumn and father Caleb. He also plays in a local group of young musicians called The Colts. In the center is Harbour Nolan, who also plays with the Colts, generally on drums but here showing his skills on ukulele and harmonica. On the right is Jaime Nolan, Harbour's father, who often plays the causeway as a one-man-band - guitar, harmonica and foot drum. The music was good but perhaps what was most enjoyable was the fun this group was having while performing.

Dusk on North Park Street

I love this time of day and the way the sky so often turns so many amazing colors, usually without much fanfare on this little spinning blue marble of ours. - Fern

The Everything Photo

I have a bad photography habit that I am trying to curb - I usually try to get everything into one shot, as in the photo above. Note the nifty period lamp and the hanging flower baskets, the Legislative Assembly Buildings, the Inner Harbour Lower Causeway, The Inner Harbour crowded with the boats of the currently running Classic Boat Show. And those are just the main items - there's other things there to distract your attention too. I suspect this habit harks back to the days of film when taking photos was an expensive activity and one naturally strove to get as much into each photo as possible. I've made rules for myself such as there should only be a single subject for each photo, and I try to follow them. But still when I come home from a day's photography I always find at least a few of the "everything" photo. It's a hard habit to break.

Harvest Time

Well, the leaves are turning already - summer's almost gone and it seems like it only started yesterday. There hasn't been much real hot weather here this year, just a few days here and there. Today's photo is one of the statues in the Italian Garden at Hatley Castle. There are four of these, each representing a different season. I think today's is the one representing the autumn harvest because of the sheaves of grain she is holding.

Island Music

Here's another local musician I saw and heard on Friday night, not at the night market but on the causeway. This is Swan Walker. In the photo above he is playing those wonderful bell-like steel drums that provide the perfect accompaniment for much of his calypso inspired repertoire. But he often switches to his guitar for some reggae or other contemporary music, including his own unique songs.