Downtown On A Rainy Night

Lately I seem to be downtown more often in the evening and it's really one of my favorite times to take pictures of the lights at night. Especially if it's just rained and there are lots of reflections on slick streets. Usually these tables outside of Starbucks are full all the time but everyone scatters when it gets wet. - Fern

Happy Birthday Benjamin!

Today is a special day in Victoria as Benjamin is celebrating another pass around the sun and another year of providing excellent coverage of the daily goings on about town. Hats off sir! Much love and best wishes for many more. xoxo Fern

Reflections

I pass this building downtown almost everyday but rarely are all the conditions right to capture just the right image. I knew it would eventually happen and here it is! Now I am waiting for a day of black thunder clouds... - Fern

Just One More of Old Blue

I have to admit this bridge is well documented here and elsewhere but it is bittersweet now that it's demise is imminent. Change is a fact of life of course but in the meantime I try to stop and enjoy these things while they are still with us. - Fern Long

A Favorite Viewpoint

Here's a look at downtown Victoria from across the Harbour on the Songhees side of the Johnston Street Bridge. I always like to stop here and admire our little city from this vantage point especially now when the blossoms are at their loveliest. - Fern

New Food Truck Hits Victoria with Cinnamon Goodness!

So a few days ago Benjamin posted a photo of the Mr. Tube Steak and talked a little bit about street food in Victoria and around the world. When I was in the same area yesterday I noticed behind the above mentioned a new and interesting looking vehicle parked in the lot of Capital Iron, Ada's Heavenly Cinnamon Buns. Of course, only for the sake of this blog I had to try one out and yes folks, we have a winner! This is Ada herself and she hasn't even been in business for 2 weeks but she sure makes a mean cinnamon bun, fresh, warm, and the perfect balance of doughy goodness and sweet topping. Needless to say, I'll be back. - Fern

Christmas Festivities Downtown

As we rushed around town getting a few last minute things done for the the BIG DAY we were lucky enough to come across this dance performance in Market Square by the ZarYevka Ballet performing the "Nutcracker Sweet" with music by Tchaikovsky. It was entrancing and well appreciated by the crowd that had braved the rain and traffic to enjoy this little bit of holiday magic. - Fern

Wondering the Streets

I'll admit, once the colder weather arrives I don't venture into the city at night very often but with enough layers of clothing it was quite nice actually. Government Street looks quite inviting all dressed in light for the coming onslaught of Christmas shoppers doesn't it? - Fern

Tis the Season

Last night was the official beginning of the holiday festivities in Victoria and a big attraction downtown is the ferris wheel in Centennial Square . Lots of people where out and about braving the crisp weather we've been having. Not to worry though, The top shot was a long exposure; it would be quite a ride if it was going that fast! - Fern

Skyline

This is a photo that initially I disregarded but then decided to take a second look. Why? This is interesting to me. What is it that makes me come back to this one? Let's see if I can answer my own question. I think it's a combination of things; the color and rich texture of the wall on the left that until dusk would be unnoticeable but is revealed at dusk as are the clouds which contrast so sharply from the solid lines of the buildings. It's that juxtaposition of color, light and shapes that create an interesting landscape to me. - Fern

After the Parade....

Sunday's Pride parade was, as usual, funny, surprising, interesting and lively and it seemed to me that it's now a little more about acceptance of diversity in general rather than strictly focused on gay lifestyles. More businesses, churches, political parties, schools, ethnic and age groups were represented than I remember seeing in the past. But perhaps the most remarkable demonstration of the change in social attitudes was the massive crowd that had joined the parade at its end. Above you can see a small portion of this crowd following the final float along Broughton Street.

Silver Bells

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style
In the air there's a feeling
Of Christmas
Children laughing, people passing
Meeting smile after smile
And on every street corner you'll hear

Silver bells
Silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling
Hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas Day

Strings of streetlights, even stoplights
Blink of bright red and green
As the shoppers rush home with their treasures
Hear the snow crunch
See the kids bunch
This is Santa's big scene
And above all the bustle you'll hear

Silver bells
Silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas Day
Soon it will be Christmas Day

Telephoto Fun

This city has a nice location lying at the foot of the towering peaks of....Just a minute there buddy, this is Victoria. See the red roof and spires of Craigdarroch castle on the right and the Shoal Point Condominium on the left. (Click the photo to see a larger version.) Where did that humongous mountain come from? The photo was taken from Albert Head Lagoon Regional Park using a 300 mm telephoto lens. The vast peak in the background, while it is occasionally visible from the city, is never so large as it appears in this photo. Its immensity is because of the foreshortening effect of telephoto lenses. The further away something is the more it is enlarged in proportion to closer objects. The mountain is Mount Baker in Washington State, about 130 kilometers (85 miles) distant from where I took this photo.

Victoria's Skyline

Okay everybody, this is my second solo post; I feel like I have very big shoes to fill! This is one I took from the top of the Yates Street Parkade on a nice Saturday afternoon. Victoria still doesn't have too many tall buildings to get in the way of that big, big sky.