Leafy Orcas

Surfing the crest of a grassy aquamarine wave, these two Orcas, mother and calf, are swimming on the corner of Government and Humboldt Streets by the Empress Hotel.

Serena Jack

Accomplished musician Serena Jack fitted in perfectly with the beds of flowers on the upper Causeway this weekend. She provided some lively jigs and reels for an appreciative audience.

Phat Funk

You may notice a slight orange cast to the colors in these photos - we are suffering from smoke from forest fires so the light is a sort of ominous yellow-orange. Couple that with higher than normal temperatures (about 30 degrees C when these photos were taken) and it sounds like a prescription for finding a cool, shady spot to rest. None of that deterred this group of young musicians who bounced around producing some high energy music so stimulating that a large group of small children couldn't help but dance. (See the short video clip below)

Where's Roger?

Hard to believe this "bee-loud glade" is on one of the busiest corners in the whole city. It's where the Empress Hotel keeps its bees and is also home to Roger, the resident Yellow-bellied Marmot. How Roger arrived on the island (there are no native yellow-bellied Marmots here) and why he chose to live in the garden of the Empress Hotel are mysteries that are unlikely to be solved but he has been there on the corner of Government and Humboldt Streets since 2008. However, when I went there today he was not in evidence, no doubt napping during the heat of the day in his burrow. Click HERE to see some pics of him I took a few years ago.

Cute!

This is the Sizzlers Fiddle Camp ensemble adding their sounds to summer on Government Street.

Street Music

Though I forgot to mention it, you may have guessed from the plethora of busking musician photos I've been posting that we are currently in the midst of the Victoria International Buskers Festival, an event which draws acts from all over the world to perform on Victoria's Ship Point Pier (right next to the Inner Harbour Causeway). Pretty well all the photos I've posted however have been of our own local buskers, who are fully as talented as those who come for the festival. For whatever reason, the streets are full of musicians and I especially enjoyed the sounds produced by the couple pictured above. I think what they were playing might be called Zydeco - it was fast, nostalgic, and had a hint of gypsy in it - great stuff! On the left above is Lolita Froissart and that's Jef Gasse (D'Jef) on the right.

Pride Parade

Above is a little sample of some of the more exotic participants in Sunday's Pride Parade here in Victoria. It's a very exuberant parade that is viewed enthusiastically by thousands of spectators - see the photo below.

Chase the Bear

I am always interested in new groups coming to busk in Victoria so I was happy to see these musicians playing at the bottom of Government Street yesterday. But in this case I was amazed at the raw talent they displayed. And I was not alone - many spectators were equally struck at the music these young perfomrers provided. The group is called, "Chase the Bear" and consists of Troy Gilmore (vocals), Jordan Phillips, and Braeden Royer. Dusty Townsend (cello) of "Fish in a Birdcage" was jamming with them. (Please excuse the quality of the video below. I had gone out to shoot landscapes earlier and neglected to bring my proper video recording equipment with me. The video is from my phone. Consequently the sound is muffled by wind and traffic noise for the first 30 or 40 seconds.)

Braeden Royer

Jordan Phillips

Troy Gilmore

Ukelele Player

Each year I focus mainly on the street performers who perform on the Inner Harbour Causeway but there are many equally talented performers who offer their talents in other parts of the downtown area, especially Government Street. That is where a few days ago I chanced upon this lovely young woman making some interesting music with her ukelele.

Summer of Love...

When I saw this trio of young buskers I was suddenly thrown back to the "summer of love" - 1967 - and it made me realize that ideas and movements that were ignited then never really died but that fragments of that time still float around and seeds that were planted then continue to bear fruit. I hope these kids made it home safely.

Effects

While browsing through the archives I found these two examples of a processing style I like very much. Usually I like crisp, sharp, photorealistic images but sometimes I want more of a mood than a precise representation and this technique often does just what I want.

Bard & Banker in Christmas Ribbons

While downtown yesterday visiting the mall I couldn't resist taking a photo of one of my favorite heritage buildings on Government Street, the Bard & Banker, looking Christmassy in red ribbons.

The Belmont Building

The Belmont Building is probably Victoria's oldest Office Building, though it was originally planned as a hotel when it was built in 1912. I always enjoy the mural on the side though I have been unable to find out anything about it. There is another similar mural on the eastern side. The Belmont Building has a prime location on the corner of Government and Humboldt Streets, facing the Inner Harbour and the Empress Hotel.

Frankie's Modern Diner

I had the good fortune earlier this week to sample the fare at one of Victoria's newer restaurants, Frankie's Modern Diner. It's right on Government Street a block's walk up from the Inner Harbour Causeway. The menu is extensive and varied and the food and service both were very GOOD. The restaurant is on the second floor and overlooks Government Street and many of its heritage buildings.

Bijoux Du Bayou

I've got lots of old favourites among the street performers but I'm always happy to see and hear something new. The group pictured here describe themselves as a "Cajun-Zydeco Swing Dance Band" but seemed to be capable of playing anything and giving it their own unique style. I'm not familiar with Cajun music and I really enjoyed getting a taste of it.

Totems

Yesterday's totem stands peacefully among tall trees. Today's totem is in the heart of the city, directly opposite the Legislative Assembly Buildings.

Youngest Busker?

I don't know if this is the youngest busker on Victoria's streets but I've not seen a younger. She and her carefully chaperoned group were out busking on Government Street on Canada Day Weekend and played some very lively fiddle tunes.

Irish Melody

Amidst all the hurley-burley of the last weekend's activities I enjoyed a few moments or peace and tranquility listening to this lovely young woman playing her Celtic Harp on Government Street just in front of a shop selling Irish merchandise.

Roadside Rattle

Here's a duo I enjoyed listening to on Government Street over the weekend. Definitely a unique style but fun to listen to, they drew an appreciative crowd.

B. T. Williams Quartet

It seems that saxaphones are the new "guitar" - every time I turn around these days I see and hear saxaphone players and saxaphone groups. Anyway, I really enjoyed the music this quartet were putting out despite Saturday's glowering clouds. This is the B. T. Williams Quartet, consisting of - you guessed it - four saxaphones, from a high-pitched soprano to a great honking bass. They have a great sound, especially if you want to cut through ambient traffic noise, but this group is so good you listen to the music instead of marvelling at the unusual composition of the group.