The most beautiful thing in my life

Mill St. Cobblestone Stout at Union

Holiday sushi lunch and the bent chopstick

Holiday sushi lunch and the bent chopstick, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

It's still below zero mate !

Is still below zero mate !, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Merry Christmas for Arsenal fans

Merry Christmas for Arsenal fans, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

3-1 win over Chelsea puts them a solid 2nd in the EPL table.

Stripes, cousins, hypotrochoid and Kooper

Stripes, cousins, hypotrochoid and Kooper, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Eyes for a Canadian Christmas

Eyes for a Canadian Christmas, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Christmas Eve excitement for big kids too

Christmas Eve excitement for big kids too, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Hearts and tree tinsel

Hearts and tree tinsel, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Park bauble reflection

Park bauble reflection, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Bauble bokeh

Bauble bokeh, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

5 more sleeps

5 more sleeps, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church

St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

It was a very grey, dull day and I was having some difficulty finding something beautiful , let alone colourful to photograph. I was really happy to find this church I'd never noticed before. It's just off Ossington, a little North or Bloor Street. It's worth looking at the larger image to see the wonderful mosaic details. I man noticed me taking the shot and asked if I spoke Ukrainian. Unfortunately I don't speak Ukrainian but I complimented him on his beautiful church.

Exquisite colour, beautiful religious imagery - perfect for Christmastime.

Ian

Ian, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Our friends had a casual neighbourhood Christmas party on Saturday night and I enjoyed talking with quite a few new people. I got talking with Ian late in the evening about cameras and photography. I may have been introduced to Ian at last year's party, but I don't think we talked very much, so I say it's ok to add Ian to my stranger project. Ian lives across the road from our friends and when I took my camera out, he quickly started to ask me questions about cameras.

When you get keen photographers talking about their hobby (or probably any hobbyist, the time just "flashes" by. Ian used to shoot with a Pentax SLR and is now looking to get a DSLR, so his questions were coming fast and furious on my recommendations and all things photography. He had his eye on the K-5, and from what' I've heard from past Pentax DSLR reviews, this should be a fantastic camera. But Ian may also considering Nikon, so the Nikon D90 is probably a really good buy at the moment. Nikon has released the D7000 (which would be my choice for my next camera), but it's significantly higher priced than the very good D90. But there are rumours the D90 is going to be replaced, so perhaps keen an eye on Nikon Rumours if you're in the market.

Another friend of mine was also involved in the conversation, and when we got on the subject or offboard IR controlled flash, I had him hold the flash to the left side of Ian and I took a few shots to demo the capability. I had the D80's [flash] commander setting at -1 EV for the pop-up and the remote SB-600 for this shot. I really like Ian's natural look, rather than a party pose and smile you often get in these situations.

Waiting

Waiting, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Yoga break

Yoga break, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

A good laugh between old friends

A good laugh between old friends, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Rosewell holiday postcard

Rosewell holiday postcard, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Window ice trees

Window ice trees, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

2 paws and sleepy eyes

2 paws and sleepy eyes, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Lion dart

Lion dart, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Two handed pour

Two handed pour, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Downsview winter red shed

Downsview winter red shed, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Imagine

Imagine, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

John Lennon was born 70 years ago.

The Beatles broke up 40 years ago.

John was killed 30 years ago today.

I can't say I'm a big Beatles or Lennon fan, but I can imagine I could be one day. Q107 has been playing his music all day and I'm still listening to it now. In a strange way, his words, music and ideas still seem very current. I feel like I know him a little better today.

I snapped this shot of a cover of John's Imagine 1971 album on vinyl at HMV at lunch today. I boosted the contrast, applied a fresco filter and took out the labels in Photoshop.

Killing Joke

Killing Joke, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Littlest pet shop collective

Littlest pet shop collective, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Liberty Village bridge and the city

Liberty Village bridge and the city, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Kessel face-off

Kessel face-off, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Ross Petty's annual holiday theatre production at the Elgin Theatre

Ross Petty's annual holiday theatre production at the Elgin Theatre, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Last year my family went to the Elgin to see the Ross Petty holiday show of Robin Hood. We had a fantastic time, fun for all in a holiday tradition close to a British pantomime. This year it's Beauty and the Beast and I'm sure the comedic production will be just as good - get your boos ready !

Woe is...

Woe is..., originally uploaded by PJMixer.

How private is your junk ?

How private is your junk ?, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

As I was packing up to leave the office I noticed a pile of cardboard boxes in one of the hallways of my office. I share the office floor with a number of different companies and knew that there was some new tenants moving in - so I thought of a daily shot on the theme of "moving day". I didn't like my first few hallway shots so I got a little closer and noticed there were a few personal items mixed in with the usual assortment of computer boxes and office junk. As my professional job is IT security I thought I could use a shot to comment a little on privacy and security issues today.

I blurred out the name on the Rogers bill in the photo and didn't go diving in, but wondered what data was on the CD-ROM. As I share the same office and janitorial staff it made me wonder a little about my disposal habits. Although my desk may look otherwise, I don't receive or print of lot of hardcopy documents in my job, and what client files I keep for historical purposes are locked in a cabinet. But investing in a shredder for some sensitive documents that I want to throw out would be a good addition to my security practices. At home, I shred bills and things I feel are of a personal nature. But what about that disc ? I don't back up to CD-ROM any longer and rarely have customer data or information on CD-ROM, but when I do I either keep the media safe or destroy it. Seeing that CD-ROM reminded me a little of the WikiLeaks news hitting the worldwide press this week.

It was past normal working hours and there were only a few people still in their offices. But as luck would have it, as I took this shot, a gentleman appeared in the hallway. I was a little embarrassed and felt like I'd been caught snooping red-handed. Then I learnt that it was his stuff ! Now that was a little more embarrassing. But I quickly introduced myself and explained what I was doing - curious as I was and interested in privacy and security. As he was new to the office, he actually asked me whether disposing of his stuff this way was safe. He told me he was a lawyer and I asked if there was any confidential client information in the mix. He said no and then bent the CD-ROM in half.

Massey Hall's red doors and Jenny Nike

Massey Hall's red doors and Jenny Nike, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

The Red Head and the Court House

The Red Head and the Court House, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Sunday morning evidence of Saturday night boys

Sunday morning evidence of Saturday night boys, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

There were a number of cars on the block that had leaf bags on their roofs and hoods. I thought some relatively harmless fun was worth a photo.

Oil and vinegar with polka dots

Oil and vinegar with polka dots, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

The man and his city

The man and his city, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Taken blind "from the hip".

Dark Downsview drama

Dark Downsview drama, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Domed shop

Domed shop, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Daily emergencies - sky delivery

Daily emergencies - sky delivery, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Helicopters like this one pass by my office window on a daily basis and land on the roofs of nearby hospitals. I've taken a few shots from my office, but there's always reflections in the windows. While I was out for lunch I heard one coming and grabbed this shot of one passing overhead. I knew the shutter speed would stop the rotors, but didn't have time to adjust - in fact there is a some blur left on the rotors that gives it a bit of a ghostly feel.

Since I finished my 365inCamera project, I feel a little more relaxed and spontaneous. Not having to worry about fine tuning the shot in camera feels like it's creating more freedom for my photography.

The monotone sky worked well to isolate the helicopter and detach it from the world. I improved the lighting and sharpness in Photoshop from the RAW image.

Depths of the drug store

Depths of the drug store, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Jam on pavement

Jam on pavement, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Thanks for the extra hand son

Thanks for the extra hand, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Yonge morning man

Yonge morning man, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

was up early to drop our car off at the local garage and noticed the sun shining on the North York towers on the walk back home. I waited for some traffic to clear at the traffic lights where I stood in the middle of the street. My street is just at the first traffic light in the shot. After the shot I walked up the right (East) side of Yonge street and bumped into a neighourhood friend. I just realized his car is actually in the shot - the beautiful Audi S5 turning onto the side street on the East side - he was making his Starbucks morning run. I thought about cropping out the close cars on the left, but I like the wider shot and it looks like the lady driver is looking at the crossing man in her side mirror.

Marketing the classic 80s

Marketing the classic 80s, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

BOOM 97.3FM bus shelter advertising

Windy morning green balloon

Windy morning green balloon, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Heading South from Museum Station

Heading South from Museum Station, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Pigeon-pecked

Pigeon-pecked, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

I thought these feathers friends were hilarious. It looked like the one on the right was female and the one on the left male, but that's only because the way she was going after him ! She wouldn't leave the poor guy alone - don't know if it was aggressive mating or she was giving him a good telling off. He kept trying to avoid her, pacing back and forth and almost fell backwards a few times as she continued to chase and peck he neck ! I could imagine the voices of a an old married couple - "I told you a thousand times, don't got out partying with those idiot friend of yours", "ok, darling, it won't happen again".

Reflecting on the Gladstone band

Reflecting on the Gladstone band, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Oakville versus Toronto and The Queen and Beaver

Oakville versus Toronto and The Queen and Beaver, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Dale, Rehana and Trisha

Dale, Rehana and Trisha, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

At lunchtime, I noticed a large group of people gathered at Yonge Dundas Square. Upon closer inspection, I noticed many of them were in costume from the Harry Potter movies. It was a fan appreciation event with the release of the latest movie next week, they had a few photographers on the roof top getting a shot of all the fans. There were some modest refreshments for the fans, but it looked like the majority of them, including Dale, Rehanna and Trisha, were just happy to be spending a little time with fellow fans.

In addition to my daily photo, Dale, Rehanna and Trisha are #81 in my 100 strangers project.