Keeping memories alive

Keeping memories alive - #290/365, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Just as much as my wife enjoys photo scrapbooking, she loves spending time looking at old photos and scrapbooks. That is the big reason most people take photographs, but so many of us file the photos and memorabilia away and never spend the time enjoying them again. One of the factors is the sheer number of photos we now take with the ease-of-use of digital photography. I'm probably guilty of this and although I save a vast majority of photos I take, I only publish the very best. For me, photos like this one, helps me tell a story.

Kids' driveway tennis photo break

Kids' driveway tennis photo break - #288/365, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Although my kids partake a lots of organized sports, simple make-do games around the house can keep them entertained for hours. Who needs centre court at Wimbledon when you have a small, sloped driveway in the front of your house, some chalk and two enthusiastic kids. I lay down on my back and had the kids stand over me for a more unusual point-of-view.

High stepping at Wasaga Beach

High stepping at Wasaga Beach - #289/365, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

I love running into the water, trying not to fall down too quickly and end with a refreshing shallow dive and splash ! I'm happy to say my kids are in agreement - simple games in the water are lots of fun, not to mention it's a great workout.

Kim Churchill, Buskerfest

Kim Churchill, Buskerfest - #287/365, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

It was the first year I made the time to go to Buskerfest on Front Street. Although the crowds and heat were tiring, I had a great time with my family and was really impressed by the quality of the entertainment. Kim is from Australia and had rigged his guitar with extra pickups and learnt to get drum sounds out of the guitar body...mix in some down home lyrics and you've gone one fantastic one man band.

This shot was a little tricky as it was such a bright day and he was in the shade under a tent. I used center weighted metering and added .3 EV to bring up the exposure.

2 minutes for tree tripping

2 minutes for tree tripping - #286/365, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

I was taking a variety of angles of these trees in my back yard while the evening lighting was just right. I took a shot of an old hockey stick close to the tree and thought it would spin the shot into something with some humour as the tree trunks looked like legs when I spun the camera around. I tried a few different compositions as the light was fading and grabbed this one and just had to invert the image to create this unusual back yard shot.

Walk home towers

Walk home towers - #285/365, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

A quick shot of a few office towers walking home from the subway station. As with many architectural shots, it's often important to make sure vertical or horizontal lines are aligned nicely, so I was pretty happy here that I got it spot one without any post-editing. As summer winds down, I'm trying to take advantage of those "golden hours" after work.

Brandon Flowers @ the Mod Club

Brandon Flowers @ the Mod Club - #284/365, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

My wife wons tickets to Brandon Flowers' buzz gig at the Mod Club and she got us nice a close to see the Killers' lead sing his new solo material. As usual, DSLRs were not allowed so I had to take my chances with the Fuji point-and-shoot. This shot turned out quite nicely with the brighter spot light and Brandon show much he was enjoying his own gig in a small venue.