A quick exercise photographing "reflections".
Materials: mirror, led flashlight, fishbowl, water, ornamental diamonds.  
Lens: 100mm

As with everything in life, there's always more to learn.  Certainly, this is true in photography and I am eager to keep filling my toolbox of photographic skills to be able to capture shots that I envision.  And with the gentle nudge (or perhaps friendly shove) of a deadline approaching for night photographs, I have been working in the land of darkness, playing with light and composition.  

I like to sketch out ideas, even if they seem rather difficult to accomplish.  Much growth happens when we push ourselves to try new things and experiment.  And as I brainstormed ideas for night photography I knew that I wanted to try some things with low shutter speeds and trails of light, especially light painting.  Then, on a fun filled night this past week, the opportunity presented itself (thanks Katinka and Travis for taking me on a photographic adventure!)  We were waiting, in the wee hours of the morning, for passing motorists so we could capture the long red lines of their taillights racing by.  And then, it occurred to me, that I didn't have to wait for a car to come along, I could make one!  I shrieked with glee at the result and have begun to work on the rest of the ideas I have sketched out.  Here are a couple that I will share for now, as well as other shots from the night of this month's full moon.  

Last week the Wood Buffalo Photography Club was granted access to visit the historic Bitumount oilsands mine site north of the city.  I love field trips!  What an interesting, and rather haunting place to explore - memories and methods of days long gone.