Rain

June 26, 2011 | Filed Under Personal Project | Leave a Comment 

Another damp west coast day, crossing the Alex Fraser bridge .

Day 7 Early

February 16, 2010 | Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment 

Photographers and skier at Whistler.

I was having trouble last night double checking my schedule which is too bad as I could have gotten in another hour of sleep or so.

We’re heading up to Cypress a little later today and we ae going to get wet again today. It is pouring rain out and it’s certainly not going to be dryer up on the mountain.

We’ve divided into two teams (reporter/photographer for these games) and it’s funny the way things go. So far the other team has got all the good (or at least dry weather) and the events where Canadians have won medals. Grant and I keep getting the rain and our athlete crashing (well out of photo range) and end up out of medal contention.

A few observations. The Olympics seem to have everyone in a good mood, at least in the core area. There’s a noticeable difference on transit from last week. People are smiling and talking to each other far more and it’s all Olympics (well, and weather, but then it’s always weather here).

Sometimes it’s the little details that stand out. Everyone wants to make an good impression on the visitors here for the Olys and then you see something like the bus stop on the West/North Vancouver entrance to the Lions Gate bridge. The media bus was full on a return trip from Whistler and we were slowly merging into traffic so we had a good long look at the bus stop/shelter which was decrepit and had litter scattered all around it and not just a few fresh pieces of paper but old garbage. You think the municipalities would have cleaned up and kept clean all areas along heavily travelled routes. It  just looked bad.

Days 4/5/6

February 15, 2010 | Filed Under 2010 Winter Olympics | Leave a Comment 

Yeah, it’s been a little hectic even though Sunday was a day off.

But I’ll back up a little.

Saturday we were supposed to go to Whistler for the Men’s Downhill. Got up very early and was at the main press centre by 6AM in plenty of time for the 7AM bus to Whistler. My phone rang and I was informed the event had been postponed.  So, finished up some left over photos and sent them and then went back for a couple of hours sleep. Heading downtown again just after ten and another phone call informs me a protest had gone bad and windows were damaged. Shoot those and then some features and then rush back to file before heading up to Cypress Mountain for Women’s Moguls. About a fifty minute ride to Cypress and then a 10 minute slog in the rain to the media centre. We had to be on the course an hour before the event so standing waiting in the rain on a slope, trying to keep your gear dry. Then shoot the qualifier and head back to the media centre to file. Our skiers qualified so back to the course and hour before the final start and then the rain really started to come down. Finally finish feeling fairly damp and rush back to file. Then, head out t catch the media bus back downtown. It’s at least a fifteen minute walk to the pickup point. Not bad when it’s dry but it was pouring, it was the end of the day and I was carrying all my camera and computer gear. Then the bus was late and no shelter so just hug the gear under the umbrella and wait. Home just before midnight.

Sunday sleep in until 9am and then downtown to have a look around, bring cameras just in case. Nice day at least a much better showcase for Vancouver. Then to folks for dinner and  a visit although not before a stop to beef up my rain and winter gear.

Today up before 4AM and Spencer drove me to SFU to catch 4:52 night bus to downtown. On 6AM bus to Whistler for Downhill event (postponed from Saturday). It’s tough shooting different events every day as every venue is different so you have to figure everything out all over again. On course just after 9:30 for 10:30 start. All goes well until our main guy Robbie Dixon crashed high up the hill so no images except for presser later. On a more positive note, it was dry!!!!!!!!!

Now it’s almost 8PM and I’m still at the main press centre and have to be up at 5AM to catch all my transit to be up at Cypress tomorrow for snow cross.

A couple favourite pix so far posted. Remember more images being posted at:

http://www.bclocalnews.com/olympics

Dark Image For A Dark Day

January 13, 2010 | Filed Under Landscape, Photography | Leave a Comment 

New Year’s Eve Road Trip

January 4, 2009 | Filed Under Landscape, Photography, Road Trip | Leave a Comment 

A leisurely drive out to Jordan River on New Year’s Eve day. Some snow but mainly low dark clouds and rain. Beautiful west coast weather, if you like that sort of thing, and I do.

Sooke gas station

Coopers Cove

Trees in logged area near Jordan River

Sunken boat in Sooke at government docks

Highway at Jordan River from the site of Shakies, the surfer cafe now closed. You can however, now get a great cup of coffee just at the other end of town at the small cafe right on the curve as you head towards Sombrio.