A couple of months ago, I went back at using Flickr , most certainly the reference on the Internet for posting your photographic creations.

One of the main reason why I love Flickr, it is the feedbacks. I get tons of it, from other photographs, it is so stimulating!

Recently I found Flickriver, a tool that presents my collection of pictures on Flickr as a compilation based on their popularity. The users decide!

So here are my bests, just click on the images below to see the compilation :

Flickriver badge:

If there were one thing that was a pain in the “bip bip” this year, it was the unusual amount of wasps in the Montreal region.

I recall one meeting in the old Montreal, on the terrasse (on the roof) of the Nelson Hotel, while sipping a 10$ mojito, I was attack by the little beasts. The poor people who ordered a pink martini, was a whole lot worse for them…

A few weeks ago, as the leaves started to fall, I found this nasty nest.

Now I do understand why they were so many: have you seen the size of this thing? Unreal…

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/750
Aperture : f/9.5
ISO: 800
Focal length : 300 mm (450 en DX)
Aperture, Topaz Denoise and Detail, Nik Color Efex pro

I just hope they will be more “discrete” in 2010…

François Meehan

I am really happy that I did not miss the “fall colors” season.

What a great moment for photography.

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/500
Aperture : f/5.6
ISO: 200
Focal Length : 300 mm (450 en DX)
Aperture, Topaz Denoise, Nik Color Efex pro

Just have to be at a good spot, and find or wait for the right light.

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/500
Aperture : f/5.6
ISO: 200
Focal Length : 220 mm (330 en DX)
Aperture, Topaz Denoise, Nik Color Efex pro and Photoshop Elements

Too bad, there are less and less locations on our island (Ile-Perrot) where the nature is still present. Savage construction is rapidly gobbling up what is left of wilderness here.

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/750
Aperture : f/5.6
ISO: 200
Focal Length : 240 mm (360 en DX)
Aperture, Topaz Denoise, Nik Color Efex pro

So, we must immortalize these locations before it is too late.

More to come…

François Meehan

I dedicate this blog post to all my friends with whom I played the game this year…

Was this the last round of the year?

It certainly was a special day. 5 degrees outside. Scrappy winds, as a results we were alone on the course: no ones ahead, no ones in the back, we can take it smooth.

The Glengarry Golf and Country Club, is located at Alexandria en Ontario, near Québec’s borders.

We had a good supply of carts but decided to walk anyway…

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/500
Aperture : f/9.5
ISO: 400
Focal length : 50 mm (75 en DX)
Aperture, Topaz Denoise, Nik Color Efex pro

The course with the fall colors, couldn’t be more beautiful. I took advantage of the conditions to take some shots after being granted permission by the marshall.

In order to avoid slowing our game, I took only one lense with me: my faithful 50mm 1.8. These pictures should be looked at once again next January, and I known I will have a little tear in my eyes then…

Here is hole no. 9, a nice par 3.

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/180
Aperture : f/16
ISO: 400
Focal length : 50 mm (75 en DX)
Aperture, Topaz Denoise, Nik Color Efex pro

The startup of hole no. 12.

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/180
Aperture : f/16
ISO: 400
Focal length : 50 mm (75 en DX)
Aperture, Topaz Denoise, Nik Color Efex pro

The wind was so fierce, it messed up my hairs! Trash cans on the course took a beating.

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/180
Aperture : f/16
ISO: 400
Focal length : 50 mm (75 en DX)
Aperture, Topaz Denoise, Nik Color Efex pro

And the 18th,

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/250
Aperture : f/16
ISO: 400
Focal length : 50 mm (75 en DX)
Aperture, Topaz Denoise, Nik Color Efex pro

My clubs are still in the trunk of my car, for how long?

François Meehan

2 weeks ago, while returning from Franklin, I had a little moment “lost in the ether”.

Instead of driving the 20 toward Ile-Perrot, I often take the little road along the canal Soulange, and when doing so, I pass trough the village of Coteau-du-lac.

Slowing making our way in the village, I spot in the corner of my eye a huge pothole, spreading almost halfway the length of the road.

I keep driving until the next stop, then in my head, I see the pothole and the mailboxes, time get suspended, it rings in my head: “photo alert”!

Lise, shout at me a “what are you doing?” that could not be missed, other cars were approaching from behind.

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/20
Aperture : f/9.5
ISO: 400
Focale length: 50mm (75 en DX)
Aperture (Photomatix plugin), Topaz Denoise 3 and Detail

I step out of my daydreaming, turn in the next house’s driveway and return back to the pothole.

We are late in the afternoon, the light is georgous but it was a bit “rock & roll” to make the pictures. Laying close to the ground, the cars (let me tell you they drive like crazy out there!) were passing close to me, really close.

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/30
Aperture : f/9.5
ISO: 400
Focale length: 50mm (75 en DX)
Aperture(Photomatix plugin), Topaz Denoise 3 and Detail

All done in 5 minutes.

I went back to this village a week after, the “shot” was gone…

François Meehan

After our short stop at Huntington, we hit the road to Franklin, close to the U.S. border.

Once arrived at the village, while driving on the 202, we saw a sign announcing: La pommeraie du Suroît, a charming place were they produce an excellent Ice Cider.

Tasting session in a beautiful old house, I bought one bottle of their lovely “liquor” and on our way out, one of the tenant, as he saw my camera, suggested that we took a little walk on an adjacent trail, bordered by stone fences. Sounds good to me!

I took the first shot with the Lensbaby composer.

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/90
Aperture : f/5.6
ISO: 200
Focal length : 50mm (Lensbaby Composer)
Aperture, Topaz Denoise 3 and Nik ColorEfex Pro.

The other two pictures with taken with the HDR technique using my 50 mm lens.

Going up…

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/60
Aperture : f/9.5
ISO: 400
Focal length : 50mm (75 in DX)
Aperture, Photomatix pro, Topaz Denoise 3 and Nik ColorEfex Pro.

Going down…

Nikon D90
Exposure : 1/60
Aperture : f/9.5
ISO: 400
Focal length : 50mm (75 in DX)
Aperture, Photomatix pro, Topaz Denoise 3 and Nik ColorEfex Pro.

Forgot to mention, the Ice cider from La pommeraie du Suroît is simply delicious!

François Meehan

From time to time, I use a “point and shoot” camera, I have a Canon PowerShot SD870IS, “only” 8 megapixel, so limited compared to my Nikon D90 but so handy to carry around.

During the last Montreal Podcamp, at lunch time I took the opportunity to wander around St-Denis street. I found this superb pear core, bathing in a beautiful light.

Of course, the previous owner left it there for artistic purposes…

Canon SD870 IS
Exposure : 1/200
Aperture : f/8
ISO: 80
Focal length : 4.6 mm (reporte by the Exif data, weird…)
Aperture, Topaz Denoise 3 and Nik color Efx pro 3.

I really believe this saying: “The best camera is the one you have with you”

Note to Santa, I would really like a Canon G10 for Christmas…

François Meehan

The beautiful colors of fall never lasted too long, must shoot them while they pass, otherwise…

We went down to Huntington, a nice little town South-West of Valleyfield.

** Don’t forget to click on the picture to see them in higher resolution.

The Chateauguay river passthrough the town. all picture taken at the same location.

With such a beautiful light, I was able to take the all pictures at ISO 200, and very small aperture (f22-37).

Little note: while shooting these images, we were savoring a fantastic poutine from Leblanc Patate .

And now “en route” to Franklin.

François Meehan

What a bad Saturday we had, two weeks ago that is… So in need of a photo fix , it was cold, it was raining…

Had to hit the road, ended up in our nice village of Notre-Dame-de-l’Ile-Perrot. Decided to go to see a unique church over there. The main doors were unlocked, 2 guys from a “carpet renting” company, were taking back their carpet to take it to another “carpet needed place”. (No Joking this is true and who would joke in a church anyway…).

As always, the church was just superb. I was going enjoy myself today: HDR shots from the interior. With a charming version of my smile, the Lady at the Sachristie gave me permission to use my camera.

I went directly to the 2nd floor, set the tripod, here we go…

** Don’t forget to click on the picture to see it in its full size…

Nikon D90
Exposition : 1.5 sec base, HDR ( even, +2, -2)
Ouverture : f/22
ISO: 200
Longueur focale : 18 mm (27 DX)
Aperture, Photomatix HDR, Topaz Denoise et Detail, Nik SilverEfx pro et Picturesque

It is a very nice church, a week prior, we went there with my brothers in law. One of the volunteers on site, explained to us, that people around the world come here to get married.

The next picture was taken with a Nikkor 50 mm, 1.8.

For more information on this beautiful church:

Panoramio

Nikon D90
Exposition : 1.5 sec base, HDR ( even, +2, -2)
Ouverture : f/22
ISO: 200
Longueur focale : 50 mm (75 DX)
Aperture, Photomatix HDR, Topaz Denoise et Detail, Nik SilverEfx pro et Picturesque

François Meehan