POTD – Color vs. B&W

Its always interesting to see just hwo different the effect is of photographing something in color vs. Black & White. Here are two interpretations of the same view.

POTD – More fireworks pics

These pictures and the one in the previous post were all taken with the new Canon G9. Much as I hate the ergonomics of the camera, it does produce pretty good results and adapts very easily to changing light conditions. All views are from the daughter’s condo balcony. ALL IMAGES HAND-HELD!!!

Dusk approaches

Rooftops

“Fujitsu Air Conditioner – Or No Sex This Summer”

First fireworks

Fifty whacks

The Montreal Grand Prix was held a few weeks ago and just as it was about to begin I remember reading an editorial in the Gazette questioning whether or not it was even appropriate for Montreal to be hosting an event that, for three days, spewed so much burnt high-test fuel into our air.

Yesterday, we attended South Korea’s spectacular display at the Montreal International Fireworks Festival, watching it from archaeologist-daughter’s apartment, whose balcony faces the Jacques-Cartier bridge where the events are held. The fireworks festival runs, I think, for ten consecutive week-ends, with a different country represented each Saturday night. While the magnificent display unfolded before our eyes, I also noticed a thick pall of black smoke settling on the surrounding area and crowd. Each fireworks display lasts for exactly 30 minutes, and the amount of “pollution” produced appears to be substantial. In fact, I will stick my neck out here and bet that there is more carbon-load in a single such fireworks display, than produced by all the high-tech engines in any given Grand Prix (after all, those cars are designed to use fuel very efficiently since stopping to refuel means losing precious seconds).

Surprisingly…no editorials about pollution from the fireworks festival and its appropriateness in the new age of environmental consciousness. It struck me last night that its easy to criticize the other man’s vice when you don’t happen to share it! There’s an old Greek saying that “Fifty whacks on someone else’s back are completely painless”.