2021-09: The Uptick
From a seasonal perspective, one might expect things to begin slowing down as Summer merges into Autumn. Canadian society, however, breaks with that inclination. September sees the start of the school year, and from that many other facets of life take their cue. The lazy days on the beach give way to an industrious burst of activity.
This "Spread Love" sign has been scrawled on a hoarding wall at a construction site. The location will eventually house the office of the firm where I work. For now, it's just a big hole in the ground. Construction is underway, though, so perhaps by this time next year my commute will have a new destination. Here's hoping we hold true to the graffiti!
Olympus E-PL9: f3.5, 1/250 sec, ISO 400
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
I came across these in the Public Gardens. I find their shapes mesmerizing. I'm not entirely sure what plant they're from, nor even what they are. To be honest, I find them reminiscent of the renderings of a coronavirus that seem to be everywhere these days.
[ Post-posting note: My sister looked into the plant, and believes it to be a species of dogwood known as the Himalayan Strawberry-Tree. ]
Olympus E-PL9: f6.3, 1/250 sec, ISO 6400
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
Quite frankly, this tree mystifies me. Or, rather, the brickwork built into it mystifies me. Is it for structural support? Was someone extremely adamant that no critters move in? It must have taken a fair bit of effort to do the job; I wonder what sort of reaction the worker got!
Olympus E-PL9: f5, 1/500 sec, ISO 800
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
The last federal election was only two years ago, but we found ourselves back at the polls. It had produced a minority government for the Liberals. They opted to snap an election in the hopes of gaining a majority, claiming that Canadians should decide what government should lead us into what will hopefully be a post-pandemic recovery phase. It turns out Canadians want the same government as the last one - the results were extremely similar to the last election.
Olympus E-PL9: f5.6, 1/400 sec, ISO 200
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
Here's a shot of Halifax's iconic clocktower, taken from Citadel Hill. I figure everybody takes a photo of it from below, so I ought to try getting it from above. I must say, the results are less enticing than I had hoped they would be. Perhaps if I go farther up the hill next time...
Olympus E-PL9: f5, 4 secs, ISO 200
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
On Sunday September 19th I went for an extended walk around the Northwest Arm to Sir Sandford Fleming Park. Looking back over the Arm from the park, one can see some of the ritziest houses in Halifax. While I believe that's what this place is, I can hardly comprehend why anyone would ever need such an ostentatious place. It looks large enough to be a public library and suave enough to be the lair of some supervillain.
Olympus E-PL9: f7.1, 1/640 sec, ISO 200
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
The centrepiece of the park is the Memorial Tower, which celebrates Confederation. It is guarded by a set of stone lions. On the pedestals supporting them are signs reading, "For your personal safety, and the safety of the Lions, please do not climb".
Olympus E-PL9: f7.1, 1/640 sec, ISO 200
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
I was rather unimpressed with the infrastructure leading to the park. The entrance sign is on a main road, complete with a bus stop, but past it the sidewalk runs out. Pedestrians are left to hope that the vehicular traffic to and from the park avoids them. On my return, I managed to find a path which leads through a forest to a senior citizen's home about halfway between the park and the Armdale Rotary. It was scenic and pleasantly filled with mushrooms and mosses rather than oncoming cars.
Olympus E-PL9: f5.6, 1/320 sec, ISO 640
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
Olympus E-PL9: f4.5, 1/250 sec, ISO 2500
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
To close off the photos from my walk, I have one taken near the Rotary, looking across the Northwest Arm to the Halifax Peninsula. On the centre-left of the horizon a flat-topped steeple is visible. That is First Baptist Church of Halifax. Its choir began meeting in September, and a friend of mine introduced me to the choir director and exhorted me to join. It's a fine choir.
Olympus E-PL9: f7.1, 1/800 sec, ISO 200
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
My office was scheduled to go on a harbour cruise earlier in the year, but a mechanical fault with the boat left us high and dry. After the vessel was repaired, we squeaked in our Summer party at the very end of the season. The next few photos are from our sightseeing shindig. We were blessed with a fairly clear day with tendrils of fog on the far side.
Olympus E-PL9: f7.1, 1/640 sec, ISO 200
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
Next up is my favourite picture of the month. I took it as we passed beneath the MacDonald Bridge and entered the Bedford Basin. I love how the crossing seems to stretch into the low-lying clouds.
Olympus E-PL9: f6.3, 1/500 sec, ISO 200
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
I did my best to capture this sunning cormorant. The bird was moving, the boat was moving, my arm was moving, I was distracted as I talked with a coworker, and I had the camera lens at full zoom... So, the focus is not as sharp as I would have liked! Still, the lighting is fantastic.
Olympus E-PL9: f6.3, 1/1600 sec, ISO 1000
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
As the cruise ended, we passed by Purdy's Wharf. Its office towers are local landmarks. I like the design at their corners. In another city, perhaps they would have been made taller or thinner, but until recently Halifax was extremely picky about its maximum building heights. Thus, we end up with the stout towers that seem (to me, anyway!) to reflect the special combination of pragmatic and subtle flair which characterizes Nova Scotians.
Olympus E-PL9: f6.3, 1/800 sec, ISO 200
IrfanView: Crop, Colour
I've saved the best for last. Not my best photo (That goes to the bridge one above), but perhaps the best part of the swelling swirl of September. After years of saying I would someday go to a climbing gym, I finally did! On top of that, it is all the fun and challenge I had hoped it would be. This quick phone-camera shot shows my very first route, the purple holds in the centre column.
