Clip N Climb Battle

Today's shot for the "Photo a Day" project is called Clip N Climb Battle


Exif Data
Camera: Canon 5D mkII
Aperture: f/4.5
Exposure: 1/200
Focal Length: 85mm
Flash: Not-Fired
ISO: 1600
Post processing included conversion from RAW, cropped, and unsharp-mask

House Finch

Today's shot for the "Photo a Day" project is called House Finch


Exif Data
Camera: Canon 5D mkII
Aperture: f/11.0
Exposure: 1/320
Focal Length: 200mm with 2X TC (400mm)
Flash: Not-Fired
ISO: 800
Post processing included conversion from RAW, cropped, levels adjustment, and unsharp-mask

So Much For An Early Spring

Today's shot for the "Photo a Day" project is called So Much For An Early Spring. Man am I ever glad that my camera body and lenses are weather sealed! After standing outside in this snow storm today for about 30 minutes I was completely covered in at least a few inches of snow, and my gear had a good lot of it as well. Even though I know my equipment is weather sealed and can handle a bit of snow, I still try to keep it covered as much as possible. That was difficult today! I guess it is still February, so we can not complain too much.


Exif Data
Camera: Canon 5D mkII
Aperture: f/11.0
Exposure: 1/500
Focal Length: 72.5mm with 2X TC (145mm)
Flash: Not-Fired
ISO: 800
Post processing included conversion from RAW, and levels adjustment

So That's What Those Signs Are For

Today's shot for the "Photo a Day" project is called So That's What Those Signs Are For. If you walk along the Ottawa river bike path, you may have noticed these arrows in every other tree. I guess they tell the woodpeckers where the good stuff is! Ha Ha!


Exif Data
Camera: Canon 5D mkII
Aperture: f/2.0
Exposure: 1/2500
Focal Length: 85mm
Flash: Not-Fired
ISO: 125
Post processing included conversion from RAW, levels adjustment, and unsharp-mask

Ripples

Today's shot for the "Photo a Day" project is called Ripples


Exif Data
Camera: Canon 5D mkII
Aperture: f/9.0
Exposure: 1/125
Focal Length: 200mm
Flash: Not-Fired
ISO: 200
Post processing included conversion from RAW

Heating Coil

Today's shot for the "Photo a Day" project is called Heating Coil. Yes, I used a Blackberry Playbook to take this shot. Honestly, the camera in the playbook is not very good, but for an instagram/iponeography simple shot as this it works well enough! Just don't expect it to work some sort of magic!


Exif Data
Camera: Blackberry Playbook
Aperture: f/2.8
Exposure: 1/15
Focal Length: Unknown
Flash: None
ISO: Unknown
Post processing included cropping, contrast adjustment, unsharp-mask, added noise, convert to black and white, and added texture

Beginning Buds

Today's shot for the "Photo a Day" project is called Beginning Buds


Exif Data
Camera: Canon 5D mkII
Aperture: f/1250
Exposure: 1/4.0
Focal Length: 105mm
Flash: Not-Fired
ISO: 200
Post processing included conversion from RAW, cropped, levels adjustment, and unsharp-mask

Ottawa Nights

Today's shot for the "Photo a Day" project is called Ottawa Nights


Exif Data
Camera: Canon 5D mkII
Aperture: f/18.0
Exposure: 15sec
Focal Length: 65mm
Flash: Not-Fired
ISO: 200
Tripod
Post processing included conversion from RAW, healing tool, and unsharp-mask

Shadows

Today's shot for the "Photo a Day" project is called Shadows


Exif Data
Camera: Canon 5D mkII
Aperture: f/14.0
Exposure: 1/200
Focal Length: 24mm
Flash: Not-Fired
ISO: 200
Circular Polarizer
Post processing included conversion from RAW, contrast adjustment, convert to black and white, and unsharp-mask

National Gallery of Canada Symmetry

Today's shot for the "Photo a Day" project is called National Gallery of Canada Symmetry


Exif Data
Camera: Canon 5D mkII
Aperture: f/14.0
Exposure: 20sec
Focal Length: 28mm
Flash: Not-Fired
ISO: 200
Post processing included conversion from RAW, cropped, levels adjustment, and unsharp-mask

Man Made Tree vs. Nature

Today's shot for the "Photo a Day" project is called Man Made Tree vs. Nature


Exif Data
Camera: Canon 5D mkII
Aperture: f/13.0
Exposure: 15sec
Focal Length: 47mm
Flash: Not-Fired
ISO: 400
Tripod
Post processing included conversion from RAW, cropped, and unsharp-mask

Alexandra Bridge

Today's shot for the "Photo a Day" project is called Alexandra Bridge


Exif Data
Camera: Canon 5D mkII
Aperture: f/18.0
Exposure: 30sec
Focal Length: 28mm
Flash: Not-Fired
ISO: 200
Tripod
Post processing included conversion from RAW, cropped, and unsharp-mask

I've Still Got My Leaves

Today's shot for the "Photo a Day" project is called I've Still Got My Leaves


Exif Data
Camera: Canon 5D mkII
Aperture: f/9.0
Exposure: 1/200
Focal Length: 40mm
Flash: Not-Fired
ISO: 125
Circular Polarizer
Post processing included conversion from RAW, levels adjustment, contrast adjustment, healing tool, and unsharp-mask

Lost and Found

Today's shot for the "Photo a Day" project is called Lost and Found


Exif Data
Camera: Canon 5D mkII
Aperture: f/2.0
Exposure: 1/3200
Focal Length: 85mm
Flash: Not-Fired
ISO: 125
Post processing included conversion from RAW, levels adjustment, healing tool, and unsharp-mask

Orange Rose

Two shots today for the "Photo a Day" project, and they are called Orange Rose. I think I like the first shot the best, but the second one is also quite nice so I decided to post them both.



Exif Data
Camera: Canon 5D mkII
Aperture: f/6.3 & 7.1
Exposure: 1/80 & 1/60
Focal Length: 50mm
Extension Tubes: 20mm & 32mm
Flash: Not-Fired
ISO: 640 & 800
Rotolight on tripod with 1/2 CTO gel
Post processing included conversion from RAW

Heart Flower

Today's shot for the "Photo a Day" project is called Heart Flower


Exif Data
Camera: Canon Powershot G7
Aperture: f/2.8
Exposure: 1/60
Focal Length: 35mm
Flash: Not-Fired
ISO: 100
Post processing included cropped, rounded corners, healing tool, and S-Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2 L USM

Today's shots for the "Photo a Day" project are called Canon EF 85mm f/1.2 L USM. As an added bonus, I've also included a mini review of the lens after the photos.




This is the latest addition to my lens lineup, and I have to say it is one fantastic lens. It is extremely sharp wide open, and gets beyond tack sharp at around f/2.0, but of course one doesn't buy this kind of lens and use it at anything other then wide open. At f/1.2 and with a relatively low ISO value you can get quite usable shots in very low light situations, where you would probably not be able to even get a shot with a slower aperture lens. This lens however is most suited for portrait photography, and was my main reason in purchasing it. Wide open, this lens produces a fantastic background blur (bokeh) which really makes the subject pop out of the shot. I find that the 85mm is the perfect focal length for anything from a 3/4 length to a tight headshot portrait on the full frame Canon 5D mkII camera.

This is the mark I version of this lens, so it does have a pretty slow focusing speed, however I have not had any major issues with this since I do not plan on using it to try and shoot any fast action sports anyway. That's just not what it was designed for. Shooting fast moving children can be a bit trickier with this lens, since it's focus speed is a tad slow for that, but I still have obtained some decent results even in situations like that. Although, for that particular situation I would rather use one of my other lenses which is better suited to the task anyway.

Interestingly, this is the only lens I have ever used that requires it to be on a camera and powered on in order to be able to manually focus. Yes, it has full time manual focus, even when in autofocus mode, however the motor inside which moves the focusing elements requires power to do so, even manually! Although this is not a big issue, it does take some getting used to and remembering to focus to infinity before shutting off the camera. This is because the front barrel does extend a bit during focusing (but does not rotate), and I like to keep it all the way in before packing it away.

It's quite heavy, coming in at 2 lbs, but I find that I actually really like heavier lenses. The lens hood is a clip on type, which rotates freely, but it's completely round anyway so that really does not matter. It also comes with canon's usual leather lens bag.

In any job, it's all about the right tool for the trade. If you are looking for the right tool for semi-stationary subjects and portraits, and want a dreamy silky smooth bokeh, look no further than the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2 L USM lens.

Portugal Part 2

Still sick, so here are a few more shots from that trip to Portugal.







Exif Data
Camera: Canon Powershot G7

Portugal

I have been sick the past few days, so it has been hard to get out and take shots recently. Today was by far the worst day of my cold, and as such I did not get a chance to shoot anything. So instead I bring you a few shots from a trip I had taken to Portugal a few years ago. It was a fantastic trip, and I hope to go back soon!







Exif Data
Camera: Canon Powershot G7

Baked Golden Brown

Today's shot for the "Photo a Day" project is called Baked Golden Brown


Exif Data
Camera: Canon 5D mkII
Aperture: f/1.2
Exposure: 1/200
Focal Length: 85mm
Flash: Not-Fired
ISO: 500
Post processing included conversion from RAW, cropped, and levels adjustment

Engineered For Power

Today's shot for the "Photo a Day" project is called Engineered For Power


Exif Data
Camera: Canon 5D mkII
Aperture: f/1.2
Exposure: 1/125
Focal Length: 85mm
Extension Tube: 12mm
Flash: Not-Fired
ISO: 3200
Post processing included conversion from RAW

Weathered

Today's shot for the "Photo a Day" project is called Weathered


Exif Data
Camera: Canon 5D mkII
Aperture: f/7.1
Exposure: 1/250
Focal Length: 170mm
Flash: Not-Fired
ISO: 320
Post processing included conversion from RAW, cropped, levels adjustment, contrast adjustment, healing/cloning tools, and unsharp-mask

What Are You Looking At

Today's shot for the "Photo a Day" project is called What Are You Looking At


Exif Data
Camera: Canon 5D mkII
Aperture: f/9.0
Exposure: 1/320
Focal Length: 200mm with 2X TC (400mm)
Flash: Not-Fired
ISO: 1000
Post processing included conversion from RAW, levels adjustment, and unsharp-mask

Candles In The Night

Today's shot for the "Photo a Day" project is called Candles In The Night


Exif Data
Camera: Canon 5D mkII
Aperture: f/2.8
Exposure: 1/100
Focal Length: 110mm
Flash: Not-Fired
ISO: 250
Post processing included conversion from RAW

Electrohome Stereo

Today's shot for the "Photo a Day" project is called Electrohome Stereo


Exif Data
Camera: Canon 5D mkII
Aperture: f/2.0
Exposure: 1/200
Focal Length: 85mm
Flash: Fired Off Camera (E-TTL)
ISO: 250
Post processing included conversion from RAW

Abstract Macro #4

Today's shot for the "Photo a Day" project is called Abstract Macro #4


Exif Data
Camera: Canon 5D mkII
Aperture: f/10.0
Exposure: 1/160
Focal Length: 85mm
Extension Tube: 36mm
Flash: Fired Off Camera (E-TTL)
ISO: 500
Tripod
Flash Cord
Post processing included

Lonely Tree

Today's shot for the "Photo a Day" project is called Lonely Tree


Exif Data
Camera: Canon 5D mkII
Aperture: f/5.0
Exposure: 1/640
Focal Length: 50mm
Flash: Not-Fired
ISO: 100
Post processing included conversion from RAW, levels adjustment, and cropped 16x9

Random Find

Today's shot for the "Photo a Day" project is called Random Find. I saw this hanging in a bush while on a walk the other day. I have no idea what it is or what it's doing there, but I guess someone must have put it there for some reason.


Exif Data
Camera: Canon Digital Rebel XTi
Aperture: f/8.0
Exposure: 1/250
Focal Length: 78mm
Flash: Not-Fired
ISO: 200
Post processing included conversion from RAW, levels adjustment, and unsharp-mask

Fabulous Blur

Today's shot for the "Photo a Day" project is called Fabulous Blur. I was playing with my new lens, and of course I had to use my favourite subject! The Canon EF 85mm f1.2 L USM lens is absolutely fantastic in low light, and creates such a wonderful background blur (AKA: bokeh)! To me, this shot is fabulous in so many ways!


Exif Data
Camera: Canon 5D mkII
Aperture: f/1.2
Exposure: 1/100
Focal Length: 85mm
Flash: Not-Fired
ISO: 640
Post processing included conversion from RAW, levels adjustment, and colour adjustment