I just got back from Paris, France after a week of great photo taking. It was beautiful spring weather for almost the whole time we were there. Here’s a few samples, and I’ve quickly put up a small gallery on my website in the Paris, France gallery. I’ll put more galleries up shortly.

Effiel Tower at night

Evening by the Notre Dame

Louvre Pyramid at night

Library of Parliament, Ottawa

View of the ‘Gazebo’ behind Parliament, Ottawa

Stairs leading to the Library of Parliament, Ottawa

I finally had a bit of time today to get out and try my new Nikon 24mm Tilt/Shift lens! My main interest in the tilt/shift is more for landscape shots and using the tilt mechanism to greatly increase the depth of field, but here in “endless winter” Ottawa, no flowers had shown up yet, so that will have to wait a few weeks.

But a tilt/shift lens is great for architecture photography as well, as it helps eliminate the ‘converging lines’ problem when taking pictures of tall buildings. And here in Ottawa we have a great tall building – Parliament. Unfortunately, it seems today there was a large pro-China rally on the hill, and every Chinese person in Ottawa was there, so I just took a few pictures and left.

The first picture is of Parliament with the camera level with the horizon, and shifted to fit in the tower. The second is with no shift, but pointed upwards to include the building.

using Nikon 24mm Tilt/Shift – level with horizon and shifted

using Nikon 24mm Tilt/Shift – not using the shift mechanism, pointed upwards to include the tower

Here’s a few shots of the Library of Parliament.

Nikon 24mm Tilt/Shift using shift mechanism and level with horizon

Nikon 24mm Tilt/Shift – no shift, angled upwards

Nikon 24mm Tilt/Shift with no shift, level with the horizon

A few weeks ago I spent an afternoon at the Morris Island Conservation Area, near Fitzroy Harbour.

Along the Jack Pine trail in the Ottawa greenbelt, there are lots of chickadees, some that will even eat seeds out of your hand.

I’ve recently been using my Nikon 85mm f/1.4 lens more, and I absolutely love the pictures that come out with this lens. The colour and contrast is absolutely fantastic.

I was playing around with taking pictures directly into the sun. I used a 3-stop ND filter to allow the ground to be exposed better.

Last weekend was beautiful and I had a chance to get out and wander around Gatineau Park once last time before all leaves disappear.

this dam/bridge was severely damaged in a flood in 1996 and was later restored.

Fountain in Quebec City Just in front of the Quebec Legislature, they’ve recently installed a beautiful fountain – something you might see in Paris or some other European city. It’s a beautiful sight at night time.

Some pine along the Bruce Pit park in Ottawa

Sunset along the Saguenay River