My team, The Vistachios and I have been working hard on growing moustaches, some are sporting better staches than others but we are all doing it for a good cause in support of Prostate Cancer. We are at the half way point of this journey now and I am hoping that I may ask for the support of those who browse my blog. This is the first time I have showed up on my own blog. Rare occasion that a photo is captured of me.

Donations can be made at the following location,
Vistachios Movember Page : Derek Shanks

Your generous support will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

From left to right : Derek Shanks, Jeffrey Segall, Brian Reardon, Mike Avraam
Photo Credit : Gary Goldberg 

On this day of Remembrance I could have chosen the usual poppy, cenotaph or remembrance ceremony and I recalled this photograph which brought to memory how much weight the war veterans had on their shoulders, the losses, the tears and the sweat from their energy to forge ahead and build our future.

These veterans had to grow up and mature far faster than any of us today. Losing your friends, leaders and family members in a blink of an eye is something most of us can’t fathom. Then they regrouped and found the strength to keep fighting on for the freedom we enjoy today. As in the past we still carry the burden to uphold and protect that freedom as we remember the fallen who bravely battled for our country and to protect the homelands and rights of others.

In memory of my grandfather
Sgt. Harold Joseph Shanks
of the
West Nova Scotia Regiment
Killed in action September the 8th, 1943

Timing is everything to complete a shot, at this point on a Tuesday afternoon at 3:44pm a seagull took flight in the path of my lens. It finally completed the shot that I had been working on for a long time over the last year. I have come back to this location on numerous occasions attempting different angles, compositions and techniques. Now I have 3:44 added to the collection thanks to my seagull friend soaring high above.

The voyage of three navigate the calm waters of Lake Ontario on a scorching hot day in Toronto. This was the half way point of a very long walk in Tommy Thompson Park or once known as Leslie Spit. Now that winter is nearing I will be going back through the archives of images that I put on the to do list of editing and conversion.

Underneath the contemporary architecture of Toronto glassy skyline hides an unseen past. This bridge is tucked away quietly within Riverdale Farm and it is amazing to see that structures like this still lead the new world into Toronto’s old.

Seemingly calm and odd scenes somehow find their way into my collection of imagery. Absolutely no one around to claim their ownership of the wagon, so I took the liberty of time and set up for the shot playing around with different ideas, this was the shot I liked best.

One by one each stone etched with dates along with names unknown to me, all have passed long before my arrival in the Necropolis Cemetery. In the age of passing and in this moment of quiet you can almost feel or imagine spirits of the past who spent their time quietly remembering the soul whose name is permanently marked in their honour. Given the dates of some of these stones one can only imagine that a person who stood here once has since moved onto to join the names and memories that line this path.

Beyond the edge of darkness, sadness and loss. There is a glimpse of hope, a glimmer of light that guides our fallen ones who lay permanently asleep amidst the grounds we weep upon. Someday we shall all meet again at the lights guiding path and realize that we only had a brief darkening pause before that smile comes to life again, we realize it was just their time and not yet ours. Wait for that light to come someday, however live for now as we can never foretell what the next day or even the day after will bring.

The beautiful Danielle Nielsen from [A Sirens Dream May Come] made her way back to Toronto to shoot with me again, finally after numerous weather related cancellations. However just like the last time we had a fantastic time coming up with ideas on the run and I’ll just stand back and watch her work the magic as I click the frames away. I love when photo shoots are fun and energetic. So much so…. I am waiting for the calendar dates to tick away for her arrival back in town for another session.

Towards the end of our shoot, both Danielle and I were in need of a caffeine fix and lunch and we happen upon Tony Robertson working on his gorgeous beautiful red 1970 BMW 2002Ti. His gracious understanding and offering the use of his vehicle on the spot and last minute was very much appreciated and a highlight of the shoot. Thanks again Tony!

I was at a toss up as to whether to call this shot something of a mushroom and decided to go different and give it a name of what it actually is, a cyclonic reptition of turns that cycled within about a minute exposure.