Learning a camera - Aperture priority

My brother Mark was here last weekend and tried to give me SLR 101 instruction. I'm more of a hands on learner these days but this is one thing I got out of it. A small aperture will give you better clarity through the whole depth of the photo (depth of field)

He demonstrated using 2 wine bottles on the kitchen counter. The one further away is a little blurry.

So I took the camera out and tried to see what the difference there was between having it on Auto and setting a really small aperture in the aperture priority setting (A on the dial). This is on Auto

This is with a small aperture. I think the snow fence is slightly clearer in the distance.

Auto

"A" set small. Again, just a very slight improvement.

Auto

"A" set small. Nope, can't see any difference.

Auto

"A" set small. No discernible difference.

Lost concentration and just started snapping shots of the gulls. I liked this one with the wave breaking.

Interesting. On Auto the camera focused on the far tree

On "A" set small it blurred the far tree and had some focus on the near leaves and berries (but too dark)

At this point I am coming to the conclusion that the Auto setting is so good there may be no need to try to take more control over the camera, but I will continue to experiment.

With 2 cushions and a blanket to sit on I should be calling him Rajah not Rasta. Spoiled cat!!

Hook-in at the Delhi Tobacco Museum and Heritage Centre

J.J. Ruggers has an ongoing tobacco kiln project this year and last weekend a group of us got together to rug hook in Delhi.

The museum sits close to downtown Delhi

in a pretty little park

with a refurbished tobacco kiln on the property.

Although it is in an industrial looking building, the entrance is warm and welcoming.

We were set up in the centre of the main floor surrounded by displays of the areas agricultural history.

On the balconies above there were displays about the cultural heritage of the various immigrant groups that settled in the area

What they bought with them

and their handicrafts. (Belgium lace making)

We worked on our kilns. This is Sue's

and she is hooking the sky with a piece of wool that she painted with dye.

Michelle's. Her design includes tobacco leaves along the bottom.

I didn't accomplish much, too much chatting and looking around the museum. I whipped and put the backing on this little kiln piece.

Michelle has been liaising with the museum and the plan is to have a our rugs displayed up on the balcony

where the crazy quilts are now

We will then conduct a rug hooking class on April 21, 2018 (I think) and display the finished kiln projects. These are Michelle's little hooked pieces in the gift shop.

Learning to use a camera

Nicola and Dave have lent me their camera for an upcoming trip. It is a digital SLR and way more complicated than my little "point and shoot" so I am taking it with me when I walk and trying to get used to it and learn how all the "bells and whistles" work.

On this particular walk I had it on AUTO as it was my first day with it. It focused on the foreground and blurred the background. Nice, if I had wanted that effect.

Handles a landscape nicely, crisp and clear.

Does a better job shooting into the sun than my camera.

Evidence of beach users that day include; a motorcycle,

dog, (quite clear on a close up)

horses, the day before and

Canada Geese.

There they are. The zoom works well.

The recent storms have left cliffs on the parks dog beach.

A bigger viewing screen that pulls away from the body of the camera makes it easier to catch birds in flight

and landing in a large raft on the lake.

Not landing particularly gracefully though.

Walking back through the park I saw this Downy eating berries.

The Old Cut lighthouse is always photogenic.

Especially with storm clouds behind.

Julie Stone's garage covered with souvenirs from her father, Dave's, Long Point explorations.

How lovely that would be, riding on the beach.

There was a lovely sunset the same day and I just went out and randomly played with the camera dials but have no idea which gave me the best shots. However, even on Auto the camera didn't wash out the colours as much as my camera does.

I know this one was on AUTO, as it was one of the first that I took

Then I started playing.

The colours really were this brilliant but usually my camera can't capture them.