Sure Slow, but Surely – the Fort Langley IGA

February 19th, 2012 Thomasso

It is sure going slow, in my opinion, but progress seems surely going forward as the IGA grocery market/store is being constructed. From just over a year since the former store was burnt down to the ground by an early morning fire, the new building seems like it is taking forever to finish as many, including myself, are wanting a functioning grocery store badly in our small town.

At least seeing the construction is welcomed news. The new look is going to be welcomed on the weary eyes of the residence of Fort Langley in my opinion. The construction of the new building is already showing what the new theme is looking like: a barn style shape with easy access from Church Street, and the back from between Glover Road along Mavis Avenue.

So here is to waiting; waiting for that yummy delicatessen food, and a five minute walk to do grocery shopping again.

Posted in Around Town, Diatribe, General, Photographs | 2 Comments »

A Memorial To a Man Named Brad

February 19th, 2012 Thomasso

It was early Saturday morning a accident occurred along the tracks of Glover Road and the railway crossing in Fort Langley where a man, 50 years of age, lost his life. According to the Langley Times, on February 11, 2012, a man was crossing the tracks and he was hit by a train when he was crossing the tracks, on his way home from the Fort Pub. Not much was presented in the news paper article, and given that I live less than One block away, news did not spread like wild fire. I did not actually discover that a man had died there until the following Sunday when I seen a woman and a young girl placing a large candle on the mechanical swinging arm that stops traffic from crossing while a train is passing by.

A week later the memorial has grown at the railway crossing, and more about the victim can be seen from the tributes posted there. The Man’s name is Brad, and he was 50 years old. Several photos of him are now displayed at the site, and even this morning when I went to shoot the memorial, people were walking up to it to lay flowers, and to read the notes attached to the mechanical swinging arm and lights.

As for myself, I am in a bit of a shock becuase this is not the first time that this has happened, and since the upgrade made by the railway company, there has not been a death on these tracks in several years. However, the use of public foot traffic has never been grater either. With the mini population boom to Fort Langley from the Bedford Langley projects, people crossing those tracks by foot has increased a lot. I should also note too the the man who lost his life there, last week, was leaving from the Fort Pub. Perhaps the need for a better pedestrian control at the crossing is in order?

Posted in Around Town, Diatribe, General, Photographs | No Comments »

A Walk in Marina Park, Fort Langley

February 11th, 2012 Thomasso

I raced this morning to get out of the house becuase I almost slept in. I was wakened by what sounded like a jack hammer going off early this morning around 5:00 or 6:00am, and I could not get back to sleep after that. Yes, I have some retarded, inconsiderate neighbours who just do not get it. So, once I got sleeping again, I almost missed the best part of the day by sleeping in. I did get out when the Sun was nearing its best time (best of two) of the day, the twilight morning, and I reached the park just as more clouds were rolling in blocking out the Sun.

Then once that was all done I unloaded the files from my camera onto my PC and started editing the little video I posted on YouTube.

I have more appreciation and love for my camera after today’s morning walk. Even with the low light, and numerous people walking, riding and asking me stupid questions, like “Wow, what are you photographing…?” I amazingly managed to avoid getting any humans in my shots. The camera was awesome in times of getting the shot. The auto focus, and fast settings response, got me some nice shots that I otherwise would have never gotten with most any other cameras I have.

The video is just a few video clips and some of the photos I shot, mixed into a 3:32 min long YouTube movie. I just did my walk in and around the park, and the music I added was some old stuff I have from years ago, 2007 I think?

So enjoy the video, and the photos, and let me know what you think by click on “comment” down below this post!

Posted in Around Town, Bitching about weather, Diatribe, General, Photographs, Video | 4 Comments »

Bye Bye Trees: Build We Must!

February 6th, 2012 Thomasso

I am not sure if this means that this tree is tagged for removal, a date with a chainsaw, or it is saved, but just about all of the trees on the park have these nailed to them now. It would be sad to see these trees go, since they have been apart of the street for so long now.

With human progress comes new development, and a tree that does not fit the layout of that development must go, gone from its natural habitat. There are over thirty trees here in this park that have these tags on them – this will change the skyline of Fort Langley for sure.

Posted in Around Town, Diatribe, General, Photographs | No Comments »

Vexing Laundry: the Soap Opera

February 5th, 2012 Thomasso

There are advantages to starting early and getting the bulk of your work done before the onset of everyone else starting their’s. This morning was laundry time, and as a rule, I start mine every Sunday morning right when the laundromat opens. Some of my close friends kid around with me about my laundry hardcore attitude, but when you have gone through some of my adventures and of laundry Hell that I have gone through, you would then appreciate my attitude.

I start my laundry right when the laundromat opens. Every Sunday, just before 8:00am, the doors open, and I quickly run in and start my task of laundry. My vantage point from my home is such that I can see the owner of the laundromat leave their office doors, and walk towards the laundromat. This is huge for me since many times they are early, and sometimes late, and their starts times very from one week to the next based on if they sleep in or not.

My early Sunday morning starts were never part of my normal routines, as I was never like this back in the old days. I used to do laundry whenever I felt like it, or when there was the stinky need to do it. However that all ended on one occasion when I had my entire load of clothes stolen. Yes, you heard me, a batch of men’s pants, underwear, t-shirts and socks, gone, just after I threw then into the dryer. Later that week I did see my pants again, though on someone else, a young man. Then later on, one of my t-shirts worn by his girl friend. How sick is that?

What do you do when someone has stolen your clothes?

The hardship for me was when I had to wear the same pair of pants for the following Four days until I got my next pay cheuque, then this meant having to forgo my food budget because it was also rent time too. There were also the many times that I wanted to tear a strip off these two people, but how do I justify the violence towards them when the police could not even help return my clothes – I needed to have witnessed the event, and I was not able to stand guard over my laundry during the whole time. I mean, it is not like I sew my name into every garment I own either?

So, since that time, and many other times of lesser laundry mishaps before and since, I do it when most of the population is still sleeping. Sundays are the perfect time to do laundry here in Fort Langley, first thing in the morning.

Posted in Around Town, Diatribe, General, Photographs, Story Telling | 2 Comments »

Posted my Photos in Video: On YouTube

February 5th, 2012 Thomasso

I spent some time editing a little video of some of the photos, and a short clip, that I took today from my Sony A33. The video a sort of the spur of the moment project, very amateurish, and I put it together in less than an hour.

Basically what you about to see is the short video clip of the bridge going over the Fraser River, then some of the photos I took of that hike along Brae Island outside of Fort Langley, BC. The music is mine – done on the LMMS, and the video production and editing was done suing the OpenShot on my LINUX PC, with Ubuntu 11.10.

Enjoy.

Posted in Around Town, Art, Astronomy, Audio, Photographs, Software, Video | No Comments »

My Camera Bug Addiction Continues

February 4th, 2012 Thomasso

My camera shooting spree continues as I planned today’s hike with clockwork and strategy, keeping in mind that with this onset of wonderful unexpected sunny weather, I needed to catch the light when it was perfect – near dusk. It was a cool 10C and many people were also out on the trails making is difficult at times not have them in my shots. I am not a people photographer, yet, so finding these choice spots meant walking in circles at one location I like. So, without further ado.

Above, on the bridge (Glover Road) in Fort Langley, looking East towards Marena’s Park. Below, an abandon bike that was probably stolen and then tossed off from the bridge.

Above, grass, with the distant trees blurred out (bokeh effect). Below is beneath the bridge on the Brea Island side of the Fraser River.

Above, looking at Bedford Landing, just outside of Fort Langley, taken from Brea Island. Below, a rather neat shot of where the river goes during the flooding season.This was some 18mm wide angle shooting.

The image above, is my attempt at getting the right blur in the background, or good bokeh, but becuase I used the kif lens for all of these shots, the blur is often hard to achieve. All the shots above were done with the Sony kid lens 3.5-5.6/18-55mm SAM lens, on a Sony A33 body.

Soon I will invest in macro lenses. Right now I have my heart on a 30mm prime lens so that I can do close-up shooting and extreme wide angle photos. After that, possibly a prime 50mm lens for street photography. Yes, I feel I can graduate up to this level of photography. I also want a good flash, preferably one with bounce and wireless. Hey, one can dream, right!

Posted in Around Town, General, Photographs | No Comments »

A Sunny Day to Shoot For – Photography

February 4th, 2012 Thomasso

Oh glorious sunny days, even in mid winter, days like this cannot be missed by staying indoors. My enthusiasm dominated my lack of sleep from the work week, teasing my body to get up and get out, taking the camera with me outside as the Sun had no clouds to block its shine. In Vancouver, days like this are rare, or are in short numbers in the grip of the West Coast winter, as clouds and rain seem to last for months. From November to March, days are gloomy and dull for picture taking, and drag the soul down with it too.

The survivor of winter, a raspberry plant taking on the frost, short days, and attacks from a weed-eater machine by the local grounds keeper. Its leaves perked up, as we are now on “day two” of a sunny spell of weather.

The Fort Langley Airport seems busy also, and could be blamed on the perfect flying weather conditions.

I call this shot, “Tie-Die Clouds” becuase the clouds seem to have the same pattern as a sheet coloured with the tie-die method.

More of those “Tie-Die” pattern clouds. I know, my aviation friends are going to comment, and make say what the technical names are for these clouds. So, guys, for now, just enjoy the blog, and do not wreck the experience for everyone else.

Last one. The old pine that is near by. This poor tree as seen a lot of action over the years since I have lived here. From a near by house fire, to a couple of ice storms that broke most of its branches, I am amazed that it still lives. In just over a year, its days will end as gentrification will mean that it will be chopped down to make way for the next wave of development in Fort Langley. Enjoy its peace until then.

Posted in Around Town, Diatribe, General, Humour, Photographs | 1 Comment »

Getting Better Moon Photos With My Sony A33

February 1st, 2012 Thomasso

I have a better understanding of my camera now, and it is all starting to sink in–after further reading the owner’s manual. I had a golden shot of the Moon today, as it was almost overhead, and past the First Quarter position of its month long cycle around the Earth. Within five shots, and about ten minutes of waiting for a small cloud to pass by, I had my money shot of the allusive Moon with my 200mm telephoto lens.

I switched the camera to “M” mode (manual shutter and aperture) and dialed the shutter to about 1/40 to 1/60, and set my shutter to f11, and I was getting really awesome contrast, colour and sharpness in my images. Now, it is too easy to set everything up, but I am still far from being at the point where I can just instinctively adjust the camera to the best settings. The above image is taken at: 1/100, F11, ISO100, 200mm, using a Sony DT55-200mm F4-F5.6 SAM telephoto lens on a Sony A33 camera.

The funny thought I had the last time I was trying to shoot the Moon was I had forgotten how to switch back and forth from Shutter to Aperture settings in “M” mode on my SonyA33. Now, I see the right buttons, and have everything set up and ready for the next time I go Moon shooting. But it was frustrating the last time, trying to figure out why I could not adjust my F-stop. Now seeing the switching button on the outside of the camera, I feel kind of stupid, in a humorous way.

Posted in Around Town, Astronomy, Diatribe, General, Humour, Photographs | No Comments »

Fort Langley and Filming of Super Natural

January 20th, 2012 Thomasso

For the last couple of days, during the little freezing weather stint, the sleepy little town of Fort Langley has being the epicenter for the television science fiction/horror show, “Super Natural.” They have being filming here for most of all day and night over the last two days now, mostly taking up the down town area between Mavis Avenue and 96th Avenue along Glover Road.

I just found out that this was “Super Natural” being filming here from some of my Twitter friends a couple of hours ago. Thanks @DearHeartxoxo !

At first I thought they were nuts shooting in these frigged temperatures that we have been getting for the last week. But it appears that minus ten is nothing for these guys -  they can handle just about anything.

Today has ended the freeing period that I hated so much, marking the end of five solid days straight of minus degree weather. Now it is above freezing, but rain, or drizzle, is plaguing us, and all of this melting snow is just soaking everything. There is a storm warning, but I fear that that will hit us tomorrow as wind and rain will rule the day tomorrow. But it is warmer out, and that makes me mildly happy.

The filming normally does not bother me except for the odd traffic snarl; however, last night the flood lights that were lifted on top of two huge cranes, that bothered me as the light shown into my bedroom window. They were shut off around ten thirty last night, but I still had to force myself to sleep, with the curtains drawn, but it still looked light daylight outside. Tonight is more of the same. They have the same two cranes up, and again the light is shinning onto Glover Road, one block over form me. They are very bright, so the spill-off from them makes it look like the light is shining right at my windows.

You can see the tree on the left is lit up from the crane on 96th Avenue, and the light that you can see is over at Glover and Mavis Avenue – one block away. These are massive lights, and they are bright!

Fortunately, it is Friday, and staying up late tonight is an option.

Posted in Around Town, Bitching about weather, Diatribe, Events, General, Humour, Photographs, Socail Media, Twitter | 2 Comments »