TEN THOUSAND STRONG
Last Sunday was a sunny, mild and gorgeous fall day in Toronto. The air had the crispness that’s made for a pick up football game, maybe a hot drink on the deck.
Instead, myself and about 10,000 fellow Jews found themselves in the middle of Toronto’s Christie Pits, holding and waving the flag of Israel and participating in a very peaceful rally to recognize the unimaginable hostage situation.
I can’t speak for anyone else… I have no illusions that his sort of gathering has any effect whatsoever on what the Hamas terrorists decide to do. But still, there is a catharsis from participating. Just being there, listening to the speakers tell their personal stories and experiencing first hand the very noticeable electricity in the air.
It’s not something that I can say I’ve felt before. And I have to admit I felt immense pride in being Jewish on this day, a sense of being part of a much bigger community.
There was great sadness in the crowd. There was also the typical type of kibitzing that you’ll see whenever you get this many Jews in one place. We are a resilient people after all.
Am Yisrael Chai
SHOT WITH THE FUJIFILM X-PRO3 AND XF 27mm
OCTOBER SHADOWS
Having a peak at the forecast the last few days reminds me that we’re living in Toronto and not Miami. The crazy hot fall weather that we’ve been enjoying the last week or so is soon to come to an end. 28°C yesterday followed by 12°C on Sunday. Welcome to Canada!
This being October, the light is hitting familiar spots in our backyard in a way that makes me want to run for my camera. And that’s exactly what I did this morning. At 11:00 am or so, the sun was creating that hard light that reminds me of summer days during our stay in Lisbon a few years ago pre-covid. We just don’t get that kind of light; beautiful deep, contrasty shadows, a sun hanging low in the sky.
We still have a few hours to go with 20°C + weather and I’m feeling grateful that we’ve had a beautiful summer and early fall. My health hasn’t been the greatest lately but I’m slowly starting to feel like my old self again. Being engaged in making photos is a bit of a canary in a coal mine for me. When I’m feeling good I want to get the camera to see what I can make. It’s still early October… hopefully there’s lot’s more shadows to come.
SHOT WITH THE FUJIFILM X-PRO3 AND XF 35MM, F2
94
This is a salute to my amazing and loving mother Ann
My mother turned 94 this summer and continues to astonish her family with her spirit and determination. She’s not in the best of health (she is 94), but when we arrive every Sunday for our weekly visit she’s full of excitement at seeing us again. She makes it clear that at that moment, we are the only thing that’s important to her… okay, that and the food we bring her ;-)
We see her almost every week, but I’ve gotten lazy with bringing my camera which is something I know I need to fix. And a better subject I couldn’t find. She’s remarkably unselfconscious and happily sits while I snap away.
I just turned 64 recently and I realize how lucky I am to have my mother still with us. The rhythm of our weekends very much revolves around these visits… this ritual. Here’s a few photos from our visit this past weekend. Hopefully, lots more to come.
SHOT WITH THE FUJIFILM X-PRO3 AND XF 35MM, F2
SQUARE
Square (and black and white) is an attempt to kick-start my feeble attempt at photography these last months. I’m not sure how long I’ll keep at it, but for now I’m going to stick with it at least until something in my brain decides to come up for air.
In the mean time, here’s a triptych from a short time ago, lazying about in the house and the deck.
SOMETIMES, IT'S JUST A FEELING
It’s always about a “feeling”. Sometimes you just know that something that feels right… is right. It’s been a guiding light for me for as long as I can remember.
I’m not sure when I started to get so emotionally attached to the things in my life. I almost cried when our old Saab station wagon was sold off, if any car threaded itself into our lives and into my heart that car did. I imagine I’ll feel the same way when our trusty 14 year old Audi station wagon is ready for the knackered yard.
Why is this? They are just things, objects. I’ve no idea why, all I know is that when it came time to ship off my beautiful preamplifier, I knew I had to get the camera out and document it. It’s so irrational, but the preamplifier, maybe as much as any audio component save for the turntable, is the one you are touching and interacting with the most. Turning the volume control up and down, moving the source dial , the sound of the clicks as the dial turns left to right, right to left. Preamplifier’s have their unique sound signature, that’s why we spend gobs of money on them. But they also have their own personality. Okay, that does sound pretty weird.
So while I expected my preamplifier “fidelity” to last forever, the urge was just too strong. This shiny new gal from Switzerland stole my heart. It didn’t happen at first site, in fact it was more than five years before I knew, before I had that feeling. But when it felt right, there was nothing to do but kick back and enjoy the experience.
So a little homage to the black beauty who made lots of beautiful music for me. It’s been a fun ride.
SHOT WITH FUJI XPRO-3 - XF35 F2, 7ARTISANS 60MM MACRO
HOCKEY VS. BIRTHDAY DINNER
SHOT WITH FUJI XPRO-3 - XF23MM F2.0
C’mon, there was no way I was not going to watch the Gold medal game between Canada and Czechia last night… birthday dinner be damned. Brilliant hockey.
Congratulations @teamcanadawjc 🥇🏆🏒