Sunday, Dec 31

Contemplative Doggie!

As always, the background. I should've used a smaller aperture; the out of focus nose bothers me. Although, in the small version, you'd be hard pressed to see it.

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Saturday, Dec 30

Doggie!

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Friday, Dec 29

After seeing Marc Adamus' photos as well as the ones on TimeCatcher, I don't like this one as much. In fact, I like very little of my stuff after looking at those pictures.

DAMN HIS PHOTOS ARE NICE.

Looking at the details of those shots and knowing that the majority of them were done purely with the camera, a tripod, and a GND filter, is awe-inspiring. I have a camera, a tripod, and a GND filter. I think I need to work a little harder at this photography thing.

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Thursday, Dec 28

The stitching software I use, Autostitch, boasts the capability of being able to automatically assemble multi-row (2D) panoramas. Basically all you need to do is shoot enough overlapping shots of whatever scene you want and the software takes care of the rest. It doesn't really care how you did it, just that you have enough shots to work with. That's pretty damn cool when you think about it. You can build an image of the scene almost exactly as it appeared to your eye, not limited by the camera's lens, tripods or levels.

The photo below was assembled from 28 shots covering essentially three 'rows' in the scene: the sky, the mountains, and the ground. By and large I'm fairly impressed. If you look at the higher resolution version, you can see there were a few alignment errors, but I think that's more because of my idiocy than the software. I was shooting with a 10-22 ultra-wide angle lens, and you really shouldn't use those for panos. The ultra-wides tend to distort things with the slightest perspective change. Given that, the software still did a pretty good job of it. I'll definitely be doing a few more panos with a regular zoom to really test the limits of the software.

The question is, do you really need that much field of view? In this photo, I cropped out the majority of the bottom row because I didn't think it added much to the scene. In fact, I think it detracted from the photo as it drew too much attention away from the sky. So did I really need to shoot that row of shots? Also, with so much sky now in the photo, the mountains look like a large hill instead of the imposing beasts that they are. Now to be fair, I love the sky, but the feel of the mountains is lost in this photo. So do you really need this much field of view? As with anything, it depends. It depends on the location, it depends on the day, it depends on the feel of the photo that you want to create. Does that mean everything I shoot will be a huge 2D pano and I'll just crop out the scene I want? No, definitely not. I think that almost all scenes call for the restricted view that the photographer chooses to present. It's that limited view that gives us a new perspective and lets us take a fresh look at the world. However, some scenes just scream for a huge 2D pano and when you come across that scene, it's nice to have the option.

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Wednesday, Dec 27

Crazy Nikon people are everywhere. I think it's pretty awesome that all my friends are photographers even if they do use Nikon. Sorry, couldn't resist.

Funny things happening in this one, I think I must have accidentally breathed on my lens and fogged it up a bit... that would explain the slightly washed out look (it's not bad, but I know it's also not what it should be).

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Tuesday, Dec 26

Once again a foray into pseudo (fake) IR photography. I know it's not what a real IR photo looks like, but I'm trying to recreate the surreal feel one gets when looking at the IR stuff. I did get a nifty IR filter for Christmas so perhaps someday soon we'll be seeing some real stuff, but for now this will have to do. The fact that it was gray and overcast lended itself extremely well to this particular technique. I'm rather pleased with how this came out actually especially the detail and definition retained in the trees and mountain. It's got that 'pop' to it that makes me feel like I finally got something right.

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Monday, Dec 25

Merry Christmas.

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Sunday, Dec 24

Dragged my sorry butt out of bed at 5 this morning and drove out to Lake Louise with Mark to try and get some morning light mountain shots. We hiked up to fairview lookout, which in the summer is a pretty insignificant hike but in the winter with photo gear and racing the sun turned out to be a pretty good workout. It was a great way to start the day. Unfortunately we were a little late to get the rich morning light, but I think we still got some good stuff. Looking at the light as I was driving out inspires me to do more early morning stuff. Perhaps a camping trip is in order.

Today's shot comes from Vermillion Lake looking out at Mount Rundle. It was fairly drab and dreary so I decided a black and white conversion would work best. I've been doing a lot of black and white stuff lately, but I still don't feel like I've got the conversion down. I can't put my finger on it, but I know something's bothering me about all my black and white conversions. They just don't feel quite 'right'.

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Saturday, Dec 23

Round two of people photography. I like this one a lot more than my first attempt. The expression, pose and colors feel right. The fact that the subject is hot helps just a little bit. I've got to watch my backgrounds though. Her hair blends into the trees too much for my liking. Although nature jumped in and bailed me out  a little on that note as the sun provided a nice hair light that does provide some definition.

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Friday, Dec 22

An attempt at high-key portraiture today. This photo would have been better had I not mis-focused. To compensate, I overdid unsharp mask in an attempt to drag her back into focus. If you look carefully at the jaw line, you can see my clumsy efforts at saving the pic. Unfortunately, despite my best attempt to salvage them, the eyes are still soft. I am undecided as to whether or not the large negative space on the right works for this shot or not. I debated cropping it down so that she's center frame, but that just accentuated my crappy focus, so I opted for this presentation. Also, the few strands of hair sticking up really aggravate me, but my photoshop skilZ are not at the level where I can remove them and have it look natural.

I am debating having another go at this picture. Perhaps removing the black bits in the background and inserting a pure white one. That would also make my attempt at removing those stray hairs easier. Maybe when I get bored over the Christmas break.

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Thursday, Dec 21

As I was trekking around Johnson Lake, this little fellow decided to pop up and have lunch right in front of me. A mad scramble then ensued; off came the wide angle, on went the telephoto. Amazingly, it held still even after I blinded it with a couple of flashes. Sadly, it decided to jump back into it's hole the second I tried to move closer.

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Wednesday, Dec 20

I'm sure I got some funny looks as I went madly dashing off with my tripod and camera kit after I spotted a herd of these guys. I'm pretty sure Karen was wondering what the hell was going on. But hey, it was well worth it. I don't think I've had this much fun in a long long time.

I especially like how I caught this one mid-chew. It looks surprised to have it's picture taken. Animal paparazzi, I have arrived.

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Monday, Dec 18

Pseudo-infrared feeling today. There are a few minor quibbles I have with the image but, by and large, I'm fairly satisfied with it.

After removing hundreds of dust specks from the image, I have decided that it's far past time I cleaned my sensor. How people can justify charging $15 for three flimsy plastic sticks with tiny strips of lint free cloth I don't know. I'm wondering if you can get really pure methanol somewhere, if so, you've got yourself some home-made eclipse cleaning solution. If I was thinking, I probably could have made my own sensor swabs and eclipse solution from materials borrowed from the university.

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Sunday, Dec 17

I think my lighting was too harsh in this photo. The right side is almost blown (but looking at it here it looks fully gone). I think the shadows look pixelated as well (they're not, but it sure looks that way). The thing that's really bothering me is the glowing edge under the petal. I have absolutely no idea how that came to be. It looks like I screwed up royally in photoshop, but going back to the original out-of-camera-image the glow is there too. I've been racking my brain trying to figure out how I could have possibly produced a glowing edge there with my light setup. Ruling out all other possibilities, no matter how unlikely, I have come to the conclusion that it must have been divine interference.

The universe mocks me.

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Tuesday, Dec 12

Not feeling it today.

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Saturday, Dec 9

I've really enjoyed looking at people's "book & shadows" shots so I decided to try one of my own. Sadly, the majority of mine look much like anyone else's. Aspiring to be more than a lemming, I tried make something that stood apart from the rest.

I like it. Reminds me of a an album cover. Maybe I'll get it printed on a T-shirt.

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Saturday, Dec 2

This one's for you Jeff! It's been awesome, have a safe drive home, keep in touch, and don't stop updating that site.

Next time I need to make sure my setup is absolutely level. That's where the ugly black bit on the left side is from. But, if I cropped enough to remove the black portion, I would lose the composition. I think that given that trade-off, composition wins hands down.

Temperature:

   Really F***ING COLD

Details:

   13 shots, 180 degrees

   22mm focal length

   5 second exposure @ f11

   ISO 400

Post Processing:

   Assembled with Autostitch

   Slight increase to saturation + levels adjustment

   Unsharp Mask

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Friday, Dec 1

This week needs to end. The sooner the better.

Originally, when I looked at this photo, I thought it would be a throw away. The lighting was terrible when I took it, the colors were not what I had in mind either. Then I decided to play with it a little. Desaturated it, adjusted the curves and contrast a touch, added a warming filter, and we have what you see below. I'm not terribly impressed with the hard pink edge in the sky caused by my polarizer, nor the loss of contrast on the top right side of the range.

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Thursday, Nov 30

Again, I think my composition needs work. Yes, it's got nice bokeh isolating the flowers, yes it's got pretty colors, yes the pink on green is a nice contrast, but I think the eye just gets too tangled in the mess of pink. There's nothing that really draws the eye or leads it around the image. I find the other out of focus flowers distracting from the one that's in focus, which (I think) should be the attention grabbing part of the photo.

Wednesday, Nov 29

Hmmm looking at the photo, I'm wishing I had chosen a slightly deeper DOF. While I like the bottom part of it blurred out, I wish the top part was just in sharper focus. It's a Christmas light for anyone who's curious.

Tuesday, Nov 28

In comparison to the picture that Andy took, I like his better. Looking at the water, I'm guessing he chose a longer shutter speed than I did. As a result, he captured better colors. Mine is fairly harsh looking, while his is warm and rich. I'm guessing he used a smaller aperture as well, as my DOF seems a tad on the shallow side (looking at the two blurred turtles at the right corner). Ah well, that's why I enjoy these outings so much, I learn a lot from the other people.

Monday, Nov 27

Thanks for dropping in Bry! It's been far too long since we've seen you.

Sunday, Nov 26

Turtles!

Thursday, Nov 23

Huh, being 25 doesn't feel much different from 24. Well, maybe except I'm fatter from all the cake and pie I ate yesterday. Bwoh. Note to self, don't eat half a pie ever again.

Wednesday, Nov 22

For my birthday my Mom brought me back some beautiful pictures from her trip to China. Seeing as the pictures I've taken recently have been less than stellar, I thought I'd showcase a few of her shots. The scenery is simply amazing, I must go. I can see myself sitting there for weeks just snapping pictures. The possibilities for places like this are endless.

Tuesday, Nov 21

When your pictures suck, use Photoshop! Blurred images? No problem, it was intentional. In fact, let's blur it out some more with a filter and go for an artsy paintbrush look.

Monday, Nov 20

I'm not really satisfied with these shots. ISO was set far too high (800), resulting in more grain than I would really like. The original composition sucked. Dead center. Thankfully there was enough to crop it and recompose the shot. There's just something missing from these shots. Nothing to grab the attention. No colors, no lines. I just don't think it's very creative. It's just an opportunistic shot, and while I believe that a large portion of wildlife photography is opportunistic, I don't think I made the most of this one.

Sunday, Nov 19

Wildlife photography skills need work.

Saturday, Nov 18

Thursday, Nov 16

Mad Props! Jeff's the man!

Wednesday, Nov 15

I shot awake yesterday at 9:30 in a blind panic. I'm half hour late for my first lab! After scrambling out of bed and into the shower, I realize that it's reading days; there are no labs. I blissfully trudge back to bed and float off to sleep. Ahhhh.

I'm of two minds about today's pic. I like how the colors came out. The pink contrasts nicely with the green and darker colors of the background. I like the background blur. The benefits of shooting with the 200mm lens is that even at f4, the background becomes a nice creamy blur. The downside is that I had perch on the edge of a staircase, clinging to the railing trying to get enough distance to frame my shot. Again, it's the composition that bothers me and I can't quite put my finger on it. I think it's how the leaf on the right crosses the other flower. It looks fake, added in Photoshop. It wasn't, but that's the impression I get.

Tuesday, Nov 14

It's interesting to see how my photography has developed.

When I first started, I took a "fireflower" photo similar to the one seen below. The original fireflower is not a bad photo, and still remains one of my favorites to this day. Unfortunately, to get the look I wanted I had to Photoshop the hell out of it, and it shows. I probably spent a good hour or two working on that photo.

Contrast that to the photo below. I think it's better than my previous attempt as I spent maybe 10 minutes in Photoshop with it. I spent more time working with the aperture, shutter-speed, and lighting this time 'round so that more of the details were taken care of in-camera. It's unfortunate that I didn't spend more time with the composition. When I compare the original fireflower to this one, I find this one lacking. If the flower was shifted a touch more towards the top of the frame I'd be a lot happier.

Monday, Nov 13

Sunday, Nov 12

A couple of crazy Nikon users.

Saturday, Nov 11

Feeling delicate and out of focus today. I missed focus on today's pic, but I still think it works.

Friday, Nov 10

A foray into the abstract today. The more I look at this one the more I can't decide if I like it or if it's complete and utter rubbish.

Thursday, Nov 9

Wednesday, Nov 8

Ahhhh sleep. Wonderful marvelous sleep. You know it's bad when you dream you're a "little man" running down a blood vessel and you're mugged by blood cells. But hey, at least I'm dreaming.

Today's pic. I'm relatively pleased with this one. You may go now.

Tuesday, Nov 7

Stick a fork in me...

Today's pic. I think it's over-processed. Especially when you compare my pic to the shot taken by Jeff. Let me count the ways it's over-processed:

     1. Look at the tree bark. I pushed the shadows too far. It looks surreal. That's not the look I was going

         for. Unfortunately, it was necessary to cover the massive artifacts introduced by bumping the

         exposure (the bird was in the damn shadow of the tree for most of my shots).

     2. Look at the bird. It's too black. Again, back to the shadows thing.

     3. Look at the belly of the beast. Along the belly border it looks very much like chromatic aberration,

         it's not, but that's what it looks like. Again, the bird was in the shadow of the tree, so I dodged the

         belly fur to bring it back a bit. Unfortunately, when I dodge, I either go over the line, resulting in a

         halo effect, or I go under, resulting in a dark outline. The latter is what we see here kiddies.

What I do like is that the sky provides a nice contrast to the bird.

Monday, Nov 6

I am contemplating redesigning the site. It no longer serves my purposes. While I do, on occasion, use it to express my thoughts, those entries are few and far between. Plus, who the hell reads this anyways? I know all 3 of the people who visit this site just want to see the pictures. Don't bother denying it. I know it, You know it, we all know it.

So what do I have in mind? I think perhaps something more gallery-esque. Something that will allow me to post more than one photo per post. I know I could do it now, but that would be breaking from tradition and might shatter my fragile sleep-deprived mind. Also, I think perhaps a design where I could comment on my photos as well as receive comment. Let's be honest, this is really a photography site moonlighting as a blog. This begs the question why don't I just upload my garbage to Flicker? Because I don't want people stealing my images. That, and for as long as Bryan allows me to be a squatter on his internet property, here I shall remain.

On to today's image. I like this one for some reason. I can't put my finger on it, but it appeals to me. I like the lines, I like the contrast between the leaves and the background. I don't like that the one leaf leads out of the frame, I don't like that the twig crosses the stem, breaking that line. C&C anyone?

Sunday, Nov 5

A good day. A very good day. Now if only I could sleep.

Thursday, Oct 26

Bryan,

Sunday, Oct 1

What-Ervin-Has-Learned-About-Landscape-Photography^TM:

     1. Bring your tripod

     2. Use your tripod

What-Ervin-Has-Learned-About-Running-In-The-Rain^TM:

     1. Don't leave your waterproof jacket at home

One would imagine that the above points might be common sense, but my sense is not all that common.

Friday, Sept 29

Composition sucks. My landscape photography skills need a lot of work. Blah.

The more I use the 10-22 the more I like it. I have to be careful how I angle the shot, otherwise I get a fair amount of distortion. It does, however, provide me with a true wideangle lens, and I love the sweeping panoramic views I can get. But, along that line of thought, I need to stop being impressed by those wide views and start thinking about the composition again.

Tuesday, Sept 26

I have a love hate relationship with Tuesdays. Arguably, Tuesdays are the worst days of the week. They start with a nine hour teaching marathon, usually followed by another couple hours of karate. However, I do enjoy (for the most part) the teaching experience. Despite my complaints, I find it fairly rewarding especially when I see understanding or improvement.

Unfortunately, every Tuesday I get a massive dose of insomnia which makes me the walking dead on Wednesday and, some weeks, Thursday. By the end of the day, it wouldn't surprise me if my expression was something like the one illustrated below.

Monday, Sept 25

Sunday, Sept 24

Went digging through some of my older stuff and came across this one. This picture was taken in the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall in Guangzhou city, Guangdong province, China. He is finger painting a mountain scene and sells his work in the souvenir shop. Immediately after I took this picture the security guards ran up and told me "No pictures". Perhaps they thought I was taking pictures of his art trying to get a souvenir for free? Perhaps there are just no pictures.

Saturday, Sept 23

The composition itself isn't bad, but the background definitely needs work. It's too busy; the lights in the background as well as the large window above her head distracts from the subject. I need to 1) Change my shooting angle, 2) Move the subject to a cleaner location (but as this was a "semi-candid" shot this option wasn't really feasible), or 3) Open up the aperture. I don't think option three was really a possibility for this particular shot either. The image was captured with an aperture of  f4.5, and the maximum on this lens is f4. I highly doubt that will make a huge difference in blurring the background. So, like most of the problems with my pictures, I have to pay more attention to what I'm seeing.

I overdid it slightly in post (processing). All detail in the lower right corner is lost. I think next time I will try some posed shots and nit-pick the details instead of taking "semi-candids".

Friday, Sept 22

Blah. That is all. Blaaaaaah.

Thursday, Sept 21

Wednesday, Sept 20

Did I mention how much I enjoy living not 30 minutes from the great outdoors? Unfortunately hiking season is winding down, so sunny summer shots of the mountains are almost at an end. Fear not nature photographers, while hiking season is winding down cross country skiing and snowshoeing season is just around the corner. Looking through my pictures, I've noticed I don't have many winter shots. I think this year is the year to fill that gap.

I have also noticed that I need to seriously start looking at my color management. I am using a calibrated screen, but unfortunately that screen is attached to my laptop which is not exactly the definition of color consistency. For example, the budgie picture ranges from stunning yellow/green to radioactive. Unacceptable. Simply unacceptable.

Tuesday, Sept 19

So close, yet so far.

I really like the framing. The colors and bokeh are fairly good. I'm disappointed that the top of the leaf isn't in focus. I am also disappointed that the lighting forced me to use flash and you can see the shadow. I also wish that the stem had caught a bit more of the flash. It would've balanced out the composition very nicely. Alas, it was not to be.

So close, yet so far...

Tuesday, Sept 19

Hmmm I suspect it's a budgie. But if any of you bird people out there can confirm the ID, go for it.

Monday, Sept 18

I think that taking pictures of other people's art is taking the easy way out. A large majority of the creative process has already been accomplished by the original artist. All I, as the photographer, have to do is find the right angle to shoot from. That said, I'm fairly happy with how this fellow came out.

Saturday, Sept 9

Slightly different shot of the moon today, which should be evident by the different color, size, shape, and positioning of the lunar mare (the dark bits) and craters. This shot was captured at 1:58:39 AM as opposed to yesterday's, which was captured at 9:25:21 PM. I'm tempted to try a whole lunar cycle series of shots. To get it consistent I would need to shoot at the same place and time every day. Somehow, I just don't think that will happen.

It's times like this when I wish I had a longer lens. I've seen some phenomenal pictures of the moon, but I just don't have enough reach to duplicate those shots. However, the cost of anything longer than 200mm is obscene. I can't justify dropping that much money for such a specialty lens that I won't use (especially considering I don't shoot any field sports). Maybe when I win the lottery.

"Here's what I know: If you're willing to take the chance, the view from the other side is spectacular."

Friday, Sept 8

I wonder if the moon should really be this color. It definitely catches attention (hence the photograph), but there's something inherently wrong about a reddish-orange moon. 

"I hear the voice of rage and ruin."

- Creedence Clearwater Revival, "Bad Moon Rising"

Thursday, Sept 7

Self, I says to myself, what's the point of taking pictures if you're not going to do anything with them?  Much like how some creatures spew their gametes into the wild hoping to get lucky, so too do I release my pictures onto the 'net with the hope that someone derives some pleasure from them.

Wednesday, Sept 6

I really love hiking.

I suppose bearing the weight of my tripod for the hike was worth it after all.

"Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you."

- Frank Lloyd Wright

Tuesday, Sept 5

I love hiking.

"Life is not a spectator sport.

Play.

Play hard, play fast, play loose and free.

Play as if there's no tomorrow."

- Narrator, "Grey's Anatomy"

Friday, Sept 1

"Sky rockets in flight"

Wednesday, August 30

Dangerous precedent. A mighty dangerous precedent. Bryan's leading me up a slippery slope and it'll be the end of us all.

Wednesday, August 30

I have nothing to say, so I shall say nothing.

"I went out walking through streets paved with gold..."

- Johnny Cash, "The Wanderer"

Wednesday, August 9

I present to you Moose Mountain. Not a particularly beautiful hike, but the view from the top is spectacular. The day we chose to hike it was muggy so, unfortunately, I didn't get the panoramic shots I wanted at the summit. I did however get some very nice people pictures (as seen below) as well as some satisfactory trail pictures.

I still would really like to do Moraine Lake before the summer's out. So much to do, so little time. Perhaps next weekend.

Tuesday, August 8

I have noticed that, increasingly, when I take mediocre pictures I fall back on Photoshop to help make them if not better at least more interesting. I am undecided as to whether I am comfortable with this new development. I'm finding that it breeds laziness and a rather cavalier attitude when I'm shooting with the camera. In this the age of digital film, however, a certain amount post-processing in Photoshop is rapidly becoming the norm. The question then becomes, exactly how much post-processing should occur? I routinely make exposure, color, and lighting adjustments that could have been easily done in camera were I  paying attention.

I'm also giving more attention to presentation of the photos. Given my limited capabilities with both the web and Photoshop, I hope my efforts enhance rather than detract from the display. I suspect this might be easier were I working with hardcopy prints as I work best when I can both see and touch my project, but let's be honest, between the increased cost and my laziness, I can't be bothered with it.

Friday, July 21

My outstandingly mediocre performance in the Canada Day 10K run was 'rewarded' with two tickets to Phantom of the Opera. I've seen Phantom before and while it is far from my favorite production, it is two free tickets and an excuse to dress up and go out on the town. Though I was expecting to enjoy the show, I was pleasantly surprised by the magnitude of my enjoyment.  Listening to the soundtrack just isn't the same as sitting in the auditorium and feeling it wash around you, seeing the performers on stage projecting such talent and charisma. I had forgotten how much I love live theatre, especially when there's music involved.

They say that music makes the world go 'round. People say that music is universal. Some even go so far to say that it borders on a religious experience. I'm not speaking of the "One Christian God" type of religious experience, but rather experiencing something spiritual, affecting the soul. I would defy anyone to see a good concert or performance and deny the extent to which music effects us.

"Your spirit and my voice in one combined..."

- The Phantom

Thursday, June 22

It is unfortunate that my pitiful photography "skills" really do no justice to how breathtaking this view truly was. The fact that I was perched precariously on the edge of  the mountain hoping I didn't slide off killing both myself and all those below me probably didn't help either. Both the incredible elevation and incline are lost in this picture. *sigh*

I think perhaps next time we might want to take what the guidebook says with a rather large grain of salt. The fact that it took the lot of us 30 minutes to find the trailhead, and that we climbed a f**king 60 degree incline up loose rock does not give me great faith in what the book rates as "easy" hikes. Admittedly, we may have gotten slightly lost. When the guidebook tells one to "continue along the trail and easily cross over a small creek", I'm sure they would have the decency to mention something if that creek were at the bottom of a 600 foot sheer cliff. Something along the lines of  "leaping large canyons in a single bound" might be helpful to include when the trail takes such a turn. Ah well, it was mighty pretty. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

"Why climb a mountain? Because it's there."

I've noticed that I've become increasingly withdrawn, antisocial, apathetic, and cynical (if that's even possible). The cause  has yet to be identified. Puzzling and troubling. Curiously, I seem to be relatively content with this new state. Puzzling and troubling indeed.

"Tried to think of what to say..."

Friday, April 21

I am having increasing difficulties switching between "science" material and "humanities" material. I have yet to determine if this difficulty is a good thing or a bad thing. At the moment, I am leaning towards the idea that this is a bad thing.

Allow me to explain. I've finished reading some truly excellent and engrossing novels lately. After which, I have been pondering questions not unlike those put forth by high school English teachers in their attempts to force students to think "deeply" about the material they just read. Questions of the likes of "what motivates this character to commit act x?" and "Chapter x has material that seems to be the thrust of the author's story, can you reconcile the material in chapter x with the author's selection of the title?" and so forth. What I find really interesting in going over my thought processes is that I enjoy this type of thinking. I remember my undergrad English classes and I recall feeling most satisfied with my papers for those classes. Much more so than anything I've submitted to any science class. I had integrated what I knew and read, and synthesized new material. I was thinking critically; seeing the "big picture" if you will.

Now let's compare that to my current studies. Currently, I feel like a moron. I seem to only be able to put together the "picture" and only so much so to have the most basic understanding (in fact I'd go so far to say that my thought processes are both more basic and simplistic now than when I was an undergrad). When I read scientific papers or listen to seminars, I can only nit-pick the methods and think, "there's so much error that's possible in the method, is it a true measure of x? Is this representing x as it sits in real life?" I seem to get bogged down in all the little details. However, my colleagues and supervisors look at the results and discussion and ask questions that lead to new and novel approaches, take the results and extrapolate further hypotheses to be tested, making scientific progress (in short they think of things far beyond what I can imagine). On the rare occasions that I am blessed with moments of epiphany in science, I get the same enthusiasm and burst of ideas, similar to that when I was writing my English papers.

However, this euphoria is fleeting. I come home at the end of the day, read my novels, watch TV, watch a movie, and I can physically feel my brain clunk into the humanities thought track. Pushing my brain back onto the science track is much like the plight of Sisyphus, forever trying to roll the boulder up that hill. I keep saying that I'll continue on to a PhD after completing my Master's, but really, who am I kidding? In all likelihood my proposed project might have come from a 2nd year summer student, I'd fail the candidacy exams and the academic community would quickly and quietly toss me out the back door. Heck, at this point, I feel stupid enough to fail my Master's defense. If, by some quirk of luck I do indeed pass, my success must surely be attributable to a clerical error.

My morale is further battered by the fact that I'm about to submit my first bona fide academic publication for peer review. I can imagine the howls of laughter now...

"I had a dream I was moving forward, floating gently to the sun..."

- Great Big Sea, "Feel it Turn"

Sunday, Mar 26

It is disgustingly beautiful outside which is a bad thing. I will be inclined to spend valuable time otherwise used for work, outside, frolicking. This will ultimately result in an increase in my enjoyment that is directly proportional to a decrease in my productivity cubed. Individuals such as myself are the reason they allow a maximum of 4 years to complete a master's degree which, in all reality, should encompass no more than 2...

"I been drinking too much I'd better go home

I been thinking too much I'd better go home..."

- The Trews, "Ishmael & Maggie"

Monday, Mar 20

Things to do, things to do. It's that time of year again kiddies, that's right, crunch time! Reading week is done and there's nothing really left to look forward to except the end of term flurry of work. Projects, papers, presentations, Huzzah! I'm ready, I'm prepared, bring it on. TEM isn't shooting electrons? Building vibrates? Term paper is due? Presentations to present? Finals to grade? Is that the best you've got?

I'm lecturing?

Damn, that's quite the sucker punch you're packing...

"I wanted life to be an easier proposition, but it isn't."

 - Josh Joplin Group, "I've Changed"

Sunday, Mar 5

For reasons beyond my ability to articulate, I've been feeling restless lately. I have this overwhelming urge to party. I'm not talking about "drinking myself into oblivion" kind of party (although I certainly wouldn't mind a couple of drinks), but rather going out, letting loose, and having fun, a kind of catharsis if you will. Perhaps some music, a concert? Yes, a concert and dancing, there must definitely be dancing involved...

"On the floors of Tokyo..."

 - Billy Idol, "Dancing with Myself"

Tuesday, Feb 14

Bah.

"Life is a disease; sexually transmitted and fatal."

 - TLF

Tuesday, Feb 7

My belated New Years salutations to you all.

Saturday, Jan 28

Har!

HAR!

HAAAAAAAR!

Now is the hour and here is the place. It is time for a reckoning. Your comeuppance has come.