Firefly trails

Tonight I used the timer on the camera and experimented with firefly trails (instead of star trails)—from fireflies in the field next door. I couldn't use my cable release. It has conked out on me ... just as I'm getting hooked on long exposure photography. I need to get a new one pronto.

However . . . one of the frustrating things about living in Trinidad is that nowhere really sells a wide range of professional camera equipment and accessories. As far as I know, David's Filmvue is the closest you can get, but they rarely have what I need.

I order all of my equipment from B&H Photo Video. Because we have to pay on camera equipment being brought in to Trinidad, usually I wait until I travel or someone I know is traveling and can bring in the equipment. Otherwise I would end up paying a massive amount on top of the actual price.

Today was a grey, dark day and I wanted to go and experiment with long exposures. But for this I would have wanted my cable release and a neutral density filter (I want a 10+). Had I been in Toronto I could have nipped around to Henry's and bought them.

But . . . now I have to order online and waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaait.

Jesus catching stars

Click on image to see it in more detail.

Practice makes perfect. I would love to truly understand how to get great star trail shots.

Last night I went to take more star trail photos, up at Mount St. Benedict. Here's an account of my first star trail attempt (on Sunday night in Santa Cruz), if you missed it.

Last night's attempt didn't yield much. But I got two photos of a Jesus statue against the sky. It was a hazy, somewhat cloudy night and, even though we were up on the mountain with the lights of the monastery at a distance, there was still some light pollution from the lowlands, etc. It's hard to escape light pollution nowadays.

When I close my eyes now I see star trails. Imagine, even if we stood completely still, we would still be moving . . . simply because the earth is.

On a completely different note, lately I've been getting lots of spam comments. I notified Blogger about it but it hasn't stopped. In fact it has increased.

If anyone is reading this and knows how to  get rid of the spam/spammers, please let me know.

Thanks.

Nocturnal Experiments

(Click on images to enlarge)

I've always wanted to shoot star trails. Last night was my first attempt at it. Star trails are not formed by stars moving, but by the earth moving while the camera is fixed on a certain point in the sky for X amount of time. The trails I captured last night were short because my exposures weren't that long. If you click here and look at these images online you'll see some more dramatic examples.

N.B. For the above shot I applied some contrast in Photoshop to emphasize the trails a bit. This altered the sky colour somewhat. There was some cloud cover and even though far from "civilization", there was still a bit of light pollution. A darker, clearer sky with longer exposure times would have produced more definite results.

Also tried my hand at some light drawing, using a long enough camera exposure to allow me to trace outlines around friends using a small torchlight. As you can see, my body wasn't picked up in the image because I was moving fairly quickly.

I'm going to keep practising, so stay tuned to see me get better at this.

The mouth of babes

Yesterday I was at my friend Dion's home studio and we were editing some short videos. His daughter, age 6, came into the room and was chatting with me.

At one point . . .

Me: So what's your favourite subject at school?

Zuri (in all seriousness): Breaktime, Lunchtime, maths, science, penmanship.

Readings with Tea and Music

This afternoon I will be one of a few authors reading from our novels, at Paper Based Bookstore's event:"Readings with Tea and Music"($100 per ticket) at Hotel Normandie. It starts at 5 p.m. 

An afternoon with Five Authors and a Poet - Lisa Allen-Agostini; Rhoda Bharath; Elspeth Duncan; Barbara Jenkins; Sharon Millar; Vladimir Lucien. Music by Ruth Osman. 


Paper Based Bookstore, Hotel Normandie, 10 Nook Avenue, St. Anns.



 

Divine, Intuition, Intelligence and Guidance

Recently a friend lent me a book—The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity by Catherine Ponder. Some of her quotes/affirmations are featured in the above video.

Her writing reminds me somewhat of the work of Florence Scovel-Shinn, who was a New Thought Teacher, a Truth Student. Born in the late 19th century, she was active in the realm of positive thought long before the current New Age surge of books like The Secret, etc. I like those old time writers for their down to earth simplicity and straightforwardness. With all due respect to Oprah's Book Club, no book club was needed to make them popular. Florence's books, in my opinion, are the best I've read on affirmations, positive thinking, ridding the mind of negatives, improving life through the power of using the right words and thoughts, etc. Truly life transforming.

This book (at amazon), The Wisdom of Florence Scovel-Shinn is a collection of her four books. I would advise you to get this one. It's the one I have. I re-read it recently and just in talking to a few friends about it, they all got it and are now into Florence, reaping the rewards of her words and application of the simple techniques.

If interested, you can begin to read some of her work online here.

NEW: Yoga Photo-voucher Christmas gifts!

 THOU ART YOGA Photo-voucher option 1
Photography: Elspeth Duncan

THOU ART YOGA Photo-voucher option 2
Photography: Elspeth Duncan

A unique Christmas gift:
"REFLECT. CONNECT. PROJECT."
(Voucher for one Kundalini Yoga class)

Give your loved ones the gift of transformation with this Thou Art Yoga photo-voucher for one Kundalini Yoga class.

$60TT

This keepsake voucher (suitable for beginning, intermediate or advanced students) comes in the form of a greeting card featuring an original Thou Art Yoga photograph. Class details are written inside the card, with ample space for you to add your own message.

Vouchers valid January to end of March 2012

For more information and to order your Thou Art Yoga photo-vouchers by 15 December contact me:
786-2539
Email Me

Click here for general Thou Art Yoga class details.

Thank you.

Elspeth

Special Yoga & Toys classes this week

Click on image to enlarge flier and see details.

More on the organization requesting support:
Mothers 2 Mothers (founded by HIV+ mother of 3, Lorna Hamilton-Henry) is a nonprofit organization aimed at
• Having babies be born HIV free
• Educating mothers on how to care for themselves and their children
• Providing psycho-social support

Mothers 2 Mothers Trinidad and Tobago, is hosting their 1st Annual Christmas party for mothers living with HIV and their children. The board of M2M T&T would like to bring joy to these special mothers and their children and are requesting assistance to sponsor this event.
  

Daisy Chain & Kundalini Yoga in Tobago

Thinking of taking a break and doing something a little different? How about a December weekend of Daisy Chain readings and signings and a special Kundalini Yoga class in Tobago? Click to enlarge fliers below and see details. And please share the link with your Tobago contacts.

Soon

Through divine channels, the prayer of your heart comes to pass.
Give thanks now before seeing evidence.
Prepare for the celebration.

Daisy Love . . . and stay tuned!

I have an exciting announcement to make re Daisy Chain. Stay tuned to find out on Friday.

Meanwhile, here's a new review posted on amazon.com by one reader, Shireen:

Truly a magical experience from cover to cover. The author links each character to the next in a seamless transition, ensuring that you never want to put this book down. 

The Daisy Chain kept me company for a few minutes each morning, the chapters are kept short, so you can enjoy them a couple at a time, sometimes unable to just read so few of them. Elspeth has a magical way of letting you truly "live" the essence of each character and directly identify with some of them. A great companion and a must read! My only complaint is that it ended.  Definitely 2 thumbs up and I can't wait for more from this creative and unique author!
Cheers. 

To purchase Daisy Chain at amazon.com please click here.

Trini shack meets Canadian flag

I've driven by this shack many times on the way to the Mount, but never really noticed it until yesterday with the unexpected sight of a brand new Canadian flag hanging in front of it.

I wonder who lives there and what the story is behind their display of the flag.

T & T, advertise online for free

I recently placed an ad for yoga classes and my photo portrait special on this site http://www.trinidadforsale.com

I'm letting you know because you may live in TT and have a business, service or product you want to promote. This is worth a try. You never know who will be browsing through and will give you great business.

One-Hour Wonders: Photo Portrait Special

 "I believe in the photographer's magic — the ability to stir the soul with light and shape and colour. To create grand visual moments out of small and simple things, and to infuse big and complicated subjects with unpretentious elegance."

(Amyn Nasser)

Click on image to enlarge

ONE-HOUR WONDERS

Professional photo portraits of you, or you and loved ones—outdoors, natural lighting.

SPECIAL includes:
* One hour shoot for 1 - 6 people (ask about rates for larger groups)
* CD of high quality images.

Special valid until December 23rd 2011.

For details and to book your session, contact Elspeth:
786-2539

645-5832

Email Me
 

 

A Unique Christmas Gift

Please click on image to enlarge flier and see details.

N.B. Price of $100 quoted in TT dollars, for copies of the book available in Trinidad & Tobago.
Those living abroad can purchase their copies of Daisy Chain from amazon.com

Animation can be very inspiring

Last night I went to the opening of the Animae Caribe Animation and New Media Festival. They are celebrating 10 years of the art of animation. Check the schedule. There is an interesting line up of films and workshops.

Last night a few fantastic short animated pieces were screened. One in particular, Teclopolis, was a work of genius, using simple household objects, old magazines and old computer parts to make an environmental statement. Look at the short clip below. I particularly love how they represented the ocean.