Friday February 22, 2013

Friday February 22/13  update #372

I was feverish to finish the Feb 14 photos so I could have a morning to myself so I worked on them until 2am.  Then it was toss and turn until 7:15 when I needed a coffee to get me going.

I met Jay at Immaculate Conception with the intention of trying to see the crypt, as I can never remember the hours it is open.  We got there just before the early 9am closing and the nun let us in.  I told her we wouldn’t be much longer than 10 minutes.  My main focus again was the beautiful sad seated angel statue at the far end.

We snapped a few shots inside the cathedral as I gave Jay a few tips on making interesting and pleasing photographs.

Outside I almost stepped on a huge beetle that looked like it was encased in wood.   We had never seen such a thing before and were quite fascinated.  The poor thing seemed to be entangled in a bunch of hair and feathers so we helped him get rid of most of his encumbrances.  We then went by the flower market, then the art market and finally the 10 de Agosto market.

I took many shots today but have culled most out.  I am getting more discerning about the photos I want to keep and only keep mediocre shots if they have a story to tell.  Frankly, I am so bleary-eyed from working on photos that I should take a break if I can.

Bella was out for more groceries today and was home in time for Rosa’s appointment to clean house.

Tonight we are off to the California Kitchen so Bella can have her fix of BBQ’d ribs.

That was today’s excitement.   Hugs to all.    Please see these photos PLUS all new photos from last Thursday Feb 14 at http://souvenircuenca.blogspot.com/

Today’s posted Feb 14 photos from the Isla Isabela include baby sea lions, marine iguanas, birds, sharks, sea turtles, penguins, sunsets, and blue-footed boobies.  Yes Virginia, you heard right, blue-footed boobies!  If you haven’t seen boobies with blue feet, well you haven’t lived, so go to my blog for Feb 14.

A reminder to see the compilation of Galapagos videos at  http://youtu.be/XV94dg2LhHA taken on this island

Thursday February 21, 2013

Thursday February 21/13  update #371
A reminder to see the compilation of Galapagos videos at  http://youtu.be/XV94dg2LhHA
I woke up at 1:30 and finally just got up and started working on the Feb 13 photos at 3:30 for about 4 hours before crashing again for about 3 hours.  Then I was up again to work on the photos for another 2 hours.  It is time-consuming and keeps me in the house but it is something that needs to be done properly.
I learn some new technique every day and I am really proud of the new detailed work that is resulting from these efforts.
That was today’s excitement.   Hugs to all.    Please see all new photos from last Wednesday Feb 13 at http://souvenircuenca.blogspot.com/

Today’s posted Feb 13 photos include an early morning walk to Las Grietas on a trail of inhospitable mud-covered lava rock.  This was not an easy walk, starting at Finch Bay.  The Las Grietas fjords are part of a volcanic fracture or fissure stretching from Estrada Point to the western end of Academy Bay and continuing several kilometers underground.  Here, sea water and rainwater mix, so the ecosystem is brackish sea-water.  Fish larvae, such as Parrot Fish, can grow these fissures and then remain trapped here until they grow to adulthood.
You arrive at Las Grietas suddenly, looking down at some steep wooden stairs into this narrow canyon spreading left and right.  The right side is narrow and overgrown.  The left side however is a treasure of brilliant green water with many fish in evidence.  It seems to be a favourite trek for people to swim and even jump from the cliffs.  It was disappointing to see garbage left behind by ignorant humans, and I hate to call them that, in such a pristine setting.  Even at only 8:30am the relentless sun and humidity had us dripping wet and anxious to cut our visit short.  On the way back we encountered a large group or two including Europeans and Ecuadorians.  Walking on the sharp rocks with many wet sections of red mud was treacherous and dangerous, yet old people in sandals trudged on.  When I saw a man carrying a boy of about 6 years old I wanted to reach out and smack the idiot.  One small mis-step and both of them would be severely injured.  Even duct tape can’t cure stupidity.  I know I have reported some of this earlier so I apologize.
Usually the mid-day means showering off the sweat and grime from the morning outing then enjoying the air-conditioning to work on the computer and have a nap.
The days and nights are also only 12 hours in the Galapagos, basically 6:30 to 6:30, so outings are designed to avoid the scorching times between 11am and 4pm essentially.  In the late afternoon I walked with my 2 cameras to the water taxi pier for Finch Bay and took many shots of the action nearby, boats, people, pelicans, frigate birds, crabs, and the fascinating Marine Iguanas.
When we went to town for the evening meal I ordered a salad with chicken, ham, mozza and egg.  It sounded interesting but I was unprepared for the dish that came, with almost no evidence of the paltry amount of lettuce buried underneath.  Ecuador, where everything is possible, but nothing is for sure.  (Love that motto).
Near the pier there was yet another political rally in the skateboard park for supporters and candidates of President Rafael Correa’s ruling party.  We now know that he was easily re-elected as the polls had suggested from the outset.  He is a bit of a lefty but he has done so much good for the country since he came to power that it is a popular outcome.
Today I am going to include an untouched photo of a Marine Iguana to show the difference in a processed artwork.  The unprocessed photo has just hints of the colour in the skin of these fascinating creatures, but they are definitely there.  Part of my processing generally includes darkening a photo to bring out the colours, then to saturate those colours a little, then add some vibrance, amongst burning and dodging and other requirements.  The results on the Iguanas caught me completely by surprise.  I knew the colours were there, in their skin, but how easily they “popped” was a shock.  I hope you are enjoying the results.

Wednesday February 20, 2013

Wednesday February 20/13  update #370
Again, to see the compilation of Galapagos videos at  http://youtu.be/XV94dg2LhHA
Bella is off to play in a charity Dominoes tournament today.  She doesn’t know much about dominoes but it is for a good cause, and she needs a break.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I continue to get up early to work on these Galapagos photos, over 7 hours so far but it is going well.  I hate to have to delete any photos but choices have to be made to keep the good ones, and the ones that contribute to the story.
Peso keeps bugging me to play so I will relent and feed him some treats.  Pancho visits me later in the day for his rubdown.
Nose to the grindstone, what can we say….
I suspected that I had fouled up my dates on the Souvenir blog and yup, I sure did!  They are now corrected.
That was today’s excitement.   Hugs to all.    Please see all new photos from last Tuesday Feb 12 at http://souvenircuenca.blogspot.com/

Tuesday February 19, 2013

Tuesday February 19/13  update #369
Again, to see the compilation of Galapagos videos go to  http://youtu.be/XV94dg2LhHA
Bella got home late last night from playing bridge at the Cuenca Bridge Club with a temporary partner since her regular partner is going in for hip replacement surgery this morning.
It is tough to sleep when you know you have so much to get done in a day so I was up by 7:30 and plowed into more Galapagos photos from last Tuesday.   I had done many last night but still had a pile to do this morning.
I discovered something neat when processing my photos of the marine iguanas.  Most of the iguanas looked dark, or covered in sand, but occasionally we would see glimpses of colour peeking through.  As I saturated the colour for each iguana the colours just exploded out!   It seems as though these guys have a chameleon-type skin so they can blend in with their surroundings at will!   Anyway I hope you enjoy the photos just posted.
I had to go to Hearts Of Gold office this afternoon for a follow-up meeting to organize a spring fundraiser.  The date was chosen as Saturday April 13th following the big April 12 fiesta celebrations here.   We will be holding a silent auction and sale between 5pm and 8pm at the California Kitchen.  Now the work begins to find donated goods to be auctioned.   Upon arriving home I posted ads on 4 different Gringo sites requesting donations to jump start us in the right direction.   I have received the HoG logo from Emilie so I can begin work on the auction sheets.   Later we will probably have to do a door-to-door business canvas to get support.
Sad news to report that Grenville, the partner of Mike’s grandmother, had passed away last week after a bad year fighting multiple cancers.  Mike is the husband of Bella’s daughter Kim,   It has been a tough year for that family.
That was today’s excitement.   Hugs to all.    Please see all photos from last Tuesday Feb 13 at http://souvenircuenca.blogspot.com/

Monday February 18, 2013

Monday February 18/13  update #368

Well we made it back from the Galapagos Islands late last night, too late to vote in the Ecuadorian general elections so we can await a fine for voting because it is mandatory here.  The outcome for President was never in doubt as the popular President Correa was easily re-elected.  We had no idea who to vote for Assemblymen anyway.

Exhausted and sticky, we unpacked and played with the Boys who were very happy to see us back home.  I did manage to get all my photos downloaded from my laptop direct to my external disk drive so I can begin the processing on those today.  I have already whittled them down to under 700 and will have to be harsh in making many further cuts.

I also downloaded a few movies that I had belatedly decided to take because still pictures can’t show everything.  I had hesitated to use the movie mode because that would eat up so much of my batteries but I did have back-ups and chargers so I managed to take a few.  At other locations it would have been just too inconvenient to do movies because of footing, being in a boat, or just having no time to do both.  The movies include marine iguanas, shore birds, crabs, giant tortoises, flamingos and the general beauty of Isla Isabela.

See the compilation of these videos at  http://youtu.be/XV94dg2LhHA

I think I have decided to try to process my photos and put up a few as I go along in my blogs so stay tuned.  I will see if it will let me backdate posts to the correct days, I don’t see why not, they’ll just be out of order.

We would highly recommend a trip to Isla Isabela in particular, because of the diversity of animals, plants, birds and fish.  Also the beaches are so very pristine and go on forever.  We apparently picked a good time to go to see the most lush period for the plant life and also hit mating season for most of the species here.  

That was today’s excitement.   Hugs to all.    

Please see all photos as I post them later at http://souvenircuenca.blogspot.com/