Window v graffiti

Window v graffiti - #49/365, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Iced tree and bench

Iced tree and bench - #48/365, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Jack Campbell

I was watching the end of The Family Man the other night.  Nick Cage plays jack Campbell is this wonderful "what's important in life" story.  The next morning I overhear that Jack Campbell had a great game as goalie for the US junior hockey team.

Park edge

Park edge - #47/365, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Balcony shapes

Balcony shapes - #46/365, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Boxing Day meat lovers

Boxing Day meat lovers - #45/365, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Fuchsia crown, empty glasses and Christmas games

Fuchsia crown, empty glasses and Christmas games - #44/365, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Winter Garden glow

Winter Garden glow - #43/365, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

We went to see the Robin Hood Pantomime today at the wonderful Elgin Winter Garden with the whole family - great fun and perfect for Christmas eve, perhaps a new tradition - www.rosspetty.com/.

Cheery hats on a very cold day

Cheery hats for a very cold day - #42/365, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Cello fellow

Cello fellow - #41/365, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

A rather serious cellist playing along to a Beatles soundtrack.

Self portrait

Self portrait - #40/365, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

I notice that a lot of photographers take self-portraits and since I wasn't too happy with a limited choice for my daily pic, I set up the tripod and tried to apply some tips I've learned from sites like Digital Photography School. I tried a few different poses and compositions, but decided this one was the best, technically and I was happy with my smile and the look in my eyes. The most difficult aspect of taking your own picture is focus, especially when you're working with quite a shallow depth of field as is the case here. I decided to keep the camera on autofocus and I used a remote shutter release. The one feature of my D80 I did use which I don't think I've ever really used is selecting the specific focus zone - in this case top-medium-right, which I hoped gave me the best chance of getting my eyes in focus. Lucky I didn't have anything between my teeth !

The Drake Hotel

My brother and sister-in-law will be arriving for Christmas in a few days and we're going out for dinner and drinks.  So I'm thinking about West Queen West, with a stop at The Drake Hotel for drinks later in the evening.  Today, with no direct connection, The Drake Hotel added me as a contact on Flickr.  They follow the Toronto group so that's probably where they found me, but still, too much of a coincidence.

DJ Hero

My son got DJ Hero for the 13th birthday gift last week.  A few nights after his birthday I was winding up the day channel surfing and I picked up the DJ Hero box to review the game features.  Just as I did that, the DJ Hero commercial appears on TV (and I'd never seen it before).

K on Blue Ice

K on Blue Ice - #39/365, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Blue Trains

Blue Trains - #39/365, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Your table awaits

Your table awaits - #38/365, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

Da Gianni e Maria Trattoria on St. Clair West.

Olympic Heights

Olympic Heights - #37/365, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

An athlete performs during the Olympic torch ceremony at Nathan Phillips Square.

DJ Hero

DJ Hero - #36/365, originally uploaded by PJMixer.

It was my son's 13th birthday today and we bought him DJ Hero, the new interactive music game (Playstation). Similar concept to Guitar Hero and Rock Band, but very different music content. I really like it (although my wrist is already sore after just a few turns), probably because I used to DJ (campus radio, CKMS - U Waterloo) and had aspirations of club DJ'ing over the years. Plus I enjoy the beats from hip hop remixes. Music has always been a big passion of mine (fighting with photography for my attention these days) and I was always the one making mix tapes in the day...and that's where I got my alias PJMixer.

Mark

Mark - #35/365, originally uploaded by PJMixer.


Mark is an old friend of mine and when he asked for a co-pilot for his Holiday Helpers (www.holidayhelpers.org) deliveries a few weeks ago I jumped at the opportunity to do a little for those less fortunate than us this Christmas time. We had a great morning and made 4 deliveries of trees, decorations and gifts to two families and 2 young single mothers.

Sheraton Affections

Sheraton Affections - #34/365, originally uploaded by PJMixer.