McGillveray Studios

Fort St. John held it’s 6th annual High On Ice, ice carving competition on January 15 – 17th, 2010. Things went off really well. The weather was above freezing (about 3 deg C., I think) Saturday, so the carvers had to put up sun shades. It wasn’t dripping and they managed. Funny how it can be a cold winter and when this show comes along it warms right up. I wonder what will happen for the Olympics in Vancouver?

I just got a Canon 5D MK II a week ago and so had fun with that. It does take nice smooth, sharp images, a real gem. It makes movies to boot.

Peace Island Park

Last weekend I spent at Peace Island Park, which is just south from Taylor BC, across the bridge spanning the Peace River. I have been camping there for 30 years now and does it ever have more campers now! Well we used to be campers, with tents,  portable stoves, sleeping bags and out houses. Now a days everyone has a big rigs, with kitchens, double beds and their own toilets. My rig is the camper in one of the pictures below, and still use the outhouses as it it easer than flushing toilet tanks.

The park has expanded over the years, with new sites compleat with power and a new boat launch.

You now have to make reservations to camp there on the weekends as it all gets booked up (in the old island part anyways). Phone (250) 789-9295 Their web site is http://www.camping.bc.ca/Peace_Island_Park_1623MID.aspx

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All these images are HDR shot with a Canon 40D and a Canon 17 – 40L USM. Taken hand held, with auto exposure bracket  -2, 0, +2 stops. RAW files developed in Lightroom V 2.3, HDRs created in Photomatix 3, and then tweeked again in Lightroom. Of course more time was spent on the top image.

The Fort St. John Child Development Center is having a silent auction on March 6th, 2009.  Ashley Bader contacted me and asked if I would like to make a donation.  Which I did, and the items were, one each framed 11×14 inch prints of the two pictures below.

Williston Lake

She also sent me the following email and info.

This year is the 35th year that the CDC has put on a talent show and also the first time (and only time) we are doing a silent auction.  For the silent auction, we are focusing on local talent in our community since that is really what the talent show is all about!  The beautiful photos you create definitely take talent and we were wondering if there would be anything you could donate for our silent auction?

Prior to the talent show, we will be discussing the items we have up for bid on Moose FM radio station.  This will be a good opportunity for some advertising plus on the night of the talent show you can display your donation in anyway you want!

The talent shows have been to raise funds for the “Project Build-A-Fort”  The building expansion will have a bigger impact than the simple construction of a building. At present the CDC serves over 450 children per year and is to continue to rise. The project will include space for programs and services that will enrich the lives with special and typical needs. It will enable us to offer a broader range of programs, enhance our service delivery, and allow us to better meet the needs of children and families in the area.

My daughter used some services of the CDC some 18 years ago.

So get yourself down to the CDC March 6 and bid on my pictures and all the other stuff.

Peace River - Near Alwin Holland campground

Since October, four bombs have been detonated: at two of the company’s remote natural gas pipelines, a wellhead and a metering shed in the Tom’s Lake area near Dawson Creek in northeastern B.C.

Coming into Tom's Lake B.C. from the north.

The local residents around the Tom’s Lake area are having a heck of a time with this. The RCMP has everyone as a suspect. People are being pitted against each other in this small community and the RCMP are no closer than at day one of the investigation. I think the RCMP have forgot how to solve real crimes and only know how to intimidate the little people and then Taser them. Gone are the days when parents told their children that if you ever need help call for a cop.

RCMP Sergeant Tim Shields said there are many individuals of interest in the case but so far, not enough evidence to consider anyone a suspect.

Update Jan. 24 3 cops from 3 different detachments in the lower mainland of BC got drunk and beat up a news paper delivery guy. It is getting worse and worse  with all the punks we pay.

Here is a Link to the CBC article about the 3 cops, beating a man.

Here is a Link to a CBC news video about the $500,000 reward.

TaylorGasStorage3, originally uploaded by Photo Mark.

I took this picture years ago of a propane storage sphere at the NGL plant I have worked at for 30 years. I also ran the powerhouse,co-gen plant and sulfur plant as shift engineer at the same facility for 6 years.

To see another picture of the Younger Plant on this site click  here.

As of today Feb 5, 2009 this is my most viewed on Flicker – go figure.

It has been cold here now (and the rest of Canada) for about 3 weeks, ranging from -20 deg C. to -40. That is without the wind chill. Today you can see the wind is not to bad. If the wind is not blowing, it can be nice outside even at these low temps. as the air is dry and crisp. But still should have gone to some tropical country. If the stock market never crashed.

Looking Out My Front Door This Morning

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