Steve's F#13th

I was born and raised in Nashville so I know a few guitar players. A few hundred actually. But I don't know too many that have a college degree in the instrument. My neighbour Steve Elder does and that makes him a rare breed. And Gabriolans, he gives lessons so if you're motivated, you too can learn this uber-cool F#13th chord. He operates a recording studio as well so you can study and then create an aural document of your progress.

Note: My whole life I have made 13th chords by grabbing the low E string note over the top of the neck with my thumb. I had no idea I was doing it wrong. Thanks Steve!

Number 6 in the Musician's Hands series

Leica M3, 50mm Summicron, 1/125s @ f2.8, Ilford XP2Super

Oddshots Monday > Hat Tree

I don't set this stuff up, it's just there. The odd thing is, right down the road from this hat tree, I saw another one on another property. There's something going on...

Yesterday, GDP passed passed the 10,000 visitor mark and I'd like to thank everyone who has stopped by and most especially those who have taken a moment to leave a comment. Much appreciated.

Visit Katney's Kaboodle to see the rest of the Oddshots from around the planet

And the Monochrome Monday Maniacs are here.

Cheers!

Leica M3, 50mm Summicron, 1/250s @ f4, Kodak BW400CN

Sunday Signage > Wet Paint

Robbie's Hands

Robbie Huston plays tenor (and occasionally soprano) for the Gabriola Recorder Ensemble. This photograph was made right after their recent concert at The Commons. For anyone who might be interested, the instrument is a maple baroque-style tenor recorder made by Roessler

Number 5 in the Musician's Hands series

Leica M3, 50mm Summicron, 1/125s @ f5.6, Kodak BW400CN

Skywatch Friday #23

Extra! Extra! Flying fish seen in the sky over The Commons!

The global Skywatch portal is here

Bruce's Hands

Bruce Mason got interested in the banjo during the Folk Revival and well into the 21st century his enthusiasm for the 5-string has yet to wane. He played Bonaparte's Retreat and a nifty arrangement of Eleanor Rigby during the shoot and he's also the composer of a dandy tune called The Gabriola Hornpipe. A writer by trade, his motto is Words That Work.

Number 4 in the Musician's Hands series

ABC Wednesday > J is for Java

Java is a six year-old sweetheart. She and her human companion live on neighbouring Mudge Island and I met them at the Gabriola ferry terminal when we were all waiting to cross the moat to Nanaimo. The bungee cord was being used as an improvised leash, the real one got left behind on Mudge. It struck me that island life is an improvisation so the bungee was the perfect element to complete the photograph.

Leica M3, 50mm Summicron, 1/125s @ f2.8, Kodak BW400CN

The global ABC Wednesday portal is here

Nathan's Hands

Nathan Tinkham has made his living playing guitar for most of his adult life and believe you me that's easier said than done. From busking on the streets of Victoria to founding The Great Western Orchestra and ten years of touring with Canadian legend Ian Tyson on the resume too, he's done it all and he's still going strong. Nathan's latest project is a lovingly produced tribute to the late Wilf Carter, Canada's first big country music star. He's debuting the CD tonight at The Roxy and you can bet your boots I'll be there. After all these years, he's not the least bit jaded. Nathan still loves to play and play he does!

Number 3 in the Musician's Hands series
Leica M3, 50mm Summicron, 1/125s @ f5.6, Kodak BW400CN

Oddshots Monday > Haulin' Art

Katney hosts the rest of the Oddshooters here

And the Monochrome Monday Maniacs are over here

Leica M3, 50mm Summicron, 1/15s @ f11 panned, Ilford XP2Super

Sunday Signage > Fish

Steve Smith's Hands

A lot of musicians have chops. And some have consistently good musical taste. Not many have both but Steve does, in spades. His chord voicings are exquisite and his hands on the keyboard are a beautiful thing to watch. He's had a long and successful career back east and we are very fortunate to have him here with us on Gabriola. He's at Raspberry's every Sunday and various other gigs around the island so you locals should get out and hear this man play. The rest of the world can sample his music here

Number 2 in the Musician's Hands series
Leica M3, 50mm Summicron, 1/125s @ f2.8, Kodak BW400CN

Skywatch Friday #22

The global Skywatch portal is here

Two Girls In A Tub

Don't ask...

Leica M3, 50mm Summicron, 1/15s @f2 w/ beanbag for support, Ilford XP2Super

ABC Wednesday > I is for Information

A frosty file photo from The Big Storm. You'll find all of the ABC Wednesday participants here

Brad's Hands

We all need self-assignments right? I have a couple in mind for the coming weeks and today's image is the first of one of them: A series on island musician's hands. I'm planning on using film for most but this one was shot with a borrowed DSLR. ISO 200, 1/8s @ f4 with a beanbag for support.

Brad is a busy guy and everybody on Gabriola has heard him play guitar or mandolin with one of the many groups he's involved with. He's great on both instruments but I chose to photograph the mando because I've been listening to his CD lately and it features that instrument along with Antonio Gradanti's excellent guitar playing. Listen for yourself here

Oddshots Monday > Prayer Flags

Tattered Buddhist prayer flags photographed through the viewfinder of an old Yashicamat TLR. To see more of this style and find out how it's done, check out this Flickr group.

Katney hosts the global Oddshooters and the Monochrome Monday Maniacs are here

Sunday Signage > Eagle Nest

Wire and Wood

There is always plenty of good live music on Gabriola but lately, the bill of fare has really been exceptional: String quartets, Gregorian chants, a recorder ensemble, a harmonica virtuoso and tonight, an internationally recognized mandolin/guitar duo in an intimate house concert setting.

Skywatch Friday #21

Skywatch Central is here

Low Tide at High Noon

ABC Wednesday > H is for Handlebars

Regular visitors to GDP know I'm a big fan of bicycles so today's post should be no surprise. Click Lugged Steel in the Links List on your right for more bike-related stuff. And to see all of the ABC Wednesday photos from around the world, click here

Leica M3, 50mm Summicron, 1/250s @ f8, Ilford XP2Super

Squash Seeds

I'd like to think that I'm a very attentive and meticulous photographer and that I carefully examine every square centimetre of the finder before pushing the shutter button but truth be told, it just ain't so. I didn't see the two "glowing" seeds in the middle of the saucer until the image was on my monitor but they certainly make the picture don't they? Gotta love little bonuses like that.

I saved these from a butternut squash we had for dinner last week and I'll be planting them just as soon as weather permits. But I'll start them inside in front of a south-facing window so they'll be good and strong when they go into the dirt.

Oddshots Monday > Surprise!

The photo is not quite so odd as the event. I checked the forecast online before bed last night and it's supposed to be nice all week, lots of sun icons across the span of days. Ha! Fooled again. The pedestrian at the edge of the frame was mumbling under her breath. I couldn't quite make out what she was saying but I think it might've been something about the weatherman's heritage. For the record, Ye Olde Farmer's Almanac predicts a snowy March for the Gulf Islands this year. So far...right on.

Katney's Kaboodle hosts the global Oddshots link-up and the Monochrome Maniacs are here

Sunday Signage > Raspberry's

Raspberry's is a great little cafe in Folklife Village. They offer everything on the sign and, on Sunday afternoons, live jazz featuring some of the island's best musicians.

13 Trees

Well, a few more than that maybe. This part of the island has been logged fairly recently, leaving a few stands of young evergreens to poke up at the sky. That's Vancouver Island in the background.

Skywatch Friday #20

These two eagles came to a screeching halt right over my head. And when I say screeching I mean that literally - they were both hollering at the top of their lungs as they approached. If you've ever heard that sound, there's no mistaking the source so I knew exactly what I was about to see before I even looked up.

Click here to see the rest of the Skywatch images from around the world

605

It won't be too long before there are buds on that branch...

ABC Wednesday > G is for Green

I've mentioned before that Gabriola is a mossy island and today's image reiterates the point. Go here to see the rest of the ABC Wednesday photos from around the world.

Water and Rock

Looking back through recent posts here, I see I've offered up lots of details but not too many This-is-what-Gabriola-looks-like pictures. So here we have a point off Malaspina Galleries in some nice late afternoon light.

Oddshots Monday > Log Toss

Oddshots HQ is here

And Monochrome Monday is here

Global Theme Day > Glass

Glass is the global theme for the month of March. Photo taken early in the morning on the shore of the beaver pond at The Commons

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants