Springtime At The Inn

Posted: 14th May 2013 by ToadHollowPhoto in Anne Hathaway's Cottage At The Olde Inn, Photography
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Today we mark the beginning of a new project here at Toad Hollow Photography, one that speaks to a subject that is so very important to us.  The heritage and associated architecture of our beloved Vancouver Island are in a constant state of dynamic change, and with this comes a bevy of issues; some good and some bad.  This new series we are titling “Anne Hathaway’s Cottage At The Olde Inn” will be featuring what is likely some of the last photographs of an icon here in Victoria on the island, one I visited many times as a boy when my mom was still alive.

English Inn & Resort, Victoria, BC, Canada

English Inn & Resort, Victoria, BC, Canada

I can honestly say I do not envy the position that our local government leaders and planners have in front of them, trying to balance the needs of commerce against the desire to hold onto the rich tapestry of history that makes this island so special.  To add an even further dimension to the topic, the entire island here has only recently been settled, and as such we have no heritage buildings older than 150 years or so.  This results in a finite number of these facilities, and quite honestly some of them are disappearing at an alarming rate.

But things are not as simple as just having a concern for these facilities and their futures, there has to be some form of a plan that is sustainable.  That balancing act has to put many of the people responsible for these decisions in a rather untenable situation.  If we just blindly tear it down, the entire heritage community will rise in fury, but at the same time the folks who own these lands and buildings must be allowed to find a way forward that is fiscally sound.  This is just the way of the world.

But even with all this being considered, it’s no less of a shock to hear of a landmark in the city being slated for demolition.

This is Rosemead Manor, a true landmark and icon in Victoria.  Rest assured, this wonderful revival-Tudor style heritage building architected by Samuel Maclure will be preserved.  It’s all the other buildings on the luscious 4.5 acre site that now likely have a date with a wrecking ball.

As a little boy we’d come here often on special occasions.  My mom immigrated here from Germany at a very young age, and I believe that she was drawn to these sorts of places because they reminded her of her homeland.  As such, I’ve grown to love these places myself, probably due to seeing them through her eyes.  And as such, the proposed demolition of the remaining buildings on the site hits me in my heart with a deep sense of loss.  But, these are personal feelings and have no bearing on the financial viability of the facility.

Anne Hathaways Cottage (Replica), English Inn & Resort, Victoria, BC, Canada

Anne Hathaways Cottage (Replica), English Inn & Resort, Victoria, BC, Canada

This photograph was taken three years ago in the height of a wet, cold, rainy fall.  The authentic thatched roof on the building covers a perfect replica of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage in the UK, which is a landmark and heritage site.  For years and years, people coming to visit Victoria would make the trip out to this landmark to immerse themselves in the genuine feeling of the site.  Peppered with Tudor-styled buildings, the entire 4.5 acre site played host to a setting that immediately whisked visitors away right into the heart of Olde England.

As the years passed by, though, the visitors became fewer and further between.  In 2011 the facility was bought by a group from receivership, further underscoring the challenges a business faces in these hard times.  Facilities like this become victim to these times.

At any rate, the latest plans on the drawing board reveal that everyone believes that Rosemead Manor is to preserved and saved as a heritage facility, but the entire remainder of the site is to be demolished to make room for an entirely new project.  Details are available here on the Times-Colonist: New vision for Esquimalt’s English Inn adds housing, keeps historic manor.

To see the entire gallery of photographs we took in 2010 when the place was still active and in use, please visit our online gallery “English Inn & Resort / Anne Hathaways Cottage“.  As well, we’ll be posting and sharing the entire series of shots we captured on our most recent trip to the site in the coming months, so do stay tuned for that.  Some of the shots we’ve got in the works are absolutely astounding, and as mentioned, are likely some of the very last from the facility.

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit us here today, as always we love to hear from our visitors and encourage you to leave us any thoughts you may have!  Until next time, my friends!!

Toys! Toys! Toys!

Posted: 6th May 2013 by Mrs. Toad in Olde School, Photography
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“When I am grown to man’s estate I shall be very proud and great.  And tell the other girls and boys not to meddle with my toys!” – Robert Louis Stevenson

If you believe roller skates should have keys, made a game of picking up wooden sticks with painted ends, created endless works of art with the simple help of two plastic buttons only to shake them all away and start again, or spent countless hours running up and down the stairs only to watch a spring crawl down them, then we’re in for an afternoon that’s better than a barrel of monkeys!

Today we take a step back into our childhood in our continuing series “Olde School“.  When I was a mere tadpole every classroom was equipped with the usual fare required to educate curious little minds, but if your grade school was anything like mine, it also had a corner filled with toys.  As the teacher tried her best to convince me that math could be fun, it was all I could do to make it to the bell that meant the fastest one to the corner got their choice of the toys!

Antique Baby Carriage - Metchosin Schoolhouse - Metchosin, BC, Canada

Antique Baby Carriage – Metchosin Schoolhouse – Metchosin, BC, Canada

While the toy corners at my school never once included a thirty-pound cannon ball in a bookcase, they did indeed include a doll carriage.  Once I figured out that sitting at the back of the class gave you a distinct advantage in the sprint to the play area, the doll carriage was always my first choice.  Designed to reflect the real prams of the day, they were ornately embellished with delicate iron curves that would easily survive the challenge of the younger sibling using it as a race car.  As generations of baby-dolls, and perhaps a few other assorted and beloved little critters all took their rightful turn as the contents, these sturdy little vehicles outlasted every coat of paint a dad could throw on them.

Antique Baby Carriage - Metchosin Schoolhouse - Metchosin, BC, Canada

Antique Baby Carriage – Metchosin Schoolhouse – Metchosin, BC, Canada

Simple and designed to last, these toys were not equipped with any buttons or whistles like the electronic toys of today.  They did not run on battery power, they ran on imagination.   I cannot help but giggle at the thought of a child today getting a blob of silly putty in their Christmas stocking.  Would they even know what it is?  Well, even if they got that far, they would surely never know about pressing it against the comic strips and stretching the faces all out of shape.  Now, that was good fun!

Antique Baby Carriage - Metchosin Schoolhouse - Metchosin, BC, Canada

Antique Baby Carriage – Metchosin Schoolhouse – Metchosin, BC, Canada

And while perhaps Rock’em Sock’em Robots weren’t quite as exciting as some of the video games available today, at least when you lost your head you could simply pop it back on!  And if you found yourself in a real pickle, you could always rely on the platoon of tiny plastic green soldiers that you kept at the ready in your Superman lunchbox.

Antique Baby Carriage - Metchosin Schoolhouse - Metchosin, BC, Canada

Antique Baby Carriage – Metchosin Schoolhouse – Metchosin, BC, Canada

I must admit, some of my most cherished memories are of my grandfather trying to fold his legs underneath himself as we sat for hours on the livingroom floor creating eclectic works of art through the magic of Spirograph.  Incomplex and unassuming, whether you fancied Easy-Bake ovens or Tinker-Toys, Legos or Yo-yos, they required much more than just moving your thumbs on a control pad.  They required cooperation, innovation, creativity and make-believe.  The very kind of make-believe that childhoods are made of.

Thanks ever so much for joining us today, I must say it’s been more fun than an afternoon with the Fisher-Price Little People!  Whatever your day looks like today, we hope that you bring a little bit of childhood to each and every moment.

Until next time!

Warmly,

Mrs. Toad

A Quarry’s Story

Posted: 26th April 2013 by ToadHollowPhoto in Island Hoppin', Photography
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History is such a fickle lady, elevating certain stories to levels of yore while others are soon forgotten, lost forever in the ether of time.  History can be centered around a tale woven in the fabric of time a millennium ago, or it can share an allegory from recent times.  What factors affect those stories remembered versus those lost is just as much an enigma as the heart of these stories themselves.

Today’s post finds us heading back to Newcastle Island, just off the shore of Nanaimo, BC on Vancouver Island.  This tiny little island became prominent in recent history in the mid 1800′s with first the discovery of rich coal beds, then followed after by the finding of sandstone deposits.  We’re continuing our running photoblog series “Island Hoppin’” by visiting and sharing the story and pictures from the remains of the old sandstone quarry left on the island.  Although these events all have occurred within the last 150 or 160 years, they form a rich part of the tapestry of island living, and more specifically a time when colonial settlers were building new communities.

Old Sandstone Quarry - Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park - Nanaimo, BC, Canada

Old Sandstone Quarry – Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park – Nanaimo, BC, Canada

It was a hot summer’s day the day we visited the island, and the gentle breezes coming off the ocean added a touch of coolness to the hot, acrid air.  A short wander away from the shore and the bay led to a terrific discovery, that of an old sandstone quarry left here as an exhibit today.  The moment you walked away from the bay and the ocean, the air became still, almost motionless.  It felt as if we were standing in a blast furnace.  The only sounds were those of the crickets, all other animals and beings had long since headed for the cool shade and gentle ocean breezes.

Old Sandstone Quarry - Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park - Nanaimo, BC, Canada

Old Sandstone Quarry – Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park – Nanaimo, BC, Canada

Aboriginal history dates back well over 12,000 years on Vancouver Island.  Communities thrived as people had easy access to incredible fish stocks, trees, water and other key natural resources.  These lifestyles continued on for thousands and thousands of years until one day a group of European settlers came upon the area.  History changed forever.

As Fort Victoria was being founded and formed in the southern part of the island, an appetite for fuel and food became voracious with the new settlers seeking fresh sources of resources.  One of the key items that was needed for the machines that were helping to cultivate the land and the steamships that made their way up and down the coast-ways was a healthy supply of rich coal.  In 1849 a bed of coal reserves was discovered, which soon led to Newcastle Island becoming a place from which much needed resources and supplies were generated.  Soon the island became dotted with tunnels, many of which have collapsed since.

Old Sandstone Quarry - Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park - Nanaimo, BC, Canada

Old Sandstone Quarry – Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park – Nanaimo, BC, Canada

In 1869 the focus turned from coal to sandstone as Joseph Emery from the United States began to search for a suitable sandstone source for the construction of the United States Mint in San Francisco.  It was soon discovered, much to the chagrin of local San Francisco residents who put up hurdles due to the fact the sandstone wasn’t originating from the States, that the sandstone found on Newcastle Island was superior to most other veins.  Even today, some of the original sandstone architectural details still exist in the Mint, having survived earthquakes, fires and other numerous calamities.

As time progressed and needs changed, the final application of this rich sandstone reserve was focused on the pulp and paper mills that were emerging on the island.  And this is where the final chapter for this mining operation came to a close in 1932 as the production operations moved.

Old Sandstone Quarry - Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park - Nanaimo, BC, Canada

Old Sandstone Quarry – Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park – Nanaimo, BC, Canada

As we’ve said countless times before, necessity is the mother of all invention.  The complex methods created to extract the mill-stones from the ground required a new machine.  Imaginative minds converged with resourcefulness in the design of this piece of machinery that today stands in the park as a connection for visitors to the storied past.  Today’s machinery is created with the tightest of tolerances, designed to be efficient and last a long time in a highly volatile environment.  In the 1800′s tolerances were a social factor in terms of dealing with friends and neighbors, with no bearing on mechanical engineering at all.

Old Sandstone Quarry - Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park - Nanaimo, BC, Canada

Old Sandstone Quarry – Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park – Nanaimo, BC, Canada

It’s now been well over 100 years since this machine was last used.  Today it stands as a testament to early ingenuity and engineering.  And it makes for a great site to explore as you try to taste a little of what life was like back then, a hard life full of physical toil and sacrifice.  We take much of this for granted these days, and some of the harder edges to these stories are smoothed out until all that really remains is the romantic impression left of the early settlers living a free life while tending to their farms and businesses.

Old Sandstone Quarry - Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park - Nanaimo, BC, Canada

Old Sandstone Quarry – Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park – Nanaimo, BC, Canada

As we walk up the stairs and take one final turn to see the quarry below, the voices and sounds of the workers begin to rise to our ears.  It’s a slightly haunting feeling, almost as if we have one foot in today’s world and the other in a time long ago.  We feel these connections are important as we try to learn, understand and remember all the events and people that have come before us, forming the communities that we live in today.  Communities that we love so much.

Thanks for joining us as we explore another great bit of history here on Vancouver Island.  It really means an awful lot to us to have a chance to share this with everyone, we really appreciate you taking the time to visit.  We really do love to hear from all our visitors, so please feel free to leave us any comments you may have.  Until next time!

Sources

Wikipedia: Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park

Gabriola’s Sandstone Quarries

History – Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park

Have I Been Forgotten?

Posted: 23rd April 2013 by ToadHollowPhoto in Photography
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One of the very best parts about being involved in photography is encountering a scene that leaves the visitor with many unanswered questions.  Trying to place context on such scenes adds interest and intrigue for the viewer, commonly referred to as “artistic tension” by those who subscribe to Gestalt.  Today’s post finds us taking a look at a tableau that Mrs. Toad and I came across on a recent adventure just outside of a tiny town called Saltair here on Vancouver Island, BC.  As we came around a corner on the back-roads that ribbon their way up and down the coast of the island, we came across a great old weathered and rusty boat anchored in the bay.

Rusty Boat - Saltair, BC, Canada

Rusty Boat – Saltair, BC, Canada

The life of a fisherman here on Vancouver Island is not for those who are faint of heart.  Frequent stories of boats lost to sea by sudden and fierce storms, particularly up near the northern tip of the island, tell harrowing tales of high waters and ferocious winds that tests the experience of those who’ve done this for all their lives.  Some of those tests are lost, further adding to the sense of danger for those pursuing a life on the ocean.

Further to all this, the current state of our fisheries finds fish stocks depleting at an alarming rate, with some species being right on the precipice of extinction.  This translates directly onto those who fish for a living, making it nearly impossible to earn a proper and decent subsistence.  Today, more and more ships are being left abandoned as those who used them everyday have had to leave them behind and head to shore for work.  Is this boat here abandoned?  Probably not.  It’s weathered state gives us all an immediate impression, but it’s important to know that these ships are used as work-horses, and their general appearance is of little interest to those who captain them.

But, this leaves no less a mark on those who encounter these types of scenes, like us.  The inherent romance of life on and by the ocean is almost palpable, drawing many towards it like a moth to a flame.  As we were standing on the shore taking in the entire experience before us, the crunching sound of shells beneath our feet intermingled with the distinctive smell from the ocean to really remind us of our deep love for the island.

And if that comes with a mysterious sense of intrigue and wonder, then all the better.

Our new Topaz Labs Detail 3 plugin made really enjoyable work of post-processing this image.  The fine control we have over both enhancing the intricate details that make a scene like this come to life as well as the areas of contrast and shadow give us the ability to create imagery that expresses the character of the island as well as the personal vision we are trying to share.  This tool makes an excellent addition to the artists repertoire for the very reasonable price of $39.99, we highly recommend it here at The Hollow.

Many thanks for your kind visit today, we really appreciate it!  As always, we love to hear from all our visitors, so please do feel free to leave us any comments you may have!  Until next time, my friends!

From The Ashes Of Studebaker

Posted: 18th April 2013 by ToadHollowPhoto in Photography, The Toads At The Gathering
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Most everyone has heard of the fabled Studebaker car company and the exquisite cars they designed and built in the mid-century.  And many know that this brand is long gone today.  What isn’t widely known is what happened immediately after the main plant in South Bend rolled the last car off the assembly line and closed the doors forever.  As the Phoenix who rises from the ashes, so did the Avanti.  And what a story it is.

Join us today as we stroll back into the heart of The Motorcar Gathering 2012 held at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Victoria late in 2012 with our feature photoblog series “The Toads At The Gathering“.

Avanti - Queen Alexandra Hospital, Victoria, BC, Canada

Avanti – Queen Alexandra Hospital, Victoria, BC, Canada

This is the Avanti, born of the troubles experienced at Studebaker and built with components and designs acquired through partnerships, passion and vision.  On December 20th, 1963, the main Studebaker plant in South Bend shuttered forever.  A group of stalwart believers joined forces to try to create something from the remains of that venture, and by taking components from Studebaker, Chevrolet and Ford, they created something unique and very special.  These cars are carefully designed and crafted at the Avanti Motor Company, they are not just a bunch of disparate parts thrown together to make a platform.  These were finely crafted and built cars that today have quite the following.

After passing through various ownership groups over the years, the Avanti managed to celebrate 25 years of automotive excellence and design in the late eighties, and eventually the company was mired in a scandal as the company was bought with the intention of resurrecting it in Mexico with a fresh partnership with Ford.  Alas, the economy and the law caught up with M.E. Kelly in the late 2000′s and the car company suffered its final blow and today is no longer active.

Avanti - Queen Alexandra Hospital, Victoria, BC, Canada

Avanti – Queen Alexandra Hospital, Victoria, BC, Canada

In the car circles I grew up in, the Avanti was spoken of in hushed circles, almost as if we were discussing that ever-elusive unicorn that everyone seems to be chasing around after in the forest.  This perception of the car was backed up by a car that was just as much at home rolling up to the opera on a Friday night as guys and gals dressed in their very best black-tie outfits mingle with the who’s-who of society, as it was rolling up to the track on the weekend and leaving many high performance cars in its dust.  Particularly in the late sixties, the Avanti Motor Company was using engine and drive-train components from the Chevrolet Corvette, making for a car that had a reputation that was not to be trifled with.

But, the Avanti was much more than this.  This interior shot of one on display at the car show showcases the incredible amount of detail that went into the design.  This isn’t wood veneer (at least I am quite certain it isn’t) that we are looking at here, and the leather is of the finest quality.  It was this attention to the finer details that helped to create a gentleman’s car, one that was as fast as it was elegant.

Avanti - Queen Alexandra Hospital, Victoria, BC, Canada

Avanti – Queen Alexandra Hospital, Victoria, BC, Canada

Although the lines were rather simple, they were no less gracious.  When taken in as a whole, the smooth and cultured lines of the car create a flowing silhouette, one that is as much at home cutting through the wind on the highway as it is displayed at a car show.

As a young man, I recall a particular event.  Being a car fan of the highest order my entire life, I came across a gentleman who was just climbing out of his Avanti in a parking lot one day.  Not being sure what I was looking at exactly caused me to strike up an inquisitive conversation with the gentleman, who was all too happy to talk to me.  As soon as I had realized that his car had a small block Chevrolet motor in it from the Corvette group, I just had to hear it run.  He obliged me, and the dulcet tones that emitted from the twin exhaust pipes was a sound that remains with me today.  Since then, I keep a constant vigil and lookout for these cars on our roads, and every time I see one that sense of excitement is actually quite overwhelming.  And as such, you can just imagine how terrific it was to come across two models of this vintage car at the show, and to have a chance to check them out close and in person.

Sometimes the best stories are those that are slightly obscured from the forefront of history.  More can be learned about the Avanti Motor Company on Wikepedia for those with a deeper curiosity.

Many thanks for your kind visit today to The Hollow, we sure do appreciate it.  As always, we really love to hear from all our visitors, so please feel free to leave us any comments you may have.  Until next time!

These Are A Few Of My Favourite Things

Posted: 17th April 2013 by Mrs. Toad in Photography
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Usually as we set out to create a new blog here at the Hollow, Mr. Toad will give me some incredibly inspirational photos and then we put our little green heads together until we put the last period at the end and call it a wrap!  But today, perhaps because it is finally Spring and suddenly it’s okay for grown-ups to play in the dirt, or maybe because April Fools’ Day recently passed and I’m still feeling a little cheeky, we are going to shake things up a bit.

Touring around our little island is somewhat of a passion for us.  No matter where you choose to rest your eyes, they are in for some kind of treat.  Mountains, valleys, ocean, lakes, rivers, blue skies, friendly folks, the list just goes on as far as the horizon.  So, understandably, it would be very difficult to choose a favourite.  But today, since the golden skies have put me in somewhat of a jubilant mood, I am going to share with you all some of my very favourite things about living on Vancouver Island.

Cowichan Bay Marina - Cowichan Bay, BC, Canada

Cowichan Bay Marina – Cowichan Bay, BC, Canada

When you visit an island, you spend a lot of time looking in.  When you live on an island, you spend an equal amount of time looking out.  The landscape does not end at the shore, it is simply where you can tie your boat and claim your tiny homestead.  Every year as the grey slowly comes apart at the seams, revealing months of lazy summer days stretched out as far as the eye can see, new explorers from all reaches of the Earth chug and bob their way to our coastal towns to become de facto neighbours for a while.  Cowichan Bay marina is one of three major marinas in our area, and one of my favourite places to watch the island grow.  Comfortably seated on the terrace of one of my favourite restaurants, the Cow Cafe, and usually munching on a big basket of the best fries anywhere to be found, it is easy to see why an afternoon here could easily turn into anyone’s favourite thing!

Cowichan Bay Marina - Cowichan Bay, BC, Canada

Cowichan Bay Marina – Cowichan Bay, BC, Canada

It is not by accident that the Cowichan Valley is called the “Warmland”.  It is truly the best word to describe both the area and its people.  I am not sure if it is simply the relaxed island lifestyle or the fact that we really do have the best fries, but it’s not long before someone starts chatting to you and you find yourselves sharing stories all afternoon over a coffee, or another of my favourite things, a tall glass of Chardonnay!

Cowichan Bay Marina - Cowichan Bay, BC, Canada

Cowichan Bay Marina – Cowichan Bay, BC, Canada

Like a living art gallery, unique pieces crafted by numerous talented local First Nations’ artists are to be found not just on dark walls in obscure places, but as a part of the landscape.  Like a pop-up storybook reminding us all of the rich heritage that surrounds us, each colourful piece tells a tale that is meaningful to each of us in its own distinctive way.

And of course, like any good story, we must save my very favourite thing for last.  Looking out over the crystal blue water, the black mountains towering in the distance, and the myriad of floating pathways makes me think of my most favourite thing of all…walking hand in hand with Mr. Toad, capturing pictures of the place we love so dearly, and sharing them all with all of you.

Thank you so much for spending some time with us today!  Please do drop by our comment section and let us know some of your favourite things.  And if you find yourself irresistibly lured to our wonderful little warmland, let us know and we can add another entry to our list of favourite things, meeting you!

Until next time!

Warmly,

Mrs. Toad

A Level Of Detail

Posted: 11th April 2013 by ToadHollowPhoto in Photography, Vette to Victoria
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Make no mistake about it, the Chevrolet Corvette is quite the car right off the assembly line.  Many owners love to personalize their cars, and the amount and type of customizations out there are limited by your imagination only.  And that’s kind of funny in a way, the Corvette isn’t a high production number car in any given year.  This phenomenon has to be attributed to the unbridled passion and love most Corvette owners have for the brand and their cars.  There can be no other real explanation.  Today’s post takes a close look at two modified Corvettes.  Join us as we head back to the “Vette to Victoria” long weekend hosted by the Victoria Corvette Club in the spring of 2012.  It seems so strange that this terrific long weekend of events and shows happened almost a year ago now.  How time flies when you’re having fun, I guess!

Show 'n Shine - Vette to Victoria - Victoria, BC, Canada

Show ‘n Shine – Vette to Victoria – Victoria, BC, Canada

Mrs. Toad and I spend the Saturday of the long weekend at the Show ‘n Shine car show hosted at the local Chevrolet car dealership.  As the day progressed along and most entries had arrived, setup and prepared, and were in full-blown show-mode, we wandered the lot with camera in hand checking out the cars and meeting the great folks.  When you visit a show of this scale, you come away with a much broader sense as to the exact size of the community of enthusiasts that make up these types of meets.

This car was specifically detailed by the owner to suit their taste.  The dash insets in this shot are wood-grain accents that can be ordered as a kit and applied to the interior, like it is here.  The results are a slightly changed perception of the interior, one that is personal and appreciated by the owner and all who popped by during the day to check this out.  I thought it added a touch of class to the cockpit.

Show 'n Shine - Vette to Victoria - Victoria, BC, Canada

Show ‘n Shine – Vette to Victoria – Victoria, BC, Canada

Under the hood of the same car we find carbon fiber accents everywhere.  Once again, these are subtle additions and enhancements made to the car that change slightly the overall look while still maintaining the essential “Corvette” feel to the car.  These are the things that make cars like this stand out in a crowd.

Show 'n Shine - Vette to Victoria - Victoria, BC, Canada

Show ‘n Shine – Vette to Victoria – Victoria, BC, Canada

Parked right next to the car above was this one.  Much less subtle.  Yet still quintessentially Corvette.  The graphics on this car are not actually painted on.  This is a massive vinyl type decal that is carefully and precisely designed and created for the car.  Even the checkered flag details on the mirror include this treatment.

Show 'n Shine - Vette to Victoria - Victoria, BC, Canada

Show ‘n Shine – Vette to Victoria – Victoria, BC, Canada

During the long weekend we met many folks from all over.  There was a large contingency of cars that came up specially from the United States for this long weekend event.  This really added a terrific dimension to the entire weekend, allowing us all to see a wide variety of cars, styles and types.  Friendly faces were to be found everywhere, and all you had to do was walk up to a car with a smile on your face to realize you had just met a long-lost friend who you were going to share the next 20 minutes with talking passionately about these cars.

As spring arrives, soon to give way to summer, the season for the car shows starts to unfold in front of us.  It’s going to be an exciting year, and we hope to have many adventures to share with you all here.

Thank you so much for your visit to The Hollow today!  We always love to hear from all our visitors, so please do feel free to leave us any comments you may have!  Until next time!

Home Is Where You Hang Your Hat

Posted: 10th April 2013 by ToadHollowPhoto in Photography
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Our first love for photography here on Vancouver Island has to be the homes that dot our landscapes.  Whether they are new, modern structures, or old, weathered and character-rich homes, they are all of interest.  In particular the older homes really tell a story, we find, one that is so quintessentially Vancouver Island.  Join us today as we explore some classic Canadian architecture.

Classic Canadian Home - Vancouver Island, BC, Canada

Classic Canadian Home – Vancouver Island, BC, Canada

On a cold and rainy day here recently, Mrs. Toad and I headed up island for a bit of a break together.  We just love to explore this island together, with one of our favorite past-times being getting rather lost.  You just never know what you might find on the back-roads of the island here, and each time we do we uncover another treasure that sparks an entire adventure.

This photograph was actually taken on one of our main roads.  It’s a shot that has been bugging me for several years now as we pass this house quite frequently.  I have no clue if it’s currently inhabited, or what the future holds for it.  This usually causes a sense of urgency to capture the images before the scene disappears forever, which seems to be happening around here a lot at an alarming rate.

Each of us leaves an indelible print on places we’ve lived.  We’ve all seen the height markers carved into the frames of doorways in houses, with dates and names denoting certain milestones in children’s lives as they grow.  We’ve all seen strange marks on walls that leave us wondering about why they were made and who created them.  These little clues are all permanent symbols of a life once lived in this spot, and in many cases they also carry a little of the energy of those who made them.

Homes like this are found everywhere on Vancouver Island.  This one appears to have been added onto, perhaps more than once.  Very few actual straight lines exist, yet this all helps to create the rich character of both the home itself, and the island it calls home.

Classic Canadian Home - Vancouver Island, BC, Canada

Classic Canadian Home – Vancouver Island, BC, Canada

More rich textures are to be found here, with a small and comfortable island home painted in typical island colors.  Tin roofs are really the only roofing materials available here that have any chance of long-term sustainability.  Any other materials find themselves deteriorating pretty quickly due to the constant damp and the typical temperatures we tend to see here.  This picture captures a little of this with a home that is built of wood with a tin hat firmly affixed to it’s head with the hopes that this will help maintain the house for many years to come.  Whether Mother Nature wins this battle or the homeowners do, this is a battle that hasn’t seen its last chapter yet penned.

Classic Canadian Home - Vancouver Island, BC, Canada

Classic Canadian Home – Vancouver Island, BC, Canada

Some see weathering, others see character.  Canadians tend to love the land we call home, and we love to envelope ourselves in it.  A small sense of comfort and security against the elements and the outside world are found in our refuges, and even though some of our homes are decorated by intense weathering from the years, this actually adds an element of familiarity, and thus comfort.

We find it’s very important to document as much of this as we can right now as it seems our landscapes are transforming very quickly in front of our eyes.  Too many times we’ve thought to return to a place to grab some photographs only to find a pit with some construction vehicles parked where once someone’s home was.  Through the consolidation of these images in a portfolio, we are able to see a broader view of what life is like here.  As a whole, the collection tells a story.  A distinctly Canadian story.

Thank you so much for your kind visit today, we really appreciate it.  As always, we love to hear from all our visitors so please feel free to leave us any comments you may have!  Until next time.

The Rusty Truck And Topaz Labs Detail 3 Plugin

Posted: 9th April 2013 by ToadHollowPhoto in Photography, Review
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Recently we were contacted by the terrific folks at Topaz Labs with a request to try out their brand new Topaz Labs Detail™ 3 Plugin for Photoshop.  Time is critical for us here at The Hollow and thus any chance we get to try out new software and techniques can be very exciting.  Any tool or process that allows us to make better quality images in a shorter amount of time is something we embrace.  As of today, I am happy to say that we’ve got a trusty new friend in our post-processing toolkit, one we plan to use exclusively moving forward with all our image post-processing needs.  Join us as we share our Topaz Detail Review here at Toad Hollow Photography.

Classic Chevrolet Pickup Truck - Cowichan Valley, BC, Canada

Classic Chevrolet Pickup Truck – Cowichan Valley, BC, Canada

HDR photography has always been our prime passion.  We’re able to use it as a technique to really create compelling images that express the actual vision we had of the scene during the shoot.  We’re able to reach a little deeper into the shadows and pull back a little in the overblown spots to add a touch more dynamic range than is typically seen in conventional digital photography, and as a result of this the photograph ends up reflecting our personal vision.

As I was planning to evaluate the plugins from Topaz Labs, I had a special scene in mind that I thought would be a perfect first-run test.  Let me introduce you to one of my favorite finds of this spring, a rusty, decrepit old Chevrolet pickup truck.

We find that the best forms of art tell a story in a viewing.  The folks at Good Used Cars Inc. here in the Cowichan Valley have been around for years and you see a lot of their cars on the highways and byways of the island, roaming freely.  This great old truck sitting underneath their sign has been a beacon of dichotomy to me since I saw it a few weeks ago, and I was very much looking forward to exploring the truck and it’s environs, and using these frames as a test for the new Topaz Labs software.

Classic Chevrolet Pickup Truck - Cowichan Valley, BC, Canada

Classic Chevrolet Pickup Truck – Cowichan Valley, BC, Canada

The seasons can be hard on things out here on Vancouver Island, and the weathering and wear we see make for great elements to capture and explore in photography.  Bringing these textures and details out is a prime love of ours.  The incredible amount of control you have in your post-processing when using Topaz Labs Detail™ 3 is truly second-to-none.  Advertised widely as plugins for the Photoshop series of image processing tools, we were thrilled to find that this plugin architecture was also supported in our tool of choice, PaintShop Pro X5 Creative Photo Editor.  Installation of the plugin suite was straightforward and easy, and within minutes I found myself exploring the myriad of choices available to the digital artist.

The first steps we take when creating our imagery is to take the RAW bracket files and merge them in Photomatix Pro.  Let’s take a look at both the image straight off the camera as well as the tone mapped results from Photomatix to see how things progress before we move into PaintShop Pro and begin to work with the Topaz plugin.

RAW Picture - Directly From Camera

RAW Picture – Directly From Camera

Tone Mapped Image - From Photomatix Pro

Tone Mapped Image – From Photomatix Pro

And now, for the final results after working with Topaz Labs Detail™ 3…

Classic Chevrolet Pickup Truck - Cowichan Valley, BC, Canada

Classic Chevrolet Pickup Truck – Cowichan Valley, BC, Canada

The results are astounding!!  If you look closely at the tone mapped version, before we begin to work on it in PaintShop Pro, you can see a radical improvement over the RAW frame from the camera.  We see into the shadows better, adding depth and dimension to the picture.  We also really get a strong impression from the truck body itself, as this is where all the textures and details hidden in the rusty goodness are to be found.  And finally we see a much bluer, richer sky.  I do not adjust color saturation in the tone mapping phase of work, this happens in the last step in PaintShop Pro.

One of the things I’ve learned in the years I’ve been working with HDR is that the tone mapped results are far from the finished product.  The tone mapping process evens the image out, creating a starting point that is full of dynamic range, yet still seems somewhat flat to look at.  From here you need to make adjustments to the picture to really get the full expression of the image to sing.  Comparisons between the final results and the tone mapped piece are actually quite extraordinary, with the finished work being so detailed and textured, you almost need a tetanus shot after looking at it!

So now let’s talk a little about the process and experience using these great new tools.

When presented with software that is as powerful as the tools from Topaz Labs, I find that you just have to spend some time with them to fully appreciate all you can do with them.  The control in the post-processing phase  is absolutely phenomenal.  The first set of sliders you encounter all pertain to taking full command of the details within your frame.  Small, Medium and Large details all have their own controls, both with the value you can set for these elements as well as a Boost value that really accents these changes.  I am really excited to use these tools more in the future with differing types of source images to really see how far we can go.  I expect to be amazed based on what I’ve seen so far.

The second set of sliders all pertain to Tone in the image.  This is another key area we’ve always spent time working on in our own post-processing, as both highlights and shadows are terribly important in an image to really create a sense of depth, scale and definition to the subject being explored.  This part of our post-processing work has always been a little tricky, given the limited nature of the built-in effects and tools in PaintShop Pro.  Needless to say, the results of playing with the sliders in the Tone section of the plugin produce absolutely jaw-dropping results.  You’re really left wondering at times if there isn’t some magic involved here, somehow, but my own 33+ years experience in the software engineering field tells me this is unlikely.

Further categories of tools are found in this great plugin, including Color management, Deblur and Effect Mask.  Each of these processes took a minimal of time to explore and become comfortable with, allowing me to focus on the prime task at hand…  creating great imagery!

Preview - Before Applying Topaz Labs Detail™ 3

Preview – Before Applying Topaz Labs Detail™ 3

Preview - After Applying Topaz Labs Detail™ 3

Preview – After Applying Topaz Labs Detail™ 3

It was a real joy to use this tool as it has definitely been designed with the photographer in mind.  Being able to quickly flip back and forth between the Before and After view, as shown above, really allows you to explore the image you’re working on and to push it to its limits.  The end results are well worth the time spent to get there.

Classic Chevrolet Pickup Truck - Cowichan Valley, BC, Canada

Classic Chevrolet Pickup Truck – Cowichan Valley, BC, Canada

We’re just really beginning to delve into all that we can do with these wonderful new plugins in our tool-belt here!  I’ll be the first to admit we’re probably only scratching the very surface of the algorithms included in the Topaz Labs suite of tools, and that by exploring these features using varied subjects and conditions we will continue to be amazed at the work produced.  We’re planning on trying out the Topaz Labs DeNoise plugin and writing about that as well, as this is yet another area I’ve had challenges with in my imagery and based on a few minutes spent looking at the Topaz Labs offering I can readily see that it, too, is a very powerful tool capable of delivering on its promises.

With all this said, it should come as no surprise that we’ve formed an affiliate relationship with the great folks at Topaz Labs.  The new Topaz Detail™ 3 plugin is available right now for $39.99 on their site, a very reasonable cost considering the power and control you get for this.  They really have the ability to transform the job of post-processing, turning work into play.

Thanks for your kind visit today, please feel free to leave any comments or questions you may have below.  Also, please do stay tuned for more reviews and tutorials using these new tools as we spend time creating our art and exploring the incredible features now found at our fingertips.

The Story Of Life

Posted: 6th April 2013 by Mrs. Toad in Island Hoppin', Photography
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I remember as if it were yesterday. We were all sitting in a circle on the floor at the teacher’s feet as she opened the book “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeleine L’Engle. As she started the words “it was a dark and stormy night”, I felt chills run down my spine and from that moment on, I couldn’t wait for story time in Mrs. Cook’s third grade class. From quantum time travel through space to walking through the wardrobe in C.S. Lewis’ “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe”, she painted pictures in my imagination with her melodic words that would convince me into adulthood that magic really can, and often does, happen.

As any of you who visit us regularly already know, I am a big fan of a good story. If I am not at the Hollow I can usually be found perusing the wares of my local “used book” stores. But today’s story doesn’t come from any particular book, nor is it polished to perfection and perfectly presented for us to merely consume. It is unpredictable. It is fluid. It is whatever we say it is.

Thank you for coming along on another visit to the majestic Newcastle Island, in Nanaimo, B.C., as we continue our running series “Island Hoppin’“.  Repleat with mythos and folklore all of its own, it is the perfect spot to go looking for a great story.

Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park - Nanaimo, BC, Canada

Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park – Nanaimo, BC, Canada

Always in search of inspiration, and rarely at a loss for it here on Vancouver Island, I frequently find myself staring out over the ocean in quiet contemplation.  It is often in these quiescent moments, when only the breeze and your own heartbeat can be heard, that it becomes clear that each and every moment of life is a page yet to be written, each day, an opportunity for a new chapter.

Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park - Nanaimo, BC, Canada

Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park – Nanaimo, BC, Canada

And though the path is seldom clear, courage and curiosity combine and we take a few more steps forward in excited apprehension as it unfolds in tiny increments before us.  Some of us run, while others meander, but we all make our own way along as we decide when to turn right or left, when to stop and listen, or when to take another by the hand and let them lead us for a while.

Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park - Nanaimo, BC, Canada

Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park – Nanaimo, BC, Canada

Sometimes though the road ahead may be dotted with ominous shadows, it is not until we stand tall in the darkest moments that we are truly able to appreciate the sunshine.  It is in those lessons that we learn to keep writing, to keep putting one foot in front of the other, in the eternal pursuit of the next grand adventure waiting just beyond the next bend.

Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park - Nanaimo, BC, Canada

Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park – Nanaimo, BC, Canada

And sometimes we are lucky enough to share in the stories of others, though they may not be written in the same way as ours, or even in the same language.  And as the words blend and join together, everyone’s story becomes a little richer.

Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park - Nanaimo, BC, Canada

Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park – Nanaimo, BC, Canada

There is no greater story than the one that you write each and every day.  Only you can say what comes next, so go out there and pen your own tales.  Turn over every stone, grab every opportunity, slay a few dragons and save the princess, stand in your cupboard until you finally find Narnia.  Just never stop dreaming, never stop writing, and most importantly, never stop chasing the magic.

I know that our story is made better by the great friends who share it with us.  Each of you are, to us, an invaluable part of the story of Toad Hollow and we appreciate your friendship and support more than we could ever express.  We look ever so forward to sharing many more great adventures together!

Until next time!

Warmly,

Mrs. Toad

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