Here's another shot of my favourite work of prairie art, a 1939 Pontiac shot full of holes and abandoned in a field. It has been there since the 1960s. I've been photographing it for a mere ten years, and have not exhausted its potential yet. Not only do I continue to find new ways of seeing it, but it continues to change before my eyes. Many of my shots are very small areas of its surface, abstractions of rust and paint, and meanwhile prairie weather hammers away at it, chipping bits of paint off, growing the rust. It's really fascinating to watch this process. And as you can see, I bring visitors there, promising them a special treat. Once or twice, I brought photo workshop groups there, taking a break from the nature and wildlife we'd been pursuing, and they were never disappointed.
By now I think I've shot this old relic with every lens in my kit, including the Rokinon 8 mm fisheye, as seen here. Photographed near Val Marie, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission © 2018 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
Tags: prairie old car derelict relic abandoned 1939 Pontiac metal rust paint shot up full of holes bullet holes art prairie art square summer visitors amazement wow strange beauty beauty in decay near Val Marie SK Saskatchewan Canada copyrighted James R. Page
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This is my friend Joseph, posing just ahead of a dress rehearsal at the Lyric Theatre where he had a role in a musical historical drama as a native elder. This was not a huge stretch for him, as he IS a native elder, but still, what presence he exudes onstage! Musician, dancer, storyteller, and culture carrier, Joseph is much in demand and on the road a lot.
The play, by Stew Tasche, is called The Cypress Hills Would Never Be the Same, and it concerns historical events that took place in Saskatchewan in the 1870s. Joseph is well aware of his position in this photo - I asked him to stand between Sitting Bull and a North West Mounted Police constable, straddling two worlds.
The play was sold out for its five performance run; more on that over the next few days.
**My main computer crashed two days ago, and my work flow has really taken a hit while it's in the shop. Looks like my data will be recovered but for now I'm on the laptop, managing my anxiety and carrying on. Amazing how tightly we are tied to our devices!**
Photographed at the Lyric Theatre in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission © 2017 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
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Wildlife is pretty quiet these days in the heat of summer, but my hollyhocks are happy! And I have a new lens to play with, a Rokinon 8mm f/3.5 fisheye. Wow, is this fun! My first impression: it's surprisingly sharp for a relatively cheap lens. I am impressed. Manual focus only, and I got the newer version, with the auto-aperture chip.
It's a DX lens, but my Nikon D810 can accommodate these; all I had to do was switch to DX mode in the menu. It produces a smaller file than I get from shooting full frame, of course, but that isn't a problem, as the D810 has pixels to spare. I am looking forward to seeing what it can do with a starry sky - the new moon, when the sky is darkest, will be on July 23rd, and several nights both before and after should be good.
Photographed in Val Marie, Saskatchewan. Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission © 2017 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
Tags: Hollyhocks flowers pink vertical house fisheye Rokinon 8mm fun beauty beautiful garden plants Val Marie Saskatchewan Canada copyrighted James R. Page
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Tove is a greyhound and when outside he runs like the wind. Indoors, this is what you get.
My friend Judith rescued him a number of years ago from a bad situation. He's a wonderful dog, very gentle. Photographed with the Rokinon 8mm fisheye and my one DX camera body, the Nikon D7100, in Val Marie, Saskatchewan.
Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission © 2017 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
Tags: dog greyhound resting couch potato cabin cozy Rokinon 8mm fisheye wide indoors inside house Val Marie Saskatchewan Canada copyrighted James R. Page
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Here it is, in all its glory - my all time favourite car, an abandoned 1939 Pontiac. According to my friend Maurice, it has rested in this field since the 1960s. He was coy when I asked if just maybe he was responsible for some of those old bullet holes.
In recent months it has been undermined by digging mammals. Foxes come to mind, based on the size and shape of the excavation, although I haven't seen any signs of recent activity.
Yesterday's upload, the Picasso-like face, is clearly visible on the front fender. More to come...
Photographed with the Rokinon 8mm fisheye, near the vanished community of Rosefield, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2021 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
Tags: car old car abandoned rust rusty rusting shot up target practice bullet holes 1939 Pontiac derelict wreck in a prairie field prairie art twisted beauty otherworldly 8mm Rokinon fisheye Rosefield Saskatchewan Canada copyrighted James R. Page
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