Tumblr?

I've been neglecting my camera lately. I've only touched it a few times since moving back to Victoria, and that makes me a little sad. Victoria is really quite a pretty place, and there are plenty of places I could take my camera. I'm going to try to start taking more photos, and I started today.
One of my favorite things about living in Victoria is that I'm so close to the water. In North Van I live "close" to the ocean, but here I'm really close. There are a handful of beaches nearby, and I love it. While Cadboro Bay is still my favorite place in Victoria, I'm going to try to find a few other beach-type areas. Today I walked off the end of Gordon Head road and followed a little path towards the water. While it didn't lead to a beach, it opened up to a grassy rock place that overlooked the ocean. It was dead quiet, except the sound of a few birds and the waves. It was really peaceful. It was kind of cold and awkward lighting (I'm still not used to it getting dark so early) so I didn't get very many pictures, and the ones I did get weren't very good (I didn't set up my tripod). I edited them (quite a bit), and I think they look alright. Here they are:

There's actually quite a drop off before the ocean here.

Also, I am not exactly proud of this, but I have joined yet another popular internet social-network-type-thing. Yep, I got tumblr (she said, slightly ashamed). I got it so I can micro-blog and share single photos/songs/other peoples gifs and pictures that I enjoy. I'm going to see how it goes. So yeah... that's a thing. If you're interested, check it out at www.zoe-click.tumblr.com Cheers!

P.S. It's my mom's birthday today. She's pretty great. Happy birthday mumsie!

Okay, let's have a serious one this time...

You know what's awkward?
Obviously posed family photos.
You know what's more awkward?
When no one is coordinated enough to pose for a photo where everyone is smiling, not blinking, and looking at the camera.

But you know what is almost guaranteed to make a photo really awkward and/or distractingly stupid looking?

When the photographer (or any one in the picture really) shouts out, seconds before the picture is about to be taken, "Alright let's have a serious one this time!"

Why is this bad? Because in any group over four or five people, you will end up, without fail, with something like this:

 

Do you see the problem? No? Look closer. No, not at the face hiding in the bottom left corner, but at the facial expressions. See, the term "serious," in regards to a photo, can be taken two different ways.

1) Serious, as in "seriously, let's make this a good one this time, you baboons." OR

2) Serious, as in "okay, everyone look serious/stern in this one. Then at least everyone will have matching expressions, and it might come off as funny."

(I'm not quite sure why people like to look serious (stern) in pictures, but then again, I don't know why people take bathroom mirror pictures either.)

As you can see in the above picture, "let's have a serious one this time!" will more often than not lead to a mixed set of facial expressions, with some people ending up looking like the grouch-pants of the group (even if they are not). (Yes, I just used the phrase grouchy-pants)

Anyways, for everyone's sake, if you are that (well-meaning) jerk yelling out instructions for the photos, take the extra few seconds to CLARIFY. Trust me, you'll be glad you did (That is, if you are looking for a perfectly synchronized, smiling photo where everyone looks genuinely happy to be there. If not, good on you, and ignore everything I've said. Seriously).

And now for some music!


The Gardener, by The Tallest Man on Earth


PS. Yes, that's a family photo. Isn't my family great?