Rosewood Estates Winery & Meadery

A new winery opened today in Beamsville for the Cuvee weekend. Rosewood is Niagara's first meadery. They also produce a number of grape wines. The official opening will be May 3rd.

New Zealand Dreamin'

With the long, cold winter in Niagara, we can always think of being in a warmer place. It's late summer in New Zealand right now and only a plane trip away (actually two because you have to get to Vancouver first!). The above NZ vineyard photo was actually taken in the fall. The grapes have just started to shrivel.

More Spring

Thanks to a local supermarket, we can bring Spring into the house early. These small daffodils were photographed with the Olympus camera by Sue.

Can't Wait for Spring

Since spring seems to be a long way off after seeing the snow falling again today, I'm posting one of Sue's photos of a crocus (purchased from a local grocery store). Taken with the Olympus camera using the super-macro feature.

Vineyard in Winter

The vineyards in winter are very bare and bleak. To brighten the photo I "solarized" the picture using Photoshop Elements. Taken yesterday at Thirty Bench Winery in Beamsville.

New Zealand Photos on Website

A few of my New Zealand photos (including this one) were chosen to go on a new travel website - http://www.uplanit.com/Experiences/Napier-and-Hawkes-Bay

Full Lunar Eclipse

On February 20, 2008 there was a full eclipse of the moon. This photo was taken using a time exposure and a tripod.

Start of an Eclipse

On February 20, 2008 there was a full eclipse of the moon. The evening started off cloudy as can be seen in this photo but as the eclipse progressed the sky became clear. However, it was freezing cold and wasn't very pleasant for photography!

Memories of Fall

This spider has formed a web among the fall leaves. Taken in Goderich, Ontario

Trapped In Ice

These weeds and branches were coated with ice after a deep freeze in Niagara.

Goderich Berries

These holly berries were photographed late fall in Goderich, Ontario

2007 Wines

I was asked to photograph some Calamus wine bottles for the new releases of their 2007 Riesling and Pinot Gris which will be available during the Cuvee weekend. The 2007 vintage should be one of the best for Niagara.

Calamus Winery before Photoshop

Yesterday's photo showed the winery wall finished by the magic of Photoshop. This is the original photo showing the building during renovation.

Calamus Winery

About a year ago I was asked to photograph Calamus Winery for the Guide to Ontario Wineries. It was quite a challenge because the building is under construction. This is not the shot that was used, however. I liked this angle because it shows the observatory on the property. The problem was the stonework at the base of the building just left of the pallets was not finished. This was fixed with some Photoshop magic.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Because it's been so cold lately, I haven't been out taking photos. This photo is of some posters in our bedroom and adjusted in Photoshop Elements.

Classic Car

The members of the Operating Committee of the wine club we belong to were discussing a wine tasting event that would include a display of Porsches from a club in Toronto. I didn't have a photo of a Porsche so I'm just showing this classic car picture.

Willowbank, Queenston.

Willowbank is a long-term restoration program of an old mansion in Queenston, Ontario.

Sage and Chutney

The cat pad is actually too small for Chutney but Sage insists on getting in as well!

On Guard!

Another photo taken at Windsor Castle. Scanned from a 35mm slide and fixed up in Photoshop.

Trees by the River near Bannockburn, NZ

This is a cropped version (using Photoshop Elements) of a scene taken on the South Island, NZ.

The Organized Crime Winery

The Organized Crime Winery, Beamsville, is one of the new wineries to open on the Beamsville Bench. The tasting room and retail shop are in the former dining room of the owners' home. The winery was originally named "Pointer's Hill" but the name was changed after seeking the advice of a marketing agency in British Columbia.

Wash Day

Our two youngest cats, Sage & Chutney, get along most of the time. Here they're both in one small cat bed washing each other. Two minutes later, they're biting each other!

Another Winter Shot

This photo was taken after a big snowfall in Niagara.

The Organized Crime Winery

This was taken by the entrance to a new winery in Niagara. There's an interesting story and history behind the name.

Beamsville Snowman

After a heavy snowfall, a number of neighbours made snowmen. I waited until Sunday to take photos but by that time some had melted. This one, however, was still standing but, unfortunately, lost his nose!

Winter Wonderland

There was a heavy snowfall in Niagara recently. This photo was taken on Mountainview Road by the "Organized Crime Winery" and solarized in Photoshop Elements.

Sunrise over the Vines

Sage is watching the sun rise over the vineyards across from our house. Taken with the Olympus SP-510UZ.

Sunset Near Wanaka, New Zealand

Another New Zealand photo. This was taken just outside of Wanaka, South Island, NZ. A warming filter was used in Photoshop to enhance the colour of the sky.