Photos – Patrick Johanneson

Some very bright aurora

Posted on April 22nd, 2017April 22nd, 2017 by Patrick

I could see them already while I was still in the city. By the time I got to my nice, dark spot, this is what I could photograph:

They stretched from the northeast to the southwest. They were bright enough for a while that I could watch them dancing with the naked eye. The last time I remember seeing them this bright, I was a teenager in Ste. Rose, lying on the grass, looking up.

Also: a video version:

An hour of my evening well-spent, I’d say.

New lens

Posted on April 3rd, 2017April 3rd, 2017 by Patrick

With my birthday money, I bought myself a new lens—a Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8.

It works pretty well. I can’t wait for a darker night; I’m looking forward to trying to get some galaxy photos.

Westering 2017

Posted on March 31st, 2017 by Patrick

For Christmas, Kathleen and I bought my mother a trip out west, to Alberta, to visit relatives. We went along with her. You know, to make sure she behaved.

Some of the places we visited:

The Calgary Zoo.

Continue reading “Westering 2017” →

Public Domain Pictures from the Met

Posted on February 9th, 2017February 9th, 2017 by Patrick

A lot of art falls in the public domain. Now the Metropolitan Museum of Art has made it easier for you to use some of it. (And by “some” I mean “quite a lot”.)

For example, a high-resolution photo of Van Gogh’s painting Sunflowers is available for me to use free of charge. You too.

And if Munch’s The Scream is more your cup of tea, well, they’ve got you covered there too.

Have a look for yourself. If one of the 400,000+ pieces of art in their catalogue strikes your fancy, check for the Public Domain icon (a little 0 in a circle) and the download link. It appears that the public-domain content comprises 375,000 images, which, I think you’ll agree, is a lot.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to look at some J. M. W. Turner paintings.

Joseph Mallord William Turner (British, London 1775–1851 London)
The Lake of Zug, 1843
British,
Watercolor over graphite; 11 3/4 x 18 3/8 in. (29.8 x 46.6 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Marquand Fund, 1959 (59.120)
http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/337499

Thanks, The Met!

Thanks to my friend Kelly for pointing out this Engadget article on the topic.

Save

And yet it moves

Posted on February 1st, 2017 by Patrick

Or, as Galileo put it (albeit apocryphally), E pur si muove.

A day past full

Posted on January 13th, 2017 by Patrick

I shot some photos of the moon through the branches using my longest lens (55-250mm), and was quite pleased how they turned out.

Then I retreated indoors (it’s frickin’ freezing out there) and wrote about 800 words in a new Prairie SF short story. First contact with a farmer. We’ll see where it leads.

Jim Johanneson

Posted on January 6th, 2017January 6th, 2017 by Patrick

This is my dad, Jim Johanneson. “JJ” to his students, his co-workers, and his friends. “Jimmy Danger” to his sons-in-law.

A couple days ago, he left this world. I miss him but I know he’s not feeling any pain now.

I will surely say more later, but for now: Thanks, Dad.

Donations

If you’re interested in making a memorial donation in Dad’s honour, here are the charities we as a family have selected:

The Canadian Alzheimer Society
The Canadian Foodgrains Bank
Dr. Gendreau Personal Care home — Box 60, Ste. Rose du Lac, MB R0L 1S0

If you’re interested in sending flowers, please, spend the money on one of the above charities. If you want to leave a note of condolence for us, the ones left behind, you can do so on the funeral home’s site.