Chinese Lanterns

OK This is obviously my first blog entry, BUT as I have a few photo outings from earlier that I would still like to post, my next few entries won't necessarily be in chronological order :)

This set of photos is from the annual Chinese Lantern exhibit / festival at the Montreal Botanical Gardens. I went last year with 2 friends but I had no idea it was going to be so beautiful, so I only brought my little point and shoot! (mistake!)

I learned my lesson and borrowed Steve's 20D this time! Steve and I went with one of my best friends, Sheida.

This sign apparently says "Garden Lake Dream". I made no changes to this photo :)
(this is on deviantART)

Again, no changes. The lighting from these lanterns was just lovely.
(this is on deviantART)

LOL well... Steve and I came to the same conclusion for this photo... looks rather like the birds are enjoying themselves *wink wink* if ya know what I mean.... (didn't notice it until after I took it!)

Heron? Blue Flamingo?

OK this photo isn't the greatest quality but I'm pretty happy with it because I was using a 'faux' diffuser (aka kleenex held over the on-camera flash). Worked pretty well I think... all considering.

Pretty reflection.

The next few aren't that great but they show the lanterns on the manmade lake.

I liked the symmetry here and that they looked like pumpkins (this was a day before Halloween)
(this is on deviantART)

Fishy! (reminded me of the Bermuda Aquarium hehe)

Got Sheida to pose in this awesome doorway for me. I think Steve got a better shot as he was using the 12-24 which gave a really nice effect with the tall doorway.


Almost identical to a shot I took last year with the point and shoot... had to take a better quality version!

Little known fact: Chinese roosters can lay eggs!


Time to go home (actually it was well past the 9pm closing time!)



Oh but wait! We found a playground! (NOTE: this delayed our exit so long that the first gate we tried to leave through was locked! We found security guards and were directed to an open gate.. heh.. this was at about 10pm I guess? maybe a little later...)

Not good quality, I know. Didn't really take the time to do it right, but they're fun shots I think. :)




OK. I'm done. (wow that was a long post!)