deviantART: by:patgroove

http://patgroove.deviantart.com/journal/27588668/ Sun, 04 Oct 2009 22:31:14 PDT CalgaryMeet to your watch list if you haven't already done so. In addition to this we now have a Facebook group located at [link]

It will be upon you before you know it! Get informed now!

]]> `patgroove I want Pentax! I want Canada! http://patgroove.deviantart.com/journal/27531545/ http://patgroove.deviantart.com/journal/27531545/ Thu, 01 Oct 2009 23:22:18 PDT
Why?

Because I want to buy a new bike. Something to take me 14 thousand kilometers across Canada next year. It's currently a dream with soft focus. If I'm going to do it I want a good tripod to come with me.

The bike will probably cost $1400... if I do it... with a $130 tripod in my backpack...

And a $1800 Pentax camera... which is fracking awesome because it shoots HDR onboard.

Anyone have a spare $5000? I don't. Let's see what this journal looks like next year.

]]> `patgroove Goodbye Summer! Time for Inventory! http://patgroove.deviantart.com/journal/27496378/ http://patgroove.deviantart.com/journal/27496378/ Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:09:47 PDT
I hope to buy a polarized filter for my camera in the next month or so. I've only really been careful with lighting conditions over the last little while and I'm starting to see where it would come in handy. I'd also love a telephoto lens but for the amount it costs I might as well buy a new camera.

I'm finding that having a cheap unsturdy tripod is really inhibiting me to explore HDR photography, never mind the fact that I have no idea what I'm doing. That's on the list as well. I just don't want it to be overly heavy because I carry my stuff for tens of kilometers on the street when I get on a photo binge.

Anyhoo, just thought I'd update. Thanks for reading.

]]> `patgroove Thanks Calgary! http://patgroove.deviantart.com/journal/27329731/ http://patgroove.deviantart.com/journal/27329731/ Sun, 20 Sep 2009 21:56:25 PDT
I have taken a new interest in my city over the last few months. I didn't feel comfortable with photographing it actively until lately, and with intent.

Every day I search, "calgary" on dA and find new results. I chose to watch many of you because you are closer to me than anyone else in this community.

I hope to organize another Calgary devMEET in the near future (there have been several).

]]> `patgroove A hungry blonde girl goes to the library... http://patgroove.deviantart.com/journal/27310510/ http://patgroove.deviantart.com/journal/27310510/ Sat, 19 Sep 2009 23:39:24 PDT
The librarian hushes her and whispers, "This is a library. Please keep your voice down".

Nervously the blonde girl looks around inspecting her surroundings noticing that it is indeed a very quiet place. She whispers back, "_{Sorry... can I please have a cheese burger?}"

]]> `patgroove What do you want me to see? http://patgroove.deviantart.com/journal/27160321/ http://patgroove.deviantart.com/journal/27160321/ Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:19:18 PDT
Please, if you are someone I watch tell me what I missed in your gallery. I have over 500 deviations to sift through, and as an artist I know what I would want comments on my best or worst. Post me links and I will spend some time commenting on what you feel needs some attention.

I promise that I won't tell you, "It's cool" or, "That's interesting light". I'll give you my viewer perspective on what I find in your art.

Don't be afraid. Get all thumb share on me. I want to see your best because... well... you are my friend.

I feel like a dick head for not watching more and commenting.

]]> `patgroove Signaling the helicopter - true story http://patgroove.deviantart.com/journal/27142921/ http://patgroove.deviantart.com/journal/27142921/ Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:02:51 PDT
Her companion was worried sick. I assured her that even though the terrain was thick with rocks and cliffs that her friend was fine. I had an emergency poncho which I gave to her. We needed to meet with a conservation officer at the bottom of the mountain so the we could coordinate a rescue.

At the top we saw the chopper thumping its way towards the mountain. All of a sudden a woman cried out, "I see a girl in a pink shirt!"

I ran down the scree slope to meet the lost one. She had scrambled up a nasty incline, scraped ankles and a story to tell about how she had been stuck in a crack in some rocks.

From the top I called the rescue services that we had found her and she was ok. The helicopter thumped around and I made a signal. \0\ = don't land. \o/ means yes, land and perform a rescue.

I assured rescue by phone that we would make sure that they got down the mountain safely. The helicopter then sped around the peak and made its way to Canmore from where it came.

I never did meet with the conservation officer, however we did all enjoy the hot springs and recanted the day.

Thank God we didn't do temple. It wouldn't have been as interesting.

]]> `patgroove We're bad as shit. The mountain quakes. http://patgroove.deviantart.com/journal/27044616/ http://patgroove.deviantart.com/journal/27044616/ Sat, 05 Sep 2009 23:15:49 PDT

Up the mountains we go!

For the last two months I have been planning a summit of the Canadian Rockies third largest mountain, Mount Temple. Right up until this day people have opted in then opted out. The roster has changed that of a thousand times. After a rather long 60k bike ride yesterday in which my bike broke unrepairable I proclaimed to my roommate that I was fed up with my plans not working out. After all I was shooting for 100k yesterday and Temple was looking rather glum in respective attendees.

He immediately got excited and said he'd love to bag that peak! And so the race was on! We needed people, supplies and the right stuff.

At 3PM today I spoke to him on the phone and he mentioned that Temple was being rained on. At 3600 feet this means major ice and nasty terrain. As much as I've wanted to bag that bitch I put all stops on it. There's no way I'm going up an already technical scramble without good conditions, and in addition to that with little experience. It all looked bad.

So I got rethinking. Yamnuska is maybe an hour away and isn't particularly plagued with bad weather. It also has a decent reputation at swinging storms away from it. It's not exactly that bitch in the bag but it has enough interesting terrain to make it worth while.

I got to buying the stuff. Full fledged pin number hammering.

- Lightweight pot to cook in
- Slightly used technical backpack (40L)
- Two meal kits.
- Hiking poles.

The idea is we bag Yamnuska tomorrow as early as possible, scree ski down it late afternoon, then bag Ha Ling or Heart with headlamps blazing into the sun down.

I promise many photos. Maybe even *pinky finger to teeth* panoramic photos!

Stay tuned!