a fine arrangement

By: kardz by kris

Mar 31 2012

Tags: , , ,

Category: bird, blue, on the road, photo collage, postaweek2012, summer

62 Comments

Aperture:f/5.6
Focal Length:51.1mm
ISO:80
Shutter:1/0 sec
Camera:DMC-FZ40

Every summer, some friends and I arrange to go out for fish & chips at Garry Point Park in historic Steveston, one of my favourite parts of the City of Richmond, BC. The best fish & chips are those made fresh, and eaten outside. And for me, personally, that is when summer officially begins. Some years, when the weather is exceptionally warm, that may occur in, well, May.

But most years it is later. Sometimes it is right around the actual first day of summer. Last year it was quite late in July. The 24th, to be exact. Summer which had started on a warm note had become decidedly cool for several weeks. But on July 24th, it was both sunny and warm. Three of us went, and of course my camera was in tow.
 


 

Garry Point Park, being on a point, is surrounded by water. There are some wonderfully designed walking paths around and through the park, part of a great network of paths strategically – and cleverly I might add – designed to allow you to walk for miles along the waterfront. Hats off to engineers and city planners with foresight to make this arrangement.


 

But before fish and chips, there is usually a bit of a wait. There is always a line-up (= queue in British English), but when the weather is sunny and warm, nobody seems to mind. There seems to be no need to be in a big hurry anyhow. And the views are great.

The waterfront is a main passageway for ships and boats of various sizes, and this is one of many parks which allows dogs to visit as well and there are many of them and their people walking by. And of course, there are always some birds to watch.

It is often windy here – even on the warmest days. And kites of all shapes and sizes are a common sight. (Note to self: post some kites for future reference.) So standing in line is often quite entertaining and contributes to the enjoyment.
 

After fish & chips, we usually indulge in an ice cream cone next door (my flavours of choice usually being a half-scoop of white chocolate raspberry and a half-scoop of mango) and then stroll leisurely along some of the pathways. Photogenic wildflowers abound, and they are always quite content to pose for some clicks.


 

But back to last year. When we arrived, I did not realize that someone had arranged for a meeting of seagulls – on the rooftop of the fish & chips place.

A local crow did not realize it either and sat there for some time before realizing that he was out of order. So he flew off (see the top image in this post).

 
 
The fish and chips – always so nicely arranged on the tray when they are ready at last – were as yummy as always.

Pajo's Fish & Chips - oh yum!

 
 
 
And then, much later, a few moments of this enjoyable evening were arranged into a photo collage.

some Steveston summer moments

What a relaxing evening it was. While I am always up for trying new things – this start to summer tradition is a keeper. We always enjoy it. It is such a fine arrangement.

Looking for some more arrangements? Bloggers from around the world are sharing, and you can find their posts all arranged here.

62 comments on “a fine arrangement”

  1. 31 Mar 2012 at 09:21 ponky

    beautiful arrangement, great photos!

    Like

  2. 31 Mar 2012 at 09:22 pippadogblog

    Sounds wonderuff, I mean wonderful. Chips and dogwalks, only lacking a cat to chase.

    I wonder if I should arrange my presents for that silly photo challenge?

    [I thought I would get in here before Misery appears :)]

    Pippa, fast off the mark

    Like

    • 2 Apr 2012 at 11:47 pix & kardz

      that was a speedy comment, Pippa! and yes, it is a park you would quite enjoy, i am sure. those poor cats, though. don’t you ever get tired of chasing them? 🙂
       
      and what beautiful pressies you received!

      Like

  3. 31 Mar 2012 at 09:33 orples

    That black bird in the one photo looked misplaced, or perhaps, he was the star on the tree (so to speak). 😉

    Like

  4. 31 Mar 2012 at 09:33 Cedric de Alicoque

    Incredibly marvelous and lovely! What a great photograph! just liked its simplicity and its view!

    Like

  5. 31 Mar 2012 at 09:48 Northern Narratives

    I like when the birds arrange themselves together. Nice post.

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  6. 31 Mar 2012 at 09:58 Gilly Gee

    beautifully done as always!

    Like

  7. 31 Mar 2012 at 10:37 Diana

    😀

    Like

  8. 31 Mar 2012 at 11:02 Cee Neuner

    Marvelous for this week’s theme!

    Like

  10. 31 Mar 2012 at 11:35 gingerbreadcafe

    Great capture and the Gulls are all looking the right way!

    Like

  11. 31 Mar 2012 at 13:16 Vicky

    Your first pic is amazing, I doubt even a staged photo shoot could have got one so good. Fabulous!!

    Like

    • 2 Apr 2012 at 11:55 pix & kardz

      thanks Vicky. i agree with you – sometimes what you find out there is much more amazing than what you create 🙂
       
      appreciate your visit!

      Like

  12. 31 Mar 2012 at 14:27 Misky

    Cropping is a magical tool, eh? Love your photos.

    Like

    • 2 Apr 2012 at 12:00 pix & kardz

      thanks for your visit Misky. welcome to my blog.
       
      not quite sure i understand your comment – other than cropping being a great tool.  
      however not too much cropping was used in this post. mostly for the photo collage, and possibly some for the image with the crow. but otherwise, the images were pretty much composed as you see them here 🙂

      Like

      • 2 Apr 2012 at 12:08 Misky

        Oh! I thought some were cropped in order to get the wonderfully balanced photos. Very nice!

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        • 11 Apr 2012 at 19:17 pix & kardz

          thanks! there are occasions when cropping helps, too – but these birds posed so nicely for the camera so it wasn’t needed very much this time, except for the photo collage 🙂
           
          glad you enjoyed!

          Like

  13. 31 Mar 2012 at 14:40 Margie

    I adore that first shot Kris!!

    Like

  14. 31 Mar 2012 at 16:21 Cheryl

    Love this!

    Like

  16. 31 Mar 2012 at 18:15 Amar Naik

    like all photos

    Like

    • 2 Apr 2012 at 12:06 pix & kardz

      thank you Amar.
       
      i edited your comment to provide your link in the URL field. that way, whenever anyone clicks onto your name, they will have direct access to your ‘arranged’ post.

      Like

  17. 31 Mar 2012 at 23:46 Cardinal Guzman

    That flock is lined up, almost with military precision. The angels of the building also adds to the photo. Great shot.

    Like

  18. 1 Apr 2012 at 00:37 Nandini

    Spectacular! This is such a wonderful observation and a really nice thing to look at. I loved this, Chris! 🙂

    Like

  19. 1 Apr 2012 at 06:17 nrhatch

    That top photo is STELLAR, Kris . . . and the fish and chips look mighty delish! 😀

    Like

  20. 1 Apr 2012 at 07:17 sweetdaysundertheoaks

    A very fine arrangement Kris! That blackbird cracked me up 😀 I think the fish and chips are just the kind of arrangement I could get excited about and eating them outside near the water is pure bliss! A very nice tradition.

    Like

    • 2 Apr 2012 at 12:09 pix & kardz

      thanks – wasn’t that just so fun. don’t know what that crow was thinking – barging in on that seagull meeting just like that 😀

      Like

  21. 1 Apr 2012 at 08:31 katehobbs

    I don’t think you could have stage managed this any better yourself! How would you get so many squawking and jealous birds, working in harmony together like that if you or I had organised it….? Funny how these things combine naturally. So glad you were there for this shot.
    Fish ‘n’ Chips – with salt and vinegar, out of newspaper, on a cold winter’s night (usually a Friday) – that’s the British tradition, although they stopped the newspaper because of the contamination from the news print….. You can see where I come from can’t you.
    Thanks for sharing, and thanks for visiting and commenting on my post.
    Kate
    http://myphotoyear2012.wordpress.com

    Like

    • 2 Apr 2012 at 12:10 pix & kardz

      thanks Kate – i was quite thrilled (and smiling, too!). couldn’t have asked for a better click that day. and welcome to my blog!

      Like

  22. 1 Apr 2012 at 12:18 Judy

    What a beautiful series on arrangement and story to go with it. I’m getting hungry now! I love all the ways you wove the word “arrange” into your story. Lovely! And your final photo with the collage is so cool! I want to learn how to do that! The walking paths sound divine! Great share Kris!

    Like

  23. 1 Apr 2012 at 14:33 stephanissima

    Hahaha! I love your bird arrangements 😀

    Like

  25. 2 Apr 2012 at 08:27 spilledinkguy

    How cool is that?!
    They’re all even facing ‘the right way’!
    Something tells me they might have all turned around and scoffed if they saw me below!
    😉

    Like

    • 2 Apr 2012 at 15:56 pix & kardz

      hey thanks SIG. yes, it was quite an eye-opener, actually. never knew that seagulls could be so organized 🙂
       
      nah, they wouldn’t have scoffed at all. they would have taken their hats off to be in the presence of such a great artist. in fact – they have taken their hats off. funny, i hadn’t even noticed until now 😀

      Like

  26. 2 Apr 2012 at 16:41 Patti Kuche

    A fine arrangement indeed Kris plus decent fish and chips is always worth queueing up for – those birds certainly know what they are lining up for! Great shots and happy summer tradition to you all. So different to last week!

    Like

  27. 2 Apr 2012 at 17:51 happysherlock

    Great shots. I especially loved the one with the poor lonely crow who looks so out of place! 😀

    Like

  28. 5 Apr 2012 at 23:36 2e0mca

    Great sequence of photos – Love the way the Gulls color-coordinate with the roof 🙂 Gulls do like to loiter near the chips…check out this guy – http://www.flickr.com/photos/martin_addison/6345499034/in/set-72157620398462031/

    Like

  29. 6 Apr 2012 at 07:03 Inside the Mind of Isadora

    Beautiful photos and exceptional clarity. Yummy .. on the fish and chips.
    I love them. They are soo good. ~~ : – )

    Like

  30. 9 Apr 2012 at 04:08 island traveler

    A spectacular arrangement that touches the emotion. Love the birds on top of a roof. Reminds me of happy days by the beach with my love ones. Just beautiful.

    Like


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