Photography

I enjoy photography. My first camera was a Kodak Instamatic, with which I took some pretty awful pictures. This, it has to be said, owed more to my lack of experience in photography (I was in my early teens) than any limitations in the camera. At 18, I graduated to a Canon AV-1, which lasted 18½ years before developing a shutter problem which left it unusable. I then moved a Canon EOS 300, which I used for 11 years before going digital and compact with an Olympus VR-320, which was the best option available to me at the time through Air Miles. When it developed problems, I went back to Canon and I now use an SX540. Fortunately, the quality of my photography has improved substantially over the years. I generally prefer to photograph landscapes, architecture and plants. I even photograph people sometimes! These have in common that they don’t generally move at any great speed. I am not proficient in action photography. Some of my photography can be found in my photo gallery.

Computing

I also enjoy playing with and engineering computers. I have built several computers from boards, drives etc. from a variety of manufacturers over an extended period. I now run Windows 10 Home on an HP desktop and an HP Laptop.

Swimming

I have been swimming since I was a small child, for much of that time with an awful, one-sided, head-up technique, I reconstructed my stroke some years ago, and I now swim much better and much more efficiently. I have also learned how to do effective flat turns. For fitness, I now swim 1 kilometre (40 lengths) non-stop (if possible) twice a week.

Snowshoeing

In December 2008 I discovered the joys of snowshoeing, and in winter I am to be found at the top of Grouse Mountain, in North Vancouver when I can, assuming decent conditions underfoot. I also enjoy mountain hiking in summer. Some mountain photos are included in my photo gallery.