VICTORIA PARK IN HALIFAX

BENCH IN VICTORIA PARK ON SOUTH PARK STREET IN HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA

DREAM STATE CIRCUS FIRE SHOW

Growing up in Halifax, Nova Scotia made buskers an automatic part of TC's life. Every August, an increasingly smaller part of downtown was overpopulated with men in tights, acrobats, jugglers, and hot dog vendors. And tourists. Two times, SC and TC have had the privilege of ending up on the Halifax waterfront just in time for a fire show by Dream State Circus. The trust required by the audience wife toward her husband and the husband toward his wife is measured in gigantic proportions. Click the picture for an enlarged view where you'll see that Jacob McGrath isn't practicing the art of multiple fire-filled hula hoop twisting but rather the exposure from TCs Fuji is just long enough for you to see the fire in various directions. Watch a bit of Dream State Circus on YouTube for a better hint at the excitement.

ROWBOATS AT BISHOPS LANDING Halifax, NS

With the rich condominiums of Bishops Landing jutting into view, there's no doubt that these rowboats aren't docked in a rural fishing village. A helipad wharf is off to the right and large sailing vessels dock beside these boats. Idyllic? In a manner of speaking, for sure. Contrastingly idyllic? More probable.

PAINTING HISTORIC BUILDING

Take just one look at the paler colour to see that this historic building was in need of a paint job. It is the strange city lighting at dusk mixed with the contrast of a church steeple, street signs, and workers painting on an evening weekend in a lift that grabs your attention. Come back for another look and you'll notice something new again.

OUTSIDE PROVINCE HOUSE AFTER SNOW

It was on this night that the Christmas Tree at Halifax's Grand Parade was to be lit. Only hours after a late-November storm, temperatures had dropped and standing still at the outdoor concert became difficult. Two blocks down in its own city block sits Province House, surrounded by Granville, Prince, Hollis, and George Street. Rising out of the middle of a parking lot within the Province House grounds is this memorial. To the rear you can see a TD Canada Trust building and the CIBC building on Barrington Street. Plenty of important government officials have their offices in the historic building on the left-hand side. The sky on this night? Unforgettable.

MOON ABOVE REFINERY

Across the Halifax Harbour, past the tip of Georges Island, sits Woodside, home to industrial chic. Most of the glow you see comes from an Imperial Oil/Exxon Mobil refinery that is ghastly and compelling at the same time. Fortunately, the moon takes over and its reflection dominates the photograph.

INGONISH FERRY TAKE TWO

Looking toward the Ingonish Ferry cottage inhabited by the Alfresco Photo Duo, the camera captures wild reflections on remarkably still ocean waters in Ingonish Harbour. Clouds hung low after heavy rains washed out roads, including the road conquered partially traveled by the Alfresco Photo Duo's rental car.

INGONISH FERRY

This view of Ingonish Harbour from Ingonish Ferry (not an actual boat, but a place) sees the Cabot Trail begin in Ingonish proper to the right and Ski Cape Smokey rising to the left. Clouds hang low and lights reflect perfectly on the still ocean waters.

SACKVILLE STREET BY NIGHT

Only metres from the harbour, sightlines from Sackville Landing look all the way up Sackville Street, over Water Street; Bedford Row; Hollis Street;Granville Street; Barrington Street; Argyle Street, Grafton Street; and Market Street to the base of Citadel Hill before Sackville Street continues past the Public Gardens. The crazy lights on this May night contrasted nicely with a clear sky - a rare May treat.

BRUNSWICK STREAKER

Just as a hockey game between the Halifax Mooseheads and Chicoutimi Sagueneens was about to begin at the Halifax Metro Centre to the left of this image, traffic was heavy on Brunswick Street in front of The Palace. Just a little extra exposure stretches lights from taxi cabs while the grassy side of Citadel Hill in front of the Old Town Clock is nearly hidden.

ST. MARY'S BASILICA ON SPRING GARDEN ROAD

Only minutes in advance of the first winter storm of the '08-'09 season, SC noticed the heavy snow-filled sky through the strees at the Old Burying Ground on Barrington Street. The manicured green grass of the Dalhousie University technical campus contrasts with thirty centimetres of snow that fell over the next 14 hours. St. Mary's Basilica on Spring Garden Road can be seen on the other side of the Old Burying Ground.