Kirk Hoffman, a local drummer who lives across the street from my parents.

To view a video of him playing, visit here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96E10CHRFHs

I have decided to start a dedicated site leaning towards the more professional end of my work. As a result, i’ve redirected http://www.lifethroughalens.ca to that new site.

This site will remain up and active, but there will be new ways to access it.

The direct URL http://bryanpass.wordpress.com will still work. However, this site will also be available via http://blog.lifethroughalens.ca and through http://www.ve3hbd.com

Check out the new site! I’m using a new flash-based gallery that works quite well.

Hope to see you there!

A new client of mine, a great gentleman named Len, creates wonderful handmade jewelry.

He makes pendants, earrings and charms out of glass and metal. Here are a few selections from my first shoot with him.

The lovely Diellah modeled for me today. She proved to be a delight both in the studio and trackside.

My friend Cam is a Firefighter for the Mississauga Fire Department (A city west of Toronto). He let me take some photos of his truck (Pumper 116), which being a little bit of a fire buff myself piqued my interest quite a bit. Click for larger photos.

Just some photos of dogs.

Cute little guy. Met him at a dog park. Very photogenic!!

My first published photo! Appeared in Bark Magazine

Houston looking very studious

Chewing on a rope

Trying to free the ties that bind!!

Wow! It’s been a while since I’ve updated this site. I’ve been busy with all sorts of stuff (and been pretty lazy too). I’ve since moved into a new place in Toronto, so I thought i’d post some photos from my window.

The View from my living room. I’m on the 26th floor, looking North.

I’m just south of The Junction, a neighborhood named for the above
junction, the merger of several area rail lines. Above is a Canadian
Pacific freight train heading east.

My radio antenna and a friendly ivy. Taken during
a big snowstorm.

My neighbourhood during a recent snowstorm.

Some old Toronto houses weathering the storm

Morning traffic in the storm

I’m home now – here are some more photos from out west… More to come later.

Real Prairie Railroading – CP Train heads into the mountains

Leitch Coal Mine ruins

Inside the ruins

Small mountain town of Brocket, Alberta

Frank Slide – an enormous landslide in 1903 that killed several people in the mining town of Frank, when the entire top and side of the mountain came crashing down onto a sleeping town before dawn. The slide covered the road and the railway, as well as most of the town.

I’m in southern Alberta, visiting a buddy of mine who recently moved out here to take a job as a Church Pastor. I love this part of Canada – it is very rugged, clean and pure. They don’t call this part of the world “Big Sky Country” for nothing. The town where I am staying (Pincher Creek, Alberta – about 2 hours south of Calgary, and about 40 minutes north of the Canada/US Border with Montana) is right on the transition between the Canadian Prairies and the Rocky Mountains. (Click on the photos to make ‘em bigger)

On the road heading west towards the mountains. There was a bit of a snowstorm happening over the mountains – the wispy clouds are actually columns of falling snow.

Mountains and snow, heading towards Cowley

Pincher Creek is one of the windiest places on earth due to prevailing wind currents and the proximity of the mountains. To harness this natural resource, there are hundreds of wind turbines that dot the landscape. In front of the hill with the turbines is a typical mountain train – CP runs a set of helper engines in the middle of their trains in order to handle the steep mountain grades.

They shot Brokeback Mountain all over the area, including scenes here in Cowley, Alberta (just west of Pincher Creek). Ang Lee was from Tainan (the city in Taiwan where I worked and lived) – it seemed interesting that our paths should cross again.

Masonic Lodge

More mountains and snow

The road to Crowsnet Pass

Yet another trucker mighty glad to leave the hell that is driving through the Canadian Rockies behind him.

More later….

I found some older photos, taken on a June 22nd 2004 trip to Niagara Falls, while meeting a friend at the Canada/USA.  All photos were taken from the Canadian side of the falls.

Bored young Girl clings to the railing.

Seagull flies over the mist.

Old man watches the waterfall.

Same old man watches some more.

“Maid of the Mist” cruises at the foot of the falls, looking out to the American side of the falls.