The Centennial Totem Pole in My City

This totem pole stands proudly in New Westminster, BC's main city park. It was carved in 1967 for Canada's Centennial by Kwakwaka’wakw artists, Lloyd Wadhams Sr. and Bob Whonnock. It stands 24 feet tall next to the city's Centennial Lodge. The artwork was originally commissioned by a newspaper of the time along with three others for the cities of Coquitlam, Surrey, and Burnaby.

Last year, at the age of 56 years old, New Westminster’s totem pole was restored by Lloyd Wadhams Jr., the son of one of the original carvers. The restoration work aimed to preserve the cultural and artistic integrity of the pole, ensuring it continues to be a lasting memorial and tourist attraction.  When walking past the area this morning, it shone so brightly in the morning sun, I felt the urge to capture this image of it.

An Alaskan Glacier: Real or Fake?

Only one of today's pictures existed in reality.  The top photo was created with AI software last week. I asked Midjourney to create a picture taken on the bow of a cruise ship. I added that I wanted it to be of two sisters from Texas on an Alaskan cruise. I specified they have on hats and gloves. The second photo was scanned from an actual old photograph. It shows Jay on our very first Alaskan cruise.  The image was shot on short-lived APS film format in 2001.  

We have subsequently been a number of times because catching a cruise from downtown Vancouver is a delight.  In addition, later this summer, my sister and friend will come to visit us.  It will give us an excuse to go yet again!

Personal Quote #148

"I always feel that the best years of my life are the current ones."

Dennis Sylvester Hurd (1959- )

Everything is peachy keen.

A Great Day for a Bit of Flying

I don't think the temperature reached 20°C (69°F) but it was the first day since getting back from Sri Lanka a month ago that I didn't feel cold when outside.  I knew it'd be a perfect chance to dust off my old drone.  I have an original DJI Mavic Mini.  I think the fourth version is selling now but I got mine four years ago.  I've only flown it for a total of 32 kilometers.   

My flight records show I haven't flown since last summer.  I didn't bring along the drone this winter but have several times in the past.  I wondered if I'd remember which buttons did what.  I strapped my Pixel 7 Pro into the controller and took off.  I'm happy to report that flying a drone is somewhat like riding a bicycle in that one never really forgets.

I walked down to the end of our street in New Westminster.  Carnarvon Street ends near access to Albert Crescent Park.  The photo above is a selfie.

The images below show the grassy area between the SkyTrain suspension bridge and the original Pattullo Bridge built in 1937.  You can see the current construction on its replacement structure that will cross the Fraser River.  This month the main thoroughfare through downtown is closed because of the work on the New Westminster side onramps.

It did prove to be an excellent morning to fly.  The final photo was snapped by the drone at an elevation of around 45 meters (150 feet).

Pretty in Pink

Every spring, cherry trees blossom in many neighbourhoods around Metro-Vancouver.  They bring a splash of colour to the areas in which they're planted.  This year, they do seem a bit later than usual.  Some years the peak is over by the time we get back from our winters away.

This morning, when running errands, we stopped uptown in New Westminster along St. Patrick Street.  Many trees were heavy with their flowers. 

We seldom visit the neighbourhood streets near Queen's Park.  The manicured, heritage homes are neat and tidy.  We parked the car in several places along the street for a few photographs.

Then, we drove downtown via Third Street which was also showing its flashy pinkness too.  We enjoy spending this time of year in British Columbia.

Pictures Lie Better Now Than Ever Before!

Question:  I took these.  One is real and one was created with AI.  Venture a guess?

Answer: I've been quite surprised by how very realistic AI images have become. On Facebook today, I decided see how good at others are in determining whether an image was taken with a camera or created entirely by AI computer software.

First, the top image was taken with my phone.  I was at our city's park near the gazabo when my EV was at the DC chargers.  

However, the bottom picture was one of four choices created online by Midjourney.  I had typed in the name of an urban park in a neighboring city.  I decided I liked this one the best and had the software create a larger, more refined version.  There is no bridge in Bear Creek Park in Surrey that looks like this photo as it created it from scratch.  The software understands text and was trained on millions of images.  It also knows about styles and what makes a good photograph.

In Our Neighbourhood

We've watched these towers grow along the river. I expect they'll soon be ready for occupancy as they were originally slated to be complete in 2022. They do cut off a quite a bit of the western view of the river from our balcony but at least they're thin and tall. There are much more unsightly views that could've been built.