Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Details:

What: Let's Go To The EX!
When: Tuesday September 1st 2009
Time: 6PM
Where: Please meet INSIDE of the Princes' Gates
Bring: Tripod, and camera gear.

An annual favourite of mine.... we're off to the Exhibition, and its only $5 to get in after 5pm on weeknights from Monday to Thursday - bonus!

So here is the plan: We will all meet just inside the main Princes' Gates by the south east corner of the trade centre. There is usually a parade that comes by just about when we are all arriving, so we'll probably watch that go by first. We'll then head directly to the food building, and get some dinner. Then we'll head into the midway, and shoot until beyond dusk. There are lots of opportunities for some good night photography work at the EX. With the swirling lights of the rides, you can get some great light play with slow shutter speeds. Remember to bring your tripod or some kind of stabilization.

Everyone loves the EX! See you all there!

I'm down with the Ex assuming nothing work related that would have to take priority comes up. I will be arriving by TTC, so i will probably just call your cell Dave whenever i get there to see where all the TPMG'ers are, though my first stop will be the cheap hot dogs in the food building followed by some tasty mini doughnuts!!

The Tiny Tom's truck outside BMO was just taunting me at Real Madrid last week as it wasn't open after the game, but could have made a killing if it was!!

I'll be there but likely closer to 6:30 as I'm off at 5:30. Will call to see where you are. Likely still at the parade, if I'm lucky.

Actually, I'm working at the EX...North west corner of the Better Living Centre doing the wheelchairs, but if things are slow, I might be able to join everyone for a bit.

what has the experience been like with bringing a tripod. i.e. hassels, getting in people's way, dirty looks. although i get strange looks every days of my life and thats without my camera lol

It wasn't an issue last year. When we're all lined up in a row we get some funny looks and questions from the crowds and annoying requests to "take my picture"! Mostly people hope it means someone famous is in the crowd. We also met a lot of budding photographers, which is cool. I've never been bothered by security.

I actually got asked if we were expecting the ride to crash!

But that's about it really.

tripods are not an issue as mentioned.... people are often curious what we are doing, and ask questions, and we've never been hassled by security. In the past some of the game attendants have been rude about us photographing some of the games.. but that's about it.

So I've discovered that this week is going to be very busy for me at work.

How expensive is parking very close to the Ex?

Hi All,

I'm new to Toronto, so I'm still finding my way around . Where exactly is the EX? I would be coming on the TTC, what stop/ street car do I need to take?

Thanks and I look forward to meeting you all.

Sarah

Hi All,

I'm new to Toronto, so I'm still finding my way around . Where exactly is the EX? I would be coming on the TTC, what stop/ street car do I need to take?

Thanks and I look forward to meeting you all.

Sarah

I've been wanting to go to the Ex...I'm going to see if a buddy of mine is wanting to come too and we'll come crash the party.

The Princes' Gate is near the corner of Strachan Ave and Lakeshore Blvd West.
http://www.theex.com/planyourvisit.php?menu=02:06

There is info here on how to get there via TTC:
http://www3.ttc.ca/News/2009/August/TTC_CNE_Service.jsp

The 511 Bathurst and 509 Harbourfront streetcars stop near the Princes' Gate (start of this event). The 29 Dufferin and 193 Exhibition routes stop at the Dufferin Gate, which is at the west end of the Ex grounds and about 1.5 Km from the Princes' Gate. Since you don't know the Ex grounds, it would be easier to take the 509 or 511 cars rather than try to find your way across from the Dufferin gate.

Hey Chris,

parking directly under the Direct Energy Centre is at least $15 bucks... plus they will charge your admission of $5 right there, so you don't have to re-enter into one of the gates. You might want to go onto the EX website and double check that parking rate, but the last time I did that - it was somewhere around that much. I am parking at CAMH (obviously) and walking down - much cheaper for me!

$25 actually.

Hey, I need some advice... I wanna being my tripod tomorrow but its pretty damn heavy... Would you guys recommend bringing a tripod in general? And by recommend I don't mean like, "yea you should bring it just because you never know when you might need it" but rather more reasonably as in like... Would I find enough opportunities to use it to make it worth lugging around? Well I guess you can always find an opportunity to use a tripod... I guess the better question would be, for the people who brought tripods last year, how often did you guys end up using it??? Thanks in advanced

The ride lights are a great opportunity for long exposure photography, so you'll want your tripod for that. Definitely worth the slog.

Id love to come,
But im in hamilton, I might just make the drip.

But iv never met any of you,
So be friendly to the fat guy who plants his tripod backwards.


Also, where is princess gate? what exit should I take off the highway?
Any way I can get to that gate by mapquesting?

here is your answer shiver



I want to go, but on a weekday I have to drive and last time I drove there it wasn't easy... aside from money it was sooooooo full.

I'll finish work at 6:00 so will meet you guys at the food building.
Eddie

I have to catch up with some work, but have fun everyone!

I'm wondering if I can park at Liberty Village and walk down Atlantic and enter from the North.

Anyone know if that will work?

I'll try to park outside also... anyone has information to share about that?

Parking is kinda narly at this time of the day, as a lot of people will take advantage of the $5 after 5pm deal... so Liberty Village will probably be packed. And just about anything else in the hood is going to be pretty full too.. best bet is to cough up the $25 and park under the direct energy centre. Or if you want to save some $$ come park in the south Shaw entrance of CAMH (off of Shaw street), as I believe its only 5 or 7 bucks to park for the night, and about a 10 minute walk to the Princess Gates. That's where I am parking.


David

FYI the streetcar stop just outside the Princess Gates isn't being used. You have to get off earlier or you will be carried all the way into the EX near the horse pavillion & food hall and you'll have to huff it back to the gate.

Thanks for setting this up, David! A lot of fun, as always, and I hope that everybody had people to hang out with tonight. I couldn't believe that there were so many who attended, and it was very difficult to keep track of everyone. Great to see all the new faces too!

Great turnout today! Thanks to David for setting it up and thanks to everyone for coming.

Thanks David for setting this up. It was really great. Was very surprized when I got there how many people were there, while I chowed down quickly. Got some really cool shots. The light show was very interesting.

Thanks David.

Thanks Dave......That Bacon on a bun was tempting