Toronto Photography Meetup Group

So I'm looking to get out somewhere on Sunday to do some shooting and test a few new things and wondering if there was anyone else interested in going out to shoot?
I was thinking maybe the Cambridge Butterfly Convervatory?
I have a car and can take up to 4 more people, but I live in Port Credit so we would have to arrange a suitable pick up place.
Of course, I'm up for any other location suggestions.
Anyone?

EDIT:
I think I prefer the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory since its indoors and I'll get to use the ol' macro lens.
11am Sunday
Meet in the front lobby.
Snap a few pics, may be grab some lunch, then decide if we want to wander by that abandoned mill.

I am down, butterflies sound like fun, might be able to drive too, in that case I will have room for 4. Let's see if anyone shows interest

Don't expect to find colourful exotic butterflies there. Those are all dead and stuck with pins on frames.
The live butterflies there are not that colourful although they do have some pretty finch like birds and some small fowls.

What time would you plan on getting to the butterfly conservatory? I would be interested in going from Mississauga. I do have an evening commitment in Toronto, so I would likely need to drive myself in order to avoid rushing others. I'm also open to other suggestions as well, but I can't yet make a definite commitment for that day.

Was just there last weekend and here are some macros I got if anybody wants to see what they have:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/annie57/se ... 9926/show/

Was also there the week before that and these are more general photos and also gives you an idea of what they has as well:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/annie57/se ... 5222/show/

Anne

Cool. If not, we can meet up and save on the gas.



I'm open to going at any time - they open at 10am...

Any other suggestions apart from flies? Like abandoned locations and shit?
I'd like anything really, just need to get out of town, sick of Toronto

Sure Mike, we can meet in Port Credit or on the way if there's not much demand for rides.

Try Barber's Paper Mill in Georgetown.

Here's my set on it: http://www.flickr.com/photos/elishajesu ... 799231594/

Sounds good to me, but would need a ride. I'm in Port Credit. Do you still have room? I also wanted to mention that if you call ahead and have a few people, the Wings Of Paradise Butterfly place will let you in an hour or so early before regular opening, with your tripods.
I also know of a couple abandoned houses might be good on the way back.

I just checked out the Georgetown Mill pics. That looks even better than butterflys, and we could check out the abandoned house as well.
Another option for another time---Mountsberg Bird and conservation area --for a fee, will bring the Owls, Red-Tailed Hawk,Kestral, Merlin etc out and place them on branches to photograph close up. For a group of 20 people, the cost would be $11.50 each.

Is this the Ray Barlow sessions? I thought it would be a lot more than that, 20x more in fact.

I like to visit mountsberg, here's a bunch of photos from my last visit:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vincedotca ... 6993/show/

Who? As far as I know any photography group can arrange this. I have gone a few times with the MCC CAMERA CLUB.

Ray Barlow runs photography workshops, including some at Mountsberg. Obviously, if you do the workshop, then the workshop would increase the cost, but I believe any groups can do the shoot at Mountsberg.

http://raymondbarlowworkshops.blogspot. ... shops.html

I've never done any of his workshops, so I don't know whether or not they are any good.

For the butterflies, earlier would be better for me, since I'll have to leave mid-afternoon (about 3:30-ish) to head into Toronto for the evening.

I'm in Port Credit as well and can give you a lift.
PM me and we can figure out the whens and wheres.

Nice set! Thanks for sharing, now we know there is a brickworks MKII.

My only worry about the mill is that the majority of it is exposed, which could be slippery and/or cold depending on the weather.
Check out some more info/pics of it here

It looks interesting. I'd be up for either--whichever you decide is OK with me.

If it's only two of you guys driving, I can come to Port Credit and park, and then go with you. No point of having 2 cars for 3 people

That's mostly the exterior shots. I did mostly interior shots! It's quite a big place.

The Old Mill looks interesting. How long a drive is that?

I'm waiting to pick up my brand new 24-70 maybe tomorrow so this might be a great way to test her out!

just a bit of a warning here: Apparently there is active work going on at the Barber Mill now.... this is what I have heard. And secondly.. if you were planning to go into a tresspass site, do you really want to be advertising it on a public forum?

hmmm...may be the mill isn't such a good idea then.
Anyone been to the site lately?

Recently no. I was there in November. The building in fenced but there is a hole n the fence down towards the river.
Maybe they are doing some construction it on now.

My buddy and I trespassed into another supposed abandoned building in Hamilton 2 weekends ago only to find everything inside was cleared off and piled high with new construction material ad they were redoing the whole inside.

So it is better to go scout of the location before you actually plan on taking a group in for a shoot just in case.

Just say you are a fine arts photographer if the coppers give you any trouble. Has worked for me a couple of times anyway!

darn, any more locations that would be open to the public?

There's an abandoned farm house in Drumbo that is wide open with no fences by a corn field.
Here's my set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/elishajesu ... 865659568/

The neighbour was a little nosey until we told him we were just photographers documenting abandoned buildings in SW Ontario.

I'm not quite sure what the address is because I wasn't the one driving but I can try and find out!

There are reasons why none of these sites are 'open' to the public. Liability, trespassing, etc.

Did any of you watch the TV show on Bravo called PHOTO EXPLORERES?
tHE mISSISSAUGA cAMERA cLUB had one of the members as a quest speaker showing his photos. Check out Sean Galbraith photography.
I think documenting these abandoned buildings before they are demolished or renovated is important. Most owners put up those no trespassing signs to discourage vandals and avoid injury claims. If you are careful and respectful (don't take anything but pictures), you will likely be OK. However, if there are tools/construction equipment on site, then security is a different thing and probably not worth it.
We could always check it out then decide. Early would be safer.

I went to the farm house in Drumbo and the mill in Thamesford with the videographer for PhotoXplorers.

He had scouted them before we went out.

I live in Georgetown and I just stopped by the Mill when I was out with my dogs to check it out for you. There is no new construction going on around the Mill that I could see and it was put back up for sale as the owners could not get the approval by local City Council to build the condos that they wanted. There are signs that there are video cameras on site but they have been there for years and there are no cameras around

The path that runs beside the Mill and along the Credit River has been blocked off which used to lead to the big hole in the fence. It was blocked off to keep teenagers out but they still frequent it. I have been there a few times on my own and once went Sean Galbraith who was spoken about earlier from the Photo Xplorers. And his series was great on Bravo! Last time I was there we went over the top of the fence using some garbage materials in the area and another fellow found a way to get in from the front.

Here are a few photos from then:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/annie57/se ... 5655/show/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/annie57/se ... 4262/show/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/annie57/se ... 8261/show/