On Friday, we braved the snow and drove into town to visit the National [Art] Gallery. On our first visit in '95, admission was free. In later years, they began to charge $6 for general admission and another $6 for whatever special exhibit was showing. I was rather dismayed on Friday to see that I had no choice; the admission was $12 and included the special exhibit, whether one wanted to see it or not. We would have passed it up, but that's life.
On top of that, we discovered that they didn't permit photos to be taken inside any of the galleries. This was another change because on our last visit, they were permitted in certain galleries.
However, as Sue and I rested in the awful cafeteria while the more youthful Brian and Heather did a bit more circulating, I did take a few pictures through the cafeteria window. In the centre of the following photo lies the Supreme Court of Canada. Sue was thinking that sun would have made for better photos, but I liked what I saw just fine.
Out of sequence is our return to the gallery at the end of the day. Sue, Heather and Brian preceded me up the walk. We always park at the gallery. It's just a habit that we've gotten into and are familiar with.
These are the spires of Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica, just across the street from the art centre. There's something that I love about night shots, even though my camera is not the best at handling them, particularly when I am hand-holding the camera and must resort to really cranking up the ISO. Fortunately, I can reduce some of the resulting "noise" in post production software, but that also makes the photo a little soft. But we do our best.
Trying to leave the parking lot was a little unnerving. My credit card didn't work after the machine swallowed my ticket. Neither did the $20 bill that I offered. Neither did 3 other credit cards in the party. Finally, Heather's $20 bill worked. Phew!
Rest assured; there will be more weekend pictures, but this is a start.
doesn't sound like a very hospitable place! :) i do like your photos, though.
ReplyDeleteYour photographs are lovely.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry about the increase in prices...and the machines that are picky about what cards and bills they take. But, it sounds like the day was a lovely one in spite of the changes.
Lovely...
That first photograph is fantastic. It looks like black and white although you didn't mention anything about it, so I am guessing it was a colour shot!
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures. The last one is especially striking. It looks like it should be a pretty good size, framed just right and hanging on a wall.
ReplyDeleteThat snowy photo is postcard perfect!!
ReplyDeleteI like both the snowy photo as well as the night shot.
ReplyDeleteDid you get the urge to sneak a photo in the gallery--cameras can be totally silent and unobtrusive...if they aren't too big.
Good pics, John. Heather and I had a great time with you and Sue. I'm having fun looking through and processing some of my pics.
ReplyDeleteI am refraining from making a comment about the Harper government. Instead, I will agree with everyone that these are marvellous photos. I especially like the first one,maybe because I think I can see our home in it. No, it's because it's ethereally beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI long for the days when I can leisurely visit art museums again! Such fun!
ReplyDeleteGuess you cross off a future visit to that museum as it will most likely be even more costly. Night shots have always been problematic for me as well but you done good with the spires, John.
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