This is the first house I ever explored. I had my first digital camera from my Mother for my birthday/ Christmas, an early present before she went down to Florida for the winter. It was great. But, I did not know I would need to buy a memory card. I assumed the memory with the camera would give me all the space I needed to photograph the house.
I never did get all the way around to the back of it. Not long after the house was demolished so now I never will get back there for more exploring. But, I did learn to do my best while at the site and not leave anything for another trip. Another trip might not happen.
I do like maps, strongly, not quite enough to love them. Love being such a big word in small letters. I use a map when I explore rural ruins. I use it to find the locations when others tell me they have found an abandoned farmhouse in my area. I have a backroad map which (so far) has been very reliable, even when I've taken some pretty far fetched turns.
For his birthday, I gave my nephew two full poster-sized maps. One of Canada and the other of the World. We put them up in his bedroom. Is it only a co-incidence that geography is the subject he seems to be having the most trouble with this year? I hope so. I may not be ready to tell him everything he needs to know about geography but I would like to see him learn about rocks, maps and navigation. One of the most important things in life is knowing how to navigate your way.
I remember the last time I looked at a really old map. I liked seeing the terrors written on there like monsters and the edge of the world. Thanks to cartographers and world explorers and ancient navigators we know the world does not end with a sudden drop. Modern explorers and those into geocaching use a GPS to find their way around. But even then, the old fashioned map is at the root of every exploration.
Old/ Vintage Maps
Hand Drawn Maps
This was originally posted by kkh Photos - Off the Desk. You can find the full list of ways to crank up your creativity on the kkh Photos blog.
![Take 100 steps
Or 200 or 300. It really doesn’t matter how far just pick a number and start walking. Once you have counted those 100 steps stop and have a look around. Then start shooting. Look for new angles or unusual objects. Try black & white or look for bright vivid colors.]()
I really like the randomness of taking 100 steps, as if you were a pirate following a treasure map. What treasure will you find when you stop after that last step?
Reading Toronto - Looking at the city through the eyes of the many designers, architects, writers, and artists in the city.
Imagining Toronto - A local exploration of culture and place, a lived geography of the city and region.
Imagining Toronto, the blog. -
Amy Lavender Harris- A geographer and environmental phenomenologist. Occasional rabble rouser. Known to be fiercely independent, curious, principled, persistent.
Jennifer Burns: Local Ruins - Abandoned and reclaimed buildings in Toronto.
Toronto Psychogeography Society - A loose collection of relentless flâneurs, explorers and walkers. Participants step out of their daily routine and explore the city's overlooked corners to imagine the dynamics of a better future urban environment.
Murmur Toronto - An archival audio project that collects and curates stories set in specific Toronto locations, told by Torontonians themselves.
Canadian New Media Awards - To recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of individuals and companies in the Canadian new media industry.
It's a lovely day here today. The weather is clear and a little breezy. Just the right kind of day for a picnic outside. Bring a kite too, its also great kite flying weather.
Put together a picnic the easy way. Bring bread, cold cuts, cheese and mustard and make your sandwiches outside. That way there is less mess in the kitchen. Don't forget something to drink, juice is nice on picnics. If you have snacky foods like chips or peanuts grab them too.
Spread an old blanket out on the grass. Make sure the grass is free of things to stick you, like thistles or your Mom's garden! Sit on the blanket and have your feast. Chat, sing goofy songs, or play games. Enjoy the day and being outside.
When you're done, tidy up. Its pretty easy to tidy up a picnic. After you take the games, garbage and leftovers inside you just pick up your blanket and give it a shake. The birds and bugs will be happy to eat up all your crumbs.
Too bad you can't have a picnic outside every day.