desudation - photos

Fog Over San Francisco

2009-07-22T12:20:00.000-04:00

A picture taken from an airplane headed from San Francisco to Denver. The plane headed north on leaving the airport, and it was early morning. What results is a perfect picture of the summer fog over San Francisco. Notice that the fog is broken by Twin Peaks, and that break in the fog extends over the Mission. Every other part of the city is lost in the fog, and blends into the ocean in the distance.

Yoglers at the Ashram

2008-07-06T22:31:00.002-04:00

Last weekend, the group of people I teach at Google (called the Yoglers) went up to the ashram in Grass Valley, for a weekend retreat. This coincided with the graduation of the Advanced Teacher Training Course (ATTC). Here we are enjoying the graduation feast.

No

2008-07-06T22:23:00.001-04:00

Jill and I sitting on the comfy blue couch -- enjoying a morning meal. I believe she was just explaining something, but it really looks like she's about to scold someone.

Mission-Dolores Park on Sunday

2008-04-28T10:42:00.003-04:00

A typical sunny afternoon in Mission-Dolores park. Everyone comes out. There were hula-hoppers listening to some techno beats, some ravers listening to trance beats, a capoeira group showing off to traditional brazilian music, lots of small groups making their own music with their own instruments, and lots and lots of people tanning in varying degrees of undress.

Dance Mission Theater

2008-04-26T16:15:00.003-04:00

Last night, I went with Vriana to Dance Mission Theater's performance of Cuban-Haitian dance. The show was pretty amazing: high energy, full of colour and (I cringe when I use this word) empowered. For this performance, they have a particularly good group from New York City in town. If you have an opportunity and live in the Bay Area, I'd recommend checking them out. At the end of the performance, everyone joins in for a final dance while the live musicians keep playing frenetic polyrhythmic dance beats.

Arthur and the Environment

2008-04-22T02:15:00.003-04:00

Arthur and I sat around Monday evening discussing the problems of the world: the environment, energy shortages, and back flips. I think this is a pretty good picture of Arthur.

McSweeney's

2008-04-22T00:35:00.003-04:00

On Sunday, I discovered the pirate store and the home of McSweeney's. Just a short walk away, Vriana and I sat down for a little Ethiopian food and fawned over the artwork in McSweeney's #25.

office kitteh

2007-11-22T01:39:00.001-05:00

My office mate, Unnur, has recently acquired a kitty. This is the kitten's first visit to the office, and hopefully one of many more. (Side note: this is indeed my office.)

City at Dusk

2007-11-22T01:37:00.000-05:00

Yet another view of the city at dusk. My favourite time of the day really. Screw waking up at 4 a.m.; I much prefer the night.

Sunset Over the City

2007-11-22T01:35:00.000-05:00

One Sunday night after teaching a yoga class, I had the pleasure of walking home just as the sun was setting. This is the view from Buena Vista Park looking toward the ocean.

buena vista park (revisited)

2007-11-22T01:33:00.000-05:00

My local park seen just at sunset. Labelled for your convenience.

buena vista park

2007-08-26T16:54:00.000-04:00

One morning, I got early and headed out to Buena Vista park. This is the view from on top -- overlooking the city and Golden Gate Bridge.

Sleeping Giant

2007-02-25T09:30:00.000-05:00

At this moment in time, this man had just collapsed after staying awake for far too many hours. He first feel asleep on some skates, and then moved to the smallest couch he could find. He took pity on him and later moved him to a nice air matress with a sleeping bag.

Artist Date

2006-12-11T18:42:00.000-05:00

Here is a picture of downtown Ottawa in Christmas time. A long time ago, my sister leant me a book. It's called "The Artist's Way" by Julie Cameron. It's one of these hokey discover-the-inner-child-and-become-an-artist-in-touch-with-God kind of books. Anyway, I'm determined to follow this book through this time. This means I get to write a lot every day, and take a few hours every week to hang out with myself and do something creative. Whatever that might be. The writing alone is fun, and here's the result from my first photo safari.

Jala Samadhi

2006-12-11T18:04:00.000-05:00

These photos were taken at a trip to the ashram during Swami Vishnu-Devananda's jala samadhi. It really turned out to be a bit of a reunion for some of the summer staff. Prahlada showed up with some of the Toronto crew, and then there was some of the summer crew left over. And then me. These are the cool people I hung out with this summer. Yay! Yogis of the world unite.

Photos by Hans-El

2006-12-11T18:01:00.000-05:00

Turning the camera around, the model formerly known as Hans-El captures his photographer in a distracted moment. Watch as Nathan examines the wall with studied disinterest.

Man of a Thousand Hair Cuts

2006-12-11T17:59:00.000-05:00

I have decided to continue my quest to enjoy my hair while I still have it. This means trying to get in as many hair cuts as I can before there is no hair left. This is my most recent hair cut; design by Ganga, commentary and photography by Nathan.

First Snow 2006

2006-10-25T11:07:00.000-04:00

The first snow of 2006 was spotted near Buffalo, New York, while travelling home. They'd been hit by a large snow storm a few days before, and there was still a little bit left hanging over the fields here and there.

The Brothers Pollock

2006-10-25T11:05:00.000-04:00

I took a road trip down to Bloomington, Indiana to visit my Uncle Bob (centre). Uncle Bob is my father's (right) brother. The third and final brother also came down to visit at the same time: Uncle Gerry (left). I'm guessing I have baldness to look forward to.

Yoga Road Trip

2006-10-17T19:16:00.000-04:00

Yoga Road Trip

This is a road trip I took with some of the staff from the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Camp in Val-Morin. We travelled down the east coast of the United States to Florida, and then back.

The Long Ride Home

2006-10-17T18:40:00.000-04:00

It's been a long road trip, and it's time to head home. The good old 401 heading toward Montreal. This was just an attempt to get a picture in picture effect with radically different lighting.

Ram Goes Toward the Light

2006-10-17T18:36:00.000-04:00

On our road trip down to Florida and back, Ram has religious in practising asanas and pranayama every morning in the hotel room. For ventilation, he'd open the door just a crack. Here, Ram is relaxing and being drawn into the light.

Ram and Mohini

2006-10-17T18:32:00.000-04:00

A couple of friends from the ashram sitting in the worst possible diner we could have picked. It was called "Eat Here Now".

Prahlada Goes Brokeback

2006-10-17T18:04:00.000-04:00

One of my teachers from the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres, Prahlada, has this habit of making politically incorrect comments for fun. For example, if you come from Hong Kong and take one of his courses, expect to be called "Jackie Chan" for the entire time. One of his favourites has to with warning yoga teachers not to use their groin when adjusting students' asanas. He refers to it as "going brokeback". When we saw him getting a Thai Yoga Massage from Krishna, we couldn't resist getting a photo: Krishna goes brokeback on Prahlada.

Goodbye Lunch for Billy

2006-01-14T13:02:00.000-05:00

Everyone at work liked Billy. Billy the Kid. William the Bloody. Bibi. Whatever we called him, we loved him. And now he has left for Google. This is one last photo of us all together at one of our favourite restaurants: New Hot Shit.

Kissy Grandma

2006-01-07T14:47:00.000-05:00

My grandmother came and visited over Christmas. She's normally fairly reserved. This one evening, I managed to get her to make faces at the camera.

Rideau Roof

2005-12-10T17:24:00.000-05:00

The Rideau Centre has a roof that you can get to through lots of odd little entrances -- bordering on secret -- hidden all around the building. On top, there are large gardens, glass windows looking down into the mall, and large industrial fans venting hot air out of the building. It's like some urban fantasy come to life.

Christmas on the Hill

2005-12-10T09:56:00.000-05:00

I'm putting together a small photo album for my grandmother. It's going to be a Christmas present. As such, there is something strangely appropriate about the typical tourist postcard of the Christmas lights on Parliament Hill. No Christmas in Ottawa is complete without them....

Wandering Home

2005-12-10T09:47:00.000-05:00

I took this photo while wandering home from work late one November night. I really wish the lens flare hadn't happened, but otherwise I like this one.

Late Night Adventuring

2005-12-10T09:39:00.000-05:00

The best adventures are had when other people are sleeping. If you wake up at four in the morning, this is a sign from god. You should get up, get out and ...