Skywatch Friday, Photography Question, and Busker Festival

Once again, my post breaks up into three sections:

1.Skywatch Friday: The first episode of a new season

2. Help to make a choice for a photography competition

3. The last 3 days of the Vancouver International Busking Festival to your attention.

SKYWATCH FRIDAY

I learned something over this past week of beautiful weather in Vancouver.  In fact, a cloudless sky can be rather boring.  I quickly add that most Vancouverites will take "boring" in a heartbeat.  Summer felt like a long time coming, and now that it's here, most are taking full advantage of it.

Cloudless skies were sometimes brighter and sometimes a bit smog-filled, but mostly, they made great backgrounds to highlight a few Vancouver treasures.

Bald Eagle Chick #1 in Vanier Park 

Also chick #1.  Both siblings have a bit over 2 weeks of flying under their belt.

Sibling #2.  S/he looks so confident!

Another look at sibling #2.  I think s/he is giving me "the eye" before landing.

Walking over the Granville Bridge on Tuesday evening.

Some smog over False Creek Thursday afternoon.

A second later, but looking in the opposite direction.  Bright blue skies here.

The top of The Sun Building, yesterday, after watching buskers downtown yesterday.

Woodward's building, taken yesterday as well.

Last evening, as the sun set over False Creek, I noticed the first wisps of clouds in days.

Zoomed out, the same clouds were almost impossible to see.  This is the dock to the Aquabus.

Looking in the opposite direction, towards Granville Bridge.

A few minutes later, the wisps are becoming more noticeable.

A seagull enjoys the sunset with me.

Nightfall, but with iso at 1600, the camera pulls blue light from the sky and water.

A gentleman draws my attention to wave patterns.  We talk about photography and life.

I bid "good-night" but as i walk away, more wave patterns catch my eye.

PHOTO CONTEST - "TOGETHER"

First, a HUGE "thank-you" to those who helped me out by choosing favourites from photos in this post.  I made a little scoring system (5 points for a 1st choice, and 3 points for a second choice. The theme is "Together" and the two favourites chosen from my last post were #1 (Five people made it a first choice, so 25 points) and #2 (4 people chose it first, and 2 people made it a second choice, so 26 points).  I have added a few pictures taken since.  It would be really, really appreciated if you could vote one more time, choosing only one from the following eight shots.  Thank you, thank you! 

1

2 

3

4

5

6

7

8

VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL BUSKER FESTIVAL

Below are the buskers I was able to see over the past couple of days.  There are three days left to encourage a busker, some of whom have traveled half way across the world to be here.  Here's a link to the schedule.  Every show has been a lot of fun, showing perhaps equal amounts of wit, talent and sheer hard work. 

Don't be fooled by this audience volunteer's lack of response.  His act was excellent, and all the more so, since he worked against some pretty difficult odds.

This was as animated as she became.  Her shirt caption is perfect :)

I wondered for a moment or two if this was a statue,

but caught the split second when she opened her eyes.

All the way from Australia. 

Under the leg.

Two-person juggling act.  Must be tricky!

She had the greatest smile!

Talk about being fit!

One-handed lift!

He lifted her up and down as though she were a barbell!

That's it for today.  Thanks, as always for reading, and double-thanks if you can find the time to select a photo from the second section.  Don't forget to check out Skywatch Friday for other sky shots around the world, and have a wonderful weekend!