Jett Britnell Photographics: February 2010

Sunday, February 28, 2010

And That's All She Wrote - Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games

The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games have now come and gone. And what a historic finish. Team Canada's win over the USA hockey team earned Canada its 14th gold medal of the 2010 Winter Games, thus setting an Olympic record for most gold medals won by a single nation in the winter Olympics! Congrats must go out to John Furlong and his VANOC Team for putting together such a successful sporting event on the world stage!

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Underwater Photographer Shark Defence Maneuver #7

Try to intimidate larger sharks by forming a human tripod...

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Browning Pass HideAway - The ad says it all!

Monday, February 22, 2010

The Shipwreck That Got Away

June 29, 1984: It was a fine morning and we were diving with a group of friends in Discovery Passage, near Campbell River, British Columbia when we came across this remarkable scene.

The night before, during her third cruise along Canada’s west coast, the M.V. Sundancer ran aground near Maud Island, just 16 km north of Campbell River, on Vancouver Island. After the accident, Sundancer anchored temporarily in nearby Menzies Bay to access the damage. With uncontrollable flooding below decks, the ship set sail for Duncan Bay, limping in an hour later at 1AM. All 787 passengers were evacuated. Many passengers stated that the Sundancer’s crew appeared to be disorganized and that they had to orchestrate their own rescue. The vessel was declared a total constructive loss after human error is blamed for the accident.

This vessel would have made a great shipwreck for divers, but she was refitted and lived to sail again.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Happy Valentines Day To The Love Of My Life!

A Long Obedience In The Same Direction...

Friedrich Nietzsche was a German philosopher of the late 19th century who challenged the foundations of Christianity and traditional morality. He believed in life, creativity, health, and the realities of the world we live in, rather than those situated in a world beyond. Central to his philosophy is the idea of “life-affirmation,” which involves an honest questioning of all doctrines that drain life's energies, however socially prevalent those views might be. Often referred to as one of the first existentialist philosophers, Nietzsche's revitalizing philosophy has inspired leading figures in all walks of cultural life, including dancers, poets, novelists, painters, psychologists, philosophers, sociologists and social revolutionaries.

Nietzsche once commented,

"The essential thing ‘in heaven and earth’ is. . . that there should be a long obedience in the same direction; there thereby results, and has always resulted in the long run, something which has made life worth living."

"Happy Valentines Day", to my beautiful wife, Kathryn!

How wonderful my life is with her in the world. Truly, there is nothing more sacred, more gratifying, more intoxicating, or more worthwhile, than to be sharing with this adorable, incredibly talented and amazing woman... "a long obedience in the same direction."

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Online Buyer Alert! - Canadasflorists.com

Before Christmas I ordered a flower arrangement from Canadasflorists.com and paid extra for a deluxe arrangement to be sent to a loved one in Oshawa. I would not have known they delivered a standard arrangement but billed me for the higher amount unless the recipient had not told me that the flowers were not up to usual snuff. She knows I spend upwards of $100. When I alerted Canadasflorists.com, they provided a credit only for the difference between the deluxe arrangement and the standard one. The embarrassment was all mine. They have lost me as a customer and approx $600 to $700 in future annual orders. I would not recommend them.

A picture is worth a thousand words. Here is a picture of the Canadasflorist.com arrangement I ordered from their online ad, and another picture of the more expensive arrangement that they actually shipped. See the difference in quality? Oh yeah, they were supposed to ship 10 stems, but only sent 9 stems. Order at your own risk.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Toulouse Petit - Très Magnifique!

While in Seattle recently my wife and I enjoyed some rather scrumptious h'orderves and a sumptuous pre-concert dinner at a trendy New Orleans-inspired restaurant on lower Queen Anne called, Toulouse Petit.

A new favourite for both of us, this fine kitchen lounge-style establishment opened in November 2009 after apparently taking more than one year to adorn its interior with 5,000 pounds of stippled plaster walls, 125,000 ceramic and glass mosaic tiles, spacious velvet booths and attractive wood inlayed tabletops and bar.

The proprietor claims Toulouse Petit offers the most comprehensive and compelling Happy Hour Menu in the USA. Indeed, it is extensive with more than sixty food preparations, their entire desert selections, reasonably priced cocktails and more than fifty wines by the glass, bottle and carafe. The dinner menu choices are equally inspired. It was truly difficult to decide upon a main dish, as there were so many delectable choices.

Having myself dined in New Orleans’ famed French Quarter, I would unequivically give Toulouse Petit five stars for it’s efforts to create an overall Creole atmosphere. As for the dining fare, it was all Tres Magnifique!

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Elton John & Billy Joel: Saturday Night’s Alright in Seattle!

The hits just kept coming during super duo Elton John & Billy Joel’s sold out, 3-hour, “Face 2 Face” musical extravaganza at Seattle’s Key Arena last night. These two piano playing pop icons performed their own songs, each other's songs, and several duets making the Seattle’s Key Arena seem like it was the world’s largest piano bar. And no surprise, John & Joel were damn good! My absolute favorite moment was Elton swapping verses with Billy on Uptpwn Girl. Good times!