More BTA

Not everything was gold fall foliage. Cactus weren't in full bloom but getting close and personal to the buds worked too.

One more post for BTA.  Flowers coming up.

Fall Gold - BTA

We were about a week late to get the full effects of fall foliage at BTA but still pretty dramatic.  

Thanks for viewing. 

BTA - Feathered friends

While I await some sort of reasonable solution to my missing computer problems lets get back to something a little more positive and enjoyable.  
Here are some shots of some of the birds around BTA.  At the right time of day there are so many its hard to decide which ones to focus on. (pun intended)  

The cardinals are a bit skittish so even with 600mm
some heavy cropping is required. 

Tell me about it.

Thats one grumpy looking bird.  

mmmm good stuff.

Thats all for today.  Lots more BTA coming up. 

Apple/UPS disaster - A cautionary tale.

I interrupt my series of posts featuring pictures from our adventures to tell you a tale of woe and provide a cautionary warning if you deal with either of these companies.  I can honestly say I have never been as frustrated as I have with my dealings with Apple and UPS.  If I wasn't already so deeply entrenched in the Apple ecosystem I would trash my Apple products and never deal with them again.  

On June 8 I ordered a new MacBook Pro as my existing IMac and MacBook Air were getting close to 10 years old and were slow and getting slower with each new software release.  I maxed out most of the features on the new machine hoping to future proof it for 8-10 years.  Then I added Apple Care.  So you know this was not a purchase paid for out of petty cash.  I received confirmation from Apple and was told it would be shipped in 3-5 business days and would be delivered to me June 22-24.  All is good. 

On June 11 I received an email from Apple confirming that my order had been shipped with an expected delivery date of June 23.  I was provided with a tracking number for UPS.   At the bottom of the email was a section headed Questions.  And I quote.
"What if I will not be able to receive my shipment?   
Answer: Most of our shipments have valuable items, so our carriers are required to obtain a signature upon delivery.  However, orders delivered by Canada Post do not require a signature.  Please note that the carrier makes two delivery attempts before returning your package to Apple." 
Please note it does not say they are required to get a signature most of the time, or when they feel like it, when it is convenient or on days not ending in a y.  No exceptions, a signature is required.      

On June 11 I receive an email from Apple Support providing me with the serial number of my computer and confirmation that the time clock has started for my Apple Care.  Keep in mind I have not received my computer yet but my extended warranty period is starting to wind down.

I start following my computers progress on the UPS tracking website.  It leaves China, gets to Japan, Alaska, Kentucky, Oregon, Vancouver and then hits Winnipeg.  Apple had advised me that the computer would arrive on June 23 however UPS tracking indicates it would be delivered on June 19.  We aren't going to be home on the 19th so I try the UPS online process to change my delivery date to the 23rd.  After setting up an account with UPS and following their process I am told that that service is not available in my area.  So I phone the 1-800 line.  Finally get to talk to someone who, after I make my request to delay delivery, she puts me on hold, comes back and says my computer will be delivered on the 23rd.  Great. 

June 18 I check the UPS tracking website and see that the package was delivered at 1:46PM, a day earlier than their website had indicated and 5 days earlier than what I had been told the previous day.  The notice from their driver says that it was left on our front door.  SHIT.  I phone my neighbour at 3:29PM who runs next door, checks my front door, looks around the house and no package.  

I will not bore you with blow by blow discussions, suffice it to say that I have sent emails and made numerous calls,  been on hold for hours, transferred to different departments only to be told too bad, so sad, we empathize but nothing we can do.  UPS will listen to me but won't do anything cause I'm not their customer.  Apple is their customer and I should phone them. I phone Apple and they say they will open an investigation, will take 3-5 days but then the next day I get an email saying investigation was completed by the carrier and nothing further will be done by Apple.  I mention this to UPS and they say there is no record of an investigation being initiated.  I mention to both Apple and UPS that Apple's email says that the package must be signed for and it wasn't and they don't even acknowledge that.  They just restate that the investigation is done and nothing further can be done.  I have reported all this to the Police however there is not much they can do.   

So what now.  I await a call from an Apple supervisor however have already been told that they will repeat the same scripted response that I have already heard.  I am awaiting a call back from a UPS supervisor however hell could freeze over first.  I have talked to my credit card company and they are going to reverse the charges and chargeback Apple however if Apple disputes the chargeback it could be reversed back to my account and I will be responsible for interest charges.  I have filed an insurance claim through my Visa as I have something called Purchase Security Insurance which on the surface seems like I will get my money back but you know insurance companies.  They aren't in business to pay out claims. My last course of action will be to check with my house insurance to see if I'm covered but there will be a deductible and I will lose my claims free status and my premiums will go up.  

Hate to be a dark cloud on your day, the thunder you hear is me banging my head against the wall, but consider it a warning when dealing with multi-billion dollar companies.  They don't give 2 cents about you once they have your money.    

Boyce Thompson Arboretum

One of our favourite places to visit when we are in Gold Canyon is Boyce Thompson Arboretum (BTA).  So many different plants, cactus, birds and flowers in such a condensed area.  The scenes change with the season and also the time of day so always seem to find something different to shoot.  We have purchased annual passes most years we are in GC and have always got our moneys worth.  As part of our annual membership we also receive 2 passes so we can bring guests.  We are always able to find someone to take for their first visit to this little garden of eden.  

A few years ago I discovered that they have a camera club meeting once a month to discuss photography, editing and sharing of pictures.  The cost is the price of admission to BTA and having the annual membership covers my attendance at their meetings.  Since the Covid shutdown they have been having meetings by Zoom so the added benefit is that I can keep in touch even when we are back home for the summers.  
  
The next few posts will be pictures taken at BTA during this past winter.  

Taken in the Demonstration Garden.
A rock wall with a viewing port to the new Wallace Garden.
I kind of like the effect.  Like looking through a portal to another world. 

A little macro shot of flower in full bloom

So many colours

The berries provide vibrant colour and also food for the birds. 

I attended a presentation by a wildlife photographer and he took
us on a walk around giving us tips on shooting birds.
Very informative.

One of the tips he provided was how to use a flash to get a vibrant
picture of a flower set against a black background.  I didn't have a
flash but underexposed the picture on purpose and then
brightened the flower and leaves in post leaving the background black.
Had never tried this before but it worked pretty well.  

These pictures were taken in the new rose garden.
Taken in November so was the end of the season.
Hope to get more this year but who knows. 

 Thats all for today.  Hopefully more tomorrow. 

Zoo Deux

Here are a few more shots of our feathered friends.  
These shots as well as shots from my previous post were all taken on the Sony A7iii using the Sony G 200-600mm lens at f6.3 and in many cases at high ISO.  When people say that zoom lenses aren't sharp I suspect they haven't shot on the current crop of Zoom lenses.  And even though I used a high ISO in most of the shots the noise was minimal and easily reduced in my editing software. 

Enjoy

The proper orientation for this shot is rotated 90 degrees to the right.
The branch he is perched on should be vertical with his head
pointing straight down as in the shot below (same picture).
Every time I looked at it I tilted my head so I decided to rotate it.  

Same picture as above with the actual orientation.
 A little creative license applied by way of Topaz Studio 

As above but with a few different filters. 

Pelican as I saw him.

Pelican as I imagined him.
Not totally happy with the result but ok for a work in progress.

This guy and his mate were taking turns sitting on a nest.
I was hoping to get back for some more shots when the
eggs hatch.  Checked with one of the Zoo employees and
they said that if they do lay eggs they are taken out of the nest
and replaced with painted rocks. As bald eagles are not an
endangered species there is no market for eaglets.
What a cruel joke on mom and dad.  

 Thats it for our Zoo excursion.  We have actually been up in Swan River the past few weeks so lots of time to edit pictures but no Wifi, other than my phones data plan, so haven't been able to submit my posts.  
Have a few more pictures edited and ready to post, all dating back to this past winter in Arizona.  Should get those posted in the next few days as we are probably heading back to Swan again on Friday.       

Winnipeg Zoo

A few weeks back Lori and I decided to make a trip to the Winnipeg Zoo and get a few shots of animals also in isolation, albeit not by their own choice.  Given that Lori and I have been in a different kind of isolation the past few weeks I have had some time to do some editing.  

Got there about 9:00 and had the place pretty much to ourselves.  By 11:00 there were a few more two leggeds (stole that from Pluto Youtube videos) showing up but it never got very busy.  Turned out to be a beautiful day and the animals were very cooperative although getting clear shots through the wire fencing proved to be a bit difficult at times.  

The camera does a good job of focusing past the chain link fencing.
Almost making it invisible however the sun reflecting off
the metal created a collection of sun spots.  

A shy snowy owl playing peek-a-boo with me. 

Bad hair day.  Moulting not yet done. 

Guess when you spend your life in a small pool swimming
upside down provides a fresh perspective.  

This snow leopard was relaxing under a bench getting ready for a mid-morning nap.
His eyes never left us.

Do you like your camel with one hump or two.
Sorry, couldn't help myself. 

Peacocks were roaming free.
No extra saturation required. 

This little guy was born about 1 month ago.
Super cute. 

I have a few more but will save it for another day.  We bought season passes so hope to get back a few more times as the seasons change.  Perhaps even some winter shots as it looks a bit doubtful that we will be heading to Arizona this winter.  Sob, sob.