A while back I subscribed to the newsletter of the Vancouver Public Space Network, a non-profit dedicated to exploring issues relating to claiming space open for everyone. One of their ongoing issues is an open question: where is Vancouver's main square? Where is its piazza or central gathering point? The fact is there isn't really one big enough space currently in the downtown core where people can gather for rallies, parties or simply to hang about. There are several smaller places including the featured in the photo above, at Robson between Howe and Hornby before the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery.

After Sunday's impromptu session with Joe McNally it was almost like I had already received my $50 worth of instruction without going to the Tuesday night presentation and demonstration given by Joe. But there I was in the front row with some fellow Strobists enjoying a cracking slideshow, Joe's insights and war stories and then an hour of Joe trying to wrestle Nikon's SB900s into putting out enough light for a model session right on the stage.

The talk, hosted by the nice crew at Vancouver Photo Workshops, was very well attended with all of the downstairs auditorium at the MacMillan Space Center filled to capacity. The couple hundred photographers soon discovered how amiable, self-effacing and open McNally is -- we already knew that from meeting him on Sunday.

This is one of the shots I took Sunday at the Vancouver Strobist meet. No, Joe McNally was not anywhere near this shot (long gone at that point). But I like this setup anyway. My buddies Steve and Ian went high with an umbrella for key and another one low for fill against the backlighting of the window. However, I think when I shot this one I might have somehow missed the key light.

Had a rad time this Sunday with some very talented folks including -- in a surprise drop in -- National Geographic photographer Joe McNally.

Joe McNally is one of the real stars of photographic instruction these days with the excellent and inspirational book "The Moment it Clicks" which I reviewed earlier and a leader of well-respected workshops when he isn't on assignment for various magazines.

There was a moment during Tuesday's Remembrance Day ceremonies honouring our veterans and currently serving soldiers when I and most of the people around me began to lose it. The Vancouver Bach Choir had begun singing their version of "In Flanders Fields" and the priest had finished his sermon. The rain had been pounding the few hundred assembled at Victory Square in downtown Vancouver off and on for the past hour and the wet was amplifying the cold. We had seen a dwindling number of older veterans march resolutely under these conditions, protected only by light ponchos, their heads covered by thin berets and caps. Somewhere close by the artillery were firing and the gunshots were echoing around the buildings. These are moments of sombre ceremony that we don't experience often here so I think that's one of the reasons it is so affecting.

As I have in recent years I spent part of November 11th standing in respect to our veterans of Canada's conflicts and emergencies as well as to our military serving now in Afghanistan and other places overseas. Seemingly every Remembrance Day in Vancouver is a cold, wet affair and yesterday was no different. It was well attended despite, with people bringing their children, older people out in their walkers and scooters and many young people as well. I almost lost it when the Bach choir began singing "In Flander's Fields" and there were many wet eyes about.

I took pictures but they were al