Canada Day on the Hill.

More of the usual, on Canada Day in the capital. Rideau and Wellington St. were jammed with pedestrian traffic, and the Hill was tight security on account of the PM and the GG being at the noon show there. Saw Feist and a handful of other performances there, and really enjoyed my time. I was shooting for China, so I needed some good Canadian colour with some clean pics of the PM and GG.

The show was on the Hill, but lots of the crowd remained on the street looking in, catching the show via giant speakers and digital displays set up on either side of the stage.

I am always lucky as a photographer to see the show up close, today next to the secret service officers. The GG and PM were in public and so extra precautions are taken.

The PM finished his speech, and walks off stage in this outtake, above. Photojournalists are often trying to compress the elements together in a well timed frame, and so here I managed to get Harper, the oxidized copper roof of the East Block of Parliament Hill, and a Canadian Flag into a 400mm telephoto shot. However, it felt a bit too sombre to file for this Canada Day, somehow.

Again, a bit of a strange frame. One of the horses carrying the RCMP up to the Hill for the ceremony decided to take a dump right in front of the platform reserved for the GG. On a side note, you gotta love Governor General David Johnston. A class act, and overall a bright and uplifting person. He was probably having a chuckle about this situation.

The worst part about the ceremonies with the big politicians is the waiting time. I felt like it put a real damper on the festive mood on the Hill. Luckily there were a few clouds in the sky to provide occasional shade and respite from the heat of the sun.

That's the spirit.

Oh, and one cute sequence with the GG to show in 5 frames. Sharon Johnston —David Johnston's wife— gives the GG a little bit of help with his hat. Happy Canada Day. I worked, but it hardly feels like it. Stay tuned for some pics from the amazing time I had at the Escapade Music Festival on this same weekend.

Much better!