Concepcion Volcano, Ometepe Island, Nicaragua
To watch the cloud movement around a volcano is an experience to behold. You could watch this for hours and the scene will constantly change.
I captured this cloud formation with just the peak showing. It appears like an island in the mist.
That is it for now. Happy trails
Concepcion Volcano, Ometepe Island, Nicauraga
To watch the cloud movement around a volcano is an experience to behold. You could watch this for hours and the scene will constantly change.
I captured this cloud formation with just the peak showing. It appears like an island in the mist.
That is it for now. Happy trails
Miércoles 19 de octubre el año 2016
Me desperté con el cielo nublado y el deseo de ir a fotografiar. Es la época de lluvias aquí en Nicaragua. Ha llovido toda la tarde. Ahora vivo en Matagalpa, Nicaragua rodeado de montañas que se pasó la mañana y la casa comercial de limpieza para las tiendas de comestibles. He observado continuamente el cielo en busca de signos de lluvia. Las nubes eran de un color gris claro. Miré hacia el Norte. Las montañas estaban cubiertas de niebla. Ahora bien, esto era prometedor. Una oportunidad de capturar algunas escenas de mal humor. Me tomé un almuerzo rápido. Cargado mi equipo de cámara en mi mochila. Luego, por la puerta que fui.
Me paré un taxi que pasaba. La siguiente parada fue la estación de autobuses. Salí del taxi después de pagar mi pasaje. Había un autobús de pasajeros de cargar a San Ramón. Subí a bordo de la partida hasta el desvío de San Ramón. Mientras salía el autobús en el desvío, el cielo se estaba volviendo más oscuro. rápidamente caminaba por una calle lateral configurar mi trípode y la cámara. Hubo algunas composiciones interesantes como se puede ver arriba. Hice parte de un pequeño montículo junto con una parte de una rama de un árbol en primer plano. He encontrado la rama de un árbol interesante debido a su ángulo, pero la iluminación en las hojas fue lo más destacado. De esta manera he logrado una mayor profundidad a la foto. Los ajustes de la cámara para la foto fue 0,5 segundos, f22. Las gotas de lluvia aparecieron como estaba fotografiando.
La lluvia cogió un poco mientras caminaba de una línea de la cerca. Yo era capaz de capturar unos cuantos disparos. La lluvia caía más difícil a estas alturas. Empaqué y me dirigí a algunos edificios en el desvío. Esperé y esperé, pero no había ninguna relajación con la lluvia. Esperé unos cuarenta y cinco minutos. El día estaba cada vez más oscuro. Esto significaba una velocidad de obturación más lentas. Hubo un poco de viento. Es hora de ir a casa y hacer la cena.
Bueno, eso es todo por ahora. Hasta la próxima vez rastros felices
Panoramic Matagalpa To Jinoega Highway
Your Picture
I put your picture
Beside my bed
Your sunny smile
Your sparkling eyes
I still can’t get you
Out of my mind
Our love ran deep
For one another
You were just 21
I was only 24
When we sealed our love
With a vow of marriage
We had two beautiful children
The grandchildren came
Along with our golden years
To bring joy into our lives
They always ask me about you
Upon seeing your picture
I tell them that you are in heaven
That she sends her love
When my days are blue
I just look at your picture
With that sunny smile
And sparkling eyes
I put your picture
Beside my bed
Your sunny smile
Your sparkling eyes
Ken Bennison
Sitting on a riverbank
Just me and my girl
The stars are shining
Like diamonds in heaven
The moon is sparkling
On the river’s surface
No wind is blowing
We are sitting, side by side
Holding hands
Stealing a kiss
Now and then
Just me and my girl
We talked about tomorrow
We talked about forever
And more
Rejoicing in our love
Being so young
Just me and my girl
We had not a care
In the world
Basking in the glow
Of our love
With the stars above
Just me and my girl
To be so young
To be so innocent
We talked about tomorrow
We talked about forever
And more
Just me and my girl
We made it back last Friday evening to Martha Lake, Algoma. As expected our northern hosts the mosquitoes were awaiting our arrival. They are not called northern scourges for nothing. Blood is what they want. The first thing Maureen and I did was set up the screen tent. The screen tent affords us an area of peace from the bugs. The mosquitoes would line up outside the screen waiting for a victim. You.
Next step was to get our sleeping quarters ready, namely the tent. With practiced precision the tent was erected. The sleeping cots set up and our beds were made. Maureen lit the bug coils for each location and had them placed in the sleeping tent and screen tent. Donning my bug jacket I set up the barbecue and stove. Both these essential items run on propane. I left the cooler in the Ford escape for the night. No need inviting unwanted guests to the feast overnight. Namely bloody bears. We had the whole lake to our selves. Not a soul in sight. Amen. I wonder sometimes who is smarter, me or the folks who stayed home. I must be a true northerner.
It was getting near dust now and the lake was quite calm by this time. Out came the tripod and camera. Let me tell you when you stand by the lake shore, you become surrounded by the mosquito hordes. To take a photo you have to be quick about it. I have to remove the head portion of my bug jacket to photograph. Before shooting I wave my hand in front of the lens to clear these bugs. If not, you will find round splotches on your photo.
Darkness was fast approaching. Camera gear was put away. Time to hit the sack. Crawling into my sleeping bag was a relief. A small light hanging from the tent ceiling revealed the mosquito hordes on the outside of the tent screen. I had the feeling of being the only bloody piece of meat for a hundred miles. I guess in the turn of things we all have to survive. Thus I fell asleep with the droning of the north woods mosquitoes in my ears.
Tomorrow is another adventure. So until next time happy trails.
June 09, 2015
On a Tuesday afternoon I picked up James W Cook at his apartment in downtown Sudbury. James is a local artist who loves to paint. I drove out of the city heading West. My destination was Massey where we would turn north into the hinterland. We arrived in Massey where I proceeded to top off the gas tank. Running out of gas in the woods is a no no. Thus we were soon driving north following the Aux Sauble River. The road winds through forests that has been logged for many generations. The river flows under a number of bridges as it makes its way south. Our turn off onto Plaunte’s Road soon arrived. This a logging road that is still fairly new. There has been logging activities here in the last couple years. There are lots of pot holes and water in some areas now. This road receives no maintenance.
When I drove up here last week to Martha Lake, we passed a swampy area that really intruded me. I was fascinated by the many shades of green I could observe here. Upon arrival, it was turning out to be an odd sort of day. Some areas the clouds were dark and threatening. Then if you looked in another direction the sun would be shining along with billowing white clouds. There was intermittent showers happening. A light wind would play on the water. Then all of a sudden there would be a stillness. Then the lighting became fascinating. There was this magic, mystical feeling before me that can only be inspired by Mother Nature.
Having set up my tripod and Canon 7D, it became a matter of just waiting for that right moment. By using the tree remains in the foreground to offset the various shades of green plus added depth. The wonderful stillness of the water creating gorgeous depth to the reflections in the foreground. The eye can follow through the open into the pond in the middle ground. Along the way you will spot a beaver house. The darkness of the water in the middle pond gives good contrast to the surrounding shades of green. The absolute depth found in the background is inspiring to the eye. There is a touch of red from dying evergreens. This lends a touch of addition color without overpowering the background. As I was photographing the large white cloud top left appeared. To the right was blue skies with darker wispy clouds to give the hint of the weather.
One spends more time looking for these locations than the actual photographing. Many hours are spent driving,walking or canoeing. When you do happen upon a scene that catches your eye the reward is as above.
For more info about James W Cook, check out his Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/jameswcookbeauxarts
So until next time happy trails.
A freshening south wind
Caresses the frozen land
A bright and sunny day
The warmth of spring
Blankets the snow bound terrain
The spring thaw has begun
A river flows beneath
The burden of winter
The snow laden evergreens
Line the river’s edge
The relentless winter winds
Has turned the exposed snow
Into sculptured forms of art
The smooth crust of snow
Formed into humps and valleys
Where the shadows play
Embellishing the exposed snow
The river has burst forth
From its winter blanket
Surging water slowly appears
Creating pools of tea colored water
To disappear once again
Beneath the melting ice
To reappear downriver
Charging on in the
Warmth of spring
With the sun dropping
Below the distant tree line
There is a chill
In the spring air
Long shadows are cast
With a hint of blue
Upon the stark white land
Interspersed with exposed rocks
The approach of evening
Heralds the end of the day
With a display of subdued lighting
There was a lovely maple tree overhanging a small stream that I passed many times on a logging road. The logging road was near Batchawana. I do not know the name of this stream, other than it flowed into the nearby Carp River. On a return trip from photographing other locations, I stopped on the side of the road to capture this scene. There is a small bridge that the stream flowed under. This is where I set up my tripod and camera. At this late in the evening it was calm and subdued. There was also no danger of a logging truck appearing.
The maple tree in the foreground gives you the eye popping colors. The stream was used to give a sense of peace and tranquility from the bold maple tree. A large rock is in the foreground to give a sense of depth and size. Most of the forest in the background has been eliminated by the maple tree. Thus also reduces the color green. There is a shallow pool in the background with muted reflections. Again quiet solitude. Then the stream disappears around the bend.
I received an honorable mention at the Art Competition Seeing The Land.
While that is all for now. I am preparing another book at the moment. It is taken up most of my time. The weather here has been crappy at the moment. So until next time happy trails
I arose at 6:00 a.m. last Thursday morning. Finally the weather has cleared. Packed my grub and camera gear for a trip to Killarney Provincial Park. As I drove down the Killarney Road, the first thing I noticed was how bare the trees were. Entering the park I parked at the East end. George Lake was calm with a fair amount of moving mist. I proceeded to capture various scenes around me. George Lake is a beautiful lake with the La Cloche Mountains to the North. Now it was time to pick up the trail to A Y Jackson Lake. It was time to hike over the ridge. Now this is a steep and long ridge. If you think you are in shape this little climb will tell you. By the time I got to the top my legs are aching, breathing hard. Must be my age I guess. So over the top I went and descended back down. A few minutes later I was at A Y Jaqckson Lake. One of my favorite locations in the park. There was mist on the lake, reflections before me. I composed a number of compositions before heading back to George Lake.
Finishing my morning shot I headed for Killarney. I had spoke to Pierre AJ Sabourin and informed him that I was coming for a visit. Pierre is a well known professional en plein air landscape painter, following the Canadian School of Painting in spirit, philosophy, and practice. You can follow Pierre on his blog.
https://pierreajsabourin.wordpress.com/
Pierra is a very passionate man who loves his work. He is very knowledgeable about the Group of Severn and above all a great guy to visit. Arriving at Pierre’s Sunset Rock Studio in Killarney, I was immediately offered a hot cup of coffee. It was much appreciated. Pierre and I had a good visit.
It was soon time to head back to Killarney Provincial Park. I parked at the West end parking lots. I manage to capture a few more photos at this end of the lake. But the wind was picking up a bit. It being noon I enjoyed a lunch. Pretty quiet in the park at this time of year. Loading up I picked up the hiking trail across the bridge at West end of George Lake. There is something to be said about walking in a Maple bush with the leaves all on the ground. The trees bare with a few leaves still falling. The forest floor covered in a thick carpet of leaves, slowly molding into the ground creating fresh nutrients for the forest come Spring. I love to stop and admire these mature trees in all there grandeur. Magnificent in their size. Ferns dot the forest floor. Still a vivid green against a brown background. The small streams running high from all the rain. As I traversed over the ridges it was just a wonderful place to be on a warm sunny autumn day.
The trail was wet and muddy in the low areas.Thus I had to negotiate around these areas. I finally came to the trail into Lumsden Lake. In a few minutes I arrived at Lumsden Lake. Following the shoreline I came upon the campsite. A beautiful place to set camp. Walking onto the rocks, the first thing I noticed was that there were a lot of bare trees here. There were a couple interesting scenarios here for a photos. The best thing here would to camp for a couple days next year. I found a good spot on the rocks to rest my butt and lean my back against. Put my Tilly hat over my face and had me a short nap. Meanwhile the wind had picked up. There was a coolness on the face from the wind. A reminder that winter is coming.
Time to hit the trail again. It was late afternoon. Traversing through the Maple trees, crossing the small streams and topping the ridges I was soon back at George Lake. A beautiful fall day. A lovely hike. A wonderful way to spend a day.
Well that is it for now. Happy trails.
Ken Bennison's Photography 