Tag Archives: Evergreens

Photography

Missing Ball

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FrenchRiver_2903

I came upon this composition on the French River one late summer morning. The rock structure in front of me was fabulous. It had color and a great amount of texture to go with it. I also put a bit of green grass in the foreground to add contrast. There was an island in front of me. I used a small portion of this island as my background. There is lots of color on and around theses rock formations. In between the water was calm. This gave me great reflections to tie in everything from front to back. You can also see the bottom of the river in the foreground for a nice effect. When I first looked at this composition I noticed a small beach ball by the grass, floating in the water. I can not remember whether I had seen this when I took the composition.

Thank you everyone for stopping by. So until next time happy trails.

Photography

A Beam of Light

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Jan Winther and I had arrived at our destination lake shortly after dawn. This jewel of a little lake is 80 km up on a gravel logging road.As you travel North you steady climb to a higher elevation.Which means at this time of year it is colder here than at home.We had been observing frost on the trees,but no ice on the lakes and swamps we passed.

After a five minute hike into where we were going to photograph,Jan and I set up our photographic equipment.There is a small island at one end of this little lake that we wanted to work with.I will talk about this island in another post.The lake surface was mirror calm,there was some mist and the air was crisp.The sun was just coming through the trees.

I am always watching around me at all times.The lighting is constantly changing dramatically or very supple.So be aware and you may rewarded with that award winning composition. Many times it is never the shot you came to get.The above scene is an example of that.I relocated to capture the beam of light coming over the water.I put the point on the left side as my lead in.There was just enough mist to create some mood.The real highlight of this photo is the sunlight filtering through the trees on the far shore.This is when it feels good to be a photographer capturing that moment of lighting.I had already made four trips here in the past two weeks to get the exposures I want.The only hang up I have with this photo is the blue tinge on the evergreen trunks.But that is the way it is so I leave it be.At this time of year the shoreline vegetation is a reddish brown in colour.This helps to offset the vast amounts of green due to the evergreens.

Well that is it for now.Thank you everyone for coming and visiting.So until next time happy trails.

Photography

On The Hillside

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Jan Winthers and I continued driving up the Westbranch, looking for a photo opportunity we spotted a location that was interesting.The camera gear was quickly set up.It was approaching lunch time.The day was great and it was warming up.I composed a few shots and headed back to my Ford Explorer to pack the gear away.

I looked down the road and noticed the lighting on the evergreens.The branches of the Birches were sparkling.Taken note of the Birches beside me,they were not covered in frost.The hillside before me was beautiful.So,I rest up my Canon 7D and tripod and made the above shot.I did not want the gravel road in the scene.This shot is all about light and shadow.The dark evergreens contrasting with the Birch trees along with the sunlight highlighting the trees to a yellowish tinge.As many times you travel a location,it is always amazing the shots that are available for you to take.Whether it is the time of year,the lighting available or something you may not have noticed.Even the angle you look at a subject will give you a different perspective to the composition.At this time of year the sun is lower in the sky and the air is colder.Those two conditions will have an effect on your compositions.

Finishing up our shooting,it was time to find a campsite up the road and have lunch.A short way on, I pulled into a campsite under the Jack Pines.A small lake was across the road for our viewing pleasure.Before long I had water boiling in a pot on my Coleman camp stove.With our camp chairs set up,Jan and I enjoyed our lunch with a hot tea.

Well that s it for now.Thank you everyone for stopping by.The tea is still hot so until next time happy trails.

Photography

O S A Lake Fall 2012 Part 2

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Tuesday morning arrived to the sound of wind in the trees.This was a morning to sleep in.It was an uneventful day as we waited for the weather to change.On Wednesday morning we were able to put in some photographing time.As we paddled the shorelines I was looking for something different to work with.I particularly wanted to find some Fall colors  in among the evergreens.I was able to achieve that with the above composition.

Here you have a mix of orange,red and yellow for Fall colors nestled among the evergreens.When I first saw this I was straight on to the composition.By moving more to my left and setting up my Canon 7D on the tripod I feel I would give the scene a more 3D effect .The evergreens show various shades of green and there are shadows to create more depth.

I think that this photo printed on canvas as a gallery wrap in say a 24″x36″ size would look great on the wall.It will give you peace and harmony as you envision being on a far shoreline observing the scene before you.

Well that is it for this week.I will finish up the trip early next week.So until next time happy trails.

Photography

The French River Provincial Park

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Friday August 17 With all my camping gear,easels and my art work I finally got on the road by mid morning.I stopped in Sudbury to pick up some last minute supplies as was soon heading South.I was on my way to the French River Provincial Park visitors center.

I will give you a little bit of history of this large water system.The French River flows for 110 km from its Lake Nipissing source to Georgian Bay.For thousands of years the First Nations people followed the river system fishing and hunting.The French River was a major highway for explorers,traders and Jesuit missionaries as they pushed into the West to open up the country.Later the timber barons sent rafts of White Pine South along the river.Today many people paddle and boat on the French River camping and fishing.In 1986 The French River was designated Canada’s first Heritage River.A prime example of a glaciated Canadian Shield river environment.The above info was taken from the French River Visitor Information Guide.

My first stop would be the Flat Rapids Camp on the French River.Turning off the highway onto the Hartley Bay Road. Arriving at the campgrounds I checked in and soon had the camp gear set up.The Flat Rapids Campsite is run by very wonderful down to earth folks.I truly enjoyed my weekend here.I had a quick supper and soon was back on the road.

I crossed the bridge over the French River and turned off onto the road leading into the French River Provincial Park Visitor Center. This is a magnificent building that is well worth a visit.The layout inside is very well done.There is a lot of history to learn here as well as enjoying the visual display.The people that work here are wonderful folks and they go out of there way to help you.I can not thank them enough for their help and hospitality well I was there for the weekend.

Returning to Flat Rapids Camp that evening I hiked along the river shoreline looking for photographic opportunities.It was not a good evening and it was soon dark.

I awoke at dawn and was greeted by some spectacle scenery on the river.On this section of the river there are islands and exposed rocky shoals.There was mist to be had,heavy cloud cover.I set up for the above shot by using the point of one island in the foreground  and keeping another island in the middle ground.I then had the far shore and sky for my background.The sunlight was highlighting various sections of the scene when it would pop out.This is very important in getting that special composition.Just be aware of your surroundings.You will also note the position of the far island and the point were by I have created a S curve to lead the eye.At this time of day with the cooler morning temperatures that creates mist over the warmer water temperatures you can create mood in your composition.The rocks were wet and along with the reflections in the still waters created wonderful detail in the rock structure.All in all it was a great morning to be there.

Well that is it for now.So until next time happy trails.

Photography

Blue Skies and Rocks

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I will continue discussing my day trip into Killarney Provincial Park last Friday.One of my goals was to do some shooting in Little Shageleander Lake.I love this location for its rock structures along the shoreline.I have also produced some award winding photos here.

I set up for this composition at the only campsite on this lake.I added shoreline in the foreground and the left side of photo.There was a beautiful blue sky along with nice white clouds.This composition was a two shot pano.I darken the sky a bit to enhance the tree line for better effect.When you have reflections in the water you will find very interesting patterns with a rocky shoreline.Being well into summer there are now lily pads floating on the surface.Some folks may consider them a nuisance in this type of photo.I consider the lily pads a part of the scene and at a later date you will know that you took this photo during mid summer.

Well that is it for this week.Thank you for visiting and I enjoy the comments.So until next time happy trails.

 

 

 

Photography

Early Morning Light

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As Gerard Leduc and I were slowly moving around a group of islands I noticed the early morning sun highlighting the rocks you see above. Onaping Lake is home to a large number of islands and channels to explore.Easing the boat to shore and cutting the motor we hopped onto the rock outcrops on the shoreline.

Placing the sunlit rocks in the foreground along with a lone evergreen tree.There was just enough reflections to add depth to the water.The rocks in the middle ground were a nice shade of light grey.The background consists of the forested shoreline and clouds in the sky.

Well that is it for this week so until next time happy trails.

Photography, Poetry

The River’s Edge Part One

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As I walk along the river’s edge

In the early morning light

Spider webs glistening silver

Among the shoreline shrubs

The day’s first sunlight

Flickering through the leaves

Producing a dappled pattern on the forest floor

A small stream of pristine water

Merges into the ever-moving river

Stately Pines and towering Spruce

Stand guard at the water’s edge

The clear cold water

Is home to the colorful Brook Trout

Rising to the surface

In the deeper pools

Feeding on the emerging Mayflies

Here and there the undergrowth

Chokes the river banks

A dead tree layered

With fungi and moss

Lays in my path

Which I carefully step over

As I walk down the river

Ferns a bright green

With new Spring growth

Grow thick here and there

Along the river’s edge

A kingfisher all red,blue and white

Darts down the river

Vanishing into the shadows

One of my favourite pastimes is spending the day walking along a river.Enjoying the moment and looking to see what is around the next bend.

I hope everyone had a great New Years and I am looking forward to the new year.Thank you all for visiting and until next time happy trails

Photography

Catch The Light

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By catching the light you can create an almost three – dimensional look to your photo.By utilization of the rock structure and evergreen trees to create the effect.Look at the evergreen trees and you will see that they really stand out as the result of the lighting upon them.The shadows around the lighted branches create this wonderful effect.This photo was taken at day break so you had very calm water with lovely reflections adding to the depth you wanted.By being patient and watching what is happening around you,the landscape is ever-changing in terms of the lighting.As the sunrises the light patterns will change.In this particular scene the sun is casting a lovely beam of light on the left side of the photo to highlight the trees.Yet still maintaining shadows in the middle of the photo.In turn this is all reflected on to the water’s surface.

As the morning progresses the whole scene will be lit up and you will lose the balance of shadows and light.I think this is very important if you want to take your photography to the next level.To recognize the lighting before you along with the shadows.You must know the area you are photographing.The direction of lighting at that time of day.Be patient. These shots are not available everyday.But with persistence you will be rewarded.

I captured this scene last Spring on A Y Jackson Lake in Killarney Provincial Park.By setting my Canon 7d on a tripod I was able to capture a great many shots as the conditions changed by staying in the same setup. The above photo also consists to two photos joined together.

Well that is it for this week.I hope everyone had a great Christmas as my family had.I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year.Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving comments.So until next week happy trails.

Photography

A Northern Spring

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The smell of the earth is upon the wind

As the sun’s rays warm the land

Mother Earth awakens

From her cold slumber

The lakes once covered in ice

From the long Northern winter

Now home to migrating waterfowl

Rollicking on the lakes surface

The loons have returned

To their northern haunts

The bare trees now budding out

Soon to be dressed in a coat of new leaves

A moose calf born the year past

Foraging in a swampy bay

Ever alert for the presence of danger

A Blue Heron stalks the shoreline

In search of its elusive prey.

Song birds in a variety of color

Fluttering among the flowering shrub

Voicing their songs for all to hear

The sound of running water

From the hills above

Rushing down to merge into the lake

The first of the Spring flowers

Blooming on the forest floor

Heralding the return of Spring

Spring in the North Country is a joyous time.When the weather warms,everything grows anew after a long cold winter.

The above scene was recorded last Spring on A Y Jackson Lake in Killarney Provincial Park.I was attracted by the bent Pine tree and the rock formation.It took me a couple of attempts to photograph this composition.For what ever reason the wind would channel into here and I would feel it on my face as I walked down a beaver trail to the lake shore. But as you see I did manage to capture the photo.

Please check out David Gadreau’s blog .David specializes in wedding and portrait photography

http://davidgadreauphotography.ca/

Well that is it for this week’s post.So until next time happy trails.