Tag Archives: La Cloche Mountains

Photography

Awash in Colour

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On my last trip into O S A Lake,Killarney Provincial Park the weather was cool,wet and windy.The above locations is one of my favourites for the structure of the La Cloche Mountains.This particular rock face had a necklace of Fall colours adorning it. It had stopped raining late that afternoon leaving the landscape wet and saturated.The cloud cover was heavy and grey.The sun had not come out yet.

I used the two points as my lead in, showing just a touch of reflections in the foreground.This should make my good friend Bill Whittaker smile in regards to water and reflections.This is an ongoing topic we have.Past the two points is more water.There is a pink tinge on the rocks that gives a unique feel to the composition. Two days later there was large areas bare of colour due to the weather.

I received an email that my artwork titled “Daybreak”  has been selected as an Honorable Mention of the 2012 Landscape Art Contest, an international juried art competition. Mywork will have a full page feature in Artist Portfolio Magazine Issue 10.

Bill Whittaker has a website you may like to check out.

http://billwhittaker.scarf.ca/

Well that is it for this week folks.Thanks for visiting and till next time happy trails.

Photography

O S A Lake Part 4

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Paul Smith and I awoke to the sound of wind in the trees.Every once in a while the wind would buffet the tent.There would be no photographing this morning.It was Friday morning and we were to depart home. Dressing and crawling out of the tent,we were met by a wind that had shifted into the West during the night.After a leisure breakfast and a hot coffee,we packed our gear for the trip out.Paul and I had decided to try the shorter portage over to Killarney Lake.Pushing the canoe from shore we were able to go with the wind.The islands sort of sheltered us from the wind until we hit open water.The rollers were now going past us and there was some white-caps.The canoe was moving at a good clip and before long we were at the portage.

Packing over was quick and before long we were on our way again.The bay here was calm.In a couple minutes we arrived at a small beaver dam that we hauled over and were on our way.The portage over to Freeland Lake was soon spotted and we arrived shortly there after.While loading our gear into the canoe,a kayak approached and Paul and I had a good chat with a gentleman from the French River area.He was day tripping over to Killarney Lake.

Pushing off,we paddled into the wind now.The velocity was low-keyed here.Paddling steady we made good time to George Lake.As we approached the West end of Freeland Lake,four heads popped up beside us.They were a family of Otter checking us out to see who the intruders were.This was Paul and myself s first sighting of Otters.We had also observed Loons on the way out.The young were gray and almost adult size.The adult loons were just starting to change.

At the final portage there were a number of folks carrying over to Freeland Lake.Talking to these folks I asked about the conditions on George Lake.I was told we had our work cut out for us.Paul had met a couple having lunch so I think we spent also an hour chatting to them.It was now time to find out what was in store for us.

As we rounded the first point the full force of the wind hit us.The waves were high enough and at times there were rollers.Every once in a while there would be a strong gust of wind that stopped us in our tracks.With some hard stokes we finally made it into the bay to the landing.The Explorer was quickly loaded and we were on our way home.Another good trip in the books.

The composition above was taken Thursday night at the West end of O S A Lake.It was close to dark when I happened along.I was intruded by what I saw.There is just enough Fall color to tell the time of year.In the background is the flat rock surface of the La Cloche Mountains on the North side of O S A Lake.By utilizing the various points and islands I created a path for your eye to follow into the background.Thus this photo was created.The reflections were kept minimal.You can see scrub oak on the rock face.They are a reddish brown.

While that is it until next week.It is now time to photograph Tamarack as they change colors.So until next time happy trails.

Photography

OSA Lake Fall 2012

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Monday morning dawned.I had loaded my Ford Explorer the previous night.The  Quetico 17 Kevler canoe was loaded the night before also.I am a big fan of the Quetico 17 made by Souris River.For more info check here.

http://www.sourisriver.com/quetico_17.html

After a quick stop to pick up my partner Paul Smith for this trip we were soon on the road to Killarney Provincial Park.This is about an hour and a half trip for us.A stop at the main office to obtain our permits ,we were soon loading the canoe and heading out into George Lake.

The winds were light,the sun was warm and the Fall colors were beautiful.The water levels on George Lake were good considering the dry summer we had.The paddling through Freeland was uneventful and we were soon over the Killarney Lake Portage into Killarney Lake itself.While at the portage I talked to four gentleman who were making there first trip into the interior.There destination was OSA Lake. As we paddled the West end of Killarney Lake it was noted that there were a few campsites taken.The water levels were low on Killarney Lake.

Arriving at the shorelines of OSA Lake is always breathtaking.The pebble beach at your feet,The La Cloche Mountains with white quartz rocks  on either side of you,the turquoise blue water stretching before you,the distant islands in the distance.The mountains were adorned with there Fall color. That is why this lake is a popular destination for many canoeist.

Two couples were portaging out  and they told us the big island was available.Paul and I made our way to the large island.We unloaded our gear and set up our chairs for a little rest before setting up the campsite.

Monday evening the winds started to calm down.Paul and I stayed on the island that evening to do our photographing.This is a good campsite to work from, for the variety of angles one can work with.Some areas of the lake the wind was calm while in other parts a ripple effect was left.I was able to capture the above scene by combining the La Cloche Mountains with a bit of the near shoreline.I set my Canon D7 on the tripod and shot two vertical images overlapping.This allowed for the inclusion of the near shoreline.The sky was quite interesting as well as the sky reflecting in the water.You will also get a glimpse of the lake bottom in the foreground.The colors on the mountain side was great.There is a bit of a pink hue on rounded mountain peaks.

The evening was cooling down now.It was a good idea to put on long johns before we went to bed that night.Paul got the fire going as the days are short with darkness coming early.It was nice to sit by the warm glow of the fire.The moon came up as we sat,casting its silvery light over the lake surface.We were soon off to bed.It was nice and warm in my sleeping bag thinking as to what dawn would bring us.

I will continue at a later date on this trip.It was to prove to be a different five days than the five day trip last year at this time due to the weather.Until next time happy trails.

Photography

When The Rains End

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I awoke one rainy morning to the sound of rain drumming on the tent fly.Peering out the tent door I could see fog on the La Cloche Mountains,the wind was picking up and there was a chop on the surface of O S A Lake.Emerging from the tent I ducked into the tarp we had set up for days like this.Soon I had a hot coffee brewing and along with a bagel had breakfast.It was now just a matter of waiting.

By mid morning the rain had quit and the wind was not as strong.The hills had some nice mist and there was stiil  stormy clouds on the horizon.I set up for the above composition to capture the moment.There was a large expanse of water in front of me that I did not want to show.Using the narrows as the foreground,thus eliminating unnecessary water I took a series of shots.I liked the fact that the foreground was dark which gives contrast to the over all mood and adds to the depth.It was also a matter of watching the mist moving through the hills and waiting for the right amount.

By noon it cleared up.It became another beautiful day on O S A Lake.Well that is it.Until next time happy trails.

Photography

Grace Lake Part 2

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Daybreak, Tuesday morning I peeked out the tent door.The wind was blowing,the sky was blue but there would be no photographing that morning.I rolled over and went back to sleep.We awoke around 8:30 a.m.  We soon had the coffee pot going and enjoyed a breakfast of bagels and coffee.It is so nice to be able to sit there and enjoy the scenery.

Maryjean and I were soon out on the water exploring for possible photographic locations.There is an island at the West end of Grace Lake that consists of white quartz rock. We guided the canoe to the lee side of this island and pulled in.This was the island that A Y Jackson stood on when he produced the painting The Bent Tree back in 1948.You can watch a short video at this link by Jim Waddington discussing the painting.

http://www.groupofseven.ca/Adventures/Natural-Genius/Waddington-Adventure.aspx

We soon came to the conclusion that the most dramatic effects for landscape shots would be scenes facing East.All that was needed was for Mother Nature to co-operate.That did not come about until Thursday morning.Tuesday a cold front rolled in bringing cooler temperatures and stronger winds.

Maryjean and I continued our exploring around the lake and soon found the portage into Nellie Lake.We would leave that for another trip.Returning to camp we relaxed and checked out our immediate area.There were a profusion of wild violets or Johnny Jump-ups growing in the crevices and ledges among the quartz rock along the shoreline in front of our campsite.These little flowers are rather pretty.

I captured this shot of the violets as they were snuggled down in a crevice away from the blunt of the wind’

Wednesday there was no improvement in the weather so we just relaxed around the campsite reading and talking. After an early supper we paddled over to the portage and hiked down to Cranberry Lake.There we meet Paul Smith my photographic partner.He had came with his kayak.We helped him with his hear back to Grace Lake and then on to our campsite.We all turned in so that we could rise at sunrise.

Well that is it for this week.I have not had time to check everyone’s blog.I am getting ready for my next trip.So until next time happy trails
Photography, Poetry

Four Sisters

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Not a breath of wind

Is to be had

The sky all red and orange

The dawn of a new day

Is upon the land

The Four Sisters eroded descendants

Of peaks once young in height

With quartz cliffs that gleam

Like snow from a far

A craggy imposing landscape

That others have passed

Many thousand of years before

Covered with jack pine ridges

Descending oak,maple and pine

Cover the mountain side

In the bowels of the mountains

Sapphire lakes gleam in the morning light

Mirroring the surrounding landscape

On their glass like surface

Sloping red granite offset

The stark white quartz

Upon a windswept ridge

A twisted pine braves the elements

Having landed there as a seed

Growing up as best as it can

Now part of the landscape

Bit by bit the Four sisters

Are revealed as rounded humps

Against the  glowering sky

Revealing their everlasting beauty

To paddlers and hikers now passing by

Being among the La Cloche Mountain system is a very inspirational experience for anyone who has been there.There is much beauty to be found as one canoes or hikes this mountain system in Killarney Provincial Park

The above scene is a series of photos put together to create the composition.I photographed the panoramic at O S A Lake in Killarney Provincial Park last Fall.At one point the mist was lifting and the sky was a gorgeous Orange and Red for a few minutes.In this particular section of the La Cloche Mountains their are four rounded humps visible on the South side of O S A Lake.The name Four Sisters is my own doing.

Photography

Late Summer Storm

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From out of the North

A cold wind blows

Churning the lake’s surface

Into a frothy turmoil

A Common Loon bobbing

On the surface of the lake

Paying no heed

Over the far horizon

Dark and ominous clouds appear

Soon to engulf the land

The sound of thunder

Off in the distance

Mother Earth’s warning

Of a storm fast approaching

The thunder rolls

Echoing through the mountains

Lighting flashes

Illuminating the landscape

In its momentary light

The rain dapples the lake’s surface

In endless patterns on the water

The rain falling steady now

To drench the landscape

The thunder rolls

The lightning flashes

As quickly as it came

The storm passes on

The sky is clearing itself

Of high scudding clouds

The sun has returned

To warm the land

The above photo was taken early one morning on O S A lake in Killarney Provincial Park.The early morning lighting and mist was great.I chose to create a panoramic view with the La Cloche Mountains.I also elected to create a black and white Image for effect.

Check out this blog by Danita Cahill who is a very talented lady.

http://miracahills.wordpress.com/

http://www.danitacahill.com/

Well that is it for this week.So until next time 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.

Photography

Sitting By The Campfire

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Sitting by a campfire on a quiet summer night

The lake is now calm

With hardly a ripple

The stars are twinkling in the far heavens

A shooting star with a trail of light

In the darkness of the night sky

The light of the moon

Casts a silvery path on the surface of the lake

Beyond the light of the blazing campfire

Moonlight filters through the forest

Creating ghostly shadows upon the forest floor

The night creatures stir

Their nightly foraging just begun

The sound of an owl not far off

I hope this little poem invokes memories of summers past where we all sat around a campfire by the lakeside.Enjoying peace and solitude.

I have created a gallery with a small collection of fine art prints for sale.They would make very good Christmas gifts for friends and family.If you like please check them out here

http://kenbennison.wordpress.com/blog/

While,that is it for this post.So until next time happy trails.

 

Photography

Sunrise and Colorful Rocks

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This is a very interesting composition that I was able to capture on my last trip into OSA Lake in Killarney Provincial Park.The shore line had a colorful collection of rocks of various sizes and shapes.I just needed something to go with it.As you spend time in various locals you will discover locations that could produce a good shot.They just need something to complete the composition.

It is a matter of waiting and as you can see from the photo above it is sunrise.So with the sun coming up and the rocky shore line in the foreground I was able to complete the scene.The early morning light gives the rocks the warm colors and the golden reflections tie in the photo front to back.As I said previously I keep these various locations in the back of my mind and return time and again till I get what I want.You will also note that there is an interesting cloud pattern that developed as I took this photo.

The shot was taken with a shutter speed of 1/10 sec @ f22.I set up my tripod and Canon 7d and just waited for the right moment before taken a number of exposures.

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