Tag Archives: nature

Photography

Killarney Lake

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One of the many lakes found in Killarney Provincial Park that offer picture book settings.Killarney Lake is nestled in the La Cloche Mountain system.With sapphire colored water and surrounded by white quartz mountains that  creates a picture of serene beauty.Killarney Lake runs in a East, West direction with a large open expanse of water.There are two islands located at the East end of the lake that offer some interesting photo compositions.But bear in mind that the wind can create a problem due to the open expanse of water.There are portages at each end of the lake.The West end portage will take you int OSA Lake.The portage at the East end of the lake goes into Norway Lake.

I just returned from Midland,Ontario where I attended the Quest For Art 8th Annual Juried Art Show.I had both my works accepted.There was a good turn out and I enjoyed meeting a lot of new people.If you are in the area stop in at the gallery and enjoy the show.

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

Photography

Light Up The Hills

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With the warm early morning sunlight splashing the mountainsides decorated with fall color here and there.I quickly looked about for some foreground to give the photo depth.I was standing on the North shoreline of O S A Lake near the West end of the lake.There was a couple of interesting stunted pines on a island in front of me.By using part of the island to fill in the photo and add depth I created the above composition.Keeping the stunted trees to the left for added interest yet at the same time allowing a clear view of the hills to be shown allowed for a fairly open view.A touch of color on the water in the form of reflections adds to the overall look.The added bonus was the side lighting on the island to add some very good contrast.

These type of photos do not come around everyday.You just have to be there and be aware of what is happening around you.If you do not find what you want today,then next time you may.In other words Nature creates the scene with the available lighting and you must be aware of it.It helps to explore various locations you would like to shoot.If nothing also you have enjoyed the beauty of the land before you along with the peace and quiet of a wilderness setting.

That is it for this week.Thank you everyone for all the comments.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

Painting With Frost

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This post is a continuation of the post A Frosty Morning with my daughter.As we drove North on the Westbranch we spotted Rough Grouse on the roadsides.They would disappear back into the woods fairly quickly.I guess you would too if you were constantly being hunting.We soon left the Wakanasin River behind and were now following a much smaller river that meandered back and forth across the road.All the bridges appeared to have been repaired this year.

Looking down an  embankment we saw the above scene and decided to investigate.Gear in hand we carefully made our way down the loose gravel that was still slippery from frost.I still managed to slip and slide down the last third of the embankment on my butt though.

Upon arrival by the creek bank I quickly surveyed the location for a setup.There still was no wind.The clouds were moving quickly.The sun would pop out every now and again.The frost was covering the vegetation nicely.The water was shallow and very clear.This created tremendous depth to the reflections.I choose two clumps of grass on the left to lead you into the picture as well as to add depth. There was a small clump that was different in shape that drew my attention.With that in mind I captured the above photo by waiting for the sun to come out.I had to be quick as the clouds were still moving very fast.When the sun did come out the frosted vegetation would light up.

There was some dead wood on the far shore that I found to be annoying.But at times there was nothing you can do.I purposely did not show a lot of forest in the background.This was to keep things simple as best as possible.You will notice the earth tone colors at the waterline of the plants.This adds a very nice contrast and gives added life.There is a lot of depth in the reflections caused by the clear water.The sun highlighted the evergreens in the background to add a nice touch. I shot this photo with a shutter speed of 0.5 seconds @ f22.

The air was now warming up and finishing up our shooting we headed back to the vehicle.The wind was now picking up with the cloud cover dispersing.We drove further North until we came to a small lake by the roadside.Here we pulled over,unloaded the camp chairs to relax and enjoy a cup of tea and a sandwich.

That is it for this post.I would like to thank all you good folks who commented,hit the like button or simply came for a visit.It is much appreciated.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.

Photography

Song of The Land

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The lake surface is ruffled

By the wind that whispers in my ear

The La Cloche Mountains Covered in mist

As I dip my paddle

Into the translucent waters

A raven in a tall skeleton of a  birch tree

Voices his displeasure at my intrusion

With each stroke of the paddle

The canoe glides  through the waters

A common loon quietly appears

Her baby astride her back

Soon to be lost in the distance

As I paddle my canoe in the morning stillness

The mist is lifting

The La Cloche Mountains now visable

Covered in the warm glow of early morning sunlight

The isles appear ahead

Just now emerging from the darkness of night

A flock of ducks skim the water’s surface

To disappear in a nearby bay

The sun is up

The sky is blue

Bringing forth a new day

As I listen to the song of the land

Photography

Evening Solitude

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As I sit under a gnarled old pine tree
By the shores of a wilderness lake
Tea in hand,enjoying the even solitude
The water itself a living torquise blue,perfectly clear
As it caresses the rocky shoreline
The wind is but a murmur among the trees
The La Cloche Mountains are ablaze in the colors of Fall
The shoreline is dotted here and there
With yellow,orange and red
The mountain sides are bathed in a warm glow
As the sun descends the Western horizon
The moon has risen over the lake ever so faint
The stars are twinkling ever so faintly
The air is clear and crisp, a sign of Fall
I sip my tea in this enchanted world
By a wilderness lake in the far North
The lighting is no longer harsh
But with a warmth to stir the heart
The shadows are lengthing,the rocks are aglow
This is the magical moment before darkness descends
The changing of the seasons full upon us
Darkness unfolds all around me
The path of the moon is now upon the surface of the lake
The stars are bright
It is now nighttime on a far wilderness lake
Far away in the distant, the call of a lone wolf is heard

Many of you would be able visualize with the above scenario
if you spend any time camping.Most evenings are a time of relaxation
and enjoying the vista that surrounds you.
A nice cup of tea,coffee or hot chocolate adds to the enjoyment.
The above photo is a good example of one of those quiet,peaceful evenings.
The La Cloche Mountains are covered with Fall color.
The water is calm.What better place to be but on a wilderness lake.
In this case OSA Lake in Killarney Provincial Park.
So that is it for this week.Happy Trails
Photography

Daybreak Part 3

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From out of nowhere,a wandering wind

Dances here and there on the lake surface

Rippling the water,distorting the mirrored reflections

The mist has cleared,the spell is broken

The hills are ablaze in a coat of many colors

The doe has returned from whence she came

The wind has strengthened

The lake in turmoil

Thus ends a magical morning

A rare glimpse of Mother Earth’s enchantment

To stir the soul with peace and tranquility

To be cherished forever more

Let us preserve this valuable commodity given to us

That our children and grandchildren

May enjoy for years to come.

Thus ends my poem that I hope you can all enjoy.So until next time happy trails

Photography

Daybreak Part 2

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The Loon is calling for it’s mate, lost in the mist

The sun is now casting it’s first golden rays

The scattered islands emerge from their nightly vigil

The Four Sisters like sleeping giants

Emerge from the morning mist

Their rounded tops ablaze in red

To meet the dawning of a new day

Out of the mist comes the loon with a flash of wings

To greet the emerging day

With a swirl of wings,four small ducks

Alight among the islands to partake in a morning feed

A whitetail doe emerges from the forest

Ever watchful as she steps to the water’s edge

Dips her head to spate her thirst

When I had first paddled OSA Lake with my wife Maureen,we spotted four rounded rocky tops on the South side of the lake.I was quite taken with the view we had and I jokingly called them the Four Sisters.My wife just smiled and we have called these rock formations that are part of the La Cloche Mountain system by that name ever since.I am not aware as to whether they actually have a name.I am bound and determine to capture this scenic view but will have to wait another year.I captured them in outline but not in detail.

The above photo was taken from the same setup as the photo in the previous post.By waiting and being patient you will get a number of different lighting conditions as the morning progresses.It is quite remarkable to watch this happen while you sit spellbound and in awe of what is happening before you.

That is it for this post.So until next time happy Trails

Photography

Further Adventures on OSA Lake

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The second day on OSA turned out to be a wet one.Maureen and I spent most of our time in the tent as the sky darkened and rain fell quite heavy.It started to rain around 10:30 am and did not let up till 5:30 that evening.We finally made our way out of the tent into a wet,damp campsite. I quickly got supper going along with a pot of tea.

There is always a resident chipmunk and squirrels at every campsite.The chipmunk at this campsite was quite tame.We watched as the chipmunk returned time and again with its mouth full of food.It would bury the food somewhere nearby.The family of squirrels were a delight to watch as the young ones would chase each other around the forest floor.If you happen to be walking along the trail to the lake quite often one would peek at you from around a tree trunk at eye level.It would then zoom off after its other sibling to play.

With the wind not cooperating again that evening I stayed in camp enjoying a warm campfire and hot chocolate.I awoke the next morning to a misty day.I captured the above scene that morning when the sun lit up the hill side.Your eye is drawn through the narrows to the hillside were the morning sunlight is splashing trees and rocks leaving a nice warm glow.The water was not calm so I did not add much in the way of water.I chose to go tight with the narrows.The individual areas that the sun touches upon helps to create a very nice composition along with the mist to add a mystical quality to the photo.

Of interest here is that the night before I sat on the shoreline watching around me when I spotted two does come out of the point and proceeded to walk through the water towards the island.They were able to walk about three quarters of the way out before swimming.They entered the woods on the island.Let me clarify that what appears to be a point on the left of the photo is actually an island.The deer reappeared at the far end of the island where they swam to a larger island in front of our campsite.After that I did not see them again.I called quietly to Maureen to come and watch the deer.By now it was getting dark and we retreated to the fire for our nightly hot chocolate.

That is it for now so until next time happy trails.