Tag Archives: O S A Lake

Photography

A Late Morning Composition

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OSALake4250

The above photo was taken last Fall at O S A Lake in Killarney Provincial Park.

It was late morning at our campsite. The La Cloche Mountains were ablaze in color.

Paul Smith and I were relaxing with our coffee after a dawn shot.

I happen to look across to the far shore. There is a small cove there.

A small group of evergreens grew here. The sunlight was highlighting these small trees.

I quickly set up my tripod and Canon 7D. My zoom lens is a Canon 28 to 135.

The resulting composition is quite pleasing with the color and lighting.

I will be at the Rubber Boot festival in Noelville this coming Saturday.

http://rubberbootsfestival.com/festival-2013/

I had 4 Special Recognition at the 15 th Annual Contemporary Art Juried Online Juried Art Exhibition by Upstream People Gallery

2 of my works were selected to the RBC Dominion Securities “Art Impact”
Juried Art Show in Sudbury Ontario

This show is up coming sometime in June.

Looking for a Mothers Day gift for Mom.

Check out my books by clicking on the buttons in the top right hand corner.

Well that is it for now. Until next time happy trails

Photography

Color in The Sky

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OSA8169a

A beautiful Fall evening. The sun is below the horizon. I had looked to the North side of O S A Lake and saw the beautiful colored sky that you see above. I set up my tripod and Canon 7D and composed the above shot. Scenes like this are always wonderful to see. The colors in the sky are fleeting, so you have to be fairly quick about getting these shots.

Well that is it for now. It is a rainy day here in my part of the country. Plus freezing rain and snow.

I just finished a new book on Blurb. I created this book using my photos and poetry. To view it go here.

http://www.blurb.ca/b/4064932-a-widerness-experience-through-photos-and-poetry

Until next time happy trails

Photography

In Search of Black and White

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OSALakeBW4339

OSALakeRidge4339

On my last trip into O S A Lake in Killarney Provincial Park, I was constantly on the look out for subjects that would make a Black and white composition. Waking up one morning the La Cloche Mountains were covered in mist. There was one ridge of white quartz rock that I had an eye on. There were stark black evergreens growing on this ridge. The season was Fall. The trees in the foreground were in their full Fall color. The mist was constantly moving. It was a matter of waiting for the ridge to open in the mist before shooting a composition. I wanted to have the mist behind the ridge for better effect. Thus the stark evergreens appeared as ghostly images in the background.

I am a big fan of Ansel Adams work. Thus when the opportunity to capture a good black and white image comes along I start photographing. I have uploaded both the black and white photo and the original color photo so that you can compare. That is it for now. Thank you for stopping by. Until next time happy trails.

Photography

A Touch of Color

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OSALake4359

Winter is here in my part of the country. It is nice to sit back and go through my photos taken during this year’s trips. I selected the above photo from a trip into O S A Lake, Killarney Provincial Park. Paul Smith and I were sitting around the campsite one afternoon. It was a cloudy wet day if I recall. The wind was blowing a bit. We were talking about the Maple tree mixed in with the White Pine trees at our campsite. I decided then that I would attempt a composition of the colored leaves. There was one branch of orange, red leaves that crossed in front of a Pine trunk. I showed enough rock to break up the contrast. The rock had enough scattered reddish pine needles on its surface to add more color. There is some green color from the White Pine branches to create a more compact photo. Then there is the texture of the tree trunks that adds detail.

After setting up and getting the composition that I liked, it was a matter of waiting for the right moment for the wind to calm down. Well that is it for now. So until next time happy trails

Photography

Mystical

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Magical

I first noticed this composition on our last trip last Fall into O S A Lake, Killarney Provincial Park. It was located behind our campsite on a trail that led into the interior of the island. You had to duck under the evergreen branches to get through. So with that in mind I kept a close watch on the scene. One morning there was some beautiful backlighting on the scene. Between the foreground and background is open water. There is some mist over the water.

My goal here was too create a mystical affect. Like if you step through a door into another world which is the far shoreline in the background. The foreground is the entrance and ducking your head under the sunlit evergreen branches takes you into a magical land. The reddish pine needles add a lot of color and contrast. There was a small green fern tipped with yellow on the right that I included to offset the red in the foreground. I framed the photo with highlighted evergreen branches. I kept the far shoreline slightly darker to add to the effect. The background has enough misty effect just so that you can see the colors on the trees.

I have been having technical difficulties with the size of my photos in my blogs lately. They will not appear as large as they normally do. I have been in contact with the wordpress folks and the issue is still not resolved. Oh well there is always something new to learn.

I have redone my Fine Art Prints page. There is more info there and I have added a Paypal button. Unfortunately it says donate. Due to some weird ideas at wordpress I can not use a normal Paypal button. Please hang in there until the issues are resolved. Well that is it for this week.Until next time happy trails.

Photography

‘los Hermanitos’

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The ‘los Hermanitos’  is what I dubbed the little pine tree and small juniper bush. I came across this Spanish phrase in one of the novels I am reading. It means the little brothers. Perched side by side on a small cliff over looking the lake. This set up was located behind our campsite on O S A Lake last Fall in Killarney Provincial Park. I had first noticed these two pint-sized trees on an earlier trip in, but the lighting had not been right or we were off photographing somewhere else. They look like two people enjoying the evening view high on the rocks. The wind was calm, the water smooth and the beautiful Fall colors before them.

I set up my tripod behind the little ones. The height of the tripod was lowered to the height of the trees and I wanted to show enough rock detail for added depth and habitat. I also chose a vertical format to keep things tight. The objective was not to lose the miniature trees in the scene.   Across the way is the La Cloche Mountains in their Fall glory. Locating objects like you see in the above photo do not come by everyday so when the opportunity presents itself I try to make the most of it.

That is it for now. Thank you for coming by and thank you for the comments. I am now settled in the apartment. I have my work on display. If you are in the vicinity stop by for a viewing and maybe you will buy that special gift for a love one or good friend. So until 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

O S A Lake Part 3

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By now after a day and a half of rain,dampness along with cool temperatures the weather cleared up.It was now late Thursday afternoon.It is always interesting to watch the grey clouds moving past you and then you spot some blue sky.Within an hour the sky had cleared and the wind had switched to the West.Now it was just a matter of waiting for the evening light and hopefully the wind would calm down.O S A Lake is a large lake prone to windy conditions.I cooked up a meal of Uncle Ben’s rice and canned meat.A nice hot cup of tea to end the meal and we were ready to photograph.

Paul Smith and I had some decent photographing that evening,but you had to watch the wind.In the more open water the wind did not settle down.I captured the above scene on the South side of the island we camped on.I loved the rock structure the protruded out into the lake for its detail.I had photographed this same scene in June.But now I had Fall color and the water level was down considerably since June.Thus exposing more rock structure.There was an old length of a tree jutting into the lake.I put it into the bottom right of the picture.For once I had some decent cloud patterns.

At this time of year darkness comes early.Paul built up a fire and we enjoyed its warmth for a few hours.You could feel the air cooling down now and tomorrow we head home.Thank you everyone for your comments and coming for a visit.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

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.