Tag Archives: Ontario

Photography

Bog Island

8 Comments

BogIsland

I discovered this little bog island at the far end of a small shallow lake a few years ago. It is located  up the Westbranch behind Webbwood Ontario. I fell in love with the potential of a composition that could be had here. This little island had character. From the shape of the vegetation; some deadheads and a clump of small evergreens. The main problem here was to be able to separate the island from the background. The lake is nestled amongst  Spruce trees so everything would blend in. You would then get a bland photo.

With that in mind I needed good lighting. Luckily, were I was able to set up my tripod and Canon EOS 7d the shoreline sloped upwards. This allowed me to get some separation from the far shoreline. This shot worked best in November. The sun is low to the horizon. The vegetation on the island turns a orange, red color. That helps relieve a lot of green. Now the trick is to get the right lighting. You have to have that island stand out from the background. That is very important. I made many trips to this location until I got it right. Early morning did not create the required lighting.

Finally it all came together. It was a beautiful sunny November afternoon. It was 3:30 Pm. The sunlight lit the island up like a torch. The light was coming from the left which was good. I was now getting sun flares in my lens. I used my hat to block the sun flares and shot the above photo. What also helps this composition is the lighting in the background. You can see individual branches being lit up. This is what turns an ordinary photo into a dramatic composition. Lighting.

The above photo was accepted at the 119th Toronto International Salon of Photography.

Well I will close for now. So until next time happy trails.

Photography

Autumn on The Vermillion

4 Comments

This is one of my favourite locations in the Fall to capture the Autumn colors. The Vermillion River just West of Sudbury, Ontario provides me with some very unique opportunities to photograph. I was driving home on Hwy 17 from Sudbury late one evening .I slowed down as the bridge over the Vermillion River came into view. Parking my Ford Explorer  on the side of the highway I grabbed my camera and tripod and scrambled down the embankment to the river‘s edge. The river was as smooth as glass and there was a great deal of saturation in the colors. Across from me is a rock point that has always been photogenic over the years. There was enough color to be had, but not overpowering. I myself prefer scattered Fall colors that can work in a composition. With the evergreens and the white Birch trunks to add contrast I composed the above composition.

‎’La Cloche Spirit’ by Jon Butler is now in Sudbury. Jon is a very good photographer who has over the years captured the many moods of The La Cloche Mountains. For more information go to Jon’s website.

http://jonbutlerphoto.com/

Well that is it for this week. My wife and I have just finished moving into Sudbury. It was a hectic past week. I am now set up to proceed with my work. If any of you are in the area please stop by for a viewing of my work. So until next time happy trails.

Photography

Morning on The Manitou

6 Comments

The Manitou River starts its journey at the South end of Lake Manitou on Manitoulin Island,Ontario.Manitoulin Island is the largest fresh water island in the world.The Manitou River is approximately 15 km long,The river ends at Michaels Bay on the South side of Manitoulin Island into Lake Huron.I had previously explored the Manitou River the evening before.I had determined that the best shot was to be had in the early morning.

Paul Smith and I arrived on location before daybreak and set up our photo equipment.It was a great morning.This portion of the river forms a S shape.With that in mind I placed the cedar tree at the top of the photo for depth.The sun actually lit up this tree first.The real bonus was when he morning light highlighted the clump of grass on the shore giving off a yelow orange effect plus a bit of reflection.You never know what you will get at times.There was mist on the river that morning.As time progressed a beam of light started on the right hand side of the photo.As I waited the beam of light slowly made its way to the left.The composition was slowly coming togrther.The last piece of the composition occured when the water turned golden in the foreground.After that happened the highlights on the water got too harsh.Now I took approximately 40 shots of this location.I used the second last shot to get the composition you see above.

That is it for now.Thank you for stopping by.So until next time happy trails.

Photography

The Color Yellow

4 Comments

Well walking the shoreline of the Vermillion River near my home early one morning,I came across the above composition.The fog had lifted.The sun lit up the yellow leaves on the left.I had a Birch tree and another tree trunk to work with.The two trunks created a V shape.I shot tight to the shore line using the green grass as my foreground.There was  some pieces of wood at the base.I kept the yellow leafs that were sunlit to the left in the photo.Just showed some sky at the top which was a beautiful blue along with the white clouds,

While that is it for this week.I just returned from O S A Lake in Killarney Provincial Park.We spent 5 days there photographing.I will do a post sometime next week when I have processed some photos. So until next ime happy trails.

Photography

Fall Colors

7 Comments

The Fall colors are now upon us in Northern Ontario.But it is a mix bag of colors.The Birch trees are half bare now.This is due to the very dry summer we had.Some areas are heavy in color while other parts of the country still has a lot of green.

Not far from where I live,the Vermillion River flows, where I have had many photographic opportunities in the past years.There is a good selection of Maples to be found.

I came across this small Maple tucked into a small cove on the Vermillion River.The Red leaves were brilliant and dense.With that as my main focal point and making use of the blackish rocks for added contrast I composed the above composition.You will noticed that I have kept tight to the shoreline as much as possible.It is on the busy side but it will still work.In the background is more color.Also of note is I took the above photo at daybreak.

It has been a mix bag here for weather lately.Lots of rain and very windy at times.It seems that early morning has been my time to photograph.The wind has not calmed down at all most evenings.

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

 

Photography

The Dramatics of Lighting

14 Comments

This post continues my series of works dealing with the French River in the French River Provincial Park,Northern Ontario.With rainfall the previous night the early morning lighting is intensified as the rocks and vegetation are wet.There was heavy,dark cloud cover that morning.The sunrise was to my left.There was a small amount of mist on the water.Not a breath of wind to be had.

Suddenly a beam of light broke through the clouds creating the effect you see above.Golden yellow in color, it highlights the morning mist,illuminates the vegetation and creates an awe inspiring composition. These type of shots do not come everyday.But it sure makes for some interesting photographing when it occurs.It is just a matter of being in the right place at the right time.It also helps to get splashes of lighting on the trees on the far shore to create the extra dramatics to the composition.

Well that is it for this week.Thank you for visiting.Until next time happy trails

 

Photography

Capturing The Moment

5 Comments

Every once in a while you capture a scene that really catches your eye.With a combination  of color,mist and mood imparted before you.The lighting highlights on the trees,the soft mist to create the overall feel.There is a beached canoe on shore suggesting a campsite.As I was about to take this composition a small flock of Canada Geese flew in and landed.They quietly swam into a little cove.If you look close you can just make them out.I had to wait until the water calmed down again before beginning to record this shot.I had been walking the shore line of the French River at the Flat Rapids Campsite early one morning when I happened upon this particular site.

Now this was a large scene before me,so I took two shots overlapping about 40 % to create a small pano.This composition will most likely end up being a 20 x 50 gallery wrap.I am always happy when I can produce a scene as shown above that exemplifies  the beauty of our land.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              This is one thing that I hope that through my work in our wilderness that I can show people the  pristine conditions of our many wilderness locations and what our Provincial Parks have done to preserve these special locations.The two Provincial Parks that I have explored come to mind.Killarney Provincial Park and the French River Provincial Park.To be on location to observe those special moments,when there is not a breath of air to be felt,calm waters reflecting and the presence of mist that so alters the scene before you into one of a calming mood at the start of a new day.Here you are away from the hustle bustle of civilization.Just you one on one with nature.So let us keep it this way, so many more can enjoy.This is our land so lets preserve it.

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

Photography

Blue Skies and Rocks

7 Comments

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

An Interesting Point

1 Comment

On my previous trip to O S A Lake in Killarney Provincial Park we camped on a large island.The island is large enough to allow many photo opportunities. Walking the shoreline I spotted this interesting little point jutting out into the lake.It contained beautiful structure detail that was enhanced by the reflections created in the water.So using the point as my foreground,the small rock island as my middle ground and the forested La Cloche Mountains for the background I was able to create the above composition.

The late evening sun was highlighting the Maple trees on the hillside giving a nice yellowish glow to reflect into the water.Looking at the point in foreground you will see blue on certain parts of the rocks.If I was to remove this blue you would get a dull grey color.I do not know if this is due to the camera’s sensors or the late evening lighting.I have come across this many times with the type of rock structure found in the La Cloche Mountains.

Well that is it for this week as I have been busy preparing for The Killarney Art Show this coming Saturday and Sunday.If you are in the area stop in at the show.There will be many very good artists there.25 %  of all purchased art work goes to The Friends of Killarney to help them in there many projects at Killarney Provincial Park.You can check there website here.

http://friendsofkillarneypark.ca/joomla/

While you are in Killarney enjoy some of the best fish and chips at the waterfront. Till next time happy trails.

Photography

An Iris It Is

1 Comment

It was a hot late afternoon on Manitoulin Island.I decided to take a hike along a creek that I had walked over 30 years ago.At that time I had discovered a very large growth of ferns growing along this creek.I had spoken to a friend of mine whose property I had to traverse and he said they were still there.

So with his permission I walked along the edge of a hayfield with a hot sun beating down.Finally reaching the back end of the field, I went through an open in the split rail fence. had to walk into the bush a ways to pick up the creek.This little creek  was drying up.

I noticed these blue Iris growing here and there.I continued walking and soon discovered the Iris you see above.It was shaded by trees,but there was very good lighting around and behind it. Quickly setting up my 7d Canon on the tripod I took the composition you see above.The green can be seen in various shades and the Iris stands out brilliantly.

This was a case of recognizing a shot and then proceeding to get it.Lighting is very fickle.The Blue Isis or Blue Flag is common in wet areas and is thus quite common in Northern Ontario and Manitoulin Island. I did not find my ferns I was looking for so will leave that for another trip.So until next time happy trails.