Tag Archives: Outdoors

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

A Unique Waterfalls

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McGeeFalls0045

Unique rock structure; Color and the sound of water rushing and splashing over the rocks add up to an impressive scene. McGee Falls on the Aux Sauble River North of Massey is such a place. There is not a lot to photograph here. But what there is  will delight any artist. When I was here it was a cloudy day with the hint of rain. This created even lighting and saturated colors. With the lighting good and the colors beautiful, it is time to set up.

I set my equipment up at an angle to the falls. This falls consists of a series of drops from elevation. The water flows into the scene from two different locations due to the rock cropping between the flow of water. There is so much depth here to add to the depth of the composition. There is a small plateau in the middle that the water flows over and around. The best part is the neat piece of rock sitting right on top of the plateau. It reminds me of some type of shell. Boy does this rock ever have character. The first thing you will notice about the rock formations in this composition is the many edges, shadows and color. I wanted to have rock in the foreground so I placed the river edge in front of me for that depth. This photo is about the rocks. I kept the water to a minimum, but it is still a integer part of the photo. I have water coming in on the left and exiting out on the right.

I exposed at 1.3 sec f22 with an iso of 100. At this shutter speed I was able to maintain the soft look of where it was needed, but allowed for definition of the water where required. Specifically the water that flowed off the plateau and the little falls on the left. There is just a spot of vegetation in the background to tell you that the river is in a forested area. There is enough water to tell you that over countless ages the flow of water has transformed the granite rocks to what can be seen today.

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

Photography

Bog Island

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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, Poetry

Nature’s Spirituality

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Johnscreek

You have had a bad day

Your body is tensed

Nothing has gone right

It is time to relax

Off you go along the woodland trail

Following a meandering stream

Till you come upon a pool.

Scrambling carefully across the rocks

Made slippery by splashing water

You edge down by the pool

Unlacing your hiking boots

Slowly easing your feet

Into the cool pool water

The stream is cascading

Over water smoothed rocks

To drop into the pool

Close your eyes momentarily

Listen to the sound

Of the ever flowing stream

Splashing and bubbling

Every fibre in your body

Slowly loosens to the rhythm

Of the small stream movements

You are now part of the spirituality

That a person feels

When you let go

To the senses of Nature

That completely surrounds you.

This is one of my favourite photos. The color, texture and form of the rocks are captivating. The yellow and orange lichen. The yellow leaves can only add to the appeal of this scene. The scene was captured on John’s Creek at the ladder. This small falls drops down in elevation in a series of drops like rungs on a ladder. The hills close in fairly tight. While that is it for now. So until next time, happy trails.

Photography

Earth Tone Colors

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The point of land you see above, juts out into the Vermillion River with a bay in behind. What attracted me to this particular scene was the earthly colors of the grass growing along the shoreline. With tones of brown, yellow and green creating a wonderful softness. By using that shoreline for my lead in and keeping the water to a minimum, I made a tight composition. There was a lovely yellow leaf covered tree here that I just had to incorporate into this scene. It really adds to the composition. The sky has a unique band of clouds. The morning mist adds to the mood. There is Fall color on the far shoreline with just a hint of reflection

Well that is it for now. Thank-you for stopping

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

Autumn on The Vermillion

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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

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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

Daybreak on the French

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This photo dates back to last August. I was blessed with two mornings in a row of some exceptional lighting and atmosphere.The location was the French River at the Flat Rapids Campsite in The French River Provincial Park. The early morning sunlight started to filter through the trees on the point.This gave a beautiful glow in that area.Mist in the background,calm waters and colour in the sky on the left. The rock detail in the foreground is very detailed.

I was able to set my Canon 7D and tripod on a bit of slope to give me elevation and create more space between the two points.One thing I will point out is that being out on location time and time again is how you will get these kind of shots.Also take lots of shots.

I received a 10th place finish out of 455 entries at the Countryside Art Exhibition  last week.I am much pleased with the results.You can check the website here.

http://www.lightspacetime.com/countryside-art-exhibition-november-2012/

Those of you who like a challenge should enter these shows.Well that is it for now.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.