Dark skies, late evening created the mood that is evident in this particular composition. A touch of lighting by the setting sun. This is my favourite time of day to get those fine art compositions. Watch the weather, cloud effects, but best of all enjoy a pleasant evening stroll on the shores of Lake Superior.
Good Morning
Good morning sun
I greet you this day
I feel your warmth
You brighten the day
Good morning wind
You are blowing softly today
I feel you caressing my face
A breath of freshness
On this morning
Good morning trees
I hear you murmuring
Like a whisper in my ear
You are still standing
Though many are gone
Good morning flowers
You brighten the forest
With your vibrant colors
Gently nodding in the wind
Good morning stream
The sounds you make
As you journey through the forest
Gurgling and burbling carefree
To an unknown lake
Your water pure and pristine
Good morning sun ray
Filtering through the trees
You bring a ray of hope
To this new day
I rejoice in what
You all have given me
The feeling of spirituality
That can only be found
In the untamed wilderness
The feeling of peace and quietude
The following morning after my evening photographing, I returned to the Montreal River. This time it was at dawn. The river was thick with mist. The morning temperature at my campsite in Sawpit Bay, Lake Superior was 12 Celsius. On my arrival at the Montreal River the temperature was 5 Celsius. The distance between the two locations was only 40 Kilometers. I set up at the same location from the previous evening. It was a matter of waiting for the right lighting. Waiting for the fog to lift was a factor. The fog helped eliminate all that blue sky with no clouds. It was a nice setup watching the morning evolve. The crispness of the morning air felt good. It was a fall feeling.
The temperatures are beginning to drop here. Maybe the colors of fall will come on. Fall is the time of year when the air is cool and crisp. The beauty of the land is before you in a spectrum of color.
The fall colors up here in northern Ontario are late this year. I arrived at Sawpit Bay, Lake Superior, late afternoon on September 16. Sawpit Bay has a number of campsites on crown land that are free. It was not long before the campsite was set up, supper started to the sound of waves crashing upon the beach. One of my goals was to explore the Montreal River up the highway.
The Montreal River is a large river with a number of large dams at various locations going inland. Windmills have been going up at a steady pace, thus the need for more and more roads in the back country. This creates more opportunities for photographing.Therefore I was able to explore along the river where ever I could. The first two days were lost due to rain and one thunderstorm overnight Strong winds prevailed. It was not till the evening of the September 21 that I was able to capture any decent photographic work.
The above photo was at a location that I discovered on the Montreal River. I had previously found this location early in my trip by driving a short piece off the main gravel road down to the river’s edge. It turned out to be a nice campsite with a good place to put a boat in. The wind had finally gone quiet after six days. The river here was like a piece of grass. To finally get to capture a photo.
Well that is it for this week. Thank you everyone for stopping by. So until next time, happy trails.
We pulled into the campsite
On a far northern lake
The turquoise blue waters
Of Martha Lake, Algoma
Shimmering around us
As expected our northern hosts
Were greedily awaiting our arrival
The blood thirsty mosquitoes
They are not called
The northern scourges for nothing
Blood is what they want
The first order of business
To set up the screen tent
This to be our place of peace
From the waiting mosquitoes
The mosquitoes are lining up
Waiting for their next victim
You
The next order of business
To erect the tent
With practiced precision
The tent is erected
The sleeping cots in place
Bedding is laid out
The bug coils are lit
To be placed in our shelters
I don my bug jacket
The barbeque and stove
Are now set up
The cooler of food
Locked in the vehicle
No need inviting unwanted guests
For an overnight feast
Namely the bloody bears
Peace and solitude reigns supreme
Not a soul in sight
It is nearing dust
The wind dying down
The lake becoming calm
The moon edging up
Casting a silvery path
On the lake surface
Darkness is at hand
Time to hit the sack
A small lantern hangs
From the tent ceiling
Revealing the mosquito hordes
Lined up on the tent screen
Crawling into my sleeping bag
The light now off
I lie there with eyes closed
Listen to the drone
Of the ever gathering swarm
I had the feeling
Of being the only victim
Within a hundred miles
I guess in the turn of things
We all have to survive
Thus I fell asleep
To the humming sound
Of the north woods mosquitoes
I must be a northerner
I loaded up my gear Sunday morning and hit the road. Heading west on hwy 17 towards Webbwood. I then turned onto the Agnew Lake road heading north. I soon reached the turnoff onto the Westbranch road. This is a well used logging road. I had to now watch out for logging trucks. With a plume of dust behind me, I was cruising. I truly enjoy travelling these logging roads with the forest on either side of me. Very little traffic.
My next turn was onto the Charcoal Lake Road. I am now seeing more cut over areas. These are areas that the loggers have clear cut for many acres. Before long I was at the Georgia Lake campsite, being welcomed by an ole prospector named Terry. This gentleman spends his summer here every year. A knowledgeable gentleman that knows the area like the back of his hand.
The tent was soon set up and all the camp gear in place. It was time to unfold the camp chair and join Terry by the lake shore. It was 28 C in the sun. We were sitting in the shade of the trees with a cool breeze off the lake. Very comfortable, plus the bugs were not bothersome. We both chattered away the afternoon. It is with great joy to sit there in the peace and solitude around you. A loon drifted by. The small head of a painted turtle would emerge now and again in front of us. We watched as a beaver made its way by us. There was a Robin making quite a fuss nearby. There was a squirrel nearby disturbing the Robin. The sound of small waves upon the shoreline. Good way for a pair of old-timers to pass an afternoon.
As evening approached the wind was still blowing. By morning the wind was calm. The lake surface still This allowed me to capture the above scene on the far shoreline. Georgia Lake is a small lake in size. The boulders seen here are only located on one side of the lake. This is very common in this part of the country.
While that is it for now. As I will be repacking to head back up to Georgia Lake for more photos. So until next time happy trails.
We made it back last Friday evening to Martha Lake, Algoma. As expected our northern hosts the mosquitoes were awaiting our arrival. They are not called northern scourges for nothing. Blood is what they want. The first thing Maureen and I did was set up the screen tent. The screen tent affords us an area of peace from the bugs. The mosquitoes would line up outside the screen waiting for a victim. You.
Next step was to get our sleeping quarters ready, namely the tent. With practiced precision the tent was erected. The sleeping cots set up and our beds were made. Maureen lit the bug coils for each location and had them placed in the sleeping tent and screen tent. Donning my bug jacket I set up the barbecue and stove. Both these essential items run on propane. I left the cooler in the Ford escape for the night. No need inviting unwanted guests to the feast overnight. Namely bloody bears. We had the whole lake to our selves. Not a soul in sight. Amen. I wonder sometimes who is smarter, me or the folks who stayed home. I must be a true northerner.
It was getting near dust now and the lake was quite calm by this time. Out came the tripod and camera. Let me tell you when you stand by the lake shore, you become surrounded by the mosquito hordes. To take a photo you have to be quick about it. I have to remove the head portion of my bug jacket to photograph. Before shooting I wave my hand in front of the lens to clear these bugs. If not, you will find round splotches on your photo.
Darkness was fast approaching. Camera gear was put away. Time to hit the sack. Crawling into my sleeping bag was a relief. A small light hanging from the tent ceiling revealed the mosquito hordes on the outside of the tent screen. I had the feeling of being the only bloody piece of meat for a hundred miles. I guess in the turn of things we all have to survive. Thus I fell asleep with the droning of the north woods mosquitoes in my ears.
Tomorrow is another adventure. So until next time happy trails.
June 09, 2015
On a Tuesday afternoon I picked up James W Cook at his apartment in downtown Sudbury. James is a local artist who loves to paint. I drove out of the city heading West. My destination was Massey where we would turn north into the hinterland. We arrived in Massey where I proceeded to top off the gas tank. Running out of gas in the woods is a no no. Thus we were soon driving north following the Aux Sauble River. The road winds through forests that has been logged for many generations. The river flows under a number of bridges as it makes its way south. Our turn off onto Plaunte’s Road soon arrived. This a logging road that is still fairly new. There has been logging activities here in the last couple years. There are lots of pot holes and water in some areas now. This road receives no maintenance.
When I drove up here last week to Martha Lake, we passed a swampy area that really intruded me. I was fascinated by the many shades of green I could observe here. Upon arrival, it was turning out to be an odd sort of day. Some areas the clouds were dark and threatening. Then if you looked in another direction the sun would be shining along with billowing white clouds. There was intermittent showers happening. A light wind would play on the water. Then all of a sudden there would be a stillness. Then the lighting became fascinating. There was this magic, mystical feeling before me that can only be inspired by Mother Nature.
Having set up my tripod and Canon 7D, it became a matter of just waiting for that right moment. By using the tree remains in the foreground to offset the various shades of green plus added depth. The wonderful stillness of the water creating gorgeous depth to the reflections in the foreground. The eye can follow through the open into the pond in the middle ground. Along the way you will spot a beaver house. The darkness of the water in the middle pond gives good contrast to the surrounding shades of green. The absolute depth found in the background is inspiring to the eye. There is a touch of red from dying evergreens. This lends a touch of addition color without overpowering the background. As I was photographing the large white cloud top left appeared. To the right was blue skies with darker wispy clouds to give the hint of the weather.
One spends more time looking for these locations than the actual photographing. Many hours are spent driving,walking or canoeing. When you do happen upon a scene that catches your eye the reward is as above.
For more info about James W Cook, check out his Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/jameswcookbeauxarts
So until next time happy trails.
There is a chill
In the early morning air
Mosquitoes and black flies
Scourges of the north country
Lying dormant for now
A mist is rolling
Off the greening forest
Covering the placid waters
Of a small lake
The forest deep in shadow
With a hint of mystery
The cover of darkness
Casting its mirror image
Over the lake surface
It is early June
A time of renewal
Through out the north
The birch and poplar
Luminous in new coats
Of green leave cover
Flowering shrubs are scattered
Among the refreshing forest
Spring wildflowers dot the landscape
The dawning of the day
Is now approaching
The sky becoming enlightened
The sun is peeking
Over the emerging woods
To shed golden light
Among the surrounding trees
Enticed by a mayfly hatch
A rising brook trout
Dimples the lake surface
Leaving a telltale ring
As the morning wears on
The sun cresting the horizon
The air is warming
The mist is retreating
Revealing emerald green waters
Of a pristine lake
The mosquitoes are emerging
To bite exposed skin
Of its unprotected victim
A late afternoon of just past Wednesday. Sun and cloud prevailing. I drove North of Capreol on gravel roads. It was good to feel the freshness of spring. The new growth leaves are vibrant in color at this time of year. The traffic was light with people heading back to their seasonal campsites. The gravel roads are quite dry. This causes a fair amount of dust from passing vehicles. I carry my laptop, mixer and microphone with me in my travels. I will turn off the main roads to less traveled roads. Here I find peace and solitude to record my poems live. There is one problem. Blackflies. As the wind dies down the blackflies will torment you. They all want your blood.
As the evening wore on, the sun settling lower I headed back the way I came. It is at this time of day that you can work with some unique lighting on the landscape. I came across this scene of a swampy area. A quiet little nook surrounded by evergreens. The sunlight penetrating from the right. This gave me a mixture of light and shadows. There is a boggy patch with a lone little tree to add my depth. The wind was bouncing around in here. It became a waiting game at times before shooting. This is as typical a scene you will find in the woods of Northern Ontario.
I always look at these scenes as not spectacular, but makes me feel at peace and one with my environment. A scene becomes much more dramatic with the proper lighting. Watch for it. Take time in your life to just sit and observe. You will be pleasantly surprised at what you will see. It is momentary.
Well that is it for another week. So happy trails once again.
Ken Bennison's Photography 