Tag Archives: Reflections

Photography, Poetry

A Whimsical Isle

8 Comments

Superior_2014

 

A whimsical isle offshore

Evergreens crowd the center

Struggling to maintain hold

Among the worn rocks

The trees are dwarfed

With inadequacy of food

Time and time again

The ravages of Lake Superior

Overwhelm the tiny island

After each bout of ferocity

The little trees still stand

A testament of strength

To withstand the brutality

Of the unforgiving waters

 

With a lowering sun

The water is calm

A rare moment it is

The trees stand bold

In the evening solitude

White clouds flirting

Across the blue sky

Reflecting upon the water

The horizon turning pink

From the sun’s glow

 

The shadows are creeping

Over the reposing land

Darkness has now descended

The isle mere silhouette

Upon the placid waters

The sky is clearing

The stars luminous in the night sky

The moon casts a silver glow

Over the diminutive isle

There is a sense

Of quietude and peace

Along the rugged shoreline

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photography, Poetry

Tranquility

5 Comments

GeorgeLakeFall2014

 

A quiet peaceful morning

An overcast sky above

Calm waters prevail

In the quiet nooks

A touch of mist

Floating on the water

A dampness in the air

A place to retreat

To discover nature’s simplicity

The maples orange and red

The angled rock lines

Flowing into the water

The mark of glaciers

Scouring the shoreline rocks

A touch of color

On the time worn rocks

The morning sunlight

Edging the pine needles

A dreamy quieting morning

A soothing restful place

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photography, Poetry

Two Little Brothers

2 Comments

OSALake4152

 

Borne upon the wind

As windblown seeds

To settle upon a ridge

One a Juniper tree

The other a white pine

In time they spread roots

Emerging into the world

To peer over the grass

The view before them

Of clear sapphire waters

Set among the ancient hills

Of gleaming white quartz ridges

Renown as the La Cloche Mountains

 

Summer turned to fall

A north wind blew

Causing a chill to blanket

The changing wilderness

The hills once aglow

With the colors of fall

The hills now stand bare

As the last leaves descend

To the forest floor

An early winter snowfall

Blankets the barren land

Two little brothers submerged

In the fresh fallen snow

Dark clouds roll overhead

Ice begins to form

On the darken waters

The nights are cold

With the temperature dropping

Two little brothers lying dormant

In the fresh fallen snow

Not to awaken till

The coming of spring

 

It is now winter

The land buried in snow

The cold raw and dry

Prevails over the land

The sound of snapping branches

Echoes through the forest

On bone cold mornings

There is a raw beauty

Looking over the landscape

The nights are long

The days are short

In the grips of winter

Two little brothers lay

Dormant beneath the snow

 

A warm freshen breeze

Blows from the south

The temperatures turn mild

The coming of spring

Just around the corner

The snow in turn

Begins to melt

The dripping of water

Commences to flow

But the coming of darkness

Lends a chill

Through the awakening forest

Each morning brings another

Warming spring day

The grip of winter eroding

 

Before long the little brothers

Poke through the receding snow

To refresh in the clear spring air

The cleansing spring rains

Invade the awakening hinterlands

A touch of green

Soon appears on the forest floor

 

Then a sudden snowfall

Blankets the changing vista

But the snow is gone

By the next day

The warmth of the sun

Soon prevails over the landscape

Melting away the fresh snow

The sound of running water

Is heard everywhere

Under the relentless sun

A once icebound lake

Is now open water

The sound of waterfowl

Splashing and feeding

The haunting call of the loon

Echoes over the lake

The sounds of spring

Carries in the air

 

Patches of color push

Through the dead leaves

Spring flowers soon dot

The woodland floor

The returning song birds

A splash of color

Darting among the trees

Give joy to spring

With their graceful melodies

 

A sea of green splashes

The far quartz hills

The two little brothers

Rejoice in new found growth

Photography

Stream Side Maple

6 Comments

Batchewana_2559

 

There was a lovely maple tree overhanging a small stream that I passed many times on a logging road. The logging road was near Batchawana. I do not know the name of this stream, other than it flowed into the nearby Carp River. On a return trip from photographing other locations, I stopped on the side of the road to capture this scene. There is a small bridge that the stream flowed under. This is where I set up my tripod and camera. At this late in the evening it was calm and subdued. There was also no danger of a logging truck appearing.

The maple tree in the foreground gives you the eye popping colors. The stream was used to give a sense of peace and tranquility from the bold maple tree. A large rock is in the foreground to give a sense of depth and size. Most of the forest in the background has been eliminated by the maple tree. Thus also reduces the color green. There is a shallow pool in the background with muted reflections. Again quiet solitude. Then the stream disappears around the bend.

I received an honorable mention at the Art Competition Seeing The Land.

While that is all for now. I am preparing another book at the moment. It is taken up most of my time. The weather here has been crappy at the moment. So until next time happy trails

Photography, Poetry

Morning Solitude, George Lake

7 Comments

GeorgeLakeFall2014b

 

The wind is calm

The air being crisp

A clear blue sky

The exposed hills aglow

With the morning sunlight

A touch of color

Decorates the ancient hillside

 

Shadows are opening up

A light mist roams

The quiet lake waters

The grass filled shallows

Resplendent in rusty brown

A stray beam of light

Filtering throw shadowy trees

Casts a lustrous glow

On the sunlit  grass

 

There is a stirring

Of a north wind

From over the hills

Rustling through the trees

The morning mist dispersed

The lake’s surface ruffled

By the strengthening wind

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photography

Black Spruce

8 Comments

BlackSpruce

 

There is a small lake in Superior Provincial Park alongside Highway 17. It is named Moose Lake. There is a clump of skeletal Black Spruce that caught my eye. I first saw this set up in 2013. We were always passing by at the wrong time. Bad lighting. This year Maureen and I spent 5 days at Superior Provincial Park in late August.

What attracts me to this scene. The Black Spruce. As the sun lowers in the sky, the grayish color of the dead Spruce becomes more intense. The grey color stands out in a sea of green. The channel leading back to these skeletal trees gives me a lead in. An added bonus is that the late evening sun was highlighting the hill in the background. This in turn created a golden reflection in the foreground. Now I did not want to show to much of this golden reflection. Therefore I kept it tight. Doing this allowed for more lead in to the Black Spruce. Showing too much of this colorful reflecting would lead to a distraction. For depth we have four layers here. The shoreline, Black Spruce, The evergreens behind and then the sunlit hill in back.

You may ask me if I knew that the hills would light up. The answer would be no. But I have also seen this many times . I had set my composition in the camera on the tripod. Taken a few shots. Then low and behold the hills lit up. I quickly started shooting and shortly  the lighting was gone. Be there. That is all I can tell you.  The Black Spruce always adds drama to your work. You can not miss them when they are in the dead form.

Another week has gone by, so until next time happy trails

 

Photography

A Boggy Place

4 Comments

Batchawana_3011

 

I was exploring the logging roads in back of Batchawana. It was a wonderful feeling to watch the road ahead. I was driving through a canopy of vibrant fall colors. Cresting  hills to a view of hill tops alive with dynamic colors that only Fall can give.  Making my way along the side of theses hills with a stream flowing far below. Looking past the stream to the craggy rock faces through the tree canopy. The road was in good repair as they were hauling logs here. As I approached the Y in the road I turned right onto a narrower gravel road. Both sides of the road had been cut over. With it being late evening I had no worries of meeting a log truck. I had conversed with the logging people. From them I learned that they were finished each day by 6:00 PM. This piece of road had very few pull offs and it was relatively new.

I came upon this composition in the cutting area. With some vibrant color in the background. The ghostly appearance of the Black Spruce in decay reflecting upon the water. Small boggy islands in the middle ground for added depth. Then the total reflection in the foreground. I purposely left out the sky for more even lighting over the scene. This is one of those compositions that can seem busy.This is a very detailed scene overall. But at the same time alive and peaceful. These locations are one of my favorites  to just sit and absorb the wealth of color and patterns involved. But overall I like the final composition. Remember rules can be broken.

That is it for this week. Until next time happy trails

Photography

A Fall Day

6 Comments

GeorgeLakeFall2014d

 

I arose at 6:00 a.m. last Thursday morning. Finally the weather has cleared. Packed my grub and camera gear for a trip to Killarney Provincial Park. As I drove down the Killarney Road, the first thing I noticed was how bare the trees were. Entering the park I parked at the East end. George Lake was calm with a fair amount of moving mist. I proceeded to capture various scenes around me. George Lake is a beautiful lake with the La Cloche Mountains to the North. Now it was time to pick up the trail to A Y Jackson Lake. It was time to hike over the ridge. Now this is a steep and long ridge. If you think you are in shape this little climb will tell you. By the time I got to the top my legs are aching, breathing hard. Must be my age I guess. So over the top I went and descended back down. A few minutes later I was at A Y Jaqckson Lake. One of my favorite locations in the park.  There was mist on the lake, reflections before me. I composed a number of compositions before heading back to George Lake.

Finishing my morning shot I headed for Killarney. I had spoke to Pierre AJ Sabourin and informed him that I was coming for a visit. Pierre is a well known professional en plein air landscape painter, following the Canadian School of Painting in spirit, philosophy, and practice. You can follow Pierre on his blog.

https://pierreajsabourin.wordpress.com/

Pierra is a very passionate man who loves his work. He is very knowledgeable about the Group of Severn and above all a great guy to visit. Arriving at Pierre’s Sunset Rock Studio in Killarney, I was immediately offered a hot cup of coffee. It was much appreciated. Pierre and I had a good visit.

It was soon time to head back to Killarney Provincial Park. I parked at the West end parking lots. I manage to capture a few more photos at this end of the lake. But the wind was picking up a bit. It being noon I enjoyed a lunch. Pretty quiet in the park at this time of year. Loading up I picked up the hiking trail across the bridge at  West end of George Lake. There is something to be said about walking in a Maple bush with the leaves all on the ground. The trees bare with a few leaves still falling. The forest floor covered in a thick carpet of leaves, slowly molding into the ground creating fresh nutrients  for the forest come Spring. I love to stop and admire these mature trees in all there grandeur. Magnificent in their size. Ferns dot the forest floor. Still a vivid green against a brown background. The small streams running high from all the rain. As I traversed over the ridges it was just a wonderful place to be on a warm sunny autumn day.

The trail was wet and muddy in the low areas.Thus I had to negotiate around these areas. I finally came to the trail into Lumsden Lake.  In a few minutes I arrived at Lumsden Lake. Following the shoreline I came upon the campsite. A beautiful place to set camp. Walking onto the rocks, the first thing I noticed was that there were a lot of bare trees here. There were a couple interesting scenarios here for a photos. The best thing here would to camp for a couple days next year. I found a good spot on the rocks to rest my butt and lean my back against. Put my Tilly  hat over my face and had me a short nap. Meanwhile the wind had picked up. There was a coolness on the face from the wind. A reminder that winter is coming.

Time to hit the trail again. It was late afternoon. Traversing through the Maple trees, crossing the small streams and topping the ridges I was soon back at George Lake. A beautiful fall day. A lovely hike. A wonderful way to spend a day.

Well that is it for now. Happy trails.

Photography, Poetry

I Had A Dream

4 Comments

IonaBay

The sound of waves

Rolling upon the beach

Receding before the next

Oncoming wave

The pebbles on the beach

A rainbow of colors

As they glistening in the sun

 

I had a dream

That I was walking

On a lonely beach

 

The sky was blue

The clouds moving on

The hills far in the distance

Covered in a dark mist

The beach stretching to infinity

 

I had a dream

That I was walking

On a lonely beach

 

The sun is settling

Over the vast waters

Of an ever moving

Lake Superior

The lowering sun is

Casting its Golding light

Upon the beach

 

I had a dream

That I was walking

On a lonely beach

 

The waves wash upon

The wet sand

Before receding

Leaving a golden pool

In its wake

The next wave appearing

And slowly receding

A pool of golden light

Remains in its path

 

I had a dream

That I was walking

On a lonely beach

 

The sun ever sinking

In the far horizon

Clouds a pink glow

With the sun’s demise

The darken sky

Turning a rich red

To be reflected

As a mirrored image

On the gently rolling

Surface of Lake Superior

 

I had a dream

That I was walking

On a lonely beach

 

Night has come

The stars beckon

In the night sky

The moon casting

A slivery Path

Upon the moving waters

The trees mere shadows

The hills dark on the horizon

The moonlit beach beckons

 

I had a dream

That I was walking

On a lonely beach

 

Photography

Batchawana Back Country

4 Comments

Batchewana_2656

 

Algoma, a land of rugged scenery. Canadian artists have come here to paint and photograph over the years. A popular destination of the Group of Severn.  A land covered in old growth trees. I drove up to Pancake Bay on September 22, 2014. Upon turning North out of Sault Ste Maria the scenery becomes awash with color and rolling hills stretching for miles.  I drove into Pancake Provincial Park, whereby I set up my base camp to work from. The weather turned out warm and sunny during the week that I was here. The Fall colors were in full swing.

The next morning bright and sunny, I drove to the Voyageur Restaurant. There I met a friend Brian King and his pal Joe. With map and coffee in hand we all sat at the picnic table that was available. Joe was born and raised in this part of the country. I was able to get quite a bit of info on were to explore. It was my quest to explore the back country here in the Batchewana area. There are many roads to chose from. Some were in excellent shape to a few that were a little rough at times. But they were all quite manageable. My favorite road turned out to be logging road that was at the present being used by a logging company. Once I came to know the schedule of the workers I could then plan my shots. The good thing they were all finished working by 6:00 pm and heading home. The logging trucks were my main concern. If you meet these guys pull over.

Along this road I found five good compositions to work with. This particular scene was a swampy area with lots of color. I had a hill in the background. Water for reflections. Points of land on either side with Maples in full color. The reflections worked really well to fill in the foreground. Your eye follows the water to the background. The two points of land keep you focused on the back of the photo.

Like I said previously it was a great week to be here. The joys of travelling these roads through tunnels of Maples in full color to cresting a hill to a colorful view of another hill ahead. Then descending down into another wealth of color. Travelling along the side of a hill with a stream flowing below you.   I managed to get in a fishing trip with my new found friend Joe. We caught a few Speckled Trout. Had a great time together. Looking forward to more of this. I also met quite a few folks in and around the Voyageur Restaurant area. It became routine to stop in for a cup of coffee in the afternoon. When people know what you are doing they will be glad to fill you in on the good scenic spots. Getting off the beating path can produce some great work.

This coming Saturday at the Killarney Mountain Lodge, Killarney, Ontario, my good friend Andy Lowe will be holding a concert   where upon he will be releasing his new cd.  For a sample of Andy’s work check out this video,

So until next time happy trails

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