Photo of the Week 2013-02-25

My weekend photo outing started with a stop for a coffee then a meet up in a local parking lot where 3 of us loaded our gear into one vehicle. Since Patrick was able to join Alan and I on this outing we had decided to show him a couple locations we always enjoy and headed for a couple of waterfalls in Ancaster, Tiffany and Sherman.

The company of friends certainly made for a different outing than I had the previous week. In place of quiet contemplation there was laughter, friendly banter and much talk of photography. We arrived, first at Tiffany Falls, geared up and proceeded up the trail. It didn't take long for the group to separate as each moved on to explore on their own. I have written and talked before about how I find the approaches to a location taken by different photographers and the varying results of their efforts to be quite interesting.

As for my approach to capturing the feel of this location, I had been thinking about some long exposure photography and wanted to try out a new Lee ND filter. The flowing waters downstream of both falls provided plenty of opportunity to do so.

Ancaster Creek 2013-02-23

In particular, I was drawn to a scene just upstream of a footbridge over Ancaster Creek at Sherman Falls. Surveying the area for the best point of view from which to capture the scene, I scrambled down the bank of the creek and worked my way into position under the bridge. With the mild weather, temperatures had risen to just above freezing, turning falling snow to a light rain. The ice was beginning to melt and the falling rain was dripping from overhead branches to mark the remaining snow with a pattern of dots. As I set up under the bridge, I managed to keep my camera gear out of the path of water dripping from overhead as well, not so for myself as I had cold water drip down the back of my neck more than once. 

When I arrived home and was able to download and view the images I made on a larger computer monitor, I was very pleased. I knew I had a winner and went to work right away processing the version above. Printed and framed, it now stands on the display easel in our entrance hallway.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2013-02-18

On changing things up ...

What has been my "normal" weekend photo outing for some time is a morning with one, sometimes two and on the odd occasion a few photographer friends. It's usually an early start to catch the "good light". Planning starts sometime during the week with an email and some friendly photography related banter.

This week, things didn't come together as they usually do. One friend was out because of other commitments and my regular companion had some things pressing only leaving him time for a quick walkabout somewhere close. Feeling the need to get out and lose myself in nature and the process of my photography, I decided to head out alone for a few hours. I picked a section of the Bruce Trail that I had not hiked before and just started walking, with a backpack full of camera gear in case I came across something special.

Walking along on the outbound leg of the hike, I stopped periodically to just take it all in and soak up the sights, sounds and solitude and made a few exposures of things that caught my eye. After some time, I came up to a marker for a side trail, looked at my trail map, saw it was a dead end trail near the escarpment edge and decided to check it out. At the end of the side trail I decided to take off my backpack and work at capturing some of the forest scene. When I was done I found a spot on the rock outcrop at the escarpment edge to sit, rest a bit and grab a drink of water. After several minutes I looked at my watch and saw that I had been out for well over 2 hours so I decided to make my way back.

As I started the return leg, what had been the odd snowflake turned to a much heavier snowfall. One of the interpretive signs I had stopped to clean off and read not long ago was already covered with the freshly fallen snow. The snowfall continued to increase and the scenes I had passed by before were completely transformed. A surreal atmosphere had descended on the forest and my opportunity to make some images had arrived.

Forest Flurries 03

The effect of shooting through falling snow across an open space is quite unique. Some may comment that it gives a photograph a painterly feel, others that it obscures detail. For me it's a magical time when the woods sing.

Forest Flurries 02

Forest Flurries 04

Forest Flurries 01

All in all, it was a great morning. I hiked a 5km section of the Bruce Trail that I'd never seen before, got lost in my thoughts and photography for a few hours and came back with some images that I'm very happy with.

I think I'll change it up a little more often.

  DJE

Photo of the Week 2013-02-11

Early at Oxtongue

Watching a sunrise is always special. Make it -20*C on a February morning with the fresh snow providing the "crunch" and there is nothing else like it ... although once my companion Murphy had completed his task, we headed back inside for some hot coffee and breakfast before packing up the car.

The rest of the morning we spent hiking at Ragged Falls and Oxtongue Rapids. I know I'll be going back for more at these locations, more and more and more .... 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2013-02-04

It was cold and blustery when I headed out Saturday morning. I had planned on exploring more of the trails around Silver Creek Conservation area but the blowing snow pulled me to Scotsdale Farm with thoughts of windswept fields rather than the relative protection of the forest.

Driving along the entrance off Trafalgar Rd., an old long abandoned laneway lined with pines seemed a fitting place to gear up and leave the warmth of the vehicle. A short walk back from where I parked let me size up the location for an opening shot of the day ... and sometimes the first is simply the best. I processed this image as high key B&W to emphasize the weather conditions at the time.   

fighting the wind

February Fence

There were a number of shots to be had in and around the area of the laneway. I spent some time walking around (with hands in pockets) sizing up the pines, the fences and the field grass before making this second image of the rail fence.

It was an unusual outing for me in the fact that I only made something in the neighbourhood of 20 images during the entire morning ... and I had these two, plus another from a roadside location on the drive home that I consider quite acceptable.

DJE