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This past weekend, and friend and I decided to revisit a local trial and I pre-visualized an image capturing the regimented pines planted along one particular section. I intended to capture the scene with an ultra-wide angle lens (14mm) to accentuate the lines and pattern of the planting, but when we came to this spot, it was the colouring of the forest floor and the solitary rock that caught me eye.
With morning light coming from the side, the rock just seemed to glow among the line of tree trunks and mess of branches. So I abandoned the 5DIII with the 14mm Rokinon attached and pulled out the 7DII with the Sigma 18-300, knelt down under the branches of the closest tree and set up for the shot.
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| solitary rock |
Sometimes I start out with a particular type of image in mind and end up with something completely different, sometimes I have nothing in mind for a n image and just capture what is there. I did get some interesting images with the ultra-wide but this is my favourite from the outing, so I'm glad I had a second camera and lens along.
... here is an image like the one I had previsualized. I like it too.
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| fallen comrade |
DJE
I decided to explore some different trails outside of Guelph near Starkey Hill recently ... the experience of a new trail can provide just what the doctor ordered when I'm in the photographic doldrums. This was a bit of that, but more about getting out, immersing myself in the forest.
With the colour of fall now deposited on the forest floor, moist, brown and returning nutrients to begin the cycle again, my eye turned to subject, form and pattern as I walked the unfamiliar route. Though I was close enough to hear nearby traffic from time to time, the periods of forest silence were incredible. They gave me cause to stop and simply take it all in, the wind through the limbs, birdsong overhead, squirrels scampering around ... but there was something else. At one point I had the feeling I was being watched ...
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| Watcher of the Woods |
... and maybe I was.
DJE
I woke at the cottage to find a dusting of snow on the ground Saturday morning. The first snowfall, or at least the first while we were there, had come overnight.Murphy and I set out for our morning walk while there were still traces of the white stuff and I was hopeful that there would be enough light for photography.
Along our normal morning route is an entrance to a lovely trail, where I stop every time I pass. Each time the light offers up something different. Time of day and time of year each change the direction of the light in their own way, some subtle, others more dramatic. I always find the scene inviting.
Here is my take on that scene from Saturday morning ...
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| snow dusted trail |
All signs of snow were gone by mid morning and warmer temperatures came Sunday ... along with a stomach flu that had me bedridden the entire day and made for a terrible drive home even as passenger. Whatever bug I picked up, still has a grip on me, hence the short blog post this week.
DJE
I've been making greeting cards featuring my images for the past several years. It started with a series of cards I made in support of selling my framed fine art prints at the Guelph Studio Tour a few years back. They didn't sell well at the time, likely due to how I priced them in comparison to those available from others at the time ... but that's another discussion.
After the tour, I was left with a number of cards and ended up using them myself, at suitable times. I still have a few of those original cards tucked away. Since that initial batch however, I have continued to make cards, singles for birthdays and special occasions and an annual series each year for the family Christmas Card.
I always make a card for Lynn's birthday and this year I wanted to use an image of the boys since they were coming home to celebrate the occasion. I knew she'd appreciate something that included them so I selected something from our walk down to the beach on our recent visit trip to Toronto for Thanksgiving dinner.
I also decided to continue my experimentation with post processing applications and techniques on this image to create something different from a rather simple shot. I printed the card and a companion fine art print for Lynn to pin up in her workspace so she can be close to her boys.
DJE
Sunday morning after Halloween, I decided to get out for a hike along some local trails at the Ignatius Centre, north of Guelph. When I started out, there was a blustery wind pushing the unsettled skies overhead. Now and then a break in the cloud would come and the sun would stream through. Quickly it's warmth would rush over the ground before heading off in the distance. Over and over the sky darkened and I thought I would certainly get caught in a downpour, particularly when I was in the fields far away from where I parked. Each time the wind hurried the heavy dark cloud away.
As I rounded a corner at the edge of a field, along the treeline, the sun burst through to set off the golden glow of several small tamarack at the bottom of a slope. I quickly grabbed a couple of images and then the sunlight was gone.
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| golden tamarack |
For this image I used some different software that I'd been experimenting with (ON1 Photo10 and a plug-in called Smart Photo Editor) to process the RAW file giving the dramatic result above. Fitting around Halloween I think ...
DJE
