Photo of the Week 2018-12-31

A lovely stone house once stood on this location ... that is until a troubled soul decided to torch it along with numerous other structures in the Guelph-Eramosa-Puslinch-Erin area. 

It has been demolished and a favoured subject for my lens is no more ...

phantom homestead

I had visited this location a number of times, always keeping a respectful distance. In the beginning, it looked as if someone might still be living there. Then later the windows were boarded up.

And then the unthinkable ... it was torched.

Twice an image of this quaint stone structure graced a page in my annual calendar ... and I suspect it may again for the 2020 edition.

First an image from 2012 when I caught it sitting ever so peacefully in the mist...

Next from 2017 after I learned that it had succumbed to flame and freshly boarded windows made it look as if the lights were still on ...

A suspect has been arrested and charged with 7 counts of arson, but not for the fire that destroyed this favoured subject. In all over 20 suspicious fires were recorded through 2016,17,18 and several other structures that I had enjoyed photographing no longer stand

from Guelph Mercury October 30, 2017

What a shame ...

DJE

Photo of the Week 2018-12-24

Wishing the very best for the Holiday Season and a Very Happy New Year to those following my blog.

CHEERS!

DJE

Photo of the Week 2018-12-17

My love of the Bruce Peninsula Landscape began several years ago with a visit for some winter photography. The plan for the first 'Bruce' trek likely sprouted from numerous photo outings to sections of the Niagara Escarpment closer to home. Niagara Falls, Hamilton, Dundas, Burlington, Milton, Limehouse etc. all cultivated my fascination with the limestone cliff that stretches hundreds of kilometres.

The winter 'Bruce' trek became an annual event and perhaps because those memories, winter remains a favourite time to be on 'the Bruce'. Though Mother Nature has yet to lay down this season's winter blanket, encountering some of those earlier images on a journey through the photo library brought back that crisp, quiet fee of winter mornings on 'the Bruce'.

Winter Morning at Little Cove - IV

Avisit to Little Cove back in December 2010 provided the "crisp'. A tripod and slow shutter speed calmed the waters.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2018-12-10

"The woods are lovely, dark and deep,.

But I have promises to keep,.

And miles to go before I sleep,.

And miles to go before I sleep."

                           - Robert Frost -

invitingly mysterious

There is a spot along the edge of the forest, an opening that calls to me whenever I walk by. Invitingly mysterious, it spurs me to imagine that which is beyond as the woods close in, darken and deepen.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2018-12-03

Keady Trees - 2018-11-30

A recent question on a photography social media page prompted me to think about my own choices when it comes to aspect ratio. With that prompting, I decided to more thoroughly evaluate one of my my recent images using a variety of aspect ratios.

"Aspect Ratio ? What is Aspect Ratio?" you ask. Well here is the explanation of Aspect Ratio according to Wikipedia.

In responding to the question online, I commented that in choosing an aspect ratio, it obviously it begins with the aspect ratio native to, or selected on the capture device. Since I shoot primarily with a DSLR, my initial compositions start with 2:3 and I change in post processing to suit my vision for the image, either preconceived or determined after evaluating in computer screen.

There are any number of factors that can enter the decision process of what aspect ratio to use for a particular image. Since I begin with 2:3 in camera and compose accordingly, the majority of my work remains at this ratio. I also print a good amount of my work and have standardized on this ratio as a matter of economy considering printing and framing materials. When I decide that an image will significantly benefit from another ratio, I'll crop to suit, though I seldom if ever crop to arbitrary ratios, it's just how I roll. If I use a "custom" ratio, it's usually based on the "golden ratio". The panoramas I shoot are all cropped to suit the scene after images are stitched together.  

In the end, it's the personal preference of the photographer and what they select to represent their vision.

Below are examples of this week's image cropped to various aspect ratios. The main image above is custom and presented in the "golden ratio" that is somewhat less in height than the 2:3 crop. This allowed for removal of what could be considered an excessive amount of empty sky, and still allows for emphasis of the wider expanse of field around this croup of conifers, which is what always catches my eye when I drive past.

aspect ratio 2:3

aspect ratio - custom

aspect ratio 5:7

aspect ratio 4:5

aspect ratio 1:1

Looking for another perspective on this topic, here's a short article from DPS you may find interesting:
Aspect Ratio: What it is and Why it Matters - Andrew S. Gibson 

DJE