Photo of the Week 2020-05-25

Moving away from images out of the archive, here are some morning shore scenes captured while sitting on our neighbours dock as the day awakened and sun rose ...

morning shore I

morning shore II

 

morning shore III

We had unbelievably good weather several days in a row for our first real warm weather stay at the cottage for 2020. It's not the first time we were up, but the previous visits were just to check and make sure everything was safe and secure.

Our neighbours are not currently up due to travel restrictions and they have always told us to use their dock so I thought it would be the perfect time. Armed with a couple of cameras, a folding camp chair and hot coffee, I took in the waking of the day on more than a single occasion.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2020-05-18

Oddly, with all of the "stay home', closed trails, closed parks, essential outings only drilled into us over the past couple of months, I don't find myself bursting to get out for photography as much as I thought I would. The lone-wolf type of shooting that I had been enjoying is perfect for these times of social distancing.

Maybe now that restrictions are relaxing, with parks and trails opening up, and my intention to begin regular visits to the cottage, I will ease back to photographing on a regular basis.

For now, another 'from the archive' ...

Revisiting the Badlands - from the archive

This, from a 2012 visit to the Cheltenham Badlands in Ontario, now cordoned off to protect them from excessive foot traffic.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2020-05-11

' Snowbirds over Guelph '

Knowing that the Canadian Forces Snowbirds Air Demonstration Squadron was scheduled to fly over Guelph during 'Operation Inspiration', I monitored their schedule updates and plotted out a location I expected would provide a good vantage point.

I wanted to get a shot of the formation passing by the iconic Church (now Basilica) of our Lady. With that in mind I selected the upper deck of the Quebec St. Mall parkade, central to Guelph, as my shooting location. Hoping they would be approaching from the SW to fly over the centre of the city and Guelph General Hospital. I arrived at the location an hour before their anticipated arrival, which was then delayed 45 minutes due to weather.

As the Snowbirds approached, they appeared to be heading straight for me and would pass overhead ... but ... they banked away to begin an "S" shaped path over the city and even with my high vantage point I lost track of them behind some rooftops.

When they banked back again and emerged they were quite a way behind the Basilica and I had to zoom out to get it frame.

 

Snowbirds over Guelph

The light was far from optimal given the time of day and an overcast sky with rain threatening. I'm not really happy with the result ... but hey, I was out of the house and shooting.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2020-05-04

' from the archive '

So it's day whatever of the COVID pandemic state of emergency and here in Ontario, the government is just starting to ease the restrictions that have been placed on us all to help stop the spread.

I'm not sure how long it will take for things to get back to normal. In all likelihood it will never be the way it was and we will all just adjust to what becomes the new normal. Whatever that looks like, there are some certainties that help me focus on moving forward. Of course there are family and friends and I very much look forward to the days when we can gather as we once did. Soon, I hope the parks, nature trails and golf courses will begin to open up because that's where do most of my walking and I like a variety of choices.

In the more immediate future, there is photography, actually going out and making some images. As much as I have enjoyed several weeks of exploring the archive, there is nothing like the satisfaction I get from actually getting out for photography. I only got part way to 2012 in my image library so hopefully there are more diamonds in the rough tucked away for future rainy days. 

At some point not too far away, some new captures will begin to appear on the blog. But for this week, here's something from the archive I thought appropriate given how the subject looks very similar to all of the visual representations of the Corona Virus that have been permeating the media through this crisis.

' colourful corona '

' COVID, be gone, a poem '

COVID be gone in the depths of dawn

May we rise to be infection free

The isolated days so many are feeling

Our minds sit in darkness and are in need of healing

Our leaders work tirelessly to bring us comfort

As the death toll rises we grieve with such loss

Distancing from loved ones we carry our cross

The days seem endless with so full of despair

Where is the light with no end in sight

The darkness we must overcome

Stand strong and fight as a world we must become one.

Carter Mann

Grade 5 student at Holy Cross

Sudbury

Well said young man.

DJE