Photo of the Week 2021-12-27

 

From a morning wander at Revolve Farms ...

 

sun through the barn wall

 DJE

 

Photo of the Week 2021-12-20

More, from the new home of Revolve Farms  ...  a diamond emerging from the rough.

 

'The view that greets you as you enter '

 

' Front of the Log House '

' Side of the Log House '

' The sunny side and the Greenhouse '

' The garden had overgrown ... "

 

I know there will be many more photos to come ;-)

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2021-12-13

Just back from a visit with my son in Eastern Ontario and I realized that I had images from the previous visit to share ...

 

 

From our first visit to the new location for Revolve Farms and an opportunity for Matt & Claire to walk us around, sharing their vision for their new home ...

 

There was so much to catch our eye during the time we spent wandering and exploring this unique property. In particular, the building sections raised by the previous owner, with stone from the property, are one signature feature (there are a few others).

 

The stone house, workshop and outdoor kitchen area are without a doubt, anchoring elements of this special, special place.

 

' stone house and attached workshop '

 

 

' entrance to stone workshop '

 

' outdoor stone kitchen '

 

 

There is work to be done. Completing what the previous owner started, altering and adding their own touch, Matt & Claire are set to bring a dream to life ... and I can't wait to watch it all happen (and maybe help a bit where I can along the way)
 

 

DJE

 

Photo of the Week 2021-12-06

 

' snow dusted trail '

It's a magical time when the first snows of the season freshen things up.

 

It seems I am in a minority ... I welcome the arrival of winter. There is nothing like a fresh touch of pristine white to lighten up the landscape and signal the beginning of another season of winter photography.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2021-11-29

Almost the end of November and they're baaaack !!

 

' wary glance '

I recently made some time to visit an area that has provided most of my opportunities to photography Snowy Owls and was again rewarded with sightings ... two separate sightings on two separate days (likely the same bird).

 

This image of a female or immature male Snowy Owl was made on the second day, when the bird was much closer to an accessible vantage point. I was able to get close enough for this highly cropped image (approximately 60% of the original frame height) from my Canon R5 in 1.6 crop mode with EF100-400 LII and EF1.4x III (effective focal length 896mm).

 

There is no substitute for focal length when photographing birds, not just focal length, good glass and high mega pixel resolution all play an important part. I like to photograph birds, in particular, unique species like the Snowy Owls and Bald Eagles I can find near our cottage. If I was more dedicated to bird photography, my expenditure on lenses would be significantly greater. I'm not saying never, but for now I'll stick with the gear I have and get what I can get image wise.

 

Sadly, I've decided that I will I no longer share locations of where I find and photograph wildlife on social media. I've seen and heard of too many instances where wildlife are harassed by over exuberant photogs too focused on getting the shot to the detriment of stressing the animal. I'm not saying that I have no impact on my subjects, but I strive to observe and read the animal's behaviour to know when to move on ... as I did with the owl in this week's photo.  I had spent some time at the side of a busy road close to this beauty when it became evident that other cars were slowing down and my presence I was drawing more attention to the bird. As experience has taught, soon other's would be stopping and ... well, I'll just say it usually doesn't go the way I would prefer.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2021-11-22

 

Robertson Tract in the morning ...

It was nice to get together with photo friends for an outing to the Robertson Track in Halton. The myriad of trails there lead you through a forest of changing scenery near the top of the escarpment.

 

Arriving shortly after sunrise, we were treated to morning light filtering though a light mist, highlighting tree trunks, rocky outcrops and mosses growing on the exposed stone. For this image, I was drawn to the depth of the scene, with the receding verticals of the trees.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2021-11-15

 

' sparkling waters - heavy skies '

Having a front row seat to a view like this is nothing short of spectacular. Whether it's a dramatic sunset or mid-day cloudless blue skies, subtle morning pastel hues or angry storm fronts, the horizon separating Huron Waters from Huron Skies always gets my attention ... 

This image is a heavy crop in an aspect ratio using multiples of the 'golden ratio'. It's an aspect ratio I use for pseudo panoramas when cropping from the original file. The original capture was made while experimenting with my R5 set up in crop mode for wildlife with  my EF100-400L and 1.4x converter. I was making some test shots earlier and used the same setup to capture a very selective slice of the view out over "La Mer Douce".

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2021-11-08

 

It had been a while since going on a photo walkabout with my friend Grant, actually since we had gotten together for anything. After having dinner together and reminiscing about old times, we decided to set aside a day, pick a location, and head out to walk around and see what we could find of photographic interest. 

 

We chose Dundas Ontario and while strolling around early one Saturday morning I noticed this replica old panel truck sitting in a parking lot across the street. A little while later I had made some compositions, working to exclude elements that would give clues to the current day. Then some editing in post and a vintage effect resulted in these ...

 

Moosehead Lager Van - 01

 

Moosehead Lager Van - 02

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moosehead Lager Van - 03

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moosehead Lager Van - 04

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2021-11-01

Welcome to November ...

 

It was last month when I ventured into Bruce Peninsula National Park for the first time in 2021. It had been a couple of (long) years... with "stay home" orders, park closure and overcrowding, my visits to BPNP had been nonexistent. I decided it was time to see if the area still had a place in my heart and the ability to stir the creative spirit ...

 

It started with an afternoon visit to Halfway Log Dump. Short though it was, the location definitely speaks to me and I managed to capture a set of images showcasing the spectacular shoreline and waters along this section of the Bruce Peninsula.

 

Later in the month, I made a point to visit Singing Sands one afternoon to enjoy the spectacular skies over calm waters and the sandy shoreline. The outing produced a set of 12 images that I've begun adding to an album titled mid-day medley. The series is the result of an exercise in altering position, POV, placement of horizon, foreground interest an portrait vs landscape aspect ratio that showcase the sand, shore and sky in concert.

 

I've chosen one from the middle of the series as this week's POTW.

 

mid-fay medley - VI

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2021-10-25

 

' Huron Sunsets are Just Ducky '

There's often an additional little something in the clouds ...

Seeing faces, animals and familiar shapes in the clods is a form of pareidolia, and something that frequently occurs with me. Those following this blog will know that I frequently photograph sunset and the skies over Lake Huron. During my most recent visits to our northern retreat, things did not change.

The October skies over the Bruce Peninsula and Lake Huron are often very dramatic. Approaching weather phenomenon, storm fronts, cloud formation and clear blue sky make a wide variety for the atmosphere and appearance of the images I capture. So far this month (October 2021) has done it's best to stir my desire to pick up the camera and catch what I see through the lens.

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2021-10-18

 

 

' Green Flash and Kayaker '

I have tried many times to catch the 'Green Flash' as the sun dips below the horizon at to conclude sunset. It requires specific conditions to occur and is a fleeting phenomenon when it does. For those not interested in following the link provided above to research for themselves, it requires a clean, clear, unobstructed horizon, frequently over a large water body. The atmosphere causes a refraction effect and green is the last colour that can be seen, just as the last of the sun's orb drops to the horizon line. In the case of this photo, the distinct cloud line off in the distance over Lake Huron proved enough.

 

I've mentioned this to others observing sunset with me and some of the looks and reaction I have received are comical. But it is a "thing", explained by science. Captured by others in video and still images ... and now by me (though it was the very beginning of this very brief phenomenon).

Green Flash - enlargement from photo above

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2021-10-11

 

Feeling a resurgence of creativity in recent days ...

 

' emergent '

 ... where sky, water and rock come together.

 

Maintaining creativity requires nourishment in a balanced diet, the work of others, new experiences, familiarity and room to breath among the menu items. It also requires an outlet, online, to clients or for personal pleasure. One or the other can be interrupted for a time but without nourishment, my creativity withers in time. Without an outlet, the process backs up and and slowly comes to a halt. To use a familiar (to me) analogy, it's like a sourdough starter. You can put it away for a while but it needs to be fed from time to time and at various points you are going to have to use some, discard or give some away. This is how it works ... for me anyway.

These last couple of years, COVID times, have made it difficult to find the nourishment for my photographic creativity. For a time the archive sustained, restrictions limiting, the familiar not enough as time wore on. There were always outlets, social media, online and this blog but it more would have been better.

 

Recently, the return to fall, my love of the colours and changing seasons has provided fresh sustenance. I'm out walking trails, enjoying forests and the outdoors with camera again. Photo projects for business clients too provided new opportunities, reviving old acquaintances and more recently some print sales adding to the mix. 

 

Here's hoping that it's uphill into the light for a while ....

DJE

 

Photo of the Week 2021-10-04

 

' in the right light ... '

In the right light, the ordinary becomes the extraordinary.

While having breakfast, alone at the cottage recently, I paused to watch sunlight coming through the sliding door to our deck, as it slipped across the corner cabinet doors. It's a photographer thing.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2021-09-27

Several years ago I began photographing a particular stand of trees. In a farm field along the road just north of the Keady intersection, they stood along the crest of a rise with the sky as background. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shortly after making my first image I had the idea to capture the scene, in different conditions, from different angles. The collection set of images became the "Keady Trees" (you can view the set via the hyper-link below).

Along the way, the building sheltering behind was removed and one tree took on a lean. Earlier this year, in winter, I was shocked to see that they all had been cut down.

 

 

All that remained was a pile of brush and root remnants that was burned in the spring ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With their demise I decided to review what I had documented, process some additional images and wrap up the series with one final look ...

' Gone '

 

DJE

 

 

 

The set on Flickr ...

 

 

 

Photo of the Week 2021-09-20

 

... another from a recent outing in Old Cambridge (Galt) with some other (Guelph Photographers) Guild members.

Arch two Arches

An up-river view framed by the arch of the pedestrian bridge over the Grand.

 

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2021-09-13

 

It has been a while, it seems, since I've wandered about with a camera in urban settings. 'Street Photography' has never really been my thing, but I used to enjoy regular walks in different urban areas with my photo friends.

This past weekend, with COVID restrictions lifting, the Guelph Photographers Guild held it's first outing in several months. It was good to get out, good to walk with some other photographers, good to renew face to face friendships.

The location chosen was Historic Downtown Cambridge, Ontario (a.k.a. Old Galt), and several of us enjoyed a morning outing along the banks of the Grand River, the Old Mill ruins, some downtown streets and pathways. Much of the area was familiar from previous visits, but I let my photographer's eye roam, searching for something 'new' to shoot. Standing in front of an imposing old building wondering what it was, I looked up and saw it's name against a delicately clouded sky.

The Old Galt Public Library - B&W

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2021-09-06

The forest cycle ...

 

' down and decaying '

With COVID, crowding, controls and constraints, accessing the public areas of 'the Bruce' has become a "crap" show over the past few years. Parking reservations required weeks in advance at most BPNP locations now make impromptu outings impossible. Quick walks at Little Cove, Halfway Log Dump and Burnt Point now all demand parking and daily use fees totalling $20 per visit. And don't get me started on the annual passes. I bought a Family Discovery Pass last year before they closed the f'n park to visitors making my $130 pass fee a donation to the Federal Government since whey would not honour an extension into this season. 

 

This has had a significant impact on my photography. I now spend most of my time staying at our place or on local roads and secondary trails. Sunsets and skies with occasional wildlife is the usual subject matter around the England abode. Wildflowers, trees, forest light, with a critter now and then catch my eye on my modified treks.

 

The sights and scenes can be different and can require a different "eye" ... in this case B&W.

So this week I bring you 'down and decaying' ... like my hopes for a return to 'the Bruce' that brought me to the area. Will I find my peninsula muse again, or just 'move' on ... time will tell.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2021-08-30

Digging into the archive this week ...

 

' door no more '

I shot this image in an abandoned farmhouse almost 12 years ago to the day. It was during my "rurex" period, where weekends  consisted of visiting many of the local abandoned rural buildings and properties.

 

There were a few of us from the local photography community that shared an interest in exploring these structures. Unfortunately, my participation in such activities came to an end when arson claimed many of the structures ... including this one. I've written of other nearby buildings lost to arson at the hand of a disturbed individual who was ultimately identified, charged and convicted on several counts ...

... though the beauty of these structures and this door in particular are no more.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2021-08-23

 

' 2021-08-20 20:43:45 '

Another Hay Bay sunset to close out the 8th year of cottage life on 'the Bruce'. I don't think I'll ever tire of taking in a Huron Sunset.

 

DJE

 

Photo of the Week 2021-08-16

Happy Macro Monday !

'

' Up Close with Harry '

I'm always checking our cottage pollinator patch to see what new additions there are, plants and insects. As far as I have been able to determine, this is a Fall Webworm Moth Caterpillar. The colour apparently varies quite a bit so, as always, I stand to be corrected.

When I first noticed this caterpillar it seemed rather plain, but upon closer examination, there was quite a bit of interesting colour under those black and white hairs and I thought it would make an interesting image if I could get an angle to show them and use the shallow depth of focus on my 150mm macro. As it turns out, I added the 1.4x converter for better positioning of my tripod legs and was able to get this 'up close' perspective.

Before getting set up for the image above, I made a more conventional image to document and assist with identification.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2021-08-09

My photography covers a broad range of subject matter, I do not specialize, I do not limit myself. There is however one underlying constant ... I was there, I saw it, I photographed it because it moved me visually.

 

I recently had another visit with Matt (my son) and Claire at Revolve Farms, their CSA farm garden near Athens ON. It was a wonderful couple of days, sleeping in a tent under the stars, listening to the crickets, coyotes, farm dogs, owls and loons through the night before the rooster alarm clock went off (at 4am). Again I learned as they shared their passion for what they do and the knowledge of what they have learned.

 

I spent some time documenting what I saw in the garden, around the farm and as I explored the surrounding area and have a number of exposures to review and edit. One subject I was looking forward to photographing was the garlic crop that had been harvested and was hung to cure in the barn ...

Garlic Curing I

Garlic Curing II

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Garlic Curing III

 

Garlic Curing IV

 

 

 

 

Garlic Curing V

 

... though curing prepares the garlic for long tern storage, it can be used uncured in recipes. Thanks to Lynn, I can attest to how delicious that is.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2021-08-02

When I think back a few years to hosting a couple of friends, Alan and Patrick, at the cottage for a photography weekend, I laugh. Not just because we had a fun time, sketching, photographing, telling stories ...

... but Patrick, who is very knowledgeable about flora and fauna, left me with a comment and observation that I am reminded of annually this time of year. It came after I mentioned that I had not been able to find many of the 40 plus species of orchid that call the Bruce Peninsula home.

As I recall, we had just returned from an outing at Sunset Park where low water levels had allowed us to carefully amble and ramble along the shoreline to make photos. Quite casually, Patrick said something like 'you know you have Helleborine out in your driveway'. I must have looked rather unimpressed until he added 'you know that's an orchid'.

I laughed long and hard then, and smile every year when the Broadleaf Helleborine blooms in a number of locations on our property ...

 

Helleborine Trio

 

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2021-07-26

 

When I picked up a new camera body a few weeks ago, the 24-105 lens I ordered had not yet arrived, so I had to use the new mirrorless body with DSLR lenses via an adapter which was no biggie since I already had it and was good to go.

 

I chose to try out my Sigma 70mm Macro and Sigma 150mm Macro lenses first and have been enjoying my return to close up, shallow depth of field imagery. It should not then be a surprise that my post this week is again a macro / close up image(s).

 

While readying the BBQ for dinner grilling at the cottage, I noticed an interesting subject on the flower-head of the Curly Dock growing in our pollinator patch.

 

white webster

 

I'm always looking at what is growing and living in the patch and noticed this Goldenrod Crab Spider out at the end of the Curly Dock checking things out. At first it was quite still. I used my 150mm macro to capture this image from quite close, then later as it moved around, I re-positioned for a closer shot, near the minimum focus distance of the lens.

Four-Eyes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was interesting trying to get sharp images, not only because of the very shallow depth of field, but because the breeze was bouncing the plant around a fair bit. The movement actually caused the spider to fall off the plant ... 

hanging by a thread

 

... to be saved by a single thread of silk, hang there for a bit, then climb back up.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2021-07-19

 

It might be a bit surprising how new gear with new features can inject new energy into the photographic journey ...

Oh I love new gear just because it is new gear, but my recent return to using macro lenses and wide apertures with shallow depth of focus has been aided by the availability of an articulating LCD screen on the back of my new camera. Previously, I had been required to perform some interesting contortions in order to be able to see through the camera viewfinder or view the rear LCD to accomplish the precise focus I wanted. This resulted in some laughable scenarios where my forehead could be planted in the cedar duff covering the forest floor as I worked to get an upward angle on a wildflower, or where strange grunting and groaning noises could be heard in the vicinity of a low slung tripod set close to the ground for that bug's eye view.

Things are much easier now. Oh, I still need to get down on my knees for a lot of the wildflower images, but other than a bit of additional hunching over to shade the articulated LCD and zoom in for that perfect focus, it's a new day, a new way for my nature macro photography and here is another example of the results ...

colourful viper

Until you stop and take a close look, Viper's Bugloss appears to be just another roadside weed. Actually, it produces very intricate, colourful and interesting flowers that bud pink amongst a hairy green tuft before turning purple and stretching their pink stamens far out where the bees and other insects do their pollination routine.

 

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2021-07-12

 

Initially, I thought this week's post would be "a first", but after a quick review of posts over the years to confirm, I found I was wrong. I have featured images from another photographer before ...

 

Over the weekend, I'd been working with another photographer to prepare some prints of their images for framing. It's some really great work, and looks fantastic in print (they are resting on my framing table before being installed into frames). When we were done, I asked if I could use the images in my weekly blog post and feature them a guest photographer. With a surprised look, they agreed. The photographer? My son Jordan.

So here they are, from his travels in Malaysia. Malacca scenes ... 

I thoroughly enjoyed the process of review and preparing Jordan's images with him. We had some good discussion about what would work as a print, together with a second or third image hung on the wall(s) at his place. We had some laughs as well and as always, family time is a good thing. I hope you enjoy ...

DJE