Photo of the Week 2026-09-07

 

I'm always on the lookout for wildflowers in and around the cottage.

 

' sunlit fringed trio '

This Blue Gentian, was new to me. At first I thought there was a single plant  and as it turned out, there was an abundance of it growing on our rocky shoreline.

 

Using some of the simulated ICM techniques I've been developing and enhancing the bright sunlight I was able to create this ethereal image.

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2026-08-31

 

Up at the cottage, I'd hoped to get sky clear enough for a full moon shot over the bay, or a night sky / milky way shot, at least a decent sunset shot for the last weekend in August ... but it was not to be.

 

Clear skies departed leaving grey overcast drizzle in their wake and aside from some quick shots around Little Tub this morning while walking Sully, there hasn't been much to point a camera at since arriving yesterday.

 

So it's back to the image library for this previously unreleased sunset image from Aug 31 2024. 

 

' sunset skies - shoreside pools '

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2026-08-24

 

Maybe 4 or 5 weeks ago, I was listening to a camera podcast where the host mentioned a resurgence of interest in older digital cameras with CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) sensors. Apparently there are some who think this type sensor renders an image with the look of film when compared to the CMOS sensors more common in cameras today. For those interested here is a video link for more on the renewed interest in CCD sensor cameras.

 

I happen to have two 20+ year old digital cameras with CCD sensors, one has been converted for infrared photography and the other is a bit of a collector classic. Both cameras are considered Point & Shoot models with fixed (non-interchangeable) power zoom lenses with 7 & 8 MP image sensors respectively (low by today's standards). The Canon Powershot G6 was purchased used and sent to Kolari Vision in the US some years ago and converted for 720nm infrared imaging. The other, a Powershot Pro1 is the only Point & Shoot (P&S) camera Canon manufactured with a "pro" series L lens. These details may only be of interest to very few reading the post but there you have it.

 

My original intent was to take both cameras out for some shooting and compare the results with those shot on other CMOS sensor cameras. As with much on this Photographic Journey, I got distracted and wandered off on a bit of a tangent ... shooting some infrared with the G6.  

 

' rural infrared - I '

This home in rural Guelph-Eramosa Township had become a favourite subject from my 'rural winter' series and while driving home from some test shots with the CCD cameras, I decided to stop and capture the scene in IR.

(note: false colour processing in Photoshop)

 

The earlier efforts of my outing were mostly spent familiarizing myself with the cameras again and boy it was soon evident how 'spoiled' I have become having my newer cameras. Shooting with older menus, less features smaller 2" LCD screens (and older eyes) although expected, proved more of a challenge than anticipated ... but a somehow satisfying one.

 

Maybe more to come on the CCD revival in future :-)

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2026-08-17

 

 

' Just another Huron  sunset... '

With all of the stunning sunsets I get to experience at and around the area of our cottage on the Bruce Peninsula, it's easy to lose track of one single photo made amongst a series. I rarely make just one image when photographing a sunset. It's my 'M O' to work through different many different exposures and compositions. How many?

 

Well here is a screen capture of the raw files from my Lightroom Catalogue made over a 10-15 minute period during one such outing ...

 

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2026-08-10

 

Sitting inside relaxing after dinner the other evening, I looked over my shoulder and noticed a prominent magenta hue cast over the water. As you might expect, I grabbed a camera and strolled down to the shoreline where I found clouds in the eastern sky lit up in opposition to the setting sun.

 

' shore sky and sunset ' 

There was an unsettling feel to it as I worked the shoreline, shooting in east, south and west directions. The strong magenta cast in the south and east is not often encountered at sunset. This colour was reflected down onto the water and shoreline rock contributing to the odd feel present at the time. The foreground rock took on an almost sinister look against the warm sunset colour in the distance.

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2026-08-03

 

Last week, we were invited to dinner at our friend's cottage at the very SW tip of the Bruce Peninsula. I've always known that the view of sunset from there would be amazing. Until this occasion, my timing had not been right. With dinner done, we retired to the deck for some wonderful conversation until someone said ... "hey look at the sunset" ... and I was off to grab the camera bag.

 

As I arrived, the ladies were already at the shore, in conversation down on the rock and I heard "where's Doug?", and "over here", "the view is from here" and the like. 

 

' Flying in a V '

I started working the shoreline with the 14-35 wide angle zoom using some rocks and trees as foreground elements before swapping it out for the 24-105 thinking I wanted a little more reach to bring Russel Island more prominent in the frame. 

 

As it turned out, my preferred compositions were made at 24mm from a spot a little further west along the shore. The 1/50 sec shutter speed left the gull blurry from it's motion and mine as I perched a bit precariously on the rock ledge at water's edge.  

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2026-07-27

 

In search of a source image to work on for last week's 'POW', I found some previously overlooked shots from my time inside Saint Peter’s Basilica. The structure is incredibly ornate and impressive, even from a non-religious perspective. The architectural lines, arches, domes and details adorned with magnificent works of art are a sight to behold.

 

A trip down memory lane sparked by over 1500 images captured during our 2013 trip has me again considering that book that that I've threatened to publish as a memento of the wonderful time we had. At very least, I should get back to printing and run some of them off and mount them in frames around the house ... 

 

... hmmmmm, well for now, here are the shots from St. Peter's that I referred to at the outset. The interior lighting was low compared to the bright sunshine outside, making for a scene with wide dynamic range. I chose to expose for a darker, dramatic feel while still capturing some of the shadow details.

 

... Oh and I was messing around with white balance in post to cool down what was a very warm scene. Looking to match colour tomes with the darker chosen exposure level. Just to mess about, I created a third version of each file by overlaying the warm/cold version and used a diagonal mask to reveal part of each.

' Arches & Domes '

 

' Domes & Arches '

 

 

Comments, thoughts, questions welcomed. 
 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2026-07-20

 

I've been intrigued by some impressionistic images created by combining Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) and multiple-exposure techniques, either 'in camera' or simulated in post processing. In particular I wanted to experiment using scenes that include people as a focal point.

 

' Couple in the Colonnade '

So I turned to the archive and found a source image of this couple holding hands for a stoll along the Colonnade from a 2013 visit to The Vatican. The effects were simulated in post, quite successfully I feel.

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2026-07-13

 

Down with a summer 'crud' cold, photographic activities have been limited this past week. Catalogue organization and processing some images from the archive along with listening to some online programming has been the limit for me. I did dig out a vintage (nearly 20 year old) digicam after being inspired by some discussion in a podcast I listened to. There seems to be a fledgling resurgence of their popularity and I have 2 in particular that I want to get out and shoot with out of curiosity of what I may be able to create with them. More on that in coming weeks.

 

For now, here's an image from almost 10 years ago that again caught my eye while digging through the library ...

 

' mimicry '

So often, I find the sky mimicking the land and waters below ... 

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2026-07-06

 

Yet another calm, quiet evening on Hay Bay, sun set at the northern edge of the bay mouth on the last days of summer '25. On this occasion I noticed an interesting cloud formation just above the sun as it touched the horizon, almost as if the sun was being doused in the water.

 

I made a series of compositions using different features and reflections along the shoreline.

 

' sunset swirl - I '

' sunset swirl - pano '

' sunset swirl - II '

' sunset swirl - III '

' sunset swirl - IV '

These images sat in my catalogue, marked as candidates for processing and posting until, well, until now ...

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2026-06-29

 

' St. Lawrence Sunrise - L'Islet-sur-Mer '

On the way home from PEI, we stopped overnight in L'Islet-sur-Mer, a quaint Quebec village on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River not far from Quebec City.

Of course I had my phone with me for some photos while I was out on the course, but I also took a "proper" camera to take advantage of any special opportunities that arose. Up early on our day of departure, I grabbed the camera took a walk down to the wharf on the St. Lawrence River ...

 

I stepped off the break-wall to walk along the cocky shoreline. Moving east, just past the concrete wharf face, I saw a lone tree perched higher up on the riverbank and framed a shot with it back-lit by the warm clouded morning sky.

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2026-06-22

In addition to photography, golf is a passion of mine (though you wouldn't know it from my recent play) and it can be difficult combining both simultaneously, but when at such a picturesque location ...

 

' Crowbush Cove PEI '

 

' Crowbush Clubhouse '

' What, why do you get to hit from up there?!? ' 

' somebody must have hit a bomb '

' all carry '

          ' making the turn back to the clubhouse '

... you use the camera you have, which in my case was my phone.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2026-06-15

 

I was looking through my candidates for posting / processing and came across images from a 2023 golf trip to Grand Falls, New Brunswick. Given recent discussions of upcoming golf trips "out east", I was tempted to look deeper.

 

Grand Falls was flowing heavier in 2023 than I'd seen in previous visits. With the evening sun low in the sky providing back-light for the mist off the falls, I made a stops along the lookouts at the bridge and visitors centre during my walkabout.

' grand mist '

 

' flowing grand '

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2026-06-08

 

A little over a month ago, I met up with a couple of friends and visited a couple of locations on the Hamilton 'Doors Open' weekend back in May. Auchmar (photos available in this flickr Album) and The Cotton Factory (the subject of this post) were our chosen sites.

 

The Cotton Factory, former site of the Imperial Cotton Co. has been transformed into a creative industries complex, with space for workshops, studios for artists and office space for creative professionals. I found the 1900's brick facade full of personality and character to capture in the strong mid day sun. For my exterior shots I used the Canon R5 with a Sigma 35mm f/1/4 Art lens mounted via an EF to RF Kolari drop-in filter adapter (w/clear filter) and I thought it may be of interest to show the complete set to give an idea of what catches my eye at a location like this.

 

' green doors and shattered window '

' light and shadow '

' verte 'n valves '

' verte to go ' 

' blocked door '

' chimney stacked ' 

' traces of whitewash '

' getting from here to there '

' car in the courtyard '

So there you have it, The Cotton Factory exterior, at least some of it, through the eyes of DJE 

  

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2026-06-01

 

I'm enjoying the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro I picked up a while back from a FB Marketplace listing. I'm not sure if the seller didn't realize what they had or if they just wanted to get rid of it ...  no matter, a win for me.

 

' a touch of pink '

The 105mm focal length, wide f/2.8 aperture and OS (Sigma's Optical Stabilization) make it easy to use, hand held and I've been taking advantage of the spring flowers blooming at the cottage, both in the garden and wild on the property.

 

Shallow Depth of Field, DoF, selective focus, bokeh, background blur are all photography terms that have returned to my vocabulary in recent days ...

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2026-05-25

 

' waking from winter '

From a walk in the Arboretum to see what was springing back after a long winter ... 

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2026-05-18

 

' serviceberry in sunlight ' 

Driving local backroads in spring, I had an idea to capture a lone serviceberry in isolation blooming among the barren tree trunks of other wetland dwellers.
While unable to find the scene I had envisioned, there were variations of the theme available to show their brightly delicate spring blossoms.

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2026-05-11

 

' Revolve Spring Morning '

From a morning walkabout with camera (after coffee of course) on our first visit to Revolve Farms this spring ... for Mother's Day. 

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2026-05-04

 

Randomly, but quite frequently, I delve into my backlog of images, either those marked as candidates for processing, or those processed and marked candidates for posting. The number of marked images keeps growing and this week, in an effort to not leave them all to languish in digital purgatory I thought to choose one from May of a previous year, 2017 in fact.

 

' roadside recollection '

A familiar location along the road on drives to the cottage. Sometimes it calls out a challenge for me to stop and attempt a print-worthy capture. This may have met the challenge, at least well enough for a trial print. We'll see.
 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2026-04-27

 

 

' April Showers '

It certainly has been a wet April ... and I met a friend for a walk on the Wild Goose Woods Trail in the UofG Arboretum. Shortly after we started, the rain intensity increased to the point where eventually we were driven back to our vehicles and retired to a local cafe for coffee and a chat. But ... not before making an image or two.
 

 

DJE