Photo of the Week 2025-07-07

 

I always knew there would be a return to film for me at some point in this photographic journey, it was just a matter of when ...

 

' bricked '

 

 

After attending a vintage camera fair in Etobicoke, went to explore the nearby Humber College Lakeshore Campus. I wanted to walk around the former Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital site to see some of the preserved brick buildings, now repurposed by the College.

 

I had a roll of Ilford XP2 loaded into my Canon A-1, and shot with both an FDn 17mm f/4 and the FDn 24mm f/2 that I used for the image above. I chose the XP2 for quick turn around processing at a local photo store / lab. They also provided scans of the negatives, something that I'm preparing to do myself, along with processing of 'conventional' B&W film. Any colour, and XP2 will still be sent out for development.

 

Here is a shot of "H" Building, originally one of the "cottages" where patients/residents were housed.

 

' "H" Building '

Still early in this leg of my journey, though several weeks and rolls of film since I shot film for the image above, I'm not sure when it will lead. And I'm excited to see where that may be ... 

 

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2025-05-12

 

This photographic journey has taken a turn as of late, a return to be more accurate. It's had me very busy reading, researching, remembering, reacquiring ... more on the "for what" in the weeks to come but for now, it has seen me more with book in hand, out checking resources or (mostly) at the computer rather than out with camera capturing new images. 

 

So again, I found myself without recent images ready for regular posting and dove into the archives. There I found a collection of images made back in 2012 on a foggy spring afternoon when I was experimenting with a then 8 year old 8MP camera. I had picked up a Canon 1D MkIIN to see if I wanted to make the jump to their top tier camera body for the integral grip form factor (I decided not to).

 

The resulting images have been marinating on the hard drive since then and I have no explanation as to why, but you can see a select set in recent social media posts on my FB, Insta and flickr. This week's photo is my favourite of the set.

 

' woodland mistery '

My decision to process and present the bulk of these in B&W is likely a result of my recent activities. Processing is not a simple B&W conversion of a colour file but includes manipulation of the bright and dark tones for a look I find reminiscent of orthochromatic films in the past.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2025-03-10

 

' Moody Skies at Burnt Point '

A Black & White treatment seemed appropriate for the moody skies over Georgian Bay ... well it did given I've been working to keep B&W as an option when shooting and processing.

 

As I work my way through captures from last year, I came across this image that I liked but lacked something in colour. I decided to flip to B&W and process to the moody feel that I had when viewing the scene in person.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2023-12-18

 

Something a little different for me, a black & white landscape image. What prompted this? Read on ...

 

' colourless beach '

One of my companions for the October Superior Photography retreat shoots almost exclusively in black & white. Leading up to the retreat, during discussions with Hersh, I commented that I would be interested to see his B&W interpretations of subjects I would undoubtedly be presenting in vibrant colour.

During my review and selection of image candidates for processing, I recalled the discussions with Hersh and selected one to process in black & white to see what I could create.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2023-09-11

 

' lace in a bottle '

An interesting empty wine bottle and a stem of Queen Anne's Lace backlit through the glass of our cottage door

 

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2023-06-05

 

Have you ever felt like you're being watched ? 

I make time for a little whimsy in my photography now and then, and on a recent outing I captured these faces of our 'friends in the forest'.

 

Some of us see things like this all the time. Others struggle to understand what we try to describe as we point into the sky, the clouds, a rock formation. The experience is known as Pareidolia.

 

Me, I regularly identify faces and figures in the fabric of nature ... and sometimes I stop to photograph them.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2023-04-03

 

A couple of weeks ago, a friend asked if I would meet with him to discuss infrared photography. He had seen some of my work and was curious about the equipment I used and processes involved. He has a piano service business in town and we met at his showroom / workshop.

 

I was treated to a quick tour around before we got started. Now my knowledge of pianos is very limited to say the least, but I was intrigued by the patterns, textures and details I saw. So after we concluded our chat about infrared, I asked if I could come back some time and wander around with my camera(s). He graciously agreed and when we met again several days later, I was prepared to let myself loose... in detail and shallow depth of field mode.

 

' tightly strung '

Using a couple of different lenses, my 70mm f/2.8 macro and 50mm f/1.4, I returned to a style of photography that I have not enjoyed for some time. A handful or more years ago, shallow depth of focus was something I used quite frequently in my images.  

 

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 2021-09-13

 

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 2020-12-21

 

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.

But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.

 

- Robert Frost -

 

The woods are lovely ...

Wanting some time, both with a camera and in the woods, Preservation Park, close to home on a foggy last day of fall was the perfect spot for a morning wander ...

details: Shot on a dual-spectrum (visible & infrared) converted Canon EOS M with  EF-M 18-55 mm, Kolari 550 nm filter, exposure 1/8 s, f/8, ISO 200. B&W conversion in Adobe LR  Classic, additional processing in Adobe PS CC with Topaz and ON1 software.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2020-01-06

Now that winter has arrived, there should be more B&W imagery from me. There usually is when colours are gone and contrast is high with the bright white snow blanketing the ground.

I'd been on the lookout for fog and possible hoar frost in these colder temperatures and not too long ago conditions were right. Lynn had mentioned frost after returning from her morning walk with Murphy and that was enough to get me grabbing camera gear and a travel mug of coffee to head out for a morning drive.

forest frost flower

 
DJE

Photo of the Week 2019-04-22

As a photographer, I find my photogrpaher's eye always on the lookout for possible images. 

While on a recent personal journey to the Netherlands, the main purpose of which was not photography related, my photographer's eye still identified opportunities for an image. Whether passively or actively, the eye is always working ...

De Oversteek (The Crossing)

In Nijmegen, NL, there is a bridge dedicated to the memory of WWII Allied soldiers who crossed the Waal River on September 20,1944. 48 from the US 82nd Airborne gave their lives in this endeavour. The bridge stands as a tribute to their sacrifice and a Sunset March is held every day of the year in their honour.

On a cool(ish) April evening, joined approximately 40 others, of various origins, to march with Coert Langenhuijzen of Team 31 across De Oversteek. For me, quite a moving tribute.

After the solemn salute at the memorial cairn on the north side, I returned in across the bridge in now darkness. My eye caught the shapes and patterns of light and dark and I captured the image above, a reminder of my Sunset March.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2019-03-18

Following up on last week's post, I processed another set of images in the same B&W Fine Art Style. This set, in direct contrast to the previous set showcase straight lines ... have a look.

Up and Away

 

Straight Up

 

Gro Up

This has been a great exercise, one that has made me want to get out and shoot more of this type of work. It's not to say I'll abandon my landscape, scenic and nature images, but widen my vision as in the past.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2019-03-11

"Learning never exhausts the mind."   -   Leonardo da Vinci

Learning never exhausts the mind. Leonardo da Vinci
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/learning

Learning never exhausts the mind. Leonardo da Vinci
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/learning

Following a recent Wayne Fisher presentation on B&W architectural / fine art photography, I was inspired to take some of the ideas and techniques discussed and apply them to my own images. I had some candidates from my image catalogue in mind for this exercise and ...

... I like the results.

Gehry Swoop

The 2013 image above, of the Gehry staircase at AGO, proved a worthy candidate for B&W treatment in the style I had in mind.

Another pair of candidates from the same outing to the AGO also suited the treatment.

Gehry Curves

Gehry Up

I think it's time to fire up the printer ...

DJE

Photo of the Week 2017-04-10

Sitting down by the water, enjoying morning coffee, looking up at the tangle of Tamarack branches with their little cones ...

spring tamarack

 ... bundled up against the stiff breeze off the bay listening to the song of a sparrow come to keep me company on a nearby branch (I'm still working to identify the sparrow). Mornings don't get much better.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2017-02-06

Following on the heels of my mid-week post (rant actually) about a favourite piece of digital image processing software not getting any attention from now parent company Google, I wanted to share some images processed in another software product, OnOne Photo Raw. I've owned OnOne Photo through versions 7, 8, 9, 10 and now RAW and have used it infrequently. As powerful an image editing suite OnOne is, I'd previously defaulted to my go-to software, Nik  plugins because I like them so much.

Given that an update to those favoured plugins seems very unlikely, I've begun to familiarize myself with some other choices like Topaz and OnOne in case I'm forced to make a switch at some point. Learning new software can be both interesting and frustrating at the same time. 

While working on some recent images in OnOne Photo Raw to create a dim, gritty feel, I was frequently taken down a dead-end path but found new looks and subtleties along the way. These images were shot while on a break from work, in an area of a facility that has been dormant for several years. I had been meaning to do this for a while and now that it's undergoing some work to bring a portion back to life, I though I better get it done while the dim, dormant atmosphere was still there.

slumbering beast

DJE

Photo of the Week 2016-10-31

HAPPY HALLOWEEN !

Halloween Bat

Appropriately, for this time of year, I had an encounter with a bat while on an early evening walk along the cottage road with Murphy. It was still fairly light out and at first I thought it was a small bird, perhaps a chickadee but it's flight was quite erratic. When I got a closer look, I was surprised to find it was a bat. I've only encountered them later in the evening, when the light has almost disappeared, they come out to feed on the flying bugs.

I hurried back to the cottage to drop Murph off, get a camera and telephoto lens, and get back to see if I could get some shots. Well let me tell you, the little guy may not have been that fast but with the flight pattern zigging and zagging all over the place it was one of the most difficult subjects I've yet tried to photograph.

There wasn't much light left for photography, let alone something using a high shutter speed to freeze the motion. I turned up the ISO to 6400 on the 7DII and started trying to track the bat in flight with the 70-300 L I had mounted. While I managed to get a few images nearly in focus, there were far more with a blurry bat or no bat at all. I tried zooming out and getting the bat in frame, locking focus tracking on it, then zooming in as it flew towards me but it was far too erratic. I ended up setting focus to about 3m, setting the zoom to 70mm, ISO 6400, f/4 @ 1/1250 s shutter speed and waiting until the bat came around for another circuit over and around my head. When I thought it was within 3m, I just pointed the lens at it without looking through the viewfinder and sprayed away at 10 frames a second (thank you 7DII) until the buffer was full. I did this several times and managed a couple of images where you could identify the subject as a bat. The lead image is one of the better ones, cropped significantly to approx 20% of the original frame and processed for Halloween. Here is the original ...

DJE

Photo of the Week 2016-10-03

I recently started working with a new client, 'piper & oak' distinctively different home decor and furniture in Paris, ON. They have a selection of my framed fine art prints to compliment their furniture and home decor offerings, one of which has already sold.

I had promised the owner, Sarah, that I would come back and re-shoot an image made just over 5 years ago during a visit to Paris. The original image had captured the back of the main street shops facing the Grand River and as luck would have it, I had excluded the building that is now home to 'piper & oak'. So on a gloomy Oct 1 morning with heavy grey skies and intermittent rain, I returned for another walkabout and to see if I might be able to capture this time.

Shops along the Grand 2016

Somehow a sepia treatment, as with the original image, just seemed to suit a scene that without certain keys to modern time, looks as though it could have been made decades ago.

I wandered some streets and areas along the river making images for a couple of hours, working to stir the creativity. In the end,  I think the best shot from the outing was of the Library facade where I had to stand on the sidewalk right in front of the building to get something without parked cars or people distractions. Looking straight up with an ultra-wide angle gave an interesting composition.

Library, Paris, ON

While out shooting, I was reminded of the enjoyment I get from wandering around town with a camera, picking out details, broad scenes or just simple vignettes from everyday surroundings. Choosing different locations has always kept the interest level up, whether it is different trails, or different towns and cities. On this outing I managed to get in a couple hours of mindful photo wandering despite the rain that did make me cut things a bit short. 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2016-01-18

They live amongst us,

their signs here and there,

actually most everywhere.

'Tis but for us to look,

and lift our gaze,

from life's daily drudge.

Amid brisk blowing snow,

winter's morn reveals,

their every presence here.

They live amongst us.

Nay ... it is we,
who live amongst them.

My morning tromp, particularly up north, provides opportunity to see and experience much. In winter, rather than lower my head and grumble at the snow and cold, I choose to savour the experience. The chill freshens my outlook and I enjoy searching the road and trail sides for signs of activity. Rabbit, squirrel and coyote tracks, I commonly encounter.

When last at the cottage, after a fresh snow, I noticed new tracks from our local wildlife at several locations as took  Murphy for his morning walk. During the days following, with very little more snow fallen, tracks and trails became more numerous and began to paint a picture of the activity around us. I eagerly anticipated each next outing and the changes that would be revealed, until ... another fresh snow, when it would start all over again.

DJE