Photo of the Week 2020-07-06

Scanning though the library for files captured with a particular camera, I came across an image that I had marked for processing and never got back to ... that was in 2014 ;-)

Well, this weekend it was time. I recall the outing with a couple of friends where we explored the trails around Spencer Gorge in Dundas. I'm not even sure if the trails are still accessible as I'd heard part of the route was closed after landowners finally got fed up with the nonsense taking place in and around their home. (that is another story entirely and you can read about it here if you like). But when we explored on an October morning back in 2014 it was lovely.

I recall working to find the right composition of a scene with a fence skirting the edge of the trail with large overhanging branches for an old maple tree. It was during a time when I was experimenting with camera modes and setting and I screwed up a number of shots, overexposing by almost 2 stops ... talk about expose to the right. I really liked the scene and one composition I processed for an B&W sketch effect, marked it and others for further processing and that was it ... until now.

With the original capture overexposed,  I got the idea (from my recent buttercup image) to work with it an create a higher key, more ethereal version of the image and eventually worked up a B&W image and finally one corrected for the overexposure (ain't the new processing tools wonderful ;-)

I like 'em all. You decide if you like one better than the others.

Grand Old Maple (as captured)

Grand Old Maple (B&W)

Grand Old Maple (recovered)

DJE

Photo of the Week 2019-05-06

spring trails

Combining three of my favourite things ... family, nature and photography. My son Jordan and I hiked a section of the Bruce Trail from Clappison's Corners to Sydenham Lookout and back.

It started out misty and changed to light rain then cleared up on the way back, this shot was made shortly after we started while there was some sun trying to break thorough the mist. The wet mud slopes below the escarpment were slick but there were no incidents of note, just a great few hours.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2015-04-20

into the light

I've been finding it all too easy to just sit, have coffee and relax in a peaceful setting on those mornings when I'm at the cottage. While this is a welcome change form the usual morning routine of a work day, it doesn't do much to help me get the photographs I want to capture. So I've been trying to find motivation to get out early in the morning for some photography, while the light is still good.

This time of year, sunrise comes around 6:30 am. The weekend was here and after getting out of my weekend morning ritual, it would have been easy to to just say "screw it, there's always next week". Having to catch a flight on Sunday evening for a business trip next week, I had not gone to the cottage and had not committed to a morning photo outing ... until I got up.

It was 5:30 and I could either settle in at the computer or start getting ready to haul my butt out to a location and get back into what has brought me much satisfaction. It was an easy decision, I made some coffee, got dressed, decided on Dundas Valley as a location and packed a waist-pack with some gear.

When I started out from Guelph, the morning was clear and sun had already crested the horizon. My thoughts of catching early morning mist evaporated but I continued on to Dundas. Along the way, traces of mist over farm fields came and went, with one location giving me cause to stop and make this image "daybreak". Back in the vehicle after a the quick stop, I continued on to a parking spot that would provide access to Dundas Valley Conservation Area without having to worry if HRCA had open gates before their stated 8:30 opening time. Obviously they're not photography minded, parking opens at 8:30 - well after sunrise and street parking is not allowed anywhere near the formal entrances to their facilities.

I set out on the trails with the hemlock grove as my destination, still hoping there may be some lingering mist. Along the way, there were many scenes and subjects that greeted my eye, meandering creeks, old apple trees, backlit pines and morning shadows everywhere ... oh how I've missed photography at this time of the morning.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2015-01-12

Five years ago this past weekend, I met up with a small group of photographers and went on a hike to the base of Tews Falls in Dundas, ON. I had known it was possible to hike up the gorge from the point where it meets Hwy 8 in Dundas, but had the opportunity to have someone familiar with the route show me the way.

When we approached the base of the falls, there were intricate ice formations not only from the main falls, but from water seeping out of the rock for a wide area around the head of the gorge. Here I made one of my favourite abstract images.

Ice Formations

 It is difficult to get a sense of scale from the abstract image.

Here is an ultra wide angle view of the falls from near the base. At 41m, it is only slightly less than the height of Niagara Falls.

It was a memorable view, one that I want to experience again, perhaps later this year. But I need to decide if I want to see it frozen again, or in fall with the splendid colours in the gorge.

 DJE

Photo of the week 2014-10-06

It had been a few weeks since I was last out walking the trails with the other "Amigos". The three of us had agreed on the area around Dundas for a photo walk followed by a visit to one of the locations on the studio tour taking place there this past weekend. 

We set out in hope of fall colour and cooperative light and although the colours are not yet quite at their peak in this area, we found enough of interest to photograph. Oddly enough, on this outing the image that I worked hardest to capture was in B&W, made at a section of trail that descends to a bridge over Logies Creek and the Tews Falls lookout. Thick dark branches from several grand old maple trees overhang a rail fence and the trail at this point.

Turning a corner coming off a side trail, the scene came immediately into view, urging for a B&W rendition. I raised one camera and adjusted it for a B&W capture, then fired off a couple of frames. When I reviewed the images, they were severely overexposed yet gave an appealing effect. I checked the settings and found exposure compensation at +2 1/3 stops (walking with two cameras slung over my shoulders, sometimes the settings get been altered as I handle them to protect them or the controls bump and bang into my body). Generally liking the effect, I dialed back to +2 and continued to shoot the scene, eventually moving down the trail a bit to shoot backup and under the dark branches.

serendipity

The title of the image will serve to remind how it was it came about.
 
DJE