Photo of the Week 2015-11-30

This past weekend, and friend and I decided to revisit a local trial and I pre-visualized an image capturing the regimented pines planted along one particular section. I intended to capture the scene with an ultra-wide angle lens (14mm) to accentuate the lines and pattern of the planting, but when we came to this spot, it was the colouring of the forest floor and the solitary rock that caught me eye.

With morning light coming from the side, the rock just seemed to glow among the line of tree trunks and mess of branches. So I abandoned the 5DIII with the 14mm Rokinon attached and pulled out the 7DII with the Sigma 18-300, knelt down under the branches of the closest tree and set up for the shot.

solitary rock

Sometimes I start out with a particular type of image in mind and end up with something completely different, sometimes I have nothing in mind for a n image and just capture what is there. I did get some interesting images with the ultra-wide but this is my favourite from the outing, so I'm glad I had a second camera and lens along.

... here is an image like the one I had previsualized. I like it too.

fallen comrade

DJE

Photo of the Week 2013-12-16

Saturday morning ...
Up before 6 am ...
Coffee on ...
Cameras checked ...
Batteries checked ...
Gear packed ... 
Out I went to meet up with 2 other like minded photographers. We hit the Blue Springs section of the Guelph Radial Trail in -15*C, wind and snow. Why ?

For this ...

Along the trail near Blue Springs

Even though conditions for photography were not ideal, this is what it takes to put myself in the right spot at the right moment in the right conditions. You never know just when it will all come together. It's about maximizing the opportunities.

Hands cold, fingers frozen from working with tripod adjustments in temperatures well below freezing, feet beginning to tingle from standing still too long setting up the shot, exploring slight adjustments to composition, it's about getting the shot. Some of my friends think I'm a bit nuts to enjoy winter photography the way I do.

The truth of it is, it's also about walking and hearing the crunch of fresh cold snow beneath my feet, feeling the windblown snow on my face, hearing the voices and laughter of good friends ... It's all about doing the things I love, living and enjoying life.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2013-03-18

Decisions, decisions ...

... where to go for the weekend photography outing? One of the "regulars" was down with an illness and ideas for places to go were down to a couple of possibilities, one which I had been to but Patrick had not, the other Patrick had been to but I had not. We both were interested in exploring a new location so ...

I left it for him to decide and I was introduced to Section 3 of the Guelph Radial Trail, the portion between 1st and 2nd line, south of Eden Mills, ON. The area of this trail down and around Blue Springs Creek was magical. We didn't cover much distance in the 3 hours we were out shooting, but we covered a lot of ground, not all of it solid.

on thin ice

As the title of this image might suggest, my footing was less than confidence inspiring as I inched out onto the ice along the edge of Blue Springs Creek to get a composition showing the open water in the middle. Recent warmer temperatures had brought some rain in addition to spring thaw. The resulting runoff had flooded the little creek and it had spilled over it's banks into the surrounding forest. As temperatures dropped, a thin layer of ice formed on the surface of the swollen creek and low lying areas along side. Water levels had subsided but there were still pools covered by a thin icy layer masking their location.

I managed to get far enough out on the ice before it gave way and my foot dropped into a shallow pool only a couple of inches deep. Waterproof winter hikers saved me from a cold wet foot. As for my companion and his adventure with the ice, well that's a story best left for him to tell.

DJE