Photo of the Week 2023-06-26

 

' paintbrush season '

Summer officially arrived a few days ago but I still have a few images of spring wildflowers to share.

 

This "Indian Paintbrush" was isolated, using shallow depth of focus, from a rather large patch of them along the road near our cottage. It seemed an exceptional season for this bright scarlet flower, at least in areas close to our cottage. A large number of plants showed up in places I had not seen many previously and larger "patched" in areas where I had.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2016-06-20

My father always photographed flowers, the flowers in his own garden, the flowers during his travels, wherever he encountered them. So what better to do on Father's Day than pay a visit to a patch of Indian Paintbrush and spend time remembering the man that gave me so much ... including a love for photography.

Spring on the Bruce brings a unique array of wildflowers to brighten the landscape. Most well known are likely the Lady's Slipper Orchids. I've been studying these in books and online resources along with my cameras. A favourite that I look for every spring is the Indian Paintbrush.

I first saw these several years ago when Lynn and I would drive the roads of the peninsula exploring and looking for a property. As we made our way west along one stretch, I noticed a swath of brilliant orange-red in the roadside ditch and immediately stopped. I took out the camera (remember, you always need to have a camera with you, right) and got down on my hands and knees in the ditch, much like I did again this weekend, and made a number of images. Once back home, I researched online to find out what these strange colour topped stalks were and was introduced to the Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja affinis).

morning paintbrush

This patch of paintbrush were along hay Bay Rd. on the way to Simpson Ave. and the cottage. I lost myself in creative pursuit and reflection, alone, down on my hands and knees, along a quiet road, and I swear someone's shadow kept getting in the shot.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2014-06-23

There are some interesting wildflowers on "the Bruce". The "Indian Paintbrush" caught my eye last year and I was on the lookout this spring for their return ...

a collection of brushes

I found this collection of brushes in a large patch along the side of the road leading to the cottage and spend a while trying to capture the feel of the scene.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2013-06-10

While there have been periods where I have struggled and thought I would never make another good image, so far I've been able to work through them. I'm usually able to find inspiration in a location or in a subject from a weekend outing to produce an image for this weekly blog post. If not, there is always my library of images to turn to. Writing for the blog on the other hand is different. I cannot say that the writing comes easy ... ever. Sometimes it's easier, but never really easy ... so this week, lacking something insightful to say, I have just a little on the background to the photograph I've chosen. 

Lynn and I had been planning another day trip to one of my favourite places in Ontario, the Bruce Peninsula. With a forecast that looked promising we left early in the morning and as it turned out, the closer we got to the Bruce, the better the weather became. After stopping briefly in Hope Bay and Barrow Bay on the east, we arrived at Lion's head and decided to stretch our legs. Walking down to the beach, I pointed out the harbour lighthouse and mentioned to Lynn that it was the subject of one of my photos in last year's calendar and suggested that we pick up something to eat at the local grocery for a picnic at the marina facilities where we could look out over Georgian Bay.

As we sat and enjoyed lunch under clear skies, we watched and I made a number of images of some sailboats just off the harbour entrance and along the escarpment bluff. For the one below, I zoomed in with the lens on my 7D to isolate just one boat keeping the clouds and horizon dominant in the frame, creating a feeling of isolation. I softened the skies and water in post processing to create a serene effect

still sailing

Later as we made our way along one of the country roads to the west side, I noticed some wildflowers at the roadside and stopped to make a few images. For these, I used processing to give them a slight painterly effect.

roadside painting

 

Blue-eyed Grass

Enjoy your week.

DJE