Photo of the Wek 2026-02-02

  

' Singing Horizon I '

' Singing Horizon IV '

Digging into the archive this week for a couple of images made at Singing Sands, BPNP, Northern Bruce Peninsula, back in February 2020 ...

 

I've been reviewing the image catalogue lately, particularly shots that I've processed and marked ready for posting. Some go back over a decade and it's interesting to revisit these waypoints from my journey. Images selected for this week suggest what I might find when I get to the cottage in a few days. Ice stretched far out from shore over the shallow water of Dorcas Bay at Singing Sands, the textures, patters and tones mirroring those in the sky.

 

While locating the image files and seeing the collection of shots I made that day, I encountered of some personal favourites that are now printed, framed and displayed on walls at the cottage. Actually, some of my all-time favourite work. 

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2021-11-01

Welcome to November ...

 

It was last month when I ventured into Bruce Peninsula National Park for the first time in 2021. It had been a couple of (long) years... with "stay home" orders, park closure and overcrowding, my visits to BPNP had been nonexistent. I decided it was time to see if the area still had a place in my heart and the ability to stir the creative spirit ...

 

It started with an afternoon visit to Halfway Log Dump. Short though it was, the location definitely speaks to me and I managed to capture a set of images showcasing the spectacular shoreline and waters along this section of the Bruce Peninsula.

 

Later in the month, I made a point to visit Singing Sands one afternoon to enjoy the spectacular skies over calm waters and the sandy shoreline. The outing produced a set of 12 images that I've begun adding to an album titled mid-day medley. The series is the result of an exercise in altering position, POV, placement of horizon, foreground interest an portrait vs landscape aspect ratio that showcase the sand, shore and sky in concert.

 

I've chosen one from the middle of the series as this week's POTW.

 

mid-fay medley - VI

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2020-02-24

"It looks like a painting" - Compliment or not ?

Windswept Winter I

The comment "It looks like a painting" is one I see made on photographs from time to time. In fact one of my recent photos, the one featured above in this post, received it a number of times. As the photographer, I'm not sure whether to be flattered or a little offended.

Presumably the viewers making the comment intend it to be a compliment, but let's briefly question their choice to use a painting as the comparator. Is it that they are recognizing the artistic talent required to create a painting and are making the comparison with that in mind? Are they judging that the photograph is over processed and crossed the line losing connection to the original capture. Do they see painting as a "higher" form of art than photography and mean to suggest that the photograph is approaching that level? Do they really like it and not know what else to say? All are possibilities.

Then there is the debate around whether photography is truly an art form, one which I think you can guess which side I'm on. It's a debate that goes back to the very invention of photography. While there has been greater and greater acceptance of photography as an art form over the years, there are still those who say nay. And here in lies the 'niggle' with me. The comment "it looks like a painting" almost comes across as saying "it's nearly there" or "not quite" or "good try but it will never be an actual painting".

You might want to check out this link to an interesting bit on Photos That Look Like Paintings.

Here is a collage of several images I made on the outing that produced the one above. Quite a productive outing I might add. It's a bit unusual for me to get several 'keepers' from a single outing or more precisely a single spot during an outing. They've all been posted to my social media streams over the past few days and yes, more than one received the comment "it looks like a paining".

As to me being "a little offended" at the comment, I'm not really ... well, maybe just a little.

Edit: Here is another link that may readers may find interesting "The Bastard Art".

DJE

Photo of the Week 2019-08-05

In creating the series 'HORIZONS' I cannot help but explore a connection, an attraction, almost an addiction, that I have with including water in many of my images.

Drawn to water and calmed by my proximity to it, I have been wondering what it is about water that instills a sense of awe ...

singing horizon

... apparently it's my "Blue Mind'. 

And here is "The science behind our connection to water" according to Dr. Wallace J. Nichols. An interesting quick read that has assured me I'm not alone and has me thinking that I should pick up his book 'Blue Mind' and give it a read too ... maybe while I'm on the deck at the cottage ?

DJE

Photo of the Week 2018-11-12

Last in a series of 'Fall Tamarack' images from Singing Sands, BPNP that I've been releasing on social media over the week. I saved this for the finale as I think it's the best of the bunch ...

'Fall Tamarack VIII'

Go back through the D J England Photography Facebook page, to see the previous images and let me know what you think.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2018-09-24

Adding a human element in a photo can provide a point of reference, a connection that helps convey mood and emotion. The lone figure in the image below was intentionally included for just these purposes.

'watching sunset'

Even an image comprised of 15 separate captures, merged in Lightroom to create a sweeping panorama of the view from Singing Sands as sun sets out over Lake Huron can benefit from the inclusion of a lone, unidentifiable, solitary figure, sitting contemplating the wondrous view.

I waited until the person, who had been walking along the shore, sat back down on the picnic bench at water's edge so they would be in the same position over multiple frames before staring the capture sequence. Small as they are, when the viewer notices them, the image takes on new meaning.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2014-01-20

I've been going through my library of images making final selections and printing those that I will soon be putting on display at the Upper Deck Mercantile Gallery in Tobermory. I have arranged for a modest section of wall space at the gallery located on Highway 6 as you arrive in town. Selection of images has been difficult and I'm not sure that I have made all of the final decisions but I'm close.

During the process, I knew I would come across images that I overlooked before but now caught my eye. Here's an example from one evening at Singing Sands a couple of years ago.

evening triad

DJE