Photo of the Week 2026-04-27

 

 

' April Showers '

It certainly has been a wet April ... and I met a friend for a walk on the Wild Goose Woods Trail in the UofG Arboretum. Shortly after we started, the rain intensity increased to the point where eventually we were driven back to our vehicles and retired to a local cafe for coffee and a chat. But ... not before making an image or two.
 

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2026-03-30

 

Now I know that Spring has just arrived but I've delayed outdoor adventures for a bit while I convalesce after hernia surgery one week ago. Any recent photography activity has been limited to some shots of Sully around the house or working on the computer with images from previous outings.

 

And that's where today's photo caught my eye. Back in November, I mounted up a couple of vintage lenses on modern digital camera bodies and went for a frosty morning walkabout in the Guelph Arboretum. The sun rose magnificently in clear skies bringing it's warmth in colour as well as temperature. Low in the morning sky, it provided exquisite back-light for the remaining fall colours and foliage.

 

' morning smoke '

From a distance, this Smoketree (I did not take note of the specific variety) with it's feathery 'flowers' gave the impression that it was smoking or steaming which drew me closer. I enjoyed some close-up shooting using the back-lighting to bring an ethereal, abstract feel to the images.

I was using two different camera/lens combinations and cannot recall which lens was used for the image above, likely a 35mm or 50mm variant of the vintage Canon FD lenses I have acquired. Unfortunately key-wording was skipped for files from one setup on import to the computer and being a fully manual vintage lens, there is not electronic communication with the camera to have the info recorded in capture metadata.

Note to self ... don't forget to keyword when importing images, particularly those shot with vintage lenses.

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2019-05-20

afternoon trillium patch

Every spring the trillium of Victoria Woods bloom in a magnificent patch extending on either side of the trail. There are Red Trillium sprinkled amongst the mostly white Provincial flower of Ontario.

This is a favoured location to enjoy and celebrate the true arrival of spring.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2013-05-27

Daylight comes early this time of year and allows me the opportunity to trade the treadmill for an outdoor trail with my camera on some morning walks. Early morning is a calm time, the pace of life is still relaxed, the calm before the storm.

One morning last week, I chose to walk the trails of the Guelph Arboretum in the soft light early morning with an added bonus of a slight mist wafting over the grounds. Wandering along moist forest trails and across open fields of grass laden with dew, I decided to chance the trails of Victoria Woods and the waiting hordes ...

reflection under spring maple

... with just enough deet applied to keep them at bay. I can certainly confirm that mosquito season has arrived in Southern Ontario. Arm yourself with your choice of deet laden repellent or run for cover.

DJE

First Light 2013

For the 5th year, I took part in a photo challenge to capture "First Light" of the new year. "First Light" being at or as close to official sunrise as possible regardless of whether the sun is actually visible. The idea was floated by a good friend not long after we had met through the on line photo community. He had been going solo in past years and invited me along. I'm glad he did.

The first year was a little rough because I had been out celebrating with friends in the neighbourhood and got home late (or early depending on how you look at it). I managed to rise for the occasion and realized that I was in no shape to drive anywhere so I just walked down the street in a blizzard until something representing "First Light" caught my eye. In subsequent years I have planned better and refrained from over celebrating.

This year, we decided to meet on the UofG Campus and see what we could capture.

Johnston Rising to First Light

Another year, another tradition. Capturing First Light at the invitation of a friend. This year, UofG Johnston Hall Clock Tower at Sunrise, 7:54 am. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE !
I wish you all a Happy, Healthy and Safe 2013. 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2012-05-21

battered but bloomin'

When I head out to shoot trilliums in the spring, I always look for an example of the purple variety, trillium erectum. This year, my favourite location for shooting Ontario's provincial flower did not yield many purple specimens in good health. All that were there seemed distressed, I assume it was due to the unusual spring weather we had experienced.

After a while of searching around the UofG Arboretum, bending over and crawling around, I noticed one flower in particular with a dew drop forming on one of the sepals. Shooting with a shallow depth of field, the forest floor in the background blurred very nicely to provide a complimentary setting for this image.

Although distressed and battered, this purple beauty was still bloomin'

Photo of the Week 2012-05-14

trillium trail

The Trillium Trail at the Arboretum, UofG is a favourite morning walk in early May when the trilliums are blooming. One could spend a couple of hours enjoying the morning sun rising to shine on a carpet of white and green. I did, ...

... trying to capture the feel of cool morning air warming to the touch of the sun as the day begins.

It is a quiet, peaceful time  to be out in the spring air. The smells and songs of the forest calmed my senses as I roamed around watching the light and shadows flowing across the scene.

As I often do, I became engrossed in making images. I lost track of time, became completely absorbed in the process and didn't notice the joggers approaching on the trail until they passed by.

I wonder what they thought of the guy lying on his stomach in a patch of trilliums wit a camera?
I did manage to make this image before they came along and startled me.

DJE