Photo of the Week 2025-11-17

 

Back for a month (already) and I'm just getting through shots from the first day of my 2025 Superior-Wawa photography trip. For this week's photo, I have chosen possibly my favourite and one of the last images from the day, as sun appeared through a gap in the distant clouds on the Lake Superior horizon.

 

' Stone Beach Sunset '

I spent a little over an hour working the right side of this crescent beach after arriving well in advance of official sunset. A first stop, earlier in the day had shown this to have potential with the rocky outcrop reaching out into the lake but it was this pool of water inside the rock that caught my eye with reflections from the sky and a small notch that I could align with the setting sun.

 

I made a number of small adjustments as the sun slid down and right in the sky, working to stay out of frame for my photographer companions, yet still get the alignment I wanted. The "sunburst" from selecting an f/11 aperture is subtle enough not to steal the show and the hint of golden light in the extreme foreground sets the composition off nicely I think.

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2025-09-22

 

One very calm, peaceful, serene early morning on Hay Bay, Lake Huron ...

 

' sublimmetry '

After spending considerable time working the shoreline rock as foreground, I tuned to look across the bay to see this symmetrical reflection of the clouds on sill water. 

 

I'm often compelled to capture a considerable number of images when I encounter a captivating scene. Then later while editing, have difficulty selecting just one ... and another series is born. Such was the case with this shoot one morning along the shoreline at the cottage. You can see them on my flickr stream beginning with this image.

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2023-12-11

 

Not long after last week's post, I completed my processing of a set of images that now comprise the series ' revealed '. The series features the magnificent Superior lake-bed colours and shapes at Coldwater Cove, as seen with the use of a polarizing filter to reduce glare and reflection on the water surface.

 

With these two images, getting close with wide angle zoom allowed me to create interesting abstract interpretations using the natural patterns, shapes and colours in the rock of the Canadian Shield. I was left to imagine rough water and waves crashing along this shoreline because on this day there were but ripples on the water's surface.

 

' revealed IV '

 

' revealed VI '

Calm, sunny conditions such as we had are something not too common for late October on the lake that is Superior. 

 

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2023-12-04

 

I found that my images from our Retreat visit to Coldwater Cove group nicely into 2 sets. The first featured interesting foregrounds using the rock formations and patterns along the shoreline. This week's image introduces the 2nd set which features magnificent lake-bed colours and shapes, seen through the calm, clear Lake Superior water.

 

I've been eager to get to this set of images since reviewing them on the back LCD of my camera almost 2 months ago.

 

 

' revealed VII '

I really owe our Retreat leader, Andrew McLachlan, a big shout out for calling me out to join him on a large rock outcrop in the water. He asked if I was using a polarizing filter and suggested that with the glare removed, there were interesting patterns below the water. Well there certainly were and much more than that, there were magnificent colours.

A considerable amount of time was spent scrambling around on that rock. Making sure to keep my balance, lest I plunge camera and all into the cold water. Many different compositions were created and I came away with two handfuls that I'm prepared to share. This first image is not the first made but the first that had me thinking WOW!

 

More to come ... 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2023-05-15

 

' (Even) In the Quietest Moments '

With the wind down and the bay calm, it was just right to sit, have after dinner coffee and let the serenity envelop us.

 

Taking it all in, I was drawn to the shape of the clouds following the profile of the shoreline trees. For the image,I moved along the shore in search of a composition that would offer a little more than a mirror image reflection. In this case the clear waters provide a hint of what lies below and the exposed rock breaks the reflection of the sky over the calm waters. I placed the horizon mid frame to emphasize the symmetry of the reflection.

 

I regularly make images of sunsets along these shores. The colours are without a doubt awesome and I dare day equal to those anywhere in the world. However the colours are not the only draw when in comes to a Lake Huron Sunset.

Title chosen with a nod to Supertramp, thanks for a great song ...

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2023-05-08

 

' below the surface '

I've been working to improve my sunset photos by including more foreground elements into the compositions. At first, I found it challenging from positions along the cottage shoreline. Last week's photo used a pair of chairs as foreground which worked fairly well, if a little cliche. Subsequently, I published an image using the silhouetted shoreline rock to add some foreground interest.

For this week's POTW, I chose to show the rock just below the surface of the water since it really is a defining characteristic of our shoreline and the waters of Hay Bay. I think it works quite well and intend to try it again when waters are this calm.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2021-05-24

' be calmed '

Sunsets over still waters are always a thing to behold and when the world is busy and buzzing such as it is, they have an amazing becalming effect. I don't think I will ever tire of seeing the sun set across the Lake Huron horizon, at least I hope I never will.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2020-06-08

The view out over Lake Huron has many moods ...

adrift

I enjoy capturing those moods in a manner that excludes shoreline elements that provide scale, location and context. The results abstract the ambience that makes 'Ontario's West Coast' so very special.

See my series "HORIZONS" exploring the myriad of moods, the collection of colours and troop of textures out beyond Ontario's West Coast.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2019-06-03

Bonnet Cove Sunset - IR

Exploring the world in IR false colour ... looking for inspiration.

Photo of the Week 2018-07-16

quiescence

Listen,

silence,

  absolute silence,

  quiescence of thought

 ...

Floating on the calm evening water of Hay Bay, you can wrap yourself in a soft blanket of calm. When conditions are just so, the horizon softens, near blends into far, water mirrors sky and you lose yourself in glorious, sublime quiescence.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2017-05-22

Dipping in to the archive ... from a few weeks ago at Bonnet Cove ...

Bonnet Cove Sunset 2017-04-13

I could sit and watch sunsets like these every day ... 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2016-09-19

There are some photographers that say you should live with an image for a while before making the final decision on it. The thought being that for a period of time right after the image is made, the emotion that caused you to make the image in the first place is still with you and it can be difficult to be fully objective about the result.

Living with an image can mean a number of things but I think that finishing the initial processing and printing it so it can be viewed regularly is the best way to see if how I feel about it changes over time. 

A few weeks ago, I made a series of images at sunset from the water on Hay Bay near the tip of the Bruce Peninsula. One from that set has been processed, printed and set aside to live with. It has been printed in various sizes and scrutinized quite a few times in that period of time and I'm convinced that it's one of the better images I've made. That's my opinion, your mileage may vary ...

afterglow

I'm now considering new options for presenting the image. I'm inclined to use it for launching a 'Signature Series' of select images printed on premium fine art media, signed and embossed, possibly in an edition of limited numbers. Whatever I decide, one will certainly one will hang in my own collection and a second will anchor my gallery display at Upper Deck in Tobermory.

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2016-08-01

I didn't expect anything dramatic from sunset on Saturday evening so instead of heading out in the kayaks for another show, we decided to light a shore side fire and just sit and relax.

Not long after I got the fire started, some colour began to spread across the sky. That was enough for me to grab a camera and work my way as far offshore as I could on foot. Stepping from one exposed rock to the next, I managed to get out as far as our former fire pit (now under water with the lake level up) to get this view.

Hay Bay Sunset 2016-07-30

Now that we're well past summer solstice, the sun is setting further to the south and soon will drop below the horizon in full view from the location I made this image. Not just for the varied evening skies but for the position of the sun, these evening scenes are ever changing ... and I enjoy every one.

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