Photo of the Week 2026-07-13

 

Down with a summer 'crud' cold, photographic activities have been limited this past week. Catalogue organization and processing some images from the archive along with listening to some online programming has been the limit for me. I did dig out a vintage (nearly 20 year old) digicam after being inspired by some discussion in a podcast I listened to. There seems to be a fledgling resurgence of their popularity and I have 2 in particular that I want to get out and shoot with out of curiosity of what I may be able to create with them. More on that in coming weeks.

 

For now, here's an image from almost 10 years ago that again caught my eye while digging through the library ...

 

' mimicry '

So often, I find the sky mimicking the land and waters below ... 

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2025-12-22

 

With some time before sunset at another location, we drove to the marina area and on the way back found a high vantage point looking out over a winding section of the Michipicoten River. The location afforded a view of Mission Falls  but the sun had fallen too low and the falls were shrouded in shade by the time we arrived. Fortunately, there was more ...

 

' Fall Evening on the Michipicoten '

Light from the evening sun was kissing the trees along the banks of the Michipicoten making the golden tamarack glow. Shooting with a telephoto through the slight haze that had moved in softened the distant trees enhancing the mood of the scene.

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2023-12-18

 

Something a little different for me, a black & white landscape image. What prompted this? Read on ...

 

' colourless beach '

One of my companions for the October Superior Photography retreat shoots almost exclusively in black & white. Leading up to the retreat, during discussions with Hersh, I commented that I would be interested to see his B&W interpretations of subjects I would undoubtedly be presenting in vibrant colour.

During my review and selection of image candidates for processing, I recalled the discussions with Hersh and selected one to process in black & white to see what I could create.

 

DJE

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 2015-08-17

"... activities focused on repetition tend to increase our awareness of variation. I have also found that repetitive expressions tend to liberate me from the self-imposed pressure to be 'creative' and 'innovative'. As I stick to the task of repetition I discover how the creative process varies itself."

                                                                                            Trust The Process - Shaun McNiff

In creating or selecting an image for this blog each week, I have been faced with the recurring dilemma of creating something new, selecting something different vs. using something similar to a prior post. Allowing repetition, if not focusing on repetition in my creative efforts may help me overcome the mental block imposed by my desire to always "find something new".

Thus far, I have always found more inspiration in the freshness of places and subjects new or unfamiliar as evidenced by my efforts to seek out a new trail or new location to explore. The task of always finding something new is daunting and can dampen the creative spirit.

Readings on the creative process, and particularly quotes like the one opening this blog post, help me to assess my own creative journey and understand how seeking out the new and unfamiliar, revisiting the same subject and experimenting with different media and techniques all play a role in creative development.

For me this week's image is not simply another image of sunset along the shore. It was born of an effort to explore the familiar, to be open to what I may be given, to accept it and just create.

taming waters

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

Photo of the Week 2013-09-30

On a recent trip to Italy in celebration of our 30th Anniversary, I made many, many images as we toured the sights of Rome, Florence, Venice and places between. Some have already been posted to my flickr photostream and there will be more to come over the next days and weeks as I work through cataloguing and processing the hundreds of files.

For this week's photo I've picked one from the actual day of our anniversary, when due to a fortuitous change in schedule, we were treated to dinner with our travel group at a Tuscan villa and working olive farm, Fattoria di Daimano. I had previously planned to find a nice quiet restaurant for an intimate dinner with Lynn but this just worked out so well after a full day of sightseeing that we are both referring to it as the best day from the trip.

Following a coach ride from our hotel we were drooped off and greeted at the entrance to the Fattoria, then led through a wonderful old building so full of history (do click on the link above and read about it's fascinating background). We passed through a wonderful courtyard, of which I took note, and into a dining room with widows opening out to views of the surrounding Tuscan countryside that were simply breathtaking. See for yourself.

A Tuscan View

It was truly a million dollar view and in order to capture the true feeling, I needed to resort to HDR digital processing techniques that combine images to show the full dynamic range of the scene. Other photographers that read this blog will likely know the technique and the non-photographers likely won't care. Either way, everyone should trust that the view from the dining room was even more stunning than represented in this image.

Our hosts introduced us to the olive oil making process and how to prepare Bruschetta, Tuscan Style. Our meal of "simple Tuscan food" was absolutely delicious and enjoyed with wine made by the proprietors. Following the dinner, with filled wine glasses, we left the group behind and retired to a bench in the courtyard for some time to reflect on the past 30 years. 

It was certainly an anniversary to remember.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2013-07-01

HAPPY CANADA DAY !

Almost every day on my way to or from work, I pass empty fields where industrial buildings will soon stand. Not so long ago these open areas were just bare earth shaped and sculpted by heavy equipment in preparation for construction. Over time they have become naturally populated with field grass and wildflowers. In the morning they are dew laden and glisten in the rising sun. In the evening, it is the setting sun that provides a warm back light on these same grasses and wildflowers.

Every time I pass by I promise to stop and make some images ... finally, this weekend I made good on that promise and made some time to wander around, capturing some of the details bathed in warm evening light.

DJE