Photo of the Week 2026-06-29

 

' St. Lawrence Sunrise - L'Islet-sur-Mer '

On the way home from PEI, we stopped overnight in L'Islet-sur-Mer, a quaint Quebec village on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River not far from Quebec City.

Of course I had my phone with me for some photos while I was out on the course, but I also took a "proper" camera to take advantage of any special opportunities that arose. Up early on our day of departure, I grabbed the camera took a walk down to the wharf on the St. Lawrence River ...

 

I stepped off the break-wall to walk along the cocky shoreline. Moving east, just past the concrete wharf face, I saw a lone tree perched higher up on the riverbank and framed a shot with it back-lit by the warm clouded morning sky.

 

DJE 

Photo of the Weeek 2025-12-08

 

I guess my 'disappointment' with weather upon arriving at Coldwater Cove was unfounded because I managed to come away with some decent captures. Perhaps because conditions were not what I had envisioned, I had to put more effort into finding and making images there that day. In doing so, I realized that I had to switch off auto, me not the camera, and open up to what the location was offering.

 

Since last weeks post, I've managed to publish another 8 images from Coldwater to my social media steams and in addition there is this trio ... 

 

' Turtle Rock III '

' Turtle Rock II '

 

' Turtle Rock I '

... from some time I spend shooting an interesting rock formation that I've named 'Turtle Rock' owing to it's resemblance of a turtle's back as it submerges below the water surface.

 

I'm sure not everyone will agree with me but hey, beauty is in the eye of the ... in this case photographer.
 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2025-12-01

 

December already ... and I still have more from my Algoma-Superior trip in October to share.

 

' Algoma Reflections 

My much anticipated return to Coldfwater Cove was overshadowed by dreary conditions the morning we made our stop. I had to work hard to keep my disappointment in check as I worked with what light we were given. What I did manage to find were some interesting puddles in the rocky shore that were stained red and offered an interesting reflection of the adjacent treeline.

 

Note: For the visually curious, this image is flipped 180* from the orientation in which it was captured to present the trees in a familiar orientation. Something I often do with my reflection captures is flip them during post processing to see what results. It doesn't always work but here, I liked the flipped version better. 

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2024-01-08

A couple of months ago I decided to visit Halfway Log Dump in Bruce Peninsula National Park. The road in is not maintained during winter and is closed from early winter to late spring. I thought I would take the opportunity to go before the road was closed.

The shoreline along Georgian Bay at this location has provided many photo opportunities since my first visit over a decade ago. This time I would continue recent work on ultra-wide angle compositions, this time with my RF 14-35mm.

Though ultra-wide angle focal lengths can be used for stunning compositions, it requires practice to become proficient in their use, as I am experiencing while I work with focal lengths of 11mm and in this case as wide as 14mm. I made a number of successful images during this outing and in some cases worked a particular subject or view in various ways as I gain more comfort shooting this wide.

 

At one location, an old weathered cedar on a rock ledge caught my eye. My first instincts for a framing had me too far away, surprisingly so and I moved to the edge of a crevice using the lens zoom a bit to frame a shot (version A below).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not satisfied, I moved back a step, zoomed back out to 14mm and included a spruce standing above the background treeline as another point of reference. When I reviewed the images on the computer, this ended up being my favourite version.

' old cedar on ledge '

Before finishing with this scene, I moved even closer to the point where I had to remove and set my back pack and tripod down to step off the main cliff onto a ledge in the crevice. Even then I braced my foot on the other side of the crevice to lean slightly more towards the cedar (version B below). Upon review, this wasn't what I was looking for either.

 

' old cedar on ledge -B '

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm enjoying the challenge of working ultra-wide and have made some satisfying images but that first stand out image is yet to be made.

 

Oh yes ... as things turned out and real winter weather yet to arrive, Emmett Lake Rd. was still open when I passed by most recently. Perhaps I will change another visit.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2023-11-27

 

During last month's Superior Wild and Scenic Photo Retreat we visited several locations on Lake Superior. Most were known to me from previous travels in the area but one in particular was not and oh what a treat it was.

Calm waters were not expected but they did allow for some unique waveless images on the rocky headland at Coldwater Cove. I ended up with quite a collection showing the interesting and accessible rock formations. Sneak previews when I was downloading after they days shoot had me excited for one or two but with well over a dozen it was difficult to know where to start, so I'll just start.

' wave action worn '

I had switched out lenses to the 17-40 wide angle zoom in order to get more in the frame and include more of the interesting formations in the foreground. I also used a polarizer to tame some of the glare and reflection from the strong mid-day sun, both on the rock and the water.

 

This is certainly a location that I plan to get back to for some more shooting.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2023-11-13

 

It had been a while since last away on a photo retreat or workshop and once all the planning, preparing, packing, paying and travel to get there is done, it was time to make best use of shooting time and all available opportunities ...

 

' rock & ripples '

After another shoreline sunrise shoot at the lodge we were on the road and away from our accommodations in the strong sunlight of an uncharacteristically calm and warm late October morning. We had stopped at a little day-use park area and the group was scrambling around some interesting headland rock formations using the time to photograph details and patterns. Uninspired by the harsh lighting and a bit frustrated with the cramped location, I wandered away from the group and explored the sandy beach along the south side of Katherine Cove.

When I came across this rock embedded in the sand at water's edge I liked the simplicity of the scene but my first thought was that the glare off the water would be a problem. I decided to add a polarizing filter to my lens and see if they could be tamed. I turned the filter ring as I  re-positioned and voila! Magically the ripples below the water surface were revealed and the added bonus of darkening the exposure brought out the warm rich tones of the sand.

As often happens when I'm out with a group of photographers, I'm pushed to explore more, to work the location more, to extract more ... and there you go, opportunity not wasted ;-)

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2022-09-26

 

' Afternoon at Halfway Log Dump V '

It's good to have some images in the 'back pocket' for those times when you suddenly remember that you need to prepare a post ahead of time and schedule publication while you will not have full access to your files and the internet. Fortunately I have tagged a number of images "for posting" in just such and event.

 

Almost a year ago, I visited Halfway Log Dump after a considerable absence during COVID lock down and the resulting BPNP closure. While working with the images I made that day, I gave luminosity masks a first try. This image, made late afternoon, had some deep shadow along the forest edge and luminosity masks allowed me to bring more of the actual feel from that day to this rendition.

 

Now that autumn has arrived to 'the Bruce', I really must plan a return visit for some more photography ...

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2022-09-19

I prefer the off-season on 'the Bruce'. It's quieter, peaceful even, with the tourist hordes looking elsewhere for their day-trips. Once September arrives, temperatures are (becoming) more welcoming for my photo outings/hikes, bugs are (mostly) gone too. The further from summer, the more tranquil it gets.

On this last official weekend of summer, Lynn and I encountered two other couples out enjoying the sun and summer warm temperature on our mid-day hike south on the Bruce Trail from Dunks Bay. It was a shortish outing but every step enjoyable with no argument from my ankle sprain that has been bothersome in recent weeks. Sturdy boots, careful treading and moderation are the plan going forward as it continues to heal.

 

' North to Dunks Bay '

Last time we had been on this trail was early spring when I was looking to photograph a Trillium patch I had marked out. Harsh mid-day sun and mostly clear skies made exposure challenging so I decided to bracket and blend later in post. This image above is a Lightroom HDR blending without over doing things (I think). Though not a four-star capture, it makes me smile that I was back out on the escarpment trails with camera again ... bonus points is you can see the face staring back at the viewer in this ;-)

' South along the shore of Georgian Bay '

We met a young couple with their pup who enjoyed the accessible natural pool along the shore at this lovely spot.

 

A busy schedule in the coming weeks has me working hard to find some time I can allocate to more outings like this along the Georgian Bay and Huron shorelines.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2018-03-05

A recent client inquiry had me looking back through the image catalogue, an experience that I always enjoy, and one, as I've written before, that stirs memories and often results in (re)discovering some hidden gems. This time the quest took me to shots from the La Cloche area I had visited on a business trip to Manitoulin back in 2010.

La Cloche Reflections

It had likely been 40 years since my last visit to Manitoulin, then as a young hockey player travelling for a tournament. In 2010 the focus was on work with some personal time set aside to explore and photograph in the area of Willisville.

The few years of involvement with sites in Northern Ontario exposed me to the beautiful scenery that so many had already known, written about, painted and yes, photographed. Few opportunities to return have presented since ... and now as retirement approaches, I'm already thinking about how soon I can hit the road with a full complement of photo gear and time ... 

'the Road'

DJE

Photo of the Week 2017-12-04

Quietly they sit unnoticed. Tucked away among many of their kind. They wait for their moment, for their turn to be liberated.

above and below

I'm speaking of those 'gems in the rough', those image captures that reside in your storage media. They've played their part and been backed up, racked up and stacked up, all in the name of archiving.

Then one day they catch your eye. Something has changed. Not with them, but with you, the photographer. Perhaps just the right amount of time has passed for them to suitably marinate in your subconscious. Perhaps you have been stirred by some recent work from another, words of an instructor-mentor, obtaining new skills in the craft or some other experience on the current leg of your Photographic Journey.

Once noticed, they command your creative attention and you work with them, on them, and when all is done ... sometimes they see the light of day.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2017-07-10

While on vacation last week, we decided to take a sunset cruise. It's closing in in four years since we bought the cottage and there are a few "tourist things" we have yet to do. This cruise was one of them.

We had decided to tack on an extra night, Monday, after the long weekend and that night provided a clear sky, and calm if a little chilly, conditions for the cruise. It was cool to see the shoreline between Tobermory and Cave Point from the water having experienced most of it on land while hiking sections of the Bruce Trail.

cave o' wonder

Though the scenery was gorgeous, it proved difficult to capture images that convey the beauty and scale of the escarpment shoreline. From all the images I made, I selected this from just south of Indian Head Cove and cropped to remove what sky was in the original frame to give a sense of what I felt as we passed along the shore.

I continue to try new post processing software to replace the NIK Collection that Google has abandoned . For this image I performed basic adjustments in LR, Topaz Suite and reverted back to NIK Color Efex for the vignette/border that I have yet to find a alternate app for.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2016-11-28

I've been wanting to hike to Overhanging Point for some time and finally made the trek this weekend with Jordan and Lynn. We took the Marr Lake Trail to Georgian Bay for something different and what a pretty little trail it is. Our 'little' hike provided some unexpected wonder when we decided to take a route along the shore rather than the Bruce Trail that climbs up the escarpment to Overhanging Point. We scrambled through a couple of cave openings and around several large fallen limestone boulders to find wondrous views and formations.
 

wondrous view

Jordan was our leader and thanks to him pushing (pulling actually) Lynn and I along, we were able to pass under the overhang and scramble up the escarpment to connect with the Bruce Trail and take it back. Along the way we were treated to nature's fresh, moist smells, forest floors cushioned with cedar duff, natural limestone steps along with the gorgeous lookouts.

I'm glad I took my phone with me as I had forgotten the backup battery to the camera I was using and .... yes, the battery died, just as we arrived at the most picturesque spot. The image above ws made with my iPhone and pushed hard in Adobe Lightroom.



DJE

Photo of the Week 2016-10-17

Recently, I was again reminded of how easy it is to get lazy with photography and let yourself rush through an outing, either because you are with someone who is not also photographing, or if you are being distracted by something else. If you let yourself get lazy and resort to just clicking and rushing onto the next thing, the resulting images can be good but  ... they could be better if you spend time working a location to find a compelling subject, capture that certain angle of view or wait for the light to be just right.

Such was the case while out for a short hike a few days ago with Lynn and Murphy. Both  these companions are normally very patient with me when I bring a camera along (... and I always bring a camera). After trekking out to Mermaid Cove, a picturesque little spot just outside the village of Tobermory, I had rather quickly grabbed a number of images showing the view out over the water. Being photographically lazy, I might have then said "let's go" so as not to press the patience of my companions. Instead I sat down to take in the scenery and peaceful sounds of wind and lapping water.

Lynn joined me on the bench and after a while, pointed me to a section shoreline commenting how she liked the moss and the natural path created by the rock ledge. The same area had caught my attention so I got up and spent some time working this little area along the shoreline. The sun was to the south, behind the trees, bathing this area in shade and a soft cool light that made the greens and yellows fresh and vibrant. 

I selected this composition from the the dozen or so I had made, as the best of the set.

yellow, green and rock XI

  DJE

Photo of the Week 2016-07-18

“Life consists with wildness. The most alive is the wildest. Not yet subdued to man, its presence refreshes him.” 
- Henry David Thoreau, Walking

sanctum natura

... too long without a walk in the woods and an uneasiness sets in. For me, the remedy is simple ... fresh morning air, a trail, the sights, sounds and smells of the forest.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2016-02-29

On a blustery winter morning, with unseasonably warm temperatures melting what little snow was left, a visit to a favourite location, was in order. Cold damp winds off Georgian Bay buffeted us as we reached the shore and emerged from the protection of the trees. It wasn't long before I was tugging at my coat's zipper, pulling it all the way up to keep the chills away.

When photographing at familiar locations, the challenge can be coming up with something different. This was certainly the case during this outing. Skies were grey, overcast and mostly uninteresting. There were no interesting shore ices formations to speak of and I walked about, trying to find something of interest. After a while, I found myself standing, mesmerized, watching the waves break over a large rock at the edge of the water.

'waves at shore'
Little Cove 2016-02-21

I decided to set up the tripod and attempt to capture the 'feel' of the breaking waves by not freezing the movement with a fast shutter speed, but rather allowing a bit of blur to convey a sense of motion. An ND filter would have come in handy if only I hadn't left it in my large kit bag back at the cottage.

Exposure info for those interested.
0.5 s, f/22, ISO 100 @ 26 mm

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 2015-08-03

"Shore Songs" 

- a series of images depicting rock and water scenes that sing of northern beauty -

This series of images became a personal favourite instantly as I began making them one fall evening back in 2012. My satisfaction with the entire set (now 14 images) has not waned, actually, I like the set more and more as time goes on.

A print of one image sold a few years back to a local client for display in her home. I personally delivered the finished framed print and will never forget how please she was to see it hung. I love to create my images and prints but it is a special feeling to have someone appreciate them enough to purchase and display them for their own enjoyment. I cannot express how grateful I am to those who appreciate my work enough to have acquired a print for themselves. The creative fire burns and it burns a little longer and a little hotter when stoked.

Prints of images in the series can be seen and are available in the "Shore Songs" gallery on my Fine Art America page or as Signed, Artisan Crafted Giclée Archival Prints by contacting me directly.

DJE