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 2025-11-10

 

Waiting for sunset, I worked compositions of the shoreline and rock outcrops at water's edge, Stone Beach, Lake Superior, Algoma District, ON

 

' formations '

It often happens after arriving at a location for a planned photo opportunity, there is time available to explore further. Whether waiting for others in the group, for a planned shot to develop, or quickly getting the planned shot, I try to make best use this extra time and opportunity.

The image above was captured during this "extra time", waiting for the sun to set across the vast Superior horizon. 

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2025-08-04

 

I may have dipped back into film photography but I have no plans to abandon digital. They are both part of the process and journey as I continue to explore photographic horizons.  

 

' wildflowers at sunset '

 

' shoreline at sunset '

In summer, the sun sets north of the bay mouth and can't be seen directly from the cottage shoreline. Still, the colours still echo to the south, bringing the scene to life.

 

As I worked on these images a familiarity stirred. Not just of the of the location but of a moment almost a dozen years ago, with a very similar sky, when it was very new to me and a new chapter began ...

 

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2024-09-02

 

The need for an image to post weekly on the blog motivates me to pick up the camera even when life seems busy and full with other things as it is now. With bright sun and wind on Hay Bay, I tried some in-camera double exposure ICM images using the darks blend mode.

 

' rough shore '

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2024-04-29

 

Hello darkness my old friend ... 

' enveloping '

Sunset with the ice gone and the water calm ... 

 

The sunlight reflecting off cottage windows on the far side of the bay drew me out from a comfortable chair after a long day of work on the shed rebuild project.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2024-01-15

At the cottage, it's almost always worth a trip down to the shore around sunset time, even if there isn't a sunset to be seen ...

 

' Evening Mood 2023-12-07 '

... and I still need the exercise developing my eye when using an ultra-wide (in this case 11mm) angle lens.

Recently, working with my 11mm Irix and 14-35mm Canon (at 14mm) has energized my creativity. I'm quite enjoying the process of seeing this wide, of seeking to find conditions, subjects, scenes, compositions that work for these focal lengths.

 

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 2023-05-15

 

' (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 2021-02-15

 

Two different takes on what has become a favourite scene of mine over the past several years  ... 

 

Line and Curve

Curve and Line

... sunset from our shoreline on Hay Bay, Tobermory.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2020-05-25

Moving away from images out of the archive, here are some morning shore scenes captured while sitting on our neighbours dock as the day awakened and sun rose ...

morning shore I

morning shore II

 

morning shore III

We had unbelievably good weather several days in a row for our first real warm weather stay at the cottage for 2020. It's not the first time we were up, but the previous visits were just to check and make sure everything was safe and secure.

Our neighbours are not currently up due to travel restrictions and they have always told us to use their dock so I thought it would be the perfect time. Armed with a couple of cameras, a folding camp chair and hot coffee, I took in the waking of the day on more than a single occasion.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2019-07-08

Sometimes you just need to pick up the camera and go for a walk ...

almost there

 ... with a destination and image in mind.

This time of year I knew the sun was setting farther north, around the point from our place. Lake Huron water levels up about a meter since we got our place in 2013 and we can no longer taken the chairs out past the tree line to sit and watch sunset.

Having given some thought to a location that would provide foreground for the backdrop of a beautiful sunset, I gathered up a camera and mounted the lens I'd need for my intended composition. Then I checked the time against the weather app on my phone that gives a precise expectation for the hour & minute of sunset. I grabbed some insect repellent to apply along the way and headed out the door.

Fifteen minutes later I was on location, checked a couple of variations for the final composition and 'click' ... or in this case 'click, click, click' and I had what I came for.
 
DJE

Photo of the Week 2016-04-04

... very pleased to have been contacted by Bruce Peninsula National Park / Parks Canada recently, regarding my photography.

After seeing some of my recent winter images of the Grotto and Indian Head Cove, they wanted to know what else I had that might suit their need for a wall display at the visitor centre and an upcoming project that I'll keep quiet until it's launched.

I attended an open house at the visitor centre this past weekend, where staff provided updates on the changes planned for BPNP / FFNP.  And was surprised to find one image they had licensed, already printed and displayed.

The park had a record year for visitors in 2016 and many had to be turned away from Cypress Lake, the Grotto and Indian Head Cove as the location can't take traffic at the level of demand experienced. This was part of the reason for the open house as park staff discussed potential improvements and plans to address the increased popularity while protecting the natural environment.

Along Burnt Point Trail

My image above of Burnt Point, was selected for display to show arriving visitors some of the other scenery accessible along the trail network in the park.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2016-03-28

Back to the outdoor shooting after last week's indoor shoot in Guelph ...

As winter recedes and spring struggles to make it's presence known, the sun moves it trajectory further north with each turn of our wondrous blue-green orb. Spring has only just arrived and the bright, blazing, ball disappears on the very edge of our little bay. Very soon we will not see it dip below the horizon from our cozy shore, then before we know it ... summer will be upon us.

Easter Sunset 2016

DJE