Photo of the Week 2025-09-15

Cameras go with me most places, and yes even on a golf trip to New Brunswick. An earlier trip offered more fall colour and I took time for more photography, visiting Grand Falls, and checking out other locations. This trip, nursing a back issue that had the potential to have me on the sidelines watching my golf buddies, I focused on a rehab regimen and shot very few images ...

 

' NB Camp Morning '

 ... and most of those were around the 'camp' (cottage to us back in Ontario) while I was shuffling about early in the mornings trying to get loose . One morning, after coffee I went for a stroll outside and noticed the sun streaming through an opening in the trees to warm the trunk of a tree. There was steam coming off the tree so I grabbed a camera and worked a composition to capture the scene.

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2023-07-24

 

I first discovered and photographed Bedford Mill in the cold during a blizzard this past winter. The resulting images were successful enough to form a small set of which my favourites were printed and framed for display in the entrance walls of our home. Since that first encounter, I've had it in mind to return during different conditions, for another opportunity to create images of the mill with a different atmosphere. An opportunity came in July and there will be more, perhaps in the spring and fall ...

 

' July at Bedford Mill '

Returning to the spot where you created some of your own favourite images can be a daunting. On one hand there is the knowledge the subject matter has the potential for some solid images. On the other hand, there may be expectations that you equal or better your initial results, either your own or that of those who will ultimately see the work. In this instance, knowing there was the potential for some good images was the encouragement to pay the spot another visit.

The location is 4 hours from home and if not a final destination specifically for photography, is somewhere I have opportunity to pass through when en route to visit family not far away. When stopping by on the way to or from a family visit, time of day can be dictated by travel logistics than photographic concerns, but as luck would have it, my first set of images were made during a blizzard that arrived just in time for the drive home. It was photographic serendipity however, as it made for very interesting conditions and atmosphere. This latest stop was made while making good time on the drive. With 30 minutes or more to spare, I altered my route to pass by the mill, but it would be late morning and I expected much less favourable conditions for photography.

As it turned out, the sunny summer morning was tamed with some exposure blending of captures in post to deal with shadows and highlights. Though not as satisfying as my first results, this latest outing provided some decent results with the additional ones making the grade to be shared on my social media pages following this first from the set.

Enjoy ...

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2022-03-21

With spring on the doorstep and a decreasing number of days for snowshoe hikes out on the ice before it gives way to open water, I took advantage of a sunny afternoon ... and of course I took a camera.

 

' ice breaker '

There was much to enjoy as I trekked along the snow and ice covered shoreline. Smaller areas  of open water were beginning to appear in locations where the currents work their way around shoals and exposed rock. Sunlight sparkled off the wind blown ripples of these surfaces. There were interesting patterns and shapes sculpted in the surface the snow by winds off Lake Huron. There were huge mounds out at the edges if the shelf ice further from shore where I dared not tread.

The crunch of my snowshoes on exposed ice became a muted "crump, crump, crump" when I transitioned onto patches of powdered snow. Otherwise the only sounds were from my own heartbeat and breathing. For a while, I sat on an exposed rock and just took it all in.

 

Knowing that this may be the final opportunity for such a trek this winter, I made my way around into China Cove but not before stopping where waves had crashed up driven by the north-west wind as winter strengthened it's grip months before. Now with snow cover gone, melting in the warmth of a bright sunny day, one spot reminded me of a breaking wave frozen in time. 

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2020-10-26

 

There are certain subjects or scenes that repeatedly catch my eye, some I have photographed multiple times, some successfully, others not. 

 

This tree at Wilson Flats has been catching my eye since I first visited quite a few years ago. I've never been able to capture it in a way that I like ... until it stood in it's brilliant fall colour, under the sun on a day of broken clouds ...

 

that tree

 

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2020-06-01

Walking in Wellington

Wellington fields

It had been since before the start of the COVID pandemic that I had spent some time with my oldest son Matt. At his suggestion, Lynn and I met he and Claire in Wellington, ON, approximately half-way between Guelph and Ottawa, for a socially distanced walk on their Millennium Trail followed by a nice picnic.

We hiked the trail along a former rail line heading east from the centre of town, stopping here and there for one of us to make a photo or to spot some of the numerous birds and sights. I decided to break out the infrared camera which had the Kolari IR Chrome filter attached. The bright sunshine, blue sky and fluffy white clouds would make for some surreal images. Almost 2 hours later, we turned around and headed back to the vehicles and the delicious foods we had brought for our picnic.

We found a spot in a nearby municipal park, laid out a couple of blankets, enjoyed chatting and the company until temperatures dropped and the breeze got up. Rain was approaching and it signalled a good time to pack up to say our goodbyes with our distanced hugs and farewells.

Millennium Trail

caterpillars on a stick

farm under blue skies

Walking in Wellington

A Wellington Barn

laneway to barn

DJE

Photo of the Week 2020-03-16

It's the middle of March and I find myself in a time lacking photographic inspiration from the outside world. Gone are the wondrous scenes blanketed in freshly laid layers of snow, the invigorating outings in cold, crisp air. I am resigned to sit patiently and wait for the arrival of spring with it's fresh green new growth, the bright colours of wildflowers and returning birdsong. 

I will still venture out, camera in hand, but these next few weeks are likely to be filled with reflection and anticipation rather than collection of fresh, new images. Knowing this would be the case, I've been flagging photos as possible blog post candidates and will begin this week with one (or two) that I "saved" from an outing just a few weeks ago.

On an outing to capture the frosted fresco provided by Mother Nature along the Wilson Flats, I concluded by driving along the road that follows the Grand River valley west of Elora. On the search for a vantage point to photograph the frosted river valley a roadside frost rimmed tree caught my eye and ...

Sunshine Valley Rimmed in Frost

... it made the perfect foreground for a shot out over the landscape into the morning sun. For the main image, I chose to close down the aperture to f/22 to get the sunburst effect. Other images were made without the sunburst but I prefer this one.

As I frequently do, I made compositions of the scene in both 'landscape' and 'portrait' orientation, both of which worked in this case.

Sunshine Valley Rimmed in Frost II

DJE

Photo of the Week 2017-07-17

Morning Sun at Dunks Point

It was a great hike with Lynn, Tracy, Murphy and Indy ... although the rain started to fall as we arrived at the parking area, we all were prepared with WP jackets and headed out towards Mermaid Cove. The connector trail to the Burnt Point Loop is a great point to access this trail and quickly get to the beautiful views from Burnt Point & Dunks Point.

With the sun hidden behind heavy cloud, the views from the first two lookout areas were washed out and lacking atmosphere. Had it been pouring rain, there may have been some mood to capture, but as it was, we just continued along the trail with the dogs.

Arriving at the third lookout spot, Dunks Point, the sun was breaking through the clouds and I was able to capture it spilling over the shoreline with heavier skies in the background.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2015-11-02

Sunday morning after Halloween, I decided to get out for a hike along some local trails at the Ignatius Centre, north of Guelph. When I started out, there was a blustery wind pushing the unsettled skies overhead. Now and then a break in the cloud would come and the sun would stream through. Quickly it's warmth would rush over the ground before heading off in the distance. Over and over the sky darkened and I thought I would certainly get caught in a downpour, particularly when I was in the fields far away from where I parked. Each time the wind hurried the heavy dark cloud away.

As I rounded a corner at the edge of a field, along the treeline, the sun burst through to set off the golden glow of several small tamarack at the bottom of a slope. I quickly grabbed a couple of images and then the sunlight was gone.

golden tamarack

For this image I used some different software that I'd been experimenting with (ON1 Photo10 and a plug-in called Smart Photo Editor) to process the RAW file giving the dramatic result above. Fitting around Halloween I think ...

DJE