Photo of the Week 2026-05-25

 

' waking from winter '

From a walk in the Arboretum to see what was springing back after a long winter ... 

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2025-10-06

 

Mornings in the forest are absolutely magical ...

 

' light to a stump '

' light to a trunk '

... with sunlight penetrating through breaks in the canopy.

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2025-06-23

 

 

' forest forget me nots '

On a recent outing to a rodeo in Feversham, we made a stop to check out the trails along the gorge in Madeleine Graydon Memorial Conservation Area. Just as we were entering the woods, this pretty little scene grabbed my attention.

 

It reminded me of images of the forest bluebells I've seen from UK photographers. Though not as abundant or dominant in the scene, they're Canadian, a bit understated and just as beautiful nestled among the native trees and a lot closer to home.

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2025-05-12

 

This photographic journey has taken a turn as of late, a return to be more accurate. It's had me very busy reading, researching, remembering, reacquiring ... more on the "for what" in the weeks to come but for now, it has seen me more with book in hand, out checking resources or (mostly) at the computer rather than out with camera capturing new images. 

 

So again, I found myself without recent images ready for regular posting and dove into the archives. There I found a collection of images made back in 2012 on a foggy spring afternoon when I was experimenting with a then 8 year old 8MP camera. I had picked up a Canon 1D MkIIN to see if I wanted to make the jump to their top tier camera body for the integral grip form factor (I decided not to).

 

The resulting images have been marinating on the hard drive since then and I have no explanation as to why, but you can see a select set in recent social media posts on my FB, Insta and flickr. This week's photo is my favourite of the set.

 

' woodland mistery '

My decision to process and present the bulk of these in B&W is likely a result of my recent activities. Processing is not a simple B&W conversion of a colour file but includes manipulation of the bright and dark tones for a look I find reminiscent of orthochromatic films in the past.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2025-04-21

 

This week, a set of images from a winter walkabout through the southern section of Preservation Park, to capture some winter woodland character(s) ...

 

' fenzy '

' disarray '

' swoop '

 

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2024-02-05

 

' once upon a clearing '

' a place to meander '

 

On my Boxing Day foggy morning walk, I detoured to check out 'the clearing', a magical spot that caught and has held my interest since my first romp though the woods of the Revolve Farms property.

It's not an area cleared of all trees, but certainly it's character is very different from the adjacent woods.

The ground is soft, a considerable portion of it is covered in reindeer lichen and moss that feels quiet underfoot. Clusters of juniper dot the spaces between trees, suggesting that you meander your way around. 

 

 

 

 

On this day, the clearing was particularly mystical. Fog and barren trees combined with a limited colour palette to create something special that I attempted to capture in camera and bring to these images with some touches in post processing.
 

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2021-04-12

 

On our recent first visit to the farm with Matt & Claire, they led us on a walk around the fields. As we entered the bush and wetland area at the back of the fields, there was a rail fence separating the field from a path into the woods. It just called out to be photographed.

 

Rail Fence

Sometimes it's the simpler things, the regular, the familiar, that make fine subjects to photograph. These log rails amongst the tall dormant field grass presented an interesting leading line into the darkness of the woods beyond.

 

It was a lovely walkabout as we were shown around the property. There were early signs of spring all along the way. I'd like to go back, soon, to capture the wildflowers, gardens and fields of wheat as they emerge.

 

DJE 

Photo of the Week 2020-12-21

 

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.

But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.

 

- Robert Frost -

 

The woods are lovely ...

Wanting some time, both with a camera and in the woods, Preservation Park, close to home on a foggy last day of fall was the perfect spot for a morning wander ...

details: Shot on a dual-spectrum (visible & infrared) converted Canon EOS M with  EF-M 18-55 mm, Kolari 550 nm filter, exposure 1/8 s, f/8, ISO 200. B&W conversion in Adobe LR  Classic, additional processing in Adobe PS CC with Topaz and ON1 software.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2020-09-21

 

obstruction

Always drawn to the darkness within, rough brittle branches make it difficult to penetrate the slender closely spaced trunks in this area of the woods without getting scratched or poked to the point of bleeding. 

 

As if to impede access through this family of small trees, one alone seems to block the way, obstructing access for all but the most determined. Up to now, I've only stopped to peer through into the shadows and photograph ... one day I will forge a path in.

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2019-12-16

fog in the forest is simply magical ...

tangled forest

DJE

Photo of the Week 2018-12-10

"The woods are lovely, dark and deep,.

But I have promises to keep,.

And miles to go before I sleep,.

And miles to go before I sleep."

                           - Robert Frost -

invitingly mysterious

There is a spot along the edge of the forest, an opening that calls to me whenever I walk by. Invitingly mysterious, it spurs me to imagine that which is beyond as the woods close in, darken and deepen.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2018-01-29

Those times you just need to get out and leave the din of everyday life behind, are times for a walk in misty woods ...

misty woods I

... and sometimes it's so peaceful and soothing, you just don't want to go back.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2015-11-23

I decided to explore some different trails outside of Guelph near Starkey Hill recently ... the experience of a new trail can provide just what the doctor ordered when I'm in the  photographic doldrums. This was a bit of that, but more about getting out, immersing myself in the forest.

With the colour of fall now deposited on the forest floor, moist, brown and returning nutrients to begin the cycle again, my eye turned to subject, form and pattern as I walked the unfamiliar route. Though I was close enough to hear nearby traffic from time to time, the periods of forest silence were incredible. They gave me cause to stop and simply take it all in, the wind through the limbs, birdsong overhead, squirrels scampering around ... but there was something else. At one point I had the feeling I was being watched ...

Watcher of the Woods

... and maybe I was. 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2015-03-02

There is something about the forest, winter, summer, any season. There is just something calming, soothing, rejuvenating about being in touch with the forest.

The Japanese have a phrase, shinrin-yoku, that roughly translates to forest bathing.
According to the Wiki article, "It has now become a recognized relaxation and/or stress management activity in Japan."

When we spend time at our cottage on the Bruce Peninsula, Lynn has often said to me "you're different up here". It's more than just getting away from "the city", more than just leaving work behind, more than a change of scenery. I truly feel a change in body and mind, a calm, clear wellness. My "photo buddies" feel it when we go out for our weekend treks in the forest closer to home too. We've commented on the feeling, the need to get away and how it makes us feel more "alive".

For those interested in reading more, there is a longer article here: Your Brain on Nature: Forest Bathing and Reduced Stress.

through winter woods

"It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men’s hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air, that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit." —Robert Louis Stevenson 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2014-07-14

"Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean. " - John Muir

nature's heart

I find the more I "break away" the more I desire to "break away". A weekend on 'the Bruce', a hike on local trails, vacation at the cottage or in this case a morning walk through Fletcher Creek Environmental Preserve, all serve to cleanse my spirit, each in a different way.

This weekend was set aside to take care of some overdue chores around the house so the invitation of a friend to join him on a walk through the trails at Fletcher Creek was welcome and certainly provided the necessary "break away".

I stopped along the way to let scenes like this wash over me, and administer their cleansing. 

DJE