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 2016-02-22

Following up on last week's post, I've continued to work through the series of images I created during my winter trek to Indian Head Cove. I also visited the Bruce Peninsula again this past weekend, but oh how conditions had changed. Temperatures were more spring-like than winter-like and instead of snow, it rained during one morning hike. So, it's back to the image collection from last weekend for this week's image. 

After spending some time photographing the grotto and cove areas with the shallows showing off the iconic Georgian Blue waters, I wanted to have Lynn make a photo of me standing out on the escarpment edge to use as my facebook cover. I got her set up and trekked along the trail a bit before bushwacking through some deeper snow and up the rocks where I posed for the shots (you can see those on my DJEngland Photography facebook page at least for a while). As I turned to leave, I was drawn to see what was around the corner. There's always something just around the corner you know, or at least that's how it can feel sometimes. Not far from where I had been, this was the view ...

cold cliffs II

... so I turned my camera to the cliff faces for a few more shots before we left. I was glad to have worn my snowshoes, or at least to have the crampons digging into the ice on top of the escarpment cliff for secure footing when I made this image looking south-east near halfway rock point.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2016-02-15

Good 'ol Canadian winter finally arrived in Ontario, with temperatures of -27*C showing on the outdoor thermometer at 0-dark-thirty Saturday morning at the cottage. The snow was making that familiar 'crunch' under foot as I took Murphy out for his morning routine, after getting my day started with a couple of mugs of cottage brew ... and then there was the sensation of nasal passages freezing as I inhaled the fresh, clean, crisp morning air .... ahhhh Canadian winter ... where have you been? I've missed you :-)

Sunday morning, temps were on the rise and were a balmy -13*C when I finally made the winter trek to Indian Head Cove to be rewarded with scenes like the one below, for a mid-day photography session.

frosted shores I

This is a trek I've been wanting to do for a couple of winters and I just never got around to doing it until now. Conditions were not ideal for photography, with bright mid-day sun beaming off the fresh white snow, but I was able to compose to exclude shadow areas which made exposures manageable.

... next, I want to visit here when winter waters are angry and lashing at the shore :-)

DJE

Photo of the Week 2016-02-08

With nothing specific planned for a weekend photo outing, I started looking for places to go while having my second coffee of the morning. Now awake, I realized that I really needed to get out for some fresh air and scratch the photographic itch.

For a while now I've been meaning to hit the trails around Silvercreek Conservation Area in search of some smaller waterfalls and cascades. So on a clear, bright day, well after the best light of 'golden hour' had given way to the harshness of mid-day sun. In no rush, I cruised back roads that I'd not seen in a while. Scenes drifted by, memories stirred and familiarity slowly returned ... as I approached my destination.

Gearing up, I quickly wished I had anticipated conditions and brought my ice spikes but headed down the closed concession road with the refreshing sound of water cascading down all around. I was surprised to find two creeks falling over the face limestone ledges, before joining together and heading off down the rock strewn gully.

Along Snow Creek

After making my way down to the trail access, I spent a long time scrambling over the rocks along the sides of the creek, making images of the ice forms hanging from rocks, limbs and branches over the water. It really is relaxing and rejuvenating when I immerse myself totally in the pursuit of that 'one image'.

Standing to stretch my back after all the bending, hunching, kneeling and hanging from tree trucks and branches, it was the view back upstream to the footbridge that spoke to me most of my time at this lovely little spot.

DJE

Photo of the Week 2016-02-01

I have mixed feelings when it comes to certain projects and challenges applied to creative pursuits. For those not familiar with the idea, the intent is to begin a project or participate in a challenge with the goal of pushing yourself out of a creative rut or to learn new elements of your craft. For example, in photographic terms, a "365 Project" is one that requires the participant to make and post one photo every day for a year, hence the 356 reference. A challenge could be to restrict the number of photos you make on a particular day, or to use only a fixed focal length lens for a period of time. There are countless other variations both that are touted frequently on social media and in photographic circles.

Why do I have mixed feelings about these? Well I think sometime they are perceived or expected to be the magic cure for what ails one creatively, be it the dreaded 'block', lack of variety, or some other affliction. I think they can work from time to time or be part of the solution, but in my experience they can also add to the frustration at times when you just really need to take a break. Other times they can be just what the creative doctor ordered and get you to try something new. They can open up a whole new creative world to experience or push you to learn a new skill or technique. The difficulty is knowing what is right at what time.

Recently a friend, Karen VonKnobloch, invited me to a 7 Day Nature Photography Challenge on Facebook. This challenge was not to go out and make new images, but to select images from your library and post one each day for a week. The challenge was 'thrown down' at a time when Karen knew I was searching for some additional activity and interaction with my photography. I was looking for the spark, to reignite the flame that I felt might be fading. She cleverly helped me find it in my own work. So here are my selections from the 7 Day Nature Challenge.

morning whispers

perched

falls in the clouds

Algonquin Winter Sunset

Winter Morning at Little Cove - III

Cold Dawn at Silver Falls

Autumn at 'the Crack'

During the 7 Days I was posting these images to FB, another friend suggested 7 Days of Tobermory ... and it spawned further ideas for 7 Days of Hay Bay and 7 Days of the Bruce, all subjects that stir my photographic passion. It seems in this case, the spark was in the challenge and the fuel for the fire in my own work.
DJE