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This photo is a slight flashback to mid-November, when I went on a long hike through the Durham Forest, south of Uxbridge, Ontario.
At the time, we were in the midst of a wonderful, extended fall and many of the maple and beech leaves were still on the trees, but enough had fallen to let ample light into the forest. I had been hiking for a few hours and decided to take a lesser path, as a shortcut, back to my car. The shortcoming of this decision was that the trail went up a steep incline, but saved be about half an hour of additional walking. By this point, I’d already walked about 20km. But, I’m not complaining, because the trail also went through a wonderfully diverse hardwood forest, filled with poplar, birch, maple, beech, and oak.
The photo above shows the incline with the trail gradually fading away behind the canopy. It also reveals many of the bright colours of the remaining leaves, as the branches reach across the trail to form a bit of a tunnel above me. What a wonderful day that was to be out on the trails.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 70 mm
1/60 sec, f/4.0 -0.33, ISO 250
This photo was made in early November and autumn had settled in comfortably, for an extended stay. The days had already shortened enough to bring out amazing, bright colours, but the air was warm and comfortable. Best of all, the bugs were gone; even the dopey fall wasps.
Along a minor path of the south-east corner of the East Duffins Creek Headwaters trail is this beautiful grove of maples, interspersed with beech trees. The maples had already dropped many of their leaves, but the beaches, with their smooth,metallic looking, trunks, were magnificent, as the soft, warm sun shone through the canopy and set them ablaze with golden light. I stood here for a long time, reveling in the beauty. The leaves seemed to be almost on fire with their own light, thus the title, “The Fire Within”. There really was no other way to describe this scene. I also employed my vertical-pan abstract technique to further enhance the surreal feeling of this place. I think it nicely locks in some fine details but the movement adds life to it.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 135 mm
1/4 sec, f/32.0, ISO 250
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There is an interesting stretch of highway in eastern Ontario, where the road follows the unusual topography, consisting of many long ponds between low strips of granite. When viewed from above, it’s like a large series of wrinkles in the earth’s crust. The bare rock and water filled valleys are so different from anything else along that road that it made me pay attention to it. Among those rocks and ponds are numerous ‘solitaires’, as I have begun to call them. That is, trees that stand apart from others for any number of reasons.
This maple looks to have had a companion at one time, but that one, lying along the shore, has not faired as well. It’s amazing this tree has reached the size and age it has, given the scant soil it has grown in. There were a few of these solitaires visible from the road but this one was in a location where I could safely pull over and compose a photo as the highway snakes along the edge of the pond.
The photo nicely captures the cool mid-December feeling. It will be winter in a few days, yet there is no snow and the water remains unfrozen. It was a bit dull and the sky was filled with variable clouds, yet the diffused light still lit up the pale yellow grasses along the shore. I’m hoping that the mood is conveyed adequately without making it depressing, which it was not.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 70 mm
1/200 sec, f/7.1, ISO 250
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There was something about this stand of poplars that made me pull over on a drive back from Ottawa last week and make this image. At the time, I couldn’t quite put my finger on what, exactly, it was that made this scene so interesting. As I worked with the image I looked at several aspects and edited it various ways, looking for what it was that first drew my eye to the composition. It was not till I looked at it in black and white that all the fine detail emerged.
That was it, the contrasts between the bright bark of the poplar trunks offset by the dark background and the texture and glow of the grasses in the foreground. You see, this day was pretty much overcast with a few bursts of sunlight from the south. It was one of these moments of direct sunlight which lit up the poplars as I approached them, yet the background remained in shade, producing this image with three different bands of light: Bright in the foreground, from the grass in sun, the dark background, with the poplar trunks in the middle, and the grayish clouds above. And, as I look the the photo again, there is this wonderful arching of a few branches near the centre of the image, like a gate to somewhere within the stand.
To me, it make the whole image looks like a very complex sketch. I may have to pull the markers and paper out and see if I’m up to the challenge some day soon. That would be an interesting exercise.
iPhone 5S, @ 4.2mm
1/1500 sec, f/2.2, ISO 32
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This was a typical shot from this past fall / Early December; bright golds and yellows, almost ‘aglow’, as the soft sunlight reflected from the dried plants. This Elecampane plant stood out to me because the leaves were darker and more gray than the surrounding yellows, and the seed heads varied from gray to a pale orange. The plant also stands out in sharp contrast to its neighbours since it is quite tall and generally survives the winter still standing due to its almost woody stalk. In the summer this is a beautiful plant, with flowers resembling small sunflowers, so it should not surprise me that it is also known in some areas as Wild Sunflower.
This plant has a long medicinal history dating back to ancient Greece. The latin name Inula Helenium is taken from a legend that Helen of Troy was carrying a bouquet of these flowers when Paris stole her away to Phrygia. The root, in particular, has been used in herbal medicines since ancient times and there are many mentions of its use in historical texts. It seems to be a cure for many different ailments, depending on how it is prepared.
It was also a common herb grown in the gardens of early north american settlers, as it could be used as an herb or as food. Thus, like many other plants, it has moved from gardens to wilderness paths quite well.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 122 mm
1/60 sec, @ f/4.0 -0.33, ISO 250
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I titled this photo as I did for a few reasons. This is the last photo I ever took of my father before he passed away in 1979. He was determined to take a few last casts before he got in the car after a great family vacation on Moore Lake. He asked if I would come with him and take a picture. I complained about the mosquitoes and not wanting to be bitten, but relented and took this shot. Not knowing, at the time, it was not only his last chance at what he loved to do, but my last chance to capture a precious memory. He passed away later that summer.
I found the photo, which I knew I had, with a bunch of other photos from that time period. It was faded and dull. But technology is wonderful and I was able to touch it up and make it presentable. So glad I did not lose it.
Today also happens to be what would have been his 90th birthday. He’s the reason I have such a fond love of nature and all things outdoors. Dad taught me to appreciate the details and the cycles which are ever present. I often imagine him walking along with me, observing the marvels of the outdoors, discovering and celebrating new sights, and those sacred places I go back to time and time again.
So, on this day, December 16th, where he is especially present in my thoughts, I say, “Thanks Dad, for the deep reverence of nature, all you taught me, all the values you instilled in me, and the love you gave me, in your all too brief a time with us. You are ever missed and ever present in the thoughts of those who knew and loved you.”
In Memory of Harry Eugen Lehming 1925-1979
Pentax Spotmatic 35mm
Schneider-Kreutznach Edixa-Xenon 50mm, f/1.9
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This photo seems appropriate for today. The weather here is dull and overcast, once more. It reminded me of this time last November, as I walked through a farm field at Fraser Lake Camp. It was also a gloomy day, and much cooler than this mild December. This was around 10:00am and the clouds, which had been just a flat sheet of gray, transformed themselves into this wonderful wave pattern, for about five minutes and then settled back to their previous state.
I wonder what atmospheric forces were at play to create this temporary ripple in the sky. I’ve seen it before, but not as wide or pronounced. It’s also important to note that it was a bit windy that day, so maybe there was some resonance in the gsts that set up this pattern. I’m open to opinions.
Nikon D300
Nikor 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 70 mm
1/160 sec, @ f/6.3, ISO 200
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A look back to last month, when I spent a few rain soaked days in the Fraser Lake area. This photo, made from the boat launch at the north end of the lake, encompasses a lot of what those days were like. It was still quite mild for mid-November, but a slow moving low pressure system had set up and filled three solid days with off and on rain, mist, and variable winds.
The mist created the nice layered effect of the trees on the far shore, while mid-frame, a few late migrating ducks take a rest just off shore.
For friends of mine who know the lake, you can see the Fraser Lake Camp ‘barge’ resting on the dock as well as the connecting bridge that spans the dual swimming docks.
For me, the image portrays the ‘resting’ time between a busy active summer on the lake and the inevitable winter to come. It’s a bit melancholy and that is the reason I chose to produce the image as a black and white.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm
1/30 sec, @ f/2.8 -0.33, ISO 250
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About mid-way through this trail are several groves of poplars, which I have photographed and shared in the past. This particular grove is in the middle of a meadow, which the trails grows around. Because of the nature of this area, it’s also difficult to get an unobscured view of these trees, without some branch interfering with the overall shot. That becomes a common issue for photographers, at least in my experience. You can envision a great composition, but the reality is it does not alway play out as planned, since that perfect angle and lighting is tough to achieve because of the surroundings.
Fortunately, I did find a narrow slot between the trees which provided the attached image. There are still a few stray branches in the foreground, but they don’t interfere with the image as a whole.
As I look at the photo, I once again see it as a painting, even without any manipulation. So, I pulled it into Photoshop and the following is the result.
I’m not sure which I like more?
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 70 mm
1/200 sec, @ f/7.1 -0.33, ISO 250
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Not the most catchy title in the world, but that, essentially, is what this is. A bunch of maple keys, hanging from a tree at the Secord Trailhead. The tree was laying on its side, but I’m not sure exactly what happened to the tree to put it in its current state.
What struck me as odd, was that the keys, or seeds, were still attached to the tree at this time of year. I would have expected them to have been released at some point earlier in the year. Maybe that has something to do with the tree being on its side or maybe it’s just the nature of this species, which I have not identified yet. The other possible answer is this bizarrely mild fall has somehow affected it. That will remain a mystery, for now.
Aside from the mystery of the keys, I was simply drawn by the glowing clusters and the fine details. It’s one of those generally mundane things we all walk past on any given day. But, if you stop and observe, it is wonderfully complex, from the veins in the key ‘wing’, to how the cluster is connected to the terminal branch. I thought it made for an interesting composition to spend some time looking at. Take a moment to see if you agree.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm
1/100 sec, @ f/5.0 -0.33, ISO 250
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Every now and then, a splash of colour catches you, unexpectedly. That was the case a few days back when I was hiking the Seaton Trail, near Whitevale.
Let’s keep in mind that was the first week of December. Last year we had already experienced a few substantial snowfalls and cold temperatures, well below freezing. This year, we are still well above freezing but everything has had a good frosting. So, with the exception of evergreens and a few frost resistant shrubs and grasses, almost everything had turned a mottled tone of late-fall brown-gray. The sun was shining this day, but the forest and fields were generally quite muted. Across a rise, I spotted this patch of intense red and had no idea what plant could still be in fall colours. As I drew nearer, I found it was a small patch of brambles, or blackberry bushes (bramble is a general term for the blackberry family of thorny fruit-bearing shrubs).
Not only were the leaves still colourful, if you look carefully, you will see they have started to bud into leaf again. A strange year indeed. I imagine this will be the last we see of bright reds for some time, with the exception of some winter-hearty berries that the birds don’t like. The forecast is for cooler temperatures for next week, but still not typical for December. Part of me likes it, but another part wants some snow, simply for a change from brown and to brighten the days that start off dark and turn dark far too soon.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm
1/40 sec, @ f/3.2 -0.33, ISO 250
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I wish I could paint. There are so many scenes that I see on a regular basis and say to myself, “That would make a beautiful painting”. Especially if the light is just a bit off and I envision the image a bit different.
That was the case with this photo I made a few days ago. All the elements were just right, the light was soft from the west and a bank of clouds hovered low to the east, yet the image did not convey the scene in the same way as it struck me.
So, since I can’t paint, yet, I went to my Photoshop toolbox and started playing with some effects. And, lo and behold, I got the effect I wanted, as if it had been painted. Now, I will have some purists say that this is not photography, and I would agree, it’s art, based on photography. Be it a painting or a digitally manipulated image, it makes no difference to me and I don’t want to be limited by a particular discipline. Does that change how I approach my photography? Not in the least. As I’ve stated many time before: For me, it’s about ‘how’ I see things, rather than what I see. There is so much more at play than just making an image. I want to be able to communicate how it made me ‘feel’. That, to me is art, and I’m good with it.
Back to the photo, I see many of these lone trees and they have been the subject of several of my photos. I’ve started calling them “Solitaires”, because “lone tree” makes it sound a bit depressing and that there are no other trees around, which is not the case, these ones are simply “apart” from their neighbours.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 170 mm
1/200 sec, @ f/7.1, ISO 250
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I can’t help but reflect on this verse when I seen this scene on Duffins Creek, just south of Whitevale, Ontario.
“They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”
The image of this tree, rooted firmly to the shore, like a hand clenched and holding on, has always fascinated me, to the point where I have seen it in dreams.
Though the leaves are not always green, like in the referenced verse, it is still very much alive and anchored, drawing life-giving water from the stream that flows at its roots. It certainly has no fear of drought, as the cool waters run abundantly throughout the year.
This tree is, however, not without its challenges. It is located at a bend in the stream, which is prone to ice build up in the spring, and it has the scars to prove it, yet it hangs on, leaning tenuously over the creek, gripping the shore. I imagine it would take some force to move this tree from its moorings. It’s also not a picture of perfection or symmetry, by any means, with random gnarly branches shooting out here and there. Yet, there is still some wonderful strength here.
I was very pleased to have been able to capture the image in such a way as I believe captures the essence of the scene, and conveys how I see it, which is always my goal. Welcome to my world.
iPhone 5S @ 4.2 mm
1/120 sec, @ f/2.2, ISO 64
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Time for some brightness in this dull December. After numerous drab, but mild days, the sun finally shone though, albeit for only a few hours. As I looked out my office window at the beautiful warm glow, I decided my lunchtime would be spent on a trail. So, I packed my gear and headed off to the woods.
It’s such a wonderful benefit having all these woodlands so close by that I can step out to recharge without an extended drive.
Today’s all too brief hike took me down the Seaton Trail, just south of Whitevale, Ontario. As I started my walk, the sun was still shining, though it was a bit cooler than expected.
The nice thing about the sun this time of year is that it tends to be more indirect and softer, and it was late enough in the day to bring out the beautiful gold hues in the surrounding fields and meadows. It also afforded the opportunity to shot this scene of dead flowerheads from several angles and choose my favourite. By looking at it, you’d never expect it was made in the second week of December, in Canada. It’s also a nice thought that beauty can come from something that has died, at least on the surface. I hope this image brings some warm to you as well.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 200mm
1/100 sec @ f/5.0 -0.33, ISO 200
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I’m finding myself going back to some photos from last year, around this same time. The primary reason for this is we are having a very mild December, the leaves have now come down and we’re in a bit of a mild, yet gray, time. The vibrant colours of November are a recent memory and days are dull and short.
Last year, in mid to late November, we had a few light snowfalls and the days seemed a bit brighter, at least to my recollection.
This photo was made at one of the nearby hiking trails, among planted pines. The area is known as East Duffins Creek Headwaters, though that reference really encompasses a very large area. I have hiked most of the numerous creeks that eventually end up becoming the main Duffins Creek, which flows into Lake Ontario. Because the headwaters cover such a large area, the landscape and scenery is quite diverse. It’s comprised primarily of farmland, and some large gravel pits, with vast tracts of conservation lands, which I often visit: Goodwood Forest, Claremont Conservation Area, Secord Forest, and Durham Forest, to name a few of the larger sites.
I’d categorize specifically East Duffins Creek Headwaters trails as primarily planted pine, interspersed with hardwood forest. The planted pines, with their straight rows and uncluttered bases make ideal subjects for my abstract photography. In this case, I had the straight lines of the trees, some highlights of early snow on the ground, a bit of remaining greenery, and a beautiful late afternoon sun lighting it all up.
There’s a lot going on in this composition and I find myself drawn into the background details. Take some time and enter this space, take a deep breath and imaging the scent of pine in the crisp November air.
Nikon D300
Tamron 17-50 mm f/2.8 @ 32mm
1/4 sec @ f/32, ISO 200
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This photo was made last November at Fraser Lake Camp, near Fort Stewart, Ontario. It is a wonderful children’s camp, established some 60 years ago. The Old Barn is the only original building still standing on the property. It’s all log construction and sits at the edge of a field, surrounded by planted pine forest. I found this to be a wonderfully serene image, full of transitions. The lines of dark clouds are harbingers of the winter to come, yet grass still shows through. There is snw on the ground, but it would stay for long, as the meager sun warms the ground. There is also a shift from agriculture to native forest.
I have found several other buildings like this is the area, which was hoped to provide farming opportunity at one time, but the soil is just too shallow to support any sustainable farming. There are still a few operating farms, mostly livestock and hay.
It is interesting also to see gradual transition to native hardwoods, as can be seen to the left and right, with encroaching birch trees and poplars. The world is full of change, some rapid and some that can only be observed over years and decades.
Nikon D300
Nikor 70-300mm f/5.6 @ 70mm
1/160 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 200
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Near my home is a large tract of land (7,530 hectares) which was expropriated by the federal government in the early 70’s as the site of a future airport. After several decades, the airport is no closer to happening, communities have disappeared and, other than a few residences and farms, most buildings have fallen into such disrepair that they have had to be demolished. For a few years it was even a challenge to photograph on these lands, which are public property, because the private security company hired by the government to patrol the land would frequently stop me and ask what I was doing, even though I had my camera gear clearly visible.
What this history has offered is some vast open tracts of rolling rural landscapes and a few interesting buildings in various stages of decay. I spend quite a bit of time in this area and it has yielded some nice photos which document the transition of this land over the years. There are now less buildings, thicker underbrush, and a generally overgrown appearance. The image above is a fairly typical fall view of the fields and woodlands. Soybeans, ready for harvest grow in the foreground and an abandoned building shows through the overgrown lot. What I found interesting on this fairly dull and overcast day, was the splashes of colour among the tree trunks and branches highlighted by a few rays of sun, offering a nice contrast to dark skies above. It’s one of those moments that’s gone quickly and rarely offers itself again. I also reflect upon the house, knowing people once lived there and wonder what those days may have been like. My mother-in-law’s family had a farm on the airport land, which has long since been demolished and leveled, yet the memories live on. I can’t image what it would be like to go back to the house I grew up in, only to find no trace of it ever existing.
Nikon D300
Nikor 70-300mm f/5.6 @ 195mm
1/200 sec @ f/7.1, ISO 200
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Just a simple composition today.
If you ever get the chance to go to Carmel, take it. This is a beautiful coastal town full of Spanish charm, art shops, beaches, and eateries. I enjoyed the architecture, which is a real mix of some pretty eclectic styles.
When I look at a scene like this I often wonder “How old is this?”. “Is it a reproduction, meant to look old?”. This post and wrought iron railing seemed genuinely old. I wonder if it was part of the original building or if the owner bought it somewhere to achieve a certain ‘look’.
In any case. it was a very unique detail and I was happy to be able to keep the memory to reflect on later.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70mm
1/60 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 220
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Today’s post is a bit of a step back in time to 2013. One place I can never get enough of is Yosemite National Park in California. The sheer scale of the landscapes is overwhelming for a ‘flatlander’ like myself. There are opportunities for images that are just not possible where I live.
For example, the image above was made while leaving the park after a day of photography. Just when I thought I was saturated for the day, this wonderful scene presented itself.
The photo was made from a roadside “pull-out”along highway 41 and highlights the layers of hills that make up the Sierra Nevada foothills. It was late afternoon and it had rained off and on all day. This diffused the light nicely and created a faint mist that lies between each layer. Again, being a rather dull, wet day, also created the nice dark silhouettes of the trees in the foreground. It’s kind of a ‘moody’ image that conveys the type of day it was. I like to think this is a non-typical image of the Yosemite area, which is usually portrayed with images of waterfalls and grand vistas. I have found that the drive to the valley is also very picturesque.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 80mm
1/200 sec @ f/4.5, ISO 200
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It’s a very rare occasion where you can return to the location where you made a good photo and try to make it better, especially a landscape photo.
A few years ago I made a photo of a horse grazing in this same spot. That photo has been very popular and was featured in the North Hastings “Destinations” guide. A local tourist publication. I even sold a few larger prints of it.
During a recent trip back to the Bancroft/Fort Stewart area, I drove past the same field and the horses were back out grazing. What was different, this time, was the wonderful fall colours in the valley behind them. The previous photo featured muted tones and layers of dark green and gray, whereas this scene shows the green-yellow colours of early fall transition. What I call a ‘fruit salad’ forest. The light this day was glorious and warm and nicely shows off all the layers and structures behind the horse as well as the tree and rock pile at the centre of the composition. It is also a calming scene. The horse is in no hurry, is very relaxed, not even paying attention to me making the photo, and the sky is a soft blue.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 80mm
1/125 sec @ f/5.6 +1.33, ISO 250
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It’s the end of autumn and winter is making its presence known across the country.
This seemed like an appropriate image for the day. On a hike a few weeks ago, I noticed this single maple leaf clinging to a tree. All the other trees in the area had shed their leaves, but this one kept hanging on. I feel that way too. Hanging on to the last moments of fall, knowing the cycle will complete and winter will arrive, at some time.
It has still been mild, but the occasional gust of chilly wind or squall of sleet reminds us that the inevitable is around the corner. But, I’ll hang on to this image, remembering the sweet, extended fall, in all its warmth and splendour.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 160mm
1/2000 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 250
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One of my favourite abstracts from this past autumn. This photo was made while hiking the Secord Conservation Area trails a few weeks ago. As noted on earlier posts, this year produced beautiful gold tones in the beech trees along the trail and the autumn sunlight filtered down to the forest floor, producing a beautiful soft, warm light.
I used my vertical pan technique to produce the abstract blur effect which has become a bit of my brand. Since it’s done handheld, the results are often surprising and a bit variable. I have a pretty good idea how it will look and carefully select a composition which will yield favourable results.
In this particular composition, the golden beech leaves are in the foreground with maples and pines in the background. There are beech leaves mixed with maple on the ground and some low greenery at the base of the maples. The overall result is a somewhat serene image with soft splashes of gold against a darker background. It’s an image I am often drawn to on busy days and reminds me of the quiet times on the hiking trails.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70mm
1/4 sec @ f/20.0, ISO 250
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The title for this photo did not take long to decide.
In pouring rain and heavy wind, at the end of my unsuccessful deer hunt, I was driving back to the cottage and noticed this fine fellow standing in a field next to the road, on private property, near a group of houses and cottages. I had my camera in the back of the car, not expecting any further opportunities because of the bad weather, and carefully pulled off the road, opened my door gently, closed it, ever so quietly, for fear of spooking him, grabbed my camera and walked back to see if he was still there.
Much to my surprise, my stopping and car doors opening did not seem to bother him. In fact, he probably did not hear me clearly due to the wind and rain. And, he would not have scented me, for the same reason. Thus, his senses were limited to sight alone. I suspect that’s why he’s craning his neck like he is. I could see him over a rise in the field and I expect his view was much the same. The pale white lines across the photo are caused by the two strands of barbed wire running through the frame.
I had spent the day photographing with my 70-200, because of the low light and wish I could have switched to my 70-300 to get a closer view, even though I did not use full zoom on this shot, in order to capture more of the background scene. Anyways, despite the conditions and circumstances, I was happy to see, and photograph, this beautiful animal before he bounded back into the forest, uncertain if I was actually a threat to him. Just another of those moments and memories I often talk about.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 165mm
1/60 sec @ f/4.0-.33, ISO 250
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Wow, I wonder who came up with this brilliant name?
I came across this rather bright fungus during a recent hunting trip. Well, it was more like walking through the woods with a gun, and a camera. It was certainly not an ideal hunting day, but the subdued light and wet conditions (it had rained for 3 days straight) were ideal for photography. I had my 70-200 f/2.8 with me to make up for the dark conditions in the forest. With this lense I can shoot down to 1/8 second handheld because of the excellent VR. That saves carrying a tripod everywhere, like I used to do.
This photo was made on a wood lot just outside Hermon, Ontario, in the Bancroft area. It’s a beautifully diverse forest with wonderful ancient stands of red pine, cedar, and maple, bisected by steep rocky ridges so typical of the Canadian Shield.
It was hard not to stop and photograph this wonderfully colourful fungus which just glistened in the rain. I was tempted to move the branch lying across the stump, but it adds to the composition, I think.
There is something about mushrooms and fungus that is inexplicably appealing to me, as well as several other photographers I know. They (the mushrooms and fungus) are very diverse in their colour and texture and only last for a short period, so that may be it.
Yet again, this is one of those natural compositions I see on a daily basis and like to share. I hope you enjoy it.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 135mm
1/30 sec @ f/2.8-.33, ISO 250
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Sometimes, with the right light, a simple scene along a roadside or a hiking trail can be a thing of tremendous beauty. It’s something I come across all the time. I tell my friends that this is how my eyes work, and I can’t turn it off, nor, would I want to.
Take as an example, the photo above. It’s just two oak leaves which have fallen and come to rest on a stump. My eyes are, for some inexplicable reason, drawn to these scenes. I look at the simplicity of the composition nature has provided and it brings me joy.
My dilemma, frequently, is how do I capture this moment in time effectively, so others can enjoy it too. Most times nature, and my knowledge of light and my camera, suffice. While, at other times, the elements just don’t align, or I get my camera setting wrong, and the scene becomes, simply a memory. If I go back the next day for a reshoot, the light is rarely the same, or some other element has moved or changed slightly and the magic is gone.
I’m learning, on every shot, what settings need to be made, based on failures and experimentation. Many times now, it’s just instinct, and I like that. There are images I could not have made a few years back and I’m looking forward to what lies ahead.
In this case, all the elements aligned and my settings were OK, though I would change aperture if I had to re-shoot. I was drawn by the light on the oak leaves and, as I looked at the composition, I really liked the textures of the old log they were laying on. Oddly enough, in some cases I can’t really articulate what it is about composition that I find appealing till I get back to my computer and really look at the image, then it becomes obvious.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 155mm
1/60 sec @ f/5-.33, ISO 250
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Generally, titles for my photos come fairly easily. Not so in this case. I looked at the photo over and over and nothing seemed appropriate. It’s also a fairly tall composition, which I have stayed away from, unless absolutely necessary. After a while of looking at the elements, I thought, “This looks like a carnival, with all the bright colours mixing together.”
This is a hillside along one of the Secord Conservation Area trails. There are a lot of tall maples, beeches, and oaks in the foreground and some younger beeches (orange leaves) in the background mixed with a few maples which, for some reason, had not changed to their fall colours yet. The way the oranges and greens mixed together was interesting to me, and thus, the photo above was made.
It was also one of those days of soft, warm light that lit up the forest floor in patches and brought out some of the finer details of the tree trunks in the foreground. For me, just another glimpse into this serene place that I like to visit frequently.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 80mm
1/125 sec @ f/5.6 -.33, ISO 250
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Did I mention I love the light in the fall?
During one of my hikes this fall, I was covered with a glowing canopy of golden beech leaves, brightly lit by the sun. All the light around me was this beautiful, warm yellow/orange and the entire forest just glowed.
Amid all this warmth, it was difficult to isolate a single image that showed the source of this wonderful light. This image is probably the best representation of what I saw. Multiply this image by thousands and that would give a good idea of just how glorious the light was. The leaves literally looked like they were made of gold. Granted, some had some decay and did not look their best, but that was not noticeable till you got up close.
This particular cluster showed its finery the best, with nice structure and clean lines, against the darker pine forest in the background.
Whenever I look at this photo, it brings me back to the place and time when I made it and fills me with a warmth and longing to return, knowing it was just one of those fleeting moments that we can only return to in memory, but I’ll hold onto it, nonetheless and look forward to the next season with hopes that nature repeats her show once more.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 165mm
1/250 sec @ f/9.0 -.33, ISO 250
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This photo is pretty much a summary of how autumn has played out for me. We have had an extended season, with mild weather, sunny skies, and leaves that seemed to cling to the trees for weeks, despite frosty nights, rain, and wind.
Unlike a typical fall, where I’m looking out the window, anxious to get out and make photos before the conditions fade, this year yielded day after glorious day of great light, incredible colour, and beautiful weather to just ‘be’ in nature.
The photo above was made on one of our abundant local trails at the Secord Conservation area. This trail system is incredibly variable and switches from cedar swamp, to meadow, to hardwood forest in the span of a few kilometers. There are a few patches of large birch trees, which is the case above. Here the bright white of the bark of the birches contrasts nicely against the oranges of the beech and oak trees againsts the dark backdrop of pine forest.
I titled it “Another Bend in the Path” because that is exactly what it is. Every bend, every rise in the path, yields wonderful new view.
There have been some interesting conversations lately about my subject matter. People seem shocked when I tell them these photos are local and not in some far off, remote, location. I hold to the notion that great images are everywhere, but you have to get out and move around to find them and be there when the light is right. Those who spend time in nature frequently will know what I mean. A frequently viewed grove of trees will suddenly glow with light, for a brief moment, the light will hit a patch of forest floor and reveal details you never noticed before, and then, the moment is gone, other than the memory . This awareness of the beauty, variability, and complexity of nature is my sanctuary. It’s a place and time where I can recharge, renew, and just ‘be’. The added bonus is that I can capture some of these moments and be able to share them with others, who may not be able to get out and experience it for themselves.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70 mm
1/125 sec @ f/5.6 -.33, ISO 250
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The final installment of my raindrops in fall series, for this year.
This photo was made a few seconds before my “Unexpected Beauty” image. The difference is really the background. This one is a bit darker and lacking the blue background of the forest.
It does show more of the raindrops, which is what initially drew my attention. I did not want to open close the aperture too much because I wanted to retain some of the soft bokeh in the subsequent layers. This one highlights more of the droplets on the branches, which really look like tiny glowing jewels against the greens and oranges of autumn.
Of the three images, this one is my favourite, because of the layers and how it really captured my viewpoint effectively. It is important for me, creatively, to portray things, as I see them, and I’m learning daily just how to do that, though the lense and through my words.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm
1/13 sec @ f/2.8 -.33, ISO 250
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This photo was made the morning after my prior post. It was also a dull rainy day near Bancroft and the sky brightened ever so slightly. The effect is very visible in the raindrops that clung to the branches surrounding me.
It really shows just how different the light is at different times of day, even when the sky is overcast. While the previous image is quite cool and blue, this one is bright and warm. The location is not the same either, but the effect of the water droplets and branches was the same. Like tiny jewels hanging from the branch.
Walking through the woods that day, despite the rain, was a real pleasure and yielded many nice photos, which I will share over the next few days.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm
1/50 sec @ f/3.5 -.33, ISO 250
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Ed Lehming Photography 
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