Taken last spring, during a walk along Duffins Creek. Another view of the annual trout run near Whitevale. In places, the trout are ‘stacked’ as they prepare to run up some of the shallower portions of the creek. Last year the creek was especially shallow for the time of year and there were a few deeper pools where multiple fish lined up for their run.
I like this particular shot because it has a slightly abstract look to it. Though you can see the shapes of the fish in the water, you can’t make them out very clearly. The slightly greenish tone to the water also gives it a bit of an alien look. The larger fish, near the centre captures the eye first and then you realize that he has companions on his trek.
Nikon D300
Nikor 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 210 mm
1/60 sec @ f/5.3 (+.067), ISO 450
Among my favourite photos from last year.
Have you ever driven past a place dozens of times and thought, “I should stop sometime and make a photo of this”? That was the case with these poplars in Pickering. They are at the corner of side roads that I pass several time a year. But, the light is never quite right, or it’s dull and uninteresting looking.
On this particular day, I had my camera with me, but had no intention of doing any nature photography. It was a dull, rainy day and the landscape was pretty washed out. As I approached the trees, the sun broke through and the poplars lit up a bright yellow. I thought, “I should stop today and make photo of these today”. As I was having this internal conversation, the light began to shift again and a light rain started falling. So, I swung the car around and parked on the shoulder, got my gear ready and proceeded into the adjacent field to see what the light offered. It was not till I got home and looked at the images that I realized just how stunning they turned out.
I am so happy that I made the decision to stop (with some prodding from my wife). My advice, when the opportunity presents itself, take it, it may not present itself again. To this day, I have not seen the conditions even close to that day, driving the back roads of Pickering.
Nikon D300
Nikor 70-300 mm f/5.6 @ 70mm
1/4@ f/11.0, ISO 200
I love watching the early plants emerge from the dead-looking ground in the spring. They follow the same pattern, year after year, whether it’s an early or late spring, the pattern remains consistent, though sometime s compressed or accelerated. This past winter was particularly cold and spring has been delayed by many cold spells. So, I walk through the woods in hopes of seeing those early emergences. I was very pleased to see the abundance of wild leeks, or “ramps” as they are also known, depending on the region you live in. Though the forest floor is still grey/brown and lifeless looking, these beautiful bright green leaves with the red bases light the forest floor up, while other plants remain dormant. But, the pattern must be followed and nature’s rhythms obeyed. I know, that within the next few weeks the forest will be alive once more with trout lilies, red and white trilliums, and all the other print flowering plants I have come to enjoy so much.
I will have to go back in a few weeks and harvest some of these delicious wild leeks for a spring time soup. Can’t wait for the morels and fiddle heads to follow.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 85 mm
1/125 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 250
Yes, I know, two posts in one day. 🙂
I had the opportunity today, now that it is starting to at least look more like spring, to go for a hike around our local reservoir. It’s a beautiful little sanctuary, with diverse plants and wildlife. The hiking trail offers me a nice place to unwind, and photograph, even during a busy day, because it is so close.
I was not expecting to see much growth yet, due to the cold and wet spring we have had, but was surprised to see plenty of wild leeks already in leaf. My expectations for finding any blooming plants was very low. But, to my surprise, there were several clusters of these beautiful and delicate pink/purple flowers known as “Spring Beauties” blooming at the base of several beech trees, which seems to be their preference. The other pleasant surprise was that the trout lilies are in leaf and the trilliums are starting to bud out. So, if the weather holds, we should have a nice display in a week or so. Looking forward to it.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm
1/250 @ f/8.0, ISO 250
During my drive back from Bancroft this past Thursday, I commented to my wife that it looked like and felt like February, rather than April. Spring has been slow to arrive in southern Ontario this year and my thoughts wandered back to November, when I stopped at Burleigh Falls to make a few long exposure photos of the falls there.
At this particular time of year I basically have the place to myself. No tourists taking snapshots, no fishermen trying their best to land the big one, and no kids running madly around the rocks. Long exposure is an apt term for this. It was very cold and blustery and though I love this location, it was experiencing long exposure myself. However, the light was buried and beautiful and made it possible for the image above to be made. I particularly like the colours of the water in contrast with the pink granite in the background and the purplish sky. For me, it captures this moment beautifully, without the bone biting chill.
Nikon D300
Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 @ 38 mm
1/8 sec @ f/25, ISO 200
This is the second shot of this little fellow. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I was walking along the York River, planning on taking some long exposure shots of the rapids when this mink appeared among the rocks. He tried real hard to avoid me seeing him and I found myself dodging and weaving between the rocks to get a clear shot of him. At one point he even went into the rapids and was briefly washed downstream, where he eventually came to shore (that’s why he’s wet). Fortunately for me, my wife, who was also along for the photo shoot, happened to be on the shore and that forced him to come back towards me. After lots of hide-and-seek, he eventually popped his head up long enough for me to get this shot of him, before he disappeared for good.
It is so nice to see wildlife around me and to be able to share those moments and experiences through photography.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm
1/60 sec @ f/3.0, ISO 200
This plant is, from my experience, the first plant to flower in spring in southern Ontario. It’s also a signal for me that the Rainbow Trout spawn is starting.
It’s an unusual plant in that it blooms before it puts out foliage. The bright yellow flowers, that people often mistake for dandelions, form quickly on tough brown stalks and then go to seed. Shortly thereafter, large hoof shaped leaves form, thus the name.
Nikon D300
Nikor 70-300 mm @ 250mm
1/550 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 250
I have reflected on this photo many times. It was made one foggy morning in late September 2014. It was a cool morning and the air hung thick with fog and the feeling of change that comes at this time of year. I decided to go for a walk down to the lake shore. Through the fog, you could see the blue sky emerging, revealing shreds of clouds not typical of this time of year. On the lake, the swimming raft seemed to float in mid-air, the fog obscuring the line between water and air and a faint outline of the distant shore was barely discernible in the distance. The photo feels dream-like; somewhat haunting, yet peaceful. It represents transition, between the water and the sky, as well as the transition from summer to fall. It’s one of those photos that draws me in and causes me to see that there is more to it than first impressions would reveal.
Nikon D300
Tamron 17-50 mm f/2.8 @17 mm
1/500 @ f/9.0, ISO 800
Yet another tree abstraction. I’ve walked past these poplars many times, and every time, the light is a bit different or the foliage in the background has changed, every so slightly. This photo was made on Saturday as I went for a walk around our local reservoir. On this particular visit, the trees and undergrowth are not yet in bud and the bright red of the Red-Osier Dogwood shows clearly to the lower left, while the bright green of the cedars glows in the background. There is still a reminder that winter is not long past in the dull grey-brown of the ground at the base of the poplars.
Nikon D300
Nikor 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 70 mm
1/4 sec @f/32, ISO 200
On returning from a late day walk last summer, I looked up and saw this unique view of the sunset in Stouffville’s Memorial Park. The sun was just setting and the silhouette of the leaves against the setting sun got my interest. I’m always pleasantly surprised at the beauty all around us, whether grand mountain vistas or a simple tree in a park. You just have to be able to see it. This was a nice way to wind down from the day.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm
1/320 sec @ f/9, ISO 200
Pinecones on willows? I keep seeing these pin cone-like structures on the ends of sandbank willow branches along Duffins creek and always wondered what they were. They actually are not a natural part of the willow, but rather, the homes of Pinecone Willow Gall-midges (Rhabdophaga strobiloides). These midges secrete a chemical that forces the willow to create these pinecone-like pods to provide the midges food and shelter. The adult midge lays its eggs in the terminal bud of the plant in the early spring and the willow begins to form the pods. The larval infection does not seem to have any adverse effects on the willow. In fact, some of the ‘infected’ branches look larger than the non-infected ones. Bio-chemistry in the insect world!
I did notice that some of the pods have burst open into what looks like a dried flower. Nature is truly amazing. I’ll have to pay closer attention to these next time I’m out.
Nikon D300
Nikor 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 140 mm
1/160 sec @ f/7.1, ISO 250
With the weather turning warmer in Ontario, I thought today would be a nice day to take a walk along Duffins Creek, near Whitevale, Ontario. It’s spring, the snow is gone, and the Coltsfoot is blooming, so it’s also time for the annual rainbow trout run up Duffins Creek to the Whitevale Dam. The dam was built several years ago to prevent the rainbow trout, which are an introduced species, from eating the native brown trout fry. The rainbow spawn up Duffins Creek but can’t get beyond the dam. In the right conditions, like today, they jump up the skirt of the dam trying to climb it. But, it’s much too high.
This photo is one of those times where everything just comes together, with lots of patience. Timing the jump of the trout into the shadows, to light it up like this, and to get the shape of the fish in the air just right took many attempts and I have to say that I am very pleased with this ‘mid-flight’ image.
Nikon D300
Nikor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 70 mm
1/400 sec @ f/10.1, ISO 250
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More waterfront wildlife. This photo was made last summer while at our camper. We were visiting my sister at the waterfront and this family of duck, which had been swimming back and forth along the shore, decided it was time for a break and settled in within a few meters of where we were sitting. I had my camera with me from an earlier excursion and they did not seem to mind i the least that I captured this moment. I playfully called it “7 Young Ducks” because I always find myself counting them to make sure, since one is hidden a bit.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200 mm f/2.8 @ 165 mm
1/60 sec @ f/10, ISO 3200
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Another one of my “Trees” series of photo abstractions. This photo was made four years ago, at Fraser Lake Camp, near Bancroft, Ontario when I was just starting to play with this technique. I re-edited it last year because I was not happy with the ‘feel’ of the image. Again, it comes down to the strong vertical elements and good light. In this case, I was following a game trail and looked up to see the beautiful glow of sunshine on a single tree standing in the middle of the path. The surrounding trees were quite dark because it had just rained. The rain also made all the undergrowth nice and saturated with colour. For me the image is like the end of a journey through darkness into the brilliant warmth of daylight.
Nikon D200
Nikor 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5 @ 70mm
1/4 sec @ f/4.5, ISO 100
I made this photo a few years ago while travelling to Montreal with my wife and her cousins from California. We spent a day touring Prince Edward County and decide to stay the night in Belleville, Ontario. When looking for a good local restaurant, we were directed to “The Boathouse” restaurant, which sits on Belleville’s harbour. The food was amazing and our stay timed out just right to see the sunset. As we sat by the window, enjoying our meal and overlooking the harbour, the setting sun lit up the sky in an amazing display of colours. I did not have my photo gear with me but was able to capture the moment through the window with my iPhone.
iPhone 4
1/120 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 100
This photo was made within a few minutes of my previous post, “Golden Hour”. The same cloud fragments remain in the sky, the remnants of an earlier storm.
I had finished photographing the lone maple and was driving home and was amazed at the colour and textures of the sky as it transitioned from gold to a ruddy orange. Not wanting to miss the sunset, I parked my car at the top of a hill just south of town and watched the drama unfold in the west. My goal was to capture the last sliver of sun before it dropped below horizon. The photo above is the result.
On the horizon, you can see the silhouette of the Cathedral of the Transfiguration, in Markham, Ontario. This cathedral was blessed by Pope John Paul in 1984. Interestingly, the church lost it’s “Cathedral” designation back in 2006 as the result of a dispute and last service was held June 25, 2006. It now sits abandoned, unused, and deteriorating.
This final moment of sunlight lasted only a few seconds and then it was gone, turning the sky a deep red filled with wispy dark clouds and bright orange streaks.
Nikon D300
Nikor 70-300mm f/5.6 @140mm
132 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 200
I think everyone has, or knows of, one of these iconic ‘lone trees’. My friends and family will certainly be familiar with this one, which stands on the top of a hill at Elgin Mills and McCowan Road in Markham, Ontario, across from the Markham Fairgrounds. I have seen many photos of this beautiful maple tree and it’s not so perfect twin.
On this particular day in mid-December 2014, a storm was clearing, leaving fragments of cloud drifting quickly in the sky. The sun was setting in the most beautiful yellow and gold tones, which eventually turned deep orange and red.
In this photo, I was struck by the bright golden band just at ground level and how sharp the shadows of the weeds were, as well as the way the small clouds glowed yellow against the darker background clouds. It was just one of those moments where everything comes together and you get ‘the magic’.
Another funny aspect of this moment is that this is also popular spot for the police to set up radar traps. I think I freaked the cop out a bit when I pulled up next to him and started taking photos of the tree, but his cruiser was in one of the pull-outs that offers a good angle to photograph the tree. Generally, the shoulders along this stretch of road are too narrow to pull over safely. In the end, he did not seem to mind too much, because he was still able to pull over a driver who was speeding past.
Nikon D300
Nikor 70-300 f/5.6 at 170mm
160 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 200
Now this little fellow was one of this shots you get that you had no idea was going to happen.
Last summer I went for a drive to High Falls, near Bancroft, Ontario to get some waterfall shots. On my way out I noticed a nice little pull-off where I could shoot some long exposures of the river and rapids below the falls. As I was setting up, I noticed a flash of movement from the corner of my eye and spotted this mink darting and weaving between the rocks. He was pretty elusive and it took many attempts to get a good photo of him. At this moment in time, he got distracted by something other than me and struck this beautiful pose.
The lesson for me, is always be prepared for the unexpected and know your gear well enough to switch over should a situation like this present itself. I was all set with my wide angel to shoot the moving water but quickly switched to my fast telephoto to capture this image.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200mm
1/60sec @ f/288, ISO 220
Part two of my November 2014 hike. As I said in yesterday’s post, I was actually hiking to a small grove of trees that I had photographed successfully in the past. The light conditions where not good in that location but it was spectacular on my hike in and out of the forest.
The photo above is testament to that. The late afternoon sun was close to setting but bright enough to make everything it touched glow with light. Doing vertical pan photo abstractions has become a favourite technique for me and the results can be quite astounding and unpredictable.
This grove of planted pines was found along one of the many paths leading through the Walkers Woods Conservation Area north of Pickering, Ontario. There was still snow on the ground from the previous day’s snowfall as well as a smattering of bright orange oak leaves. It seemed the elements all came together in this photo. When I got home and previewed my photos it looked like the whole hillside was on fire, thus the title of this piece. Many people have commented that it looks like a painting and I would agree. I am very pleased at the results and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Nikon D300
Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 @26mm
1/4sec @ f/32, ISO 200
Now that it is finally warming up, I thought I’d take one last look at how this past year’s winter came in. November was fairly mild and offered one light snowfall that quickly melted away in town. The day of the melt, I decided to go out to one of my favourite local trails (East Duffins Headwaters) to get some vertical pans in a grove of trees I have enjoyed on a few occasions. I was surprised to see how much of the snow cover remained in the forest. The grove of tress was my destination, and like so many other hikes, the journey is much better than the destination. The grove of trees, as it turns out, was a disappointment in the end, but I was able to make several beautiful photographs on the surrounding trails, which I will share in subsequent posts.
On this occasion, the trail in was covered in wonderful orange oak leaves and the snow had largely melted off, due mainly to the foot traffic. The bright leaves, combined with the late day light, made the entire scene glow. Even the yellow-green undergrowth seemed alight with sunshine as an archway of snow covered branches stretched above ahead of me. The colours where incredible and I look back on this moment as one of those special times when I was fortunate to have my camera with me so I could save and share the moment.
Nikon D300
Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 @ 34mm
1/80sec @f/9.0, ISO 400
This is one of my “Trees” Series of photo abstractions taken last year at Fraser Lake Camp. I look for strong vertical elements and diffused light to create a slightly dream like feel caused by the vertical pan. I began using this technique a few years back and it gradually evolved into my favourite style. Because I shoot handheld at varying shutter speeds, I can get some wildly varying results, which makes this even more interesting. The unpredictability of the various elements of the photo coming together in motion often offer surprises that my eye did not pick up. You’ll note the glimpses of blue sky among the treetops and the flashes of bright greens and brown blending together against the sharp dark tree trunks and bright sunshine. The image pulls my eye through a cathedral-like setting to the background where the space between the trees leads to a darker unknown.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70mm
1/4 sec @f/4.5, ISO 200
A second post today from Evergreen Brickworks, in Toronto. This smoke stack stands in the middle of this reclaimed brickworks. It was stood as a silent sentinel through the life of the brickworks. I like the strong lines and signs of age in this interesting monument to the location’s industrial past, now converted into a community park, market, and meeting place.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70.mm
1/500s @ f/11, ISO 250
I spent a bit of time today at the Evergreen Brickworks, in the Don Valley area of Toronto. This was an operating Brickworks till 1989, when it was decommissioned. The building sat abandoned till a few years ago when a significant restoration was started. It is a beautiful mix of nature and industry. The old clay quarry has been repurposed with walking trails and ponds and the buildings have been designed to incorporate elements of the old industrial buildings and modern market space. I love the slightly abandoned and misused appearance of some of the original buildings. The red brick, often tattooed in graffiti and marked with signed of age. This is one of a series of photographs I made. The fogged windows add to the mystery of what might lie behind them, yet the lamp serves to illuminate that mystery.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70.mm
1/1600s @ f/2.8, ISO 250
Some hanging lamps at the distillery district that caught my attention. I thought they looked very interesting in how they were hung and the light patterns they made. Since there were so many, I wanted to soften the background using a very narrow depth of field. I’ll have to go back in the evening and take another shot of them.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200mm @200mm
1/200s @f/2.8, ISO 250
OK, a photo for my foodie friends. Who can resist a good olive? This is a photo of one of the many olive and cheese vendors at the St. Lawrence Market in Toronto. The market offers a huge variety of fresh foods to suite almost any taste. It is colourful and busy and a must if you like food.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200mm @200mm
1/60s @ f/2.8, ISO 560
I thought I’d go for a hike today to check out the waterfall at the Whitevale dam. It’s always a nice location and the walk in along the river (Duffins Creek) is quite scenic. I found the trail surprisingly icy for the time of year. There was still lots of snow in the bush and chunks of ice floating in the creek. The problem with this time of year, aside from the treacherous trails, is there is an almost complete absence of colour. The trails are a dirty gray, the creek is muddy brown, and the forest is a muted brown with dull green for the cedars. I was happy to see this little splash of golden brown when the sun lit the stems of some weeds along the path. I also liked the strong vertical lines and the hint of blue sky in the background. I think I’ll wait a few weeks before venturing back. Who knows, by then a few wildflowers may be poking through.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200mm @175mm
1/3200s, @ f/2.8, ISO 250
On a bright, sunny late December day, I ventured out to a local conservation area to get some nature photos. About half an hour into my hike a few gentle flurries began to fall. I checked the forecast for the area and it said “Chance of flurries”. Well, the flurries grew into a full on squall. It was really the first significant snow for the area and the plants still had a late fall look to them. The words “Chance of a flurry” kept going through my mind as I saw the world around me quickly transform into a winter wonderland. I made the attached photograph just as the squall started and it nicely captures the big snow flakes against the dry goldenrod in a meadow. The snow got even more intense and never let up for the duration of my hike. By the time I got back to my car, the world around me was completely covered in a fresh blanket of snow. What a difference an hour can make.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200mm @160mm
1/60s, @ f/2.8, ISO 500
A return to my previous location. Actually, the same day and about 100 yards away from the location where I photographed the Poplars at Secord image posted yesterday. This is a stand of birch trees photographed in the same ‘abstraction’ style I have become so fond of. Essentially, I look for strong vertical elements and background colours. This particular time of year (Mid-late October) lends itself well to the technique because of the feel of the slightly diffused light and the presence of bright colours that jump out of the background.
Nikon D300
Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 @38mm
1/4 s @ f/32, ISO 100
This is one of my all time favourite tree abstractions. It was a mid fall day and the light was soft but bright. It was a time of transition. Many of the leaves had fallen and the underbrush was thinning. In the background, you can make out the yellow leaves of other poplars as well as the bright greens of balsams. The saplings among the poplars seem to be dancing with motion. It reminds my of some fairy tale scene and gives the impression of a painting, rather than a photo.
Nikon D300
Nikor 70-300mm @70mm
1/4 sec @ f/5.0, ISO 200
Ed Lehming Photography 
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