One of the unfortunate characteristics of our generation is that we have tended to live highly structured lives. Those of us born in the 1980s, who spent their twenties in the transitional era of the early 2000s, amidst the violent cacophony of the two Bush Wars, have experienced at least some shared sense of structure to our lives.
The typical life of an upper-middle class son or daughter born in Canada during that generation would go something like this: a childhood spent in public schools, with no lack of activities in which to immerse oneself (soccer, piano, theater, etc.). Then high school hits, with its swirl of hormonal desire combined with the looming pressure of standardized tests. It is generally here that the adolescent learns the rhythms of capitalist work-time: school during the day, nights filled with study and ever more structured activities.
If the student is lucky he or…
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As spring continues, more colour and new life emerges, following the cycle of death and re-birth. The delicate structures of new leaves exploding from once tight buds are part of that cycle. A few short days ago, these red maple leaves were just bumps on a branch. Now, you can see the future shape in miniature. The soft morning light created a nice back-lit effect that shows all the structures nicely and soft focus blurs another cluster of leaves in the background. There is something soothing about these photos. I think it’s the freshness and promise each sign of new life holds.
Nikon D300
Nikor 70-300 mm @ 165 mm
1/125 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 250
Ah, spring!
I went for an early morning walk this morning and was greeted by yet another gift of spring – a beautiful crab-apple tree loaded with delicate pink-white blossoms. The sun was just up and provided a wonderful soft light. I tried to keep as much of the flower-head in focus while keeping the background soft.
I spent quite a bit of time with this particular subject and will be posting more photos in the next few days.
Nikon D300
Nikor 70-3000 mm f/4.5-56. @ 170 mm
1/250 sec @ f/11, ISO 250
Today’s post is just a little abstraction of a photo I made last week.
With the ever warming days, many of the willows have put out ‘catkins’. This is the flower of the willow tree. Many would recognize ‘Pussy Willows’. These are the same but not as densely packed as the Pussy Willow variety and have already matured into full flower. They are still beautiful to look at. These are the catkins of the Sand willow. The photo was made along the banks of Duffins Creek, near Whitevale, Ontario.
I wanted to do a bit of a special effect on this since it did not ‘grab’ me when I first looked at the image. This is not my usual style but a bit of a learning exercise. Have had several comments that it would make a nice wall hanging.
Thoughts?
Nikon D300
Nikor 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 185 mm
1/100 sec; f/5.0; ISO 250
It’s spring in Toronto and cherry blossom season. While multitudes of people went to High Park for the annual display, I happened upon a small cluster of trees in the Toronto port lands, on Cherry Street, of all places.
I had originally set out to photograph some industrial scenes and was disappointed by the lack of parking and very limited access to the docks, where I was hoping to make some images of ships and heavy equipment. But, I was pleasantly surprised to find this grove of trees in full blossoms and I didn’t have to fight my way though crowds to get to them. Overall, I’d call it a successful day.
Nikon D300
Nikor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 155 mm
1/320 sec @ f/9.0, ISO 250
Today, a change-up from the recent posts of flower heads. Last week I spent a few days in the Bancroft area, visiting my art friends and opening up our trailer for the season. It was a gorgeous, warm spring weekend. The air was fresh and clear with a very light breeze, all weekend long. Betty and I decided to head down to the waterfront on Marble Lake to see how my sister’s trailer fared through the winter. We were greeted by the scene above. The lake was almost mirror-like, producing stunning reflections of the clouds and shore-line. It was around 5;20 and the sun was just starting to soften. Creating the right combination of conditions to produce this stunning scene.
I had intended to make a few photos of the lake and shoreline but only had my zoom lens with me. Fortunately, I had my iPhone with me to make this image and am pleased with how well this image conveyed just what I saw. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
My friends on Facebook will already have seen the image, but not the story behind it. If you like this image, please check out my Facebook page for more:
https://www.facebook.com/EdLehming
iPhone 5s back camera 4.15mm f/2.2
1/800 sec @ f/2.2, ISO 32
Similar to yesterday’s post, this photo was also made at Wendat Pond in the “Golden Hour”. This image took a bit more effort to set up, as I was deliberately trying to get the golden glow of the trees on the far shore as a backdrop and I was not very happy with my first few attempts. The bright glow I saw with my eyes was not being captured by the camera. So, a few more attempts later and this is the result. My goal is to represent not just what I see, but how I see it, through my photography.
It almost looks like a fall image, but it is really mid-spring and the air is warming nicely and the tree in the background is a poplar, just coming into new leaf. The pale green leaves are catching the sun just right to reflect just the yellow tones and warming up the background.
Nikon D3000
Nikor 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 95 mm
1/800 sec @ f/4.5, -0.33, ISO 250
One of the things I also enjoy about spring is the fact that some plants seem to weather the winter quite well. Despite heavy snow and ice, these flowers heads have managed to make it through the winter intact.
I often walk around Wendat Pond in Stouffville because the early evening light is so nice and offers some great composition opportunities. Yesterday was no exception. The sun was just starting to set and lit up the far shore of the pond in a mix of browns and golds, with splashes of green. Using a wide aperture softens these background tones nicely and makes a beautiful backdrop for photographing the plants on the near side of the pond.
Nikon D300
Nikor 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 200 mm
1/125 sec @ f/5.3, -0.33, ISO 125
You know it’s going to be an awesome summer when full-grown dragonflies are out and about in May to eat those pesky mosquitoes and blackflies.
This year’s super warm May (so far) certainly has changed or accelerated some of the usual patterns around here, As I walk around, I see fresh leaves emerging from trees and shrub, birds in their nests, and a wonderful growth of wildflowers. I’ve seen a few dragonflies in the past day and realized it’s quite early to see this many.
Well, here’s hoping this is a good sign.
I have not seen an orange one like this around. Most are blue or black, so I’ll have to look this species up. That aside, I was very pleased at how the orange background just enhances this photo.
Nikon D300
Nikor 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 300 mm
1/125 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 250
You never know what you might come across when you enter a natural setting. Today I took a lunchtime stroll to one of my regular haunts, the Stouffville Reservoir. Near the start of the trail there is a swampy area, where a small brook runs across the trail. This time of year it is particularly mucky and tricky to navigate.
Generally, the water flows through at barely a meander and you might see some water-striders or the occasional frog. As I was jumping from log to log, crossing the muddy path, I looked up to see this magnificent creature. A snapping turtle about two feet long, lying in a small pool, sunning itself. The tiny water hole seemed barely large enough to sustain a creature of this size, and I can’t believe this would be its full-time habitat, but I sure was nice to see. The turtle did not seem to be bothered with me and I had the opportunity to make several photos before it slowly buried itself in the mud, leaving not a trace that it had ever been the. It was an amazing thing to watch.
Nikon D300
Nikor 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 86 mm
1/100 sec @ f/5.0, ISO 250
A slightly different view of the forest for you to ponder.
I spend a lot of time in the forest hiking and making photographs. People ask me where I find the wildflowers that I photograph. My response is, “Along the way”. I see them, because I know what to look for, where to look, and when to look, since I have experienced them in previous walks. Many of the flowers only bloom for a short period. So, if you miss them, your chance that year is gone.
A few years ago I went for a walk with a friend who wanted to show me the creek where the trout run. As we walked to the site, which he was very familiar with and had visited many times, I stopped and made several photos. He really had no idea why I kept stopping, until he saw the photos from the walk. He had no idea he had walked past so many beautiful sights. That’s the day I realized that the trick, if that’s what you call it, is to slow down and immerse yourself in your surroundings, to start really ‘seeing’ the finer details. I’ve found that once my eye picks up on a particular flower or plant that I have not seen before, I suddenly see them everywhere. It’s not like they were not there before, I’ve simply tuned in at a different level.
Many experiences in life also seem to be like that. Things go unnoticed until you encounter them once, then you see them easier and know them for what they are. As above, you become an experienced observer.
The photo above contains all the wildflowers I have recently photographed. Can you spot them?
Nikon D300
Nikor 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 70 mm
1/125 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 250
The next in my spring wildflower series. Yesterday I went for a lunchtime stroll to my local nature retreat, namely, the Stouffville Reservoir. This area was created as a water conservation site after Hurricane Hazel roared through the region many years ago, creating floods and taking many lives. So, conservation areas were set up to ‘moderate’ water flow through a series of holding ponds. These areas made wonderful nature preserves and allowed for the preservation of many natural environments.
It is in one of these areas that many of my favourite wildflowers grow. Yesterday morning I checked on this stand of Trout Lilies, also known as ‘Dog Tooth Violets’ locally. They were not quite ready to open. But, a warm day and some sunshine changed that and they were in full bloom at noon today. Above is the photo I made of three beautiful specimens. The name is derived from the colouration of the leaves, which resembles the colour of trout. Many stands of these delicate wildflowers do not bloom for years and then, suddenly, they are full of blossoms. I have yet to figure that one out.
Nikon D300
Nikor 70-300 mm @ 220 mm
1/1600 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 250
Yesterday I talked about the cycles of nature and how wildflower blossoms follow a sequence. I posted a series of photos recently, documenting the blooming of several local wildflowers in a bit of a sequence and noted that the white trilliums should soon begin to show. Alas, show they did!
I went back to the reservoir trails today, at lunch, to check on a stand of Trout Lilies, also known locally as ‘dog-tooth violets, which were not quite open yesterday morning. They were in full bloom today, and after making several photos of the lilies, I ventured further into the woods. Of course, the Red Trilliums were still in full bloom, and there were plenty of Spring Beauties, also referred to as “May Flowers” by some. What I was not expecting, quite yet, was the small clusters of delicate white trilliums interspersed between the wild leeks. By the looks of them, this was the first bloom of the season, and the photo above is the first one I saw, thus the title, “First Up”. I spent the rest of my lunchtime walk enjoying and photographing the abundance of flowers on the forest floor and will share them in subsequent posts.
Nikon D300
Nikor 70-300 mm f/45.-5.6 @ 220 mm
1/160 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 250
Here’s the post that was supposed to happen on Friday, but I was in the Bancroft “no service” zone most of the day and forgot to update this.
Another harbinger of spring in our area is Bloodroot. The beautiful white blossom emerges from a “shroud” created by its large green leaves. This particular specimen was found along the shores of Duffins Creek, near Whitevale, Ontario. It’s amazing just how fast it springs to life from the grey forest floor. One day there is nothing and the next, a blooming flower is up and ready to be enjoyed.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm
1/200 sec @ f/7.1, ISO 250
What the heck, two posts in a day isn’t so bad, is it? After all, I missed Friday. I could not resist posting this photo of the Trout Lilies I mentioned on my previous post. There’s a regular cluster I go to every year and they never disappoint. It was earlier in the morning and they are not quite open yet. Give it a few hours and there will be several delicate bell-shaped flowers showing.
I’m hoping to get out again tomorrow to capture them in bloom and will share that image too.
This is one of my favourite times of year. Following the cycles of the plants and the emerging growth fascinates me. Out of dead-looking ground and grey branches come perfectly formed and fresh growth, year after year.
Nikon D300
Nikor 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 240 mm
1/60 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 250
I was pleasantly surprised that the “Wake-Robins”, also know as Red Trilliums, were blooming today. I actually set out to look for Trout Lilies, which should be blooming today, and they will be, later in the day. They were just not open yet (post to follow tomorrow).
The cycle of blooms is a constant and follows the same sequence every year, like clock-work. However, in some years the cycle is compressed into few days, especially if it’s warmer than normal, the more delicate blossoms tend to wither fairly quickly. Some years, when its cooler and wetter, the bloom can go on for a few extra days.
Once the red trilliums start to fade, I can expect to see whites in bloom. I already saw some buds ready to open, so it should not be long now. Stay tuned.
Nikon D300
Nikor 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 @180 mm
1/80 sec @ f/5.0, ISO 250
A very simple photo of the scene from my trailer deck last evening. I had just returned from the lake shore, making photos of the beautiful reflections on a mirror-like lake when my wife pointed out the moon between the trees. The sun was lighting the distant shoreline and the clouds a soft orange and the sky was a deep blue, with the moon suspended between the branches of trees which have not yet leafed out. A very beautiful scene to end a peaceful day with.
I am so thankful for these moments we are granted to see. Nature continues to amaze me with its infinite combinations. I’ve sat looking at this very spot many evenings and the elements have never quite come together like this. I’m so glad I was there to witness it and be able to share it.
Nikon D300
Nikor 24-70 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 52mm
1/100 sec @ f/5.0, ISO 250
I made this photo a few days ago while on an evening walk. The light was just softening and I found the dead stems an interesting subject, considering the world around is greening up with the first few truly mild days.
These are old flower heads from wildflowers growing around Wendat Pond. The pond was named after a large native city that was found to have been located in this area. For me, it’s a nice place to walk and consider what it may have looked like a few centuries ago. Did those early people look at things the way I do?
To make this photo, I took advantage of the soft light and a depth of field just narrow enough to keep the stems in focus while trying to isolate the flower heads from the background.
Nikon D300
Tamron 70-2000 mm f/2.8 @ 175 mm
1/125 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 250
On the spring theme of the Rainbow Trout spawn that occurs every year in this area, here’s a slightly abstract image of a trout mid-run up Duffins Creek, near Whitevale, Ontario. The image above is a time exposure of a single trout swimming against a particularly strong current at a point where the clear water in the foreground is mixing with water contaminated with clay, caused by the spring melt run-off from an adjacent bluff.
The dark and barely discernible shadow of the trout hangs suspended above the rocks as the water flows rapidly around him. He appears, for the moment, to be running against the odds. The reality of the image is that the fish is actually ‘stuck’ as the world around him rushes by; neither progressing nor loosing ground. He’s in a transition between clear and murky, movement and stasis.
In the end, he broke though and continued his journey up-stream, though that outcome seems uncertain at this moment in time.
Nikon D300
Nikor 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 125 mm
1/8 sec @ f/4.8, ISO 250
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
Ed Lehming Photography 
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