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
I keep finding myself going back to these images from January 2015. In this photo, the ice sheets extend out into Lake Huron, near Point Clarke, to about 2 miles. The weather had been relatively mild for January, but a sudden deep freeze caused the thin ice to pile up and rapidly freeze into an extended, but thin “shelf”. Because the open water beyond the shelf was still relatively warm, moisture laden air rose up into the dark snow clouds you see in the distance. It was sunny where I was standing, which lights up the snow and ice nicely, but is a strong contrast to the snowstorm occurring off-shore.
A far off mountain range in some distant land? No, this pile of snow and ice was photographed along the shores of Lake Huron in January. After a relatively mild December, a period of deep freezes and high winds began to push the fragile shore ice into great stacks of ice. High winds and extremely cold temperatures then forced waves under the ice and through cracks creating ‘ice volcanoes’ made of ice, sand and rocks from below the surface. The combination of these elements created a surreal landscape that I have never before experienced. I was so pleased that the photos captured the scale and fine details of this marvellous scene.
On a recent visit to Ahmik Lake, near Magnetawan, Ontario, I came across this pine tree and boulder shrouded in snow. The scene is so typical of Canadian Shield scenery. The tree is likely over a hundred years old and has witnessed many seasons. I liked the way the exposed portions of bark looked much like the pink feldspar on the boulder next to it, topped off with the pure white snow. It just says “Canadian Winter” to me. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
On a recent trip downtown I noticed these interesting stacked housing units near the St. Lawrence market. I was drawn by the repeated shapes and colour, but on further observation, there are some very interesting textures. I also did not notice that all the doors had heavy mesh on them. Can you spot the two pigeons? Enjoy the view 🙂
On a recent canoe trip up the York River near Bancroft, I notice that our cool, wet summer has made several trees begin to change there leaves to fall colours. Along the York River I was treated to the marvellous effect of gradually changing colours. The tops of the trees are in full fall splendour while the bottoms, closest to the warmer water are still green. I am hoping this effect continues for a while so I can see more of it in the upcoming weeks.
Egan Chute is the first of three chutes (Egan, Middle, and Farm) on the York River near Bancoft, Ontario. Egan is the easiest to access and perhaps the most beautiful. At this point of the York River, the river flow bends around a corner and flows with incredible power and beauty across a series of ‘steps’ creating a wonderful fan effect. The wet summer this year has kept the water flowing well, though dry summers create delicate, wispy effects. The chutes are now designated as Ontario Provincial Park to further protect the unique environment.
A surprising find in the relatively flat area of North Pickering was this beautiful waterfall. It is the remnant of an old mill pond on Duffins Creek. The pond has become a meadow and Duffins Creek flows through it to exit at this waterfall. Due to its ease of access, I have gone here on many occasions and seasons. Unfortunately, this little gem sits inside the boundaries of the proposed Pickering Airport. I’m really hoping that project does not proceed because of it’s ecological sensitivity. I have hiked the many tributaries of Duffins Creek and can’t imaging this beautiful environment being used as an airport.
Taken on a hike to Mirror Lake in Yosemite. Tenaya Creek parallels the trail for most of the way and there are lots of these beautiful cascades along the way. I liked the log stuck between the rock and the way the water sprayed off of it. If you like waterfalls check out my Facebook page at:
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While it may not be a spectacular photo, there was something about the ancient beam and how the light played off of it that caught my attention. Soft light and a golden glow accent the axe marks and cause me to imagine when this beam was created, using only hand tools. It sure stands the test of time.
This guy was sunning himself on a private island this past weekend. I liked the idea of the little mound of swamp as his personal space and enjoyed the bright greens of the grasses as well as his reflection in the lake. Just a peaceful image from a peaceful day canoeing on Marble Lake near Bancroft.
You never know what you might see in Kensington Market. During a recent trip to the popular Toronto Market, streets were closed to vehicles (one Sunday every month in the summer) and the market was packed with people. Street performers, musicians, vendors, and artists filled the street with sights, sounds, the smell of ethnic cooking, and colour. At one corner, a group of performers were re-enacting a Mayan ceremony. I was captivated by their bright costumes and snapped a few photos to capture the moment.
Ed Lehming Photography 
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