“It’s nearly mid-February, yet on the dullest days, bright orange beech leaves and the contrasting splendid whites of the birch, bring cheer to my days.” – Ed Lehming
In mid-winter, there are many places in the forest that become exceptionally drab and dull looking, lacking colour or interest. Thankfully, these places are offset by the beauty of the beech trees, which retain most of their leaves all winter long. Sure, some become bleached and diaphanous from the harsh winter environment, yet some stay bright orange or copper in colour until new spring buds force them off the branches.
There is also the brilliant white of the birch groves, which are found spread out through my region of Canada. I’ve come across some wonderful groves in the rolling hills of the moraines close to my home.
In this painterly interpretation? The beech and birch stand together along the trail, brightening the whole scene.
I decided to interpret this image the way I did simply because it pleased me. As I have noted in a few recent posts, I find myself wanting to extract more colour and softness from the image than the original yielded, so I extracted them in this manner.
“Even on the coldest February days, signs of life appear in the forest” – Ed Lehming
A walk in the winter forest is something I have always appreciated, but many times it has been in complete silence. There are no sounds of birdsong in the air, missing is the rattle of woodpeckers, and the distant caws of crows high above me. There is no movement and the forest sits silent, seemingly devoid of life.
Then, as I look around, the recent tracks of the forest inhabitants give evidence that life continues within the silence. In this case, a squirrel has ventured from the depths. Further along the trail, the burrowing of mice and moles, just below the snow fills the white landscape with dizzying patterns. In the distance, a tree shows the recent endeavors of a hungry Pileated Woodpecker burrowing deep into the trunk, leaving fresh wood exposed.
If you simply walked into this forest and did not take the time to look for and understand these signs, the forest could seem like a dead, frozen place. It goes through it’s cycles, as it does every year. Some days the canopy is filled with sounds and excited movement and seems very much alive, and then, there are times when it seems to have taken a deep breath and silently exhales.
The more time I spend in nature, and forests in particular, the more I find myself tuned into these cycles, recognizing them for what they are, appreciating and understanding their meaning a bit more each time.
iPhone 12 Pro @ 4.2mm
1/4800 sec, f/1.6, ISO 32
“Often, revisiting images or memories with a fresh eye can yield pleasant surprises.” – Ed Lehming
I am not a photography ‘purist’ by any stretch of the imagination and I’m finding that the more photos I make, the more I want to stretch the bounds of what a photograph is and can be.
By definition, photography is: the art or process of producing images by the action of radiant energy and especially light on a sensitive surface (such as film or an optical sensor). What we do with these images has often been debated. Does it cease to be a photograph if the original is altered in any way? I think, not.
One of the first things I realized as I got more serious with my photography was that composition is everything. It’s what differentiates, in my opinion, between a snapshot and and a good photo. I often hear people commenting that their photos are rarely very good. When you look at these images, the first thing that stands out is that they not well composed. That is why they are ‘snapshots’ or images made quickly, simply trying to capture a moment without much though to what they might communicate.
A well composed photo, and I’m not trying to say I am the authority on this, is well balanced, intentional, and draws the viewer in to itself. I find a well composed image lends itself to further exploration and interpretation. Try to think back on a photo you have seen lately, one that ‘grabbed’ your attention. Consider that photo and what made it stand apart from the thousands of images we are exposed to every week?
I have begun doing that with some of my recent photos, the ones that I composed very deliberately, because I saw ‘something’ in my viewfinder as I composed the image that drew me to photograph it in the first place. Often, I don’t know exactly what that might be, but I sense it. I know that the image has something to communicate and I try be utmost to make that meaning show through in my images.
There are times, like this, when I go back to my images and try to reimaging them using different techniques to show them in a slightly different way. In some cases, I may just adjust the lighting levels, boost the vibrancy or accent a particular colour to extract subtle elements that may not come through otherwise. In other cases, the image does not communicate what I originally saw in a typical photographic manner, so I apply further filters to render it as digital art. This transforms the image into something altogether new and refreshing, but the common element is always a good original composition.
If I was a good painter, which is something that I will keep working on, I would render my images into paintings, but I’m not there yet, but it gives me great satisfaction to be able to paint with light, in whatever style that may be.
“In the forest, old is replaced by new. The old growth shelters the new, yielding just enough light to allow it to thrive, while still protecting it.” – Ed Lehming
This image was inspired simply by what I thought was an interesting winter composition. Freshly fallen snow from the day before covered the young spruce trees in a planted grove of red pine. It also caused my to dig a bit more into the history of this tract, since aerial phots I found from 1954 show much of it to open pasture lands.
Much of this area was formerly open pasture and sandy farmland with a few forested tracts until it was purchased over time (1947 -1962) by Jim Walker who wanted to start a private forest and to protect the forests. To do that, he planted over 2 million trees. He wanted the lands to be used for public conservation lands and sold his many parcels to the Toronto Region Conservation Authority in 1991. Red pines and jack were planted to slow erosion and to allow other species to grow. Many hardwoods will not grow successfully when planted in an open field. They require a shelter crop to protect them from the elements.
Now, nearly 70 years later, the former farmland spans over 1062 acres of lovely forest. The red pines have been thinned by planned harvesting and the hardwoods are taking hold. Among the intended residents, small groves of spruce are taking hold along the perimeters of the planted pines, further sheltering the more delicate hardwoods from damaging winds.
It’s pretty amazing to see how a planned forest, left pretty much to its own devices will take care of itself.
iPhone 12 Pro @ 6.0 mm
1/294sec, f/2.0, ISO 25
“Even the most mundane can become a thing of beauty, if we but expect it” – Ed Lehming
Surprisingly, this is my first post this year and the first in over a month. That’s highly unusual for me, but I have found myself terribly uninspired lately. I’m finding the lack of face to face interaction with people is affecting me in ways I had not expected, being a largely solitary and private person.
I’ve still been outdoors, enjoying the snow-filled forests, and posting those images on Facebook for others to enjoy but I have been uninspired to do much more than that.
I’m looking for something to pull me out of this creative slump and general laziness, wanting to do more than just share the occasional image. So, I’m taking a kick at it today, with an image I created while on a hike last week. The original photo was ‘nice’ but I wanted to emphasize the way the low sunlight played between the pines and within the bright orange leaves of the beech trees.
I did something a bit different here to get the photo to realize into something more than just a photo. I wanted the beauty, the softness, and the subtle tones to really show through. This was accomplished by adjusting the tones to my satisfaction in Photoshop and then applying a Prizma filter to get the painterly effect. I’m really pleased at how it turned out and it will serve as a reminder to me to persevere through the COVID lock-downs, there is still beauty around us, we just need to apply a bit more effort to get it to permeate us and appreciate it for what it is. Hopefully, this is the start of a trend for me as I shake of the effects of partial isolation.
iPhone 12 Pro @ 4.2 mm
1/609 sec, f/1.6, ISO 32
“I enter the forest trail, branches bend and bow, forming a cathedral-like arch above my head. In the silence of the new fallen snow, I find myself in reverence to the beauty of nature. A walk in the woods becomes a spiritual experience once more.” – Ed Lehming
This is how that wonderful day in early December started out. Only a few steps from the trailhead, this scene of wonder greated me. It truly felt like those first few moments when I enter a great cathedral. The quiet grandeur and majesty of the columns and high vaulted ceilings humbles me and puts me in a place of reverence.
It’s so very difficult to fully explain this to people who are not connected to nature. There are times, like this, where the beauty is simply overwhelming. I have found myself standing, nearly breathless as I simply drink it in. Places and scenes like this sustain me through my lows, reminding me that peace and beauty are still very present.
On that December morning I was a bit nervous about my ability to successfully capture that beauty. I have found that when everything around me is so startlingly beautiful it become difficult isolate sections. But this time, it seemed that no matter what way I turned to compose an image, there simply was not a bad shot. A few of my photos are not as captivating or interesting as others, but they are all beautiful in their own way.
As I look back on this particular photo I can still experience that incredible feeling of peace and wonder, watching wisps of snow swirling in the air on the gentle breeze, the only sound I could hear. Just writing this and looking at the image brings peace and calm to me and I look forward to entering this place once more.
iPhone 12 Pro @ 6.0 mm
1/1916 sec, f/2.0, ISO 26
“There are times to rest and times to keep going, it’s good to have a choice.” – Ed Lehming
I’m still working through photos I made over two weeks ago on that magical December second morning. The overwhelming beauty of that day is still with me, though I’ve travelled these trails several times since that. The way the freshly fallen snow transformed the world that day was indescribable.
The trail, within Uxbridge, Ontario’s North Walker Woods, is one of my favourites and has yielded many of my best photos over the past few years. It’s a place I go to recharge, to be inspired, and simply where I love to be. I’ve hiked the same trail for many years now and it always offers me something new, even after all that time.
The forest is a living, changing thing, and never the same twice. That morning in early December really drove the point home. I have travelled these trails on beautiful snow-filled days before but have never experienced the brilliant and pure radiance like I did that day. I have about fifty photos, each one a wonderful representation of that morning to keep as a reminder. I have posted a few so far and will be posting others in the future, I’m sure.
This particular image has kept me coming back. The bench, just recently placed at the juncture of three trails, beckons me to sit and just take it all in, but it’s covered in deep snow, which I also do not want to disturb, so others can enjoy this view too. Also, the view looking at the bench, with the wonderful sunlight behind it is actually better than the view from the bench, particularly at this time of day.
When I look at the image, as when I was there, the temptation is to sit and rest, but with all the darkness in our work these days, the time to rest, for me, is not right now. I’d prefer to fill myself up with beauty and hope, saving it for a time when rest will be more urgent. For now, the image of this place is rest enough for my spirit and I hope it has the same effect on others.
iPhone 12 Pro @ 4.2mm
1/1383 sec, f/1.6, ISO 32
“As winter approaches, remnants and reminders of autumn persist, adding colour to the gradual toning down to winter whites.” – Ed Lehming
This image was a fortunate combination of two factors: convenient compositional angle and a very wide aperture on my new Iphone 12 Pro.
The compositional angle is due to me trying to get the cluster of leaves lined up to my satisfaction, which put all the stems behind the leaves which I wanted as my focal point. The aperture was a bit of a surprise. I’ve been playing with my new iPhone and it’s ‘portrait mode’ which allows me to create phone images with incredibly wide aperture for such a small device, rendering pretty much anything behind the subject as a soft blurred bokeh, including the stems the support the leaves. The effect is that the leaves seem suspended in the air against a very soft background.
My primary intent with this image was to capture those splashes of colour that remain into late fall, even after it has snowed. The colour is primarily orange or tones of yellow-orange from the many beech trees in my local forests. But, every now and then, a stubborn maple or oak has some colour to share as well, which was the case with this small bunch of maples leaves which caught the morning sun so nicely.
iPhone 12 Pro @ 6 mm
1/125 sec, f/2.0, ISO 25
“All too often we are so focused on cautiously watching our step that we fail to look up and ahead to see the bigger picture right there in front of us.” – Ed Lehming
My hikes and photography are something I really enjoy and every now and then, an image, like this one, will confront me with a perspective to consider.
As I walk through the forests, I spend a lot of time looking down, watching my step, to ensure I don’t trip over a root or uneven ground, more so in the winter. As a photographer, I also spend a lot of my time looking around me, always on the lookout for my next image. However, that focus tends to shift between my footing and my horizontal sightline. Unless I stop and make take in my wider surroundings, they go generally unnoticed as a whole as I tend to focus on specific areas.
It was not till I made this wide angle image that I realized this somewhat unfortunate habit. The wide angle treatment is not something that I expect that I would pursue on a regular basis but it did remind me that all the tighter scenes that I enjoy are part of something larger and beautiful. The wide view is also quite humbling for me because it reveals he vast scale of even a small section of the forest world that I hold so dear.
iPhone 12 Pro @ 1.54 mm
1/1350 sec, f/2.4, ISO 25
“Thick soft snow blankets the landscape with its brightness. Distant shadows flee as the forest is filled with light.” – Ed Lehming
The images I’m sharing were all made on the same amazing day over a week ago. Each one a wonderful memory of the incredible beauty we find our world filled with, even in what feels like dark times. I’m so grateful for these days of brightness and hope.
As we enter yet another month of COVID related uncertainty, the one constant that keeps me from losing heart is the beautiful natural landscape that is so close to my home. This forest tract is a mere ten minute drive for me and I find myself quickly immersed in it within a few steps from the trailhead. I’m also grateful that I am able to successfully capture some of these moments for others to enjoy.
This particular image was made just a few steps off the main trail. I had to step into the forest to get clear of some low shrubs that blocked this view. I noticed the short snow-covered spruces from the trail and wanted to make them the focus of the image, with the plantation pines in the background and the wonderful warm glow of the mid-morning sunshine filling the shadows. I hope this image brings some joy to those who need it today.
iPhone 12 Pro @ 4.2mm
1/374 sec, f/1.6, ISO 32
“The new fallen snow filled the trees that surround this quiet pond and the sun cast long shadows over it’s freshly frozen surface.” – Ed Lehming
I have passed this pond through all seasons, usually stepping off the main trail to stand on its shores, as have so many others. The pond fills a small bowl in the landscape. It’s always a peaceful place to sit quietly and enjoy the sun playing on the water; dragonflies skimming the surface.
Despite so many times visiting the pond and visualizing an image that captures its essence, that composition has thus far eluded me, until last week, when a fresh snowfall and low morning sunlight transformed the pond into something magical.
There was a very special quality to the morning light which caused the forest behind the pines to glow with a calming energy. The snow, which stuck tenaciously to everything from the tall pines to the most modest sapling was like a sugary frosting that brought a beautiful purity to everything. Combined, they provided the magic.
I tried a few different compositions ranging from a fairly wide angle shot to a zoomed portrait view and settled on this moderately wide shot which effectively pulled the main elements into the image and portrayed the scene and the calm of the morning into a single image. Looking at the final image I can happily put myself back on the shores that serene morning and almost feel the cool air on my face.
iPhone 12 Pro @ 1.54 mm
1/251 sec, f/2.4, ISO 25
“Sunshine beamed between the plantation pines, making the snow-laden branches glow with an ethereal light against the dark tree trunks.” – Ed Lehming
As I continue with my early December series of images, I remain amazed at the seemingly endless beauty of that day. Scenes shift from bright white trails to images like this, still bright, but contrasted with the darker parts of the forest.
One of the things that made these shots possible was the time of day, mid-morning, that I went out hiking. I had set out earlier in hopes of catching the new-fallen snow at its prime. That decision also provided me with wonderful light, which casts long shadows across the forest floor. It also allowed for images like this, where the low sun shone through the forest and lit up the snow covered branches with a soft back-light.
In this image, the dense forest dominates most of the image but is balanced by bright sunshine in the background, something you would not get in an afternoon shot. The whole scene is calming and beckons me to enter deeper into the experience.
iPhone 12 Pro @ 4.2mm
1/353 sec, f/2.0, ISO 25
“I enter December with hope and delight. The dull days of late November are past and the bright snowfall of December cheers my soul.” – Ed Lehming
The journey down December trails continues as I keep taking pleasure in reviewing my photos from my December 2nd hiie through a local conservation area. As is evidenced in the photo, I was not alone and several others had enjoyed the trails before my arrival that glorious morning.
The snow was just deep enough for a cross-country skier to use the trail with ease, yet shallow enough for hikers and dog walkers to also partake without too much effort.
As I have noted in previous posts, I got on the trails in good time, concerned that the magic of this new fallen snow might not last too far into the day as well as being able to take in the lovely long shadows that morning light produces.
This image is just another sample of just how beautiful the day was, with snow sticking to every surface like a bright, sugary coating. It’s just what I needed after what seemed like a rather long and dreary ending to November filled with fog, rain, and days that simply remained too dark for cheer.
iPhone 12 Pro @ 4.2mm
1/1531 sec, f/1.6, ISO 32
“Before me, the beech blazed in bright golds, shimmering as the gentle breeze caressed the snow laden leaves. The world was wide awake and filled with joyous energy and brilliance.” – Ed Lehming
It appears this series will be continuing for a while, I have so many wonderful images from this gorgeous December morning earlier this week.
I thought I had captured plenty of wonderful scenes during this hike and was mere steps from the trailhead when my eye beheld this single beech tree along the trail, the sun illuminating it from behind and making it seem to glow with energy and joy.
The day started out bright and sunny with no wind to disturb the wonderland created the day before. I knew I had to get out early because these lovely winter scenes are temporal and must be enjoyed before they fade, as they always do. I’d been hiking for just over an hour, simply drinking in the incredible winter landscape though it is still official Autumn for a few more days. There were so many opportunities to capture the essence of this day and I must have made over 50 photos already, every one of them unique.
As a stated earlier i this post, I thought I was done and heading back to my truck when this presented itself. It was such a serene moment that I took time to make a 30 second video of it to enjoy at a later date. It’s one of those time where you are transported into a place of peace and reflection. I intend to go back to it many times if I need a time of quite mindfulness. After making the video I also composed this singe image of the scene. I’m glad I did.
iPhone 12 Pro @ 4.2mm
1/2451sec, f/1.6, ISO 32
“In a single day, the world is transformed, gray foggy days are now filled with the brightness of new fallen snow. December has touched my world and I rejoice in it.” – Ed Lehming
It’s difficult to describe a scene like this and even more difficult to chose a single image from a day that filled me with such delight, especially since the days preceding it were dull and rain-filled. Those few days had me downright depressed. I’m not one to sit around the house and do nothing and dull days do not inspire me creatively. So, when the forecast called for two days of rain and wet snow it did not lift my spirits.
I was pleasantly surprised when I awoke yesterday and the world dawned with bright, clear sunshine and a winter wonderland of awe inspiring beauty. These days are often so overwhelmingly beautiful that t is difficult to capture it effectively.
Generally, these conditions begin to fade quickly as the sun warms the snow and even gentle breezes quickly undo the magic. So, I set out for an early hike, hoping to capture some of this wonder, while it lasted.
The morning did not disappoint and I was surrounded by a world of such incredible brightness that it actually bothered my eyes. Around every turn a fresh scene of pure tranquility greeted me. Even as the gentle wind stared to knock some of the snow down, it remained cool enough to stay on the branches. The brilliant sunshine further enhanced the effect by making the ice drops gleam like diamonds and cast long shadows across the ground.
My biggest concern when faced with these scenes is that the images will be blown -out or flat, ineffectively translating into a good photo that communicates the experience. However, yesterday I had my new iPhone 12 Pro with me and it did an astonishing job at producing brilliant, well-balanced images, without me having to do any adjustments in post. I’m thrilled to have yet another tool that I can use for these situations, and it is a lot lighter than my D800!
iPhone 12 Pro @ 4.2mm
1/1742 sec, f/1.2, ISO 32
“A return to memory, the chance to relive and reimagine an experience does not happen often in real life, but there is a joy in revisiting memories through photos that has a firm hold on me” – Ed Lehming
Since I was a child, I have enjoyed looking back through family photo albums. I am fortunate that I have a family that has been able to document so many events through images. I find myself leafing through the photos, recalling the sounds, tastes, and smells of those events. My imagination and memory also takes me back to the people who are not necessarily in the frame and the event expands in my memory and imagination.
I don’t languish there, though, if I’m honest, I do look back fondly on what seemed to be simpler times; times spent with family and friends. Looking at the photos, you’d think the world was idyllic. I know that there where events going on in the world at the time and in the lives of the people pictured that were every bit as distressing as the world we live in now, but a quick recall without reflection ignores this and only the good remains for me.
There are times, when looking back, that I try to imagine the effects of a slight change or wonder if I recall the time correctly, my mind tries to fill in the blanks.
These thoughts were all triggers by the recent memory of a tree along the roadside that I had hoped to capture as an image. The tree and the scene when I finally did stop to make the image still captivates me. All the required elements aligned and I was able to make a phot that I am very pleased with. Yet, I have returned to it, to see if I can draw out some further elements, to realize it in a slightly different way. In this case, showing the scene as more of a digital painting; making it a bit more moody and dreamlike. I wonder as I do this if some time in the future, will look back at the image and be able to fill in the experience? I also wonder, as others view this image, where their imaginations go and how they see it?
“Inevitably, summer turns to autumn and autumn turns to winter, the inescapable cycle continues.” – Ed Lehming
It seems like mere days ago I was fully immersed in a beautiful, mild and sun filled autumn. The days seemed to progress slowly, allowing me to fully savour the wonderful colours, scents, and sounds. But alas, all thing must end and the cycle of the seasons continues. The once lush and ripe grapes that I enjoyed watching grow now hang on leafless vines, puckered and drying in the cold air just before winter’s start.
I could not resist this image made outside a local art gallery. The Andara Gallery, in Ontario’s Prince Edward County, has two showing areas: one in a renovated barn, used seasonally, and a climate controlled, modern building which is open year-round.
Outside the old barn are wild grapes. I noticed the grapes as we were preparing for a photo session that the owners of the gallery are putting on this year as a fund raiser for the local hospital foundation. They placed a large Christmas Tree in the barn and set up chairs and benches for the photo sessions. It provided my wife and I some nice holiday photos, supports a local charity, and afforded me the opportunity to make another photo for myself.
“Though there are berries-a-plenty an unexpected guest seems less than welcome.” – Ed Lehming
I had not set out to photograph birds on this day. It was a day filled with wildlife where I had not expected much. This was the same day that I had a large buck walk right up to me. Shortly after that happened I was walking through a grove of birch trees filled with cedar waxwings feasting on berries.
There was constant motion with the birds eagerly flitting from branch to branch, never quite satisfied with where they were. It makes it a bit of a challenge, which is the nature of wildlife photography; wildlife does not like to sit still or pose. I have great admiration for wildlife photographers who specialize in this genre alone. Sometime, opportunities like this just pop up and you have to be ready for them.
I made several images, trying to compose the shot, focus, and light balance before the birds moved or took off altogether. Luck may have been on my side for this one, as I recall focussing on the single bird who occasionally would pose like in this image. What I was not aware of, as I clicked the shutter was the invader coming to land behind him. It worked out well as it looks like the subject of my attention was aware of the new comer and the bird landing in the background seems to be looking for a safe place to land. Overall, there is a nice sense of interaction in the photo as opposed to just a still image.
Nikon D800
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD @ 200 mm
1/160 sec, f/6.3, ISO 400
“I was drinking in the surroundings: air so crisp you could snap it with your fingers and greens in every lush shade imaginable offset by autumnal flashes of red and yellow.” – Wendy Delsol
This was a bit of a surprise composition. As I looked into the forest all I could see was layers and layers of muted colour and bright patches of light. I saw the potential of a nice image that might capture some of the ‘feel’ of this scene. I decided on an intentional camera motion shot to bring some life to what I was seeing through my viewfinder.
I knew what I wanted to communicate but I was uncertain if I could convey it effectively. So, I took a chance, a single image based on the hope of what might be. Sometimes you have to take these chances and rely on pure instinct and knowledge of what your camera is capable of or that opportunity is forever lost.
The resulting image looked pleasing when I reviewed the shot on my camera. I knew it had captured the ‘essence’ of what I was hoping to express. With a few minor adjustments in post it yielded the result above. The glow of the autumn sun beams between the trees, laying down long ribbons of light. Catches of golds and copper reflect from the undergrowth and the pale green of the conifers fills in the background. It’s a very ‘soft’ image, looking vaguely ‘painterly’ and calming, which is what I was seeing as I stood before this scene. I’m pleased that I followed my ‘gut’ on this and was able to capture a small vignette of my overall autumn experiences.
Nikon D800
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD @ 70 mm
1/4 sec, f/18, ISO 640
“The sun caught the remaining crimson leaves of the blackberry bush, reflecting it like a bright red beacon in the shadows.” – Ed Lehming
It’s a fairly common occurrence, this time of year, to see a bright splash of colour caught in the sun. With the many beautiful yellows, oranges, and reds combined with the low, soft sunlight, these colours show up in strong contrast to the darker background of the forest.
I’ve enjoyed observing and photographing these moments, as the light permits me. Sometimes its a challenge to compose this type of shot because the sun has to be in the right position to really make the plant glow or stand out from the background. Often the ideal angle for composition is not the ideal angle for capturing the light properly or effectively. It takes a bit of ‘moving around’ to balance composition, light, and subject optimally. Often the photo turns out as less than expected.
For this image all the elements came together with a bit of effort. To get the light just right I had to squat down low which accounts for the few pale blue splashes of sky in the background. I never was able to get the entire plant into the light as shadows from the scant canopy above kept landing on parts of the leaves. After a few attempts, this was the best one; a lovely blackberry plant in its final show of the year. At first I was looking for a fully intact plant, minus the partially eaten leaves, but that is the nature of this time of year, it’s a winding down. It’s still beautiful and bright, despite it’s flaws.
I walked past this spot yesterday and all the leaves had fallen, leaving only a thorny stem as an indication of where it once stood.
Nikon D800
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD @ 200 mm
1/250, f/2.8, ISO 200
“With the morning sun at my back, light blazed above me, lighting the trail ahead with golden warmth.” – Ed Lehming
I can’t seem to get enough of autumn, as snow now begins to fall and swirl around outside. I was very fortunate to have the ability to spend longer periods of time on the local trails just as fall was coming into its full splendour.
Even the photo above, made only last week, still holds some splashes of colour and brightness. On this particular day, I hit the trails early and was greeted with beautiful warm sunshine and light. The sun is now lower in the sky and creates some lovely effects if you get the timing and location right. This particular section of trial lined up in such a way that the sun beamed brightly down the length of the trail, making it look like the whole thing was made of gold. It did help that the trail was covered with freshly fallen oak leaves and pine needles, but it was quite mesmerizing and I simply could not resist the shot, hoping to capture some of its beauty.
It looks like a bright shaft f light is descending from above when contrasted to the darker pine and oak forest along the trailside.
Nikon D800
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD @ 70 mm
1/4 sec, f/25, ISO 200
“Delicious autumn, I could revel in her warmth and colours for months and not get tired of it. Like a leaf suspended above the ground, I move in her breezes, lost in her splendour.” – Ed Lehming
Such a simple thing, yet so much a part of the whole experience. This maple leaf, caught by chance on a cedar branch, hangs suspended above the forest floor, warm autumn light making it glow with the colour of fire.
It caught my eye immediately as I came around a bend in the trail. The sun caught it in such a way that it simply stood out against everything else. It beckoned to be photographed, as lovely reminder of this years wonderful, warm autumn days.
My life circumstances had just changed and I found myself out of work at my favourite time of year. With COVID 19 still a very present part of our lives, seldom used trails filled with people from the neighbouring city on the weekend. Parking is next to impossible and the throngs of people on the trails take away from the quite pleasure I usually enjoy. Not having to work, for a time, has afforded me the time to go hiking at my leisure. There are no deadlines to meet and no urgency to hurry along. I am simply able to ‘be’ in the forest and enjoy everything that nature has to offer me.
I’m finding myself very much at peace, able to recharge and heal mentally after 34 years of increasingly urgent work. It’s giving me time for solitude and reflection as I enjoy the sights, breath the fresh fall air, and listen to the sound of leaves crunching underfoot. Though unfortunate and disruptive, this ‘downtime’ it is proving to be very refreshing, so I will take all it has to offer me.
Nikon D800
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD @ 200 mm
1/125sec, f/2.8, ISO 200
“I stand on the edge, that place between light and shadow, where the darkness prevails and light is mere steps away. I choose the light.” – Ed Lehming
I have stood in this place many times. It’s a place of transition, the place where thick forest opens into a bright meadow. As you approach this place, even on the dullest day, there is always a strong contrast between the forest and the field, the light is significantly different and always brighter.
The camera does some interesting things with this light. Actually, it’s the human eye that does the interesting thing, the camera merely captures what it sees, unadjusted. The human eye rapidly fills in missing information, bringing light and textures to the deep shadow that the camera simply sees as darkness. Our eyesight rapidly compensates and tries to give us as a complete a picture as possible.
Seeing through my camera has cased me to pause on more than a few occasions, where, despite adjusting camera settings and composition, I can never get quite what my eyes see, though I can often get very close. In some cases, like this one, the camera view is a bit more interesting and dramatic.
I do like these times. When I have a comparison point, it makes me consider what I see, or think I see in new ways.
Nikon D800
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD @ 70 mm
1/4 sec, f/10, ISO 200
“There are times when nature becomes intimately close. I revel in those moments and hold them sacred. I become part of the natural world, not merely an observer.” – Ed Lehming
Yesterday was a big change in weather for us in Southern Ontario. We have had over a week of mild, almost summer-like conditions, with lots of bright sunshine. The shift to autumn norms has began and the day started out like a typical November: dull, cold, and just a hint of rain in the air.
Given that the light was not ideal for my standard forest photography, I ventured into an area that is a bit more open and is adjacent to a forested area. As I walked along the edge of the field I noticed movement on the far side, I saw a flash of white and realized that a large buck had just emerged and the white was the reflection from his antlers. Knowing how skittish bucks can be this time of year, I quickly shot a few images, figuring this would be the best I could get.
He stood at the edge of the field and then, to my surprise, started heading directly towards me. The breeze was in my favour, blowing from my left o my right and he did not catch my scent. Again, thinking he would soon notice me and bolt, I made a few more photos of him in various poses, including looking straight at me.
As time progressed he continued to walk towards me, seemingly unaware of my presence. I actually got a bit nervous because bucks can be aggressive and unpredictable during rut, or mating season. Eventually he passed within a few meters of where I stood, to the point where he no longer fit into my camera frame!
He still did not seem to notice me and wandered into the forest behind me without a sound or backwards glance. I truly felt amazed at this close encounter. It felt like I belonged there, for that moment, simply part of the environment. this moment will not soon be forgotten.
Nikon D800
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD @ 200 mm
1/200 sec, f/7.1, ISO 400
“A multitude of colours and textures lays at my feet, a scattered sample of the colours which fill the autumn forest. A chance to consider the incredible multitude of shapes, textures, and tones the forest has to offer me this day.” – Ed Lehming
I was considering how I would approach this image. As with many things that I photograph, I’m often not sure at the time what, exactly, is drawing me towards that particular composition. Often, it’s not till many days later, when I have the chance to spend some time with the image, that that element or understanding emerges.
As I began a hike a few days ago, I noticed the colourful leaves laying on a wooden boardwalk which crosses a wetland one of the trails I regularly frequent. I stood there of a moment, looking at the textures and colours of what lay at my feet, separated fairly well so that each leaf showed its own particular character. I made the image simply so I could look back on it later as a bit of a novelty. The dark wooden planks really made the leaves ‘pop’ and show their brightness and is what caused to to stop here in the first place.
Now, as I look back on that particular decision, I realize that this simple isolation of elements is something I regularly do as I make photos. Here it’s the strong contrast between the bright leaves and the dark wood, other times it’s a particular element that stands out from its surroundings. There is no particular focus but the image grabs your attention and you end up drawn into it, taking on the individual parts, rather than the whole and small details that would normally be overlooked begin to emerge.
iPhone 7 back camera @ 4.0mm
1/30 sec; f/1.8; ISO 25
“There are few things more soothing than the bright colours of autumn and a handful of bright, warm days. It feels like the world around us is beaming with joy and it’s contagious.” – Ed Lehming
I continue to review the images I made on my many autumn hikes. Today, I look on a drab, rainy, and dull landscape, so reflecting back on the colour and light of recent weeks is refreshing.
It always astounds me when an image of a familiar place realizes in a new way. In the case of this image, it’s a bit of a narrow pathway where the trail weaves between a stand of poplars. This is a place I have passed through literally hundreds of times, but it’s never revealed itself like this. In fact, I would not have seen this view had I not looked behind me. Light direction plays a major factor in the photo.
This was about three weeks ago and fall colours were just completing their peak. The forest was filled with yellows and retained splashes of reds and orange. The mid-morning light cast wonderful long shadows but cast enough light to brighten the canopy with brilliant, soft light.
It’s these ‘moments’ that keep me coming back, time and time again. Every time I experience things in a new way. I hiked through here a few more times since, recalling this particular time with joy. But, for now, that moment is gone, ‘paused’ and waiting to show me some some new version, when the time is right.
iPhone 7 back camera @ 4.0mm
1/285 sec; f/1.8; ISO 20
“Returning to a memorable place is so refreshing, but we should not dwell there. Life has so many new memories for us to make.” – Ed Lehming
I did want to revisit this place and moment one last time. As I mentioned in a previous post, this is one of those opportunities we need to take whenever possible. It was a peripheral image that I made time to experience and I continue to enjoy and am so glad I took the time to stop and capture it.
There is also the element of being able to realize it as close to what my vision of the image was. As I said, I have driven past this place many times and had a mental ‘snapshot’ of what it might look like. There was always the intention of stopping here the ‘next time’ I drove by and many of those opportunities went by.
So, when I finally stopped here, there was a bit of creative pressure to fulfil that mental image of what might be. I stood at the roadside running through the various compositions available to me, also keenly aware that the light was rapidly changing and that an opportunity might be lost.
Something I have learned over the past few years of photography is to be prepared for every opportunity that presents itself. I am now able, after many failures, to rapidly compose a shot and I know my gear well enough to set it up quickly for a successful image. That was the case this past weekend. I stopped, set up several shots, with various lenses and quickly captured the images before the light changed too much. Even in the span of a few minutes, the conditions change rapidly, light dimming and background clouds shifting form.
Of all the images I made in those few minutes, this one remains the most pleasing to me. I was very happy to be able to fulfil an image I had only, till that point, imagined.
Nikon D800
Tamron SP AF 17-50 mm F2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical IF A1N6II @ 20mm
1/80 sec, f/4.5, ISO 200
“Autumn is like that final concentrated burst at a fireworks display; it’s like the forest has been saving up for that one spectacular grand finale.” – Ed Lehming
It’s hard to believe that a mere two weeks has passed since I made this image. It was the second week of ‘fall’ proper. The prior week still had lots of greens and yellows and the canopy was still quite dense. On this day, the greens were largely gone and the soft autumn light fully penetrated the forest, filtered and reflected from the wonderful orange and golden leaves. The low sun also cast glorious shadows.
This was just one of many wonderful moments when I paused along the trail, breathed in the scent of fallen leaves and fresh soil, basked in the diffused light, and listened intently to the sounds of falling leaves. For me, there are few things more refreshing and enjoyable.
The image was made in effort to preserve this memory and it turned out beautifully. It fully captures my experience, without the sounds and scents.
Phone 7 back camera @ 4.0mm
f/1.8; ISO 20
“There are times in our lives where we simply need to stop and enjoy what is placed before us.” – Ed Lehming
I have “noticed” this scene many times over the past year, but I have never stopped to enjoy it. It’s one of those things we notice from the periphery of our “busyness”. It captures our attention, only momentarily and then we carry on.
Today, I was determined that I would spend some time here, enjoying the serenity of the location, along a fairly busy highway in Ontario’s Prince Edward County, a popular tourist destination. As cars wizzed by I stood and simply revelled in the place.
I had imagined what it might ‘realize’ into as a photo. Again, just on the edge of my imagination. It has left a lasting impression of what “might” be. I was hoping for good light, a few clouds to keep the composition interesting and engaging, and that I could frame it effectively from my roadside vantage point.
As the photo above can attest, I was not disappointed. Most of the desired elements aligned. The late afternoon light was soft and warm, a gentle breeze added texture to the pond. There was even a beaver in the pond, who quickly exited the frame before I was ready to snap the shutter. All that was missing was the bright yellow leaves that adorned the tree a few weeks ago. I will have to revisit this place a few more time to fully enjoy what might be.
For now, I am very content with what had, up to today, simply been a vision in my imagination. That is perhaps the greatest joy of photography for me; to communicate my own imagination and perception for others to enjoy, all because I took a few minutes to stop and enjoy a moment that I had passed by on previous occasions.
I would encourage everyone to take the time to enjoy absolutely every beautiful moment placed before us.
“On revisiting places and memories, we are reminded of what was. We should not dwell on these things, but recall fondly the place these things had in forming the present” – Ed Lehming
I have shared images of these dead pine trees a few times in the past. I came across them several years ago and they stood out to me because they are such a stark contrast to the living forest that surrounds them. They appear to have died many years ago but the nature of their composition and lack of branches for the wind to catch has kept them standing for years.
Every year, they decay a bit more and there is often one less. I imagine they will all be gone in the next few years.
I always make a point in stopping in front of them, thinking about what must have happened to kill them off and fascinated by how they have remained vertical. They have provided me with some wonderful photo opportunities. Given the number of photos I have made here, no two are ever the same. Some element is always changed, be it the light, the colour of the foliage, or even the slight change in my position when composing the image.
On the day I made this image, a mere week ago, autumn was in full swing, the surrounding forest filled with soft light and brilliant gold, orange, and rusty colours, and a cluster of shrubs, which have only recently taken hold among the skeletal trucks, added a beautify sparkle of light that I had not noticed before.
It’s become a place of quiet reverence and reflection to me and one I will sorely miss once they are all gone. I will miss them once their time has passed but be grateful for the inspiration they have provided me.
Nikon D800
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD @ 70 mm
1/4 sec, f/32, ISO 200
Ed Lehming Photography 
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