A tale of 2 cities

A couple of our daughters sent us photographic evidence yesterday that winter had not quite yet released its icy grip up north. We're harbouring a not-so-secret hope that it will slip quietly into history and make way for spring before our return.

Here's what we found in our southern yard yesterday:

Contrast that to their experience:

Winter Wonderland III

I've seen from news reports that winter has arrived across much of the North American continent. I mean really arrived, which those of you driving in it daily don't need to be reminded of. While we were back home in the north over the Christmas season we were fortunate not to have to drive in any adverse weather. In addition, I was able to go out several times to capture the beauty of the creation enhanced by a dusting of snow, before real winter had arrived.

Join me as I traipse through a secluded wonderland not far from home.

This is the creek that flows below the waterfalls I posted recently and which you might have visited with me last spring

A small creek which tumbles from the hill on the other side yields these ice formations

A few hundred yards downstream we come across another waterfall - don't get too near the edge - it's a bit slippery

The snow-covered ice that's formed across the rocks reminds me of cauliflower

At this point it hasn't been cold enough long enough for the ice to completely conceal the stream

The stream disappears around a bend below this waterfall. We have to scramble through the forest, away from the waterfall, and find our way down a side gully to find the stream again. The sides of the gully are coated with ice built up by dripping water - winter must have surprised these plants

Another few yards through the underbrush and we see the stream as it tumbles around the corner. From here it disappears to our left but the steep gully side means we'll have to bid it adieu, and we'll make our way back

 And throughout our trek Sasha has been patiently accompanying us - whenever the camera bag is unzipped she knows it's time for a rest in the snow. But she doesn't mind - she's in her element

On the way home

Sasha and I went to the vet today - she got the shot, I paid the bill. Sasha doesn't mind if I go on photo shoots, as long as she gets to ride along. I took a different route home which passed through a little-traveled area, where I hadn't been in some time. I decided that I could get a better view by venturing onto the ice - recall that we had 'balmy' temps of 11C/52F here the past couple of days.

Fortunately the area was fairly secluded so there were no passersby to see me gingerly test the ice near the edge of the creek. It seemed safe enough, despite some ominous looking cracks. Screwing up my courage I decided that an even better view might be had by lying down on the ice. I had visions of the ice giving way leaving me to dog paddle back to shore with a ruined camera and a bruised ego. But, I breathed and moved cautiously, and all went well.

Somehow my photo shoots don't produce that glow of accomplishment if I haven't turned it into an adventure of sorts.

(note: all 3 shots made with a 10-22mm lens at f11.0, ISO200 and shutter speeds of 1/125, 1/320, and 1/250 sec)

Post Project 365 - day 1

Calvin:  “You can't just turn on creativity like a faucet. You have to be in the right mood."

Hobbes: "What mood is that?"

Calvin:    "Last-minute panic.”

I came across that quote today whilst surfing some photography sites - pretty much captures the feeling some days while doing a Project 365.

Life felt a bit different today - no glances out the window when I woke up wondering what might become my photographic 'subject' for today (although the thought did cross my mind as I glanced out the window).

I jotted down a few recollections on my experience doing a Project 365. I imagine there are countless similar posts out there already, and I looked at a few before I started, but, as with many things in life you have to participate to really experience it. I'll add more in future posts as I recall them (I have a good memory, but it's short).

 

1. ABC - Always Bring Camera - a cardinal rule that will avoid regrets, trust me

2. Carpe Diem, or act when the opportunity is there - it likely won't come back

3. develop new eyes for seeing the world; stop just looking at it

4. get to know your camera - get out of Automatic

5. experiment - with light, angles, camera settings, subjects, day, night, weather, etc

6. take 20,000 (at least) photos this year - that's less than 55 per day

7. shoot every day, post every day if possible

8. keep notes of potential opportunities - don't rely on mental notes like I tried

9. learn some rules of composition and try to apply them

10. visit other photographers' and photography sites and learn as much as you can

11. don't get so engrossed with capturing the moment that you forget to enjoy it

12. oh, if applicable, get your 'significant other' onside, preferably before you start

There were days when I had enough different photos to fill a month and other days when I relied on panic (see quote). I stuck to posting photos I'd shot on that day only (with a couple of unavoidable exceptions) - which meant I revisited places to shoot subjects I had captured previously but had not posted.

Sorry for the long(er than usual) post, but I did get some shots yesterday while out for our last walk of the year. These were found hidden in a little area amongst the cedar trees well back of our house.

(18-55mm  f8.0  2 sec  ISO200)

click on photo to enlarge

(10-22mm  f5.6  1 sec  ISO200)

Note: I set the white balance to 'tungsten' to get the blue effect for better contrast for the next shot.

(18-55mm  f8.0  2 sec  ISO200)

(Day 362) All is well

Tuesday Dec. 28, 2010

I got an invitation from one of my daughters to go with her on a trail that she frequently takes her dogs on for exercise. Given the abundance of Christmas-related goodies that have been offered me, and which I of course was too polite to refuse, I needed the exercise too. It turned out to be a beautiful area with abundant opportunities for photos. At one point, when we'd left the trail to make our own along a little creek, through all the snow, we were forced to climb a steep 50' bank. After that we stuck to the trail that ran along the ridge.

Although the sky was a dismal gray, it was a beautiful day for a hike. The water running under the ice, the snow lying thickly on fallen trees, and the peacefulness of the woods indicated that all was well. Here are just a few shots of the many I was able to make this afternoon.

(18-55mm  f8.0  1/15 sec  ISO200)

(70-200mm  f5.6  1/40 sec  ISO200)

(10-22mm  f7.1  1/100 sec  ISO200)

(Day 358) A new day

On the day of Christmas Eve we had an opportunity to take a quiet walk. We were surrounded by snow and ice and water, and thirty yards away hundreds and hundreds of Canada geese congregated near areas of open water. There was no one else within sight or within earshot. There was no strife in our little local patch of the creation. It felt like a brand new day. Maybe this is what things looked like when God first looked out on his creation and said that it was good.

And the coming of Jesus, which we celebrate tomorrow, signified the beginning of the restoration of his creation and all that is in it. May you experience a brand new day in your life as you celebrate Christmas.

(10-22mm  f13.0  1/320 sec  ISO320)

(Day 357) The mad rush

The last time I was at this spot was in the spring. Since then a lot of water has gone under the bridge I was standing on. As I watched the water rushing down this stream I was reminded of the mad rush of people I had encountered earlier in the day - scrambling to buy those last minute gifts. I counted myself lucky not to be in that rush - not because I'm well-organized and got gifts earlier, but because my wife is the organized one who hates to procrastinate, and she had taken care of nearly all the shopping.

So I was able this afternoon to take some time and just enjoy the scene, and make a few photographs. I hope those people that were dashing through the stores find the time to slow down enough to ponder the reason we celebrate Christmas in the first place - the birth of Jesus, the Saviour of the world. At his birth the angels sang "peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased" - the kind of peace that passes all understanding. May we all stop the mad rush long enough to ponder these great things. quietly.

(18-55mm  f10  1/60 sec  ISO200)

(18-55mm  f16  1/6 sec  ISO100)

(Day 354) Shape of things to come

The acclimatization process is underway - day 1 almost in the books. I kept the wood stove stoked all day. I even spent time outdoors this morning - I fired up the old David Brown and cleaned the 7 cm/3 in of snow off the driveway (not that it really needed it, but being outside helped with getting back into the swing of winter). Sasha was truly in her element and needed no acclimatization.

This afternoon I took the camera gear - which I remembered to also acclimatize - and went looking for some winter scenes, not far from home. Cold has a wonderful way of creating shapes that warmth just can't, and after just 30 minutes of trudging through bush and holding the camera barehanded, it certainly 'shaped' my hand. Here are a few shapes I found.

(70-200mm  f7.1  1/80 sec  ISO400)

(70-200mm  f11  1/25 sec  ISO200)

(70-200mm  f7.1  1/80 sec  ISO400)

(Day 78) Spring sculptures

It's a magical time of the year - transformations are taking place as the sun warms up the earth. Brown is turning to green, plants are emerging from a deep sleep, snow and ice are disappearing ... Today's subject(s) fell victim to this transformation - they existed all winter but are no more.

(60mm  f16  1/60 sec  ISO100)

(60mm  f16  1/50 sec  ISO100)

(60mm  f4  1/800 sec  ISO100)

(Day 66) The heavens declare thy glory!

I never tire of the glory of the skies at sunset - I hope you don't either. Each is unique. Who else could paint such a comparable scene each evening ?

(18-55mm  f8  1/250 sec  ISO200)

(70-200mm  f8  1/80 sec  ISO200)

(Day 57) Signs of spring

We saw the sun today for the first time in about a week, after a major blizzard last night. By noon it had gotten (relatively) mild too, so I went out for a photo shoot. I went down to the St. Lawrence River and saw an early sign of spring - the river ice was already broken up and on its way out to sea. Perhaps that's a harbinger of an early spring ? One can only hope.

(70-200mm  f4  1/4000 sec  ISO200)


looking upriver

(70-200mm  f4  1/4000 sec  ISO200)
 
ice breakup

(18-55mm  f22  1/50 sec  ISO100)

looking downriver

(Day 55) A walk through the creation

The weather's been a bit of a 2-edged sword these days - drab and dreary on the one hand, but fairly mild compared to 'normal'. We get a bit of snow in the mornings, then the temperature goes up to 8C (46F) and it all melts again. But I wanted to get outdoors for a little fresh air and take some photos in the countryside. I knew of a little area not far from home; I decided to post a couple of extra shots of 'the beauty that surrounds us'.


(70-200mm  f16  1/20 sec  ISO200)

(70-200mm  f16  1/50 sec  ISO200)

 

(70-200mm  f16  1/125 sec  ISO200)

(Day 26) Wacky weather

Winter took a time out yesterday and in its place we got a deluge of rain and temperatures of +10C (50F). Snow and ice disappeared at a record pace and were replaced by small lakes. In today's photo you can see the previous ice pack under about 30cm (a foot) of water. It was raining too hard to take photos yesterday, and today you can see a return to more wintry conditions as the flurries fly.

And I thought Alberta had wacky weather !

(taken with 18-55mm lens @ f8 1/125 sec ISO200)

Going with the flow

It's still bitterly cold here. Thankfully there isn't much wind or it would feel even colder. But in spite of the well-below-freezing temperatures, the little creek near our place continues to flow (see photo below). While the ice is starting to creep across the creek, the waters haven't succumbed to the cold entirely. Perhaps there will be some open water for the duration of winter.

It wasn't the type of day to linger at the side of the road admiring the scene too long. But there was a beauty to the sun bouncing off the snow and water, creating lovely reflections. A place to reflect on the beauty that surrounds us (George Harrison - "Isn't It a Pity").