Through the Viewfinder

August Desktop Inspiration

2011-08-08T22:33:00.000-04:00

Whenever I visit photography forums it is the images from places that are exotic and far away that draw my attention first. Somehow, the photos seem to have more impact - the strange and unfamiliar at times may compensate for what in reality could be a mediocre photograph. Conversely, it is all too easy to be traveling around an area that you are all too familiar with and not realize the beauty of what is right in front of you.

Our trip to Washington State last year was proof positive of that. Yes, we saw plenty of unique and intriguing landscapes. Photographic opportunities seemed to be around each bend and at times it was difficult to get to a planned location due to unexpected and amazing sights along the way. In retrospect though, I can see where someone living in that environment could become jaded.

My wife and I often take day trips just outside our Guelph home. Within ten minutes we can be on country side roads that find their way through gentle hills and vast tracts of farmland. Venturing just a bit further we sometimes find ourselves in Mennonite country - Waterloo county to be more exact. After passing by a number of horse drawn buggies it feels as if you are traveling back in time when the pace of life was much less rushed.

Driving on these side roads is an adventure and although you may have an idea of which direction you are traveling you can often loose track of where exactly you are. If there are hills in sight I usually head for the higher ground knowing that in all likely hood there will be a good sight line to some intimate scene below.

The photos that we come back with may not be a "dramatic" as ones from our Washington trip - no massive trees in a rainforest, no giant sunset into sea stacks and no mountain valley covered in wildflower blooms. But the constant remains - good exposure, good composition and an eye for a slightly different angle - and the rewards are the same.

July Desktop Inspiration

2011-07-12T17:17:00.000-04:00

Sometimes good things take time.

Last year at this time plans were being made for our trip out West - not only to have a family reunion in British Columbia - but then to spend two weeks touring around the Pacific Northwest. Our trip to Washington State exceeded all expectations and we have memories and images that will be remembered fondly for a long time.

I had contacted Kathy Storring - editor at Grand Magazine and informed her of the trip and where we would be going. Grand has a section called Destinations - a travel piece - and she expressed possible interest in featuring my photos and an article for the magazine. On our return I shared some images with Kathy and it was confirmed that article would be a go. It got pushed back a couple of times - but for good reason - as the timing of the article is better suited to the subject of the piece. All in all, I am very happy with the layout and it is very satisfying to finally see images and works on paper.

To view at the the article and images please follow this link to my website - the .pdf takes a bit of time to load - so be patient.

http://www.viewfinderphotography.ca/grandmagaizine.pdf

The Desktop Inspiration for this month is an homage to our trip last year. Shot at Rialto Beach - just before sunset with an iconic sea stack in the frame as well. Rialto Beach is great as it is easy to get to and you get the benifit of the sunset without the concern of a long walk through a dark rainforest to get back to your vehicle. I would love the sunset at ShiShi beach as well - but the only way really to enjoy the sunset there is to be camping as there is an hour long walk back to the parking lot.

June Desktop Inspiration

2011-07-12T16:27:00.001-04:00

I have one memory of waking up screaming as a three year old in the midst of a violent windstorm at my our cottage in the foothills of Alberta. It is quite possible that I was already having a childhood nightmare and then waking up in the dark with the shadows of raging pines swaying back and forth on the livingroom wall was just icing on the cake for my active imagination. Fortunately, that memory did not instill a lasting impression on me in regards to how I view stormy weather. Our home out west sat on a cliff atop the river valley of the South Saskatchewan River. We had a clear view to the south and the east and it was from these directions that most of our summer storm weather came from. We, as a family, would often sit on our front step watching the storm come in with all its fury. Usually, it was a fantastic light and sound show first, then as the action moved closer the wind would pick up. It wasn't until the driving rain started pelting down that we would move inside.

It is with these healthy memories of storms where my fascination with this weather related came from and I often joke that in an alternate timeline I am a storm chaser. When time and opportunity permit I do watch what is happening weather wise - especially when some heavy weather is heading our way.

We were "fortunate" enough to have some spring storms work there way through our area near the end of May. Irena and I were heading back from a friends place - this strom was tracking north to south and we were able to keep 5 minutes ahead of the front where all the great looking clouds were. Just enough time to get back home, pick up camera gear and head south again. Being a resident of Guelph now for the past 20 years I have a number of angles worked out already in terms of clear space with not too many building in the way. It is so much harder to find spots like that here in southern Ontario where so much farmland is being overtaken by urban sprawl.

By the time I got to the spot I wanted the system was breaking apart. Areas to the north received heavier amounts of rain and I am certain that the cloudscape would have been even more dramatic had I had my equipment with me to start with. Yet another example where carrying my gear around all the time can pay off.
Despite that, I am happy with with the image. Now that summer is really here and the cool temperatures are done with I can only hope for pop-up storms on hot muggy days to provide some dramatic sky.

May Desktop Inspiration

2011-05-02T09:45:00.000-04:00

It seems that I keep going back to our trip last August in Washington State for Desktop Inspiration images. If you have time and inclination to visit Washington State I recommend it without hesitation. You will find yourself surrounded with a rich variety of photographic opportunities. Even though we had a location planned for each day of our trip we often were sidetracked by some interesting feature along our way. Occasionally these distractions proved to be more appealing than our intended location - and as always, if the light is good - use it.

The Desktop Inspiration for May is a shot from Rialto Beach - one of the many beaches on the west coast of Washington. Like many others it features the iconic sea stacks - some of which are accessible at low tide. A bonus at Rialto is that it is easily accessible and should you choose to stay for the sunset there is only a few minute walk back to your vehicle. A few days previously we had visited Shi Shi Beach and as much as we wanted to stay for the sunset at that location there was an hour long trek through old growth forest to get back to our car.
This image was taken with an 8mm Samyang fisheye lens. The lens is an excellent value, affordable for a fisheye, very sharp at f8 and invites all sorts of alternate viewpoints that can not be captured with even a standard wide angle lens.

April Desktop Inspiration

2011-04-04T12:29:00.000-04:00

Despite the recent Spring snow in our area I've decided that is all for the white stuff and will not be posting another Desktop Inspiration image with snow in it until 2012.

This image is from our trip to Washington State last year - one which still brings back many wonderful memories. This spot was just off the road somewhere - it was not marked aside from being a rest stop along the highway. Although we were a little bit anxious to get to our reserved accommodations for the evening ( where we knew there would be plenty of photographic opportunities), the challenge as always on a long trip is where do you stop and for how long? Knowing that a day is only so long and having a road ahead of you with more photographic possibilities than are possible to cover can be frustrating. Add to this the changing light during the day and knowing that where you are will look completely different in a few hours adds to the mix. We also found that spots like this outclassed some of the so called "must see" sights that we had on our list.

In the end, realizing that having so many great options is a blessing, and although you do not capture all the images you would like - it is much better than being stuck on some no-name interstate with few if any viewpoints to explore.

March Desktop Inspiration

2011-03-02T10:07:00.000-05:00

Being a native Albertan who lived a short hour and a half drive from the world renowned Dinosaur Provincial Park, it is no wonder that the badlands of Ontario hold a special place in my heart. Although a tiny fraction of the size of the badlands found out west and not having the enticing possibilities of coming across 60 million year old dinosaur remains, they are non the less a tiny visual gem that always delights.

This was my first winter trip to this location and I am very happy to say that the few hours spent there were most rewarding. The late afternoon light warmed the rich red and green tones of the soil, the exposed soil being saturated with recent meltwater showed an extra intensity of colour, and the thin ridges of snow along the formations added a wonderful contrast to the flowing formations.

This area is not very large and especially during the summer is quite over run with people. Understandably many people want to enjoy this location but that also leads to much destruction of the formations themselves. The challenge here is to enjoy as much as possible without damaging the environment for others in the future. As a photographer it is also a challenge to find the best angles on these lovely formations without including the large number of footprints of those that have gone before.

February Desktop Inspiration

2011-02-04T19:06:00.000-05:00

The hike to Tews Falls is one that I try to do at least once a year, but to do it justice twice is better and a winter excursion is always rewarding.This year due to the cold weather and good amount of snow the ice build up near the base is larger than usual. An archway of icicles almost encompasses the one side of the falls and this actually helps for getting closer to take photographs as the archway cuts down on the spray. Unless you wipe off the camera constantly in these cold temperatures you will find that your camera becomes encrusted with a fine layer of ice. A few people had trudged out a trail along and on top of the frozen the creek the day before and as the temperature had fallen overnight I was fairly confident stepping on the ice above the creek. This is a bit disconcerting at times due to the fact that you can hear and feel the water running beneath your feet. During my last winter trip to these waterfalls I was rewarded with the sound and sight of large chunks of ice breaking off the cliff edges. No such luck this time which is both good and bad, good because it's a bit safer knowing that a ton of ice isn't going to hit you on the head - but bad because witnessing these huge icicles giving way is a truly awesome sight and the sound of them crashing down the cliff face is like a thunderclap during a summer storm.

January 2011 Desktop Inspiration

2011-01-03T11:41:00.000-05:00

Greetings all!! First post for the New Year and I wish you all the very best in 2011!!

Another winter themed shot for this month. We have not had the vast amounts of snow that have fallen around us to the north and the west - so I settled for ice.

December Desktop Inspiration

2010-12-03T11:36:00.001-05:00

Now that winter seems to be decidedly on the way I chose to use a winter based theme for this months image. I guess this one could be titled "Fire and Ice".

Again, another example of where the light just before sunset can start having a magical effect on an otherwise ordinary scene. Here the warm red tones in the water are coming from the setting sun reflecting off an old red barn that was on the other side of the stream. The glow from the reflected light intensified about 10 minutes before the sun dropped below the horizon.

November Desktop Inspiration

2010-11-04T23:12:00.000-04:00

Already into November and I want to hang onto every nice day that is left. To keep things on the warm side I decided to post one more Inspiration shot from our summer trip out West. This one was taken on Rialto Beach in Washington State. We were fortunate to spend about 5 hours there - including a fantastic sunset - but there is also enough to keep one there for days. There were a number of birds out on a spit past all the washed up logs on the beach. Here hundreds if not thousands of birds were gathered - mostly gulls - but in amongst them were a small group of pelicans. I photographed this one as he was heading out into the soon to be setting sun.

Fall at the Falls

2010-10-16T18:46:00.000-04:00

Tews Falls is always an impressive sight. Getting there early in the morning one is rewarded with light on the face of the falls - something that usually lasts from 30 minutes after sunrise until 10 or 10:30 - depending on the time of year. At this time of the year I usually venture to the base of the falls and photograph the play of light and the rainbow in the mist at the base. This time I stayed at the top and captured the morning light just before the water drops over the edge. The tree cover at the top is still in full colour and the light coming in from the rising sun bathed everything in an intense golden light.

October Desktop Inspiration

2010-10-05T20:49:00.000-04:00

It is well into October and time for a new Desktop Inspiration. The image this month comes from our trip out West - this time the image is actually one that Irena took and it is one of my current favorites. The tide pools at Shi Shi Beach were awesome - some quiet and peaceful where you could see all manner of colourful ...starfish while others were in constant flux from the incoming tide. As we ventured out onto the clam encrusted rock we always had to be mindful that the incoming tide didn't cut us off from the main beach. Although we could have stayed until sunset we had to head back to the car well before dark as it was an hour long trek through old growth rain forest just to get to the parking lot. We visited Rialto Beach the next evening and witnessed an amazing sunset and didn't have tyo worry about a trek back to the car - the parking lot was two minutes away!

September Desktop Inspiration

2010-09-04T21:46:00.000-04:00

Back from 3 weeks out West - two which were spent in Washington State - what a fabulous place for scenery!!

Washington has it all - beaches of all types, incredible tide pools, old growth rain forests, mountains, prairies, badlands, bald eagles, and volcanic canyons that aside from the lack of giant cactus would make you think you are in Arizona or Nevada. I'll be posting more images soon - with links to some image galleries - once we go through the 6000+ images we took. For now - the Desktop Inspiration for September - an image from Hurricane Ridge - possibly one of the most memorable hikes I have ever been on.

August Desktop Inspiration

2010-08-03T16:30:00.001-04:00

About 20 minutes south of where I live there is a farmer who on certain years will plant a field of sunflowers. Being right next to a highway this swatch of yellow sunshine causes many who would normally pass by to stop and admire. It is not unusual to see a half a dozen photographers working at the side of the field at one time. Each in their own way are trying to capture the beauty on display - some are trying to bring their own unique interpretation of the scene - others are content to record the standard roadside view. In either case there is a window of about ten days where the sunflowers are pointing nicely in the same direction, thousand of yellow heads held high in all their glory.

July Desktop Inspiration

2010-07-05T10:05:00.000-04:00

The Desktop Inspiration this month comes from Albion Falls - a nearby waterfall in the south end of Hamilton - which is at times referred to as "The Waterfall Capitol of the World". Although many of the waterfalls are not that large (some even dry up completely during a dry summer) there are many that will inspire.

I've taken friends to Webster's Falls - and although much smaller than Niagara - it has provided a richer experience in that you can easily get much closer to the falls and have a more intimate experience.

July's image is an attempt at showing a quieter more personal view of the falls. Albion Falls lends itself to this as there are numerous ledges in the strata creating a whole gamut of mini waterfalls to explore.

To view the whole collection of Desktop Inspirations you can visit my website. They are free to download and share as you wish. Have a great July!!

Canon's Most Sought After Piece of Hardware - and another reason not to quit the java

2010-06-10T20:08:00.002-04:00

After 3 long months of waiting it has finally arrived!!!

What did you expect - Canon's latest digital SLR body?? That would be a no as I've been waiting over 3 years for the mythical Canon 3D. (Just a side note - if Nikon can put a full frame sensor into a body like the D700 - why can't Canon do likewise??). OK - moving on - the latest and greatest lens?? Closer - but until Canon comes out with the mythical 3D - there is not much point in upgrading to Canon's revamped version of the 70-200 f 2.8 IS.

Instead it is a coffee cup - but as you can see - no generic stainless steel mug for the morning brew - but one fashioned after Canon's tried and true reliable workhorse - the 70-200 f4 (non image stabilized).

First given out as swag to journalists and photographers at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics this unique coffee thermos has gained legendary status - including its own Facebook page which as of this writing has over 5100 fans. Some are showing up on ebay for more than double their original price. Limited numbers have become available to "regular" people through various camera outlets and it is with great thanks to the wonderful team at Camera Canada including Joe Todd that I was fortunate enough to get on the list. Joe claims that there have been few items in the last 20 years that have garnered this much interest.

So now with every morning cup of black gold I will be reminded that I need to venture out in Guelph, Waterloo, Kitchener and Cambridge and carry on with the photography that I enjoy so much.

June Desktop Inspiration

2010-06-07T22:13:00.000-04:00

A bit late this month - but here none the less. Please use and share any of my Desktop Inspirations as you wish.

Link to all images is here.

Update on the Zenfolio contest - well, I didn't make it into the top 30. I'm a bit dissappointed - but not discouraged - there were close to 400 images submitted this time.

Zenfolio home page contest.

2010-05-30T14:20:00.000-04:00

As you may or may not know my website is an image hosting site run by Zenfolio. They have a great interface, the best customer support and with their recent new additions my image gallery now looks and acts like a real website.
From time to time they host a contest for images that will be shown on their homepage. About 18 months ago I was honored to have one of my images selected. The theme then was "winter" and my shot of an icicle formation by Webster's Falls made it into the top ten.
Zenfolio is hosting another contest - this time the theme is "character" which if you look at the entries can seem to mean a lot of things. After much deliberation I have chosen 5 images and hope to find out in the next week if one of them makes it into the to top 30.

Latest Desktop Inspiration

2010-05-03T22:28:00.004-04:00

Hard to believe that these images have been going out to friends and clients on a monthly basis for two years now. Thanks for all the positive feedback over that time. I have people who keep a specific image as their computer desktop background for months on end because it speaks to them on a personal level. Others will chide me for not getting the image out exactly on the 1st of every month (I really try). There also seems to be a general agreement that having more than two winter related images in a row - no matter how inspiring - no matter if winter hangs on into March - is a no go.
Check out the link for all 24 images. They may be downloaded - without watermark - for use and sharing as you wish.
Have a great May!!

Requiem for a Rookery

2010-04-17T18:47:00.006-04:00

I still remember the spring afternoon three years ago when I was first introduced to the rookery. My friend Jim was driving that day, nowhere in particular I thought, until by he slowed down and stopped by a woodlot that was just off a gravel side road. As a cloud of dust breezed over the car he lowered his voice and in a reverent tone announced "This is the rookery". Not being an avid birder and possessing no real long glass aside from a 70-200 zoom and a 1.4 teleconverter I barely knew what a rookery was let alone what I was about to witness.

We exited and walked a few meters into the mixed forest. Looking up into two towering beech trees one could see tangled clusters of nests - not the neat tightly wound affairs like you see in a kids picture book. These were sprawling masses of twigs and branches. Their true size hard to judge by the fact that the nests rested precariously at least 30 metres above the ground. One tree housed what looked like 4-5 nests - the other a little bit further in had two or three. We sat and waited and within a few minutes we were rewarded by the awesome sight of an incoming Great Blue Heron.Over the nest few months I visited the rookery - home to 6 pairs of Great Blue Herons. I was lucky enough to see them flying in from time to time, lucky enough to (just) see the young ones get fed as the mother or father came home with a gullet of fish. I did not see any first flights - but hoped to one day.

Jim and I visited the rookery again a few weeks ago. We knew it would be too early - figuring that the Herons were still on their way up from the states - but being a hot spring day we thought it would be great to venture down some county and enjoy the warm sun. As we pulled up to the woodlot we sensed something was not quite right. Somehow the forest seemed a bit "thinner" and it wasn't just that the leaves were not out yet. We got out of the car and within a minute were aware of the sad truth. The majestic beech trees that had been home to a least 6 nesting pairs of Great Blue Herons had been chopped down. The trees themselves had been hauled away - the twigs and branches that made up the actual nests were nothing more than a barely recognizable pile of sticks.

It looks as if a number of trees on the woodlot had been culled - but why the two with nests in I could not understand. In the midst of our shock we also wondered about the birds winging their way north and what they would do once they found their familiar nesting site gone . .