Nighttime Chalet View

Here is another image (although this time at ground level) of the view from the chalet at night.

View From the Chalet Roof

This Canada Day weekend was spent up at the cottage. It was one of the first night's for a long while that I have been up there and it has been clear enough to merit bringing the camera out for some night photography. The interesting thing about taking pictures is how different a scene looks from different angles. You end up trying so many different points of view of essentially the same subject, that when you finally get the "right one", you know. That is what happened with this image. The pictures I was getting from down by the dock were decent, but it just wasn't working for me. I've already taken hundreds of pictures at the cottage and I needed something different. The image below is my favourite of the evening AND it is a completely different angle from any other image I have made at the cottage. Where did I get a shot like this from? Yes of course, I scrambled with my camera, tripod and all up on the roof of the cottage to get a star trail image of the lake, boat, dock and even the group around the fire.

View of Lac Ste-Rose from the Chalet Roof

Torrey Pines Sunset

Here are another couple pictures from the Torrey Pines Park in San Diego. This was from one of the trails up the cliffs as I watched the sunset. These are a couple of images of one tree (and obviously the surrounding landscape) that really stood out to me.

Ocean Sunrise

The first image is another one of my favourite images from the morning. It is one of those images that you have to look a couple of times to appreciate it. When you see the wave coming in and going out at the same time it gives an interesting look ... at least I think so!

Waves Crashing in


Punta Cana

Gatineau Park Views

Two more views in Gatineau Park.

Champlain Lookout


View Through the Trees

Sentier Des Chutes

One frustrating part of the day was, as mentioned in the previous post, looking for a waterfall picture to take. One sure shot that we though we had was to walk along the "Sentier des chutes : Waterfall trail". Makes sense right? Apparently not. At the beginning of the trail we should have got the hint when someone had scribbled "no" in front of the word "waterfall" on the trail marker. On arriving at the waterfall site there is a large rock dropoff (evidently where a waterfall was at one point) and at the lookout with a bench there was a plaque. This plaque calmly described to us that the roar of the waterfall could be heard for miles and miles .............................................. before it was dammed ................... IN 1948! Dissapointing. Not wanting to be bested we ended up snapping a few pictures of this trickling stream instead and called it our waterfall.

Gatineau Park Bridge


Trickling Stream

One of the dissapointing things about the day that we spent in Gatineau park was that we were 'mostly' looking for waterfalls/water/streams to photograph. Some unforseen hurdles led us no where near these subjects. Most of the day was spent walking along paths like the first image below. The second image below is of the view from the cabin mentioned in the previous two posts.

Gatineau Park Path off P12


View from the Gatineau Park Cabin

Gatineau Park Cabin Pt. 2

Here are another couple of shots from the emergency radio cabin in Gatineau park.

Gatinau Park Shelter


Black and White Cabin

Emergency Shelter

Last week Josh and I went for a walk to take pictures in Gatineau Park. This little cabin was one of the places that we ended up. From what I can gather it is a emergency shelter for cross-country skiiers (or hikers) that get caught in a snowstorm (or really just want to go for a picnic I guess ...). There is no power inside the cabin, there are several picnic tables, a woodstove (complete with english and french instructions on how to light an fire and use it), a separate shed outside with wood for the stove, and an emergency radio. Despite the lack of power at the site there is a solar panel which I assume is used uniquely to power the radio inside the cabin which has instructions on how to call down for help in the case of an emergency.

The second image below gives an inside view of the cabin and as well shows the power/purpose of HDR sometimes. Without HDR, getting both a decent shot of the inside of the cabin as well as the breathtaking view to the Gatineau valley below would have been impossible. I really like in that image how the view down the hill really does look like a painting on the wall.

More images to follow of the cabin, the view from the cabin, and other spots in the Gatineau park over the next few days.

Gatineau Park Radio Cabin


Inside the Cabin

Montreal Church Landscape

Don't ask me why, but these last two pictures from Montreal are by far my favourites from the group. The two HDR's here just seem to have the look that I love in a landscape HDR. What do you think? These definitely go into favourites folder of all the images that I have made of the last little while.

Church Courtyard


Front Yard

Île d'Orléans

Île d'Orléans is an Island near Quebec city which is a model of Quebec traditions, agriculture, tourism, and history. This small island (small is a relative term ...) has one main road going all the way around its contours and at every corner and turn there is another small farm. It has always been a hub of agriculture and this continues today. From corn, to vinyards, to orchards, to maple syrup 'farms' the island has it all. The image below is from a tall lookout constructed at a reststop on the northern point of the island, taken facing south. The second is a panorama facing North. Clicking on the image will bring you to the Picasa image and then clicking on the magnifying glass, zooming in, and using your mouse to click and drag will give you a closer look of the Panorama.

Île d'Orléans


Island Pano

From August 30, 2011

Sunny Quebec Field

These two images were taken on our way from the cottage to Quebec city before we hit the highway. We drove around the corner and couldn't help but stop at this vantage point to take a picture of the lightly rolling hills that made up this Quebec field. The hay bales were mesmerizingly scattered throughout the sea of green. All in all it was an impressive site.

Field of Hay Bales


Quebec Farm

Back of the Haunted Hotel

The next two in the hotel series on highway 2 close to Kingston, Ontario.

Haunted Hotel HDR

I've been on course in Kingston for the last 4.5 months and a few of us have been meaning to get out to the "Haunted Hotel" on highway 2 for a while now. It took us to the last week of the course to finally get out there. Here is the first one of that series. More to follow this week when I get them edited up. Hopefully I'll be posting more regularly again since my course is finished and I should have some more time.

Last Two Waterfall Images

Not much else to say except the last two waterfall images are up. On a completely separate note, as some of you may have noticed sometimes I write photography related articles for a website called "Bright Hub". By the end of the day (if not already available) I will be putting a link on the right hand side of the blog here which will take you to my page on Bright Hub where you can see any of the articles I have written.

Quebec Watefall


Stitched Glowing Waterfall

Waterfalls are Back

Here are two more of the Chalet Waterfall series. Only a couple more left from there after this and then we go back in time again.

In the mean time, a couple more articles of mine are published up on Bright Hub. Learn how to install photoshop filters and learn how to merge to images in photoshop! This week I'm working on a few articles regarding shutter speed. Stay tuned.


Black and White Waterfalls


Starbursted Waterfall

A Panorama of a Moose's Coast (wait ... that's not right)

If you are getting tired of Cabot Trail images, you are in luck (soon, not yet) I think there is only one more days worth of them until I get to the bulk of the "non-HDR" images.

On a separate note (and a shameless plug) if you get the chance and are interested. Take a look at my latest three articles on "Bright Hub". How to Photograph the Moon, How to build a light box for photography, and Manual Photography Basics.

Hills Down to the Sea Panorama


Cape Breton Wildlife


Along the Coast

Beatiful Cape Breton

My original plan was to put three images up on this post since I had the time to do so, but then I saw this image. I liked it so much that it deserved a post of its own. I think I can honestly say that it is my favourite of the Cabot Trail series. This image is one of look outs over the town of Pleasant Bay. One of the claims to fame of the town are the famous whale watching tours based here.

Pleasant Bay and the Beauty of Cape Breton

Another One Shot Cabot Trail Stop

Another fast and furious time restricted post. As you have probably guessed this is another continuation of the Cabot Trail series here. Though it is not always the way to go, I find the desaturated look here does the image well. In my mind it tells a story of countless numbers of travelers passing by the trail over the ages. Maybe I'm just searching for some sort of meaning ... it could also just be a neat way of showing an amazing view in a beautiful part of the country!

The Winding Cabot Trail

Views From the Cabot Trail

These three images from the Cabot trail were taken on the western loop of the trail not too far north from Cheticamp.

Pebbled Beach on the Cabot Trail


Coastal View back to Cheticamp


As the Cabot Trail Winds Northwards