Rural landscape: one of the lighthouse views
LIGHTHOUSE AT CAPE SPEAR NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE, AVALON PENINSULA, NEWFOUNDLAND
I was blessed to spend over an hour in this cold, blustery and stunning place, which is the easternmost point in North America (so the earliest sunrise and sunset on the continent).
Would have loved sunshine and a blue sky, but that might have made this composition look like a postcard — and most of them aren’t artistic or creative.
I thought a black-and-white version would work, but the colour in the rocks and stairs serve to warm up this scene. And in the end, that’s what it needed to be as compelling a photo as possible.
(Here’s another view of the lighthouse that *does* work in monotone: https://wp.me/p2ccTX-150.)
There are two lighthouses at this site – the one you see here, constructed in 1955, and the 1836 original. Both are still standing and the older one is the oldest surviving lighthouse in Newfoundland.
Nikon D7100, tripod.
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Natural landscapes: the slow approach of spring
ELBOW RIVER, KANANASKIS COUNTRY, ALBERTA
Winter begins to depart with tortoise-like speed in the Canadian Rockies. Often, the slow break-up of ice is halted by a snowstorm or days of frigid cold. Still, there’s a sense of change in the air as the sun is noticeably more direct than even a month earlier.
Notice the distant forests? That’s a new layer of snow on them which adds a welcome light touch to the background of this snow-and-water composition.
Nikon D7100, tripod, polarizing filter
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Urban landscapes: welcome to the basilica
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST BASILICA, ST. JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND
The interior of this cathedral is stunning — you can see inside here: https://wp.me/p2ccTX-15a — but I also like the street entry onto the grounds. I spent 15 minutes on framing possibilities, making sure there was perfect symmetry (which is often surprisingly difficult to achieve).
This place of worship was constructed between 1839 and 1855; at the time, it was the largest Irish cathedral outside of Ireland. The basilica was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1983. Notice the two clocks are showing different times?
Nikon D7100, tripod
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Natural landscapes: the wintery spring dawn
APPROACHING DAYLIGHT AT LAKE LOUISE, BANFF NATIONAL PARK
Spring’s official arrival doesn’t make much difference at this renowned Canadian Rocky Mountain lake; the slow, SLOW approach of warmer weather just continues its rambling, halting pace.
My wife and I were staying with family at the Chateau Lake Louise, so I was up before dawn to see what kind of long-exposure pictures could be had. A light touch of new snow helped give some form to the forest around the Lake Louise boathouse.
Nikon D7100, tripod.
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Rural landscapes: the fields & peaks of late winter
LAST DAYS OF WINTER ALONG THE COWBOY TRAIL, NEAR PINCHER CREEK, ALBERTA
It was one of those magical days in March when the weather is great and the views even greater. As I often do along the southern end of the Cowboy Trail, I wandered off the trail east along a dirt road until finding this outstanding view of prairies and Rocky Mountains with a dusting of snow. Here’s another beautiful scene photographed the same day: https://wp.me/p2ccTX-1fQ.
Nikon D7100, tripod, polarizing filter, graduated density (darkening) filter on the sky.
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Natural landscapes: celebrating St. Patrick’s Day
GIANT’S CAUSEWAY, COUNTY ANTRIM, NORTHERN IRELAND
I made this photo during a May 2017 cruise ship vacation, but decided to post it in March as a way to celebrate the day when everyone wants to be at least a little bit Irish.
I was blessed to be born in what was then a predominantly Irish community in the Canadian province of Quebec. There are other nationalities in my heritage, but Irish is the only one that’s ever counted.
The causeway contains about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, created as a result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986 and, before the pandemic, attracted almost a million visitors annually. Here’s another picture of Ireland’s stunning north coast: https://wp.me/p2ccTX-X5.
Nikon D7100, tripod, graduated density (darkening) filter on the sky.
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Natural landscapes: the peace of winter silence
LOUISE CREEK, BANFF NATIONAL PARK, ALBERTA
To look at this scene, you’d never for a moment think that spring is just five days away. This looks more like January, but that’s how it goes in the Canadian Rockies, especially at higher altitudes where winter doesn’t really start to leave for another month.
I liked the stillness of this scene and the soft lines of the open water. There was pretty much no colour here, so it was an easy decision to show you the more dramatic black-and-white view.
Nikon D7100, tripod.
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Natural landscapes: the winter viewpoint
MOUNT TEMPLE FROM MORANT’S CURVE, BANFF NATIONAL PARK, ALBERTA
While photographing at this famous spot in the Canadian Rockies (here’s a view: https://wp.me/p2ccTX-tH), I loved the clean, simple view of Mount Temple, one of the best know peaks in the park. So I made several exposures and really liked this one because there’s lots of space around the peaks, making the composition almost minimalist.
A key to compelling winter photography is often snow on the trees. I would not have bothered making this picture if the trees were bare. There wasn’t much colour, so it was an easy decision to go black-and-white. That said, you can see the colour version here: http://bit.ly/3dUos3y.
Nikon D7100, tripod, polarizing filter, graduated density (darkening) filter on the most of the sky.
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Urban landscapes: the precarious balance
“DEVICE TO ROOT OUT EVIL”, CALGARY, ALBERTA
I’d seen this 6.5-metre tall sculpture several times while driving around this western Canadian city’s downtown looking for potential photos. But before this winter dawn I’d never tried to make a picture because the setting is very busy with roads and buildings.
The perspective and lighting you see here convinced me to make an attempt. It was still a challenge because isolating the 1997 Dennis Oppenheim creation, mounted on a concrete platform, was pretty much impossible. So I incorporated Device To Root Out Evil in a larger scene, trusting that the lighting would make the surroundings complement the sculpture, rather than compete with it. Was I right?
Nikon D7100, tripod
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Natural landscapes: me and the sunrise river
PHOTOGRAPHING THE BOW RIVER AT DAWN, COCHRANE, ALBERTA
The temperature was a tolerable -8c, but the footing was treacherous along this western Canadian river. Large chunks of snow-covered ice were everywhere and in between was a thin layer of snow and ice that my boots often plunged through. Fortunately, I had a small flashlight in my camera bag and it was quite useful until the daylight increased.
Apple iPhone 8, processed in Photoshop Elements.
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Natural landscapes: the dramatic landscape of snow
SNOWDRIFTS AT BOW SUMMIT, BANFF NATIONAL PARK, ALBERTA
These incredible, sensual formations are caused by a new layer of snow falling on plowed snow at the entrance to one of the most popular places in the Canadian Rockies: the gobsmacking lookout over Peyto Lake.
I was fascinated by the abstract play of light and shadow and how it illuminated the texture of the snow. So before I went any further, I spent a half-hour just exploring these drifts. The colour version is a compelling mix of blues, but going black-and-white produced this eye-popping drama.
Nikon D7100, tripod.
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Natural landscapes: the dark and delightful landscape
ATLANTIC OCEAN WAVES AT CAPE SPEAR, NEWFOUNDLAND
I was blessed to spend over an hour in this cold, blustery and stunning place, which is the easternmost point in North America (so the earliest sunrise and sunset on the continent).The low clouds and angry surf made for incredibly atmospheric photos. Here’s another one to prove my point: https://wp.me/p2ccTX-1gw.
Nikon D7100, tripod, graduated density (darkening) filter on the clouds and distant shore.
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Natural landscapes: the frozen wonder
TROLL FALLS, KANANASKIS COUNTRY, ALBERTA
A two or three-kilometre walk brings you to this waterfall in the midst of a very rocky mountain landscape. It’s a sweet photo locale any time of year (here it is in summer: https://wp.me/p2ccTX-Iv), and when the frozen waterfall is in the winter shadows, it’s possible to record beautiful shades of blue.
Nikon D7100, tripod, polarizing filter
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Urban landscapes: the river and the skyline
BOW RIVER AND SKYSCRAPERS, CALGARY, ALBERTA
I visited this spot the evening before (you can see the results here: https://wp.me/p2ccTX-1JK) and was blown away by the creative possibilities, so I returned to experience it in morning light. I’m always grateful at opportunities to photograph nature and urban landscapes together.
Nikon D7100, tripod, polarizing filter, graduated density (darkening) filter on the sky.
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Natural landscapes: finding a way through winter
SINCLAIR CREEK, KOOTENAY NATIONAL PARK, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Hemmed in by forest on one side and a cliff wall on the other, this section of Rocky Mountain creek was the perfect place for a long exposure to highlight the ice formations and turn the flowing water into a gentle silky lines.
I photographed a larger view that’s quite compelling (you can see it here: https://wp.me/p2ccTX-1Iq), but even as I made that picture, I knew there would be good close-ups, too. In both these photos, I went with black-and-white because the colours were pretty muted and monotone heightens the drama.
Nikon D7100, tripod, polarizing filter.
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Urban landscapes: the frigid winter sunset
SKYLINE AT DUSK, CALGARY, ALBERTA
During a recent cold spell, I knew compelling images could be made of this western Canadian city’s skyline after sunset. I had the day off from work, so I had lots of time to find a spot to do close-ups of the office and condo towers, but also have a decent foreground for wider-angle pictures. That’s the frozen Elbow River running diagonally through the bottom half.
The temperature, as I made these pictures, was -23 celsius. I was wearing gloves, but they had to be thin enough to manipulate the camera buttons. After 15 minutes, some fingers were going numb and that’s when I knew I had enough.
Nikon D7100, tripod.
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Rural landscapes: merging with the landscape
OLD TRUCK ON A PRAIRIE LANDSCAPE, DRUMHELLER, ALBERTA
This colourful beauty is near one of the main highways into this town. The back end has a huge sign promoting downtown art galleries. I was careful to keep that — and nearby chain-link fencing — out of all compositions so you could concentrate on the artistry of the front end, the remarkable hues and the delicate prairie grass.
Nikon D7100, tripod, fill-flash.
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Natural landscapes: the artistry of winter shadows
SNOW-COVERED BOULDERS AND DRY STREAM BED, BANFF NATIONAL PARK, ALBERTA
I love how snow can transform messy scenes into things of artistic beauty. In this case, the mix of light and shadow, caused by the sun shining through trees, created a miniature landscape of lighting and shapes that fascinated me.
Nikon D7100, tripod.
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Urban landscapes: the place of silence
HOLY ROSARY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, TORONTO, ONTARIO
I’d walked past this church many times while visiting my parents and figured it likely had an impressive interior. When I finally got inside, I was proven right.
The first version of Holy Rosary parish was completed in in 1892. By 1924, the church was too small for the growing congregation, so construction began on what you see here. Modeled after the 15th century British church St. Mary The Virgin, it opened in 1927.
I often go with monotone for church photography (such as this: https://wp.me/p2ccTX-1fN), but there’s enough colour in this scene to justify showing you the colour version.
Nikon D7100, tripod.
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Natural landscapes: where the bubbles grow
METHANE ICE BUBBLES IN ABRAHAM LAKE, ALBERTA
I went back to 2013 to find this beauty in the archives. The ice on this man-made Canadian Rocky Mountain lake is awash in stacked bubbles caused by methane coming out of the ground.
When conditions are right (little or no snow, consistent frigid temperatures), this is a photographer’s playground. But make sure to wear crampons; the ice is incredibly slippery.
Here’s another take on these remarkable bubbles: https://wp.me/p2ccTX-tY.
Nikon D90, tripod, polarizing filter.
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