November’s here, a dark and brooding month. The waterways are still open but who knows for how much longer. This duck was enjoying a quiet paddle but kept a wary eye on me as I took this photo.
Author Archives: belindagroverphotography
FALDEROL (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
This photo was meant to be a practice shot. One morning while at the reserve, I checked the back of my camera and noticed a lot of the images were out of focus. I hadn’t used my 70-200mm in a while, so I wondered if it was me or if the lens was the problem. I pointed the camera at these leaves (which were perfectly still) and pressed the shutter release. This is the result. Flighty birds taken at too low a speed caused the blurry images. Not my lens😏.
MALLARDS (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
Two mallards enjoying the calm before the snow begins. When I took these photos last week we were enjoying a mild stretch, the ducks seemed to like it too. As I write this, wet snow is falling. Although most ducks will fly off soon, a hardy few persevere throughout the winter. No snowbirds (Canadians who head south for the winter) are they.
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH
I hadn’t been to our local reserve in a while so I was particularly happy to see this Red-breasted nuthatch close to the entrance. A bit smaller than the white-breasted variety and not as numerous in our woods, this little guy was very active, flying and landing briefly in the surrounding trees. A nice start to our walk.
SUMMER DELIGHT (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
The warm weather is long gone in these parts but a quick look through my photo catalogues brought to light these summer delights. The colours, scents and quality of light for a few short months each year make any walk, at any time, a pleasure.
A FAIR BUILDING (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
This building, The Aberdeen Pavilion, was the central hall of the Central Canada Exhibition, that took place in Ottawa, Canada every August between 1888-2010 with the exception of World War II. What began mainly as an agricultural fair expanded over the years to include a midway. The land around the Pavilion has been redeveloped in recent years and the fair no longer takes place but this beautiful building, designated a heritage site, is still enjoyed by the public and houses other events throughout the year. I took the photo on a sunny day this summer but I think it lends itself to black and white.
DUCKTAIL (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
This back view of the wood duck made me think of the ducktail, a haircut that was popular in the 50s. You don’t necessarily have to get your subject face on to get a decent shot. I liked the duck’s puffed up chest in the second photo too, as if his “do” wasn’t enough to impress the ladies😊.
