Although dragonflies can be challenging subjects, in watching them you become familiar with their behaviour and can often anticipate where they will land. The dragonfly in the first photograph was on a perch just above the water which made for a pleasing background. They are one of my favourite insects to photograph.
Although this photo was taken in November, the trees were bare and the sky overcast. It looks more like mid winter than late fall. Of all the squirrels in our woods this variety of eastern grey is the most watchful.
It was late fall and the geese would be flying south soon. When the trees are bare I get a different feel for the landscape. I can appreciate its starkness and see the detail that is normally overlooked in summer. The geese add additional interest to the scene.
I featured a version of this photo several years ago. When I look back at some of my older photographs, I see what I might try differently. I converted the photo to black and white, reduced the clarity and saturation and removed a bit of vegetation that overlapped the mallard’s bill. I think it makes for a better photograph. My style and skill have developed over the years and it’s nice to see the progression. Of course when you have a subject like this you can’t go too far wrong 😊.
I liked the way the frog was posed on the lily pad, rather prince-like. The frogs in this cove are very small. You get a sense of this from the plants that surround them.
This photo was taken a few years ago in Spring. The trees are not in bud yet. They’re still covered in snow but we’ve turned the corner on winter; the sun’s a little warmer and the temperatures not quite as cold. As I’ve mentioned before, chickadees remain here year round and they too must be anticipating the warmer days to come.
There are several kinds of turtles in our waterways. These photos feature two of them – the painted turtle and the Blanding’s turtle, which has a domed shaped shell and bright yellow throat. It’s on the threatened species list so it’s pretty exciting when we see one.
It’s been a long cold winter. The snow drifts are high beside the river. Mallards congregate here because this portion of the river is fast moving and doesn’t freeze. As we approached the river’s edge we fell in behind a man carrying a huge sack of cracked corn for the ducks. We stood back as the ducks mobbed the man. As we were leaving I saw this mallard a ways from the crowd and took this shot.
The fungi and vine on the tree trunk formed a very pleasing arrangement. Nature’s artistry. The bark of the tree added texture and detail.
It’ll be a while before we see goslings or any other signs of spring. Looking through my catalogues I came across this photo, I took it on a June day a few summers ago. This gosling strayed a little from its parent and gave me this measured look.
This cute little rodent is a relative of the mouse and is commonly called a vole or field mouse. It’s the only one I’ve ever seen and I was able to take a number of photographs as he was unaware of or unconcerned by my presence. He might have been a young animal that had not yet developed a sense of fear. I watched him for a while and then left him to his ramble.
We saw more red squirrels last year than usual. They’re feisty, will often stand their ground with people and tend to chase the larger grey squirrels out of their territory. What they lack in size they make up for in temperament. We’ve had a prolonged period of extreme cold lately and you have to marvel at the toughness of these little creatures.
This young wood duck took her time before she glided back into the water. Most of the ducks remain together in groups, so it’s always nice to find one on it’s own enjoying a quiet moment. This lake has many fallen trees that provide comfortable perches for passing ducks and turtles along with great photo opportunities.
Before the snow arrived in mid-December there were still pine cones and seeds for the taking. Between storing food for the winter ahead, this eastern grey squirrel stopped for a bite. The trees were bare and provided little colour to warm the scene. I liked the way the black and white treatment brought out the detail and texture.
Shortly after this photo was taken late last March, the snow melted and spring returned. Canada Geese migrate south in winter and this goose had returned a little too early to find much to eat. Kind folk always bridge the gap and soon he was joined by returning mates.
Painted turtles are common and widespread in our region. We usually see them sunning themselves along with their buddies in mid Spring, as soon as the sun gains some heat. They’re hibernating now, nestled deep in the mud of local ponds. I look forward to seeing them again in a couple of months.
As the temperature continues to drop, photos like these bring summer back. So much cheerier than the view outside my window of drifting snow and icy streets. If the temperature gets above zero anytime soon I’ll venture out with my camera; too cold right now for it or me.
Geese and turtles that is. This old tree still attracts wildlife during the warmer months. Ducks, turtles and geese swim over and sit a while. Though not much of the tree is left standing I love it’s graceful silver arch. I’ve always known it in this spot and hope it continues to stand and provide enjoyment to visitors and wildlife well into the future.
Walking down a city laneway I wasn’t expecting to see this tin man on someone’s back stoop and stopped to take a picture. It seemed rather out of place and yet where wouldn’t it be. The art cube was one of several photographs I took last spring of similar art work. I think it’s probably disguising some city maintenance work, an attractive idea and use of artistic talent.
White water lilies are more common on our waterways but I do like to see yellow pond lilies. Their colour is so striking and where they appear you usually see pickerel weeds as well. A frog would have added an extra touch of green, more to come…
Late Fall. The playground is silent, the trees are bare, too cold for the kids and the birds! Most of the colour comes from man-made materials, until the temperature dips and the sun comes out. Then there is no bluer a sky or a white so brilliant as the new snow. These are the colours of Winter.
I took this photo in October. This duck like most others has long since flown south. The American Black Duck is vastly outnumbered by mallards in our waterways and I don’t see more than a few pairs all season. They appear less gregarious than mallards and are often in pairs or enjoying a solitary swim. There’s a lot to be said for their quiet, elegant ways.
These two were taking a last swim before heading south for the winter. You often see geese and wood ducks swimming in the same general area but these birds seemed to be buddies. The water takes on a lovely cut glass quality in November; the reflections of the sky and bare tree branches provide the colour.
This part of the street has an interesting blend of old and new styles of architecture. I like the contrast in the lines, angles and materials of the two buildings. Different yet complementary, injecting some vibrancy into an otherwise ordinary city block. The young tree adds a bit more interest to the scene.
Queen Anne’s Lace has a long flowering season, from late spring until mid fall; beautiful anytime of year. They’re covered in snow now but will return next May in their spring green.
I set up my Fuji XT-1 to take five bracketed shots at different exposures. For processing I used Photoshop HDR Pro. It combined the shots for a nicely exposed image. I finished with a few of my usual adjustments in Photoshop.
Montreal’s Metro or subway was built for Expo ’67, The 1967 International and Universal Exposition which the city hosted marking Canada’s centenary. Over the years the system has been expanded and is a quick and efficient way to get around town. As we descended into the station a train had just pulled in and so was my interest, attracted by the lines and colours and shadows. I rather like it in black and white as well. Something different for a change.
Frequent readers of my blog might be aware that I’m no fan of winter. As the temperature drops, I make far less excursions to our local reserve. Happily I have a number of photos taken in the warmer months of the year yet to post.
Walking along in the Ottawa market area, a crowd was gathered around a very small convertible. As we approached we could see why. This wonderful Great Dane sat calmly in the front seat waiting for his owner to finish his shopping. The dog was riding in style on this pleasant November day. Once the snow arrives he’ll have to hit the pavement again, being way too big to fit in this tiny car.
The cat was a perfect advertisement for this animal groomer. It sat so still that at first I wasn’t certain if it was a figurine or real. It was staring straight ahead and ignored me completely as I set up the shot, a very cooperative subject. As the weather cools off and many birds head south I plan to do more street photography. I get to practice using my Fuji and there’s always a warm coffee shop close by!
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.
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😏.
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.
This was one of only a few Great Blue Heron sightings all this summer. A cold rainy start, followed by drought conditions might explain this. When I did come upon this regal bird I was delighted. He was just within my len’s reach and just far enough away to not care about my presence. I do hope to see one again before their fall migration south.
When I get out early enough I often catch the passing parade of people walking their pets. Usually dogs, sometimes a cat or two , and even the occasional ferret. When they’re not being walked you often see them waiting for their owners to return as is the case in these photographs. Dogs tend to look alert and baleful, while cats look rather cool and collected.
You don’t have to look very far to find examples of public art. I saw the first piece on the campus of a Montreal university. I liked its vibrance and its nod to diversity. In the second photo, the influence of my talented mate is rubbing off – in that I noticed the play of light and shadow before I even saw the ironwork on display.
When I feature more than one photo per post, they usually share a common theme. Although these are two very different subjects, I think they both evoke a feeling of quiet watchfulness. The brick wall backs onto a vacant lot, it’s been empty for years. So far developers have shown no interest, just the wildflowers.
Every couple of months the wall art changes at this construction site. Passing by the other day I was struck by this vibrant painting. It’s fun to see the locals (two and four legged) walk by. The man was intent on checking his phone, maybe the mural was no longer a novelty for him but I loved it.
This scene in Quebec, reminded me of black and white postcards I’ve seen in shops selling old prints. The stillness of the lake, the empty chairs waiting for their occupants to arrive, sit a while or take out the canoe. Ah, Summertime!
We took a walk through the entertainment section of Gatineau, Quebec this summer and came upon these umbrellas. It was a brilliant sunny day and the umbrellas provided a perfect awning. As colourful as they are I preferred the photograph in black and white, as it emphasized shape, form and contrast.
The “musical trio” struck my fancy for their enduring and endearing nature. They appear to have weathered many seasons, yet the band plays on.
I love to see ducks swimming in formation, they swim with such purpose. American Black Ducks are not as common in our area as mallards but when you see mallards you usually see a few American Black Ducks as well. They might be common but I still find them extremely appealing.
BELINDA GROVER PHOTOGRAPHY 