Out of the City...and into the woods.

In as much as I love this city, the energy, colours, and well....conveniences it allows, there is also the nature loving side of me that yearns for trees, lakes, hiking, and wildlife. A couple of weekends ago my partner and I rented a 'cottage' so to speak in Algonquin Park for a long weekend. It really isn't that far away, perhaps 2.5 hours, but once you are out there it is so easy to forget you are only a short drive away. Endless rolling hills, forests, rivers, lakes and spectacular views. The weather was only half on our side, with equal amounts of rain, cool temperatures, and cloudy skies. We were unable to swim, or even go out in a canoe, but we did manage to get 4 hikes of various lengths and difficulties in over the weekend. I had been training for a couple of weeks to make sure I was up to the hike, which although not extreme, was on the difficult side, with little level walking areas. Our favorite hike was the 10 kilometer one that took us up over 1400 feet above sea level on to cliffs formed from the last ice age. Hearing the wind roar through the pines while we looked down onto the lakes and forests was worth all the rain, and hard work.

Here is a small group of photos I took over the weekend, but none can really create the sense of vastness one feels up there...I can imagine what it would look like in fall colour.

charcoal..

Just sharing a photo I happen to enjoy that reminds me of a charcoal sketch. I'm drawn to the pattern and smudging of the lines which of course are branches reflected off of a creeks surface in High Park.

Many thanks to those of you who visited my last entry, and then gave me comments. critiques, and your pick to help me determine which image to submit for the exhibition I am attempting to enter. I couldn't make this work without your help and support, so I sincerely give you all my thanks. 

Charitable Donation

I have been given the opportunity this holiday season to contribute a piece of my work to help support Eva's Initiative, an organization that help at risk youth develop their skills in order to find meaningful work. My framed image will be for sale at Olivia's at fifty three this Thursday evening. Olivia's at fifty three is the restaurant in Little Italy that I exhibited my first series in last May. (53 Clinton Street)

I thought I would share the image I chose to donate. It is from my new series "Surface Deep". I decided that due to its painterly feel I would print it on watercolour paper. I am quite happy with the result, and hope it sells in order to raise funds for Eva's. :)

Dream like..

This is another shot from my new series Surface Deep which was taken on my last hike through High Park. I was intrigued by the patterns the bare trees and branches made on the creeks surface, and then pushed the pattern a little further by taking the shot with a long exposure. To me, the result almost feels dream like. I also enjoy the moodiness of the browns, charcoal blacks, and greys. I would love to see these shots printed in large scale, say 4 feet by 6, in a simple black frame and hung on stark white wall in a spacious room. Now who is dreaming??

colour burst..

Back to Toronto! This shot believe it or not, is a sample of my new series Surface Deep. It is a reflection off of the pond at Riverdale farm in Cabbagetown. By using a longer shutter speed, I then zoom half way through the exposure to create the burst of colour. The colour of course is coming from natures palette.

Enjoy!

Credit Valley

Okay, so I know this blog is Toronto based, but every now and then I happen to get out of the city and explore the countryside. It won't happen often, but I wanted to share a photo or two of a recent day trip Hugh and I made to Belfountain Falls which is part of the Credit Valley River. I wanted to go for a drive in the country to see what kind of shots I could get for my series I'm working on (Surface Deep). I came back with some great reflection shots, but also some rather good (in my mind) shots of the moving water. They feel rather refreshing in my mind.

Enjoy..

Island Visit

Last Sunday despite the overcast sky and chill in the air, Hugh and I took the ferry to Centre Island to get some fresh air, and of course to take a few shots. I'm always impressed with the fact that once you are on the island you feel like you are miles away from the city, especially on the south side of the island where it is all sandy beaches, water, and sky forever. Usually packed full of people escaping the city during the summer, it was needless to say pretty desolate on this day. The wind was creating rather large waves which in turn crashed onto the barriers and lake shore. It was rather exhilarating to experience. Once home, I sadly discovered most of the shots did not turn out as I had hoped, but this is one I was okay with...

Surface Deep

For most of you, it is not news that after my two solo shows I went through a period of feeling uninspired, and not sure what to focus on next. I do feel I did the right thing, and took the opportunity to not actually focus on anything, but rather learn, and practice a few new things on the camera. I have been concentrating on using different exposure times and have done what I feel are some nifty practice sessions around the apartment.

                                                                                                                                                                             Recently, I was feeling like I needed to get back outdoors and spend some time with nature, and of course the camera. I went on a couple of hikes and found myself drawn to reflections in the water. Within minutes, I was using my new skills with exposures, and am happy to say I have found my new project. It is a nice transition from my texture series which focused on colour, and patterns, and textures of solid items. The difference is that now the subject is water, but the focus remains on colour and pattern.

Welcome to my new series, my new work. I call it "Surface Deep".

$3,000

I was recently reading one of my many issues of home decorating/furnishing magazines and I came across a small article on a local photographer. The work shown was abstract shots of water, mostly in terms of reflections. I have done some of my own work on this subject, and have given a few out as gifts, and also framed several for my own use. The picture I am posting is one of those shots. It was taken at Riverdale farm in one of the ponds.

In the article there was a photo of hers that was extremely similar, and it was enlarged to 20 inches by 30 inches. The price tag....  $3,000

Time for me to revisit this subject, I think.  :)

docked

This past weekend we made a trip to both the Beaches on the east side of Toronto, and Sunnyside Beach, on the west side side. Both are historical beaches in that they once used to be huge destinations in the early days of the 19th century, complete with amusement parks, pavilions, boathouses, and of course swimmers. After years of neglect, and bad waterfront decisions, both beaches have enjoyed a renaissance and are being restored back to areas of beauty, and recreation. We are having an incredibly warm spring with temperatures already in the 30's so this weekend found both beaches packed with sunbathers, and even swimmers. I managed to find this quiet and still shot at Sunnyside............

The Beach

Took advantage of the bright sun, fairly mild temperatures, calm winds and headed via streetcar to the Beaches on Queen Street East. The area was full of dog walkers, elderly people out for a stroll on the boardwalk, children collecting pebbles, and people sitting on benches reading. If I was more established at taking people shots, I would have. But the point of the day was to practice on Hugh. (And believe me, he does not mind having his photo taken) This was one of my favorites.....

p.s. My fish, after lying on the bottom of the bowl for 5 days, is now swimming around again. What a trooper!

Honourable Mention 2

This is the second of the two Honourable mentions I received for The City of Toronto photo contest. It was Titled "Spring in St. James Park", and the category was city parks.

I love to take shots of water in various forms. Still, moving, rippled, splashes, reflections, and in this case raindrops. Much like weathered wood, peeling paint, and rust, I like how water can become abstract. Finding beauty or interest in unconventional things.

Printed, framed and hung, they often look spectacular. In my opinion anyways...