December the first..

December the first. Already. Despite the somewhat mild temperatures, the season is already in full swing. Santa has come and paraded down the street, the decorations are up, and the crowds have begun in the malls. Last year I started a new tradition of making my own photo Christmas cards, so this past week I have gone out with camera in hand to start and capture some of the sights around the city in order to have a selection to chose from. I figured I would share a couple with you....

November walk..

Once again I found myself needing to get outside for some fresh air despite the chill, and constant grey skies. I headed outside not knowing where I was going to go and found myself on the streetcar heading back to High Park. It was already 2 o'clock by the time I got there, and it was almost dark by the time I left. I think I counted maybe 5 people in the entire park the whole time. It felt a little eerie, but then as most people who know me, I relish this type of atmosphere, and love trying to capture the solemn mood. I have broken trend here, and decided to post a couple of images from that walk...

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??

Hanging on..

I managed to get one last walk in at High Park before the remainder of the leaves fell for the season. I was focusing mostly on reflection shots for my new series, but I couldn't help taking a few scenery shots. This is one of them. I believe it is a Japanese Maple. I was drawn to the deep crimson red leaves against the overcast sky. I crawled inside the tree and took this shot looking up towards the top.

I'm always amazed at how these walks invigorate me, and totally relax me after a day or week working in Retail. I've said it before, but I think this park is magnificent, and a true gem for this city. I'm sure as I head into the holiday season I will wish I could escape to the park more and more. At least I have the photos to remind me of days less hectic...

Leaving Tracks..

This shot was taken on my walk of the Lower Don Valley Trail. I had to climb a huge incline to get up over a hill, and once I got up there I discovered these old tracks that clearly do not get used, or if they do it is a rare occasion. These tracks bypassed the Brickworks, and headed south to the lake. The fall colours, I felt, only added to the sense of history, and nostalgia, and for some reason a feeling of comfort, and stories to be to told....

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..