Ice storm, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada during the recent springtime ice storm.  As tough as the weather conditions can be, I love the images available in adverse conditions.  Here are a few from my recent road trip.  Above is a fat bike rider braving the elements.

Ice covered tree branches during the height of the freezing rain.

Chain link fencing covered in ice.

Fergus enjoying a post storm hike after much of the ice had melted.

A macro of Pussy Willows with the Canon 5D Mark IV and 100L IS.

A final image of a slightly confused seagull in Dryden, Ontario wondering what happened to the springtime weather.

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Church in the middle of nowhere, Canadian Prairies

You can call it “little church on the prairie” or “church in the middle of nowhere”, but Union Point United Church has a very interesting past.  It’s the last remnant of the small town of Union Point, Manitoba.  Situated in the middle of divided Hwy 75 just south of Ste. Agathe.  The original church was built in 1887, burned down in 1939, and was rebuilt in 1940.  The town vanished in the 1950’s, steamboats, stagecoaches, and steam engines stopped here in the late 1800’s.  The town of Union Point was an important stopover point for many settlers heading west.

Foggy morning, Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg

Foggy morning in Assiniboine Park, definitely one of my favourite times to shoot, and one that inspires the creation of black and white images.

Still deciding on this one, may leave the colour version intact.

Surprise visitors, Stewart Canyon, Banff

These guys wandered into my landscape shot while I photographed the trestle bridge at Stewart Canyon, near Lake Minnewanka, Banff.  Now it doesn’t look like they are very close, but I was using a 16-35mm lens on my full frame camera, so they are very close.  One of those rare lucky moments took a pretty mundane image and made it much more memorable.  A group of tourists along with my wife and two dogs retreated from the bridge allowing them to cross without much stress.

We returned the next day, hoping to get them front on as they crossed, but after a couple hours of patiently waiting had to move one due to time constraints and impatient dogs, I did manage a few other images on the return including the rocky island in Lake Minnewanka, below.

Landscape Photography fail leads to the big marsh.

As a landscape photographer you learn quickly to accept failed attempts when it comes to getting that one great image, particularly when it comes to the weather cooperating.  We set out on the past weekend to find a pebble beach for the forecasted mixed cloud sunset.  Promising for an interesting long exposure image on the east side of Lake Winnipeg.  At very least my wife could find some much prized chanterelle mushrooms and the dogs could get in a good hike.

After several hours of scouting I failed to find that perfect location, the interesting sky was clearing over the big lake, and we found only a handful of mushrooms.  The dogs did get in a moderate hike, however.  We scrapped the shoot and decided to stop by Oak Hammock Marsh prior to sunset in an attempt to salvage the days photography.  Not the best time of year for marsh activity, but we did get in another decent hike and a few keepers.

I particularly liked the image above of the Purple Martin House, although it lacks any bird activity which would have made for a much more interesting image.

Viewing blind at sunset

Sea Lion Arch on Lake Superior, Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, Ontario

The Sea Lion, on Lake Superior, located in Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada.  This is a 20 second exposure using a 10 stop neutral density filter to soften the water.  Two images focus stacked to get the necessary depth of field in the foreground and background.

Peyto Lake, a definite must see if in Banff National Park.

View of the glacier fed waters of Peyto Lake, Banff National Park.  Probably everyone visiting Banff has taken the same image, this is my 4th time at the lookout, but it is still a stunning view, and easy hike.

Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, Alberta

A hiking trail winding its way through the hoodoos of Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, in southeastern Alberta, Canada.  The park is situated in the Milk River Valley and offers a pretty easy hiking trail through a badlands landscape.

Turbines at Gardiner Dam on Lake Diefenbaker, Saskatchewan

Another shot of the Gardiner Dam turbines on Lake Diefenbaker, Saskatchewan, enroute to the Canadian Rockies.  A good example of a man-made landscape.

Sunset over Lake Superior, Ontario

Sun setting over a pebble beach on the north shore of Lake Superior.  This is near one of our favourite campsites in Lake Superior Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada.  The landscape on the north shore of Lake Superior rivals anything in Ontario, including Killarney and Algonquin, in my humble opinion.  It sometimes requires a bit of a hike to find the perfect spot but can be well worth it.  The park itself is easily accessible, most attractions are right off the highway.