Lake Superior Trip Report

Sunset on Lake Superior, Wawa, Ontario

From October 23rd to November 3rd I was in Ontario’s far north on the shore of Lake Superior teaching two back to back landscape photography workshops. Lake Superior with a doubt provides landscape photographers with the most scenic vistas in Ontario. It is very easy to see what the area caught the eye of the Group of Seven. During this year’s trip we were blessed with inclement weather which saw large waves rolling into the rugged coast, providing us with some very dramatic imagery. We were even rewarded with an early dusting of snow one morning which added further interest to the already impressive landscape.

In between the two workshops I had two half days and two full days off so I decided to venture further north to the area around Marathon, Ontario to explore one of my most favourite parks in Ontario – Pukaskwa National Park. I was also able to locate a specific waterfall along Mink Creek that I had tried to find on numerous previous trips.

Today’s post features a selection of imagery from both landscape photography workshops and my two solo days further afield. I am hard at work putting the finishing touches on the 2020 Lake Superior event and will announce it in the near future. To be added to the contact list please do reach out to me by clicking here.

Daybreak on Lake Superior, Wawa, Ontario

 

Approaching Storm on Lake Superior, Wawa, Ontario

 

Lake Superior, Wawa, Ontario

 

Lake Superior Provincial Park, Ontario

 

Mink Falls, Marathon, Ontario

 

Agawa Bay, Lake Superior Provincial Park, Ontario

 

Agawa Rock, Lake Superior Provincial Park, Ontario

 

Early Snow on Lake Superior, Wawa, Ontario

 

Lake Superior at Pukaskwa National Park, Ontario

 

Lake Superior at Pukaskwa National Park, Ontario

 

Lake Superior at Pukaskwa National Park, Ontario

 

In-Camera Birch Forest Blur, Ontario

Sandy Beach on Lake Superior, Wawa, Ontario

 

Catfish Creek, Ontario

 

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Short Notice: Tiny Marsh – Teaching Moment Photographic Workshop

Join me on Tuesday, April 30, 2019 at Tiny Marsh Provincial Wildlife Area for a short-notice Teaching Moment Photographic Workshop that focuses on photographing sunrise. Tiny Marsh is located near Elmvale, Ontario on the Tiny Flos Townline Road. With sunrise being at 6:15 a.m. we will meet in the parking lot at 5:30 a.m. This will allow us time to cover some basic information while we walk out along Trotter Dyke to our best vantage points for photographing sunrise. This event will conclude at roughly 11:00 a.m. Since this workshop focuses on photographing sunrise we will depart promptly along Trotter Dyke, so please do not be late arriving. I do recommend bringing both wide angle zooms and mid-range zooms to photograph sunrise at Tiny Marsh.

During this workshop you will learn the principles of photographing sunrise. Topics covered will include composition, filters, seeing the shot and much more. After sunrise is over we will continue to explore other areas of Tiny Marsh in search of more landscape opportunities as well as any wildlife / birdlife opportunities that we may find.

Tiny Marsh is a designated Important Birding Area (IBA) and at this time of year it is a major staging area for numerous waterfowl, geese, trumpeter swans and many other species of birds. While birds will not be our main focus of this workshop do note that there may be opportunities to photograph such species after sunrise. Bringing a long lens is highly recommended for both sunrise and wildlife / birdlife opportunities. While our chances of a stellar sunrise are at the mercy of the current weather pattern of the day, I have often been rewarded with splendid sunrises at Tiny Marsh. One of the best advantages of Tiny Marsh is that there is always something to photograph.

All walking trails at Tiny Marsh are flat and by no means strenuous. High water conditions this year will likely see the boardwalk trail flooded. I would advise waterproof boots in case we check out this section of the marsh.

The cost of this Teaching Moment Photographic Workshop is $65 plus applicable taxes. To register for this event please contact me here for further information. The maximum number of participants for this event is 8.

During Teaching Moment Photographic Workshops you will receive friendly, in-the-field instruction and guidance. Do remember that attending A Teaching Moment Photographic Workshop allows you to earn rewards – after attending 5 of these events you will receive a $50 discount on any future workshop of your choice!

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Singh Ray Filters Pro Gallery

Georgian Bay at Sunset, Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada

I am pleased to announce, and honored to have been added to the Singh Ray Filters Pro Gallery. I have relied on Singh Ray filters for the last 25 years to get the job done and photograph scenes the way I see them. I never leave home with out taking them along. The above image was created at sunrise on the beautiful shores of Ontario’s Georgian Bay, near Parry Sound, Ontario. To control the dynamic range within this scene I used my Singh Ray 3-stop Reverse Graduated Neutral Density Filter. I much prefer to capture scenes such as this, in the field, the way I see it in one frame. This allows me the freedom to quickly process the image file later at the computer. Sure enough you could capture a few frames and blend the exposures in the digital darkroom, but would you not prefer to be photographing moments like instead of being stuck behind a computer blending exposures?

To save 10% on your next purchase of at Singh Ray Filters use the code “Andrew 10” at checkout.

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Lake Superior Wild & Scenic Photography Retreat Notes

Sunrise on Lake Superior
Nikon D800, Laowa 12mm Zero D Lens
Singh Ray 3-stop Reverse Graduated Neutral Density Filter
ISO 50
f16 @ 0.6 sec

 

The recently concluded, inaugural, Lake Superior Wild & Scenic Photography Retreat was a fantastic success. A very BIG thank-you to Don Johnston for his hard work and assistance with this event. We had 10 fabulous participants that were eager to explore the landscape amid wind, snow, and rain. Our efforts were not only to photograph the grand, magnificent scenes before us, but to also concentrate on the smaller details at our feet as they can often tell an important part of the story as well. We were grateful that the first two days presented beautiful sunrises and sunsets. On the third day we had a lovely sunrise at the onset of what turned out to be a very windy and rainy day, which allowed folks time to rest after a busy first two days and to process some of their imagery from the first two days as well. On the fourth and final full day of photography we enjoyed many areas of Lake Superior Provincial Park from the Sand River area to the Old Woman Bay area under mush calmer conditions although it was chilly with the air temperatures hovering around 2 degrees Celsius.

Lake Superior has long been my favourite location within Ontario for landscape photography. The possibilities are endless. During this retreat I enjoyed composing scenes with my Laowa 12mm Zero D Lens as it was my first trip to the region with this extreme wide angle lens in my gear bag.

Below are a series of my initial edits from the retreat…stay tuned for more imagery soon.

I will be planning a second annual Lake Superior Wild & Scenic Photography Retreat. For those that are interested in registering for the event please do send along your contact info to me, by clicking here, if you are not already on my contact list. Don Johnston and yours truly are very well travelled along the Lake Superior coast and know where to be during the given weather conditions to maximize the photographic efforts.

 

Sunrise on Lake Superior
Nikon D800, Laowa 12mm Zero D Lens
Singh Ray 3-stop Reverse Graduated Neutral Density Filter
ISO 50
f16 @ 0.8 sec

 

Sunset on Lake Superior
Nikon D800, Laowa 12mm Zero D Lens
Singh Ray 3-stop Reverse Graduated Neutral Density Filter
ISO 100
f16 @ 13 sec

 

Sunrise on Lake Superior
Nikon D800, Laowa 12mm Zero D Lens
ISO 100
f16 @ 1.3 sec

 

Sunset on Lake Superior
Nikon D800, Nikon 18-35mm lens at 29mm
Singh Ray 3-stop Reverse Graduated Neutral Density Filter
ISO 50
f16 @ 5 sec

 

Wave Polished Stones on Lake Superior
Nikon D800, Nikon 28-300mm lens at 170mm
ISO 50
f18 @ 1/8 sec

 

In-camera Wave Blur, Old Woman Bay, Lake Superior
Nikon D800, Nikon 200-500mm lens
ISO 50
f32 @ 1/5 sec

 

Crashing Wave on Lake Superior
Nikon D800, Laowa 12mm Zero D Lens
ISO 50
f16 @ 1/60 sec

 

Moonlit Lake Superior
Nikon D800, Nikon 18-35mm lens at 31mm
ISO 3200
f11 @ 13 seconds

 

Sunset on Lake Superior
Nikon D800, Laowa 12mm Zero D Lens
Singh Ray 3-stop Reverse Graduated Neutral Density Filter
ISO 50
f16 @ 1.3 sec

 

Sunset on Lake Superior
Nikon D800, Laowa 12mm Zero D Lens
Singh Ray 3-stop Reverse Graduated Neutral Density Filter
ISO 100
f16 @ 5 sec

 

Rugged Lake Superior Shoreline
Nikon D800, Laowa 12mm Zero D Lens
ISO 100
f16 @ 0.8 sec

 

Wave Breaking at Katherine Cove, Lake Superior
Nikon D800, Nikon 18-35mm Lens at 35mm
ISO 50
f22 @ 0.5 sec

 

Wave Polished Stones, Lake Superior
Nikon D800, Nikon 28-300mm Lens at 125mm
ISO 100
f16 @ 0.6 sec

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Tiny Marsh – A Teaching Moment Photographic Workshop

Join me on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at Tiny Marsh Provincial Wildlife Area for a Teaching Moment Photographic Workshop that focuses on photographing sunrise imagery. Tiny Marsh is located near Elmvale, Ontario on the Tiny Flos Townline Road. With sunrise being at 6:48 a.m. we will meet in the parking lot at 5:45 a.m. This will allow us time to cover some basic information while we walk out along Trotter Dyke to our best vantage points for photographing sunrise. This event will conclude at 11:00 a.m.

During this workshop you will learn the principles of photographing sunrise. Topics covered will include composition, filters, seeing the shot and much more. After sunrise is over we will continue to explore other areas of Tiny Marsh in search of more landscape opportunities as well as any wildlife / birdlife opportunities that we may find.

Tiny Marsh is a designated Important Birding Area (IBA) and at this time of year it is a major staging area for numerous waterfowl, geese, trumpeter swans and many other species of birds. While birds will not be our main focus of this workshop do note that there may be opportunities to photograph such species after sunrise. Bringing a long lens is highly recommended for both sunrise and wildlife / birdlife opportunities. While our chances of a stellar sunrise our at the mercy of the current weather pattern of the day, I have often been rewarded with sunrises at Tiny Marsh. One of the best advantages of Tiny Marsh is that there is always something to photograph.

All walking trails at Tiny Marsh are flat and by no means strenuous.

The cost of this Teaching Moment Photographic Workshop is $65 plus applicable taxes. To register for this event please contact me here for further information. The maximum number of participants for this event is 8.

During Teaching Moment Photographic Workshops you will receive friendly, in-the-field instruction and guidance. Do remember that attending A Teaching Moment Photographic Workshop allows you to earn rewards – after attending 5 of these events you will receive a $50 discount on any future workshop of your choice! Please note that attendance at any of my workshops will also earn you an automatic $50 discount to the Lake Superior Wild & Scenic Photography Retreat.

Cancellation Policy for Teaching Moment Photographic Workshops: Due to the small group / shorter notice of these events participants are encouraged to check their schedules carfefully as a no refund policy does apply.

 

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Good Morning 2017

Winter Stream, Innisfil, Ontario, Canada

Happy New Year to all!!

This morning I arose bright and early to greet the new year with a winter sunrise over a small stream near my rural home. It was a beautiful and peaceful morning.

To view the larger, sharper version please remember to click on the image 🙂

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Fleeting Moments Over Nanabijou

Marie Louise Lake at Daybreak, Sleeping Giant Provincial Park
Nikon D800, Nikon 18-35mm Lens @ 18mm
ISO 100, f8 @ 1/8 sec.
Photo created at 7:33 a.m.

On the morning of September 14th, while on my recently concluded trip along the north shore of Lake Superior, I awoke in Sleeping Giant Provincial Park on the Sibley Peninsula, near Thunder Bay, Ontario. I was staying at the Marie Louise Lake Campground within the park, which provides an excellent view of the “sleeping giant.” Ojibway legend describes the “giant” as Nanabijou, the spirit of deep water that turned to stone when the secret location of a silver mine in Silver Islet was revealed to white men. I had set my alarm to be up well before sunrise as I had hope for some early morning imagery before packing up and heading to my next destination on the north shore. When I arose the sky appeared very cloudy and I was facing a westerly direction so I decided to start packing and make an early getaway. As I was packing I turned and noticed a faint glow on the Marie Louise Lake. The sun had found a clearing in the clouds as it was rising and was starting to illuminate the clouds in the west quite nicely. I grabbed my gear and made my way down to the shoreline of the lake.

The images in this blog post were created within 13 minutes of each other, with the last image being created as most of the color had faded from the scene. The best lighting on this scene really only lasted for 9 minutes and the changes of the light’s intensity can be seen in each of the images as the minutes roll by. Please note the time that each image was created in the captions for each image. Splendid moments like this are fleeting, but when witnessed leave a lasting impression. Being in the right place at the right time and being prepared allowed me to capture this amazing display that Mother Nature revealed on this morning.

This scene also reminded me of one of my most favorite quotes by photographer Ansel Adams – “Sometimes I do get to places just when God’s ready to have somebody click the shutter.”

Please do remember to click on each of the images to see the larger sharper version and please take a moment to let me know which is your most favorite of these daybreak scenes on Marie Louise Lake.

Marie Louise Lake at Daybreak, Sleeping Giant Provincial Park
Nikon D800, Nikon 18-35mm Lens @ 35mm
ISO 100, f8 @ 1/5 sec.
Photo created at 7:36 a.m.

 

Marie Louise Lake at Daybreak, Sleeping Giant Provincial Park
Nikon D800, Nikon 18-35mm Lens @ 26mm
ISO 100, f8 @ 1/8 sec
Photo created at 7:38 a.m.

 

Marie Louise Lake at Daybreak, Sleeping Giant Provincial Park
Nikon D800, Nikon 18-35mm Lens @ 35mm
ISO 100, f16 @ 0.3 sec.
Photo created at 7.42 a.m.

 

Marie Louise Lake at Daybreak, Sleeping Giant Provincial Park
Nikon D800, Nikon 18-35mm Lens @ 18mm
ISO 100, f16 @ 1/4 sec
Photo created at 7:46 a.m.

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Misty Morning on Horseshoe Lake

Sunrise on Horseshoe Lake, Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada
Nikon D800, Nikon 24-85mm VR Lens @ 34mm
ISO 400, f16 @ 1/200 sec
Handheld from canoe

I spent last week up at the family cottage on Horseshoe Lake near Parry Sound, Ontario. On the morning of July 17th we were treated to a rather refreshing break from the heatwave we have been enduring with a morning temperature of 10 degrees Celsius. This drop in temperature created the perfect conditions for autumn-like mist to blanket the entire lake. Seeing these conditions I abandoned my plans of heading off in search of a cow Moose and her calf that I had seen the day before in favor of a paddle on the lake. The mist was so thick at times I could barely see the tip of the canoe as I paddled across the lake to a couple of small islands that the sun would soon be rising behind. This was a very special morning whereby the heavy mist conditions persisted for roughly three hours past sunrise, before the sun had rose high enough in the sky to burn off the mist. Best of all I had the entire lake to myself. It was such a tranquil morning to be out on the water enjoying the beauty of the moment and listening to the sounds of nature with no motor boats to rudely disturb the moment.

Each of these images were created handheld while seated in my canoe with various lenses (see captions for details).

Please remember to click on each image to view the larger, sharper version.

Sunrise on Horseshoe Lake, Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada
Nikon D800, Nikon 24-85mm VR Lens @ 24mm
ISO 100, f16 @ 1/160 sec
Handheld from canoe

 

Sunrise on Horseshoe Lake, Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada
Nikon D800, Nikon 24-85mm VR Lens @ 62mm
ISO 200, f16 @ 1/160 sec
Handheld from canoe

 

Misty sunrise over forest, Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada
Nikon D800, Nikon 200-500mm VR Lens @ 500mm
ISO 400, f16 @ 1/250 sec
Handheld from canoe

 

Sunrise on Horseshoe Lake, Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada
Nikon D800, Nikon 24-85mm VR Lens @ 24mm
ISO 200, f16 @ 1/160 sec
Handheld from canoe

 

Sunrise on Horseshoe Lake, Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada
Nikon D800, Nikon 18-35mm Lens @ 18mm
ISO 100, f16 @ 1/60 sec
Handheld from canoe

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Lake Travers – Algonquin Provincial Park

Pre-Dawn Light on Lake Travers in Ontario’s Algonquin Provincial Park
Nikon D800, Nikon 18-35mm lens @ 18mm
ISO 100, f16 @ 8 seconds
Singh Ray 3-Stop Reverse Graduated Neutral Density Filter

Towards the end of last week I spent several days up on the shore of Lake Travers in Ontario’s Algonquin Provincial Park. The first morning of my stay in the area provided the best conditions for daybreak imagery. The nights turned rather cool after this day and subsequently the heavy mist rising from the lake made visibility very poor, until the sun had rose high enough in the sky to burn off the misty conditions. The above scene was created at approximately 5:30 a.m. on the first morning. No less than half an hour later the sun still hidden by the horizon began to light the clouds hovering above the lake – as seen below.

Sunrise on Lake Travers in Ontario’s Algonquin Provincial Park
Nikon D800, Nikon 18-35mm lens @ 19mm
ISO 100, f16 @ 1.3 seconds
Singh Ray 3-Stop Reverse Graduated Neutral Density Filter

After the sun had risen and the colors faded from the sky I jumped into the canoe and paddled out across the lake. After about an hour paddling about the perimeter of Lake Travers I turned to look over my shoulder (photographer’s must remember to do this – sometimes what is behind you is more interesting than the scene before you) and was more than impressed by the cloud formations. Using my Nikon 18-35mm lens with a Nikon Polarizing filter attached I composed the scene and created several varying handheld compositions. Each and every time that I create a handheld image, before clicking the shutter, I take a breath and hold it as this will often eliminate the risk of breathing from causing movement that may contribute to un-sharp images.

Cloud Formations on Lake Travers in Ontario’s Algonquin Provincial Park
Nikon D800, Nikon 18-35mm lens @ 18mm
ISO 200, f8 @ 1/25 second
Nikon Polarizing Filter
Hand-Held Capture

On my very last night in the park the skies were so unbelievably clear I could not resist the temptation to experiment with photographing the starry night sky. I think night photography will become a bit of an addiction 🙂 I can’t wait to give it another go!

The Milky Way Above the Algonquin Wilderness
Nikon D800, Nikon 18-35mm lens @ 18mm
ISO 6400, f4.5 @ 30 seconds

Please do remember to click on each of the images to see the larger, sharper versions.

I am on the road photographing again next week, but promise to return with lots of images to share and tips too 🙂

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Top 14 for 2014

Sunrise on Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands

 

At this time of year I usually take a moment to repost some of my favorite images that I captured throughout the past twelve months. I did not do as much traveling about as I had hoped to due to various reasons, but I did mange to find the time to travel to the beautiful Caribbean island of Cayman Brac (a return trip is planned for March 2015) for some memorable imagery and discover the awesome Georgian Bay Rugged Hiking Trail in Parry Sound, Ontario. Here is a selection of my 14 favorite photos from 2014. Hope you enjoy them and please remember to click on each image to view the larger, sharper version.

I would also like to thank each of my subscribers for their continued support here and wish you all a safe and prosperous New Year!

Happy New Year!!!

Barn Owl in Cave on Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands

Octopus on Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands

Snowy Owl in Blizzard Conditions, Thornton, Ontario

Green Frog Chorusing in Pond at Night, Thornton, Ontario

Fisheye Lens View of Hatchery Falls, Muskoka, Ontario

Soldier Crab on Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands

Bullfrog on Horseshoe Lake, Parry Sound, Ontario

Skeleton River in Winter, Muskoka, Ontario

Cuban Tree Frog at Night on Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands

Conch Shell Sunrise on the Caribbean Sea, Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands

Sunrise at Pollard Bay, Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands

Skeleton River in Black & White, Muskoka, Ontario

Sunset on the Georgian Bay Rugged Hiking Trail, Parry Sound, Ontario

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