RIDEAU CANAL, ONTARIO

We are actually house sitting in Ottawa for a week. Yesterday we drove along the Rideau river and stopped for a picnic at the Nicholsons lock. A beautiful place to watch the boats passing through the locks. I had to post this picture because our granddaughter loves to go kayaking with her parents. I thought this image might give them an idea to try the Rideau River.

BALL'S FALLS CONSERVATION AREA

This has been quite a busy week for me. So have not posted as much as I should have. I made this picture after looking at some books about the history of photography. I was quite curious about the old autochrome images from the 1890's to about 1910. The pictures had a very specific quality which I then tried to recreate on the computer.

HAT STORE, NIAGARA ON THE LAKE

Niagara on the Lake is a beautiful historic town. Of course at this time of the year it is very crowded but still a great place to visit. Walking into a hat store I took this picture of a stack of Summer hats. I like this simple picture first for the pattern but also the very subtle colour. The picture is almost black and white, which gives it a visual twist, adding visual impact to the image.

ONE HAPPY BEETLE

Of course a visit to the Niagara region would not be complete without a great wine tour. Just look at the smile on this car in the parking lot outside one of the wineries.

BLUE STAR, WELLAND, ONTARIO

The Blue Star is a popular eatery in Welland. People go to get a terrific breakfast in a place where you feel as if you stepped back into the Fifties. Go and you wont be disappointed. The food and service is great.

HAIR SALON, WELLAND, ONTARIO

We spent a great weekend with our friends Linda and Gunther in Welland. We did some great wine tasting tours and in short really had an enjoyable weekend. Walking thorough an older area of Welland I could not resist taking a picture of this storefront. Hope you like it Linda.

MARIANNE'S GARDEN

I am not a gardener but my wife certainly is. of course I enjoy her garden very much. The foliage of the leaves and the ferns show a variety of patterns and textures. I have been interested in the landscape photographs of the nineteenth century so here I have created an image similar in flavour to the toned photographs of that era.

WATERFRONT, NORTH BAY

The flower beds along the waterfront here in North Bay are just beautiful this year. So first a thanks to the volunteers who created the flower beds and then of course the damp weather we are having these last few weeks is just excellent for a spectacular flower display.

SUMMER, NEAR VERNER, ONTARIO

I have driven by this house on the Cache bay many. I have even photographed it on occasion but a few days ago the light was just right for this Summer impression.

NURSERY, RICHMOND, ONTARIO

This weekend we visited a great nursery in Richmond near Ottawa. Of course the gardeners in my family were very busy looking, discussing and in general behaving like all avid planters and diggers. I enjoy a beautiful garden but I am not that interested in working the landso to speak. My interest is photography. Looking around I saw the patterns and lines of the display areas which contrasted with the scenery outside.

AFTERNOON, WOLFE LAKE, ONTARIO

Wolfe Lake is one of my favourite spots. The lake is not over run by motor boats or any other loud noisy machines.The occasional fisherman is all you will find at this spot. This makes it ideal for picnics or just simple realxing.

LUNCH

Today was just beautiful. In the Summer My wife and I always eat lunch outside, weather permiting of course. I noticed the two forks with the reflection of the umbrella and the sky but I think it was the position of the two spoons which I thought symbolized togetherness.

ABANDONED FARM, NEAR OUELLETTE, ONTARIO

I passed this abandoned farmhouse near Ouelette on Hwy 528. I am always attracted to this type of subejct because of the strong textures of the wood. The house it self was not that interesting, eventhough I took quite a few pictures. What makes this images is the hole for the stove pipe which forms a nice contrast to the texture of the wall.

FLAX FIELD, WEST NIPISSING, ONTARIO

Driving through the farming area near Sturgeon Falls I noticed that many farmersswitched from growing canola to flax. The beautiful blue colour of the flowers made quite a few cars stop because they were curious what the crop was.

SOUTH SHORE, LAKE NIPISSING

I did not get out to take photographs this week but one evening I went out for a short while and eventhough I did not get many pictures I took this view of the lake at sunset. I think this picture worked or maybe it was just the mood I was in because normally I don't take many images of sunsets. They are a little too easy.

STORMY DAY, LAKE NIPISSING, ONTARIO

It rained most of the day today. It cleared later in the afternoon but a very strong wind whipped up the lake water making it look like the ocean. It was quite pleasant walking along the beach.

FERNS AND HOSTAS

The garden is showing its most exuberant full Summer beauty. Every season I just have to photograph shapes and textures of the various plants and flowers. I liked the abstraction of the black and white negative image of ferns and hostas.

FIRST AVENUE, NORTH BAY, ONTARIO

This morning I went out to do some pictures downtown. Over the years this has been an ongoing project. I enjoy walking around the the downtown core to photograph the various
buildings. The houses in this area date back from the early to mid 20th century. The owner of this house tried to turn the house into an Italian villa I guess. It did not work as well as he probably thinks it did. Judge for yourself.

EVENING, LAKE NIPISSING, ONTARIO

An evening picture of Lake Nipissing. This lake offers me an unending source of images. Every time the light is different which changes the feeling of the lake.

WALL, TORONTO, ONTARIO

Obviously the ivy had been removed from this wall leaving a very interesting pattern. Just a few adjustments in photoshop and another abstract image.