Travelling Again

It has been 2 years since we were away for more than a weekend. It was exciting to load up the van and head out. We visited Lori’s mom on Manitoulin Island. It was wonderful to be able to go into her home and give her a hug.

Misery Bay Provincial Park, ON

Philadelphia Vireo

We spent three days on Manitoulin and then traveled up to Lake Superior Provincial Park. The weather was great. Not too cold or warm. The water was warm enough for extended swims and the trails were not too busy.

Lake Superior Waves

Sand River Beach, ON

While in Superior, our friends James and Li dropped by for a cup of tea on their way to Pukaskwa National Park.

I have spent so much time here over the years. I can’t count the number of times we have camped in the park. It never disappoints.

Baldhead River Falls, ON

Baldhead River Falls, ON

It was great to get away and great to get back home.

Dog Days of Summer

Australian Blue Heeler

We are going through yet another heat wave in the city. Lori had dried laundry in the backyard. She must have brought in a Cicada in the laundry basket. We are seeing them everywhere right now. I took this opportunity to take a set of stacked images to increase depth of field. The image below is a composite of 11 images, each with a different focus point. This method works well as long as your subject doesn’t move.

Dog-day Cicada or Heatbug

It has been a turbulent summer for us and for Toronto.

Toronto Nathan Phillips Square

There are times when I feel like I need to just keep my head down and weather the storm. Music is often what I turn to when I need to escape. We went to see Brandi Carlile in June. She was one of the last few performers at Massy Hall before it closed for renovations. I have witnessed many great concerts in my life but this was the best yet and in the best venue in the country. This grand old hall has been a part of my life since I was in grade school. My first visit was to see a quintet made up of members of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. I can’t remember what grade I was in but it was around grade 6. With many visits since, I have watched my heroes play their hearts out on this stage: Bruce Cockburn, Stevie Ray Vaughn, BB King and Emmylou Harris. So many great shows. I have really enjoyed Massey Hall.

Massey Hall Toronto ON

Massey Hall Toronto ON

We spent a bit of time in Eastern Ontario and Quebec this summer and visited Gatineau Park for a few days. It is an interesting place. There are many lakes and trails to discover. We hiked into the Carbide Willson Ruins, near Meech Lake. I hope to go back again this fall and photograph this scene in fall colour.

Carbide Willson Ruins, QC

To end off the summer, we spent a bit of time with family in Brockville.

Brockville City Hall, ON

We then headed north to Manitoulin Island via highway 17. It was quite smoky in some areas from all of the forest fires.

Manitoulin Morning

Summer is never complete without a trip to the north shore of Lake Superior. We spent time in Lake Superior Provincial Park and in Pukaskwa National Park.

Bathtub Island, Lake Superior Park ON

Bathtub Island, Lake Superior Park ON

Canoe in Pukaskwa National Park, ON

North Beach Pukaskwa National Park, ON

I hope things settle down for awhile. For us and for Toronto…

The Summer of the Canoe

Canoe and Lake Superior

We couldn’t bring ourselves to make another epic road trip this year. We needed a break. Not that we didn’t work, we did. The ice storm of December 2013 hit us hard and we needed to do a lot of repairs on our house. This limited our travel time and budget. So we alternated between working on the house and canoeing. We managed to paddle in a few provincial parks: Killarney, Algonquin, French River and Lake Superior. It was nice to take the summer at a different pace.

Paddling in Killarney Provincial Park, ON

Georgian Bay Shores

Bullfrog

We found a few things to photograph. Some were close to home such as this cardinal in our back yard.

Male Northern Cardinal

We read good books, drank good wine and paddled to wonderful places. We also got a lot done around the house. So all in all, it was a great summer. The summer of the canoe.

Lori Paddling on Lake Superior

Lori Paddling in Georgian Bay

Tooting the Horn

It's a long road. You have to navigate many tough days and mountains of self-doubt. The life of a nature photographer can be an isolating experience. The most successful people I know are the ones who didn't quit. Even after so many years it is still a thrill to get images out there. Here are a few of our latest photos that have been published:

My work is being featured in the July 2013 issue of Outdoor Photography Canada.

This is an exclusive calendar published in Germany:

Kanada 2014

A book cover for Viking/Penguin:

The Boys In The Boat

A cover for a mini-calendar:

Ontario 2014

A double page spread in the Summer 2013 issue of ON Nature magazine:

ON Nature magazine

The front cover on the Winter 2012/2013 issue of ON Nature magazine and some other images inside:

ON Nature magazine

"Action is the foundational key to all success" -- Pablo Picasso

Keep moving!

Running on Empty

I’ve kept working as we travel east. After more than 11 weeks on the road, it feels like I’m on autopilot. I shoot everyday but I’m not very productive at this point.

After a long day of driving, we camped at Elk Island National Park. I decided to take the night off. That’s a sign that there will be a spectacular sunset. Sure enough, as I worked my way through one of the best steaks I have ever had, I looked behind me and the sky was on fire. I don’t usually shoot sunsets and did my best to ignore this one. But finally I couldn’t stand it any longer. I left Lori to clean up the dinner mess and I ran down to the lake.

Astotin Lake in Elk Island National Park, AB - Click for larger

We saw lots of Coyotes in Elk Island. This young one was wandering along the road.

Coyote - Click for larger

After a lot of driving, we have just made it back to Northern Ontario. The leaves are spectacular.

Mijinemungshing Lake, Ontario - Click for larger

Autumn on Whitefish River - Click for larger

Autumn in Espanola, ON - Click for larger

White-tailed Deer in Autumn - Click for larger

I keep clicking the shutter but I think my tank is running on empty. It’s time for us to head home.

The Law of Diminishing Returns

Lori kayaking by an iceberg - Click for larger

I have been coast to coast in Canada many times over the past 20 years. We have travelled in planes, trains, boats and automobiles. We have also travelled in canoes, kayaks and on foot. Some places we have even revisited over the years. Usually the first time is the most exciting. This year, Newfoundland felt like it had lost a bit of its shine. Maybe the bad weather had something to do with my perception. Although I think anyplace would have a difficult time living up to my expectations the second time round if my first visit was spectacular. Our first trip there we kayaked around icebergs and had caribou run past us. We were wide-eyed and smitten.

Caribou Cow and Calf - Click for larger

Ice Floes at La Scie, NL - Click for larger

There are very few places that hold that magic of a first visit. Lake Superior however, has never disappointed me.

Gargantua Rocks - Click for larger

Regardless of the weather, I always enjoy the north shore.

Sandpiper - Click for larger

After braving one of the wettest summers on the east coast in memory, Lori and I loaded up the canoe and headed to Lake Superior Provincial Park. We wanted to enjoy a bit of summer before returning to the daily grind. Waves crashing on the shore was all we could hear. It was so loud, we had to yell to communicate if we were more than 10 feet from each other. It was a little rough for canoeing so we didn’t go far. With little ambition for not much more than reading, swimming, and eating, we somehow filled our day nicely.

Red Sky over Lake Superior - Click for larger

I didn’t pick up the camera much during the week - only if the light was too good to ignore. I did do a little light painting with a big Maglight flashlight. It’s always fun to play and just shoot for the joy of it.

Gargantua Rocks - Click for larger

All in all, it was a great summer! Hope you had a good one too.

Dreaming of Home

We have driven over 20,000 km by now. We are weary and dreaming of home. The places we have passed through are a blur. The bad memories are fading. The good memories are growing stronger - like the wolf at the side of the Dempster avoiding my gaze and my camera. In Dawson I didn’t bother to wash the mud off the van even though I passed right by the most used car wash in the country. No, I just let the rain slowly reveal the license plate. We are so privileged to live in Canada.

Quetico Provincial Park - Click for larger

I need to do more to protect it. We undervalue and overuse everything.

Osprey - Click for larger

It’s been a wonderful trip. Sometimes I wake up and think I’m already home. My bed, my shower and all the comforts waiting there. But still, it’s out here where I really feel alive.

Sand River Beach - Click for larger

By the time you read this, we will have had some down time at a northern beach and made the long drive home. The dream of the next trip has begun.