Carried away.

“A lake carries you into recesses of feeling otherwise impenetrable.”

~William Wordsworth

Worth the wait.

I’m on a “long exposure” kick these days, looking for moving subjects like bubbling brooks and wind-blown grasses and paddling Canada geese. If the camera’s shutter is left open a little (or a lot) longer than the time necessary to freeze the action, the targets become a dreamy, soft blur in the resulting photo. I think what I like best about this technique is that the final picture is often a pleasant and interesting surprise. Our eyes don’t see this way, but the camera can record accumulated time.

More to come…

Blowin’ in the wind.

Hello, summer.

Light my way.

*Inspired by this week’s WordPress Photo Challenge: Place in the World

Subdued blue.

Till the clouds roll by.

It’s April, and the air still hurts my face. But I didn’t let that stop me from a pleasant walk on Burlington Beach. (Yes, it’s true. I – detester of most winter things – have actually become a fan of winter beach walks. What next? Winged pigs?)

When I arrived, the sun was glinting warmly on the water, and by the time I left, the clouds had overtaken the sky, leaving a dull, flat light. I liked this shot – converted to black and white for some extra drama – because the clouds seem to be pulled in by the barge in the distance. Plus… doesn’t that top-most cloud look like a bird in flight?!

I’ll share a couple more pictures from my chilly beach wanderings in the coming days. Hey – word on the street is that the temperature might rise to double digits at the end of the week (!!!). My face – pale, cracked and frozen – cannot wait.

Celebrations.

My apologies: I’ve been neglectful of this space, haven’t I? Fortunately, my camera has been busy – I’ve begun another personal project (maybe more on that later) – and while I’ve kept on top of following my favourite WordPress blogs, I have missed posting here regularly.

But today deserves some attention because it’s the Mr.’s birthday. Here’s a guy who’s willing to stand on potentially dangerous ledges and outcrops of wet rock so that I can make photos. To be clear: it’s HIS idea to stand on dangerous ledges and outcrops of wet rock. If it were up to me, he’d be standing at a reasonable, safe distance from the water at all times. Maybe wearing a life jacket, just in case. But those pictures would surely put you to sleep.

Anyhow, anxiety and slippery rocks aside, my mightiest birthday wishes go out to my partner of nearly twenty years. He’s kind, generous, smart, funny, and patient. Also, easy on the eyes. I don’t know how I was lucky enough to nab him.

Honey, I celebrate you.

And the fact that you didn’t fall into the lake.

 

 

You snooze, you lose?

Scheduling and disagreeable weather held off a trip to the lakefront to see the spring profusion of cherry blossoms. I made it down today – the one day of sunshine between bouts of cold, miserable rain – and found that I was too late to catch the bloom this year.

But there were other, unexpected gifts to appreciate:

A graceful pier from which one can contemplate how the sunlight sparkles on the surface of the water…

 

Leaning shadows and silhouettes to frame and capture…

 

Waterfront pathways to wander…

 

And trees no longer in bloom, but pleasing nonetheless.