Regatta!

Hi All,

I had the good fortune to be invited aboard the Sailboat Suzie Q for the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron Regatta yesterday. It was a great day to be on the water and many good images were made, and a few new friends as well. There can be few greater sounds than that of sails in the wind, and the brightly coloured Spinnakers were reminiscent of hot air balloons.

Everyone was a winner regardless of how they placed.

The images made would not have been possible without Image Stabilization Technology Lenses, and the high ASA of Digital Capture.

Special Thanks to Hugh and Nick for the invitation.

Cheers,
Gary.


All Images were made with a Canon 5D, 300 F4 Image Stabilizer Lens, 1.4 Teleconverter, and B&W Polarizer.

Bon Portage Island

Hi all,

Below are a few images taken while on a trip over the Victoria Day long weekend to Bon Portage Island. "B.P." is an island located 1 mile off of the coast of Shag Harbour Nova Scotia.
It is known for it's population of Leach's Storm Petrels, as well as being a migrant trap for other birds migrating to their breeding grounds. Historically it is also known as the light where celebrated author Evelyn Richardson got the material for her bestselling books We Keep a Light, and Living Island. She and her family lived on the island, and tended the light for 35 years.

A history of the light and it's people may be found below at:
http://www.nslps.com/lights/lighthouse_page_01.asp?ID=281&SP=2&M=Early%20History


enjoy,
Gary.


Below, Herring Gull in flight.
Canon 5D, 300 F4 Is lens, with 1.4 TC. handheld at 800 ASA, f 5.6 at 2500/sec.




Herring gull at nest.
Canon 5d, 300 F4 IS Lens, with 1.4 TC, on a Manfrotto tripod.




Lighthouse and out buildings.
Canon 5D, 70-200mm F4 lens, on Manfortto tripod.




West side of Island and Gull.
Canon 5D, 70-2--mm F4 lens. Manfrotto tripod.




Birder on "Warbler Alley"
Canon 5D, 300mm F4 lens with 1.4 TC. Manfrotto tripod.

Surf's Up!

Or...Dude, where's my toque?

That's what popped into my mind as I was editing images from last weekend's shoot.
I spent Saturday afternoon photographing a group of intrepid winter surfers at Lawrencetown Beach, Nova Scotia.
It was actually a nice afternoon, around the frezing mark with lots of sunshine. Throw in some waves, surfers and a cool experience was had. I have nothing but respect for the guys and girls who do this. I find the Atlantic Ocean cold in the summer!
My film rig was in the shop getting the sensor cleaned, so it was back to old film shooting for a day.
I sure didn't miss it, as the instant feedback, and fast procesing time of digital is hard to beat. It cost $30 to process 2 rolls of film, and I'm sure the cost will only go up as E6 processing gets rarer.

Enjoy,
Gary Murray
Bedford, Nova Scotia
http://garyamurray.blogspot.com/
http://www.pbase.com/pgns/gmurray



All images made with Canon EOS3, 300f4L IS lens, w/1.4 Teleconverter, B&W Circular Polarizer. Fuji Velvia 100f pushed 1 stop, and Manfrotto tripod.

Lighthouse Route Nova Scotia

Hi All,

This weekend just past was a great time to be out and about in Canada's Ocean Playground.
Saturday was overcast and cool, but Sunday was amazing! Sunny and 5 Degrees Celcius, and along the ocean it felt like spring with hardly any snow in sight.

The image below was taken at Prospect NS, which is about a 20 minute drive from Peggy's Cove. It is just as beautiful, though often overlooked, as people tend to gravitate toward Peggy's, arguably the most famous Lighthouse in the world.

Canon EOS 5D, 17-40mm Lens with Cokin 173 Polarizer, and 2 Stop Neutral Density Filter.





This Greater Black Back Gull taking flight was a "grab shot" at the above mentioned Peggy's Cove. It is cropped slightly to add visual impact.
When the action begins it is best to just "let er' rip" and edit the results later. this was the best of the sequence shot.

Canon EOS 5D, 300mm F4 IS, lens 1.4 TC.





These weathered fishing shacks in the afternoon light make for an interesting composition, one can almost smell the salt air.

Canon EOS 5D, 17-40mm Lens, B&W Circular Polarizer.





Fishing Boats at Yankee Cove Nova Scotia, with a some remnants of ice floating in the water.

Canon EOS 5D, 17-40mm lens, B&W Circular Polarizer




Fishing boats in ice Boutiliers Cove NS.
What a difference a day makes, this image was taken Saturday, with winter still very much evident.

Canon EOS 5D, 70-200mm lens, B&W Warm Circular Polarizer.




Enjoy!
Gary

Saltscapes Calendar

Hi All,

Just recieved the 2008 Saltscapes Calendar, and June features an image of mine of a fawn taken last June back in my native Pictou County NS.

It was an awesome experience, and am happy to share a rare moment in time with everyone.

Thanks to Saltscapes, their fine magazine can be found at www.saltscapes.com







Cheers,
Gary

Winter!

Hi All,

Since winter arrived to the Maritime Provinces this weekend, I thought I would share a collection of images from winter past. The temperature plummeted to -7 Celcius and it became quite windy and raw whilst out on a birding field trip yesterday. 2 Bright Red Cardinals backdropped against the newly fallen snow was a treat.

Below is an image of Oak leaves frozen under the ice. Pictou County NS.

Minolta Maxxum 9, 50mm Macro lens. Fuji Velvia Film.




The beavers are pretty much tucked away in their lodges in this kind of weather, with a winter's supply of food stashed away. This image was taken in Willard Fraser's pond, Pictou County NS.

Canon EOS3, 70-200mm F4l lens, Fuji Velvia film, and B&W Circular Polarizer filter.



Deer Tracks in the snow, taken in Brookville NS.

Canon EOS3, 70-200mm F4l lens, Fuji Velvia film, B&W Circular Polarizer Filter.

Frost on Trees, Bridgeville, Pictou County NS.

Canon EOS3, 70-200mm F4L lens, Fuji Velvia film, B&W Polarizer Circular Polarizer Filter.




Snow on trees, Mac Lellans Brook Pictou County NS.

Canon EOS3, 70-200mm F4l Lens, with 1.4TC, Fuji Velvia film.


Time to get out and enjoy the snow, it sure beats complaining about it!

Cheers,
Gary.

After the Fall.....

Hi All,

After the last leaves have come down in the fall, other photo opportunities await for the intrepid shooter. Slowing down is a good exercise in really observing what is around us. Making great images out of ordinary things is always a great challenge.

Photo 1

A Traditonal landscape image taken in my native Pictou County. The river follows an S curve, a staple in image design.

Photo 2

Is an image of a leaf on a piece of birch bark at Kejimkujik National Park NS. I liked the contrast between the two, and no distracting elements make the subject stand out .






Photo 3

Aspen and Poplar leaves on the forest floor after a windstorm offer an interesting composition.





Photo 4

More fallen leaves, this time of the Maple variety in a pond.






Photo 5.

A mushroom in an old growth forest in Nova Scotia, where there is not a lot in the way of fall colour.





Photo 6

Rosehips offer a lot of colour, and is a different take on fall.






Cheers,
enjoy the fall,

Gary. http://www.pbase.com/pgns/gmurray

http://www.blogger.com/

Fall!

This is it!

The time of year photographers dream of.

Fall Colours.
If only we could be everywhere at once! We can't however, so we have to pick our spots, work them and hope for the best.

The 2 photo's below, were shot in Kejimkujik National Park, Nova Scotia. "Keji" is my favorite spot in the province after Cape Breton which has to be one of the top spots in the Continent to photograph fall colours.








Aspy Valley, Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

Just because it is foggy and or rainy doesn't mean one has to stop shooting. crop out the bleak sky and look for interesting compositions within the landscape.





Brookvile, Pictou County Nova Scotia

Another example of shooting on a dreary day. Here I concentrated on the colours on the Maples and the way they contrasted with the trunks of the trees.




Sunset at Kejimkujik Nova Scotia.

I found it really interesting how trees can grow out of rocks, and the thin soil available. Very shallow root systems in these cases.



Cheers, and enjoy the fall!
Gary .

http://www.pbase.com/pgns/gmurray
http://garyamurray.blogspot.com/

Brier Island NS

Hi All,

Here are a few more images from the trip to Brier Island. I was really psyched to photograph whales, something I have been wanting to do for a few years. As often happens though, the best opportunities happen along the way. I guess it really is about the journey, not the destination.

the first two images below are prime examples of this. the were taken within 10 minutes of each other, while waititng for the ferry to Brier.

Image 1

Taken with a Canon Eos3, 300mm F4 Image Stabilized lens, Fuji Velvia 100 Film.

As I was waiting for the car ferry, this image appeared out of the fog. I couldn't believe my luck. I grabbed my gear, and ran back to a suitable spot to frame it. the scene kept changing, and normally would have hung around to keep shooting but I had a boat to catch!




Image 2, was taken while waiting for the same ferry, before the image above.

Again, the light kept changing, and I kept shooting, and this is my favourite image from the series of images made. I like the way the light is hitting the wharf, and the boat is silhouetted in the distance.




Image 3

A little cove in Grand Passage on the island, and the foggy morning caught my eye on this image.

Image 3, 4 and 5 made with a Canon EOS3, 70-200mm F4L lens, Fuji Velvia 100F Film.




Image 4


Made at Western Light, the western most point of land in Nova Scotia. It is a photographer's dream, as every day seems to be different there. The stunted trees are common along exposed areas.







Lighthouse at Grand Passage on the island. When photographing lighthouses, it is a good idea to wait until the beam comes around, as it adds more visual interest to the image. keeping the subject off centre is another method.

Whales!

Humpback Whale diving, with water driping off of it's tail flukes




Humpback Whale surfacing, and vapour can be seen coming out off it's blow hole.




The scarred back of a Humpback Whale. If it could only talk....




Whale watchers on another tour operator, taken from our boat.


All images taken with a Canon EOS3, 300F4 Image Stabilized Lens, with a 1.4 Teleconverter. Fuji Provia 100f Film, and pushed 1 stop.

Last weekend a group of friends packed up and went to Brier Island at the end of the Digby Neck of Nova Scotia to spend the weekend birding and whale watching.
Brier Island is an amazing place, and is a migrant trap for birds, with some very noteworthy sightings over the years. It is also a photographers and painters paradise, with lots of photo opportunities often enhanced by the mood the fog brings.

I highly recommend it as a destination.


The whole time was "Pea Soup" fog, up until the time were getting ready to go on the whale cruise. The fog dissipated, and the sun came out. what luck! Lots of pelagic birds, and several whales including a mother and a calf were seen. An amazing time was had, out on the water on such a nice day.

Be sure to check back, as I have lots of other images from the trip, which I wil post shortly,

Cheers,
Gary.

Trip to Kejimkujik National Park, Nova Scotia.

Hi all,

posted above are a few images taken whilst on a quick shooting trip to "Keji" on the Labour day weekend.

The first one was from my campsite, what a scene to wake up to! a family of loons were calling all night, in addition to a pair of Barred Owls that were hooting "who cooks for you" for a long period very close to my tent.

The second image is of a spider web taken early one morning, while the light was good and the dew drops were still shining like diamonds.

the third shot is a vertical composition form the same campsite.

the fourth and fifth images are of a fawn captured while feeding in the park. they were taken at a fifth of a second, and was surprised they were as sharp as they are. when in doubt-shoot.

hope you enjoy, and get out to our wonderful natural areas.

Gary.

Spider in Arethusa

Above are 2 of a collection of images I made in the Maple Lake Bog in Pictou County NS.

It is of a crab spider catching a fly while hiding in an Arethusa(Dragon's Mouth Orchid).

I went to the bog to do some macro shooting of some bog orchids, and totally lucked out (as is usually how I make most of my images). I laid out in the bog for about a half hour braving black fly's, and I mean braving! They were absolutley brutal that day. Add in 31C temperatures, and a backpack full of camera gear, and you have one very happy photographer to come across this scene.

cheers,

Gary.

Newborn Fawn, Bridgeville Pictou County NS.

One never knows what one will come across while out and about in the great outdoors.

The photo above is a great example of that. While out birding for the Maritime Breeding Bird Atlas Project, I came across this little fawn on the way home.

I have been dreaming for years for an opportunity like this, and wasn't sure if it would ever happen. I feel very fortunate, and blessed to witness, and capture experiences like this, as they could very well be once in a lifetime happenings.

A great day it was, as I also had a Bittern, that looked to be on a nest, and some other notable sightings for the project.

Cheers,

Gary.