Stomping Grounds

Hi All,

Continuing my Stomping Grounds portfolio here are a few new images from the past week.
I used to have to drive 25~mins., specifically to photograph Fragrant Water Lily's Now they grow in the lake just a few feet off of my property. Funny how life works, I used to drool every time passing them in a pond or lake and seeing beds in bloom crying out to be shot.

The ducks are always around, with several families again this year, and just can't resist photographing them. But, hey t is a good problem to have. :-)

I also added a "selfie" to give an idea of the atmosphere this spring, and because they are all the rage. ;-)

   
  

Hi all,

While out hiking and scouting recently, I came across Mocassin Flowers in the hundreds in a nearby forest. Among this plethora of them were 3 rare White Phase Moccasin Flowers. 

It is rare to see one, let alone 3 so of course I was back bright and early the next morning. Luckily there was lots of clouds to diffuse the sun, so that is when I timed my shots, Unfortunately, it seemed like whenever the clouds passed over the breeze kicked up blowing the flowers around.
Being the patient sort, I waited the conditions out and made a few images of the white ones, and experimented with the common pink ones .

There was also some other interesting sights, like Cinnamon Fern, and I even threw in a landscape for good measure.

Enoy!
Gary

Duck Hunting.

Just with a camera though. :-)

One advantage to being in the throes of winter is that most bodies of water are frozen over. Most, but not all. the remaining few serve as a gathering spot for birds, namely ducks and through necessity become more approachable by humans. (Us).

I did a little shooting last week, and though the light is tricky to deal with, did manage to make a few images of ducks ( and 1 Gull) that I normally wouldn't be able to get within a country mile of.

Enjoy!
G

More Eagles!

Eagle Watching!

Every Winter people flock to Sheffield Mills Nova Scotia to Eagle Watch/Photograph.

So, naturally I headed in the opposite direction to Pictou County. (Plus I was craving pizza from home).

It was quiet compared to recent weeks, where large numbers of Eagles also gather, but the light was good and I did manage to make a few decent images.

There were also lots of other birds around the waterways that remain open. Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Northern Pintail, American Widgeon, Greater Scaup, were the highlights.

I wish there was 24 hr sunlight like in the arctic, after ordering a large pizza, I was good for days!

Enjoy,
Gary

Gary 

Back From The Grave!

Or, Rumors of my demise....

It's been a few dog's ages since updating this blog, have been busy buying houses, renovating houses, swimming in lakes etc...

I have been updating my Flickr Site - Gary Murray  with a nice mix of Classic, and New images.
 https://www.flickr.com/photos/102019655@N08/

Here's a primer of what you may find if you head on over.

Cheers,
Gary

Don't Blink...

Or it's gone.....fall that is.

Just seemed like it was 30 Degrees Celsius, and I was swimming in the lake, and now the leaves are mostly turned and falling. Went for a walk in the woods near home today looking for photo opportunities and found a few. It is harder work these days, as things are more subtle now, not the Postcard/Grandscape- can't miss shots of spring/summer. But, it is an opportunity to "see" and look beyond the obvious and experiment.

All images made with a Canon 5D, 70-200mm F4L lens, B&W Warm Polarizer,  Manfrotto Tripod, cable release.
*I really miss Fuji Velvia film for shooting landscapes, but not the processing time/cost and scanning!

         Trailside plants, not sure the species against a background of trees providing contrast. 

        Same scene as above, only taken with a slow shutter speed when the wind kicked up. Which one do you like best?

                                       

        Fall foliage along the edge of nearby Hamilton Lake. 

        Closeup of tree trunk showing pattern of bark. 

         View through the trees of the Beaverbank River. 

         Taken with Canon 5D, 17-40mm f4L lens, B&W Warm Polarizer, Manfrotto Tripod, cable release. 

                 Tree snag with holes made by Pileated Woodpeckers. 

                 Cool the way scenes like this tell a story. 

   Ferns turning color, the woods will be full of neutral shades like this until next spring. 

             Bare trees against some trees that for the moment have their leaves providing a neat contrast and sign  of things to come. 

         

          Straight up fall landscape scene, using repeating horizontal lines on the bottom of the frame, and shape of the hillside to add visual interest. 

Happy shooting!
Gary

The Death of Keji. as we know it.

Hi All,

One Nova Scotia's National Parks-Kejimkujik, a paddling gem is now being closed for the winter season due to budget cuts from Parks Canada, which in turn had their budget slashed by Stephen Harper's Conservative government. Ironically, one of Harper's senior ministers is Peter MacKay  from Nova Scotia representing Central Nova. He is touting spending $25 Billion dollars on the F35 fighter jet, but is oddly mum on the Keji./National Parks issue-a drop in the bucket compared to this dubious jet purchase.

Our National Parks system is one of the things that we as Canadians can be proud of, and can hand future generations a legacy of our past before industrialization (progress) destroyed most of it. Now that legacy is threatened, and Keji. traditionally known as a "paddlers park" (when open) seems to cater exclusively to the RV/trailer crowd and it's accompanying generators, barking dogs etc...

A petition is currently online, and I encourage all lovers of the natural world to sign it, then we can tackle the issue of commercialization of nature.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/675/839/922/save-national-park-historic-site-from-winter-closures/



This is just one of a myriad of ways the natural world is under siege, and we as global  citizens are duty bound to act.

End of rant.

Keji. is still a beautiful place, and I have many fond memories and images of it. Some were captured on film/memory card, but many more are in my mind's eye.

I am posting some images of Keji. to celebrate it's magic and may do so in the future.

Feel free to comment, write me, or share stories/images and take action.

Gary Murray

Rumors of my demise...

Have been greatly exaggerated......

Been so busy the last year or so buying my first home (a lakefront setup) and the ensuing chores like settling in, stacking firewood, stacking firewood, stack... you get the idea.

Well, now that I am settled in and the firewood, did I mention firewood? is all put away I can get back to more important thongs like shooting and working on my cloud survey. See image above. :)
( I broke the rules and centered the horizon- a no no in photography). Plus, I was too lazy to get up and get a different perspective- and it is my blog so I can do whatever I want. Long as it's legal!


Will try and keep it updated wit lots more eye candy,

cheers,
Gary.

Keji Backcountry

Hi All,

I had so much fun at Keji last week that I went back for more! The deluge that happened Sunday morning cut my trip, and shooting a little early, but didn't dampen my spirits. Had a great paddle Saturday in the Big Dam area, and am booked in for some b/c camping there next week.

Saw some cool stuff like a family of Loons, Turtles sunning themselves on logs and rocks, and a pair of Barred Owls hooting and preforming near my site.

Can't wait to get back and see what else draws my eye.

Cheers,

Gary

Photo 1. Backpack hanging from a tree to keep the critters away.

Photo 2. Common Loon family photographed handheld from Kayak.

Canon 5D 300mm F4L IS lens, 1.4 T/C

Photo 3, 4, and 5 Still Brook area at the end of Portage "R"

Canon 5D, 17-40mm F4L lens, B&W Circular Polarizer, on Manfrotto Tripod and Cable Release.

Kayaking "Keji"

Hi All,

Spent the weekend Paddling in my new Sea Kayak at Kejmkujik National Park in SouthWestern Nova Scotia. Within it's 381 square kilometers, are canoe and backcounrty routes.  It is an area originally used  by the Mi'kmaq people. It is an area to be seen best by paddling, as that was their mode of transportation then.

The petroglyph rock carvings they made, and the parks recent designation as a Dark Sky Preserve are  only 2 of many things it boasts.

Onto the shots!

Having recently purchased my first Sea Kayak, I was itching to get it wet at "Keji". Scouting the parks backcountry by boat for future trips ( one must book about 2 months in advance ot ensure a site!), and photographing Loons were my goals. Mission accomplished! The sites are amazing, and I fulfilled a lifelong dream of photographing, and just seeing Loons up close in their habitat. There were several seen, but one allowed me into range to watch and capture some great images of it. It was one of the greatest things I have witnessed outdoors, watching it catch a fish, do it's famous wing flap, and even call a bit.

Needless to say I was a happy camper!

Enjoy,

Gary

Click on thumbnails to see larger image. Prints are also available, e-mail any requests .

          Photo 1. The Sisters Island, taken from my boat upon landing. Canon G11 handheld.

        Photo 2. Black Ducks roosting on the Mersey River.  Taken with a Canon 5D 300mm F4 Is Lens, 1.4 Teleconverter handheld from Kayak. Gotta love Image Stabilization.

Photo 3. Common Loon Swimming, same Camera /Lens combo for remaining images.

Photo 4. Common Loon starting "wing flap"                                                                  

               Photo 5. Loon doing "wing flap" (icon pose).

Paddlefest

Hi All,

Yesterday in Dartmouth Nova Scotia was the annual Paddlefest, where a number of local outfitters get together to promote paddling and let folks try out various boats. It was well attended, and included free climics from navigation to learning to Eskimo Roll. I had a blast, and loved the Wilderness systems Tsunami 140 w/rudder.

All images made with the Canon G11 and B&W Circular Polarizer.

Photo 1. Getting some instruction

Photo 2. Ian from TAO Outfitters.

Photos 2 &3. Gayle from Coastal Adventures teaching the Eskimo Roll

                                            
                                             2
                                        

                                          3

                                          Photo 4. It's not just kayaks!

Happy Paddling!

Gary