Minaki Reflections
It has taken a while to get back behind the camera again. I spent about a month editing old photos. Having only taken a basic Lightroom course in June, I have a lot to learn. When I finally got behind the camera again, it was like I'd forgotten all the rules of composition. Very discouraging.
However, I was fortunate to be able to spend a couple of nights and a day with family (thanks Sis!) at a cabin near Minaki, Ontario. A fantastic flaming sunset taunted me on the way out, but the traffic was continuous, and by the time I could pull over, the last gleams disappeared behind some clouds with a mischievous parting wink. Maybe sunrise would be more cooperative: I promised to get up early.
Dawn came gradually the next morning, hidden behind a layer of clouds. The lake was choppy as well, with gusty breezes and threatening rain. But you have to work with what you get. I thought B&W would be best for this one:
I've also been experimenting with neutral density (ND) filters. I have a variable, which is honestly a POS, and a fixed 6-stop filter. Given the choppy water, I wasn't sure how well it would work. In these cases I would say it's "interesting", but not exactly what it's for. Exposures were in the 20-30 second range.
Wonderful cabin, and cozy dockside.
After spending some time at the docks, I went for a short walk. The birches are almost better in low-light, they really stand out. It's late August, and the summer foliage is already hinting at turning...that's Canada for you.
Later in the afternoon we went for a hike. The first half was a moss-covered delight, and relatively free of bugs compared to some years.
The moss is deceptively deep in places.
Later the trail rose up and the terrain became drier and sandier, which is where we spotted a porcupine:
This one was pretty small, about the size of a cat, if you shaved it.
Do not touch!
We probably spent too long taking pictures. The poor thing couldn't figure out which one of us to turn its back to, so it split the odds:
After finally leaving the porcupine alone we stumbled across this beautiful lake, one of the myriad small lakes in the Canadian Shield. I can't say I like this composition much, but it was a beautiful location with plenty of promise for a return visit.
This was a hint of what was to come: the next morning I was up even earlier, but it was cloudy again, with the occasional drizzle. But there wasn't a breath of wind, and the lake was like glass. It was absolutely quiet, the kind of quiet where you can hear your own ears.
Most of these are very "blue", but that's the way the morning was. I didn't use the ND filter for most, as exposures were already in the 0.5-2.5 second range, and the water was absolutely flat.
Amusingly, even without wind, the boat moves. If you turn away to take other shots, and then turn back, it will have done a 180 and almost be in the reeds.
I must like symmetry.
By the time I took this next one, someone at the other end of the lake must have put a boat in the water. Out of nowhere, without a sound, came some waves. They dissipated quickly, but as if stirred to life, the wind began. Before the lake turned choppy, I put on the ND filter and took this one, a 30 second exposure.
The swimming deck drifts too, and when it drifted out of the reflections I ended the morning with this.
Thanks for reading. Feel free to leave a comment, advice, critique, or question!
