Driving around Western Newfoundland (Rocky Harbour, Newfoundland)

Digital original

A long walk along the shore of Rocky Harbour lead to some very pleasing close-up images of the beach itself - in this case, a lovely round rock caught my eye.

Digital original

As the morning progressed, the heavy cloud began to break up, and provide some contrast to the sky - which looked lovely when reflected in a tidal pool.

Digital original

The last location I photographed was a lovely waterfall - this was VERY high up, and the vast majority of the fall was to my left...but it was to steep and treacherous that photographing the top was the only realistic option.

The Wreck of the S. S. Efhie (Martin's Point, Newfoundland)

Digital original, 2 image stitch

SS Ethie was built at Glasgow, Scotland in 1900 and was 47 m long and 439 tonnes.  On December 11, 1919, she sunk at Martin's Point, about 32 km from Bonne Bay. The passengers and crew were rescued in a dramatic rescue by means of a boson’s chair and a rope.

Digital original, 2 frame focus blend

There is very little left of the shipwreck, but the old, weather worn machinery is just lovely to behold, and even nicer to photograph. For this image, I blended to images together - a photo with deep depth of field for the central element, and then a second image made with the lens's largest aperture, to provide a soft out of focus background.

Digital original

There is no doubt the most enjoyable image of the visit to the wreck focused on water motion - this photograph, made towards the end of the afternoon used a six-second exposure to blur the breaking waves, and shift the focus onto the weathered metal.

A Lighthouse and Landscape (Rocky Harbour, Newfoundland)

Digital original, 5 frame exposure blend

During my first visit to Newfoundland (I say this in hopes of future visits!), I was loaned a truck to explore with, and made my way for sunset to the lighthouse at the mouth of Rocky Harbour. There was no way to photograph any closer to the light, and still see any of the water beyond, but as had the 17mm tilt-shift lens with me, it wasn’t an issue to shift the composition upwards, and make the most of the evening sky.

Digital original, 3 frame stitch

Although it is something of a cliche, I was really pleased to come across this ruined boat; after a 40 minute walk downhill, it was great to find such a wonderful foreground subject to set against the distant rise of the tablelands.

Digital original

On my walk back from the broken boat, I passed by a worn wharf, and was drawn to both the colours and textures of the weather wood and seaweed.

Jessica at a Portrait Workshop (Bridgewater, Nova Scotia)

Digital infrared original

Ryan and Jessica were in Bridgewater for the weekend, as models for a portrait workshop. Before modeling for a workshop, the two grabbed a quick outdoor shower, and ever the photographer, I made a handful of images to join all the “formal” couple nudes we have produced together recently.

Digital infrared original

One of my favorite portraits of the session was a profile portrait of Jessica, perched in a window surrounded by eager photographers.

Infrared Coast (Terrance Bay, Nova Scotia)

Digital infrared original, 2 image stitch

I don't often go out with just a camera, and photograph (usually I bring along someone to photograph); on this afternoon, a friend wanted to visit the coast, so camera in hand, we headed to one of our favourite spaces, Terrance Bay.

Digital infrared original, 2 image stitch

The sky was quite interesting for infrared photography, but the mid day sun, with its hard and almost vertical shadows, was challenging to work with.

Elissa in the Woods (Halifax, Nova Scotia)

Digital infrared original, 3 image stitch

It is always challenging to work with the Nude in a fores; trees are, ultimately, upright sticks, but in this case, I quite enjoyed the way that Elissa emerges from within the trunks.

Digital original, 3 image stitch

After we worked with the trees some, I felt I needed some contrast, and this large glacial erratic, sitting isolated on the edge of the forest, served as the perfect counterpoint.

Digital original

The last images of the session were set against the glow of sunset; the placement of some of the branches were a little nod to classical sculpture, but I am not sure if I like how they isolate Elissa's hand on the right side of the image...I think I'd have preferred the image without the screen of leaves.

Elissa at the Coast (Prospect, Nova Scotia)

Digital original

The start of this session with Elissa was purposely focused on working with long lenses; I have become a little concerned with how much I love my ultra-wides when working with the Nude, so am going to make more effort to counter this with long-lens images. The above image takes full advantage of the shallow depth of field the 135mm lens offers at f/2!

Digital infrared original, 3 frame stitch

I’ve made a number of images with this particular rock, each time enjoying how it breaks the horizon and provides the model with something to work with. In this case, the beautiful angular light worked perfectly to contrast Eliasa’s smooth skin with the rich texture of the granite rocks.

Digital original, 2 frame exposure blend

For all my intention to push long lens images in this session, true to form I continually returned to the wides, preferring their ability to describe large, sweeping environments, and provide some context for the Nude.

Pushing the New Tilt Shift Lens (Halifax, Nova Scotia)

Digital original, 5 frame exposure blend

There is a certain magic about twilight - when the sky is deep blue, and the city lights come alive. With the new ultra-wide 17mm tilt-shift, I could be quite close to St Paul's and still see the sky above.

Digital original, 4 frame exposure blend

I was actually quite surprised I could see the entire basilica in this image - I couldn't have moved any further back as I was already standing right against the fence between the street and the old burying ground across form the basilica. A totally amazing lens!

Digital infrared original

The combination of the ultra-wide angle of the 17mm tilt-shift lens, and the infrared camera making the image takes a relatively common scene on the Halifax waterfront, and makes it a little more eye-catching!

Walking with a New Lens (Halifax, Nova Scotia)

Digital original

This was one of my first chances to work with my new Canon 17mm tilt-shift lens. Normally, ultra-wide lenses provide deep depth of field, but in this case, using a strong tilt (also traditionally called a swing when used sideways) on the 17mm lens allowed me to have both the wide perspective and shallow depth of field.

Digital original

The above image is particularly effective due to being made with an infrared converted camera; in colour, the foliage and sky colour would have competed with the gun emplacement for attention, but in infrared, the foliage is bright an luminous, and the sky a pale white - leaving the gun the only dark element in the image, and the centre of attention!