Tag Archives: Canada

How do You spell Relief?

08 Friday Jan 2021

Posted by in Banff National Park, Canada, Canadian Rockies, Canon, Moraine Lake

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Peaceful Moraine Lake in Alberta, Canada

As we witnessed the Capital Building attacked by protestors, our nation was upset and outraged. No matter what political party one is associated with, there is no justification of this type of protest or event. Seeing the picture of a protester invading Nancy Pelosi’s office and sitting in her chair is just not right. Yes we can agree to disagree. But our disagreements do not justify the actions.

I mentioned in a recent blog post how I am cautiously optimistic about 2021. After today’s events in Washington D.C., I am shifting to being a little less optimistic about the new year. Since the pandemic started, we’ve experienced a list of unfortunate and upsetting events. The unexpected is becoming our normal. How do we deal with this stress?

We need to find a physical and a spiritual place to retreat. Creating my backyard oasis, so I can safely retreat to enjoy nature and photograph pictures, has been a refuge for me. My wife reminds me that I need to spend more time praying away my stress in my backyard retreat. God even answered my prayers by giving me this place I dreamed about 25 years ago so I could shoot pictures of hummingbirds, butterflies and bees in a natural setting.

The weather is a little cold and wet. I was glued to the news to watch the events in our nation’s capital. Fortunately, I have my nature pictures to review and take me away from the stress of the nation’s events.

How do you spell relief from the stress of life’s events? Never would we have dreamed about the situations we are facing today with a worldwide pandemic accompanied with an abundance of American political and racial drama with violence.

Individually and physically, we may be limited in what we can do to change these situations other than just staying home as much as we can to be safe. SIP has meant to be “Sheltering in Place”. Another meaning we could use for SIP is “Sheltering in Prayer”.

Maybe all this disruption is meant to bring us to our knees to pray for peace and relief. Can we pray away our stress by trusting in God to provide peace?

When I look at my nature pictures, they reminds me God is the Creator and can provide peace in the midst of our current storms.

Photos spell relief to de-stress!

Back on the Hub Trail in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Canada

17 Thursday Sep 2020

Posted by in Autumn colors, Canada, Canadian Fall Foliage, Fall Colors, Fall Foliage, Leaves, Northern Ontario, Ontario, Ontario Fall Foliage, Ontario in the Fall, Red Sugar Maple Leaf, sugar maple leaf

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Fall is right around the corner and change is in the air. This Sugar Maple Leaf is transitioning from green to red to start the change of colors from Fall Foliage.

Last year, we were fortunate to go back and visit Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Canada. This is a border town between Michigan and Ontario. My mother-in-law was born in this town. She did not grow up there, since she was sent to China at the age of 5.

During my first visit to the “Soo”, my wife’s cousins encouraged me to pursue my photography again. I was a professional photographer for a electronic corporate company until it went out of business. Even though my college degree is in Fine Art photography, I assumed it would be too difficult for me to go back to my first love. Interestingly, I fell in love with the fall scenery in this locale. So I wanted to return to not only see the changing colors, but to visit our relatives who encouraged me to do my first photo show and pursue my photography again.

Little did I know 2020 would be a year our family would not be traveling anywhere due to the pandemic. We reside with my senior mother-in-law, so we are extra careful to stay healthy.

I love this leaf with the transitioning colors. It reminds me how life is about transitions. Our world is transitioning with this pandemic, social injustices and issues and the fires which are abundant in the western United States.

This leaf shows me that transitions can produce beauty. This leaf will transition to a pure red color and will be vibrant in appearance.

I am hoping as our lives are in transition, we will also see beauty and a more vibrant era after we endure these difficult times.

Photos teach us to hope in midst of transitions.

Fall Leaves Resting on the Ground at Hiawatha Highlands

08 Friday Nov 2019

Posted by in Autumn colors, Canada, Canadian Fall Foliage, Fall Colors, Fall Foliage, Leaves, Northern Ontario, Ontario Fall Foliage, Ontario in the Fall, sugar maple leaf

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These Red Sugar Maple Leaves had fallen off a tree and were resting on the ground. Notice the colorful bright red side of one leaf facing up and the duller side of another leaf on the left.

We were walking along this trail searching for bright red sugar maple leaves. My wife was noticing the lavender and pink colored leaves. She was thinking it was a different type of fall leaf. But in reality those colors were the reverse side of the bright red maple leaves.

These bright red leaves are my favorite. In this photo, we can see how much the red stands out. Even though this leaf has some holes and is not perfect in shape or color, it still looks unique and pretty. I love the various shading between darker hues and slight orange on the top right portion.

These double sided leaves represent how we all can have duplicity in our character. Do we project ourselves sometimes with the attractive bright personality? Are we always genuine in our concern or interest in other people? Are we more concerned in how we appear to people than show our true selves? In reality, are we hiding who we really are since it may not be very nice? Do we pretend to be someone that we really are not?

Since I can get angry over social injustice or a bad driver I encounter, I constantly try to pray about this problem. I strive to hide this angry side. My goal is to replace this anger with peace.

Consider how to unify a 2-sided persona into one whole person?

Photos Teach!

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Red Leaf Sugar Maple Basking in the Sun at Hiawatha Highlands, Sault Ste Marie

07 Thursday Nov 2019

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This photograph was taken at the top of Crystal Falls at Hiawatha Highlands in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. My wife’s cousins took us to this beautiful park. We hiked on a trail that ran parallel to Crystal Falls, where I saw some Red Sugar Maple Leaves near the trail at the top of the falls. My focus during this trip was to find these bright red leaves.

This leaf is not a perfectly symmetrical Red Sugar Maple Leaf. In our minds, we can see the the perfect points of the leaf gradually come down the side in an “A” slant. Then we can imagine each point has parallel corresponding point.

This leaf has been torn and broken apart randomly. I shot this leaf since I found it’s lack of asymmetry interesting. The holes and interesting shape is what I found attractive.

Can we accept ourselves with our imperfections – i.e. a funny shape or holes in our character? Does this mean we should be content and not strive for change to improve? No – Goals should be a constant in life.

Can we accept that who we are inside and out is good and can get better with work?

Photos Teach!

 

Posted by | Filed under Autumn colors, Canada, Canadian Fall Foliage, Fall Colors, Fall Foliage, Leaves, Northern Ontario, Ontario Fall Foliage, Ontario in the Fall, Red Sugar Maple Leaf, sugar maple leaf

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Why is Red a Good Fall Color?

21 Saturday Sep 2019

Posted by in Autumn colors, Canada, Canadian Fall Foliage, Fall Colors, Fall Foliage, Leaves, Northern Ontario, Ontario, Ontario Fall Foliage, Ontario in the Fall

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Being a guy, I tend to wear “guy” colors – meaning dark and monotoned. I rarely wore bright colored shirts.

I am also Chinese. So “Red” is an important color in my culture. We wear it for our parents’ birthdays. We know it symbolizes good luck and prosperity. We give red envelopes to children during Chinese New Year’s and also for special occasions.

It is striking to take the bright red leaf with the dark background. I was randomly shooting the leave and found this ideal scene. Off setting the red and with the dark background highlights the bright colors. Also note how there is a slight brightness from the sun on the leaf. Too much light would give glare. There is just enough light to give a little glow.

The bright fall colors are enjoyable, before we face a dreary winter with the cold and wet weather. The contrast of seasons with the associated colors give us a good diversity. Without this diversity, we would not appreciate the bright reds and oranges of fall. We need this splash of brightness to commemorate and alert us to the changes in temperatures.

As mentioned in other blog posts, I do not alter the colors in my photographs. I do not brighten or enhance the colors. I enjoy the real colors as I see them in nature.

Being real is important. Hope this “real red” leaf photograph reminds us to be real and accept the natural changes in life.

 

 

 

Under the Canopy of Fall Colors

13 Friday Sep 2019

Posted by in Autumn colors, Canada, Canadian Fall Foliage, Fall Colors, Fall Foliage, Leaves, Northern Ontario, Ontario Fall Foliage, Ontario Fall Foliage 2014, Ontario in the Fall

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This photograph sums up the feeling of the Autumn season. It was taken on a warm afternoon in the Fall in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Canada, on the Hub Trail. The Fall Colors were amazing and vibrant.

I am not a person who enjoys lying on the dirt ground and look up to the sky. But this view could compel me to do this.

It would be interesting if there is some sort of instrument that could inform us as to how many colors and hues there are in this fall display of color. It is fascinating to imagine the variation of shades and colors.

We often forget to look up and gaze up to the sky. We are missing out by not looking up and perhaps focusing too much on looking down at our circumstances and problems. If we spent more time just staring at the sky and scenery, we would realize just as there are a tremendous array of fall colors in this canopy, there could be an infinite number of possibilities for our life.

 

Have you seen the Swirling Foam in Northern Ontario, Canada?

05 Thursday Sep 2019

Posted by in Canada, Northern Ontario, Ontario in the Fall

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This photograph was taken at a river off of the King’s Highway 129, commonly referred to as Highway 129, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. My wife’s cousin took us to this location as she is very familiar with this area.

One of the things I love about photography is capturing unique scenes like this one. It was truly an adventure to go hiking and shooting photos during this trip. This pattern is so interesting. It shows us how a random mixture of elements can still look interesting and attractive. It teaches me there are no absolutes on beauty. There are no standard recipes to create beauty.

Seeking adventure in life does not necessarily mean being a daredevil and trying to do dangerous feats. I am not a risk taker when it comes to physical activity. I will not venture into ocean waters. I will not try to do any sports that involves fast speeds or great upward heights.

But I do like exploring and seeking adventure in examining nature. You never know what you will find. The possibilities can be endless.

Finding art in nature is the best. When was the last time you went on an adventure? Finding this swirling foam pattern was an excellent discovery.

I plan to go on some future adventures soon. Stay tuned to see what other patterns in nature I discover.

As usual, I did not do any computer alterations to this photograph.

It is real, and is pretty remarkable!

Wonderful Fall Foliage of Complimentary Colors

28 Thursday Sep 2017

Posted by in Fall Foliage, Leaves, Ontario Fall Foliage 2014, Ontario in the Fall

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It was really amazing to see the natural complimentary colors when we visited Northern Ontario Canada to see family and the Fall Foliage in September 2014. This picture was taken without any color filters and the colors were what I saw in person. The different colored leaves were a good demonstration of color photography in nature.

Yellow and Orange Fall Foliage

27 Wednesday Sep 2017

Posted by in Fall Foliage, Leaves, Ontario Fall Foliage 2014, Ontario in the Fall

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The Yellow and Orange Sugar Maple Leaves brightened this Fall Foliage Day back in September 2014 in Northern Ontario Canada. The saturation in the colors of the leaves is unreal.

Scenic Trans-Canada Highway during Fall Foliage

24 Sunday Sep 2017

Posted by in Fall Foliage, Leaves, Ontario Fall Foliage 2014, Ontario in the Fall

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Fall Foliage, Breathtaking Trans-Canada Highway ON-17, in Northern Ontario, Canada in September 2014. Our great Canadian relatives were our tour guides and drove us out from Sault Ste Marie to some spectacular parks and to the shores of Lake Superior. That lake is huge! They called it an inland sea. We witnessed some fantastic Fall Foliage and were fortunate to have great weather during our stay.