Tag Archives: Canada

Triple Continental Divide on the Columbia Icefields

17 Thursday Aug 2017

Posted by in Canadian Rockies

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We went to visit Athabasca Glacier in Jaspar National Park in July 2013.  During our tour of the Canadian Rockies, we mostly enjoyed summer weather until we came to the glacier.  We were prepared with warmer clothes and gloves so we could walk on the glacier.

This is the only place on Earth where there are 3 rivers which flow into 3 oceans – the Pacific, Atlantic and the Arctic.  The part of the glacier we were able to walk on was to the left of this photograph.  We were not allowed to walk on this section.  The glacier is slowly melting, it is receding 5 meters a year.  One day in another generation, this glacier could be gone.

Here the sky was gray and not too clear.  So this picture is a little dark due to the lack of natural lighting, and the weather.  Probably most photographers would use software to lighten and improve the picture.

This photograph is real and reflects this particular day when we visited Athabasca Glacier.  It was truly an experience to see this huge glacier which has a long history of existence.

 

Reflections from Moraine Lake

16 Wednesday Aug 2017

Posted by in Canadian Rockies

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We went to visit Moraine Lake in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada in July 2013. This photograph reminds me how beautiful Lake Moraine is especially with the Canadian Rockies’ reflection.

We were fortunate it was sunny and virtually no wind on the day we visited.  Therefore the water was so still which allowed the reflection to be perfect.  I was fortunate for the natural lighting with the still waters so we could enjoy this perfect scene.

Moraine Lake is a glacially fed lake. The perfect blue color is due to the refraction of the light off the rock flour which is continually disposited into the lake.

It amazes me how things in Nature can fit so perfectly together to compliment each other.  This photograph illustrates how the perfect sunlight, mountains, blue Moraine Lake and the still waters provide this amazing scene.

This photograph does reflect the true colors we witnessed.  It is real and untouched!

 

Canoeing across Lake Louise

15 Tuesday Aug 2017

Posted by in Canadian Rockies

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I was walking along the shores of Lake Louise in Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada, and saw a couple canoeing across the lake. The red canoe really stood out while gliding on top of the glacial turquoise water in the lake.  I also like the peaceful still water.

There is also a lighter color streak between the land and the water.  I admired the color combination in this photograph.  So I automatically shot a bunch of pictures since the colors were perfect together.  I am not sure what caused the lighter color streak between the land and the water.  It could be a reflection from the sunlight, but I was too busy taking the pictures to investigate where the streak came from.

Whenever I photograph a unique and interesting scene, I am anxious to keep shooting before the lighting or something in the scene changes.

My rule is always to strive to be quick to photograph a scene.  Once we lose a particular moment, we can never get it back again.  The best way to “get it back again” is with a picture.

Be assured this photograph and color is real and untouched!

 

Shadows on a Sugar Maple Leaf

13 Sunday Aug 2017

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

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I took this photograph at the height of fall foliage in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. I was so excited seeing all the bright fall colors and took so many photographs.  Every time I review these photographs I see something new.

I am intrigued by the shadow on this Sugar Maple Leaf.  I like the shadow on the leaf because of the interesting design, and the contrast it gives to the picture.  I am not sure where this shadow came from.  It may be from another leaf.

I also love the bright red colors on this leaf.  In California, the leaves never seem to be as bright as what I saw in Canada!  It amazes me how brilliant this red orange leaf is.

What do you get excited about?  I keep fallling in love with fall, and it’s colors!  I’m excited fall is coming, and am looking forward to my future search for more fall colors.

I love keeping it real by sharing my photographs which are untouched!

Fall is around the corner

12 Saturday Aug 2017

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

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I love “Fall”.  When I photographed this image, I was in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and happened to be there during the one week where Fall Foliage was at its peak.  Being from California, I never saw such brilliant colors during the fall.  It was also the start of a greater fascination with fall colors.

I like this center leaf with the variation of colors – bright red, yellow, and dark spots. It is interesting that each leaf is unique in design just as the uniqueness of an individual’s finger print.

I look forward to Fall every year now.  Last year, I missed the peak of fall foliage in Colorado.  But I still loved the bare Aspen tree forests.  This year, I will also be seeking to find more fall foliage.  Stay tuned to see what I will find!

As always, be assured this photograph is untouched and real!

How To Make Your Pictures Pop Out!

19 Friday May 2017

Posted by in Fall Foliage, Ontario in the Fall

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This is a Canadian Birth Tree which I photographed in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada.  I tried to focus my camera on the peeling layers to bring attention to it.  By doing this, the peeling bark has more depth and gives almost a 3 dimensional effect.  My wife feels the bark is “popping out” in this depth effect.  This is why there are parts of the tree which are not in focused.

If I had used a tripod, I could have shot this tree all in focus by decreasing the aperture.   Consequently the exposure would be longer which would make it difficult to hand hold the camera.  Therefore a tripod would be needed for this type of shot.  By decreasing the aperture, it would also give a greater depth but more of the tree would be in focus.

Seek to create depth in your photographs by focusing on objects which pop up at you.

True Reflections at Moraine Lake

23 Thursday Feb 2017

Posted by in Canadian Rockies

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Source: True Reflections at Moraine

Tony took this photograph during our trip to the Canadian Rockies.  The scenery was so pretty, when we visited in the summer.

We always love blue colors.  The reflection in Moraine Lake from the mountains and the blue sky is breath-taking.

Moraine Lake is a glacially fed lake in Banff National Park in outside of Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada.

This reflection shows the true beauty of this scene.  It is a pretty clear reflection.

Don’t we all like to take a look at our reflections in the mirror.  But do we really see ourselves as others see us?  It is hard to truly know how others see us.  We may not want to face the reality of how we act or who we really are.

Do you want to know how others see you?  If you do, inquire with your close family or friends to find out how they see you.  Then see if this matches your own self-perception.  Could be scary…..

Two Sides

20 Thursday Oct 2016

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

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img_1415-copyThis sugar maple bright leaf is interesting with the curved tips.  Autumn is wonderful. I love the bright red and orange colors.

It is interesting the back side of this leaf is not bright orange red.  It is a dull gray color.  As I was shooting, I had to make sure I took the good side of the leaf.

Photos of nature can teach us lessons in life.  We all have our good and bad sides as individuals.  One reason I love photography is it allows me to focus on beauty around us.  Focusing on Creation’s Beauty brings out my “better” side.  Take photographs that speak to you.  Print them to display in your home to focus on nature to bring out your “better”self.  I have a tag on Twitter – Bring Outside Inside!

How to take Better Photos in the Fall?

07 Friday Oct 2016

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

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img_1880-copy-1This photograph was taken 2 years ago in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada.  It is a border town between Ontario, Canada and Michigan.  I never saw such a beautiful display of autumn than during that one week we visited.  Being from California, we do not see the full array of autumn colors.

I love autumn because of the vibrant colors during the changing of the leaves.  No other time during the year can we see such bright and vibrant colors.  The scenery comes alive with autumn.

As a photographer, this is the best time to shoot outdoors and capture the bright colors.

This is a sugar maple leaf photographed during the peak fall season.  The leaf was backlit with the sunlight coming from behind which made the colors more vivid.  I positioned myself so the sun came behind the leaf to draw out the colors.  Positioning is important to get the true colors to show in your photo.

I took the photograph with my Canon EOS 70D camera using EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens.  This is a very sharp lens which produces excellent bokeh effect in the background.

What is bokeh?  Bokeh is the visual quality of the out-of-focus areas of a photograph rendered by a particular lens.

Hope you can appreciate Autumn like I do.  Try to take photographs with this type of backlit positioning to improve your Fall photos to show off the bright colors of the season.

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Why untouchedtcphotos?

10 Sunday Apr 2016

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

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IMG_1661 Copy 1

1702 – Fall Foliage, Close-up Detailed View of Veins in a Maple Leaf with the Shadow of a Fly.

1702 – Fall Foliage, Close-up Detailed View of Veins in a Maple Leaf with the Shadow of a Fly.

1487 – Fall Foliage, Background Back-Lit Yellow Maple Leaves.

1487 – Fall Foliage, Background Back-Lit Yellow Maple Leaves.

1411 – Fall Foliage, Back-Lit Flaming Red Maple Leaf Photographed in Northern Ontario, Canada.

1411 – Fall Foliage, Back-Lit Flaming Red Maple Leaf Photographed in Northern Ontario, Canada.

Not sure if anyone ever wondered why I am using “untouchedtcphotos” and what I am about?

I started this blog of my photography back in 2012.  It started with photographs taken from my first trip to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Canada.  This was my first encounter with a real Fall Foliage.  I got so excited with the array of colors and the various trees and plants.  I could have spent much more time photographing the landscape if I had the time.  We were visiting my mother-in-law’s family, and they were so happy and hospitable to take me to sights they never showed my wife (she is not as much as a nature buff as I am).  After this visit, I could not wait to plan another visit.

So with all these photographs, somehow we decided to display on a blog not knowing what to do with a blog.

I am an old school photographer who has learned how to do “photoshop” on my images.  I do love to see other people’s photographs with the “different” colors and appreciate their art in their pictures.

See this article about Kerry Washington’s objection to her “photoshopped” image —

Good Morning America/Yahoo Article – Kerry Washington Speaks Out about her Photoshopped Ad

I know at times when I photograph, I want the ideal lighting to give me the photograph I want.  I need to either wait for that moment which may never come or settle for the natural lighting that is available at that time.  It would be so easy to settle and say – well I can just photoshop to lighten the image.

Thus this is how “untouchedtcphotos” came into being.  I want to show real images of things I love.  I want to be a photographer who is seeking to take quality images.  I do not want to be a photographer who takes photographs with the idea I can photoshop the picture to make it better or to fix it.  That is just my opinion.