We took a quick trip out to the Mer Bleu Bog Boardwalk. We love this short 1km walk as every time we go there is something interesting to take photos of. I used my 50mm Lens for all these photos.
Covid Staycation – London
We were supposed to travel to Scotland this week to see our daughter and family in Orkney, Scotland. Covid travel restrictions prevented us from going, so instead we drove down to London, Ontario to visit a family friend and ex neighbour who recently moved there. It was a 500+ kilometer drive down on Saturday morning. We visited the Pond Mills Conservation Area that is right next to her new house. On Sunday we drove down to Port Stanley Beach on Lake Erie and then had a short stop in St. Thomas. On Monday we drove from London to Kirkwall (something I would like to do in the UK some time) Kirkwall is the airport in Orkney that we should have flown into. Kirkwall Ontario is not a very big place but it was a cool surprise for my wife. We continued on to Newmarket where we had a quick visit with my Aunt that lives there and then we headed back to Ottawa. 800+kms to drive home.
Virtual Challenge – End of August Update
End of August update on my virtual Lands End to John o’Groats walk. I am 84% done. This month finds me just past Laggan, Scotland on my way to Fort Augustus/Loch Ness.
I have completed 1,459 kms / 907 miles and I have 285.3 kms / 177 miles to go. I am 294.6 kms / 183 miles ahead of pace. This month I walked 223 kms or 138 miles.
When I hit the 80% mark this month the company hosting this challenge planted a tree. Already this month they have planted 100k trees and they are hoping to plant 200k before Sept 15th.
Garden Macro Photography
We had a little rainstorm go through the area and then the sun came out. I noticed lots of little droplets on the petals of the flowers. I immediately grabbed the camera and my macro tubes.
Sunflowers
Sunflowers started popping up on my local photography Facebook groups. Someone mentioned the location of the field and it was just a short drive from our house. So this afternoon with an hour to burn (this is very unusual on a Saturday) we headed out for a look. We were respectful about not going into the field. This is someones business (Birdseed Company).
F20 ISO100 1/125sec 16mm 
F20 ISO100 1/60sec 55mm 
F20 ISO100 1/60 sec 17mm 
f5.6 ISO100 1/400sec 55mm 
F5.6 ISO100 1/1ksec 55mm 
F20 ISO100 1/60sec 17mm 
F1.8 ISO50 1/3631sec
Virtual Challenge – End of July Update
Here is my end of month of July update on my virtual Lands End to John o’Groats walk. Tonight I find myself (virtually) in Scotland. I am just south of Edinburgh in a little town called Cardrona. I have completed 71% of my walk with 1236.8 kms/768.5 miles down and I have 507.4 km/315.3 miles to go. I am currently 220.9 kms/137.3 miles ahead of pace. The pin with my photo is my current location, the red pin is my pace marker. This month I walked 204 kms.
Almonte and Pakenham Staycation
We took a weeks vacation and mostly vacationed in the exclusive resort of Las Basement, but we did manage one day excursion to a couple of my favourite little towns just west of Ottawa. Almonte has the best little waterfalls to photograph. There is also an amazing little Ice Cream shop on the main street. Doing long exposure photography of these falls has been a goal of mine since last August, so it was great to get out and capture a few. ISO 100, F22, 1-2 secs – ND16 Filter (except for the b&w photo)
Almonte Falls 
Almonte Falls 
Almonte Falls 
The Laird and Lady Towns 
Almonte Falls View 
Almonte Falls 
Abandoned Wagon in the Forest
We then traveled to the little town of Pakenham where there is a 5 span stone bridge. This is another place I have always wanted to photograph. Since it wasn’t too far from Almonte it was a must do.
5 Span Bridge 
Reflections 
5 Span Bridge 
A last look at Comet NEOWISE
Had a nice evening south of Blackburn Hamlet where we randomly met up with another couple who were also trying to photograph the comet. It was fun to help them with their settings and I think we captured a few nice shots of the comet together. Most of these photos where 3200 ISO, F3 and 1-2 seconds long.
Long Exposure, Night and Comet Photography
I had a fun evening of comet chasing tonight. It took two trips out to get some photos of the comet. The first trip out I only had a general idea where it was in the sky. I took some photos of the highway and the sunset from the bridge I was standing on while I searched for the comet. I never did see it, so I went home and looked though the photos and in the Bridge photo just above the street light I could see the comet. I went back out the bridge, but the lights were so bright I couldn’t see anything in the sky. So I went to the next bridge down the highway where I knew there were no streetlights. I got a few comet pics. Not quite a crisp as I would have liked, but I am still happy.
Jean D’Arc and 174 
Jean D’Arc and 174 
Jean D’Arc and 174 
Sunset over Orleans 
Find the Comet 
Big Dipper 
Skate Park 
Skate Park 
Skate Park 
Comet NEOWISE 
Comet NEOWISE 
Comet NEOWISE 
Comet NEOWISE 
Comet NEOWISE
A Lily Garden
On one of my walks I came across this beautiful little garden full of Lilies and tucked away in the shade was a bunch of wild flowers. Couldn’t help but stop and take a few photos
