Beaver Pond Reflections, Gatineau Park

Beaver Pond Reflections, Gatineau Park, Quebec.

There are a number of beaver ponds and swamps in Gatineau Park and interesting images abound if you are prepared for a hike and often some bushwhacking. The place I visited during this session I had discovered while hiking with a friend a few years ago. With the goal then being the hike, not the photography, I made a mental note of the location. Finally I returned this fall and the scenery was as rewarding as I had expected.

At this site there is a series of three ponds; however the top pond is more of a drained swamp. It seems this pond is not being maintained by the beavers unless park officials are directing/interfering with their developments. The bottom two ponds are smaller, relatively free of deadwood standing out of the ponds and closely lined with trees. The reflections as you can see are amazing.

WARNING: Beaver habitat can be dangerous. Do not be guilty of admiring the landscape and scenery without paying attention to your footwork. This is not to be taken lightly. Why? Although the typical image of beaver activity is large tree stumps and fallen tree trunks, for every large tree felled there are dozens of 1″ to 2″ diameter saplings chopped at about 18″ in length and chiseled to a fine point. The rest of the sapling has been hauled away and only the spike remains. Even in open terrain they are well enough camouflaged, but in typical beaver terrain where new trees, grasses and shrubs have grown over, these spikes are frequently hidden from view. You are likely to trip on one and impale your body or your face on the next. Why so morbid? Well I had a close call myself a couple of years ago. I now try to practice a policy of taking 30 or so steps with my eyes glued to the ground, stopping, and then looking around for appealing shots or where to go next.

The image has been inverted to give it an abstract feeling. Beaver Pond Reflections, Gatineau Park, Quebec.

Original image has been turned upside-down. Beaver Pond Reflections, Gatineau Park, Quebec.

Beaver Pond Reflections, Gatineau Park, Quebec.

Beaver Pond Reflections, Gatineau Park, Quebec.

Beaver Pond Reflections, Gatineau Park, Quebec.

Click on any image to go to the same image on my website to view larger or purchase.

You can see additional pictures from this session included as part of my Trees and Leaves Nature Gallery.

reflections art / reflections photos / reflections greeting cards
reflection art / reflection photos / reflection greeting cards
pond reflection art / pond reflection photos / pond reflection greeting cards
pond reflections art / pond reflections photos / pond reflections greeting cards

© Rob Huntley Photography / Rob’s Photo Cards / STOCK Photography / Like My Facebook

Morning on Little Cedar Lake, Quebec.

New in my Getty Images portfolio:
Morning on Little Cedar Lake. Little Cedar Lake is near Messines, Quebec.

Click on image to go to the same image in my Getty Images portfolio.

RobHuntley.ca

KAP 2011-2 – Big Cedar Lake near Messines, Quebec – January 24, 2011

Aerial lake view vertical panorama (from 2 images) in winter - Kite Aerial Photography (KAP). Aerial views of Big Cedar Lake in winter near Messines, Quebec.

This Kite Aerial Photography session took place on Big Cedar Lake near Messines, Québec. I travelled to the cottage of my friend Bruce Amos (www.BruceAmos.com) and went out on the lake where the temperature was in the -30’s C. Low wind meant little wind chill but low wind also meant a struggle with the gear. I had already planned to use autokap with the cold temperatures so as to minimize the fiddly work of using the remote and thus be able to take advantage of thicker mitts for part of the time. With there being little wind, autokap was definitely a good idea and the smaller rig was just barely lifted with my levi-light delta kite. Much of the time was spent with the camera and rig just a few feet off the ground so many unintentional self-portraits were taken. I include only a couple in my website gallery but may do a story on KAP in the cold weather on my blog at a later date and use some of the self-deprecating images there. I’ll edit this and post a link if and when I do that.

Also, pictures of the cottage included me as well since the wind was blowing away from the cottage shoreline. I had hoped to move to a different position to capture the cottage without me but the kite was being temperamental in the low wind. (Anyway, I’m easy enough to clone out in PhotoShop if I need to – easy to replace me and all the tracks with just snow). I had also hoped to do some scenic shots of nearby islands which necessitated walking the kite downwind which was not permitted with the conditions.

 

Panorama (3 images). Aerial lake views in winter - Kite Aerial Photography (KAP). Aerial views of Big Cedar Lake in winter near Messines, Quebec.

Shadow of KAPper and rig. Big Cedar Lake in winter near Messines, Quebec. With camera on auto taking shots every 8 seconds or so, unexpected but interesting images can be obtained. Here's the shadow of me attaching the rig to the kite line.

 

You can see additional pictures in the Kite Aerial Photography Gallery – Big Cedar Lake, near Messines, Quebec – January 24, 2011.

© Rob Huntley