Posted by David Redding on June 18, 2006 at 11:51 AM
Ok I think I live in the wrong part of the world for the photography of my choice, landscapes.
I live in London Ontario, a midsized town almost exactly 2 hours from everywhere (Detroit, Buffalo, Toronto to be exact) and unless there is nothing around here to shoot land wise. Sure Ive stumbled upon little scenes in my travels, but 9 times outta 10 I have to drive at least an hour outside of town to get those shots and with the price of gas
In Sept I'm taking a weekend drive up to Tobermory and hopefully be able to grab the ferry over to Manitoulin Island. I've got high hopes on this trip seeing that I won't be able to make it up there, or anywhere else for that matter for a while.
I was wondering if anyone else lived in SW Ontario, and if you do, where are you shooting? If you don't live around here, do any of you have the same problem? The lack of grand mountains, rushing streams, booming coastlines.....anyone feal my pain?
Nothing to shoot in SW Ontario?! The Grand River for starts! All along the shore of Lake Erie, Point Pelee, Port Dover, Delhi, Paris, St Thomas, Elora Gorge, Niagara Escarpment. You are in a unique area where the western plains start to meet the Canadian Shield.
I've shot extensively in that area over the years, for both stock and publications. True, you won't get Grand Canyon type shoots. The land has been worked for agriculture over two hundred years and doesn't have a 'wilderness' atmosphere. But there are a lot of subtle nature shots to be had.
We moved up to the NWT a couple of years ago after living in Ontario for many years. I found it very hard to shoot here at first, because rather than shooting what was here and taking advantage of the unique landscapes, I tried to get them to conform to my southern perspectives. My mistake.
Look on the bright side though, fuel up here is 30 cents a litre more than Ontario. Most places are accessible only by bush plane. $500 per hour!
Dave
Posted by Richard Wong on June 18, 2006 at 7:03 PM
I just looked at the map. You're surrounded by 3 of the Great Lakes, that doesn't sound like such a bad location to me. Niagara is on my to do list.
I've lived most of my life in suburban Southern California, one of the most overdeveloped and smoggiest places in North America. When I started shooting, I had the same opinion that it's hot and boring photographically. It wasn't until I gradually changed my attitude and decided to look harder to make due with my surroundings that I got excited about shooting there. There's several common bonds between everywhere on this planet. Natural light, landscape, and human imagination.
The Elora Gorge is what started this rant I guess. I went out there yesterday evening and I have never had such a frustrating time. I knew there was a shot there, but through all the campers in there RVs and tents, the kids biking everywhere, the fences, and blockades.......I just couldnt find it. Im finding that Ontario has no sense of conservation whats so ever. When you see a Conservation Area marked on the map, you would think that the park would be a good place to get some natural landscapes. Not in Ontario, a Conservation are here is just one big camp ground.
You are right about Delhi, the last shot I posted here is from there. Alas, St Thomas has fallen to the housing devolopment boom hitting SW Ont. and the surrounding area is becoming one big dump ground. Hawks Cliff, not 10 mins from St Thomas has great opertunities if you are good enough with PS to clone out the tire heap, the car parts and the other garbage laying all over the bottom of the cliff
I guess I should just stop wining, gas up my car, and start searching
Yes, Elora has been turned into a tourist trap hasn't it!
http://www.out-there.com/ca00ont.htm lists conservation areas across Ontario. Many of the conservation areas within an hour or so of Toronto are basically camping facilities now but can indicate interesting locations in the area. I have always found the Bruce Trail to be fruitful, Dundas and Milton areas are fairly close to you and have some smaller waterfalls.
If rocks and water are to your taste, there is a park in Rockwood on the west side of #7 in which the limestone has been etched by the water. There are standing limestone columns. When you head up to Tobermory, or even as day trips, 8 and 23 up to Hanover and Walkerton areas have a number of gorges particularly towards Owen Sound.
More by accident than design, when avoiding the 401 right across Ontario, I found many of the country roads would have pleasant surprises, and with the 401 traffic, not that much slower in reaching a destination.
Cheers,
Dave
Posted by Toni Lankerd on June 19, 2006 at 8:58 AM
While visiting in Canada one time, I took a drive between St. Thomas and London, and also north of London. If you don't mind shooting farm land, there are some great scenes to be had in those areas, early morning and just before sunset. The lighting at those times of day turn the fields into great photo ops. Watch for Canola fields especially.
Rock Glen Conservartion Area, near Arkona.
Pinery Provincial Park, near Grand Bend.
-Paul
Posted by Scott Hussey on June 20, 2006 at 6:16 AM
I second the Pinery, but it is probably going to be pretty busy this time of year. My wife and I stayed there a couple of night in April and it was empty. We are planning on heading back some time this fall, when I am sure the crowds will have died down. I remember a few spots along the Huron shore that were nice when I was growing up. I'd like to do some exploring around there; I'm sure there's some good spots around Ipperwash too.
There's a conservation area near Deleware that looks interesting to me too. I've only driven past it, but it is on the Thames and the riverbanks are pretty high there. There's conservation areas all around London, but it might take a while to find one you like.
The Detroit area is pretty similar; the parks are really busy this time of year. Even early in the morning there are joggers and cyclers around. In the evenings, well... Generally I can find an out of the way place, but unless I head up North I am going to encounter a fair number of other people. Once summer is over the parks will be almost empty though.
Most of the time I work on pretty tight scenes, intimate landscapes, etc. I am getting more into birds and small mammals too which is fun. I probably could do bigger landscapes, but I think it is tougher in this area (and it is something I think I would struggle with a bit anyway).
I think the secret is getting a shot with what you have. There might not be mountains and rushing streams, etc but there is something. I spend more time close to home, and my favourite spots are more familiar to me. There is definitely something to be said for that, but it does take time and patience.
Discussion
9 repliesI live in London Ontario, a midsized town almost exactly 2 hours from everywhere (Detroit, Buffalo, Toronto to be exact) and unless there is nothing around here to shoot land wise. Sure Ive stumbled upon little scenes in my travels, but 9 times outta 10 I have to drive at least an hour outside of town to get those shots and with the price of gas
In Sept I'm taking a weekend drive up to Tobermory and hopefully be able to grab the ferry over to Manitoulin Island. I've got high hopes on this trip seeing that I won't be able to make it up there, or anywhere else for that matter for a while.
I was wondering if anyone else lived in SW Ontario, and if you do, where are you shooting? If you don't live around here, do any of you have the same problem? The lack of grand mountains, rushing streams, booming coastlines.....anyone feal my pain?
Guy
Nothing to shoot in SW Ontario?! The Grand River for starts! All along the shore of Lake Erie, Point Pelee, Port Dover, Delhi, Paris, St Thomas, Elora Gorge, Niagara Escarpment. You are in a unique area where the western plains start to meet the Canadian Shield.
I've shot extensively in that area over the years, for both stock and publications. True, you won't get Grand Canyon type shoots. The land has been worked for agriculture over two hundred years and doesn't have a 'wilderness' atmosphere. But there are a lot of subtle nature shots to be had.
We moved up to the NWT a couple of years ago after living in Ontario for many years. I found it very hard to shoot here at first, because rather than shooting what was here and taking advantage of the unique landscapes, I tried to get them to conform to my southern perspectives. My mistake.
Look on the bright side though, fuel up here is 30 cents a litre more than Ontario. Most places are accessible only by bush plane. $500 per hour!
Dave
I've lived most of my life in suburban Southern California, one of the most overdeveloped and smoggiest places in North America. When I started shooting, I had the same opinion that it's hot and boring photographically. It wasn't until I gradually changed my attitude and decided to look harder to make due with my surroundings that I got excited about shooting there. There's several common bonds between everywhere on this planet. Natural light, landscape, and human imagination.
The Elora Gorge is what started this rant I guess. I went out there yesterday evening and I have never had such a frustrating time. I knew there was a shot there, but through all the campers in there RVs and tents, the kids biking everywhere, the fences, and blockades.......I just couldnt find it. Im finding that Ontario has no sense of conservation whats so ever. When you see a Conservation Area marked on the map, you would think that the park would be a good place to get some natural landscapes. Not in Ontario, a Conservation are here is just one big camp ground.
You are right about Delhi, the last shot I posted here is from there. Alas, St Thomas has fallen to the housing devolopment boom hitting SW Ont. and the surrounding area is becoming one big dump ground. Hawks Cliff, not 10 mins from St Thomas has great opertunities if you are good enough with PS to clone out the tire heap, the car parts and the other garbage laying all over the bottom of the cliff
I guess I should just stop wining, gas up my car, and start searching
Yes, Elora has been turned into a tourist trap hasn't it!
http://www.out-there.com/ca00ont.htm lists conservation areas across Ontario. Many of the conservation areas within an hour or so of Toronto are basically camping facilities now but can indicate interesting locations in the area. I have always found the Bruce Trail to be fruitful, Dundas and Milton areas are fairly close to you and have some smaller waterfalls.
If rocks and water are to your taste, there is a park in Rockwood on the west side of #7 in which the limestone has been etched by the water. There are standing limestone columns. When you head up to Tobermory, or even as day trips, 8 and 23 up to Hanover and Walkerton areas have a number of gorges particularly towards Owen Sound.
More by accident than design, when avoiding the 401 right across Ontario, I found many of the country roads would have pleasant surprises, and with the 401 traffic, not that much slower in reaching a destination.
Cheers,
Dave
Rock Glen Conservartion Area, near Arkona.
Pinery Provincial Park, near Grand Bend.
-Paul
There's a conservation area near Deleware that looks interesting to me too. I've only driven past it, but it is on the Thames and the riverbanks are pretty high there. There's conservation areas all around London, but it might take a while to find one you like.
The Detroit area is pretty similar; the parks are really busy this time of year. Even early in the morning there are joggers and cyclers around. In the evenings, well... Generally I can find an out of the way place, but unless I head up North I am going to encounter a fair number of other people. Once summer is over the parks will be almost empty though.
Most of the time I work on pretty tight scenes, intimate landscapes, etc. I am getting more into birds and small mammals too which is fun. I probably could do bigger landscapes, but I think it is tougher in this area (and it is something I think I would struggle with a bit anyway).
I think the secret is getting a shot with what you have. There might not be mountains and rushing streams, etc but there is something. I spend more time close to home, and my favourite spots are more familiar to me. There is definitely something to be said for that, but it does take time and patience.