Late fall at Hog's Back

[Manfred M]

Just about exactly two months ago, I climbed downs some rocks to take a picture of the Rideau River, below the Hog's Back Falls in Ottawa, Canada.

I was back in that part of town yesterday and had my camera along and took a shot along the same stretch of the river. I changed the composition because the fall colours were not there to help me out this time. While the shot was taken in mid-December, the weather has been unusually warm and the scene is more what we encounter in mid-November. Usually the ice and snow are part of the landscape at this time of year and I find it too treacherous to get down to this point.







Just to put things in perspective, this is the fall leaf view.

[ucci]

hey we don't get beautiful Fall colours down here. We don't even have a Fall season but have to put up with a rather mundane, dullish grey Autumn. Your Fall pic is a cracker. Great colours, both trees, river and sky, and the mid ground spray from the river adds a wonderful sense of lively action.
I leave it to others better qualified than me to do to perhaps cc #1.

[Brownbear]

The viewpoint and colours in the 2nd image are gorgeous. But for me both images especially beautiful, just different for the feeling conveyed. Mind you the mist in the 2nd image is extra special.

[Shadowman]

Nice set.

[Wavelength]

Very nice, especially the second one

[pnodrog]

The obvious conclusion is either your photographic skills have diminished in the few months between shots or fall scenes are more photogenic...

[Manfred M]

The obvious conclusion is either your photographic skills have diminished in the few months between shots or fall scenes are more photogenic...

Actually it's more of a commentary as to why the folks up this way post so few images in November and December.

The top scene is is pretty typical of mid to late fall. Overcast and leafless trees (other than the evergreens). Photographically rather uninteresting. We usually have a fair bit of snow by now and that makes for some wonderful photography with the Christmas lights that are out.

No luck so far this year. We've had the least snow since 1899 and I have not bothered to get out and shoot the Christmas lights. Hopefully something will happen over the next couple of weeks....

[Manfred M]

The viewpoint and colours in the 2nd image are gorgeous. But for me both images especially beautiful, just different for the feeling conveyed. Mind you the mist in the 2nd image is extra special.

Interestingly enough, the day I was out shooting in October was colder that it was yesterday, so the mist was visibly rising off the water and the spray from the nearby Hog's Back Falls had coated a lot of places with a thin layer of ice. The weather has been crazy this year.

[pnodrog]

Actually it's more of a commentary as to why the folks up this way post so few images in November and December.

The top scene is is pretty typical of mid to late fall. Overcast and leafless trees (other than the evergreens). Photographically rather uninteresting. We usually have a fair bit of snow by now and that makes for some wonderful photography with the Christmas lights that are out.

No luck so far this year. We've had the least snow since 1899 and I have not bothered to get out and shoot the Christmas lights. Hopefully something will happen over the next couple of weeks....

It certainly helps to explains why you have good studio lighting.

P.S. Have not made up my mind about the winner of monkey vs panda

[NorthernFocus]

Yeah, I think I prefer that location with the leaves on the trees. Then again, I pretty much prefer any location with leaves on the trees

[jacsul]

Outstanding

[bnnrcn]

Nice series, #2 is more powerful with its colors and composition

[Round Tuit]

Hi Manfred,

I share Christina's view that both the December and the October versions are beautiful in their own way but evoke very different feelings. If I had to choose one to make a postcard or a calendar, the October one would be my pick because it has more pizzazz. For inclusion in a coffee table book, I would pick the December version because the colors look more natural to me. I particularly like the sky in the December photo. Its wider crop factor and the fact that you used a longer focal length to bring the far shore closer also suggest a more "normal" perspective.

Thank for sharing those outstanding pictures.

Andre

[IzzieK]

Both shots has its own merits, views from different months. I like that you put them up for comparison. I have a funny feeling Bobo was there ahead of you -- look at the graffiti on the rock, she has her name on it... Next time make your mark so that everyone who goes there will know you were there too. Anyway moving on, I like the mid-November shot is very beautiful...

[Dave Humphries]

I am dismayed to see the foamy bubbles in both month's shots - are they industrial waste, kids mucking about, or 'natural'?

[Round Tuit]

I am dismayed to see the foamy bubbles in both month's shots - are they industrial waste, kids mucking about, or 'natural'?

Hi Dave,

The foam is a natural phenomena caused by organic matter in the water.
see http://esrd.alberta.ca/water/program...faceWaters.pdf for an explanation of its source.

Andre

[Manfred M]

Dave - Andre is quite right about the cause; largely naturally occurring sources. This picture was taken near the bottom of the Hog's Back Falls, so the water gets quite churned up. The foam breaks down fairly quickly as the water travels downstream.

The Rideau River (before entering the City of Ottawa) flows through a couple of villages and a couple of towns that do not have a large populations any significant industries to speak of. The area is largely a forested area, with some agricultural activity and cottages along the river, so most of the organics in the water are naturally occurring. While the article Andre has linked to is specific to Alberta, in Western Canada (an area that is further north than the Rideau), the information is definitely relevant.