Sharbot Lake Photo Trip

A quick weekend away 

and some opportunities 

to stock up on fresh ideas.

Our destination 

Sharbot Lake Provincial Park 

in Ontario. 

Day one -rain,rain, rain...

Our original reservations 

at another park cancelled

closed due to flooding.

Not an auspicious start....

but we did find a wonderful site...

with great vistas of the lake.

 

The site itself had a resident, nesting kingfisher. 

Can you see him/her tucked in along the branch?

 

Early next morning the weather cleared...

and brought early morning mists....

 

a beautiful sunrise...

with pristine surfaces...

perfect for a paddle.

As the sun rose

I toured the park and discovered  

several vistas

worthy of painting.

Isn't this park going to be even more glorious in the fall!

Sunrise - Closer to Home

Another in my series looking at dawn and dusk.

This one a view from my kitchen window

not from life, the moment too elusive!

but just enough time to take a quick photo.

1460 Sunrise - pastel - Leslie Snider

Originally my sketch was closer to the photo 

but too many hard edges was distracting.

I simplified the scene concentrating on the dark silhouettes 

versus  the  soft yellow, pinks and violets in the cloud.

I hope the intense turquoise blue 

acts as a contrast and balance to the whole.

Sunrise / Sunset in Pastel

We are now into late spring 

and the days are surprisingly long.

The first day of summer 

and longest day of the year,

 June 20 is less than a month away.

Framing these lengthening days 

are refreshing sunrises and sunsets. 

Here are two....

A sunrise from Neys Provincial Park
on the north shore of Lake Superior

and a sunset closer to home 

Owen Point, Presqu'ile Provincial Park.

Both in pastel, 8 by 10 in.

Neys Provincial Park Sunrise Leslie Snider

Owen Point Sunset Leslie Snider

 

Spring

Nothing says spring 

like the newly minted blossoms 

of forsythia, cherry, and apple! 

Spring 2017 - Leslie Snider

Forsythia 2017 - Leslie Snider

 5 by7in. pastels 

Three Seasons of Spring

Easter this year is bright but muted in colour 

as the frost comes out of the ground 

and there is mud everywhere!

 Snow runoff leaves pools of water

 in low lying areas.

Wet Glade -  pastel -  Leslie Snider

April showers will soon 

bring out a blizzard of lively greens.

Spring Glade -  pastel -  Leslie Snider

Another few weeks 

and those greens will mature 

and strengthen in colour.

The light will be stronger 

and pierce the undergrowth 

more sharply. 

Summer Glade -  pastel -  Leslie Snider

 

Last of Winter

As winter hangs on

 with one more wallop of winter 

(snow/rain/sleet)

in the forecast,

I'm trying to think positively.

Here the sun rises on a hay field.

The subtle play of light and shadow/

warm and cool attracted my attention.

End of Winter -Leslie Snider

As the snow retreats, 

frost comes out the ground 

and mud is everywhere

and this time of year 

is rather dreary.

But hope is in the air

 and soon those lively spring greens 

will be with us for inspiration. 

Last Summer

Presquile PP -  Pastel  - Leslie Snider

Presquile Provincial Park

 in southeastern Ontario 

offers a variety of habitats

 both seaside and forested.

Flat and spacious 

it's a walkers' or cyclists' paradise.

This is just one of the many vistas 

and laneways 

I'm so very fond of! 

Presquile PP -  Photo  - Leslie Snider