Georgian Bay at dawn
My second day photographing in the Bruce Peninsula was a bit more productive than the first. The blowing rain was gone, but the wind was still present. The bay was still going like the washing machine I described in my earlier post. This is a pretty neat spot on the eastern side of the Bruce on Georgian Bay. With the entire region being part of the Niagara Escarpment, the coast tends to be quite rocky and rugged.
I was able to plan out part way on getting here the day before in the rain, I only passed on the hike part as I didn’t feel like getting soaked. I had to estimate how long it would take to hike the trail to the coast to time being at the shoreline just before twilight, then add a little more buffer time since I would be driving and hiking here in the dark. I needed to leave my campsite no later than 5:45 am. Boy I love late sunrise time in the fall!
It’s kind of a weird thing, hiking alone in the dark on an unfamiliar trail for the first time. There wasn’t a soul around for miles, and cell signals were weak. Noises in the woods let your imagination take some interesting detours. There are bears around here, I kept thinking. It was a short walk of 30 minutes, but your mind can think of a lot of things in 30 minutes. 🙂 But I started to focus on questions about what the coastline was going to be like, what type of morning light I may be fortunate enough to have, how the bay was after gale warnings all night, and how long are the batteries going to last in my flashlight.
Towards the end of the trail I started hearing the waves pounding the coast. I guess my questions about the bay were getting answered audibly. Morning light looked like it could be hit or miss as there was a sliver of horizon open with patchy clouds overhead. When reaching the shore, all up and down the coastline, I could see mist from the pounding waves blowing across the beach and into the trees. This was going to be something to deal with.
In the low light of twilight, my exposures were running anywhere between half a second to several. It was still quite dim so I couldn’t really see water spray through the viewfinder. I was also using a polarizer and Graduated ND filter. So every exposure the lens needed wiping down as well as the filters. It was OK, there was no where I had to be. It almost turned into a way of paying dues in appreciation of being here.
I spent the next several hours on this beach. Just me and the gulls. There was an abundance of things to photograph and explore. It once again reminded me of how awesome it is to be next to the sea.
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- Halfway Log Dump
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- Georgian Wave and gull
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- Georgian Bay at dawn
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- Water and Wind
Hey Mark, great captures!!! I can almost hear the pounding…
Thanks Marco. How are the waves down there lately?
We’ve had something good 10 days ago… also downtown, due to a reversal, as they call it here when wind and waves come from W/SW!! Now quite flat without wind. On the East coast should get better shortly. You know I am also waiting…!
Stunning colours of blue and green – there is always something quite powerful yet calming about images of the ocean 🙂
Thanks Christina! Even though it was freshwater, I really did feel like I was oceanside.
Hey Mark, great shots…. you made the crazy weather conditions work for you! I love the dramatic sky and rough water in concert with the rugged rocks.
Hope you had a good trip!
cheers,
Ethan
Thanks again Ethan. I don’t know if I would have ventured out to this spot in the dark if it wasnt recommended.
Awesome images. I love the subtle pink within the clouds in the fist two images. Because of your effort and well spent dues, you experienced something few people ever will. Thanks, Mark, for sharing that experience and your images with us.
I suppose it is small adventures like this that make them the most memorable. Thanks Monte.
This is a fine series. I especially like the main photo for the post with the quintessential water pouring off the rocks back into the sea.
Thanks David.
Wild and powerful set – I can feel the spray!
Sharon
The spray was certainly abundant! Thanks Sharon.
Gorgeous set of images. Sounds like an ideal experience too. I like that other photographers think about bears and things while walking along in the woods in the dark. Makes me feel like I’m not such a big sissy! 😉
It is probably a primal instinct kicking in to be weary when you may not be at the top of the food chain. 😉
Mark, a beautiful series of photos. I love images of rough water — it instills a humbleness, so much effortless energy beyond man’s control. The colors of the water and skies are lovely as well. As far as the written post — I’ve walked enough dark trails to have experienced many of those mental “detours” at the snap of a twig or the rustling of leaves. I had to smile reading your similar experience. Well done!
Those detours head to some dark, dark places Earl. 🙂 Thank you.
lovely images Mark. I dont often see the sea when she’s all stirred up like that, thanks for sharing 🙂
Yea, not many divers out that day I imagine. Thanks Suzy.
This is a beautiful set of photos, Mark. I liked your detailed description of the morning, too. The series is well worth the effort spent to get it!.
Thanks Ken. Before my memory fades, sometimes it is best to write it down.
Lovely series of images, Mark – I appreciate your efforts in bringing them to us! :^D
– Jack
Thanks Jack.