Winter Glow

Winter Glow
Originally uploaded by Alan Norsworthy

Winter requires a certain attitude.

Do not regret the passing of Autumn, you have to look forward to it's passing and
find your sweaters,jackets and boots.

Think of that magical, first frost that will soon cover the meadows with silver.

Think not of the falling temperatures but of the cool, crisp, air and the walks to be enjoyed.

Then get out there and savour the peace, as the snow falls, blanketing the earth in silence.

It's a time to be young again.

Winter came down to our home one night
Quietly pirouetting in on silvery-toed slippers of snow,
And we, we were children once again.
~Bill Morgan, Jr.

The Old Mill - Redux - Nikon P7100

The Old Mill - Redux - Nikon P7100
Originally uploaded by Alan Norsworthy

There is nothing that stir's the creative juices more than a new toy ... err a new piece of equipment.
On our recent Annual trip up to Tobermory I took along my new Nikon P7100 to put it through its paces.
This image was taken on the way home after the freezing fog and snow had transformed the world into a winter wonderland. Add in a spotlight of sunlight illuminating the frozen tree's it was pure magic.

My quote today is not really a part of this image but the timing is close enough. A thought, a wish, for the New Year..

A happy New Year! Grant that I
May bring no tear to any eye
When this New Year in time shall end
Let it be said I've played the friend,
Have lived and loved and labored here,
And made of it a happy year.
~Edgar Guest

Our Lady II

Our Lady II
Originally uploaded by Alan Norsworthy

This weekend I stayed close to home, adding to my "Guelph portfolio".

I visited some new area's and some well trodden places. My original destination was the new Guelph museum site which is coming along quite nicely.

Right next door is the "Church of our Lady Immaculate" Catholic Church.

http://www.churchofourlady.com/history.htm

Although I am not a religious person I find myself in awe of the architecture and love to wander old graveyards, churches and cathedrals.

This Church is a classic Gothic structure and offers oh so many photographic opportunities not the least being the statue that welcomes visitors to this magnificent place.

Early morning light played across the statue, gently lighting and sculpting her features. I decided to add an "Orton" effect to enhance that softness a slight vignette hepls to centre the eye.

Conversion to Black and White to finish the photograph, of course.


All photographs are there to remind us of what we forget. In this - as in other ways - they are the opposite of paintings. Paintings record what the painter remembers. Because each one of us forgets different things, a photo more than a painting may change its meaning according to who is looking at it. ~John Berger

On Track

On Track
Originally uploaded by Alan Norsworthy

This weekend we decided to visit a local conservation area. However they are not run by photographers or they would open earlier than 8:30am !
So to pass the time we parked at the other end of the reservoir and wandered around exploring this new location.
Having no destination in mind allows the creative juices to flow, some paths taken, some ignored depending on what the eye see's and the mind interprets. A set of rails demanded to be explored. I took the shot my companion looked down the lines, a little disappointed at what he saw.
Usually we think alike, this time we didn't, maybe it was the cold wind that hit us as we left the lee of the tree's .....


Whatever the reason, it matters not because we were out for a "wander"

Wandering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between man and the universe. ~Anatole France

Fields of Silver

Fields of Silver
Originally uploaded by Alan Norsworthy

I love this time of year!

On Saturday my friends and I took an early morning walk along the Niska Road Trail. The fields were covered in hoar frost and everything was encrusted in tiny jewels that reflected and refracted the early morning light.

Every turn held scenes of Mother Natures handiwork, the hard part was to capture it.

All too soon the sun peaked the hills and treetops and, with that first kiss of warmth, it all vanished.

Photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth which can make them come back again. ~Henri Cartier-Bresson

Help Portrait - Team 4

Help Portrait - Team 4
Originally uploaded by Alan Norsworthy

Yesterday a whole crowd of like minded, giving people from our community gave up their Saturday to help others.
Help Portrait is a growing movement within the photographic community whose aim is to enable us to use our talents in service to others.

What you see here is a small part of that group, team 4, my group.

Back row: Tony, Santa's Brother aka Bob, Jeanne, yours truly
and Little Stephen in front :-)

and many, many, more unseen here but you know who you are.


Karen, Now I understand what you were trying to say ....

The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of tiny pushes of each honest worker. ~Helen Keller

What light through yonder window breaks

What light through yonder window breaks
Originally uploaded by Alan Norsworthy

Strange isn't it, how I look forward to a walk.

As much as I love exploring new places a walk in an old familiar place, in this case the highways and byways of the University of Guelph, brings a smile.
I don't know how many times I have taken this shortcut or how many times I have photographed it but every visit is new.
Every time, I see something differently.

A few years ago I walked the same path for a year. Watching the woods change.

Spring became summer, summer became autumn, which in turn became winter and finally spring returned again.
I learned a lot that year, I think it is time to do it again....

There is no season such delight can bring
As summer, autumn, winter and the spring.
~William Browne