Down By the Seaside

We can all agree that beaches and blue tropical oceans provide for stunning photography opportunities. An interesting way to incorporate such a lovely scenery is by using it as a backdrop for something else. I was fortunate enough to find a starfish and I also found that writing in the sand was quite interesting too.

Being at the beach allowed be to relfect, relax, and love life.

Adventure with Nature

When chasing the sun to warmer temperatures on vacations one can find themselves caught up in the typical beach tourist lifestyle. That usually includes staying poolside, getting a tan, and possibly reading magazines. Im too adventurous of a traveller and even when on vacation in the land of condos and beaches I found a way to escape to nature. From the condo i was at I rented a bike and rode 50km (31 miles) to Fort De Soto Park. This nature preserve consisted of rugged beaches and, as I found out, host to an assortment of magnificent shells.

My bike adventure to the park provided me with a day of non-poolside adventures and I was able to immerse myself in the natural environment that Florida has to offer.

Sunshine State of Mind

Being a Canadian I am more than aware that the season of winter brings snow and cold temperatures. This winter I was fortunate enough to travel to St Petes Beach in Florida over the Christmas break. The transition from overcast skies to the warm weather of the “sunshine state” was lovely and I enjoyed my time.

Toronto’s Painted Ladies

It is interesting to find beauty in the most unusual of places. It is almost provocatively inspiring to come across something that enhances an otherwise neglected landscape. The juxtaposition of these portraits among the other graffiti is quite striking.

Remember to find what is beautiful in your life. Capture and savour it.

City as an Easel, Wall as a Canvas

What is ART? It’s the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power. Urban landscapes are home to all forms of ART. Whether it be the pure architectural beauty of the structures that span the skyline or the various murals displayed through out the city. So called GRAFFITI doesn’t seem so bad in these cases….

These alleys have been transformed into creative pathways. Where will your path take you?

Dampening Dew

Autumn is a time that invites us out to enjoy the the colours of nature that are showcased in a final appeal before the impending winter. Recently, I was able to hike in the Crawford Lake Conservation Area and like any outdoor adventure it was full of great sights and discoveries but the overcast weather dampened the spirits.

The intermittent rain, although chilling to the bones, turned the landscape into a glimmering spectacular. The deep hues of nature popped out in the damp atmosphere.

After all, it is only when you accept things as they are that you can begin to appreciate beauty in all its forms.

Paddling Among Boulders

Fall is inevitably upon us as the leaves begin to change into a wide array of deep reds, yellows, and oranges. Reflecting on warmer times, and when the trees were crisp in the summer air, I am reminded of summer adventures. One memory that sticks to mind is a canoe trip I did to Bon Echo Provincial Park.

Bon Echo features many lakes but we only paddled Mazinaw Lake which other than any of the Great Lakes is the deepest lake. On the southeastern shores of this lake is the incredible Mazinaw Rock which is an escarpment rising 100 metres (300 ft) out of the water.

Try to find the canoes and acknowledge the impressive size of the escarpment.

Mazinaw Rock is known for its native pictographs and is a National Historic Site of Canada

It was a great time shared with great people in an awe-inspiring landscape. Provides me with memories for the rest of the year.

Harbour of Industry

Toronto has an iconic shoreline and the downtown area known as Harbourfront was once home to many thriving industries that relied on waterways for transportation. In a less industrial era, the Redpath Sugar Building is one of last active refineries to be located along the shores of downtown Toronto. Opened in 1958, The Redpath Sugar Building is a sugar storage, refining and museum building and is a testament to the industrious history of the city of Toronto.

Distillery District

The Distillery District is a historic and entertainment area near downtown Toronto and is North America’s largest collection of Victorian-era industrial architecture with 40 heritage buildings and 10 streets. James Worts and his brother in law William Gooderham originally built a windmill but because of its success they were inclined to open a distillery. The Gooderham and Worts Distillery was founded in 1832, and by the late 1860s was the largest distillery in the world.

Along the Old Frontier

Another legendary route to walk along in Toronto is Front Street which has many historic sites along and express some of Toronto’s heritage in the downtown core. The street marks the rough outline of the shoreline of Lake Ontario as it existed during the original English settlement of York. The current shoreline is about 800m south as much of the inner harbour was filled in the late 19th and early 20th century for industrial development. These are some of the photos I took.

This is part of the North wall of the Canadian Opera Company.

St. James Anglican Cathedral can be seen in the background.

This is shot of the old St. Lawrence Hall which was a prominent public meeting hall during its day

The iconic Gooderham Building which is more commonly known as the Flatiron Building. Overall, Front Street proved to be a worthwhile photographic opportunity and was also a great time exploring my own neighbourhood. Has any one else seen any of these sights?  Tell me what you think.