Photo Of The Day: Week 3 In Review
Summary of my Photos Of The Day Week 3 (POD)
Welcome to another weekly roundup of my Picture of the Day project.
Before retirement, most of my photo shoots were family walks or trips, where it was more Shoot-and-Go. This Picture-Of-The-Day project is pushing me to be a more deliberate and thoughtful photographer.
When the weather is good, I aim to capture one meaningful image each day. This project also lets me revisit my catalog for my favorite images. Sorting through nearly 75,000 photos has been a rewarding exercise in slowing down and being purposeful.
Each photo tells its own story. This weekly digest steps back to highlight broader visual themes from the past seven days and provides a bit of behind-the-scenes context.
Day 15/365 - Hang On For Spring
Now that we are in March, it is interesting to see how many leaves have refused to fall and are hanging on for spring. This seems to be the same way as I feel these days. The weather here in Southern Ontario keeps teasing spring. Very cold until a week ago. Now we have above-freezing temperatures, watching the snow melt.
March is a doorway to spring, but winter usually will fight back. As they leave, we just have to hold on til spring. Just have a few more weeks.
Hang On For Spring - Nikon Z6- 1/2500 sec at F4, ISO 500
Day 16/365 - Toronto In Sunrise
On really clear days, the view across the lake from Oakville to Toronto can be spectacular. This was a cool September day with a very quiet atmosphere. The picture came out quite well.
Toronto in Sunrise - Nikon Z6 24-70mm- 1/25 sec at F4, ISO 2000
Day 17/365 - B&W for the Win
I think this is a great example of minimalism and isolating a simple piece of waterfront infrastructure and turning it into a compelling, graphic photograph. I now have a better understanding of what they say about the difference between taking a photo and making a photo.
The most striking property I found in the subject was the vibrancy of its texture. The weathered grain was so visible in the light, and the rough texture of the boat cleat I felt was the subject of what I was looking at. The wood and iron, even as objects, were a contrast of materials. The dark, soft blur of the water in the background ensures there are no distractions from the main subject.
I did not think of this photo as black and white. I have been studying other photographers' lessons on black-and-white photography and thought I would try my hand at these Lightroom adjustments.
I have a much greater appreciation for the ability of black-and-white photos to tell different stories and evoke different feelings about a scene.
B&W For The Win - Nikon D40 10-55 mm- 1/320 sec at F9.0, ISO 200
Day 18/365 - Hydrangea Ready For Fall
That is a Hydrangea from our garden back in November. This is the first year these normally white flowers have turned a deep pinkish-red hue. They were so stunning in their late-summer-to-autumn phase, before they turned brown as winter set in. They do keep their cone-shaped flower heads until spring, so it’s always nice to have some plants that last through the winter.
Hydrangea Ready For Fall - Nikon Z6 24-70 mm- 1/400 sec at F6.3, ISO 800
Day 19/365 - Cardinal At Home
This male Northern Cardinal makes a fantastic photographic subject, especially since that vibrant red pops so beautifully against the green of evergreens or the white of winter snow! We have many large evergreens in the backyard, and with the room inside, we have many different species of birds.
Some of the cardinals are around all year and eat the seeds I leave out in the winter. Now that I am retired, I may have become the neighborhood’s bird man. LOL
Cardinal At Home - Nikon Z6 70-210mm- 1/1000 sec at F4.0 ISO 1000
Day 20/365 - The Thaw’s Reflection
Finally, the ice and snow on the sidewalks have melted enough that I feel comfortable going for a walk. This initial period shows winter damage caused by the sidewalk plows. The torn earth and swirling mud along the curb stand in stark contrast to the smooth, flooded path, which reflects the trees farther down.
This winter-to-spring transitional phase of the year, caught between the melting snow and the promise of spring, is almost here. Most see this time frame as ugly, but I always find scenes of hope and beauty as the old transforms to spring.
The Thaw’s Reflection - iPhone 11 - 1/800 sec at F1.8 ISO 32
Day 21/365 - Bookending The Hydrangea
To match the day 18 picture of the pink fall Hydrangea from our garden in November, here is one from today in March. These plants are a bit older, so they stay strong and upright all winter. They turn a light brown and make the winter garden feel alive, while we wait for spring.
Bookending The Hydrangea - iPhone 11 - 1/320 sec at F1.8 ISO 32
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Steve