Photo Stories: Week 6 In Review
Summary of my Photos Of The Day Week 6(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 36/365 - After Rain Chaos
Nature’s color wheel in a single, damp frame. A recent rain really saturated the brilliant reds and oranges of these fallen maples, making them pop perfectly against the lingering green grass. I love how the tiny water droplets add a beaded texture to the scene.
This was what you’d call a ‘Clearing Storm.’ It’s that rare, violent burst of weather that sweeps through Oakville every few years, acting as a necessary pruning shear for the landscape. Because it had been so long since the last one, the aftermath was a spectacular, tangled mess—a vibrant, chaotic sprawl of broken branches and scattered leaves that claimed the sidewalks.
After Rain Chaos - Nikon Z6 24-70 mm 1/100 sec at F5, ISO 800
Day 37/365 - Coronation Fall Sunrise Wild HDR
This is a 4-shot HDR I tried out, and it just looked interesting.
One of the features, varying cloud banks over the lake, allows for amazing sunrises. On my sunrise photo walk around the park, I happened upon this amazing scene of trees in various stages of their fall display. With the clouds filtering the sun, backlighting the colors, and the sky just starting the deep blue of the morning.
One of my favorite parks is Coronation Park, a local park in Oakville on the shore of Lake Ontario. It is your typical well-maintained urban park, featuring large, designated picnic areas with covered shelters, each equipped with ample picnic tables, as well as main trails.
Coronation Fall Sunrise Wild HDR - Nikon Z6 24-70 mm 1/100 sec at F9, ISO 200 (4 Shot HDR)
Day 38/365 - Spruce Lane Farm Old Growth Stump
Standing as a natural monument at Spruce Lane Farm, this massive, weathered stump showcases nature’s enduring architecture. Stripped of its bark, the sun-bleached, silver-grey timber and thick, reaching limbs stand in sharp, structural contrast against the soft, vibrant canopy of the tree-lined walking trail.
I like the texture of the deep, shadowy hollow at its core, and the deep, winding grooves in the wood tell a visual story of resilience and time, anchoring the landscape beside the rustic split-rail fence.
What stories can this stump tell about the farm and its history as it stands, serving as a reminder to all who use this trail?
Spruce Lane Farm Old Growth Stump - Nikon Z6 24-70 mm 1/100 sec at F7.1, ISO 400
Day 39/365 - Summer Garden Geranium
A vibrant study in magenta and green. This Cranesbill geranium practically glows when you get the lens right down to its level. By pushing the background into a smooth, out-of-focus blur, the delicate, paper-like texture of the petals and their dark, anchoring lifelines take center stage. Just another daily frame proving that compelling compositions are often waiting just outside the back door.
Summer Garden Geranium - Nikon Z6 24-70 mm 1/125 sec at F6.3 ISO 250
Day 40/365 - Just Look Down - Mueller Grate
I have an ongoing project entitled “Just Look Down.” A daily reminder that compelling compositions are often right beneath our feet.
This top-down view of a weathered Mueller utility cover contrasts the heavy, radiating lines of cast iron against the stark, minimalist canvas of the adjacent concrete. I love how the deep, grit-filled grooves create a pattern, interrupted only by the organic, fleeting pops of yellow from a few trapped leaves. It’s a wonderful exercise in isolating urban textures and finding beauty in the details we usually walk right over.
Sometimes when you go to the same places in the town over and over, your eye looks for newer challenges.
Just Look Down - Mueller Grate - iPhone 11 1/90 sec at 1.8, ISO 25
Day 41/365 - Nature’s Address
Nature always finds a way to soften our hardscape. Because this house marker sits in persistent shade, the stone has been naturally painted by a velvety layer of “Pleurococcus algae”, turning a simple address sign into a living element of the garden. The deep, weathered crevices of the rock create a fantastic, heavy texture that grounds the frame. It’s a beautiful example of how time and the elements interact with our built environment, punctuated perfectly by the small, brightly painted rock resting at the bottom.
Nature’s Address - Nikon Z6 24-70 mm 1/8 sec at F9 ISO 640
Day 42/365 - The Tannery Before Sunrise
I found some fantastic compositional structure hidden in the pre-dawn light at The Tannery. The overnight lights create a complex pattern of leading lines and stark, contrasting shadows across the waterfront paths. It's wonderful to isolate these temporary patterns and turn everyday urban design into a compelling study in geometry and light. A great reminder that powerful designs are always around us, even in the artificial glare.
The Tannery Before Sunrise - Nikon Z6 105mm F2.8 - 1/40 sec at F2.8 ISO 2500
