Introduction
The Covid-19 pandemic continued to dominate our lives in 2021 and disrupt everything that we once took for granted. If I had to sum it up, two words stand out for me as characterizing the year: vaccine and variant.
As the year began, a dribble of vaccines started to arrive for those most in need. Slowly, slowly, supply increased, and the scramble to get shots into arms grew in intensity. First dose, second dose, and as the year came to a close, a third dose, to keep the pandemic in check. But the wily virus also had some tricks up its sleeve: Alpha, Beta, the horrible Delta, and lastly the super contagious Omicron. The war continues, but perhaps we're now seeing the final big battle. We may never be rid of this virus, but hopefully we'll be able to live with it like we live with other endemic viruses.
If the pandemic wasn't enough, the year was a difficult one for me because of unrelated family health problems. It was one serious problem after another, leading to a rollercoaster journey through the year, although my own health remained good throughout. Needless to say, my photography took lower priority, and my creativity suffered, during much of the year. Even so, I'm happy with my photographic accomplishments during the year, and I'm looking forward to 2022.
If you wish to delve deeper, my journal website, www.lingerinthelight.com, provides a fuller discussion of my activities, and more of my photographs, than given here.
Winter
Ottawa River and Mud Lake
The year started off well, all things considered. Large group outings were not advisable, but small outings with friends were still feasible. So a friend and I agreed on an outing together to Mud Lake and the nearby section of the Ottawa River. We were entertained by a stately procession of ducks, enthralled by ice on the river, and fascinated by abstract patterns left by skaters on the lake.
Studio
As 2020 drew to a close, I started experimenting with photography at home in a makeshift studio. I continued this is 2021. To begin with, I had a great time creating oil and water abstracts. The idea is simple enough. Fill a glass container with water, toss in some oil, put a background underneath, and take some photos. Needless to say, the actual process is rather more involved, and the results somewhat hit and miss, but I was really happy with the results I got.
Next, I tried my had at still life photography using whatever I could find around the house for subjects. I learnt a lot from these initial attempts using some basic studio equipment, and by compositing background textures in Photoshop post production. This is a great way to spend an afternoon when the weather outside is dreadful.
Shirley's Bay
As the winter drew to a close, the family health issues I mentioned earlier started to dominate my life. Knowing this, a friend suggested a small photo outing to the Shirley's Bay area in Western Ottawa. It sure was nice to get out of the house again! By this time of year the snow was mostly melted, leaving the ground slushy and brown. Together with an overcast sky, there wasn't much colour, so I elected to process my photos in black and white.
Spring
Bate Island and Mud Lake
As it happened, another friend suggested an outing a few days after the previous one. Sure is great to have friends to encourage me to get out! At this point it was officially Spring, although it didn't look or feel like that. We decided to go to Bate Island, situated in the middle of the Ottawa River with easy access via the Champlain Bridge. We had gotten a number of nice shots there the year before, and were rewarded with more nice shots this year. After that, we headed further west to Mud Lake, although my better shots were from the section of Ottawa River that is nearby.
Studio
Back home in the studio, I decided to try my hand at photographing glassware against a black background. It requires a lot of fiddling to get everything lined up just right, but I'm quite happy with my results.
Summer
Ottawa River
After a long period out of action, I was able to join a small group outing of friends to take some evening shots in and around the Remic Rapids area of the Ottawa River. The unique aspect of this outing was the sky. This year had been bad for forest fires, and smoke from these blanketed Ottawa. As a result, the evening sun and sky were turned a surreal reddish-orange, quite unlike a normal sunset. While it's terrible for the environment, it certainly made for some interesting photographs.
Fall
Ottawa River and Mud Lake
The pandemic had mostly derailed any chance of group outings by the RA Photo Club (www.raphotoclub.ca) to which I belong. But finally by the Fall case numbers were sufficiently low that restrictions could be eased and larger outdoor outings were possible. So it was with considerable excitement that I signed up for the first outing of the year organized by the Nature Group to the Mud Lake area. Unfortunately another commitment delayed by arrival until the afternoon, by which point the other club members had left. Nevertheless I had a great time exploring this familiar area and finding some interesting shots.
Shirley's Bay and Greenbelt
I pretty much botched this outing with a friend because of not paying attention to exactly where we were to meet. But thankfully I realized my mistake in time to find my friend and salvage part of the outing. I was unfamiliar with the part of the Ottawa Greenbelt that we visited and it definitely warrants a return trip. My hurried photos don't do it justice.
Lac Ramsay and Trail 56
The second outing of the year organized by the Nature Group of the RA Photo Club was the popular Fall Challenge. This is a friendly competition timed to occur during the peak of the Fall colour. In 2021 we returned to a favourite venue: Lac Ramsay and Trail 56 in Gatineau Park. This is a great location. It's not too far from Ottawa/Gatineau, but is still far enough away that it doesn't draw the huge crowds of people that come to see the spectacular Fall colour. Having had my arrival delayed at the preceding outing to Mud Lake, this was my first chance to see (from an appropriate distance) many of the other club members in well over a year.
Cardinal Boneyard
Not to be outdone, the Urban Group of the RA Photo Club also started running group outings again in the Fall. Their first outing was to an amazing location: the Boneyard in Cardinal, Ontario (www.boneyard.ca).
Anyone who likes to photograph old cars, rusty metal, broken glass, and beaten-up stuff, will love the Boneyard. Photography is with the permission of the owners, but they are quite friendly to photography groups, asking only for donations to their local food bank.
Beaver and Lime Kiln Trails
Ottawa is blessed with many Nature trails maintained by the National Capital Commission (NCC). These criss-cross green spaces throughout the city. Many offer convenient parking, and the trails have signage that help with hiking navigation. For this outing, a friend and I decided to visit the Beaver Trail in the Western part of the city. This trail connects to the Lime Kiln Trail, and we ended up walking most of the length of both.
Mud Lake and Ottawa River
A good friend wanted to take advantage of unusually warm November weather and organized a small outing to Mud Lake. Since I quite like the stretch of Ottawa River near the lake, I arrived a bit early so I could take some shots there. I then walked over to the main trailhead for Mud Lake to join up with the group. We walked loosely from the trailhead to a small bridge over an inlet to the lake and back again.
Beechwood Cemetery
As the year was drawing to a close, the Urban Group of the RA Photo Club organized an outing to Ottawa's Beechwood Cemetery. Beechwood is a National Historic Site and is the National Cemetery of Canada. It has large sections reserved for the burial of Armed Forces and RCMP members. It also provides the resting place for many historical figures.
I had visited Beechwood a couple of times in the past, but this was my first visit in snowy conditions. I tried something a little different with how I processed my photos to evoke an ethereal mood.
Blakeney Rapids
The Nature Group of the RA Photo Club managed to organize the final group outing of the year, just before the Omicron wave of the pandemic forced gathering restrictions to be reimposed. This was to Blakeney Rapids, located between Almonte and Packenham, and about a 45-minute drive from Ottawa.
Conclusion
It was a difficult year in various ways, but I was still able to find a way to remain photographically productive. As conditions permitted I continued to photograph with friends, and later in the year outings with my photo club were possible. I tried some entirely new kinds of photography. And I visited some familiar locations but photographed them in some different ways.
I sincerely hope that we'll soon start to put the pandemic behind us and resume something of a normal life. Some signs are pointing to that, but it's too early to be sure. Regardless, my photographic journey will continue and I'm looking forward to seeing where it takes me in 2022.