A photographic journal by Brian Mazur

Plaisance Provincial Park and Falls

Plaisance Park is about an hour's drive from Ottawa on the Quebec side of the Ottawa river towards Montreal. The Nature Group of the RA Photo Club organized an outing there, as well as a side trip to the nearby Plaisance Falls. Although the park had been advertised as especially interesting to birders, I had never been there and wanted to see it, and the falls were only mentioned in passing. While I shot some photos in the park, which has quite a nice boardwalk, it ended up that the falls were where the real excitement was for me. The park is quite large and you could easily spend a full day exploring it. When we went, it was shortly after the snow had melted and before any new growth had started. In other words, rather brown and bare. There also weren't all that many birds, although I could certainly see that birds would favour this location during their migrations. I don't know how successful the bird photographers in our group made out, but as mainly a landscape photographer, there weren't a lot of great shots to be had. Another time of the year would have been better for me. On the other hand, the falls were spectacular, no doubt because there was still ample water from the winter melt. My friend and I stopped at the falls after doing the park in the morning and then stopping in Montebello for lunch. He and I agreed that the falls really made the outing worthwhile for us. They definitely deserve a return visit.

Plaisance Park has a large blind for viewing birdlife, and this was the view during our visit. Rather a mundane scene, but I liked the compositional arrangement of the water and distant hills.
Plaisance Park has a large blind for viewing birdlife, and this was the view during our visit. Rather a mundane scene, but I liked the compositional arrangement of the water and distant hills.
A feature of the park is a large boardwalk above an area of water. This view emphasizes the horizontal striations of the trees, marshes and wind-blown water.
A feature of the park is a large boardwalk above an area of water. This view emphasizes the horizontal striations of the trees, marshes and wind-blown water.
A bicycle trail provided a handy means for exploring part of the park. Here, my eye, was attracted by the pastel colours, horizontal layers, and the diagonals in the foreground.
A bicycle trail provided a handy means for exploring part of the park. Here, my eye, was attracted by the pastel colours, horizontal layers, and the diagonals in the foreground.
Long exposures are often used with moving water. This view was taken at a fairly conventional 1/13 sec speed.
Long exposures are often used with moving water. This view was taken at a fairly conventional 1/13 sec speed.
Super long exposures are not typically used on waterfall subjects, but I happened to have a 10 stop ND filter with me. This is an 8 sec exposure.
Super long exposures are not typically used on waterfall subjects, but I happened to have a 10 stop ND filter with me. This is an 8 sec exposure.
Taken near the bottom of the falls, this is a view upriver.
Taken near the bottom of the falls, this is a view upriver.
Trees are often found struggling for existence in inhospitible places, such as this poor fellow.
Trees are often found struggling for existence in inhospitible places, such as this poor fellow.
This was composed to emphasize the three plants, with the shape of the wave echoing that of the foreground and framing the plants, and with the yellow leaves set against the blue sky reflected in the water.
This was composed to emphasize the three plants, with the shape of the wave echoing that of the foreground and framing the plants, and with the yellow leaves set against the blue sky reflected in the water.
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