A photographic journal by Brian Mazur

Renfrew Forest

A friend discovered Renfrew County Forest a while back and invited me along on a trip to go and explore it. It turns out there are 53 different tracks of land in this forest; we appear to have visited the Pershick track. It was a beautiful fall day, and although the peak of the fall colour had passed, we weren't disappointed with what the forest had to offer. I tried to take a mixture of shots but ended up doing somewhat more with my 105 mm macro lens than with my wide angle. This isn't especially surprising since a wide angle is arguably better suited to more open scenes, and there are always small details suited to the macro lens that make excellent photographic subjects. We spent several hours exploring the forest and would have gone even a bit deeper into it, except that recent rains had flooded the access road that we were using as a trail, and there was no easy way around the water. It would be interesting to visit this forest again in a different season, and hopefully,​ the opportunity will arise.

I was intrigued by the cluster of yellow leaves and the shaft of sunlight across the puddle in the foreground, and sought a composition that included both.
I was intrigued by the cluster of yellow leaves and the shaft of sunlight across the puddle in the foreground, and sought a composition that included both.
This colourful photo required several shots to be assembled (focus merged).
This colourful photo required several shots to be assembled (focus merged).
These are the same mushrooms from the previous photo, but shot from a different angle where the light gave them a somewhat different colour.
These are the same mushrooms from the previous photo, but shot from a different angle where the light gave them a somewhat different colour.
Red is such a powerful colour that it tends to stand out wherever it is found. Here I've framed it against yellows and greens and included a spot of red in the reflection.
Red is such a powerful colour that it tends to stand out wherever it is found. Here I've framed it against yellows and greens and included a spot of red in the reflection.
I try to make a point of looking everywhere, including down, when on a nature walk. I enjoy the textures in this photo.
I try to make a point of looking everywhere, including down, when on a nature walk. I enjoy the textures in this photo.
I tried several variations of this macro shot, looking for the most pleasing composition.
I tried several variations of this macro shot, looking for the most pleasing composition.
While midday light generally isn't ideal, here the harsh shadows help to provide separation between the mushrooms, and emphasize them against the dark log.
While midday light generally isn't ideal, here the harsh shadows help to provide separation between the mushrooms, and emphasize them against the dark log.
I'm not sure whether this is a bud or not, but it provides a point of interest within the sweep of the pine needles.
I'm not sure whether this is a bud or not, but it provides a point of interest within the sweep of the pine needles.
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