A photographic journal by Brian Mazur

Chutes Coulonge

Coulonge Falls (Chutes Coulonge) is normally about a 1 ½ hour westerly drive from Ottawa along the Quebec side of the Ottawa river. I photographed there twice previously, once in the winter (March 2016) and again in the summer (July 2016). That previous winter outing was quite spectacular, and thus I was very excited when the RA Photo Club’s Nature Group, of which I am a member, announced that another late-winter visit was planned. As it turned out, the weather preceding the day of the outing made for a challenging trip. We had had heavy rain in Ottawa, but just across the river, from Aylmer all the way to the Fort-Coulonge area, they had had heavy snow. Driving was nerve-wracking because of the slippery snow-covered highway, and the 1 ½ hour trip to the falls took closer to 2 ½ hours. Since the park where the falls are located is outside the town of Fort-Coulonge, we weren’t sure when we left whether the access road would be ploughed well enough that we could reach the park, and we were prepared to do some street-shooting in the town of Fort-Coulonge if that was the case. Not only that, but one of my passengers received a call when we were half-way to our destination, to inform us that the outing had been cancelled, because of the inclement weather, and because the weather had dissuaded almost everyone else from participating. Happily, we arrived safely and were able to reach the park. I was the driver and I had two friends with me as passengers. Only one other person braved the trip, so there were four of us that photographed together. Was it worth it? Yes indeed, although walking within the park was also a challenge since none of us was equipped with snowshoes. There was a base of snow that was firm enough to walk on, but every few steps we’d break through and the snow would be up to our knees or our thighs. It was slow going, but fortunately, the trails are not long, and I knew the layout of the park from my previous trips. After a few hours of shooting,​ we were all worn out and left for lunch together in the town of Fort-Coulonge. By this time, it was warmer, the sun was out, and the snow was melting. The roads on the drive home were bare, and the return trip was easy.

The view from the main observation platform, showing the falls on the left, the logging chute on the right, and the two walkway bridges in the background.
The view from the main observation platform, showing the falls on the left, the logging chute on the right, and the two walkway bridges in the background.
A closer view of the waterfall and the first walkway bridge.
A closer view of the waterfall and the first walkway bridge.
To the right of the logging chute, there was this beautiful ice formation.
To the right of the logging chute, there was this beautiful ice formation.
Walking from the main observation platform to the first bridge, there was a second observation platform with a view across the waterfall towards the second bridge.
Walking from the main observation platform to the first bridge, there was a second observation platform with a view across the waterfall towards the second bridge.
From the second observation platform, this is a 3-shot panorama giving a tight view towards the first bridge.
From the second observation platform, this is a 3-shot panorama giving a tight view towards the first bridge.
There were many opportunities to photograph the violence of the water. This is an example shot from the second observation platform.
There were many opportunities to photograph the violence of the water. This is an example shot from the second observation platform.
In addition to struggling with the snow underfoot, the occasional gust of wind would coat us with snow from the trees.
In addition to struggling with the snow underfoot, the occasional gust of wind would coat us with snow from the trees.
From the first walkway bridge, one had a magnificent view of the river surging towards the falls and the main observation platform.
From the first walkway bridge, one had a magnificent view of the river surging towards the falls and the main observation platform.
A closer view from the first bridge back to the main observation platform.
A closer view from the first bridge back to the main observation platform.
From the first bridge there was also an interesting view up-river, towards a dam forming an artificial lake.
From the first bridge there was also an interesting view up-river, towards a dam forming an artificial lake.
A detail shot of the river, looking back from the first bridge.
A detail shot of the river, looking back from the first bridge.
From the second bridge there was a view of both the main and second observation platforms. The weather was starting to change by this point and the sky was darkening.
From the second bridge there was a view of both the main and second observation platforms. The weather was starting to change by this point and the sky was darkening.
A detail shot of the river from the second bridge.
A detail shot of the river from the second bridge.
From the second bridge, here is a tighter shot of the main observation platform in it's forest context.
From the second bridge, here is a tighter shot of the main observation platform in it's forest context.
Behind the second bridge was a wonderful winter scene. I was particularly intrigued with the pattern of bare patches on the ice-covered lake, and chose my composition accordingly.
Behind the second bridge was a wonderful winter scene. I was particularly intrigued with the pattern of bare patches on the ice-covered lake, and chose my composition accordingly.
Snow-covered trees were everywhere. Here, I composed a shot concentrating on three that provided a somewhat symmetrical grouping.
Snow-covered trees were everywhere. Here, I composed a shot concentrating on three that provided a somewhat symmetrical grouping.
Walking back, there was a third observation platform from which this shot was taken. It was composed to visually balance the building with the S-shaped patch of bare ice on the lake.
Walking back, there was a third observation platform from which this shot was taken. It was composed to visually balance the building with the S-shaped patch of bare ice on the lake.
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