A photographic journal by Brian Mazur

Limerick Forest

Limerick Forest consists of several tracts of land in the vicinity of Limerick Forest road in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, near Oxford Station, about an hour’s drive south of Ottawa. I’ve visited several of these tracts with friends over the years, but the “Chalet Loop” set of trails is, by far, where I’ve visited most often, and I’ve gotten to know these trails quite well. However, in looking through my past trips, I noticed that most of my shots were taken in the fall and winter months, and I had very few shots from spring and summer. When a photography friend suggested recently that we go out for some spring shooting together, Limerick Forest came immediately to mind. It was an excellent day for photography, with a mix of sun and cloud, moderate temperatures requiring only a light jacket, and only a few mosquitoes. However, we had received several preceding days of rain, so some areas were muddy, and in one instance we elected to turn back on a trail that was particularly bad. Arriving about 10:30 am, we photographed through to about 3:30 pm, and then went for a (very) late lunch, before returning to Ottawa. In all, we walked for about 6 km and traversed most of the Chalet Loop trails. Spring is a beautiful time to photograph in a forest. New buds on the trees give them a soft, pastel, quality, especially with some light cloud cover, and I took many shots of just the trees themselves. Plants at ground level are also just emerging, and I spent considerable time kneeling, or even laying, on the ground to photograph these. I shot almost entirely with a 105 mm macro lens, often using a tripod, but sometimes handheld, but switched to a wide-angle lens for some complimentary​ shots late in the day as we started our walk back to the car. It was a very enjoyable way to spend an early spring day and I’ll have to do it again.

This shot of a path in the forest captures the quiet serenity of the day. The overhanging trees seem to form a tunnel, through which we see our destination illuminated.
This shot of a path in the forest captures the quiet serenity of the day. The overhanging trees seem to form a tunnel, through which we see our destination illuminated.
Bark is a favourite subject of mine. I love the texture and flowing lines, punctuated with knots, and in this case touches of green.
Bark is a favourite subject of mine. I love the texture and flowing lines, punctuated with knots, and in this case touches of green.
I was down on my knees, with my tripod legs extended flat to the ground, to capture this shot. I particularly wanted the circular fern to be sharp and isolated from its brethren, with as soft a background as I could manage.
I was down on my knees, with my tripod legs extended flat to the ground, to capture this shot. I particularly wanted the circular fern to be sharp and isolated from its brethren, with as soft a background as I could manage.
This was shot handheld, and since there was a slight breeze, several tries were needed to capture one with the bud in sharp focus. The three branches, evenly spaced diagonally, add to the composition.
This was shot handheld, and since there was a slight breeze, several tries were needed to capture one with the bud in sharp focus. The three branches, evenly spaced diagonally, add to the composition.
Soft, pastel, colours with a touch of red to provide a centre of interest. Arguably, it could also work with less green on the right, but I think this gentler composition suits the mood of the day.
Soft, pastel, colours with a touch of red to provide a centre of interest. Arguably, it could also work with less green on the right, but I think this gentler composition suits the mood of the day.
There were many shots like this, where the bright yellow leaves seem to add sparkle to the scene. There is some competition from patches of sky, but the yellow predominates.
There were many shots like this, where the bright yellow leaves seem to add sparkle to the scene. There is some competition from patches of sky, but the yellow predominates.
This was shot handheld while lying on the ground. I like the way the light coming from the upper left sweeps across the tip of the spiral, and how the out-of-focus swirls in the foreground add to the sense of spin.
This was shot handheld while lying on the ground. I like the way the light coming from the upper left sweeps across the tip of the spiral, and how the out-of-focus swirls in the foreground add to the sense of spin.
This is a bit of a playful shot, with the bashful fern seeming to hide from my camera. It was framed to have as unobtrusive a background as possible.
This is a bit of a playful shot, with the bashful fern seeming to hide from my camera. It was framed to have as unobtrusive a background as possible.
Here again I was lying on the ground and shooting handheld. The flower was only a couple of centimeters across, and several shots were needed to get the stamen in focus despite a slight breeze.
Here again I was lying on the ground and shooting handheld. The flower was only a couple of centimeters across, and several shots were needed to get the stamen in focus despite a slight breeze.
Gentle, pastel colours flowing amongst the verticals expressed by the trees. No real centre of interest, but I find this scene captures the serenity of the forest.
Gentle, pastel colours flowing amongst the verticals expressed by the trees. No real centre of interest, but I find this scene captures the serenity of the forest.
Shot hand-held using a wide-angle lens, this photograph places the emerging ferns in their forest context.
Shot hand-held using a wide-angle lens, this photograph places the emerging ferns in their forest context.
This is the main Chalet Loop trail taken from the entrance gate. This area was originally a tree plantation, which is why the mature trees appear in evenly spaced rows.
This is the main Chalet Loop trail taken from the entrance gate. This area was originally a tree plantation, which is why the mature trees appear in evenly spaced rows.
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