Dick Bell and Andrew Haydon Parks

Ottawa has many lovely parks. Two nearby parks bordering the Ottawa River are Dick Bell Park and Andrew Haydon Park. Dick Bell Park is home to the Nepean Sailing Club. For much of the year, its docks are crowded with sailboats. But in the winter the sailboats are gone and the park is quiet. A long strip of land extends out into the Ottawa River to form a protected harbour for the boats. That strip is lined with trees and benches and is a beautiful vantage point for photographs. Right next door, and linked by a small bridge, is Andrew Haydon Park. This is a very popular park for city residents. It features two large ponds, a bandshell for outdoor concerts, and a small windmill. In warmer seasons it is often crowded with people, but in winter it too is quiet. Its paths and features provide lots of variety for photographs. I spent a leisurely couple of hours exploring these two parks. I brought my infrared-enabled camera to help me see these parks differently. I'm having fun learning and experimenting and seeing how far I can push this creative tool.