A photographic journal by Brian Mazur

Limerick Forest

Limerick Forest is one of my favourite venues for nature photography, and I am fortunate to have a friend who lets me know when special events take place there. One such event is the winter Open House, which is a family-friendly day with activities for all ages. While I mainly come for photography, I have been known to cook the occasional hot dog over the outdoor fire pit that they set up. On this particular day, I made no use of the fire pit but spent all my time wandering the trails taking photographs, since my friends and I were planning to have a nice lunch together at a nearby restaurant. From the Interpretive Centre, I took the Lookout Trail, then followed the Chalet Loop to the Boardwalk, then continued further on the Chalet Loop, and finally took the Alf Campbell trail back to the Interpretive Centre. Basically, I walked the entire periphery of the area North of the Interpretive Centre. These are trails that I know well and have walked at all times of the ​year. Even at the same time of year, what you find will vary depending on the weather conditions, but I’ve always found interesting things to photograph.

A sunny day in the forest offers many shots like this one. Here, I tried to position myself so that the main verticals were separated from each other and provided an implied diagonal from lower left to upper right.
A sunny day in the forest offers many shots like this one. Here, I tried to position myself so that the main verticals were separated from each other and provided an implied diagonal from lower left to upper right.
This backlit tree seemed eager to have it's photo taken, and I was happy to oblige, and use the trail and trail marker as balancing elements.
This backlit tree seemed eager to have it's photo taken, and I was happy to oblige, and use the trail and trail marker as balancing elements.
Something made a nice spiral path leading to the snow-covered mound, and I was happy to take advantage of these in this photo.
Something made a nice spiral path leading to the snow-covered mound, and I was happy to take advantage of these in this photo.
I've photographed this tree many times, but because the pond was frozen over, this is the first time I was able to walk out onto the pond to get this particular perspective.
I've photographed this tree many times, but because the pond was frozen over, this is the first time I was able to walk out onto the pond to get this particular perspective.
I often need to get on my knees or belly to frame the shot I want. The story here is to contrast the young tree with the mature tree that it may one day become.
I often need to get on my knees or belly to frame the shot I want. The story here is to contrast the young tree with the mature tree that it may one day become.
I took several shots of this, some closer and others, like this one, a bit further away, trying to minimize the detail in the background.
I took several shots of this, some closer and others, like this one, a bit further away, trying to minimize the detail in the background.
Fortunately there wasn't much wind while I worked on getting this shot, so I could concentrate on the framing and minimizing distractions in the background.
Fortunately there wasn't much wind while I worked on getting this shot, so I could concentrate on the framing and minimizing distractions in the background.
This was a fun shot to take and I took several based on the same idea. I was looking in particular at the position of the neighbouring trees in the frame and how the sky surrounded the main subject.
This was a fun shot to take and I took several based on the same idea. I was looking in particular at the position of the neighbouring trees in the frame and how the sky surrounded the main subject.
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