Digital, 2022.
A calm, winter scene of Lake Ontario during a sunny afternoon.
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Digital, 2022.
A lone swan stands on a frozen Lake Ontario during golden hour in winter.
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Digital, 2022.
Swans greet each other and look for food on a frozen Lake Ontario during a sunny, winter afternoon.
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Digital, 2022.
Three mallard ducks looking for food on a frozen Lake Ontario.
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Digital, 2022.
A collection of some of my favourite images from this winter season. The lake was partially frozen which gave the illusion that the swans were walking on water. I was also happy with the branches in the scene as I could use them to naturally frame the photos.
I consider these photos another example of being at the right place at the right time. For example, I thought the swans looked like they were dancing in the third image. And in the fourth, I was really pleased with the way the branches perfectly framed not only the swans approaching the viewer but the ones in the background, as well. This wintery landscape didn’t last long either, so I’m glad I took these photos when I did.
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Digital, 2022.
On January 17th, Toronto was hit with record snowfall. Some areas accumulated a whopping 60cm of snow! We definitely were snowed in at my house and I knew that there was no way I’d be going anywhere for days to come. A part of me is still dejected that I wasn’t able to get true blizzard shots but I also know it would have been unsafe to venture out. The conditions were terrible. But in the same way that an intense sunset is more likely to happen after a summer storm, the same can be said for snow storms!
I was indoors when I noticed the sky above the backyard was turning orange. The snow had lessened by that point but my heart sank to my stomach knowing that I wouldn’t be able to travel to get photos of what looked to be a promising sunset. I ran to the front of the house to look outside and sure enough, the sky was transforming into a beautiful mix of red and orange. While it wasn’t ideal, I wasn’t about wallow in self pity when I could get my winter gear on, and take photos from the street. And that’s exactly what I did. I’m so relieved that I was able to capture the beautiful sky without having to go out of my way.
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Digital, 2022.
A trio of another few of my favourite images. This frozen landscape felt so quiet and serene that I almost felt like an intruder being there. I found a spot to sit and observe the beauty around me since these aren’t sights you can experience year round. In the back of my mind, I was hoping be treated to a sunset but I didn’t want to ask for too much, either. Truthfully, with the current cloud cover, I wasn’t expecting a memorable sunset at all. But since I was already there, I figured might as well wait. Even if I got some blue hour photos, I wouldn’t have been disappointed. You won’t see it in these images but in the next just how vibrant the sunset turned out to be. The glowing horizon only added to this landscape but honestly, with ice textures like this, any time of day would yield beautiful results.
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Digital, 2022.
A cold winter day by a frozen Lake Ontario. I love the way winter and frigid weather can transform a landscape from something unassuming and typical to something mesmerizing.
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Digital, 2022.
This just might be one of my favourite photos I’ve ever taken. We found this secluded spot on a whim and I could not believe the views from here. Not only was everything beautifully frozen, but we had a nice view of the sky and sunset as well. There were tree branches everywhere and I thought they added some natural framing to the shot.
Most people would spend days like this indoors but many photographers love venturing out to see what frozen landscapes they can find. It was around -20°C on this day and I was for sure freezing my butt and fingers off. Even so, I enjoyed sitting on one of the rocks to relax and enjoy the view. If I listened closely, I could hear the sounds of ice cracking from one side of the shore to the other.
After taking a bunch of photos, I was reluctant to leave but it was very cold and the chill was starting to set in. I’m curious to see what this place looks like in the summer.
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Digital, 2022.
This spot has very quickly become one of my favourite photo taking spots. When we visited the day before, sand on the beach was still visible. There were a few branches by the shore that were covered in layers of ice, but as far as the landscape looking like a scene out of a winter wonderland, that wasn’t the case. I was in shock at how quickly everything froze over the next day. The water closest to the shore was frozen and just past that, small chunks of ice were floating in the water. If one listened closely, they would be able to hear the tinkling sounds of the ice pieces colliding with one another. The waves almost resembled slush as there was so much ice.
On the beach, there were thin shards of ice everywhere. It was so beautiful and I’ve never seen anything like it. The ice was so blue and so clear that if I didn’t know any better, I would have thought they were big pieces of beach glass.
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Gina Staios Photography 