Digital, 2022.
A sunny, winter day spent by the lake at Humber Bay Park. Usually, I’m not a fan of sunny days for photography as the lighting can wash objects out and cast harsh shadows. But on this day, the sunlight turned the lake a gorgeous shade of blue and I loved the backdrop the clear, blue sky provided.
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Digital, 2022.
A purple and pink sky during sunset after a snowstorm in Toronto. I loved the way the sky contrasted against the trees in shadow.
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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 row of swans swim across a partially frozen Lake Ontario during golden hour on a chilly, winter evening.
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Digital, 2022.
If you read my previous post, I mentioned that my next would contain the sunset from that same evening. What I was expecting was definitely not a sunset this vibrant. I ended up shooting these photos at another spot a little ways off. To get down to the shore to achieve that, I had to go down a steep and snowy hill. I’m so glad I wasn’t alone as that made the trek easier lest I fall on my face into the snow.
When I looked up at the landscape before me, I felt like the main character in a movie. It was so unreal, I couldn’t believe it. I was also really relieved I had this vantage point, as I wouldn’t have been able to see the sunset in its entirety like this had I stayed in my original spot. Shout out to my brother who found this area while I stayed to take photos in the other one!
When the swans came out to play, I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. A vibrant sunset and two swans playing around in the lake? How lucky was I? I really wanted to get a photo of the both of them above the water but it’s almost as if they were teasing me. When one would resurface, the other would lower its head into the water. After a while, the sunset faded enough that there was no point in waiting any longer. But even so, I was far from disappointed!
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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.
The full moon shines bright over a blue and pink gradient sky during sunset.
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Digital, 2022.
When it comes to getting the right photograph, sometimes you have to be at the right place at the right time. This was one of those instances. The sun was starting to set and I was so excited at the possibility of seeing a beautiful sunset while here. The lighting began to turn a lovely purple-pink colour and with the reflections on the blue ice, the scene looked magical. When I looked off to the side, I noticed a group of four swans swimming to the icy shore. They kept coming closer and I kept taking photos. Eventually, they swam off to the side but I was extremely happy and eager to get home to see the outcome of my shots.
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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.
Birds glide peacefully along Lake Ontario during a quiet, orange sunset.
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Gina Staios Photography 