Hello Niagara-on-the-Lake, it’s been a while! This small town is one of my favourite places due to how quiet and quaint it is. It had been a while since we last visited so we decided to head down one weekend. It’s hard to believe these photos were taken in late October. In previous years, red and orange leaves were already in full swing everywhere. This year, it has been unseasonably warm which has prolonged the green leaves of summer. The nature lover in me is ecstatic she could finally capture a people-less photo of the gazebo but the fall foliage lover in me is disappointed she couldn’t take autumn versions of these photos. I thought back to the reds and oranges filling up my phone’s camera roll during October of last year and couldn’t help but feel disappointed. I knew eventually that the weather would cool down and that we would get red leaves but it’s very concerning that it had taken so long.
Lake Ontario looked so beautiful under the glistening sunlight. Being near water in the summer is so relaxing and can help you feel at ease. With the way the light was sparkling on the surface, it was very easy to get lost in those visuals.
I really liked how sunlight was bouncing off the green grass and leaves in this scene. It was such a quintessential summer landscape that I had to take a photo. I framed the two empty chairs in the distance between the two trees as I thought it was visually appealing. I love using scenes in nature to frame my subject whenever I have the opportunity to do so.
The last lilac blooms of the season! Aren’t they gorgeous? I’m so glad I got to photograph them in the late afternoon/early evening light. I was really happy with the way the soft warm lighting illuminated the blooms. The last photo especially is one of my all time favourites.
I’ll never forget photographing this series for a very specific reason. While I was shooting these, I kept hearing footsteps in the grass across from me. I wasn’t able to see what it was since the lilac tree was pretty tall and there was a tombstone blocking my way. I thought nothing of it and automatically assumed it was my mom, playing a joke and coming to sneak up on me. I told myself not to jump when she inevitably would shout “boo!” Except… it never came.
I finished taking my photos and walked back to where my dad and brother were standing a little ways away. I asked my dad where mom was because I kept hearing those footsteps. While asking, I turned around and there she was, behind me, a few metres away. My dad joked that maybe it was a ghost, curious, and wanting to see my photos. I laughed it off and grabbed my mom, wanting to show her the pretty lilac tree. Only… to be greeted by a coyote!
Yeah, that’s right!
He was a few feet away from us (thanks for social distancing!) and turned around to look at us before trotting off. At first we thought he was someone’s pet but there was no leash and no other human around and he did not look like a domesticated dog. We’ve seen another coyote in the area but that one was very malnourished looking with a damaged tail. This animal was big and clearly capable.
I wanted to take my phone out to record everything but I was rooted to the ground. My brain shut down, total deer in headlights mode, until my brother yelled at us to get to the car and to go now. So that’s what we did, being careful that we weren’t in eyeshot of the coyote. We’ve visited a few times since then and we haven’t seen the coyote since. It’s funny to think that while I was taking photos and thinking it was my mom playing a joke on me, it was actually a coyote very close by.
Dandelions in sunlight. Yes, they’re weeds but they’re so gorgeous when the sun shines down on them. There were so many and their tops were illuminated so nicely and looked like tiny little halos.
Another brilliant Toronto sunset. Sunsets like these near the end of winter feel like a light at the end of the tunnel. I personally don’t mind winter and I love the photographic opportunities, but by the end, it really starts to eat away at me. I look forward to the longer days and the sunsets at 8 or 9pm. We still have a little while longer to go but with vivid skies like these, the wait feels a little easier.
Photos of the sky lighting up across Riverdale Park. I just love when you get that feeling that you’re going to get a crazy sky and Mother Nature decides to give one to you. It’s not something that always happens so I’m happy whenever it does!
We had an intense golden hour this afternoon and I just had a feeling it would translate into a memorable sunset. The sky went from yellow to orange to red in the span of a few minutes.
Gina Staios Photography 