Digital, 2021.
I really loved the contrast between the tree and the sky. I thought the shape of the tree and its branches were interesting so I paired them with the clear backdrop of the sky to accentuate them more.
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Digital, 2021.
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.
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Digital, 2021.
It’s been a month since this photo was taken and I still wish I could have seen it at one of my usual sunset viewing locations. Even more so since I had a hunch that that evening’s sunset would be on the more intense side. That afternoon, the clouds had that hazy quality to them that I’ve begun to assciciate with vibrant and intense sunsets. In the evening, I looked out the kitchen window just before sunset and was simultaneously elated and disappointed with what I saw. So I grabbed my camera and rushed outside to the backyard to photograph whatever I could. I’m thankful I was able to capture something, at least. It always becomes a little bit more difficult for me to go sunset chasing when the days get shorter and shorter. Winter hasn’t even begun yet and here I am missing those long, warm, summer nights.
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Digital, 2021.
A cloudy day spent at Jack Darling Memorial Park. Even though it was cloudy and a little hazy, I’m pleased with how these photos came out. Personally, I think sunny days are usually boring and unflattering in regards to outdoor photography so I love taking photos when it’s cloudy. I’m looking forward to hopefully visiting this park again once the leaves start to change colour.
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Digital, 2021.
Rouge River has quickly become one of my favourite places for photography. This was my first visit during summer and I was interested to see what I would be able to photograph. All my previous visits have been during the fall to capture the leaves changing colour so I was glad to be getting a different perspective to the area.
Right from the get-go, what captivated me were all the lily pads! It was so surreal seeing that many all at once. When I first saw them at a distance, I wasn’t quite sure what I was looking at. I thought maybe they were overgrown plants that had somehow managed to grow above the water. Judging by the reactions of other people there, I wasn’t alone in my captivation and wonder.
These were also taken when the skies were particularly hazy. In my opinion, this contributed to the landscape looking even more ethereal. The lighting was so soft and there was light layer of fog by the horizon in the distance. Even with a cloudy sky, the sunlight still shone through and bathed everything in a beautiful golden light at times.
I’m very pleased I got to experience a scene like this with my own two eyes and I’m thankful I was able to take photos of it as well. I hope to eventually visit during winter, too.
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Digital, 2021.
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.
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Digital, 2021.
Such an intense summer sunset!! I was at my usual spot waiting for sundown, but unfortunately the sky remained dull and unchanging. So I decided to leave. I had a feeling that I should have stayed but I didn’t listen to my gut as I should have. There have been many other times where I’d leave thinking nothing would happen only for the sky to start changing minutes later. Sunsets can really be so unpredictable sometimes.
On the drive home, I noticed the sky turning pink. And this wasn’t your standard soft sunset pink. This was a bright pink that was only getting more intense by the moment. We pulled over by a nearby park and I dashed out to photograph whatever I could. Sunsets like these don’t happen every day and I felt so humbled being alone surrounded by a giant expanse of vibrant sky. The energy felt electric and you could smell the incoming rain in the air.
The lighting here was tricky and it made me realize that I really need a new camera that handles low light situations better. I feel regret when I think about the photos that didn’t turn out but there was nothing I could do, both in the moment and in postproduction.
When I felt like I had all of the photos I wanted, the sunset was also starting to fade. Then, there was a sudden shift in the air and I could hear the rain start to make its way in. I grabbed my belongings and made a mad dash to the car before the rain could really get bad. Once I closed the car door, the skies opened up and it just started pouring. Good timing on my part!
What I love about sunsets like these is how they become the talk of the town for the next few days. I really enjoy going on Instagram to see all the other photos my fellow Torontonians have taken. While Toronto is definitely blessed with its fair share of gorgeous sunsets, ones like these don’t happen often and they get all us nature lovers excited!
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Digital, 2021.
First official day of summer, here we are! After what felt like forever, it has arrived! I’m not quite sure what kind of flowers these are, but they are so pretty! The tree pictured in the first two photos was a lot bigger than it looks. I felt so calm and at peace standing underneath it. It almost felt like a whole different world where sound was muted and the sunlight peeking through the leaves was warm and bright.
And like most floral related things this year, when we came back a week later, most of the flowers had sadly already dried up.
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Digital, 2021.
Close up photos of pine needles during spring. I debated on what colour scheme I should go for for this set and ultimately decided on a cool aqua tone instead of a warm green one (what they actually looked like). I wanted to experiment with colour a bit and I really like the way these turned out!
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Digital, 2021.
The Toronto skyline during late spring and the skyline during twilight. The sunset wasn’t as intense as I was hoping but I’m really happy with the skyline shot. I looked over and saw all the pretty white flowers and I knew I had to snap a photo. It was such a spring scene and it made me so happy seeing it in person. We came back around a week later and the hill was completely grassy, no white flowers. Just goes to show how anything in spring disappears so quick if you aren’t fast enough.
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Gina Staios Photography 