Feature Photo
The Story Behind the Photo
Sunset over Hay Bay, Fathom Five National Marine Park
Tobermory, OntarioI recently sold my beloved house in Tobermory and moved into a bigger place, a bit farther south. The new place is a dream for me, with a huge home office and a ruggedly diverse yard made for a nature photographer - so it's been an exciting move. But leaving the old place was hard to do - it was my first house, actually a small waterfront cottage I'd turned into a home. Located on a quiet protected bay of Lake Huron, the cottage wasn't much to speak of, but the shoreline was spectacular. I accumulated many fond memories at that place: sipping coffee in the mornings as migrating warblers zipped past, glasses of red wine by campfire as loons called in the distance, and even hosting a few raucous social occasions that ended with skinny dips in the bay. But nothing compared to the sunsets.
I lived on Hay Bay for several years and was always mesmerized by the sunsets out over Lake Huron. Many evenings I'd paddle my kayak out, watch the sun drop below the horizon and find my way back to the yard by the afterglow in the sky. Most of the time I went without my camera, so I could relax and enjoy the experience without thinking about apertures or shutter speeds.
Before moving, I wanted photos that captured the essence of Hay Bay sunsets. I spent more time on that shore than ever, watching the sky for the right conditions. One night I noticed a pinkish glow from my living room window and went to check it out. The sun had already set, but it lit the sky afire with vibrant colors. I ran to the house, grabbed my camera and was back shooting in no time. As the wind blew clouds across the sky, I waited to frame them at this moment. The photo is one of my all-time favorites, because it takes me back to those evenings I spent on that shoreline, watching the sunset over the bay.
Technicals:
Canon EOS 1N, EF 70-200 f/2.8 IS; Fuji Velvia 50, Singh-Ray Color Intensifier
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