#mycanadianaffair

[malloryontravel]

"Small boats can lead to epic adventures" This small vessel, little more than a rowing boat has a great name; S.S. Minnow, worthy of any craft found in the harbours of #newfoundland and #labrador This is a region with a rich seafaring heritage, and boats still head out every day, from even the tiniest wharf. Whether it's to check and set lobster pots, fish with homemade handlines from a traditional wooden dory or trawl from a commercial vessel. The pretty harbour of #ferryland is photogenic, a collection of small to medium sized boats and wooden huts, with rickety looking jetties clustered around a short breakwater. Driving through the village, towards the tiny port, it's appeal is immediately apparent. However, it's when I was looking down on it, on the return trip from the lighthouse that the full beauty of this picturesque coastal town became achingly pretty. The scene could easily have graced any postcard or chocolate box. Ferryland is about an hours drive from #stjohns and along with several other attractive towns along the way is worth making the excursion. Driving around the full #irishloop despite the many crater sized potholes along the way is an even more worthwhile mini road trip. Possibly stopping overnight at #trespassey or #stvincents with its lovely beach and the possibility of seeing humpback whales. It's a route dotted with picturesque harbour towns and pretty lighthouses, making detours to take them in is part of the pleasure. I've often expressed my fondness for small fishing boats, they seem to scream adventure to me. It's hard to imagine the stories this little boat could tell, about the people that have gone out beyond the breakwater in her and their adventures. #explorenl #explorecanada #mycanadianaffair TIP: Even when faced with a picturesque harbour or lovely landscape, it's often worth taking some detail shots. Providing there is something of genuine interest in the image, be creative, use artistic depth of field or make use of lead lines. These are techniques which will add to your photography and make it more appealing and interesting. To see more images from Newfoundland and Labrador please take a look at my feed. (at Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador)

[thequirkycoach]

Beautiful sunset this eve on Parliament Hill overlooking #Ottawa River 🌅 After two days of heavy rain and grey clouds it was great to see the sun again! Today I visited @uppercanadavill Upper Canada Village with Cindy aka @travelblissnow learning more about Canada's history. When we got back to Ottawa we walked around the Parliament buildings then beside the Rideau Canal. Took this photo just beyond the Chateau @fairmontlaurier about half an hour before sunset ... #mycanadianaffair #explorecanada #igersottawa (at Parliament Hill)

[davebrettuk]

Welcome to Blue Rocks, Nova Scotia. A tiny fishing community which can be found in the county of Lunenburg. Once this area was most popular for fishing has since moved into becoming a popular kayaking location and spot for artists. Many locations to explore around Nova Scotia. #MyCanadianAffair #experienceTransat #ExploreCanada #visitnovascotia #Canada150 #Canada #Halifax (at Blue Rocks, Nova Scotia)

[hloblog]

Today @shangrila_van organised a day trip to Whistler for us which included canoeing down the river (🛶so much fun), scenic flights, lunch... the works!!! To say it was amazing would be something of an understatement. This photo is from our return journey from Whistler back to Vancouver where we got to see so many amazing sights - like this volcano which froze over shortly after exposure leaving it with a flat top. Oh, there were also frozen in the mountains, waterfall on huge cliffs and so much more. 😍 🇨🇦 #ExploreCanada #MyCanadianAffair #ExploreBC (at Whistler, Canada)

[malloryontravel]

"One of nature's miracles, turning freshwater into a floating fortress of ice" The grandest of designs, an iceberg, carved from a Greenland ice field and sculpted by time and the elements. Drifting slowly on the ocean currents, having travelled more than 2,000 kilometres, ramparts forged from ice, the majority of it's mass invisible underwater. It continues along #icebergalley following the coastline, pausing in some bays, speeding past a few more, while ignoring others completely. This one grounded just off #pettyharbour a short drive from #stjohns in #newfoundland and #labrador my friends @islandroomspettyharbour took me out to visit it twice. An especially attractive berg, which the following day shifted and the large 'turret' to the right broke away. This left several smaller satellite bergs amid a floating boulder field, made up of thousands of ice rocks. They were like meteors in the asteroid belt, just beyond a gas giant planet. I spent most of my time when iceberg chasing, seeking bergs with some foreground interest, something else in the shot to provide additional interest. Old houses, horses, lighthouses, even a small cemetery. This berg however, is especially beautiful, it deserved my complete attention. Any distraction would not only be superfluous, it would be shameful. #icebergsnl #explorenl #explorecanada #mycanadianaffair There isn't any artist more talented than nature, no architect builds more impressive structures, or designer with greater flair. TIP: Photography at sea is both fun and challenging, especially in a small boat. Even in a gentle swell, the boat will pitch and roll, making composition and maintaining a straight horizon a tough call. Fast shutter speeds and continuous shooting can help, but I find choosing the right moment as the boat seems to pause between waves works best. To see more #travelphotography follow the link in my bio. (at Petty Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador)

[malloryontravel]

"The first sunrise" #capespear is apparently the most easterly point on the North American continent, it's also therefore the first place in #canada where the land feels the warmth of the rising sun each day! That makes it pretty special in my book. #Sunrise is just after 5 am, so to catch the first light it's necessary to be up early. When I arrived the car park was empty, but making my way to the old #capespearlighthouse a steady stream of cars began to arrive. There was even a bus! Even so up at tne original lighthouse I was all alone even as the fiery globe climbed into the sky. It chased back the dark shroud of night, providing texture, depth and warmth to the landscape. The land beginning to glow golden in even the deepest cleft and crevice of the heather covered ground. The old lighthouse is no longer in use, and is now a museum, most people seemed to be hanging around the newer automatic lighthouse. They're both photogenic, but the original is always best right? The morning was clear, bright and still, but off in the distance around Petty Harbour there was a heavy fog, forming a temperature conversion, the hilltop appearing like an island in an ethereal sea. Wisps of thin mist drifted across the ocean, mixing with the fine spray of the crashing waves below to form a slight haze. I was free to move around unhindered, photographing both beacons from several angles. There was even plenty of time to stand back between exposures and enjoy natures breath-taking display. Cape Spear is a short drive from #stjohns and witnessing the first sunrise in North America is a must do! #explorenl #explorecanada #mycanadianaffair TIP: Photographing sunrise in an unfamiliar destination requires an early arrival to find the best vantage point. Walk around, look for the best angles and know where the sun will rise, several such as TPE can help with this. Better still, if time allows do a recce the day before and ask advice from local photographers. To see more beautiful sunrises and sunsets follow the link in my bio. (at Cape Spear)

[davebrettuk]

Time to fly! Next stop Canada with Air Transat. For the next week I'll be exploring Halifax, Nova Scotia for a fun action packed week of adventure. Be sure to follow along the journey. Excited to be returning to Canada! Let's go :D Any tips for Halifax? 🇨🇦✈️ #MyCanadianAffair #ExploreCanada #Canada150 #Canada #Halifax (at Gatwick Airport)

[thequirkycoach]

A kaleidoscope of poetry in architecture. The glass and metal roof of the National Gallery of #Canada in #Ottawa. This is one of the most beautiful buildinds I've see a museum housed in. It glitters and shimmers in light and shade and is an architectural destination in its own right. Quirky #Travel Tip: the gallery houses a unique collection of Canadian artworks from intricate Inuit carvings to contemporary paintings and enormous sculptures #explorecanada #myottawa #mycanadianaffair (at National Gallery of Canada)

[malloryontravel]

"Fire and ice when the sun shines on #icebergalley " Early evening in the picturesque village of #ferryland in #newfoundland and #labrador as the light of the sun begins to soften, and turn the grass tussocks, rocks and boats of the harbour golden. I'd heard plenty about this pretty harbour town, several people recommending it, but I became increasingly excited as the coastal hamlet came into view. Aside from the unbelievably pretty harbour, guarded by a cute, little breakwater, lined by aging, old wooden huts and with a tiny flotilla of small boats moored along the wharf, a large iceberg was clearly visible in the bay beyond the lighthouse. Lighthouses are almost always photogenic, making great subjects for photographers, and the Ferryland lighthouse isn't an exception. There is a rough road up to the headland where the beacon is located, and it's not possible to drive, requiring a ten minute walk to get there. Seated on a relatively small rocky promontary, the pretty lighthouse stands proud. A guiding light which has kept generations of fishermen and sailors rounding the cape safe. The iceberg is actually quite large, but unfortunately due to little space to manoeuvre, it appears dwarfed by the lighthouse. As the beacon obviously stands on the highest point, moving further back would have required me to stand on lower ground. From here it wasn't possible to even see the iceberg, let alone forshorten the view with a longer lens. Lighthouses and icebergs seem symbolic of Newfoundland and Labrador, the rocky coastline is dotted with both. A stream of icebergs from Greenland drift steadily south, occasionally 'grounding' just off shore. With the sun shining strongly in the sky, this region can certainly be described as a land of fire and ice. #explorenl #icebergsnl #explorecanada #mycanadianaffair TIP: Composition is probably one of the most important factors involved in photography, especially landscape photography. At times the 'rules' of composition aren't possible, attempting to include all the important elements, it's necessary to make compromises and ignore any rules. Experiment and move around to ensure all the essential elements are included. (at Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador)

[thequirkycoach]

Fancy reading in stunningly beautiful #Canada Parliament Library? This glorious #library is the only building in the main Parliament in #Ottawa that survived the Great Fire of 1912. It is lovely inside and out and has been meticulously restored using plans from the original architects. It's octagonal with wrought iron railings and gilded decoration. Utterly divine - probably the most splendid building in Canada 🇨🇦😀🇨🇦 Quirky #Travel Tip: there are FREE guided tours of Parliament every day. Book at Tourist Info office opposite. On summer weekends and during #Canada150 celebrations book early for English-speaking tours as they're very popular. It's a fascinating tour. #myottawa #explorecanada #mycanadianaffair #exoeriencetransat (at Parliament of Canada)

[malloryontravel]

"Birds of a feather, spectacular when they stick together" #stmarysecologicalreserve is smelled before it is seen, with literally many thousands of Northern #gannets nesting on #birdrock along with other species. Stepping out of the visitor centre, nearly a kilometre from the colony, immediately it's presence becomes obvious. It is the largest colony of Northern Gannets in #newfoundland and #labrador along with common murres, thick-billed murres, two species of cormorant, razorbills, black-legged kittiwakes and several other species including eider ducks. When the capelin move inshore, it is also a good place for spotting humpback whales from the shore. It's not only about the birds, it is an extremely important ecological site for a variety of arctic species of flora and fauna. Some sub-arctic plants only grow within a few metres of the high cliffs which fall into the ocean below. The temperature and climate conditions can change dramatically within a narrow band which runs parallel to the shore. The first view of "Bird Rock" is from a distance, thousands of tiny white dots, perched on the impressive rocks, which climbs steeply right out of the Atlantic Ocean. The gannet colony is spectacular, and at the viewing point is only a few metres away, providing an uninterupted view of life in the colony. The most dominant and aggressive birds nest at the highest point and centre of the colony. The birds appeared to still be nest building when I visited in mid June, the birds returning with bills filled with grass. There was often some ill-tempered squabbling when landing birds strayed too close to the wrong nest. However, gannets nest for life and there were plenty of touching displays of affection when returning partners arrived, often displaying with 'bill fencing' to welcome partners home. This is my kind of UNESCO site. #explorenl #explorecanada #mycanadianaffair TIP: Photographing fast moving gannets on the wing can be challenging. Choose a shutter speed which is suitably fast, a higher ISO and wide aperture will help. Set to continuance shooting mode, with a wide focal point and track the birds as they fly past. (at Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve)

[malloryontravel]

"Some ice with your colourful beach huts Sir?" If you've seen any literature from #newfoundland and #labrador or browsed their website, it's likely you'll have already seen these iconic beach huts at Cavendish, Trinity Bay, on the Avalon Peninsula. They are popular with professional photographers and tourists with cameras, their vibrant colours reflecting well in the pond they are located by. On a still day (I'm assured there are a few) the reflections will appear perfect. We'd been following the pucturesque #baccalieutrail from our earlier starting point in #graceharbour chasing #icebergsnl The trail runs from Conception Bay to Trinity Bay and is dotted with dozens of pretty little harbours, along the many miles of stunning, often spectacular coastline; it's a landscape photographers dream. It was especially exciting to discover an iceberg floating just offshore, adding a different element to the usual image. I couldn't wait to jump out if the car and find an angle to fit both elements into the composition. The berg is actually relatively large, but due to distance and fitting all three huts in, it looks dwarfed by them, still it's pretty cool. I was very pleased to find it there, we'd seen dozens of bergs already, including a growler which had rolled right in front of me, but finding a subject which made them appear more interesting and slightly different had been a challenge. Iceberg alley is in full flow right now though, earlier we had witnessed probably ten sizeable bergs in one bay alone. A must stop off on the Baccalieu Trail is @GrateCoveStudios a quirky but great place to dine, with a mix of creole and korean dishes, very tasty. #explorenl #explorecanada #mycanadianaffair TIP: #travelphotography is often a matter of luck, capturing one of those iconic views in exactly the right conditions can be down to good fortune. We usually only get one chance to visit a location, those amazing shots are often taken by residents or photographers based there for sometime. Don't beat yourself up that you haven't got the 'money shot', do the best you can and enjoy the experience. To see more #photography from Newfoundland and Labrador follow the link in the (at Cavendish, Newfoundland And Labrador)

[davebrettuk]

Take me back to Nova Scotia, Canada. 😍🇨🇦 Such a stunning place. #MyCanadianAffair #experienceTransat #ExploreCanada #visitnovascotia #canada #Canada150 (at Halls Harbour, Nova Scotia)

[davebrettuk]

A visit to Nova Scotia wouldn't be complete without experiencing an authentic lobster dinner from a local lobster pound. Pam a local and lobster enthusiast recommended Halls harbour as the perfect spot for making it all happen. Lobster fisherman bring their catch here on a daily basis to get sorted and stored. Most of the catch get shipped all around the world to far places such as Belguim and South Korea. However, visitors to Nova Scotia don't have to go that extra mile. You can simply cook to order your pick straight from the pound on the spot. Something which is unique to the area. Here we ordered a medium sized catch along with a side of lobster poutine. Of course lobster bib and hot butter included. You simply can't beat this local dinning experience and it's a must on your next visit to Nova Scotia. #MyCanadianAffair #experienceTransat #ExploreCanada #visitnovascotia #Canada150 #Canada #Halifax #lobster (at Halls Harbour, Nova Scotia)

[malloryontravel]

"The best views deserve to be framed" Rolling out of the big, comfortable bed @rosemanorinn to take some shots of the lovely town of #harbourgrace took every ounce of will power I possess, which admittedly, isn't much! Still it was a beautiful morning, and a lovely, photogenic town, with plenty of great subjects to choose from. The working harbour, pretty little houses typical of #newfoundland and these delapidated, but interesting fishing jetties, which I'd spotted the previous evening arriving in the town. It hadn't been necessary to get up at ridiculous hour, as it would take about an hour after sunrise for the golden light of the early sun to start lighting up the buildings of the town. The only people up and about appeared to be a couple of lobster fishermen checking their pots, a dog walker and a mature gentleman cycling up and down the main road Clambering over the unstable rocks of the beach and the crumbling wood of the closest jetty to get some shots, I found myself regretting the option to venture out in flip-flops. The sun was now beginning to climb higher into the sky and land and water had a golden glow about it. With clear skies and a wealth of subjects, I was spoiled for choice, the only issue was getting back in time for breakfast. The colourful houses, often with equally vibrant gardens were blooming beautiful, but it was the jetties which really caught my eye, I was drawn towards them like a moth to a flame. The old wooden structures appeared almost desicated, the wood dried and fragile, wide cracks running through every cross strut. Shooting a variety of shots, but looking underneath one towards the other, forming a frame appealed to me most, so here it is. #explorenl #explorecanada #mycanadianaffair TIP: It may seem counter-productive to skip sunrise and head out an hour later, but sometimes it can be worthwhile depending on the objectives of the shoot. Where images of the architecture or sights around a town is the plan, waiting until the sun starts to hit them can prove productive. Plus you get a little longer in bed! To see more #travelphotography from Newfoundland and #labrador follow the link in my bio (at Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador)

[malloryontravel]

"The wisest of all sleep during the day, and enjoy the nightlife" Towards the end of a planned road trip following the pictureseque Irish Loop I visited the Salmonier Nature Reserve, where I saw moose, caribou and of course this owl. It should be emphasised this is not a zoo! All animals are rescue animals, which are eventually planned for return to the wild once fully rehabilitated. The animals are kept in enclosures, but their surroundings are natural, with plenty of space. It's worth noting that there is also plenty of places to hide, and these are wild animals, the very shy among them will be difficult to spot if at all. On my visit, neither of the fox breeds, the lynx, marten, beaver and mink were invisible. But hey it's free! Most visitors were families, and the kids just seemed excited to be following the boardwalk through the forest, with the odd chance of seeing a cute critter. One little girl insisted they weren't moose, shouting loudly and insistently at her dad "It's a donkey!" This is a great horned owl, that was busily grabbing forty winks as I approached. My elephant sized footfall obviously disturbed him, as his head swung around swiftly, eyes opening to check out the clumsy buffoon disturbing him. I had to be quick to get the shot, but don't think it turned out too badly The reserve is a cool stop off if travelling around the Avalon Penisula taking around an hour to walk. #explorenl #explorecanada #mycanadianaffair #canadawild TIP: Wildlife is unpredictable, difficult to find and often quick to move. Nature reserves like Salmonier may not be truly wild, but they are often tne best opportunity to capture wildlife shots in natural surroundings, especially when time is limited. To see more #wildlifephotography in natural surroundings follow the link in my bio (at Holyrood, Newfoundland and Labrador)