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Lac Pierre at Fall


Lac Pierre at Fall
Photo Information
Copyright: Francine Malo (NinaM) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 655 W: 0 N: 1623] (5300)
Genre: Landscapes
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2003-10
Categories: Water Plants
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-02-06 7:45
Viewed: 755
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 62
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
It seems I am exploring water these days, maybe is it because it is still snowing, the nicest snow there is: big big snowflakes falling straight on the ground, without wind, covering the snow already piled up everywhere in the village. I'll take some pictures to show you, we are getting litterally covered in snow.

I am posting this picture for you, one that I took many years ago with a Canon Rebel 2000 and a 75-300mm. lens. I don't have any other data except that I remember well this was Thanksgiving weekend, my Love was sick with a cold, and those Canadian Geese stayed at the Lake for two week-ends. They were a flock of about 30 of them and it's the only time Canadian Geese stopped at the lake since I live here.

Thanksgiving is usually a time of the year absolutely fantastic at the lake. The weather gets colder and the morning mist on the lake is very thick, giving it an eerie feeling. I spent that week-end photographing the geese very early in the morning because it was absolutely unreal in the fog. In this post you can tell the fog has left and the sun is already risen. This is one of the most fabulous photo shooting weekend in my life, I was in a grace state all throughout!

I scanned the negative with a little scanner made for negatives and slides, which is cheap but does the work fair enough. There is a lot of noise so I decided to use Neat Image but I think it does render the picture too soft.

So here is the Lac Pierre at fall for you. Every season brings its beauty and fall is my favourite because of the trees, the fog and all the migrating birds stopping by. Lac Pierre is a small lake, about 1.5km. long by half a kilometer wide. There is a small island on it, with a house built and the only way to reach there is by boat. That's where the merlin stayed for three years. Now it is gone.

You can find otters, blue herons, kingfishers and all the usual birds like crows and passerines. Birds of prey are very often seen scanning the lake underneath looking for fish. Migration time is the best, it brings the ospreys and sometimes there are 5 to 8 of them plunging in the water. They nest north of St-Alphonse, close to St-Michel-des-Saints, a one hour ride from here. So I can observe them in spring and at fall.

One day, I was kayaking and the merlin flew over my head, really fast, and caught a bird in flight. Impressive.

There is also a couple of loons every year. When I sleep, I sometimes wake up to their call. It's the most extraordinary sound to wake up to. They never have any chicks because there is too much human turmoil on the lake, they are sterile. Loons are a very vulnerable species because of that, people start living close to lakes more and more and the loons don't reproduce anymore.

We live on the other side of the street, not straight on the lake. Our house is built close to it and many years ago when the trees were not there, one could see the lake from here. It was a cow farm here. I walk about 150 feet, I cross the street and there is the public beach where I can bring my kayak and enjoy the lake.

When we started coming here, I was impressed by the lake and the nature around, it totally impregnated me to the point that I would dream of the lake during winter, its water feeling like velvet on my body, the smell of it, made out of algua, fish and fresh water. It was one of the most intense feeling I ever had and recalling it today for you is fantastic, I miss being immersed in it and letting myself float. It is strange but I feel very rich, as if I was owning a domain, just because of the proximity of the lake and all the nature surrounding it. Richness is not always calculated with dollars. Can you imagine how the First Nations people felt...

Lac Pierre is part of a series of lakes in St-Alphonse all connected, one flowing into the other one by a hydrographic pattern, the highest falling to the next that's lower, etc. In fact I don't know where they deverse. There are about 20 lakes in St-Alphonse. the northern part of North America is like a gruyere cheese of lakes, ponds, rivers. That is why hydro-electricity is the main source of energy here. They build big dams up north, inundating whole areas of wild life to be able to sell electricity to the Americans...

I could go on and on talking to you about Lac Pierre, the water and all its shapes.

Some lakes in Quebec are now infested with blue algua which is toxic to humans. It is spreading in an alarming way and now the municipalities are taking means to stop the problem by having laws and rules revised. Phosphates in soap and the nude shores of the lakes are the source of the blue algua, warming the water of the lakes. People living by a lake will now have to naturalize the shore with indigenous plants in order to freshen the water 15 metres long.

Plus, starting at spring, the owners of boats will have to ask for a licence to have the right to go on the lake. They will pay for it, will pay more for a second boat and it stops there. If there are visitors with a boat, the boat will have to be inspected, cleaned out before it is put in the water. This is fine but who will apply those rules?

I stop here to let you contemplate those beautiful birds on this beautiful small lake, without blue algua. Let's hope it'll be forever like this.

Francine
jusninasirun, inked, Jamesp, CeltickRanger, eqshannon, Arjun, earthtraveler, dejo, Adanac, ramthakur, joey, marhowie, taba, Miss_Piggy has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Francise,

Very nice and pristine atmosphere demonstrated by this composition. It is a far cry from your daily doze of snow. I like the whole perspective with the foliage protruding into the water hiding part of it against the stunning autumn color of the trees.


Best regards and well done.

Jusni

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1305 W: 0 N: 5107] (15234)
  • [2008-02-06 8:09]

Hi Francine

Good composition and excellent note. The colours are superb and I really like the misty tones at the rear of the lake.

James

  • Great 
  • inked Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 134 W: 0 N: 230] (694)
  • [2008-02-06 8:11]

hi Francine,
nice one to pull out of the archives. really nice colors in the trees reflecting on the water that grabbed my attention. beautiful lake. great work. tfs
Gethin

bonjour Francine

quelle belle photographie automnale que tu nous présente, WOW !
j'aime que ta photo soit en 2 tons, l'avant-plan aux couleurs
automnale et l'arrière-plan avec ce brume automnale,
cela donne une autre dimension à ton image avec
un profondeur dans l'image, et les oies apportent la touche finale
à cette très belle composition automnale, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1159 W: 255 N: 2639] (11925)
  • [2008-02-06 8:59]

Hi Francine,

A nice composition with great autumn colors,well composed and of good quality as it is a scanned picture,tfs and hope the weather will improve a bit,after snow comes sunshine,

Regards,
Paul

Good for you! It looks like a painting...truly does and all sorts of added nuances..added to your well thought out notes, and by the way I must add, your well thought out critiques as well, which is a highly prized thing to receive from a thoughtful mind!
Bob

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1812 W: 29 N: 5246] (17188)
  • [2008-02-06 9:25]

Hi Francine,
Wonderful shot and I love the natural environment and the ambience very much. The red leaves, the mist and the playful swans add much interest. Excellent POV and very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Hi Francine,
Lovely colorful fall scene. The composition is nicely done.
The birch with the red maple and then mixed with the evergreens is a treat for the eyes. I like the misty softness of this image also. Well done
Richard

Hello Francine
(thanks for your reply to your picture of yesterday)
As for your picture..I am a lover of lakes as they harbour nature nature all around the waters edge..above..on the surface..and then below the surface..They are an ecosystem in thier own right..You have captured this natural beauty perfectly with the mist as only it can lay over water..
Lovely note..(I am having to put the kettle on now and make a cuppa to read your lovely notes!!)
My Best Regards
Paul

  • Great 
  • jesst Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 371 W: 0 N: 164] (2244)
  • [2008-02-06 10:49]

Really beautiful and quiet place. Wonderful birds and wonderful picture, thanks

That is a beautiful lake with wonderful fall colors. It seems very serene. Can't wait for the snow photos. TFS

Fantastic view!
I love it!

Congratulations for this beautiful picture.
Luca

Francine,

Great little place you have found here,
Lovely place to spend alot of hours taking alot of images,
Very nice,

fototab

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2130 W: 9 N: 5960] (22528)
  • [2008-02-06 13:56]

Hi .Just a quick note for now to say great picture .
Nick..

Bonjour Francise,
Thank you for sharing this wonderful photo of fall!
good pov with clarity, beautiful colouration and so much details
the misty atmosphere is just beautiful!
well done
merci
Tony

  • Great 
  • dejo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 355 W: 51 N: 476] (2058)
  • [2008-02-06 16:57]

Hello Nina,
beautiful colors, lovely scene captured,
I like the composition very much,
regards, Dejan

  • Great 
  • lizzie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 214 W: 0 N: 635] (2847)
  • [2008-02-06 17:26]

Bonjour Francine,

Quelle belle composition tu nous présentes ici. De belles couleurs vives d'automne avec cette petite brume qui rend très bien l'atmosphère de nos journées automnales. Bien fait!

Lise

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1111 W: 1 N: 4518] (15132)
  • [2008-02-06 17:48]

Hello Francine,
What a gorgeous scene you bring to us, the autumn leaves in vivid colors that are reflected so nicely in the water. The geese peacefully going about their business. The morning mist lifting off the water as the sun starts to warm the cool air. Superb work Francine it is beautiful.
Rick

Ohh la jolie peinture que voilà,
Je vois bien une image pareille orner les murs de mon living, j'aime bien le mélange de tons chauds et la légère brume, les Bernaches sont un plus indéniable à la composition,
bravo Francine, c'est très réussi
amicalement,
Pat

An idyllic setting here, Francine.
The autumn colours on the trees, the slight haze and those ducks gliding on placid water make this image a work of art.
Thanks for sharing it and best regards.
Ram

Hello Francine,
What atmosphere and fall colors you have captured! A beautiful fall scene, and those ducks are perfectly situated in the frame.
Excellent capture...
Steve

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1888 W: 245 N: 6180] (22002)
  • [2008-02-07 2:18]

Wow Look at those colours!
The slight grain and mist are very atmospheric.
Excellent composition and POV.
Great lighting.
Superb note.
Vey well done Francine!
Thanks for sharing this,
Joe

I like the misty BG and Autumn reds I see Francine.
Not bad at all for a scan from negative..
A very pleasing idyllic composition, glad you dug this one out for us :)
Howard

Hi Francine, fscinating composition with wonderful light and warm colors, great atmosphere, very well done, ciao Silvio

a very warm and peaceful shot
soft and welcoming the atmosphere is one of silence and waiting
cheers
geof

Bonjour Francine,
Quelles belles couleurs, la composition est magnifique, une très belle réussite.
Bravo
Marie

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1357 W: 72 N: 2886] (9535)
  • [2008-02-08 11:11]

Hello Francine,
Great mystic atmosphere. Excellent colours, composition and DOF.
Regards,
Peter

Preciosa toma Francine, con un excelente tratamiento de la luz y sobre todo de los colores.
Abrazo: J. Ignasi

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-02-19 19:51]

Hello Francine

This has such a lovely atmosphere.Very beautiful.
Like a scene from Golden pond.
The shot is well composed.
Excellent sharp focus and details.
Lovely autumnal colours.
TFS
Rob

Hallo Francine
Fascinating and peaceful landscape with wonderful light and splendid autumn colours. The water looks very inviting, would love to be sitting at a bench just appreciating this wonderful scenery. I think this is the ideal place to relax and forget about the daily rat race we experience. Such a beautiful place! Cool, refreshing and tranquil, nature at its best. Congratulations and thank you very much for sharing.
Kind regards
Anna

Hi Francine,

I read earlier in your note that Landscapes are the hardest to capture... and here, you have given a magic touch to the subject in frame concept, enhancing the beauty to it's perfection.
Excellent .
All the best.

jp

Beautiful shot! The red colours in the misty morning look great. Good composition too.

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