Mother and foal

Out walking today on rural roads around the town of Saint-Basile (45 km northwest of Quebec City) we passed through a farm with free-roaming but docile German shepherds and a white-fenced paddock enclosing this pair of horses; a mother and her three-week-old foal. Wherever mother went her foal was sure to follow.

Out of a series of 33 pictures I liked this one the best; a protective mother in front of an open barn door above her delicate infant.

Canon 7D, focal length 240 mm, f/10, 1/400s, ISO 400

New Growth

A cool spring Sunday with high overcast. Took a walk along our Cap-Rouge River looking for new growth along the banks. Bloodroot, Trilliums, Fiddleheads, Pussy willows timidly brave the chill and wind. Warm sunshine ahead will encourage them to open up. I enjoyed searching out the tiny growth and returned home clear-headed.

Snow Geese

Cap-Tourmente National Wildlife Area is an amazing site for observing snow geese migration. The reserve officially opens its gates next week however this didn't stop the geese nor their admirers from enjoying this tidal marsh along the St-Lawrence. Thousands of geese put on an energetic show; vertical take-offs, gregarious honking, swirling overhead and full-flap landings. Paulette and I come here every year drawn by their beauty, grace and nomadic drive and leave serene and at peace.

See more pictures of this seasonal spectacle on flickr.

Canon 7D with 70-200 f/4L zoom, shutter speed priority, AI servo AF, 1/1000s+, ISO 200

April 12 Flowers

These flowers arrived today from Louise and Richard; a bouquet of beauty expressing their love for André who died on April 12 eight years ago.

"Le malheur n'est jamais pur, pas plus que le bonheur." (Boris Cyrulnik) Receiving these flowers is a moment of happiness, amongst others, during an otherwise sad time of the year.

Thank you.

Easter Tulips

Our friends, Maureen and Gord, flew to Florida yesterday asking us to take their tulips home to enjoy their short in-pot lives. A perfect subject to try out my new Canon 7D and 70-200mm 4L lens. I placed the tulips in the light from our south-facing living room window and used a white reflecting card to lighten the shadows on the green foliage.

Tripod mount, remote shutter release and Live View zoom focus helped create a sharp foreground. FUN!

Canon 7D, focal length 220mm, f/13, 1/2s, ISO 200, tripod