Tag: Princeton Township

Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)

The hummingbird, a delicate mosaic of muted hues, is perched thoughtfully on a slender branch.

On a balmy mid-August day, I hiked with Bhavna in the Mount Rose Preserve. We've enjoyed walking the preserve trail many times, but not today. It was clear that the trail had yet to be maintained. The trail was overgrown, and bushwhacking our way in the heat and humidity was exhausting. I had my XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens with me, and carrying it through the dense vegetation was a chore.

Bhavna was not enjoying the hike this time and wanted to turn back. But then I reminded her that large trees cover the second half of the loop trail and the understory is sparse. We agreed it would be less effort to complete that end of the loop.

While completing this second half of the loop trail, I heard the very energetic chee-dit calls I have learned to associate with the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. I asked Bhavna to stop while I looked around. Once we stopped walking, I could hear the quiet humming sound somewhere between the branches of a fallen tree.

I pulled the viewfinder to my eye and panned the XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR slowly around. Then I saw it. The delicate mosaic of muted hues of a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird perched on a slender dead branch of a fallen tree. The labyrinth of branches criss-crossing behind her made composition challenging. These branches, stripped of their leaves, outline a web of lines.

The female Ruby-throated Hummingbird feathers, though not as flamboyantly vivid as her male counterparts, shimmered under the August sunlight. Her watchful eyes, sharp and alert, seemed to scan the surroundings in the vigilance demanded by the wild.

Lakeside Bird Watcher Gathering

Just when I thought I was about done with my photo walk, a group of bird watchers approached from the other direction.

I strolled along the eastern edge of the Billie Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve trail, just soaking in the fall vibes. I did my usual "walk, stop, set-up, capture" routine, doing my best to capture the reds, yellows, and oranges that were, like a kaleidoscope, all in the mix.

Just when I thought I was about done, a group of bird watchers approached from the other direction. They seemed excited. I assumed that they'd spotted something interesting in the trees. I felt compelled to photograph them as they chatted in the grassy area near the lakehouse.

There's a certain asymmetry to the photograph. The bird watchers are standing off to the right with most of the colourful vegetation. The blue sky and the colourful leaves on the trees contrast with the drab grey lake and the green grass. But still, it feels "right".

An Anxious Quest for Fall

Exploring the tranquil lakeside.

I was anxious that I hadn't photographed fall in the area, so I decided to visit the Billie Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve in Princeton Township to photograph the picturesque treeline at the lake.

I began my photography walk at the southern edge of the artificial lake. The early morning sun radiated a warm glow. It seemed the perfect day for capturing some fall colour. My focus was on the trees bordering the lake's edge. I set up my Fuji X-T3 on the tripod with the XF16-55mF2.8 R LM WR lens and a Hoya PROND1000 filter. I wanted long exposures with silky smooth water.

Billie Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve
Billie Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve · October 22, 2023 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR

I strolled north along the eastern side of the James Sayen Trail (green markers) that loops around the lake, frequently stopping to take photographs. The snail would win if a landscape photographer and a snail were in a race. 🙂

Billie Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve · October 22, 2023 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR

Each step revealed a new perspective, a fresh angle, and an opportunity to freeze time in a frame.

Billie Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve
Billie Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve · October 22, 2023 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR

I fine-tuned my photographs using Adobe Lightroom and Luminar AI to enhance the colours and highlight the details.