Gregory's Blog

BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, originally uploaded by Gregory Pleau.

This structure is built with over 10,000 tons of marble, sandstone, granite and limestone. It features delicate carvings throughout. The Hindu Mandir is easily the most recognizable landmark to be seen from the 427 north of the 401. It’s an amazing place to visit, and it is open to the public to visit. There’s a geocache nearby that will help you find the complex – GC2NCRX. The photo is an HDR image, which brings out some of the texture in the sky and the structure. I will have to come back in the summer when the fountain is running.

Turbulence, originally uploaded by Gregory Pleau.

The power of the Niagara Whirlpool Rapids. These standing waves constantly appear, then crash and appear again. You can almost see a “breathing” action in the current as it builds and recedes. Over 50,000 cubic feet of water crashes over the Falls per second, and then it travels though this gorge. These rapids are Class V, and at times Class VI. Class VI is summed up as “you’re going to die”.

Single exposure HDR from RAW image. High contrast blue filter applied to black and white conversion.

Sunrise on George Lake Narrows, originally uploaded by Gregory Pleau.

This is the view from Killarney’s George Lake Campground, Site #63 at sunrise. The image was taken during my September camping trip with Kristen. This is a 7 exposure HDR image assembled with Photomatix and Aperture. It was a great sunrise to see, particularly after getting rained on for two days!

The Gut of Crowe River – The Falls (HDR), originally uploaded by Gregory Pleau.

Another view of “The Gut” of Crowe River. This is with my newer HDR process that I’ve been working on.

George Lake Starscape, originally uploaded by Gregory Pleau.

This is the view from Killarney’s George Lake Campground – Site #63. The image is a 30 minute exposure taken with the camera pointed out over the lake. Software adjustments include a manual dark frame subtraction and then a trip through Noise Ninja.

Sunset on Silver Peak, originally uploaded by Gregory Pleau.

The view back to Silver Peak from Bell Lake, as the sun is beginning to set. This is the third highest point in the Province of Ontario, and there is a trail from this lake to the top – a 12km loop with a 300M elevation change along the way. On a clear day, you can see Sudbury to the north, and Manitoulin Island to the west.

Terra Cotta Reflection, originally uploaded by Gregory Pleau.

Went for my usual 5k run tonight in Terra Cotta. This is what was waiting at the end of my run.

My favourite route is to head on into Terra Cotta, which is a combination of old forest roads and hiking trails. I find a counter clockwise loop of the park gives me something challenging and interesting then I can sort of take it easier on the way back to the start point.

There’s a (likely very expensive) home at the top of the ponds near the trailhead. It tends to get scenic often.

One reason I love running on the trails here!

Stormy Cornfield, originally uploaded by Gregory Pleau.

The leading edge of a thunderstorm as it approaches the village of Mildmay, Ontario. I noticed the sharp line in the cloud and pulled over on the side of Elora Road north of the town.

Moments after I took the photo, lighting and torrential rain followed.

The Gut of Crowe River, originally uploaded by Gregory Pleau.

This waterfall is located at the top of a geological feature known to the locals as “The Gut”. Here, the Crowe River drops elevation over several hundred metres in a narrow rock cut. This is the view looking downstream from the first drop over the waterfall that starts the process.