Toronto Islands.
Toronto Lakeshore viewed from the islands on Lake Ontario.
Toronto Lakeshore viewed from the islands on Lake Ontario.
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Mar, 2016Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this picture in Toronto at the Toronto Islands. There are three main islands in the city, and I was at Ward's Island, more specifically. From the island, you can then see the lakeshore, the city and the CN Tower, which is what you see in my photo.Time
It was a warm afternoon for winter season in Toronto. Most of the time, during winter, I do not do as much exploration because of the cold, but once in a while there are peaks of high temperature, and since it was the case, I decided to visit the islands. It was my first time there during winter, and I got there more or less an hour before sunset. This picture was taken about 30 minutes before sunset. The date was February 28th, 2016.Lighting
I was mostly interested in getting sunset pictures that day. When I took this picture, the sun was on the left of the picture. As you can see, there is some land covering it, but it is enough to make the sky look interesting, and there is a nice transition for brighter, yellow-ish colours, on the left to blue tones on the right.Equipment
I used my IPhone 6s. I would consider myself a beginner in photography, but I recently became very passionate about it. That said, though I recognise the importance of a good camera, I do not think I have yet the skills to manipulate one with too many functions. I would rather concentrate, at least for now, on improving my shooting skills, through, for instance, getting better at composition. I find that, except for specific situations -- such as when it is already dark --, my phone is yet being the limiting factor.Inspiration
The Toronto Islands are easy to access and I know that they always provide a great view of the city. However, I have never been there during winter, so I had been curious for a while to see how the cityscape would differ from summer season. What I found turned out to be even better: since it has been such a warm winter, the lake only froze a bit, and the contrast between ice and water (and its reflection) is what makes it stand out compared to a regular winter picture (where the lake would be entirely frozen on the surface) or summer (when all the ice has already melted).Editing
As I said before, I am not just a beginner at photography. I mostly produce material for my Instagram account (though I have just recently decided to try viewbug after a friend recommended it to me). So most of my post-processing is done simply through Instagram options (I certainly use more than simply filters, however). What I like about it is that it does not overwhelm you with options. When a software has too many options, there is a learning curve before you can use it effectively, and even when you do, a large set of options gives you so much freedom that it is hard to decide on what is the better approach in terms of editing a specific picture. So I enjoy the simplicity of Instagram for now, though I am slowly getting to learn how to use more sophisticated softwares.In my camera bag
For now, I carry just my IPhone 6S. I love that I can simply take my phone and be ready for unexpected situations. That said, I have been considering buying some special set of lenses to attach to my phone as a way to start improving my optical system, and not just my shooting skills!Feedback
If you live in Toronto and want to take a picture like this one, go to the Islands during winter, but make sure that it has been warm enough that the lake will have melted, but there is still some ice on the surface. I am positive that what makes this picture so peculiar is the contrast between ice and water, and that is something you can get only if you visit the Islands at specific times of the year. If you go during sunset, as I did, the sky will look more compelling for your picture as well. Finally, a bit of land on one side of the frame, with water on the other part, also creates a nice contrast.
