Lake Simcoe Sunrise
It was 4:00 AM on a cold February morning when I left my home to make the long trek up North. My plan was to photograph the Jackson's Point lighthouse during sunrise on a frozen Lake Simcoe.
A frozen Lake Simcoe
As a young child, my family spent a lot of time visiting Lake Simcoe during the summer. It has a special place in my heart. Lake Simcoe is a beautiful area year-round, but its magic truly comes alive when the lake is frozen solid.
Venturing out before dawn, I braved the biting cold armed with my camera gear. I was wearing layers of winter clothing and two balaclava toques, but even that was not enough to fend off the cold.
With the lake's surface transformed into a glassy canvas of ice, I took my time to find the perfect composition. The dock served as an ideal foreground element, leading the viewer's eye toward the lighthouse, creating a sense of depth in the photograph. I positioned myself carefully, ensuring that the lighthouse would be aligned with the rising sun.
Adjusting camera settings in the frigid weather required patience, precision and time. During this cold morning my hands were quickly freezing whenever I took my gloves off to adjust camera settings. I set a narrow aperture (high f-stop) to achieve a deep depth of field, ensuring both the lighthouse and the distant horizon were in sharp focus. With the low light conditions of dawn, I opted for a longer exposure time to capture the beautiful hues of the sunrise.
A frozen Lake Simcoe
As the sun began to peek over the horizon, the sky exploded with vibrant shades of orange, pink, and purple. The clouds above the lighthouse were ablaze with color, and the tranquil lake shimmered with the golden light of the rising sun. I clicked away and the lighthouse looked absolutely magnificent.
As the morning drew to a close, I packed up my camera and tripod, feeling grateful for the opportunity to capture such a stunning moment. I thawed off during the long ride home and felt comforted with the knowledge that I had captured an image that I would be proud to hang on my wall.