Saturday, September 29, 2018

It Was A Foggy Day In Ottawa Town

I take the title for this post by adapting this old standard, which seems appropriate.

Earlier in the month, I left home early and noticed mist off in the distance. I decided to head up to the nearby Ottawa River. When we see fog here, it's often over the rivers or the Rideau Canal, while the sky above might be blue. This view looked west along Queen Street as I was on my way.


I came up to the grounds around the Supreme Court. The fog was thick, as you can see in this view looking east. The buildings are the Justice and Confederation Blocks of Parliament, which neighbour the Court as part of the Parliamentary precinct. The West Block is barely visible in the mist.


Behind the Court, there is an overlook on the Ottawa River. These views take in the Ottawa shore. The river is barely noticeable.


I photographed across at the Gatineau shore. The island down below is in mid stream, so the provincial boundary would be down there. In high water conditions of spring, the island is often underwater. This time of year it's home to hardy shrubs that manage to survive the deluge.


Looking west gave a bit of a hint of blue.


But looking east, just more of that thick fog. It didn't last, mind you- had you been standing here an hour later it would have been gone.


I started to take my leave. This view features the Court and the Confederation and Justice Blocks beyond.


Coming around the front of the Court, I paused to photograph some more. Two statues flank the staircases up to the entrance, done by Walter Allward, the sculptor who designed the Vimy Ridge Memorial. Truth (Veritas) and Justice (Ivstitia) are their titles. This one is the latter, on the east side, a cloaked and hooded figure looming over the visitor.


This perspective of Justice will be familiar to any Canadian news viewer, as it is typical when an item about a Court decision is on the news for this angle to be filmed. On this morning, the fog was enough to hide everything beyond the West Block. Otherwise you'd see the Peace Tower and Centre Block from these steps.


Out on the front lawn, I wished a good morning to two Canada geese.


And I finished with this view of the Court, an Art Deco jewel, standing out well against the mist.

28 comments:

  1. The misty pictures look a bit spooky but beautiful ! The landscape around Ottawa seems to be very beautiful.

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  2. ...what, only two Canada Geese? I can send you a bunch more!

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  3. Excelente trabalho fotográfico o nevoeiro dá sempre um ar misterioso.
    Um abraço e bom fim-de-semana.

    Andarilhar
    Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
    Livros-Autografados

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  4. Hello, love the misty scenes and images. Cute shot of the geese, they have the place to themselves. Enjoy the weekend!

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  5. I like how fog turns colour photos almost into B&W pictures. Wonderful captures William.

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  6. So you used the fog to come up with a different view of familiar surroundings.

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  7. @Gattina: definitely spooky!

    @Tom: only two that morning!

    @Lady Fi: thanks!

    @Francisco: thank you.

    @Eileen: they did indeed.

    @Marleen: it does have that effect.

    @Red: I was glad to take the time to come up and take these shots.

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  8. Nothing beats a foggy day for taking photos. These are great.

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  9. Nice serie of mist pictures, specially the photo of the small island is beautiful. Mist can be very photogenic. I like it, but is must not be too thick.

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  10. Great shots, William. Nothing beats a nice foggy scene.

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  11. The fog looks ominous... and the cloaked figure isn't helping! ;-)

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  12. It is so magical to walk around in a fog!

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  13. Great fog photos! They look eerie in some, like science fiction mist fading the city.

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  14. A splendid look around the city on a foggy morning, great photos William!

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  15. @Sharon: this was quite some mist.

    @Jan: the closest on land you can get to the island is on the trail down below.

    @Bill: it lends great atmosphere.

    @Sandi: she definitely looks spooky.

    @RedPat: I do agree.

    @Maywyn: definitely.

    @Denise: thanks!

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  16. Fog makes for great pictures. Lately most of our mornings start out that way.

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  17. I enjoyed seeing these misty scenes, quite atmospheric.

    Enjoy your weekend William.

    All the best Jan

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  18. The foggy shots are very atmospheric:)

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  19. That's fun. Hubby sees deer every morning and he talks to them!
    The fog has been something, especially after our drought here.

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  20. Love that fog over the water!

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  21. Lovely fog shots. One of my favourite types of weather.

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  22. @Happyone: fog seems to be rare here.

    @Jan: thank you.

    @Carol: thanks!

    @Kay: quite so.

    @Linda: that it does.

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  23. @Rosie: literally.

    @Jennifer: I like talking to animals.

    @Jenn: so do I.

    @Norma: very much so.

    @Klara: it becomes photogenic.

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