Twilight Descends Again Upon Another Year

 It's long been my tradition to mark New Year's Eve with sunset photos taken over the last few months around the National Capital Area. This first shot was taken from Portage Bridge at the end of July, when I was down for my usual twice a month series looking downstream. It was late in the day, and looking eastward, the sunset was illuminating the Parliament Buildings and the Supreme Court.

I took two shots of it as I departed the area.

One evening in August, the late day sky caught my attention.

On another August evening, I was at Lansdowne Park. The Aberdeen Pavilion is ideal for taking pictures around sunset.

In September, a moody sky in the evening, but the setting sun was illuminating the clouds.

I took this shot in November, along the same road.

These are from a few days back. I was returning across the Alexandra Bridge from the Museum of History, and the sun was setting over the Ottawa River, but still casting some light on landmarks like Parliament Hill. I was in a race against time.

Another landmark, on the other side of the bridge. Kiweki Point, otherwise known as Nepean Point, has been having some work done on the top in the last couple of years, reconfiguring the parkland up there. The project should be done next year.

I reached Major's Hill Park. Here I looked back across the cold river to the Museum in Gatineau.

And towards the last light of the dying day, with Parliament Hill looming above.

The last light of day in this shot, taken from the Mackenzie King Bridge over the Rideau Canal, with the National Arts Centre and Chateau Laurier sharing the space with Parliament Hill. Happy New Year to you.

The War Memorial Among The Colours

Here we have the National War Memorial, its perimeter lit up with Christmas lights in the trees.

I headed across.

The Chateau Laurier is seen here in the background. The War Memorial occupies the very heart of Confederation Square, and is surrounded by landmarks like the National Arts Centre, the Chateau, Parliament Hill, and the distinctive set of buildings called The Chambers.

The Memorial is perhaps most dramatic at night, lit up with spotlights.

At its base is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a Canadian who fell at the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

I moved around the perimeter, taking shots as I went.

One last shot from here, and then I headed to the NAC.

Inside, guests were filing in for a performance of Handel's Messiah. Musicians were warming up on stage. Southam Hall, the biggest of the performance spaces in the building, was packed for the evening concert. Thus ends my Christmas series for this year.

Landmarks And Monuments

 More from Confederation Park downtown today. Along with spotlights on the ground highlighting the trees, some Christmas decoration here includes large lit balls hanging in the trees.

We caught a glimpse of it yesterday, now a better view of it today. The Lord Elgin Hotel is across from the park on the west side. Facing it is one of the park's monuments- the National Aboriginal Veterans Monument.

To the north, the National Arts Centre is seen through the trees.

The Aboriginal Veterans Monument features four warriors and five animals, done in a very impressive way. An eagle is at top, while the warriors are behind the animals that face each corner- the bear, wolf, elk, and bison.

I proceeded on. A statue of the great Canadian jazz pianist and composer Oscar Peterson stands outside the National Arts Centre, which was my ultimate destination for the evening. This is the work of Ruth Abernethy, who specializes in larger than life but approachable statues that really have a life of their own.

Onward and upward. Lights on top of the NAC drew my eye.

I was heading for the National War Memorial, which lies at the heart of Confederation Square, directly opposite the NAC.

Looking back at the NAC with its more recent glass enclosure addition, I paused to photograph the red lights, with the statue in silhouette. This is Andrew Hamilton Gault, the man who organized the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry regiment in World War One. The regiment still exists today.

Across the street, the War Memorial.

And looking in another direction, the Government Conference Centre.

I headed for the Memorial. We'll pick up here tomorrow.