City Daily Photo Theme Day: Best Of The Year

 The first day of each month is a theme day for members of City Daily Photos, and for January, that's always your photo of the year or favourite photos.  See other selections right here.

For me, I'm dividing this up over three days by geographic area, and starting on the Ottawa side of the Ottawa River. I begin with Winterlude, our celebration of the best season of them all, which takes place in February. Sparks Street hosted ice sculptures again this year.

Another big festival is in May. The Tulip Festival sees a splash of colour in multiple locations throughout the National Capital Area, with the biggest site at Dow's Lake.

Major's Hill Park is another big spot. The National Gallery and Notre Dame form the backdrop here.

But it's the tulips that are the big star of the festival, and they were brilliant this year.

In early June, I took in some of the locations featured this year for Doors Open Ottawa. This included a platform at Parliament Hill, where a large scale project is underway around Centre Block. Visitors were able to get a look at the large worksite below the platform, where a new visitor centre will be built, and staff were on hand to answer questions.

Late in July, I was at Portage Bridge to photograph the view downstream as I do twice a month. A rainbow was in the late day sky, while Parliament Hill was illuminated by the setting sun.

Early August brings Buskerfest to Sparks Street. This is Pancho Libre, doing the finale of his acrobat act. You try that.

In September, I attended the Comicon here. I went to pick up merch, and to take photos. Of the numerous cosplayers I saw, this woman's elegant dress and plague doctor mask was my favourite.

The Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park is a building that is always photogenic, but particularly at night, as it was one fall night when I passed by.

The colours of fall. This is in Dundonald Park in Centretown, close to home.

And I finish with two more fall colour shots. I took these while at Portage Bridge again, this time focusing on Parliament Hill and its fall colours above the raging Ottawa River.

A close up, with the Library of Parliament as its focus, was called for. Tomorrow we'll look at my favourite shots from the Gatineau side of the river.