Twilight Descends Again Over Another Year

It is my tradition to close out the year with sunset shots. I begin with this shot from the end of July. I was over at the Billings Bridge transit station at twilight, and the sky demanded a take. 

These two shots were taken a few minutes apart in late August. I photographed the setting sun over the Rideau Canal from the Bank Street Bridge.

And then I was back at Billings Bridge again.

In the first half of September, I was out in Nepean, and the tones of the sky with the setting sun appealed to me.

A few minutes later and a short walk away, I took another shot.

Later in the month, I took this shot of Abbotsford House at centre in the Glebe, a senior's community centre, flanked by a nursing home at left and a retirement home at right.

A couple of nights later, I took this shot of the last light of day further north in the Glebe.

Around mid-December, I took this shot downtown after sunset, with the last light of day in the west.

A few days later, this shot of the last light of day was taken at Lansdowne Park.

On Christmas Eve, I took this shot of Parliament Hill from Major's Hill Park, with the descending sun hidden by the buildings.

A bus ride later, I was in Nepean to run an errand I should have taken care of days before, but such is life. The sun had set in the west, but the sky was still colourful.

My last shot, taken after my errands were done, and starting to leave this area. A Happy New Year to you.

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.

Odds And Ends In A Canadian Landscape

I have some odds and ends today from the last few months. I start with a building project out on Lebreton Flats, where the new main branch of the Ottawa Public Library is being built. From time to time as I pass by, I document how things are going. 

This is a joint project with Library and Archives Canada, which will also have space in the building. This first shot was taken in mid-October. 

And this was taken in late November.

In November, a colleague and friend was on a trip in Alberta and sent me these three shots from the Canadian Rockies. This first one was at Lake Louise, where he went out on the ice. You can see people out there.

It's been too long since I was in those mountains.

Back in Ottawa. I took this shot in early December from the terrace at the National Arts Centre, looking across to the Government Conference Centre and the Chateau Laurier on the opposite side of the Rideau Canal.

On another December day, I took this shot of the Supreme Court of Canada in the snow.

This shot was taken at the tail end of our first good snowstorm of the season, some nights later.

The following morning, someone had made a snowman.

A few days later and on a sunny day, I took another shot of the Supreme Court.

My last shots of the year were taken at Lansdowne Park on New Year's Eve, where they were hosting a Scottish style party to close out the year. This shot was taken inside the Aberdeen Pavilion, the main location of the party, which was well attended. The pipes were getting ready.

Over in the Horticulture Building, there were activities for families.

And when things really got underway, the music inside the Pavilion for the evening was a mix of folk, Celtic, and rock.

Twilight Descends Again Upon Another Year

 It is my habit to mark New Year's Eve with twilight shots taken over the last few months. Such is the case this year, starting with this evening shot in July taken downtown, with moody skies and the very last light of day.

Later in July, I was at Lansdowne Park around dusk and took these two shots at the east end of the property. The first included the north stands with the Aberdeen Pavilion; the second featured the Pavilion with the twilight sky.

In early August, I caught this view over Centretown.

This was late in August, with the same general perspective as in my first shot.

While this was in September. Again, the same location.

And this was late in the day on a November afternoon. Same street, just a hundred metres further east.

I took these last ones a few days ago. I went up to Parliament Hill at end of day and took this first shot of Centre Block, with the Centennial Flame in the foreground.

I moved westward, taking this perspective of the West Block.

On my side of the roadway is a slope with two statues up above. The first is Queen Victoria, silhouetted against the twilight.

The second is Prime Minister Lester Pearson.

Beyond, the road turns, and I got this shot looking out over the Ottawa River, with the Supreme Court in the distance.

A short walk beyond gave me another perspective of the last light of day.

And my last twilight shot of the year, taken a few metres on, includes another statue, Prime Minister Robert Borden, with the Confederation and Justice Blocks off to the west. Farewell, 2022.