Odds And Ends In A National Capital

I have some odds and ends from recent months today. 

I meant to include this photo, taken in September near my home, of a cat in the theme day for December, but had overlooked it while compiling that post. It was outside, and just after I took the shot, its staff called it inside.

This shot dates to late October, when I was on the grounds at the Canadian War Museum, photographing along the shore of the Ottawa River, I looked back at the building, noticed the moon at upper left, and took the shot.

Also late in October, I was at the National Arts Centre for a Hallowe'en concert. I've noticed this bust before, but never photographed it. Mario Bernardi was a Canadian conductor, becoming the founding conductor and music director of the NAC.

Taken inside Southam Hall, while waiting for the concert to begin, I looked up at the ceiling.

In early November downtown, I passed by this square, where a building once stood. This mural is on the south wall, and for most of the summer was obstructed by of all things a shipping container.

The north side of the square features a ghost sign for a photographer of the 19th century. A new mural is below it.

A couple of nights later, in the Glebe, I passed by this store in progress, now a vintage store. This ugly little spud, as a wise man once said, was in the window.

A moonlit night at Lansdowne Park, with the Aberdeen Pavilion in the background.

On Remembrance Day, on my way over to the national services, I passed by the post office on Sparks Street, where the doors are guarded by lions. Snow covered lions.

A worksite downtown, late in November. I last featured this worksite in this post. At this point, it was down to two levels left to tear down, and then the foundation. I noticed the work with a power tool creating sparks, and took shots hoping to catch the sparks. It has since been entirely leveled.

I was back at the War Museum in late November to have lunch, and went out to the shore of the Ottawa River to take this shot of the brooding sky over a brooding river.

Same spot, but in the first half of December. The river was freezing up here. A close eye will see a bridge spanning the river- a former railway bridge that has been turned into a pedestrian bridge, the William Commanda Bridge.

On the same night I was taking too many Christmas lights photos, I passed near the National Arts Centre, with the glass tower lit up.

And finishing up with this fine doggie, photographed in a bank. What a good dog.

City Daily Photo Theme Day: Bridges

The first day of each month is a theme day for members of City Daily Photo, and for September, that theme is Bridges. Take a look at how others are interpreting this theme right here.

I was down near the Rideau Canal on Colonel By Day in early August, and took this shot from the terrace of the Chateau Laurier. In the background is Plaza Bridge, the first of the bridges the Canal passes under on its route to Lake Ontario. 

This shot from on the bridge itself shows the Ottawa River in the distance, at the bottom of the Ottawa Locks, where canal meets river.

The underside of the bridge features graceful arches over the Canal and the adjoining walking areas.

Down at the bottom of the locks, this view over the river takes in the Museum of History on the far shore, and the Alexandra Bridge that spans the river.

Here we have the other side of Plaza Bridge, with the Chateau in the background.

On another day, I went out to the Chaudiere Falls, and took this shot of the Chaudiere Bridge, which crosses the Ottawa River just downstream of the torrent.

After my visit, I looked west and photographed the William Commanda Bridge. This pedestrian and bike bridge is a former rail bridge with a lot of history. I have never actually been on it. It spans a wide section of the river, passing over an island en route.

I proceeded on and found myself on another pedestrian bridge. I was familiar with this one, but always thought it to belong to the hydro operations around the falls, as the gate at the far end had been consistently closed. This provides an easy link between the parkland around the falls, and the Canadian War Museum, which can be seen at the end of the path.

I was on the Alexandra Bridge crossing over to Gatineau to visit the Museum of History. The bridge is in the midst of an extended rehabilitation project, and is presently only open to pedestrians and cyclists, occupying the central lanes where cars usually travel.

And lastly, I finish with the Portage Bridge. I come out here twice a month to photograph the view of the Ottawa River downstream, and from the spot where I generally take the shot, I turned and photographed this view of the bridge itself heading into Gatineau.

The Chaudiere

 I decided to pay a visit to the Chaudiere Falls earlier in the month, late one afternoon on a pleasant day. The falls are in the heart of the Ottawa River as it passes between Ottawa and Gatineau, upriver of Parliament Hill. Largely harnessed for electricity with a ring dam, the falls are nonetheless impressive. I took these shots from the Chaudiere Bridge, which crosses downstream. 

The falls are a cascade type of waterfall, with a total width of 60 metres and a total fall of 15 metres. They come at a spot in the river where there are a series of islands occupying the area, and the main channel comes through here. Ottawa is on one shore, with Gatineau on the north shore. There are a number of observation spots for visitors.

I carried along the path. Here we look out to a wide stretch of the river upstream of the falls. What we see beyond is still Ottawa- the Tunney's Pasture area. The main body of the river lies to the right. A close eye might pick out a bridge over the water. That is the William Commanda Bridge, named in honour of an indigenous chief.

Along the falls, numerous plants and wildflowers flourish over the summer.

The second observation point lies between two old buildings, now unused but preserved.

And it is a good spot to take in the power of the falls.