This freshwater pond, at the base of North Pole Mountain in New Brunswick, is fed by an underground spring.  There are no streams which flow into it, but the North Pole Stream begins here, flowing down the side of the mountain and meandering through the entire area. Photo taken 30 May 2010.

I spent the summer of 2010 in the Christmas Mountains of northcentral New Brunswick, studying the threatened Bicknell's thrush with the University of New Brunswick.  The Christmas Mountains were very remote, with untold miles of wilderness punctuated now and again by logging roads.  This is a view from the summit of Sweat Hill, facing west.  A few logging roads are visible in the valley. Photo taken 31 May 2010.

A rainbow forms over the summit of North Pole Mountain, where my research team set up our base camp for the summer.  Rain was a regular occurrence in the Christmas Mountains, and the weather was either rain or overcast the majority of the time throughout May into June. Photo taken 8 June 2010.

A view of one of the mountain streams, as seen from Birch Lake Road within the Christmas Mountains.  Despite doing some research, I was unable to locate the name of this stream. There is something about the tall, skinny spruce trees that always brings to mind the concept of "wilderness" for me.  I love how the spruce trees surround the stream, stretching off in to the distance.  The height of these trees can be deceiving...this stream was nearly 200 feet below the roadside. Photo taken 14 June 2010.

Kagoot Brook flows under a logging road near the base of Mount Mitchell.  This brook was teeming with brook trout, which on several occasions our research team feasted on to break up the monotony of standard camping fare. Photo taken 19 June 2010.

An inlet in the southeastern corner of Serpentine Lake in the Christmas Mountains.  Water flowing downhill from the nearby mountains empties into this small pond, which continues to flow into the much larger Serpentine Lake.  Our research team would often see bald eagles and western osprey fishing the waters of Serpentine Lake. Although this pond is very shallow, it is also very tranquil, with a small series of waterfalls just to the left, where the mountain streams empties into the pond.  It takes little imagination to consider putting a cabin near the shore here. Photo taken 19 June 2010.

Sunset at Mount Mitchell.  It you look carefully you may be able to pick out one of approximately 20 wind turbines on the horizon, closer to the town of Bathurst to the north. Photo taken 21 June 2010.

Sunset at Mount Mitchell. Photo taken 21 June 2010.

A view of Serpentine Lake, just below the inlet pictured earlier.  This view of the lake is but a small portion of a large southern inlet.  Beyond the pass between the two shores lies the main body of the lake, with the distant shore just visible between the passage. Photo taken 23 June 2010.

A large boulder sits derelict on the shores of Serpentine Lake. Photo taken 23 June 2010.

After a rainstorm, water droplets would coat all of the balsam fir and spruce trees in the area.  I especially loved the way the water formed small pearls on each of the needles. Photo taken 24 June 2010.

Sunset at North Pole Mountain.  Our base camp was set up on the summit of North Pole Mountain, and when conditions were favourable, we would be treated to breathtaking sunsets. Photo taken 26 June 2010.

The setting sun shines one last time on the distant mountains.  This view was taken at the base of Mount Mitchell, along Kagoot Brook Road, facing southeast. Photo taken 6 July 2010.

Sunset at North Pole Mountain.  The next several photos show different angles and different moments during the sunset on 11 July 2010. The colours have not been altered in post-production.  These photos were done entirely in-camera, with minor EV adjustments afterwards to bring out the foreground.

To the east, with the sun setting behind me, a rainbow began to form in a low-lying storm cloud.  Wisps of rain and fog distort the bottom of the rainbow, which remained for only a few moments before the light disappeared.

As the sun dips below the horizon, the sky ignites into deep reds and oranges.

The sky begins to turn purple as the horizon holds on to the last of the evening light.

I had always wanted to experiment with water, especially to get that amazing velvety effect with flowing water.  There are a number of small rapids on the Rideau River at Hog's Back Park, just a few blocks from my apartment in Ottawa, that I have always been enthralled with.  For a hand-held shot, I am quite pleased with the results. Photo taken 2 August 2010.

After a summer storm, a double rainbow forms over Ottawa.  This was taken from my balcony, facing south towards the Ottawa International Airport. Photo taken 4 August 2010.

A small portion of the Hog's Back Falls.  In the autumn the Falls flow powerfully down the Rideau River, as the river is lowered in preparation for the coming winter.  During this time of year, small subsidiary waterfalls form as excess water flows over the rocky outcroppings surrounding the main Hog's Back Falls. Photo taken 28 September 2010.

Autumn colours are appearing throughout the Ottawa region.  Here the trees that make up the Jack Pine Trail at Stony Swamp turn a vibrant yellow in the setting autumn sun. Photo taken 5 October 2010.

Late evening at Innis Point.  A perfect clear autumn night. Photo taken 9 October 2010.

Vibrant autumn foliage ignites a cool blue sky near a trailhead at Parc de la Gatineau near Chelsea, Québec. Photo taken 11 October 2010.

One of the many hiking trails at Parc de la Gatineau.  During the winter this trail will be converted to a cross-country skiing trail. Photo taken 11 October 2010.

The Carbide Wilson Mill ruins in Parc de la Gatineau, Chelsea, Québec. Photo taken 11 October 2010.

Photo taken 11 October 2010.

The rushing waters of Meech Creek at the Carbide Wilson Mill ruins in Parc de la Gatineau. Photo taken 11 October 2010.

Sunlight filters through the forest canopy, illuminating a portion of the waterfalls at the Carbide Wilson Mill ruins in Parc de la Gatineau. Photo taken 11 October 2010.

The "Hobbit Hole."  This portion of the Carbide Wilson ruins represents what once was a power generating factory.  This small doorway, only about 2½ feet tall, struck me as exactly what one might expect in a visit to Hobbiton from the Lord of the Rings mythology.

Photo taken 11 October 2010.

Photo taken 11 October 2010.

Although large swaths of the Gatineau Hills are now devoid of their fall colours, small sanctuaries exist where the winds haven't shed all the leaves.  This view was along the trail leading back to the O'Brien parking lot at Parc de la Gatineau. Photo taken 11 October 2010.

Photo taken 11 October 2010.

The forests surrounding Lac Fortune in Parc de la Gatineau. Photo taken 11 October 2010.

Although yellow is the dominant colour in much of the autumn foliage, vibrant reds and oranges intersperse the landscape from time to time. Photo taken 11 October 2010.

A placid view of the Gatineau River at Wakefield, Québec. Photo taken 11 October 2010.

Photo taken 11 October 2010.

Autumn colours at Ellison County Park in Rochester, New York. Photo take 23 October 2010.