A Sunset Odyssey

Amongst the Islands

For the past eleven years, I have had the opportunity to spend considerable time in our RV at Lake of the Woods near the Town of Sioux Narrows, in Northwest Ontario. For the last four years, we've rented a seasonal site, and this has given me even more time to cruise Lake of the Woods in my boat, mostly fishing but also taking my adult son Matthew swimming to the many wilderness beaches we have discovered together. Matthew has autism but is a champion swimmer. He goes swimming in the big lake shortly after ice-out—this year, it was on May 9th—and doesn't stop until the end of September when the campground closes for the season. 

Lots to Explore

With a whole summer at your disposal, there is lots of time to explore the lake, and that's a good thing, given that Lake of the Woods has a surface area of one million acres and is dotted with 14,522 islands—most of them on the Canadian side. For me, it's mostly about fishing, but the lake offers much more than that. A big part of what I do involves exploring new areas I haven't been to, such as a new bay, deep inlet channel, or islands. The shorelines on the lake are simply incredible. 

Fishing Lake of the Woods

You can't write about exploring Lake of the Woods without mentioning fishing. I spend most of my time on the lake doing it, and for good reason. I mostly love to catch smallmouth bass, but if I want fish to eat, I switch to walleye. Once in a while, I'll target big trophy northern pike, muskie or lake trout. The lake has eight species of fish you can try to catch, so calling it a world-class fishing destination is not a stretch. 

Bald Eagles are Everywhere

If you ever get the chance to visit Lake of the Woods, you'll surely remember seeing the many bald eagles that nest on the lake. They are everywhere and often follow fishing boats, hoping you'll toss them a free meal. These majestic birds are masters of the air, and you can usually see them soaring on the thermals or, if you're lucky, resting at the top of a tree like the bird below. 

Chasing Sunsets

I go fishing by myself almost every evening, and just before sunset, I seek out areas for a perfect picture. You have to see a Lake of the Woods sunset to appreciate it; the colours can range from yellow to orange to red depending on the time of year, whether forest fire smoke is in the atmosphere, and whether puffy white clouds are present. Clouds always make a sunset better with the light they reflect. Below are a few examples of sunsets I have seen over the years.

Tips for Taking a Good Sunset Picture

Given my experiences cruising the lake, I have learned a few tricks that help me take some pretty cool sunset shots. Here are a few recommendations:

1. Plan out your shots - an island, trees, or a long view of still, calm water in the frame can often improve the quality of your pictures and make them more attractive.

2. Use the principle of thirds. Don't always capture the setting sun in the center of your frame; put it on the left or right to give your image perspective and a directional feel. Lead the viewer's eye with the sunset, an island, a loon, or other features, and let your image tell the story of that moment.

3. If it's windy and there is a chop on the water, use the energy of the waves, with their peaks and valleys reflecting the light in different directions. 

4. Don't be afraid to get down low - change the perspective you would typically take an image from and get down on your belly for the shot. It can lead to a very interesting foreground. 

5. Try taking a silhouette of something against the sun in the background. Trees work best for this or small islands, but if it's your lucky day, you may capture a kayaker, a loon, or a pelican.

Over the years, I have had a wonderful time looking for the right spot to photograph sunsets over the lake. You need patience, imagination, good timing, and sometimes luck. The key is experimenting and having an open mind when framing your shot. Chasing sunsets on Lake of the Woods is one of my favourite activities. If you visit here, you'll agree that Lake of the Woods in Ontario, Canada, is one of the most beautiful places on earth.

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