Jock River - Half Moon Bay Park
The Jock River winds through Half Moon Bay Park in a quiet stretch of Ottawa's south end, offering a relaxed natural scene where rocky outcrops break the current and a small rapid draws herons, kingfishers, and other wildlife throughout the year. Just past the Greenbank Road bridge, the rocks emerging from the water create natural foreground interest, and you can position yourself low on the bank to use the flowing water as a leading element toward the bend in the river. A polarizing filter helps cut glare on the surface and brings out the colors in the rocks and surrounding foliage. Early morning on overcast days gives you the softest, most even light for both landscape and wildlife shots. The area is easily walkable from the park's main path, and a medium telephoto lens in the 100 to 200mm range works well for isolating birds on the rocks without disturbing them. (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)
