View of Canal Locks
The Rideau Canal Locks form a staircase of eight historic locks connecting the Ottawa River to the Rideau Canal, and from the Rideau Street Bridge you get an elevated, straight-on view of the entire lock system descending toward the river, with the Château Laurier looming dramatically in the background. The symmetry of the lock gates and stone walls makes for strong geometric compositions, and shooting slightly to one side lets you layer the locks as leading lines toward the château. Golden hour light in the morning catches the warm limestone beautifully, while overcast days reduce harsh shadows in the deep lock channels. A mid-range zoom in the 24-70mm range handles most compositions well here. In winter, the scene transforms when the locks freeze over and skaters fill the canal below. The bridge itself is open and accessible year-round, with plenty of room to position yourself along the railing. (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)
