During the winter months, when it’s cold and I’m not shooting outdoors as much, I like to go through some of my more abstract and experimental work that I put aside throughout the year. Revisiting my previous work allows me to reflect on both my in-camera and post-production techniques, observing the subtle changes year to year and seeing how I’ve improved. Going back over images I haven’t looked at in months—or even years—gives me the chance to view them with a fresh perspective. Photos that I might have rejected initially can often reveal their potential later, with more experience and a refined creative mindset. Some of these images even become assets for larger composite projects.

This is where abstract and experimental work comes in. Many of the images I create have a clear subject, but others are captured purely for the light, color, or emotion they evoke. It’s these images that I ponder over the longest, exploring how best to convey what I see to all of you. I also take this time to review my compositions and ask myself whether I captured the vision I had in mind and did it justice. Below are three of the images I’ve revisited and the final pieces I’ve created from them so far in 2025.

The first piece is a daylight long-exposure image that portrays the movement of water over a metal barrier and down onto the stones, creating a small waterfall into an isolated pool of water. The vertical layers of this scene struck me as particularly interesting—the movement of the water becomes softer as it flows into the foreground, creating a smooth, silky effect as the standing water settles after each wave.

The second image portrays a sunset long exposure along a river. Initially, I rejected this image—not because it lacked anything in composition or technique, but because, at the time, I was focused on capturing the intricate details of water in long exposures rather than creating full landscape pieces.

Reflecting on it now, I love the composition. The motion of the water and the glowing sunset pull you along the flow of the river, while the centered and upright trees bring balance to the frame. The piece feels dramatic without being overwhelming. To me, it conveys peace and contentment, like a whisper in time, while also sparking an adventurous curiosity about where the river leads as it flows beyond the edges of the frame.

This third and final image is one of the most abstract I’ve attempted to date. At first glance, it feels chaotic and overwhelming, a wildly tangled mass of vivid green hues and a stark contrast of light and shadow. The dense layering of trees creates a sense of disarray, and the downward perspective, slightly tilted, amplifies the unease, almost resembling a Dutch tilt. It’s as if the forest is closing in, evoking a visceral reaction of queasiness and tension.When I first envisioned this shot, I aimed for a more straightforward, top-down perspective, capturing the tree canopy in a flat, organized way. What I ended up with, however, was something far more evocative. This image feels like what it was really like standing on the edge of that cliff and peering straight down, where the valley below is brimming with maples, pines, and a multitude of sharp-branched trees. The dizzying depth and lush density of the forest remind me of that stark moment of shock when confronted with nature’s vastness. What keeps bringing me back to this image is the detail amidst the chaos. Despite its seemingly haphazard composition, there’s a quiet harmony in the variety of trees—each unique, yet blending together to create an intricate, deeply green tapestry. It’s a view that feels alive, chaotic, and strangely beautiful all at once.

Winter offers me a chance to slow down and reflect, revisiting images I’ve created in the past. This process allows me to see how I’ve grown as an artist and uncover new potential in work that might have been overlooked. From serene waterfalls to dramatic river scenes and chaotic forest canopies, these revisited pieces challenge me to find new ways to convey emotion, light, and movement. Each image represents a moment of growth and exploration in my artistic journey, reminding me that even in the quieter months, creativity continues to flow.

If you’ve enjoyed exploring these abstract and experimental pieces, I invite you to browse more of my fine art photography. Visit my online fine art page  to view curated works or explore my print shop to bring a piece of Muskoka’s beauty into your home.