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Photographs of Ministik Lake Sanctuary by Jonathan Martin-DeMoor - Silvicola borealis Images

Ministik Sanctuary

The Ministik Lake Gamebird Sanctuary in the Waskahegan region just east of Edmonton serves as a refuge both for the waterfowl that rest in its lakes during the summer, and for the handful of people that come to the Sanctuary year-round to experience its subtle beauty and quiet diversity. The hummocky terrain of the Beaverhills/Cooking Lake Moraine provides ample photographic opportunity with small lakes, rocky shorelines, and mixedwood boreal and parkland forests of spruce, aspen, and birch. Over the years, I have slowly discovered the natural rhythms and aesthetic of the Sanctuary, and I hope that this portfolio of images will relate some of that character.

I offer custom-made fine art prints of the photographs in this gallery for sale. I produce the prints myself using high quality, archival inks and papers. Prints are personally signed and dated, and I offer custom-cut matting as well. Click here for a more detailed description of the range of printing and matting options available, or click the link below to proceed.

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Early evening light on Ministik shoreline

Early evening light on Ministik shoreline


A low angled sun and an approaching summer storm create subtle crepuscular rays above the glowing grass along a lake shore at the Ministik Game Bird Sanctuary .
boreal, cloud, Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary, photograph, shoreline

Fotomoto

Spruce reflection along Ministik lake shore

Spruce reflection along Ministik lake shore


A mirror smooth lake creates a reflection of a typical boreal shoreline of white spruce trees and sedges beneath a clear blue sky.
boreal, Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary, photograph, reflections, shoreline, summer

Fotomoto

Dry grass in evening sunlight

Dry grass in evening sunlight


Warm evening light shines off glowing dried grass along a lake edge at the Ministik Game Bird Sanctuary.
boreal, grass, landscape, Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary, photograph, shoreline

Fotomoto

Moon rise through aspen stand

Moon rise through aspen stand


A glowing full moon rises through a gap in a boreal poplar stand as the last light of the setting sun illuminates the early autumn colours.
autumn, boreal, evening, full moon, landscape, Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary, moon, moonrise, photograph, reflections, shoreline

Fotomoto

Patterns  and tracks on frozen lake

Patterns and tracks on frozen lake


Coyote tracks in fresh snow wander past abstract patterns frozen in lake ice.
Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary, photograph

Fotomoto

Fireweed seed head

Fireweed seed head


An early autumn dust of snow clings to the dried seed pods of a lone fireweed plant.
Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary, photograph

Fotomoto

Grass seed head in winter light

Grass seed head in winter light


Late afternoon light from a low winter sun reflects off the smooth snow of a frozen lake to create a silhouette of a dried grass stem.
evening, grass, Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary, photograph, sunset, winter

Fotomoto

Receding morning frost

Receding morning frost


The last remnants of an autumn morning frost clings to elegant dried leaves in the shadow of a small boulder.
dried leaves, frost, Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary, photograph, sunrise

Fotomoto

Autumn goldenrod colours

Autumn goldenrod colours


A single arching goldenrod plant displays a full range of early autumn colours from violets and oranges to greens and yellows.
autumn, boreal, close-up, colourful, goldenrod, Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary, photograph, shallow depth of field

Fotomoto

Smoke at dusk

Smoke at dusk


The silhouette of a boreal mixedwood stand against a sky turned dark red by smoke from nearby forest fires is reflected in a mirror smooth lake at the Ministik Lake Sanctuary.
boreal, forest fire, lake, Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary, photograph, red, reflections, sky, smoke, sunset

Fotomoto

Ruffed grouse on perch

Ruffed grouse on perch


A female ruffed grouse keeps a close eye on the photographer from a thin perch while her young scramble for a hiding place.
Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary, photograph, ruffed grouse

Fotomoto

Porcupine in winter birch

Porcupine in winter birch


A large porcupine sits on a small branch in a birch tree while eating the bark and buds.
black and white, Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary, photograph, porcupine, stand > birch, winter

Fotomoto

Reed shadow curves

Reed shadow curves


The curving shadows of dried reeds in low-angled winter light create an abstract pattern on a layer of fresh snow.
abstract, Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary, patterns, photograph, shadows, snow, winter

Fotomoto

Ragged dried leaves

Ragged dried leaves


The tattered dried leaves of a fallen aster stem create an almost abstract pattern of light and shadow.
black and white, close-up, flora, leaves, Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary, photograph, ragged, shallow depth of field

Fotomoto

Winter cow parsnip stems

Winter cow parsnip stems


The delicate patterns of a dried cow-parsnip stem and umbel flowers is silhouetted against a layer of freshly fallen snow.
cow-parsnip, dried, flower > forbe, Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary, photograph, winter

Fotomoto

Curves in dried fireweed

Curves in dried fireweed


Even lighting, a close crop, and shallow depth-of-field accentuate the curves of a dried fireweed seedhead
close-up, dried, fireweed, flower > forbe, Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary, morning, patterns, photograph, reflections

Fotomoto

Winter birch

Winter birch


An old, beautifully symmetric paper birch tree stands in silhouette against a pale blue winter morning sky.
birch, Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary, monochome, photograph, silhouette, winter

Fotomoto

Grouse tracks in fresh snow

Grouse tracks in fresh snow


A meandering line of deep tracks in fresh snow shows the progress of a ruffed grouse.
Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary, photograph, ruffed grouse, snow, tracks

Fotomoto

Heavy frost on young birch

Heavy frost on young birch


A heavy frost covers the thin branches of young birch trees on a very cold winter morning.
birch, branches > ~parts, frost, Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary, patterns, photograph

Fotomoto

Low winter sun on birch trunks

Low winter sun on birch trunks


Strong sidelighting and a close composition highlights the curves of two young paper birch trunks.
abstract, Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary, photograph, trunk > birch, winter

Fotomoto

Last autumn reflection

Last autumn reflection


The early autumn colours of a boreal mixedwood stand are reflected in the receding waters of Ministik lake.
autumn, boreal, flora, lake, landscape, Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary, panoramic, photograph, reflections, shoreline

Fotomoto

Receding water

Receding water


The bright dusk sky is reflected in the drying remnants of a drought-shrunken Alberta lake.
abstract, drought, Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary, photograph, shoreline

Fotomoto

Fresh tracks across dry lakebed

Fresh tracks across dry lakebed


A set of animal tracks in a cracked dry lakebed leads to the last water in a drought-stricken Alberta lake.
drought, lake, Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary, photograph, shoreline, tracks

Fotomoto

Bison skull in shallow water

Bison skull in shallow water


An old bison skull adds to the sombre mood of a still lake on an overcast day.
altostratus, calm, lake, Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary, ominous, overcast, photograph, shoreline, sombre

Fotomoto

Owl and aspen at dusk

Owl and aspen at dusk


A Great Horned Owl perched on a bare branch silhouetted against a dusky winter sky.
aspen, great horned owl, Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary, photograph, silhouette, winter

Fotomoto

Aspen shoreline

Aspen shoreline


A dense stand of trembling aspen is reflected in a beaver pond at the Ministik Lake Sanctuary.
aspen, black and white, calm, Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary, parkland, photograph, shoreline

Fotomoto

Fractocumulus reflection

Fractocumulus reflection


Fractocumulus clouds are reflected in shallow water along a rocky shore at the Ministik Lake Sanctuary.
cloud, fractocumulus, lake, Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary, photograph, reflections

Fotomoto

Brooding cloud over Ministik Lake

Brooding cloud over Ministik Lake


A dark summer storm cloud looms over the mirror smooth water surface of Ministik Lake.
boreal, cloud, evening, lake, Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary, photograph, reflections, shoreline, storm, sunset

Fotomoto

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All Images © Jonathan Martin-DeMoor