A morning at Thames Valley Parkway

Thames Valley Parkway in London, Ontario doesn't get the attention it deserves. Most people walk or jog past it without looking up. I've done that too.

But bring a camera and you start to actually see the place.

The Thames River in March is still half-thawed — patches of ice break apart where the current picks up, and the water runs this cold grey-green that doesn't photograph the way you'd expect. I ended up shooting it anyway. Some of my favourite frames from the morning were the ones I almost passed on.

The parkway runs about 11 km through the city, and depending on where you stop, it feels completely different. Near Gibbons Park the path is wide and open, lots of sky. Further south it narrows and the trees close in, and that's where the light got interesting. Late winter means bare branches, which I actually prefer — you can see the structure of things, how trees hold their shape against a pale sky.

Wildlife was around but not obvious. A couple of herons further up the bank. A few mallards doing nothing in particular near the bridge. I didn't get dramatic shots of any of it, but that's fine. Most nature photography is more waiting than shooting.

The parkway is easy to access from almost anywhere in the city, which means it's also busy on weekends. If you're going to shoot there, go early, go on a weekday, or go in weather that keeps most people inside. Overcast days are honestly better for this kind of thing anyway. Flat light, no harsh shadows, colours read true.

I'll go back in spring when the water level is up and the green comes in. The place is worth a second look.