Mount Nemo Conservation Area Is Magic For Early Morning Photos

Taking photos in the morning light is magic. So when our photographer friend, Mark, suggested we do a photography lesson at Mount Nemo Conservation Area on an early summer morning, we jumped at the opportunity.

Mark loves to take photos – it’s a hobby turned into a side gig for him. He knows his stuff and we wanted to pick up a few pointers on how to shoot better.

So, he recommended we meet up at Mount Nemo, located in the north part of Burlington, northwest of Toronto.

And it was magic!

Hiking At Mount Nemo: A Quiet Spot For Morning Photography

Since Mount Nemo Conservation Area is a lushly forested park with gorgeous Niagara Escarpment views, it’s a great spot for photographers.

Usually, during the daytime, Mount Nemo is one of the busiest conversation areas outside of the Greater Toronto Area.

It’s part of a group of conversation areas managed by Halton Conservation. They dot the area where the Niagara Escarpment crosses the central part of Ontario.

We arrived just before the park opened, paid for our parking at the self-serve fee station and started hiking with cameras slung around our necks.

Mark was right. Just as the light is perfect in the evening, the soft light in the morning makes for a perfect outdoor photo.

With Tim Horton’s coffees in hand, we talked about photography tips Mark showed me how to take backlit photos of a leaf.

We talked about using the aperture feature on our cameras for better control of light. And we talked about how the morning light makes for soft lighting on subjects.

Then we were off to put these tips into action on the trails at Mount Nemo Conservation Area!

| Related: Family Fun At Mountsberg Conservation Area

Morning Light For Nature Photography Is Great For Hikers

We went hiking very early at Mount Nemo Conservation Area primarily because I wanted to learn new photography skills from Mark.

However, there are a few other reasons why I loved the 7 a.m. walk.

• The Golden Hour! The first hour after sunrise, and the last hour before sunset offers the best illumination of natural subjects and landscapes. The sun is low in the sky, making a diffused light that softly illuminates your subject. It goes by quickly, so you may need to go back to your location a few times to capture everything you would like to with your camera.
• No distractions! There are almost no other hikers on the trail at this time of the day. Mount Nemo is one of the more popular places for Torontonians and locals for walking in nature. It gets busier as the day progresses. There’s nothing worse than being distracted by a group of people tramping through the forest. You have time to set up your shot in peace. Nobody is passing by you on the trail and nobody is standing in your way. If you have a tripod (recommended), you don’t have somebody tripping over the legs.
• Backlighting. You can capture photos with cool effects. Backlit leaves and flowers, spider webs, sun-bathed valleys and landscapes, and sunlight streaming through a misty forest make for interesting photos.

Tips For Morning Photography At Mount Nemo Conservation Area

We always come prepared for day hikes, and it’s no different with an early morning photo session in a natural setting. Come prepared!

• Arrive early to set up. While we arrived just at the perfect time, I would recommend getting to your destination a bit earlier to get your camera and tripod set up. You may need a flashlight (or your phone if it has a flashlight feature) to see the camera settings.
• Bring a tripod! Even if the light is brilliant, you may want to get a steady-handed shot in dimmer conditions.
• Wear the right boots. I confess I went off the trail just a little bit (bad Margaret) to try and get a sunlit shot of a spider weaving his web. As I was balancing on a rock and rotting branch and not using my tripod, the photos came out a bit shaky. Hiking boots are a must if you are on uneven ground and always a must-have if you’re hiking the Niagara Escarpment trails.
• Speaking of Escarpments, please, please, please use common sense. A great shot is not worth your life. Stay clear of the Escarpment edge!
• Dress for the morning temperature. We wore layers, so as the morning got warmer, we could peel them off. While the weather conditions weren’t the best with cloudy skies, passing rain showers and a brisk wind, it was nevertheless one of the better hikes I had in a long time because I was comfortable.
• Bring a hot drink. We also had our coffee with us. Bring a small snack and thermos with coffee or tea to keep you warm if the morning is very cool.

Mount Nemo Conservation Area Is Beautiful

This was my first time hiking the trails at Mount Nemo Conservation Area and I would highly recommend them.

They offer not only beautiful views of the landscape below the escarpment but also trees and plants for detailed photography.

The next time you want to sleep in, you may want to remind yourself:  “The early bird gets the worm.” And in this case… “the early bird gets the shot.”

Visiting Mount Nemo Conservation Area: Things To Do

What can you experience at Mount Nemo?

Here are the highlights of visiting Mount Nemo:

• Brock Harris Lookout
• Hiking trails: from easy kid-friendly trails to rugged terrain for a good hiking workout, there are several under 2km for easy walks
• Climbing: several spots for rock climbers

How To Get To Get To Mount Nemo

Head north on Guelph Line, north of Dundas Street. You’ll see signage on the right hand side.

For more information about Mount Nemo and how to get there, please visit the park’s page on the Halton Conservation website.

A few nearby Conservation Areas and other natural parks to check out for photography include:

• Hilton Falls Conservation Area (Winter scenes)
• Dundas Valley Conservation Area in Dundas, near Hamilton
• The Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington
• The Rattray Marsh in Mississauga

QUESTION: Would you wake up early in the morning to capture the perfect photo?

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