Friday, June 20, 2025

Dow's Lake, Differently

On Monday, I left the house early-ish to go for a solo paddle on the Rideau Canal, through the heart of my city. I put my kayak in at the Hartwell Lockstation and paddled all the way to the locks that cut between Parliament Hill and the Chateau Laurier, and back.

I have a YouTube video that documents the trek.

When I reached Dow's Lake, shortly after setting out, I couldn't help but pause and take in how calm the water was. Naturally, I had to take a picture of it.


I've taken countless images of this Ottawa landmark, and even though the background has more tall buildings, it seems, every time I visit Dow's Lake, I wanted to do something different, so that this image wouldn't be like every one before it.

Did you notice what's different right away or did you have to take a second look?

Using Snapseed, I gave the sky, water, and buildings a dramatic look. But that's not how I made this image different. Still not see it?

I've turned the image upside-down and flipped it so that the buildings aren't mirrored.

Whilst in my kayak, I had to paddle backwards to stop my forward momentum, and unfortunately, I added ripples to the water where it was like glass only moments earlier. I should have glided, which would have made the illusion more convincing.

Oh, well.

Happy Friday!

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