The trail and ruins both offer extensive opportunities for photography. At the bridge at the bottom of the first hill, you’ll have opportunities to take some broad landscape photos of Meech Lake. Depending upon the weather, the sky and water can offer some glorious blues. The view to the other side of the bridge is not as attractive, but if you like to work with black and white photography, this view will offer you something to work with.

Nature encroaching on and growing through crumbling buildings offers vistas that are a photographer’s dream. Empty windows and missing roofs offer opportunities to experiment with framing, and the mix of foliage and building blocks will occupy you for as long as you have time to be there. A wide-angle lens will help you with landscape-style photos, but a telephoto lens will allow you to take some interesting detail shots. Unless it’s an overcast day, expect a wide dynamic range of light, testing your ability with exposure.

The trees have grown to create a partial canopy over the site, creating a dreamy light that is infused with whatever colour the leaves are when you visit. If you like portrait photography or are looking for a spot to take some fun family photos, you’ll find a number of places where the light is ideal and the background beautiful. Given the way the light is reflected off the canopy of leaves, I recommend doing a custom white balance to avoid capturing a colour cast on your subjects’ skin.

The creek flows differently at every spot on the site. In some areas, the water is plenty and fast. In other areas, it’s a little stream running around large rocks or a healthy falls tumbling down a few metres. It’s a great opportunity to test your skills with shutter speed and to experiment with speeds that will photograph the water with different effects.

Places and Activities in the National Capital Region