The CN Tower by Night and Day and a Reflected Surprise

Last week I had an opportunity to photograph Toronto's CN Tower from a vantage point not available to many and to do so over a period of several hours.  I took a lot of images that night and through into the early morning.  

The first photograph was taken shortly after midnight and and includes both the moon and part of the Rogers Centre.  The CN Tower is lit up, as are the buildings and the Gardiner Expressway.  The city is vibrant, interesting and full of life.

Toronto's CN Tower, the Gardner Expressway and part of the Rogers Centre

Toronto's CN Tower, the Gardner Expressway and part of the Rogers Centre

These next three images were taken from the same vantage point at different times.  The first shows a similar image to the previous one, but without the Rogers Centre and with more of the newly-constructed Sun Life Financial Tower.  Although the CN Tower is prominent, it becomes less so as the sky lightens.  I've shifted the focus more to the Sun Life building and the reason I did that becomes clear in the last shot.

CN Tower at night

CN Tower at night

Not Quite Dawn

Not Quite Dawn

I like the night shots of the city.  Toronto is vibrant, and changing all the time, with new construction everywhere.  But I find the image that really delights me is the last one.  Morning has arrived and with it a glorious and unusual view of Lake Ontario and the Toronto Islands.  Remember…this shot was taken looking north and west; the lake is to the south.  This lake view is new, it didn't exist last year.  It's a reflection in a building that's still under construction.  This building may block part of the view of the city as you look north but to my mind it's given back something better - an interestingly lit building at night and a spectacularly different shimmering lake by day.  Beautiful.

Reflected Vista

Reflected Vista

I'm delighted and grateful that I was able to see Toronto in such a special way and that I had the opportunity to photograph it.