Category Archives for landscape photography

McDougall Church, Cochrane Alberta

McDougall United Chruch, and Museum, Morley Alberta

McDougall Church, Cochrane Alberta

Almost every photographer I know has a picture of this tiny Methodist church that sits just west of Cochrane Alberta, just off highway 1A on your way to Banff.  If you are driving to Banff National Park and want to visit the historic site you have to take highway 1A, the slow and scenic route, it is our favourite way to travel.

The day we visited the storm clouds were looming above, gathering for what later turned out to be quite the snow storm, there was just enough light breaking through the clouds and along the horizon for a dramatic images. Light was reflecting off the snow around the church giving it enough light to show detail in the siding, and the wind howling across the prairies.  Not a great day for walking, but a great day for pictures.

Blogging has been rather hit and miss lately, but I am trying to get back to blogging regularly, wish me luck!

Camino to Santiago de Compostela, a journey not just a destination

Rock Bridge, Galicia Spain

Rock Bridge, Galicia Spain

“Focus on the journey not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it”        Greg Anderson

One of the things we found while walking the Camino to Santiago de Compostela, is the same thing we have found and experienced in many other areas of our life. People are goal oriented and want to reach the next destination. On the walk people were getting up well before dawn and walking in the dark, little headlights on their forehead, trying to find the next arrow or marker.  This is fine if you have spent some time the day before surveying the route out-of-town. But why walk in the dark.  Yes it is a quiet time of the day, and you can be out-of-town before the traffic gets bad, but in the small town on the country road that we were walking traffic was never a problem.

I do understand that the summer heat of Spain can make walking in mid afternoon difficult, so that might be a consideration during the summer months for some people. But walking in the dark means that you really can’t see and enjoy the town, or the countryside, the signs, the shrines or farms that you are walking by.

It isn’t reaching our goal or destination that shapes our journey, it is each mile or milestone along the way that shapes our soul.  It it the sights, sounds, people and experiences we have along the way that is what we, what I wanted to remember.  I would say to anyone planning this journey to take your time, enjoy the sights, the sounds, get to know the people along the way, live each moment of the journey.

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The Camino to Santiago de Compostela and Thich Nhat Hahn…..

Horse stands on the windy ridge of the Pryenees Mountains

Horse stands on the windy ridge of the Pryenees Mountains 

“The mind can go in a thousand directions. But on this beautiful path, I walk in peace.  With each step a cool wind blows. With each step a flower blooms.”  Thich Nhat Hanh 

I have been reading poetry by Thich Nhat Hanh and it often reminds me of the quiet days of walking the Camino to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. My mind could wander in a thousand directions, but it wasn’t until I focused my thoughts on the path before me, on the beauty around me that I truly began to enjoy the walk.  But if I wasn’t in the present moment I could walk and not see a thing, not remember the road I walked.

While on the Camino I learned that I had to stay conscous, I need to be thinking of what is in front of me, how it was shaped by the light, I and to think the story I wanted to tell, if I didn’t I was just getting snap shots or passing events. But it wasn’t work, I somehow managed to make it sound like work, but it wasn’t, it make the Camino, our journey, more enjoyable, more memorable.

This is a bigger problem for me at home, driving to work, thinking about all the things I have to do that day, and before I know it I am at the office, and I don’t remember the trip, what did I miss?  Did I miss waving to a friend, or the beauty of the sunrise.  Or while at work, getting caught up in the job, the chaos, going through the motions, and not really being engaged.

How about you, are you on a beautiful path, is your life blooming before you, are you finding small nugets of joy in your day/chaos?

 

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Imperial Sand Dunes, Arizona and California

Imperial Sand Dunes Arizona

Imperial Sand Dunes Arizona & California

Morning as probably my most favourite part of the day. During sunrise the world is usually quiet, this is a beginning of a new day and new possibilities

The Imperial Sand Dunes are a recreational area for lovers of dune buggies, and all terrain vehicles, and most of them have not yet started their day or their buggies at sunrise.

The shapes and textures of the dunes is much more visible in the early morning light than any other time of the day.

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The Plank Road of Imperial County, California

The Plank Road of Imperial Valley, California

The Plank Road of Imperial Valley, California  

Last week we went to Yuma Arizona to visit my parents who “winter” in the warmer climate.  Before our trip I goggled the area and things to do.  I had read about the Imperial Sand Dunes, and the historic Plank Road.  In 1915 the first planks of a one lane road were laid down so that automobiles could be driven across the burning desert of the Imperia County.  maintenance was a problem, and by 1926 ans asphalt concrete highway had been built to replace old plank road.

There is little left of the old road, Bill and I visited the area one morning at sunrise, my favorite time of day! the metal is twisted, torn and rusted, planks are missing, having been used by campers for firewood, torn up to make room for the canal.  What little is left is almost 100 years old, and is slowly being taken over by the same and the plants.   It is a beautiful place to see the sunrise.

 

Alberta Winter; Panorama Landscape of Southern Alberta in the winter

winter on the prairies

Alberta Winter

Winter hit Alberta in a big way yesterday, and heavy snow blanket’s southern Alberta according to the cbc report.

Strong winds and anywhere from 15 to 25 centimetres of snow was in the forecast for Calgary Sunday, and another five centimetres could fall on Monday.  The Calgary police were advising motorist to stay off city roads because of dangerous conditions. I took their advise seriously and stayed home to get a few things done!   This image was taken last winter, looking south on highway 21. It had been a cold and windy day, the storm brewing on the horizon.

All I can say is I am looking forward to spring.

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Grandpa’s Car; Old Photos bring back Memories

Grandpa's Car

Grandpa’s Car

“A smile happens in a flash, but its memory can last a lifetime.” - author unknown

Grandpa’s car was eventually parked up behind the old farm-house. It was no longer drivable, but I do remember driving it, and Grandpa home from town on the occasional Saturday night when he had been in town a little too long. It was our time to visit, and lots of time he sang to me was we drove down the dirt road to the farm. He wanted me to sing with him, and I eventually learned the chorus of some of his old wartime songs!

As the quote above states, memories can last a lifetime, and photos like this brings those memories back to mind, and bring a smile to my face.  Photos are a great tool for awakening our memories and bringing a smile to our face, and I love to go  back through old photos for those smiles.

This image was copied from an old slide, then color enhanced with photoshop and a blur layer added. I have always like the photo because of it’s memories, but it did have some  problems.  After reading about artistic blue on Kateyestudio I thought I would dig it out and give it another try.  I am happy with these results: I like the deep color of the car and grass, the blur around the trees and edges, it is as if the wind is blow by the movement in contrast to the car.

Let me know what you think.

turn your face to the sun – maori proverb, and photography

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stone circle at sunset, Ireland

stone circle at sunset, Ireland

“Turn your face to the sun and all the shadows fall behind you!”…Maori Proverb; the quote is perfect for photographers, unless of course we want our shadow in the picture; when photographing people it is better if they are facing away from the sun as well.

We visited Ireland a few years ago now, I stopped at every stone circle we found, there are more being found all the time.  This photo was taken at sunset, the sun flare over the circle and through the large gap of standing stones a some depth and some magic. The photo would have been taken near the end of September, close to the time of the fall equinox, and we can image watching the sunset or sunrise as those who built the circle did many years ago.

It is Wednesday of another busy week, I hope your weeks is a good one filled.

Palm Umbrella

Palm umbrella

Palm umbrella


delicate leafy palm umbrella.
I have been working through my library of images, processing them and getting them ready for the stock agency. The work has me going back through some holiday pictures of warm weather holiday places. It is cold outside, not the -20C that it might be in Ottawa! but it is winter in Canada, and since I am not able to get away for a warm weather holiday at this time this seems like a good place to be, tucked away in my cozy office/studio looking at holiday pictures!
I love the delicate feathery stems that reach out from the center of the tree providing a cool green all natural umbrella.

Travellers Overlooking the Caribbean Ocean

Overlooking the Caribbean Ocean

Overlooking the Caribbean Ocean

Driving home last night it was cold, foggy; this morning when I woke up the frost covered the trees, it was snowing and right now it is -6C.  As far as winter in Canada the temperatures really aren’t that cold, and admittedly it is much colder in other parts of the country.  But like most Canadians at this point of the year we are dreaming of travelling to someplace warmer!

This photo was taken sometime ago and the travellers/tourists out sightseeing, are enjoying not only the nice warm ideal weather, but the beautiful view of the Caribbean Ocean. Their dark silhouette against the blue ocean and framed by the tree makes it a perfect postcard memory!

How about you where would you like to be standing today?