Visiting Giants (27/52)

So I'm a little behind with the weekly posts, but its not due to lack of photos! Here is one I took a couple of months ago in my quest to visit the big old growth trees that have survived in the Vancouver surrounds. This one is a big redcedar on the Cedar Trail along the west side of Lynn Creek.

Big Lynn Creek Cedar. 70D, ISO800, 1/40s, f/8, 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 at 18 mm

Burrard Inlet Sunset (26/52)

One of the nicer sunsets in a while and I happened to be in the right place at the right time. On a very hot Sunday I waited for it to cool down a little before I went for an evening paddle in Burrard Inlet. On the return the sky lit up with amazing colors. The waves on the inlet were creating an ever changing pattern of reflections. For good measures I took quite a few shots to make sure I got one where the reflections were just right to match the composition in the sky.

Sunset is still quite late so I had to hustle loading up the kayak to get out of Barnett Park before the gate closed at 10PM.

July Sunset - NEX6, 16-55 @ 16mm, f/6.3, 1/100s, ISO100, -0.3

On the Water (25/52)

Whenever I want a small and light photo kit I grab my trusty Sony Nex6. Almost always I'm very pleased with the quality of images I come back with. The weekend paddle tour in Howe Sound was no exception.
Just so much easier to put the little camera back into the dry bag in time before a motorboat zooms past creating a big wave (or before a whale makes a big splash). I also like the electronic view finder for checking focus on images.

Anvil Island in Howe Sound. Nex6, 16-55 @ 16 mm, f16, 1/160, ISO 100

Alpine Wanderings - Seed Peak (22/52)

Third time lucky! Bagged Seed Peak on the weekend. It was on our list for a couple of years. Nice trail through majestic mountain hemlock old growth, along an alpine ridge with gorgeous views and up the (still) snowy bowl of Seed Peak. The only drawback were the many wash-outs on Mamquam FSR. Our trusty Tracker overcame several of the obstacles but in the end we had to hike more than an hour on the logging road to get to the trail head. Photo shows us coming down from Seed Peak, Mt Gillespie in the middle and Judge Howay and Mt Baker on the horizon.

Bridge and Fraser River - Canyons and Sagebrush (21/52)

Over the years we have done several trips to explore the Bridge River and Fraser Canyon area around Lillooet, so I decided it was high time to revisit the area. Over the weekend I crossed ways with several bears (mostly seeing the hind end of them running away), stayed at the still deserted BC Hydro camp site at Carpenter Lake and found some new angles to look at familiar sights.

Here are images from the weekend: the Coliseum (Horseshoe Bend) on the Bridge River, site of quite a few exciting paddling adventures, Carpenter Lake and the Fraser Canyon.We must always have been in a rush to get on the water as I never had a look at the Bridge River Coliseum from this particular view point. It shows the rapids very well!

Ephemeral Green (20/52)

I love the time in spring when the first leaves appear on bushes and trees. Sun rays painting everything in various shades of bright green. This never lasts long, but the time can be extended by traveling to a higher elevation.

Here are two images taken in Pemberton in early April on one of those day when I was done with paragliding well before Pete had his fill. Making the best of this opportunity I hopped in the car and went on this afternoon photo excursion.

Yellow Fields in Germany (19/52)

An interesting example of how politics change landscapes: thanks to subsidies for alternative fuel production, Germany is yellow with (Raps) canola fields in bloom. I'm enjoying this display of colors and was hoping to get some nice images. The one below was taken near Jena where we went to see the many orchids (Frauenschuh - Ladyslipper and Knabenkraut) growing in the nearby limestone hills.