Author: Jennifer Sawicky Photography

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2019-03-31: March in Review

March’s topic of the month

Heavy sigh, photographically at least.  My topic for the month of March was signs of spring, and I really didn’t get out and capture anything.  I think it would have been wiser to wait for April or even May to really have nice signs of spring to photograph up here, but I was just so anxious to see signs of spring… it was like I was willing it here with the power of my intention.  Even though it didn’t work out with photos, having the topic made me much more aware of the small changes taking place.  The distant early morning call of a robin for the first time this year, seeing my roof shingles, seeing the lawn slowly start to reappear from under the snow, and the absolute joy of going for a walk in runners rather than heavy hiking boots.

What’s new this month

Certainly not many images!  A second Fuji body did make its way into my home though, and I am really excited to be traveling with an X-T2 and an X-T3 for my upcoming travels in May.

5 favourites of the month

What’s coming up next?

April is going to be topic free!  I am trying to work through the last of my editing backlog before traveling at the end of April, so I am going to share what I am working on from past trips.  I know I will be very happy to return home and be able to concentrate on working through new images, rather than still having ones I want to work on hanging around from past adventures.

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2019-03-25: Monochrome Monday

I’m keeping with yesterday’s Palm Springs theme, but this time, a black and white interpretation.

I hope everyone’s week has gotten off to a fantastic start!

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Deconstructed palm trees.
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Palm fronds.
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Joshua Tree at dusk.
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A Joshua tree and a sky full of stars.
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Joshua Tree by day.
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Lots and lots of desert plants, speaking loudly without any words.  So clearly saying “Look, but do not touch”.
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This was taken in the back garden of the property I stayed at.  I kept hearing a familiar call, but didn’t realize that there were flickers in Southern California.  Here, it is being tormented by a couple of Costa’s hummingbird.  All I had to hand was my Panasonic camera, which at full zoom leaves something to be desired, but I’d rather have the moment than not.  I always find it interesting seeing tiny hummingbirds bossing around much larger birds.
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2019-03-24: Palm Springs

I have officially thrown in the towel on my signs of spring topic of the month.  I really should have thought it through a bit more, and made it the topic for April, but c’est la vie, what is done, is done.  I did see my first robin of the year this morning though, so the signs of spring are appearing on a daily basis now, just not in the right context for taking photos.

Anyhow, I thought instead I would share a few more images from my trip to Southern California last October.  I am gearing up for travel at the end of April, and really trying to work through all the backlog of images to edit, so when I get home, I can start right in with new images.  Fingers crossed.

I hope you enjoy my selection, and wishing everyone a fantastic week ahead.

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The desert surrounding Palm Springs.
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Definitely not a plant that you want to walk into!
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Joshua Tree by night.
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Joshua Tree National Park.
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Some of the beautiful boulders in Joshua Tree National Park.
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The Salton Sea near Palm Springs.
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The lake resort that wasn’t.  The picnic tables at the Salon Sea unused, and in disrepair.
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2019-03-17: Signs of Spring

I have not photographed a single sign of spring this week, though I have been enjoying them immensely.  I guess in some ways the topic, photographically at least, has been a fail, but it has been making me more aware, and more appreciative of the little signs that spring is on its way.

Today in fact, it really felt as if spring has arrived.  Despite the lawn still being covered in snow, it was warm enough to sit on my front porch with an iced coffee and my knitting, and enjoy the warmth of the sun for awhile.  Today, that felt a lot more important than rushing around trying to find an image that symbolized the change of seasons.

Instead, here is an image I just finished working on; a 3 shot panorama taken at Phinda Reserve, May 2017.  Everyone knows elephants are my favourite, and they are a great stand-in whenever I need an image.  This was another moment where sitting and allowing life to unfold was just perfect.  Our guide knew the ellies would be heading for the dam, so we drove to it, and just waited.  And they arrived shortly after, in groups of 2 and 3, until we had the scene here unfold.  And then just as quietly, they all headed back into the bush, to carry on with the day.

Wishing everyone a fantastic week ahead.

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2019-03-11: Monochrome Monday

Some leopards to start the week!  Leopards are definitely my favourite cats to watch (well, at least of the cats I have seen so far… once I have the chance to see tigers and jaguars, I’ll have to revisit this statement!)

The first image was taken in Botswana in the Okavango Delta, in a sighting filled will drama (for the humans involved).  Several vehicles from another camp were following this leopard, who was doing what leopards do best, being elusive and sticking to the cover of the bush.  There had been a lot of flooding in the area, and a vehicle got stuck while following this cat, and then a second got stuck, trying to help the first.  Our awesome ranger saved the day and got the vehicles mobile again, but both stuck vehicles missed out on the few photo opportunities that were available, like this one.

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Seeing this image brings back fun memories of a great (and rather muddy) game drive.  This can be a typical leopard sighting; lots of cover, grasses and bushes, but that’s also why I like it, because it is realistic.

This second image was also from the delta, and I have posted of this sighting many times before so I won’t go on and on.  I think though, this shot is how people dream of seeing leopards, but the one above is a far more realistic scenario.

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A gorgeous leopard who spent a late afternoon, through sunset, perched in tree, with only us there to watch.

This final image was taken in South Africa; our guide took us to a sighting of a mama leopard and her two cubs in ravine, and we had a brilliant time watching the cubs playing on the fallen trees, scampering through the swamp, and wrestling with each other.  The cub pictured here was just about to pounce on its sibling, who was a few feet below on the ground.  This was one of those sightings where, as we drove back to camp, our guide told us “we probably should keep this quiet while there are other guests around”.

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A playful leopard cub descending a fallen tree.

 

Just so you know, you can find lots of images like these over in my gallery page!

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2019-03-10: Signs of Spring

Spring is definitely taking its time to arrive here in Prince George.  It’s creeping up, little by little, but the changes aren’t really picturesque.  It is nice though to go outside at midday and feel a tiny bit of warmth to the sunshine now, and see that the snowbanks are receding little by little.

The photos I have today aren’t really a sign of spring, but I am hopeful that I won’t have another opportunity to take them again this year, so I guess it somewhat ties into the theme.

I was walking with Spencer early yesterday morning, it was quite cold and the bare tree branches were covered in frost and ice.  When the sun came up and hit the branches, it was just so pretty.  The trees were sparkling in the warm orange light.  I tried my best to capture it, but taking photos while wearing mittens (and while my glasses were fogging up) is not an easy task!  I wasn’t about to go bare handed when it was -18, so I snapped a couple of photos and hoped for the best.

Like light playing upon moving water, snow and ice sparkling in the sunlight is something that is challenging to really capture in a still image.  I think the magic of seeing it in person is a bit lost, but still, I try.

Wishing everyone a wonderful week ahead.

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