British Columbia – Page 15 – Jennifer Sawicky Photography

September 30, 2014

Surveying murky water

I’m sure the purpose of the orange floating plastic is to prevent debris from entering the pumping station (which is to the left just out of the shot), but this time of year, the only purpose seems to be separating murky water from even murkier water. The herons seem to find it a great place to spend the mornings, as it has been a rare walk the few months when I haven’t seen a heron in or around this location.

I was lucky as I was able to get quite close to the heron to take the photo below. Spencer stayed calm and quiet and I think we got within about 15 feet before the heron started looking a bit uncomfortable, so we backed off to allow it to get back to searching for some breakfast.

September 23, 2014

Belted Kingfisher

A couple of weekends ago, I was out for my usual morning walk with Spencer when I finally had the chance to get some photos of the kingfisher that I have been seeing intermittently for the last year. The kingfisher was out along the river where I normally see the herons and ospreys, so I wasn’t able to get the crisp, clear shots I have been hoping for all this time. But, I had a great sighting, which is all that really matters to me!

While we were on our return along the dikes, the kingfisher was flying from one wooden post to the next, in the same direction we were headed. I tried a few shots each time she stopped at a different location, but the distance was the always just about the same, so there wasn’t much difference in the shots. Right near the end of the dike, I stopped to take one more shot, and managed to catch a sequence of the kingfisher diving, catching a small fish, dropping it, and then flying away.

September 15, 2014

Pitt Meadows Fire

While heading out for my walk last Sunday morning, I saw a huge column of smoke the minute I left my building. I snapped these photos from out of the passenger side window, as even when pulled well over on the road, I didn’t want to be out of my vehicle and get in the way of emergency services heading to the blaze. It only seemed right to wait to go through the photos until I had heard the news report about what happened. Thankfully, loss of property only.

Emergency vehicle lights and cedar trees ablaze.

For this shot I was about 3 kilometres away; the black smoke dominates the morning skyline.

Looking in the direction away from the smoke, it was a truly gorgeous morning.

By the end of our walk, the winds had changed, moving the smoke over the river.

September 1, 2014

Deer at Pitt River

It was a wonderful weekend for photography while out walking with the dog. I’ve got lots of photos to go through and edit 🙂

I spotted a deer along the river! It wasn't long before I realized there were two, resting in the grasses along the river. 1/500sec, f7.1, ISO5600 — I spotted a deer along the river! It wasn’t long before I realized there were two resting in the grasses along the river.
1/500sec, f7.1, ISO5600

I’ve only seen deer along the Pitt River a few times, and each time it has been on the far side of the dike, away from the river. Yesterday, I caught a pair of deer relaxing in the long grasses in the flats along the river. Once they caught sight of me, they didn’t stick around long, but it was lovely to have the chance to watch them for a few minutes.

The deer was definitely watching me to see if I posed any danger to it. 1/500sec, f5.6, ISO3600 — The deer was definitely watching me to see if I posed any danger to it.
1/500sec, f5.6, ISO3600

Always alert for danger - it was time to get on the move. 1/500sec, f7.1, ISO6400 — Always alert for danger – it was time to get on the move.
1/500sec, f7.1, ISO6400

The leader and the follower. 1/500sec, f7.1, ISO5000 — The leader and the follower.
1/500sec, f7.1, ISO5000

Once they decided to head for cover, they did so with purpose. 1/500sec, f7.1, ISO4000 — Once they decided to head for cover, they did so with purpose.
1/500sec, f7.1, ISO4000

Wandering along the edge of the river, right towards the heron sitting on the stump. 1/500sec, f7.1, ISO2000 — Wandering along the edge of the river, right towards the heron sitting on the stump.
1/500sec, f7.1, ISO2000

After heading off along the bank of the river, both deer soon disappeared into a small clump of trees. 1/500sec, f7.1, ISO2200 — After heading off along the bank of the river, both deer soon disappeared into a small clump of trees.
1/500sec, f7.1, ISO2200

August 25, 2014

Tug Boat

August 24, 2014

Great Blue Heron – Tree Pose

For some reason, seeing this heron perched on one leg reminded me of tree pose in yoga class.

A great blue heron perches on one leg atop a submerged log in the Pitt River. 1/800sec, f5.6, ISO900 — A great blue heron perches on one leg atop a submerged log in the Pitt River.
1/800sec, f5.6, ISO900

August 23, 2014

Robin Chicks

Just now while doing some work on the computer, I heard quite a bit of peeping from my open window. I’m used to having a robin in my little yard quite often, but today, she was here with her two chicks. I didn’t want to scare them away, so I wasn’t able to get Mom in the shot with the two youngsters; I was just glad I was able to get outside to take a few shots as through the window screen was not yielding great results!

All photos at 1/800sec, f5.6, ISO6400

August 23, 2014

Recreating a shot

A few weeks ago, I came across a heron perched on a water level post along the dikes, and while I was able to create an interesting silhouette from the photograph I took, it wasn’t at all how I had envisioned what the final image would look like. Since I had never seen a heron on that post before, I didn’t think it likely I would get the chance to try again for the shot I wanted, but it came only a week later. This time, I was able to approach slowly enough to shoot from a few different angles, and get some crisp shots of the heron.

August 21, 2014

Ospreys

Here are a few osprey photos from the past two weeks that I liked, but have only just had the chance to work on. They don’t really go together as a grouping, but I wanted to get them posted, as I am hoping to have some good sightings on the upcoming weekend 🙂