Birds at Finn Slough

Swan

It’s been several weeks since I went on my last photo walk with my class, but life has gotten in the way of putting together a post of my favourite photos.

The purpose of the trip was to concentrate on the altered landscape, but instead I was focused on all the birds.  I rarely see swans in the local area, and on the drive in went past a field filled with them.  There was no where to pull over to take a photo, and I was glad when I arrived at Finn Slough and had another opportunity for a photo.

Mallard Ducks

Tucked up against the rain

Great Blue Heron in a tree

Cooper's Hawk

I was lucky enough to have my camera while out on a walk early yesterday morning along the dikes.  It was quite foggy, and I was hoping to capture a few shots for a project I am working on.  I saw some moment in the tall grasses along the edge of the river, and managed to capture a sequence of a Cooper’s Hawk hunting.  I didn’t manage to see in the end if he or she was success in the hunt, but it was still a great thing to witness.  The thick fog adds a bit of a vintage feel to the pictures.

Cooper's Hawk 1 Cooper's Hawk-6 Cooper's Hawk-5 Cooper's Hawk-4 Cooper's Hawk-3 Cooper's Hawk-2

Autumn Days

Each year, the transition into autumn hits me harder and harder.  I find the grey skies and rain day after day a bit much to handle (the colder temperatures don’t impress me that much either).  However, we have recently had some gorgeous weather, and I’m glad I had my camera with me to capture a little bit of it.

Flock of Geese Sunny Afternoon Mountains Fun at the river

I had my “photo assistant” along to enjoy the lovely weather.  While I took photos of the river, he dug in the sand 🙂

Autumn Reflection

This young deer was not far from where I saw several bears a few days earlier.  I'm glad I was prepared this time with the correct lens.
This young deer was not far from where I saw several bears a few days earlier. I’m glad I was prepared this time with the correct lens.

Autumn Sunrise Foggy Tree Autumn Days Foggy Mountains Foggy Tree 2 Foggy Branches

 

Pacific Spirit Park

I spent time with my landscape photography class at Pacific Spirit Park last weekend, taking photographs on the theme of texture and patterns in the forest. It turned out to be a lovely day as the rains had stopped and the occasional sun beam burst through the trees.

I hadn’t planned on posting any photos, but when reviewing my favourites with some classmates in my Photoshop course, I was told that I should be enlarging and printing on canvas my forest photo. It’s not something I’m planning on doing, but I thought it is at least worth a share on my blog.

Pacific Spirit Park - Sun in the trees

Branches forming the shape of a heart
Branches forming the shape of a heart

Whistler

I spent the Labour Day long weekend at Whistler, enjoying wonderful company and witnessing the marriage of two lovely friends 🙂  The weather was perfect, and the beer and wine were free flowing.  I dragged up all my camera gear… and made very little use of it.  I was simply too busy relaxing and socializing to spend too much time staring through my viewfinder.

But I did take a few photos…

You can't get a more postcard perfect day than this!
You can’t get a more postcard perfect day than this!
The ski hills don't look nearly as inviting like this - but I certainly prefer the hot sunny weather to the snow!
The ski hills don’t look nearly as inviting like this – but I certainly prefer the hot sunny weather to the snow!
I'm not sure exactly what this little one is, but it stayed still long enough for a crisp close up.
I’m not sure exactly what this little one is, but it stayed still long enough for a crisp close up.
Green Lake and the mountains
Green Lake and the mountains
A beautiful clear night for a BBQ and some beers (I highly recommend Whistler Brewing Co. Grapefruit Ale).
A beautiful clear night for a BBQ and some beers (I highly recommend Whistler Brewing Co. Grapefruit Ale).
My first attempt at a star trail photo.  I had a few issues with the interval timer (i.e. not knowing properly how to set it) resulting in some gaps... but all in all I am not displeased with my first go.
My first attempt at a star trail photo. I had a few issues with the interval timer (i.e. not knowing properly how to set it) resulting in some gaps… but all in all I am not displeased with my first go.
A panorama of Green Lake, just past upper Whistler Village on the way to Pemberton.
A panorama of Green Lake, just past upper Whistler Village on the way to Pemberton.

Maple Ridge

I’ve been neglecting working on this blog for some time – and even though I don’t have much to say about these photos, I really need to get back in the habit of posting.

I spent some time out in Maple Ridge collecting a few final shots for a photography assignment, here are some of my favourites.

The forest at Cliff Falls, Maple Ridge, BC
The forest at Cliff Falls, Maple Ridge, BC
I love long exposures of moving water.
I love long exposures of moving water.

Cliff Park

Cliff Falls in Maple Ridge, BC with a long exposure
Cliff Falls in Maple Ridge, BC with a long exposure
I was taking interval photos to practice star trails, and while this one was quite boring, I did like this one photo.  I don't know if that is a plane or a shooting star going across the top o the photo.  September 2013
I was taking interval photos to practice star trails, and while the final star trail photo was quite boring, I did like this shot. I don’t know if that is a plane or a shooting star going across the top o the photo. September 2013

Nature – Close to Home

I’m currently taking another digital photography course, so I have been busy the last few weeks snapping photos to meet very specific parameters. I was happy as the assignment this week was for landscape photos, both natural and urban.

Heron Awesome cloud reflections

Moth

I don’t yet have a macro lens, but I do really like the results of the close ups shown below – even though they really make me feel as if fall is on the way.

Dandelion Blade of grass Spent flower

On a larger scale, I captured this lovely sunset near an area where I normally walk Spencer. I often see ducks, geese, heron and the occasional hawk and bald eagle in the area, as well as coyotes if we head out early enough.

River Sunset

Mountain Sunset

Not the sharpest photo, as I was looking towards the shoreline for photos that would highlight texture.  A beautiful sighting though.
Not the sharpest photo, as I was looking towards the shoreline for photos that would highlight texture. A beautiful sighting though.

The Unexpected Great Blue Heron Photo Shoot

Pitt River Bridge, June 2013 1/30, f22, ISO100, 65mm
Pitt River Bridge, June 2013
1/30, f22, ISO100, 65mm

I headed out at 6am on Saturday, armed with a travel mug of coffee, my camera, tripod and ND filter, in the hopes of practicing some long exposure landscape photos at the Pitt River. My intention was to work on techniques that when converted to monochrome, renders the water looking misty and any clouds in the sky ethereal. But the BC weather foiled me again – it was TOO NICE. I won’t complain about that, ever, I just couldn’t photograph what I had hoped to.

Coquitlam in the distance, June 2013 1/10, f22, ISO100, 55mm
Coquitlam in the distance, June 2013
1/10, f22, ISO100, 55mm

I’ve noted the settings that I have used and some of the combinations may seem a bit odd.  I was playing around in manual mode and while it was bright, I was in the shade.  Since I had my tripod, I went with the one thing my instructor repeated a good half dozen times in class “If you have access to a tripod, you have no reason to use anything other than ISO 100.”

Great Blue Heron, Pitt Meadows, BC, June 2013 1/350, f5.6, ISO 100, 300mm
Great Blue Heron, Pitt Meadows, BC, June 2013
1/350, f5.6, ISO 100, 300mm
Mirror Images, June 2013 1.0sec, f38, ISO100, 48mm
Mirror Images, June 2013
1.0sec, f38, ISO100, 48mm

The river was smooth like glass and a lovely Great Blue Heron sat on a pillar in the water the entire time I was out, giving me the opportunity for some lovely shots of both the hills and the water, and the heron. I’m sure I’ll be back to African animals later in the week, but I was pretty happy with these shots, taken so close to home.

Great Blue Heron, Pitt Meadows, BC, June 2013 1/30, f5.6, ISO 100, 300mm
Great Blue Heron, Pitt Meadows, BC, June 2013
1/30, f5.6, ISO 100, 300mm
Great Blue Heron, June 2013 1/30, f5.6, ISO 100, 300mm
Great Blue Heron, June 2013
1/30, f5.6, ISO 100, 300mm
Mirror image Great Blue Heron, Pitt Meadows BC, June 2013 1/125, f11, ISO 100, 120mm
Mirror image Great Blue Heron, Pitt Meadows BC, June 2013
1/125, f11, ISO 100, 120mm
error: Content is protected !!