With all the rain that California received this winter, I decided to visit Borrego Springs in hopes to capture some flowering desert plants. I wasn’t disappointed! In some areas, the desert floor was blanketed with color; purples, pinks, yellow and white too. The desert is sometimes referred to as the flowering desert and I could see why; I have never seen the desert so vibrant with color! I walked around for quite some time before I found this composition; one that would lead your eyes to the distant mountains (which adds to its overall scale). With my camera on a tripod, and only a foot from the ground, and only a inches from the foreground flowers, I used my wide angle lens. Then, I had to take multiple images and stack them (in post production) to get the depth of field I desired. The purple flowered plant are called, “Desert Sand Verbena’s”. They’re creepers that grow wild (and well after rains), in the sands of Mexico, California and Arizona and can cover vast areas (as I saw!). The sweet scented “Dune Evening Primrose” (the white flowers) grow to 18 inches tall and grow in clusters of up to 40 inches in diameter. They can be found in all of the southern states, especially around sandy dunes. They also go by other names, including; Desert Primrose, Birdcage Evening Primrose, Devil’s Lantern, Lion-in-a-cage and Basket Evening Primrose.
I arrived at Elk Island National Park, in central Alberta, just as darkness took over the landscape. I was hoping to hone in on some Milky Way photography, knowing that the lake and islands would provide some valued interest to the photo. With great anticipation and in the darkness of night, I set out with a my camera gear on my back, bear spray in hand and my puppy Arlo by my side. With the assistance of a headlamp, I walked to Astotin Lake and hiked along the northern lakeside trail. As I walked I noticed some strange noises that seemed to be following me and I could hear some bugling elk and howling coyotes in the distance (admittedly, it was a bit unnerving!). I told myself, “It’s just rabbits and birds, scouring about and the animals are so far away”..... I didn’t linger (lol). Unfortunately though, by the time I got to the spot where I knew the islands, lake and with the Milky Way would align, it had clouded over. All was not lost however because I did get this spectacular photo. In this photo, both the city lights of Edmonton and the blue of evening falling, were very faint but there was just enough light for a 30 second exposure. The addition of these two lovely young ladies (who just happened to be there) added a much needed focal point. I asked if they wouldn’t mind standing still for 30 seconds, and they enthusiastically agreed (I was thrilled, and thankful!). Back in my RV, I enjoyed a hot cup of tea and I reflected on my day. Happiness is truly in the accumulation of micro-moments and with that thought, I enthusiastically planned my next day!
As mentioned previously, I’ve started to hone in on some more intimate scenes, like this one. Being so very visual, I tend to notice smaller scenes and with more practice of late, I’m starting to feel much more confident in pulling it all together. Although this photo may not resonate with everyone, I'm drawn to it's mystical qualities. I’ve often pondered, what takes an image from being a “snapshot”, to a piece majestic piece of “art”? It’s starts with the photographer observing the elements. That said, before composing this photograph, I considered these five things: 1. Geometry (the placement of the tree in the frame) 2. The color or colors (I loved the monochromatic look). 3. Luminosity (I loved the addition of the fog). 4. Contrast (soft light results in low contrast). 5. Mood (what was the general mood I wanted to capture). This photograph was taken in an ancient forest on Vancouver Island, BC. The cascading hairs are often referred to as “Old Man’s Beard” or “Grandfather’s Beard” but I’ve known it as “Witch’s beard” (hmmm......). They’re in the lichen family and are known as “Bearded Lichen (Usnea Longissima). They can grow up to 20 feet in length and with this tree hanging over a ridge, these beards were darn close!
Iconic landmarks such as Horseshoe Bend Arizona, are not always my favorite images to shoot but they’re a “must have” in any photographer’s portfolio or travel blog. The challenge then is to make my shot unique in some way. For example, I included the right and left ledge that I was standing on; this gives the image a sense of depth and distance. Horseshoe Bend is located on the north-eastern tip of Arizona; very near to the fast growing community of Page. The Colorado River was dammed in Page in 1966 and since then boating and house-boating have become a huge attraction. That said, due to its proximity to The Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon it has become a huge tourist hub. The first time I visited Horseshoe Bend (in 2014) there was just a small gravel parking lot with only a couple parked cars but now there’s a visitors center and a huge paved (and packed!!) parking lot. Gone are the days when I had the joy of being there virtually by myself. That said, when I took this photo I was so scared that someone would come up behind me and push me over the edge; a 1000 foot (300M) drop.... YIKES! If you decide to visit Page, you’ll likely need more than one day and I would suggest you book your tour for Antelope Canyon asap. The next time I visit the area, I’d like to kayaking through the boulders of Lake Powell :-) *Many of the houseboats on Lake Powell were manufactured in my old hometown of Sicamous BC, Canada.
Swans, such a beautiful and majestic bird. I named this beautiful image “Free To Fly” in memory of my Father and my late husband’s Mother(93) for how they’ve inspired me. My Dad displayed strength and taught me to stand proud, while my Mother-In-Law showed me compassion and taught me grace. Together (like these swans), they taught me how to courageously take flight…. gracefully on my own. The swan is a symbol of love, devotion and partnership (likely because they mate for life), and have also come to symbolize the ability to overcome challenges, and represents transformations. The swan is the traditional symbol of beauty, elegance and grace. It’s considered unlucky to bring them harm to a swan; in some cultures they’re considered sacred. The swan is the largest and heaviest bird in North America yet they can fly at a rate of 50 MPH (on average) but have been known to fly up to 70MPH, which is surprising considering they weigh up to 30 pounds (and eat as much as 8 pounds of food each day)! They’re fiercely protective of their young and are very intelligent (they will come to recognize you).
I get asked a lot about RVing; most of which are out of curiosity, or stem from their own aspirations. The first thing I mention is that a RVing lifestyle is not for everyone; although there are so many rewards, you also give up (or compromise) a lot too. I suppose, it’s what you choose to focus on :-) I usually don’t know where I’m going to park for the night because my curiosity leads my way. Yes, I’ve been caught from time to time (whoops!); searching in the dark for a place to park. Once I’ve parked however and the blinds are down, "I’m home”. Admittedly, sometimes I wake up and wonder, “Where am I?”. That said, it’s so amazingly freeing but I have to face my fears and the challenges too (as there are anywhere). I usually park were I think there could be a late evening or early morning shot. So, when I parked on this open plain, I parked facing some shapely mountains in the east. My thought was that the setting sun would cast some beautiful light on them but that was a bust. When I stepped outside the RV however and looked west, I was surprised by the amazing colors and cloud formations. The sun was setting fast, so I rushed to grab my camera! Fortunately this tree wasn't too far away (and the only one around, lucky me!). I didn’t want too much of the foreground in this photo and I wanted the sky to look REALLY grand so I laid down on the ground, with my head in the sand, and shot up at the tree. I then placed the setting sun directly behind it so it would glow from behind. The tree looks massive here but it was only 8 feet tall! LOL :-) A RV lifestyle does have its challenges but for me, it’s such a small price to pay when I get these kinds of shots.
We often walk through life without paying much attention to the obvious, however with an intent to “see” (beyond a glance) we will discover a world that we never noticed. If I asked you what color shade is, you would likely say it’s black (or grey) however if you pay attention you’ll discover that’s not the case, and this photograph is a prime example. No doubt you’ve noticed how snow looks blue (or pink, or purple); that’s because the snow picks up the colors of the sky. Just like the snow, in this photograph the pale (almost white) colored cliffs behind the saguaro picked up the incredibly vibrancy of the blue sky. When I walked towards this saguaro tree the very first thing I noticed was the color of the shade. Wow!... it made me stop in my tracks! In that moment of wonderment, I noticed three things; the blue colored shade, all the back-lighting, and the vivid greens. When I combined these three things with my composition, I knew that I had a “keeper” and I could hardly wait to get it into post processing! As a matter of fact, I was so excited by the scene that I immediately sent an iPhone shot to daughter before taking this shot with my Sony a7r IV. This photo was taken near Dutchman State Park (just east of Mesa, AZ), at the base of Superstition Mountain; just after a week of rain, which made the sky SO vibrant! *Notice how "fat" the saguaro is? Interestingly, saguaro's retain water, which is key for it's survival.
Also known as the “Arizona Poppy”, these seasonal poppies can be difficult to find, yet if the conditions are right (as they are this year), they flourish and can cover the desert floor and hillsides in fields of golden yellow. I’ve searched for these delicate poppies for a few years but I’ve only found a few but because of the unusually wet weather conditions of late, they are flourishing… everywhere! Today, the usually drab desert floor is full of color; with lush green grasses and a variety of colorful desert wildflowers too. It’s quite something to see! This photograph was taken (literally) at ground level, with my 14mm wide angle lens and a small aperture; which creates the star (no filters were used). I rested my camera in my hand (on the ground) only inches from this poppy and although it was a tricky shot, it worth getting dirty for! :-)
Imagine my surprise when at daybreak, I opened the blinds in the RV, and saw this! Oh WOW! I was giddy! Knowing I had only minutes before the sun would brake through the clouds and melt the snow I quickly got dressed and headed out into the serene calm of the white desert. It was so beautiful however it didn’t take long for my hiking boots to become wet and my fingers to freeze however I was SO excited it was easy to ignore. There wasn’t a lot of light so I placed my camera on a tripod and took a number of exposures at different focus points and then combined them in Photoshop. Fortunately there wasn’t any wind or else that would be impossible; nothing can move when you place multiple images on top of each other. What I love about this image is that most of the desert cacti are represented in the photograph and the small shrubbery disappeared beneath the snow. I also love the mountain is in the background because it adds a sense of depth to the overall image. Another keeper!
This, is MY FAVORITE photo to date.... but admittedly my favorite photo is always my latest one; or the one that’s still in my camera :-) I love panoramic images; especially those with repeating patterns, like this image. As I drove around the Coachella Valley (south-west California) I marveled at the date farms, and how the trees were in such perfect lines That said however, I didn’t find a date farm planting that I thought was “perfect”, so I left the valley "empty handed". I hadn’t driven but an hour when I notice this planting and how the slope of the land made all the tree trunks (from front to back) visible. “Perfect!”, I said to my dog Arlo! Yes, I talk to him as he listens with a tilted head… lol. You may ask, “What makes this image work?”, and why did I choose this one, out of all the images I took. With my camera in hand, I carefully I placed the widest and brightest separation of trees off to one side. I chose to include a separation (so that your eyes would be drawn into the image) but I had to consider balance and the weight of the image too; the heaviness of the fronds, the size of the date trees and how much foreground too. Together, these elements make this image outstanding ….in my humble opinion… :-) NOTE: This is a 3-image stack; meaning 3 horizontal images have been stitched together in post processing to create this format. That said, this image is HUGE and will easily cover the length of any wall.
True to my nature (curiously; wondering what’s down that road), I was on my way to Wickenburg, when I decided to look for some photographic opportunities and potential boondocking sites in the Lake Pleasant area, south-west of Phoenix. A short distant from the Phoenix area, the world changes. To arrive here, I drove down a dusty gravel road, through small mountainous valleys and rocky gorges. The area was notably, densely covered with saguaro trees. As the lake came into view, I noted how intriguing it was to see both saguaro trees and a lake in one “frame”. Driving further north I noticed the sun’s reflection in the lake and stopped to take a photo. I carefully placed my feet as I made my way down the prickly pear embankment and framed this shot when suddenly a truck barreled past. Seeing the dust, my first instinct was to run back to the truck however I knew I wouldn’t make it there in time (so I ate the dust, lol) but to my surprise the dust lofted down into my frame! Although my camera (and myself) got sugar coated with dust, I was elated to get this shot! I absolutely love the softness and muted colors of this photo and how the dust (which looks like fog) adds to the interesting combination of sun, lake reflections and sky.
There’s usually story behind most of my images, and this one is no exception; and a lesson was learned! Recently, I decided to drive down a well groomed 18 mile gravel road in my RV; after all, that’s often where I find the most interesting scenes. At the mile 9 mark there was a sign posted “Next 9 miles not maintained”. I stopped for a moment to ponder my next move and while doing so a car drove towards me so I waved it down and asked the man driving what the road conditions were like, to which he replied, “They’re fine, you won’t have any problems”. So, with that I carried on. Yikes, wrong decision!! After a couple miles it became a single lane logging road and then it climbed up the side a steep mountainside. There were hair pin corners and ruts to maneuver and at one point I had to keep my tires on the worn tracks of the the previous vehicles. That said, my eyes were on the road and I prayed that I wouldn’t meet another vehicle going in the opposite direction. Once I reached to top however the road leveled off and I drove across beautiful golden plains (phew). Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a hawk not more than 50 feet away from me, dive to the ground. With my camera at the ready and preset, I managed to get this shot of a Red Tailed Hawk. All of this happened within 30 seconds! SO…. lesson learned, NEVER ask someone driving a car what the roads conditions are like when you’re driving a RV! Ha Ha! The Red Tailed Hawk is a bird of prey that lives throughout most of North America (Alaska, Canada to as far south as Panama). They prefer the open country, woodlands, prairie groves, mountains, plains, roadsides but are found in any kind of terrain that provides both some open ground for hunting with some high perches. Their eyesight is eight times better than a human's and in flight, they can spot a mouse on the ground from 100 feet in the air. The males and females basically look alike (though the females are slightly larger), and they often mate for life.
If you take a closer look an artist’s small scene landscape, you’ll usually notice these three predominant elements; a focal point, the overall contrast and the composition. When these elements are creatively harmonious the image speaks for itself, and we take note. Now, take a look at this image, and see if you can spot these elements. This image was taken along California’s Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, home to John Muir’s, Pacific Crest Trail; an enormous hiking trail that starts at the Mexican border, and ends at the Canadian border (2650 miles in total). The trail covers some incredibly taxing terrain; from the dry heat of the desert to icy and rugged mountain tops ....but so stunningly beautiful. That said, if I could turn back time, I'd be on the Pacific Crest Trail! It's important listen to your spirit of adventure and to remember that when the fear of staying the same weighs more than the fear of change, that’s when it’s time to face the fear, and make the change (in all regards).
The desert can be beautiful, dangerous and downright eerie sometimes too. The desert wildfires I’ve seen in the past, have always been on hillsides, and never on a sandy plain like this here. That said, I was quite surprised because very little tends grow on the plains... yet here was a stand of sparsely spaced and blackened trees. I stopped to take a look around and as I did, I noted a dust cloud across the way; little did I know that I’d soon be engulfed by it... but I got this shot! ;-) From time to time, the desert can feel eerie; I can walk for miles in the desert, and never see a single soul. It's tranquility is lovely; but I know snakes are lurking. I’m at awe by its night skies; but the howling coyotes remind me that I’m not alone. Yes, the desert can be eerie but I’ve never thought of the desert as "ghostly", until I came across this scene. Note the smaller tree in the background. I chose to include it in this composition to give it an overall sense of scale; without it, one could think that the subject tree was simply a shrub.
When I edit my photographs, I’m a purist (true colors, no manipulation) but this photograph is different, I feel it's "art" (a combination of both photography and art). That said, I thoroughly enjoyed adding my artistic and creative self to this image. Although the color version of this photograph is quite striking but I intentionally edited it out. “Why?”, because I wanted to add a gentleness to this otherwise high contrast flower. At the same time however I left the high contrast in the eye of the flower, which is this photo's focal point. My goal is to capture the viewer's interest first, and then their curiosity. Black-eyed Susans are considered a symbol of encouragement and motivation, which can be attributed to the plant's adaptability, thus popularity. It's also Maryland's official state flower. The name of this photograph came about by combining the "eye" in Black-eyed Susan and the fact that it was created by me, the "artist".
Are you wondering, “Why does this image have such strange colors?”. Well, let me explain. A photographer has to wait patiently for blue hour to occur. The sun will have long set, and the air temperature will have dropped before a photographer is ready to shoot. Often times (especially if it's cloudy), the blue hour is fleeting; and then just as quickly as it has appeared, it’s gone. That said, it's important for him/her to find composition first before it's just too dark. So, why the strange colors? Here’s a general explanation; with very little available light during this time period, a tripod and a slow shutter speed is required. That slower shutter speed allows the light that we don’t see to enter the camera, and the colors that we don’t see as well. On a side note; I learned the hard way to leave a headlamp in my camera bag because it can be challenging to find my way back to my RV in the dark!
Every place I visit, there's unique beauty to be found and the deserts of Arizona are no exception. With it's stately mountains, rolling hills and desert cacti, it's not what you might expect a desert to look like. With visions of capturing a desert sunset view like this one, I choose to park my RV near a cluster of saguaros, chollas and other desert cacti and then prior to sunset I scouted for a composition. Once found, I waited patiently for the sun to set (and then hoped that the distant clouds wouldn’t block the sun), and as you can see I was lucky! That said, sometimes "luck" does play a big roll in photography! What I love about desert sunset scenes are the rainbow of colors the setting sun creates (not only in the sky but in the foreground too). It was dark by the time I got back to the RV and once I shut the blinds, I was “home” and anxious to look at my shots! :-)
In order to grow, as a person, in our careers and in our passions we often have to force ourselves into challenging situations; our mindsets are key. That said, my “choices” guide me and why I took this photograph. Woodland photography is very popular, especially in the UK where open woodlands are (more) easy to find. Here in the northwestern US and Canada however, they’re harder to find so when I saw this tree I was excited by the potential I saw. I was on a narrow two lane road when I drove by this scene, so I had to make a quick decision, “Should I turn around?”. I was driving my RV so turning around meant a few 3-point turns to turns to do so, and although that was a bit of a challenge, I knew the real challenge would be to create the photo I envisioned from a raw file… which would force me to learn something new. The tree was as you see it here (it remains the same) however the background in the original was lit up with defused mid-day white lighting; perfect for the image I had envisioned. As mentioned in previous posts, my raw images all require post editing and it was here that the challenge lie; how to bring “mood” into the scene. I think I accomplished that. Challenges can be difficult but by choosing how we face them, we grow. A rewarding passion (and life), is in the accumulation of our choices.
Oh my gosh! Split second decisions can be the best; this photo was the result of 2 last minute decisions! As I drove a long a busy freeway, I noticed some nasty weather in a secluded desert valley to my east. From a photographer’s standpoint, the “weather” was absolutely amazing! Big and puffy storm clouds draped over snow capped mountains, while the sunlight made its way, here and there, to the valley floor. It was so beautiful, I decided to head into the storm. As I drove, I couldn’t help but notice the many remarkable scenes; so much so that when I exited the valley I considered turning around and driving back through it! Upon further consideration however, I decided to go to Sedona (only an hour away); knowing the inclement weather on the red rocks of Sedona would be spectacular, and it was! I arrived in Sedona with only minutes to spare before sundown(!). Fortunately however I knew exactly where to go to get this epic shot of Sedona’s most iconic mountain, “Cathedral Rock”. Although I already have a few photographs of Cathedral Rock, none are this dramatic. Cathedral Rock is just one of the many sandstone buttes that surround the city of Sedona, Arizona. The towering Red Rock Mountains of Sedona are world famous and attracts over 3 million visitors every year. Cathedral Rock is one of the most-photographed landmarks in Sedona, and of Arizona too. Typically, those who fly into Phoenix, with plans to visit The Grand Canyon, will take the short detour into Sedona. The south rim of the Grand Canyon is 2 hours north of Sedona.
I called this image, “A Moment In Time” because it lasted for only a moment! After I parked my RV for the night, just east of Fountain Hills Arizona, I noticed a storm brewing to the towards 4 peaks Mountain range. I soon noticed lightning and took that as an opportunity to try my hand at capturing a lightning strike. I walked up a little hill to where there was massive view of the valley below and beyond. I put my camera on my tripod and faced the easterly storm when I noticed a hint of color developing over my left shoulder and within mere minutes the sky was on fire! It was truly unbelievable! Another photographer happened to be there trying to capture some lightning strikes too and when the fire in the sky developed we were both so busy taking shots that afterwards we exclaimed, “Did you see that!!” We were both so excited! I felt so fortunate to witness this view; I couldn’t have planned it! That said, one of the reasons I love photography is that I can now share this view with you!
The desert, is so much greener than you might think and when there's been a lot of rain it becomes exceptionally green, as in this photograph. On the morning of this photo shoot, I not only woke to this view but to snow on the desert floor too. Fortunately, even though it melted quickly it remained on the mountainside (the south side of Superstition Mountain, AZ). I was thrilled!! I had planned to travel south that morning but because of the unexpected snowfall, I decided to stay. That said, I'm so glad did because by golden hour my mountain view was absolutely breathtaking! I love how the clouds cast its shadows in this photograph, and how the sun’s rays highlighted only certain spots. Together the highlights (sun) and lowlights (shadows) help define the depth of field. If you want this view every day, be sure to reach out to me for enlargement details; I’m here to help. Romi :-)
I recently went on a photo shoot to Vancouver Island, with plans to explore the northern section of the island. Mother Nature however had a different agenda; snow and ice (in November!). Vancouver Island is well known as the warmest place in Canada. The province’s capital city Victoria for example, enjoys an average temperature of 10°C, of 50°F. So, to have below freezing temperatures made traveling more challenging; ultimately, I had to change my plans. Not only did my RV need new tires (which I got during my travels) but I also had to consider that my RV wasn’t winterized. Who would have thought I’d have to worry about that in November! That said, I had to winterize my RV before I headed inland, and home. I captured this, my last photo of my trip, on my way home (an hour before I winterized the RV) outside of Abbotsford, BC. I had captured another photo here once before (see "Morning Ballet), so I purposely stopped to see if I could find another composition. The fog was starting to lift so time was of an essence. It was a bit of a scramble (yikes!) but fortunately, I came across this view immediately. I was however tempted to keep exploring but in the end I decided to stay, set up my gear and wait for the sun to (hopefully) illuminate the scene. My wait was worth it! Notice how the sun's rays are merely kissing the scene; it was exactly what I was waiting for. I love this photo; it’s mood, the subtle colors and it’s composition too.
Exploring, discovering what’s around the corner and challenging my boundaries (within reason), are where I find happiness. Traveling in my RV and towing a Jeep to unique destinations hasn’t always easy but capturing shots like this one makes it all worth it! When time flies, I know that I’m in my flow and I’m in my element. Behind my camera is where I find happiness, fulfillment and (importantly), connection with all of you. Helmcken Falls is a 141 m (463 ft) waterfall on the Murtle River, within Wells Gray Provincial Park, in British Columbia, Canada. It’s one of six falls on the Murtle River and the fourth tallest in Canada. Wells Gray Provincial Park has something to offer every outdoor enthusiast. It’s lush alpine meadows are excellent for birding and wildlife. There are many hiking trails for every ability. Camping, boating, canoeing and kayaking on Clearwater Lake is a must! Businesses in the area also offer horseback riding, canoeing, river-rafting, fishing and hiking. Although my visit here was short, I look forward to going back and even getting some winter shots of the area too.