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Unbeknownst to many, British Columbia has a thriving and world renowned wine industry. There are five wine producing regions in BC; Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, Fraser Valley, the Similkameen Valley and the Okanagan Valley, ....which is pictured here. There are a total of 370 licensed wineries in BC and 929 vineyards. 120 wineries are located here in the Okanagan Valley. More than 60 (grape) varieties are produced, including: Merlot, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gewürztraminer, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc. The BC wine industry contributes 2.8 billion dollars to the British Columbia’s economy yearly and welcomes more than 1 million visitors each year. That said, the Okanagan Valley is a year round hot spot, with beautiful lakes and beaches, world class golf courses and numerous world renowned ski resorts. British Columbia has a lot to offer; wineries, stunning mountains, clear blue lakes, islands, rain-forests, beautiful stretches of old growth coastline, picturesque cities,, cute towns, and world-class skiing, too. Together these things make British Columbia an extremely popular destination. Be sure to add BC to your "must see" bucket list!
My favorite time to photograph the Grand Canyon is during the “golden hour”; the hour after sunrise and before sunset. The day we were there however, the colors of the setting sun (and subsequent bounced lighting) were lack luster; so I looked for other photographic opportunities. When I looked across the canyon, I noticed the many layers between foreground and background, I knew instantly that this was going to be a great shot. Notice how dark the foreground is (both in color and in density) then, notice how light the far-off mountains are (also both in color and density). What I love most about this photograph are the the many layers, the contrast and the vivid colors!
We arrived at Lees Ferry on a sunny and warm day in January. Upon arrival, we happily set up camp at the local National Park Campground that overlooked the Colorado River and the rock canyon walls; not far from where this photo was taken. After some exploring by foot, we set up a couple lawn chairs and poured ourselves a few (lol) glasses of wine, enjoyed a charcuterie board, reminisced and giggled as we watched the setting sun. Very quickly though, the evening air grew cold and we called it a day. As planned, the next morning we got up early to hike Cathedral Wash Trail, which we had passed as we drove in (only 5 minutes back). I was excited; I remembered visiting Lees Ferry before and saying, “We just have to come back and hike in there!”, and here we were; pinch me! The sun was just cresting when we arrived and the temperature was well below freezing. Just as we started out, I looked back and noticed the road we had driven in on and how the curb caught the cresting morning light; it creating a very defining line through the desert that demanded my attention. I instantly loved the way the road appears and then disappears and the way your eye follows the road to where the slopes and road join, creating a strong focal point. Although I had set out to capture Mother Nature’s beauty, this photo turned out to my shot of the day. What I love about this photo is the blending of the lonely modernism in the middle of the desert’s solitude. Lees Ferry, is a tiny settlement on the Colorado River, 6 miles north-west of Alt. Highway 89 (near Page, Arizona), which is also known as Marble Canyon. It’s here that the mighty Grand Canyon begins and is called, “mile zero” of the 277-mile canyon. It too is where most of the Grand Canyon river boat expeditions start.
