"Free To Fly"

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).

"Grizzly Country"

In the spring, a grizzly bear’s diet consists of approximately 70% grass, to replenish their lack of proteins during hibernation. This is why you often see bears along roadways, where grass grows in abundance. Knowing this, I had my camera at the ready as I traveled along this (somewhat) remote logging road in the interior of British Columbia. I travel this road often and I see black, brown and cinnamon bears on a regular basis but this was the first time that I came across a grizzly bear. Grizzly bears come in many sizes, and this female (her cub was nearby) was relatively small. I once saw a grizzly that was at least 3 times larger (it was incredibly massive!) so I now have a sincere fear of them. I stayed with these grizzlies for approximately 10 minutes, and they didn’t seem to mind my presence. As I watched and gazed into their eyes, I felt at peace with them but I know those seemingly calm eyes are very deceiving and they deserve respect; I kept my distance. In this photo, she lifted her head to watch a vehicle drive behind me. Frightened by the noise of a bouncing utility trailer it was pulling, she and her cub scurried into the forest. Although I was disappointed that my photo session came to an abrupt end, I knew that this (my last photo) was going to be a keeper! Yay! I felt VERY fortunate by this opportunity. It's now a great memory and I’m thrilled to add it to my photography portfolio and here on my website.

"Morning Ballet"

Recently, after months of building my photography business, I took a break from my creative passions (business and photography). In that time I recognized my need to keep busy and how very blessed that I am to be able to do what I love. As I was driving my motorhome one early and chilly morning, I saw this bridge view over some shrubs (thanks for the higher perspective of the RV). I continued to drive past for well over 5 minutes while I debated whether or not I should turn around. Obviously, I turned around (and I’m glad I did!). I had noted a spot that I could park my RV but I hadn’t noticed just how high the vegetation surrounding this pond was. Fortunately however I found a trail that lead to the shore of pond (how lucky!). As I was setting up my camera gear I noticed these two Canadian geese casually swimming towards my planned composition. I hurriedly increased my shutter speed (to capture their movement) and waited for them to arrive at this planned position. Almost as though on cue they posed for me! This photograph was my very first photo after this break and I felt so rewarded!

"Curve-Billed Thrasher"

As a photographer, living in my RV for months at a time, does provide some great photographic opportunities and advantages and although I am always in search of locations and subjects, sometimes the shot is right outside my door (how blessed!). I was cooking breakfast in the desert when I was alerted by the beautiful song of this Curve Billed Thrasher. I quickly grabbed my camera and darted out the door; in my slippers and housecoat.... not daring to take the time to change! The soft Arizona light was absolutely gorgeous for the shot, and so too was the scene and the bird's stance. I crossed my fingers as I walked towards it, that it wouldn't fly away! After I took my first shot, I took a step closer and then took a second shot, and then another, and another until it eventually took flight. This was the my last shot; at the full extension of my 400mm lens. Of the various thrashers in the southwestern deserts, the Curve-Billed Thrasher is one of the most prevalent. It’s a medium-sized that’s about the size of a Robin (but slightly longer). It’s a non-migratory bird that’s native to the southwestern US states and Mexico; I often saw them. Their eye color varies from yellow to orange and they lurk around cactus, desert shrubs and even in some urban areas where desert vegetation has been planted. I love the balance and composition of this photograph; the curvature of the tree, the flowers on either side and how the depth of field separates the subject.

"Wings Of Freedom"

A female Rufous Hummingbird.

"Rider's Pride"

Abstract photography, in the natural world, draws away from its natural appearance and can turn the recognizable into an unrecognizable form. Abstract photography can be defined by its use of shapes, forms, colors, and textures; often departing from the true existence of reality. In this photograph, I chose to crop and edit it for its textures and form and then converted it to black and white to add to the drama. That said, by converting it to black and white the contrast alone (not color), is part of the overall essence of abstract. Some people would say this abstract departs from its reality but it’s with my creative artistic license, that I feel this image now draws the interest that I desired. In conclusion, abstract photography represents how the photographer sees the world and chooses to share it.

"Shared Beauty"

I recently attended a Photography conference in Pincher Creek, Alberta, and one of the many things that was discussed was the pros and cons of social media. This is my take on social media (relating to creativity). Although there’s a lot of negative, associated with social media these days, there are a lot of positive aspects too. Sure, for some it’s all about how many likes, followers and comments they get but for others however, they simply want to share their art because it gives them joy; a reason. and a goal…. thus purpose. Art (of any kind) is therapy and sharing one’s creations makes the artist feel purposeful; that then, is their reward. We create, we learn, we share…. repeat. Life is in the sharing and that’s why I’ve shared this image with you. I sincerely thank you all for being my receptive audience…. here on social media :-) *Anise Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio Zelicaon), found in Western North America.

"Bighorn Sheep"

This image, of a Bighorn Sheep, is a good example of cropping with an intent, or purpose. After sitting back and critiquing a variety of cropped versions, I decided on this one; with the top of its horns “clipped” off (if you will) on purpose. Cropping, is one of many important elements in fine art photography (or any fine art for that matter), but it’s in the different cropping styles that defines a photographer's individual, unique talents and skill sets. That said, my style is uniquely “Romi’s” and is an expression of my artistic passion, and visual creativity and awareness; not to be duplicated by anyone else. That said, the art of photography then is in an individual’s eye. Regardless of whether you like or dislike this cropped version; there is no right or wrong way of cropping; I do however have a full frame version of many of my images (including this one). This photo was taken near Jasper, Alberta. The green you see behind the Bighorn Sheep is a body of water filled with rock-flour. What is Rock flour? As a glacier melts, silt (rock flour) is produced from by grinding of the movement of the glacier. The rock flour eventually finds its way into lakes where the sunlight reflects off of the particles; giving it that spectacular turquoise blue or green color that we all love.

"Bison Country"

"Bison Country" Elk Island National Park in Alberta is most known for its acres of roaming bison and elk, birds and ponds. While touring the park, I came across a group of bison; I enthusiastically followed and watched them for quite some time. At one point, I chuckled when I saw them roll playfully around in patches of well worn dirt (the patches had obviously been used many times). That said, unfortunately I didn't get a great shot of the humorous behavior but I'll know to watch and be prepared for it next time. I equate photographing this bison to taking a photo of a black dog in that their black fur, dark eyes and shaded crevices require good lighting illuminate and see their features. Just like the studio portraits I've done, I always look for defining highlights, soft frontal lighting and that sparkle in the eyes.

"White-Winged Dove"

I captured this image, in the early morning light, while visiting Patagonia State Park, Arizona. I love the way it looked back at me and how, at this angle, we can see its colors and feather patterns on its back. See this image framed and hung on a wall in the "Sampled" section.

"Wild Donkeys"

We arrived at Monument Valley with plans to tour and photograph the valley; we were so excited! We didn’t however do our homework prior to our arrival, and were disappointed to find out the park was closed because of Covid. So, we made the most of our time here and decided to explore the area around Monument Valley instead. We chose to explore a side road that was paved to begin with, then it turned to gravel and then it turned into a forestry service road. We were alone and it felt freeing to be alone; the only car in the middle of nowhere and away from civilization. Suddenly I saw something move across the rocky desert scape, “Wild donkeys!” I said with excitement (I had never seen them before). They were a far distance away so with my camera and long lens in hand I slowly walked towards them; not knowing anything about wild donkeys, I wondered if they’d be curious about me. Then with some trepidation I wondered what would I do if they did! Quit quickly however, they ran off and I didn’t even get a single shot. We continued on and as we turned a corner, these four wild donkeys stood right in front of us! Now, knowing how skittish they are, I quietly (and quickly) got out of the truck to take aim. Initially, they were huddled together but as I approached them (ever so carefully) they backed off and stood as you see them here; just as curious about me as I was about them. I knew how very, very blessed I was for this once in a lifetime opportunity, so with that in mind, I made sure all my settings were I wanted them and held my camera steady. What I love about this photo is how perfectly lined up they are!

"The Nuthatch"

The Nuthatch I've recently discovered an interest in birding and bird photography, so when I saw a road sign in Patagonia Arizona for a bird sanctuary I had to check it out. Patagonia is known for its hummingbirds but perhaps I was there a bit too early to see these migratory birds because I didn’t see any during the two days that I was there. I did however see many other birds, including this White Breasted Nuthatch White Breasted Nuthatches can typically be found in the woodlands across North America; from Canada to Mexico and Florida. Although these birds are small they are certainly one of the noisiest birds in the woodland. Interestingly, you’ll often see them walking upside down, down a tree; they do that to find food that the other birds might have missed as they climb up the tree. They get their name from their habit of jamming nuts and acorns into the bark of a tree and then pecking it with their sharp bill to “hatch” out the seed. They typically live from 2 to 3.5 years but have been known to live for up to 10 years, and like many birds they mate for life.

"Cactus Wren"

Shot captured near Gold Canyon, Arizona

"The Story Behind the Duck"

The story attached to this photo has absolutely NOTHING to do with this duck (a Common Goldeneye), and EVERYTHING to do with a "crappy" situation..... literally, lol 🙂 I woke up to a beautiful morning my RV; perched and overlooking the Bow River. I was eager to head back to the pond where I had taken this photo; I was rained out the night before. I planned to leave right away, and as I was getting the RV ready for take-off, I looked down my RV toilet bowl and decided that "NOW" was the time for a quick clean, and with one quick swirl around the toilet bowl my toilet bowl brush-head fell off and down into the holding tank! "OH NO, this can't be!". Now normally, with a direct drain system, that would not have been a problem but my RV has a macerator pump attached to a 1.5 inch drainpipe. I knew the brush head would have to be removed, but how? I was sick! Now what?! I grabbed a my kitchen tongs and shoved my arm down into the toilet hole (about 3 inches in diameter) when suddenly a thought came to mind, "What if I get arm gets stuck in the toilet, in the middle of no where!" (lol). So with my phone at my side, I lathered up my arm with cream rinse and with a prayer I plunged my arm down again. Notta! I couldn't reach it! My next thought was to fill the tank with whatever water I had so that the water level rises.... and that didn't work either! Okay, now what? I knew that if I drove away, the brush head will float around and I will no longer see it from above. Pondering, I was left with no choice but to find a RV repair shop A RV department suggested I remove the macerator pump or they could remove the tank (ouch$!) "but not now, it'll be a few weeks". Knowing I didn't have a choice, I headed for my daughter's house where I knew she'd have the tools I'd need to remove the macerator pump. So, picture this scene; two women lying side by side under a RV on a gravel ground and both (obviously) using brute force to remove some clamps AND (you guessed it) when the clamp let loose there might have been a drip or two of sewage..... LOL (it's only funny now, ha ha!). With the macerator pump removed, we drove to the local sani-dump and attached a regular RV sewage hose and prayed that it would just flush out..... Notta! With a flashlight in hand, I could see the brush head sitting on the bottom of the tank. Hmmm... now what? With a garden hose, we filled the black-water tank and proceeded to flush it again.... Notta! We tried again.... Notta! So, there the brush-head sat, innocently in the residual sewage of that tank and we sat on the ground wondering, "now what?". We decided to try to grab it with a trash-picker, and (you guessed it) I had to put my arm into the tank, yet again (pee yew!) but it worked! After we showered (!), we celebrated our resilience and ingenuity with a glass of wine. This will be a mother/daughter moment we'll never forget; together we did it! "If you want to accomplish anything, you must first be able to expect it of yourself". Wayne Dyer

"Frog"

Summer's here, and I'm thoroughly enjoying my time with my family, grandchildren and friends. That said, my grandson played an instrumental role in getting this shot, by continually capturing and replacing it as it hoped out of the scene, lol. In some Native American cultures, frogs are considered to be the "keepers of the rain" and if you see one, that means the rain is coming.... we could use that! My camera has an "oops"(I shattered the back screen), so it's headed out for repair. I don't care for the harsh light of summer anyways so now's the time to get the repair work done. Oh well, I'll still be busy working on the I many unedited photos I have. I hope you're all having a fantastic summer! Remember that every new journey begins with a single hop 😊♥️

"Arlo"

I refrained from getting a dog but now, after an exhausting year of training, I feel so blessed. His love, willingness to please and companionship are deeply appreciated and valued. My RV lifestyle has given Arlo a varied life, and thanks to my motor-home, he can (generally) travel with me, so no matter what the weather conditions are he's by my side. When I’m out on a photo-shoot, he knows that the camera means he has to sit still, and stay, even when I walk away from him (he’s so good). That said however, given the opportunity, I’m sure he’d chase a squirrel, want to play with a coyote, or think a rattle snake was a toy…. yikes! So, sometimes he's left behind because I find it difficult to mind him, and be creative at the same time. Although Arlo adds to my worries and responsibilities, he fills my heart ....every day. Having said that, being loved, appreciated, adored and valued are everyone's core needs. Romi :-)

"No Worries"

Tofino, and Pacific Rim National Park Reserve of British Columbia, are characterized by the wild natural scenery; ancient rain-forest, vast sandy beaches (which offer year-round surfing), many hiking trails, a paved 43 km. (26 mile) paved biking trail and many fine shops, hotels and restaurants. I spent 5 days in Tofino, in hopes of shooting some stormy sea and sky photos. Although the storms never developed, on this day there was a high surf advisory, so off I went in search of some waves. Not being very familiar with the ocean, I was somewhat intimidated by its mighty strength and roar. I spotted these ocean birds (called Brandt's Cormorants) silhouetted on this rock from quite a distance, noting their sleek necks and rounded bellies as I walked towards them. I climbed the boulders to get to this view (with one eye on the ocean!). Once I found my composition, I was waited for the "big" wave; I keeping one eye on the ocean so I wouldn't be swept in. Using my 100 to 400 Sony zoom lens I was able to capture this photograph. As I waited, I remembering comparing my fear of the ocean to theirs and envied their agility. That said, fear got the best of me and once I got this shot, I was out of there! Quick Brandt's Cormorants facts: They are expert divers and can swim more than 200 feet in pursuit of fish and shellfish. They're an aggressive bird. They migrate each year from Alaska to Mexico and are very common and widespread. Brandt's sports a vivid cobalt-blue throat patch and eyes during breeding season. They have wispy white feathers on the head, which you can't see in this photo.

"The Wapiti"

"The Wapiti" This shot was captured in Jasper National Park, where over 1300 of Elk roam. Although I’m not a wildlife photographer and more of an opportunist, I definitely enjoy honing in on the many skills and challenges it requires. “The Wapiti” is the Native American name for Elk. It’s the second largest member of the deer family( after the Moose). An adult male elk can grow up to 5 feet tall at its shoulders, and can be over 1000 pounds. In a protected area, such as Jasper, they can often live for over 20 years. Only the bulls have antlers, which are grown and shed yearly. What I love about this photo is the rim lighting (on the Elk), combined with the defused lighting. I was fortunate to capture this Elk in such magnificent lighting conditions. The added bonus was the falling snow and to be able see its breath too! In my earlier years I was known as a studio photographer but today, I define myself as a “generalist”, which is a photographer who isn’t defined by just one type of photography. By being a generalist, I’m continually learning, exploring and challenging myself, which is important to me. That said, I feel passions add quality and purpose to our lives, and those we can share with others fill our hearts. This then, is my happy place!

"The Contemporary Burro"

"The Contemporary Burro" What constitutes art, to you? Personally, I want to be able to meet the artist, hear the story behind their creation, and know that a human hand made it. :-) Although I don’t know a lot about Artificial Intelligence (A.I), I've read that it can produce award winning art within minutes; all from the convenience of one's home and with very little artistic history or knowledge. Unfortunately, that doesn't just affect just the art of photography but to all fine art; including paintings, sculptures and sketches. Gosh, I feel bad for the artists whom have vested their entire lives in their art careers and in their businesses. Yes, some may argue that photography isn’t art either, and that it competes with fine art too but (in my defense), it takes just as much (if not more) effort, creativity and knowledge to produce a photographic image, as any other art form. I had so much FUN creating these images :-) .... and although it’s not my typical imagery, I love the creativity that Photoshop allows me …but (FYI), I never produce images that aren’t real (that’s misleading, in my opinion). *Burro photo taken near Parker, Arizona.

"American Kestrel"

Captured south of Green Valley, Arizona

"Red Tailed Hawk"

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.

"A Perspective Eye"

As a photographer, I’ve often written about the need for patience and perseverance, and this photo required both.     With my camera on a tripod and zoomed in on this eagle I waited for it to open its wings and take flight but ...I waited, and waited..... and waited! Finally, I gave up but not before noticing this much bigger composition.   I love the soft colors of this photo, and how the branches are highlighted (which lead your eyes to the eagle). Although this image may not resonate with everyone, that’s the reality of “art”; it's in the eye of the viewer. That said, it’s my artistic vision that excitedly leads my way 🙂 I named this photo “A Perspective Eye” because the eagle was busily hunting for its next meal. My "Perspective Eye" noticed this larger composition, and your own "Perspective Eye" either loves this type of photography, or not :-)

"Eye Spy"

Oh my gosh! I came up with so many hilarious captions for this photograph. I LOVE the way he appears to be scowling at me! Ha Ha! This image makes me laugh, every time I look at it. This is a Red Tailed Hawk, captured just outside of Bishop, California. That said, they are a fairly common bird of prey in North America.