"A Golden Life"

*Photographer's Note: This photo is comprised of three individual photos and is a large file. This image can be blown up to a very large size. Cadomin is a hamlet in the west-central area of Alberta. It's quaintly nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and is approximately 50 kilometers south of Hinton, and just east of Jasper National Park. This operating coal mine community was once home to over 1000 people but now is home to only 55. I was SO excited to be back in the Rockies and I felt very fortunate that I arrived on such a BEAUTIFUL day. That said, to say I was “excited” was an understatement! I was invigorated by the mountain air, the beauty that surrounded me and the freedom my RV lifestyle. I arrived in Cadomin just as the morning sun crested and filled the valley floor. The golden light on this pond was astonishing, and I knew it would be short lived so I had to hustle to capture it! I love the dominating fall colors in this photo but what I love the most are the lead in lines and how your eyes follow the shoreline, and then settles in the vivid reflection of the pond (called “the settling point”). At day’s end I reflected upon the day; with my happy energy radiating, many wonderful things came my way. A change in one’s attitude, is golden. So, I named this photograph, "A Golden Life" (attitude is golden). 🙂

"Tranquil Reflections"

Nestled in the Purcell mountain range of British Columbia, is a Staubert Lake; a small lake only minutes west of the rustic and out of the way community of Trout Lake. After an amazing couple days of ATVing around the mountains in the area (west of Bugaboo National Park), we got up early to make our way home and had planned to catch the 8:30 a.m. Gelena Bay ferry across Arrow Lake. While we drove our RV slowly down the well-maintained gravel road, we happened upon this tranquil lake view. Most eye-catching were the vibrant reflections in the calm waters and the quickly moving shadows from the clouds above. As we stopped to take some shots, I noticed the shadows on the hillside and they were moving fast and this scene was just coming into play! Wow! I knew time was of the essence and that I wouldn't have time to swap out my heavy 400mm lens for my 25-200mm lens; I had to deal with it’s cumbersome size and weight. Quickly, I changed my ASA/ISO to 80, changed my shutter speed to 400 , set my f-stop for 5.6, and then set my lens to 171 mm.... I held my breath and held my camera as steady as I could, with hopes for a great shot. My efforts paid off! As many of you know, the “rule of thirds” applies to most artistic applications however I feel that when reflections are involved, that rule can be broken, it’s the artist’s right as an artist. You’ll notice here, that I placed the lake’s edge in the middle of the photo, rather than at a third. I absolutely love this photo’s balance; it what makes this photo so appealing and strong! Notice the dark shadows that outline the trees on the left. Not only does it surround the group of trees but it does so equally (in balance). Then notice the group of well-lit trees to the right (without the shadow), they’re opposite to the group of trees on the left. Finally, the darkness of the foreground frames this photo nicely and balances the dark shadows above. There was so much to see and do here in this off-grid valley; we look forward to visiting the area again very soon!

"Jasper Range"

Here’s an interesting question. Does a photographer create a photograph, or is it the scene that presents itself? I think it’s a combination of both. What do you think? Granted, some scenes just happen to present themselves and are easy to photograph, while others require research, time, patience and praying for the right weather and light conditions. More often than not however, as I approach a beautiful scene, I find that trees and plants obstruct my prized composition, and that's when I have to dig into my creative self. Sometimes, I walk away empty handed. Although landmark photography is generally easy to shoot, it’s the more difficult and unique scenes that I’m drawn to. That stated, getting off the beaten path is always my choice destination and create the most amazing memories (and captures too!). It was late in the day when I stopped and followed a tributary to the Athabaska River; just east of Jasper, and within Jasper National Park. I hoped to capture some reflective and silhouetted river scenes but by the time I got to the river, storms were forming and started to circle the valley around me and after some hiking around, this riverscape developed! Yes, one could say this scene presented itself and had nothing to do with the photographer but skill, know how, an eye for composition and patience was required. I suppose resilience to rain is also required, because I got soaked to get this shot (but it was so worth it!).

“A Canmore Winter Morning”

No doubt the first thing that comes to mind when you look at this photo is, “cold”! That said however, Alberta's cold wintry days are usually sunny, thus so very spectacular! As the morning clouds were lifting, the sun cast its rays on the mountain slopes, and the shadows it creates helps to define the ruggedness of the range. The shadows of the foreground trees help lead your eyes along and up to the mountain peaks. Notice how the foreground shadow, the mountain range and the heavy clouds above, all contribute to the balance of this photo; each being one third of the field of view.

"Calling Me"

"Calling Me" - “The mountains are calling and I must go.” ~ John Muir For those of you who feel the mountains speak to you, this photo and the words of John Muir (above), need little explanation. I'm truly a mountain girl; IT'S THERE that I feel the very essence of "Romi": IT'S THERE, while surrounded by it's beauty, that I can be my authentic and human self; at peace with my flaws and in admiration of whom I've become. IT'S THERE, that I turn inwards, in reflection of my many blessings. IT'S THERE, with the help and healing power of Mother Nature, that I find my inspiration (creatively and otherwise) IT'S THERE, that I want my ashes to be strewn; WHERE THE MOUNTAINS CALL TO ME.

“The Reward"

Don’t you think it’s absolutely wonderful when a photo can bring back a special memory, or a touching emotion? This photo does that for me; it reminds me to be thankful of our amazing world, and its tranquil beauty (which I cherish so deeply). It too reminds me that I'm getting older and that the 25 kilometers that my friend and I trekked that day, was a bit much (lol)! Mount Revelstoke's trails range from short, to long, to steep and tough climbs. They too offer some spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding glacier mountains, tall alpine trees and lush meadows surrounded by wildflowers. Bear warnings are often in affect here, as they were on the day we hiked. This photo is of Eva Lake, one of 3 lakes in the area. Notice, that in this photo, I chose not to include the mountain's top and sky (though it is in the original). I often have to remind myself that it’s okay to crop out the sky. In this shot for example, had I included the sky, it would have fought for your attention; your eye would have been drawn away from vertical cluster of trees (which is my intended point of interest). Also, although there's a lot of "wasted" space on the left side of this photograph, it does add balance and strength of the point of interest. *To date, this is my most memorable and favorite hike; well worth the effort!

"Pettipeace Range"

On Thanksgiving Day, 2017, we ventured out on our ATV’s for what was a truly adventurous and rewarding day. With my dear friends Ray and Karen we ventured out to Pettipeace Lake, a lake we had tried to get to a before but with each attempt we ran into obstacles; including knee deep snow, the disappearing daylight and a bridge washout. This time however we were prepared and set early with great anticipation of the day that lie before us! As we approached the bridge washout we were disappointed to see that, although it was still under repair, a huge mound of boulders blocked our way. So, what to do? With excited determination we pulled up our sleeves and went to work, moving the boulders one by one until finally, we made a path for the ATV's. “Yay!”, we were elated to be on our way, to the “elusive” Pettapeace Lake. As we gained altitude, we entered a fog bank and the dampness could be felt with every breath; it had grown bitterly cold. Soon, snow began to fall and stick to the road; "If the snow gets much deeper", we agreed, "we'll have to turn around". We pressed on and as we approached this lake, we were all in awe; I had never (ever) seen such a beautiful winter scene. "Wow!", we all commented, “unbelievable!” were the words that came out of our mouths. The spiritual serenity of this alpine view was majestic; truly Mother Nature at her best. We were so excited by the scenery and really wanted to continue on but we were losing daylight, and fast; it was time to turn around. As we descended, we raced the day's darkness, and we froze as we did! Our original plan was to return to my cabin, wash up, dress up and go to the local community’s Thanksgiving dinner however because we were running late, we chose to drive directly there. We arrived, wet, cold and dressed in our winter gear and we all had helmet hair; lol ..you can imagine the looks we got when we walked it.... Too funny !:-) That said however, being an off-grid community, everyone was more interested in our travels than our attire! Such fun! Such GREAT, great welcoming and embracing community! Our Thanksgiving dinner was the perfect ending to a perfect day! I'll never, ever forget this adventurous day we shared. Pettipiece Lake is a lake located just 19.7 north-east of Seymour Arm via logging/forestry roads; in the province of British Columbia, Canada.

“The Heart Of Peyto" ....a final resting place.

We visited Peyto Lake, in Banff National Park in May of 2015. The park had just opened for the season and we were likely the first on the trail! It was an incredibly stellar day; the air was crispy clear, the colours were vibrant and the late spring snow added so much beauty. "Lucky us!" we both exclaimed! I'm easily drawn into this photo and taken to this very spot. It was here that I was reminded of Mother Earth’s fragility, of its tranquil beauty and its grandeur; then later I was reminded of our human fragility. As we hiked the trail my friend came across a beautifully polished jade heart that was approximately 3 inches in diameter; it was definitely not something that belonged there. It was flat on the bottom side (so it could sit on a table) and rounded on the top and on the top side there was round indentation (about the size and the thickness of a dime), obviously something had been glued in there, at one time. “Hey, look what I found”, my friend exclaimed! Instantly I was overtaken with emotion and tears rolled down my face; it was a baby’s urn. Raw memories of my own family’s stillborn and urn overtook me; my tears ran deep. I suspected this was a chosen, final resting place for this precious tiny life; what a spectacular view. We were standing near a ledge, where there was a full view Peyto Lake, and its turquoise colours. We had been walking on a snow-covered trail so I surmised that the parents couldn’t walk any further so they either placed the urn in a tree or perhaps lovingly and carefully tossed it. We knew that if we were to leave it, where we found it, then the next group of hikers would likely take it (being that it was jade); not knowing what they had found. “This baby”, I said, “deserves a beautiful resting place, somewhere it's parents would have intentionally and lovingly placed it". With that, I walked over to the mountain’s edge, laid on my stomach, reached over and down and then with my hands found a safe resting place for it to sit. Perfect ...tears. Tears are words that can’t be expressed just as grief is a love that has nowhere to go. Love is what binds us all. Be vulnerable, be you; it’s okay to cry... you’re human. This photo reminds me that I’m human, on a human journey on this amazing earth! Life is short; write a story! ...and take your camera! Peyto Lake is a glacier-fed lake, along Columbia Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park, in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. It was named for Bill Peyto, an early trail guide and trapper in the Banff.

"Alpine Garden"

*Shown here in a cropped square format. *Full Frame version available for viewing on request.

"The Rocky Mountains"

"Valley's Gold"

As I drove just south of Abraham Lake (Alberta), on the David Thompson Hwy 11, I happened across this view. I was driving my RV, sitting approximately 6 feet above the service of the road, so I have the wonderful advantage of great views and a great photographic vantage points too! That said however, when I stepped outside of the RV to take this photo, the fence line disappeared into the trees, "darn, hmmm.... what to do?" So, I opened the driver's side door and stood on the floor-boards then flung and hung myself over the top of the door and held on tight as I tried to hold my camera steady as cars zoomed by! LOL, no doubt I got some strange looks :-) Normally a fence line running across the foreground of a photo would stop the viewer's eye from entering the photo however because you can hardly see the barbed wire in this photograph, I wasn't concerned. Instead, I knew you'd notice the vertical fence posts; which actually lead your eye into the photo. "Perfect", I thought, and it adds to the overall composition too. The other thing you might notice, is the group mass of the trees. Its size along with the vibrant color definitely demands the viewer's attention. The teal colors of Abraham Lake, combined with the fall colors, made this an exciting day of exploring with my camera! You have to visit sometime!

"Fall's Magic"

The world continues to amaze me. In these trying times, Mother Nature's beauty is so refreshing and her spirit is infectiously calming. There's something therapeutic in meandering in her presence. Although I can't truly capture her in my photographs, I try to capture her essence 🙂

“Alpine Serenity"

It was early in the morning, on Thanksgiving Day, October 2017 when we dressed warm for an all day, high altitude, alpine ATV ride. The Monashee mountain range, in October, is unpredictable however we prepared for it. As we gained altitude it became foggy, the falling snow started to stick to the road and the wind was bitterly cold in our open ATV's. "If the snow gets much deeper", we remarked "we'll have to turn around". We pressed on and eventually stopped to have lunch in the middle of this winter wonderland (we were thankful for thermoses of hot coffee!). While there my girlfriend and I ventured into the forest and happened upon this lake. Wow, what are the chances that behind this tree, that tree, around the corner and over a rise, there would be a lake! I immediately noticed the reflections, they were darker than the trees themselves, “Wow”, I remember exclaiming and began taking photos. By days end we were exhausted, cold and hungry but as luck should have our timing was perfect for us to enjoy the Seymour Arm Community Association's Thanksgiving dinner. What a great day to share with friends! The spiritual serenity of the alpine incredibly majestic; I'll never forget this special day that I shared with my dear friends, nor this hidden treasure.

“The Icefields Parkway"

The Ice Fields Parkway is a 230km (143ml) mountain highway that runs through the heart of both Banff and Jasper National Parks. It parallels the Continental Divide and is considered to be one of the most jaw dropping scenic routes in the world. On the April day that we traveled the parkway, the air was crisp, the sky was clear and impressively blue. A late snowfall, a late spring thaw and the southern sun were all on our side as we set out on this photo journey. As we drove north, we often stopped and turned around to capture yet another amazing shot (luckily there wasn't much traffic!). As mentioned, the sky was impressively blue and as a result, the remaining snow absorbed the same blue tones. Observe too, the colors of the mountains, which are also blue; albeit darker in density. This photo has a definite abstract element to it; it’s comprised of two colors (blue and green) and has some strong angular lines.

"Breathtaking"

This was such a spectacular day for a hike and photo shoot! I drove to the top of Mount Revelstoke (BC) and quickly got my gear together and set out while the morning light was perfect. The spectacular mountain views and valley fog below took my breath away! I love (and am thankful for) my motor-home, Jeep and collapsible bike. Together, they allow me the freedom to roam... and enjoy many meals with view like this one!

"A Golden Change"

Cadomin is a hamlet in the west-central area of Alberta. It is quaintly nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and is approximately 50 kilometers (31 miles) south of Hinton and just east of Jasper National Park. This operating coal mine community was once home to over 1000 people but now is home to only 55. I was SO excited to be back in the Rockies and I felt very fortunate that I arrived on such a BEAUTIFUL day! That said, to say I was “excited” was an understatement! I was invigorated by the mountain air, the beauty that surrounded me and the freedom my life and RV gives me. I arrived in Cadomin just as the morning sun crested and filled the valley floor. The golden light on this pond was astonishing, and I knew it would be short lived so I had to hustle to capture it! I love the dominating fall colors in this photo but what I love the most is the lead in line and how your eyes follow the shoreline, and then settles in the vivid reflection of the pond (called “the settling point”). At day’s end I reflected upon the day; with my happy energy radiating, many wonderful things came my way. A change in one’s attitude, is golden. So, I named this photograph, "Golden Change" (as in seasons and in attitude). 🙂

"Painterly Reflection"

One late September afternoon, while hiking along the Bow River (near Lake Louise, Alberta), I came across this interesting image floating (if you will) on the river's service. "Floating", you might ask? Well, no... it's actually a reflection of the valley scene on the water's surface. I was in the Rocky Mountains to shoot the vibrant fall colors of the native larch trees however on this overcast day I chose to look for the "abnormal" instead, and found this. What I find most interesting about this photograph are the shapes and contrast of the clouds reflecting in the water, which gives this photograph a painterly style.