Well the November rains have begun in earnest here on BC’s west coast and I’ve been happy to be warm and dry inside going through this summer’s images. Serving as the Expedition Specialist on two photo tours with Outer Shores Expeditions, one to Haida Gwaii and one to the Great Bear Rainforest yielded some amazing experiences and photographic opportunities. As well, we were able to take several wonderful trips with our trusty sea kayaks as a family to some special places around Vancouver Island. I’ve updated my galleries with my most recent images but thought I’d share a few of my favourites here.
Our friends the hummingbirds were back in our yard in abundance this year giving me the opportunity to stand in my pyjamas, coffee in one hand, camera in the other enjoying the quiet early morning light and the birds’ antics.
Spring found us on the remote west coast of Vancouver Island, sharing our little island with some coastal wolves. The kids enjoyed howling along when the wolves broke into song and it was fascinating to watch the juveniles tirelessly foraging in the intertidal zone for food to bring back to the den where the alpha female of the pack was nursing a new litter of cubs.
My first photo tour of the summer was to Haida Gwaii. Each day offered a different highlight and by the end of the week our guests had been treated to many special moments, each representative of a different facet of this amazing place.
Another family sea kayaking trip took us to the Broughton Archipelago off Vancouver Island’s north east coast. The area is famous for it’s marine mammals and we were not disappointed. At times the air and ocean were so still we could tell what was approaching our tiny island campsite simply by the sound of its breathing.
Mid-August is a great time for star gazers as the Perseids meteor shower peaks with shooting stars visible every minute. This year I wanted to give a sense of the multiple meteors emanating from the same constellation. Fortunately those more facile with Photoshop than I have come up with a technique of blending multiple images while correcting for the passage of the stars across the night sky. Here is my take on this year’s Perseids meteor shower:
Each summer we like to take the final few days of the kids’ summer vacation and do one last sea kayaking trip. This year’s destination were the Copeland Isands at the entrance to Desolation Sound. The islands are close by and the water is warm making it a perfect destination for a quick but relaxing trip.
My final big trip of the summer was again aboard the Passing Cloud to lead a photo tour in the Great Bear Rainforest at the end of September. Wild, pristine, and beautiful at any time, the place really comes alive from a wildlife photography point of view during the salmon spawning season. Grizzly bears, black bears including the famous white spirit bears, wolves, birds and all manner of other forest denizens converge along streams and in estuaries to feast on the returning salmon. We were able to spend some amazing time floating quietly in our zodiac photographing grizzlies foraging at the water’s edge while at the same time soaking in the stunning scenery. It’s truly a special place and one well worth protecting.
If you’ve enjoyed seeing some of my favourite summer images, check out my galleries to see more. Thanks for reading!
