Northern Vancouver Island

Posted on 08/21/2026 by Jens

When people visit Vancouver Island they usually go to Victoria, Tofino, and Ucluelet. A beautiful area that receives less visitors is Northern Vancouver Island. I recently returned from a road trip to historical Telegraph Cove, Port McNeill, Port Alice, Alert Bay, and Coal Harbour. In the Johnstone Strait I saw Orcas, Humpback whales, Dall’s porpoise, Pacific White-sided dolphins, and Sea otters. If you can spare about 9 minutes of your time please watch my video. All filming, editing, and drone work was done by me.

Posted in British Columbia, Drone, Historical, Holidays, Summer, Travel, West Coast, Wildlife | Leave a comment

Quarry Rock Hike

Posted on 07/28/2026 by Jens

A beautiful day to spend some time in the forest. I went early to avoid the crowds and parking hassles. All filming, editing, and drone work has been done by me. There is music and you can click on the lower right hand corner to see the video full screen.

Posted in British Columbia, Drone, Hiking, Summer, Travel, West Coast | Leave a comment

Freshet

Posted on 05/18/2026 by Jens

The mountain streams and rivers are experiencing a surge of melting snow. This Spring runoff leads to high water flows. I’m still learning to take images with my drone, but I like this photo and how the viewer’s gaze meanders through the scene. Click on the photo to see a larger version.

Posted in British Columbia, Drone, Spring, West Coast | Leave a comment

Common Loon

Posted on 02/16/2026 by Jens

I wasn’t expecting to see a Common Loon ( Gavia immer ) when I went for a walk with my camera. I think this is a juvenile that can be found in coastal waters during the first two years of their life. I watched it doing its submarine maneuvers to catch fish. They are agile swimmers that propel themselves with large feet. Their legs are placed far back on their bodies, allowing for efficient swimming but only awkward movement on land. They spend most of their lives on water and only go ashore to mate and incubate eggs. Click on any one of the three photos to see a larger and sharper version.

Posted in Birds, British Columbia, West Coast, Wildlife, Winter | Leave a comment

Mistiness

Posted on 01/25/2026 by Jens

In the quiet hours of a winter morning, fog drapes the landscape in soft tones, inviting the eye to wander slowly through layers of stillness. Here, I saw in the distance a Bald Eagle perched on a farm irrigation system. Where the light meets fog and shapes gently unfold, winter whispers its quiet stories. Click on the photo to see a larger version.

Posted in Birds, British Columbia, Inspiring, West Coast, Wildlife, Winter | Leave a comment

Stillness

Posted on 01/17/2026 by Jens

There’s a strange kind of magic that happens in those quiet moments when the world seems to slow down and you’re left simply observing. That’s what drew me to this scene — not the grand drama of a sunrise or the rugged peaks of a mountain, but the gentle stillness reflected in the water, the subtle glow of the last light, and the way winter and night begin to blend into one another. Click on the photo to see a larger version.

Posted in British Columbia, Colour, Inspiring, Night Photography, West Coast, Winter | Leave a comment

Nature-Inspired and Thoughtful

Posted on 01/01/2026 by Jens

In the stillness of winter, a new year begins. Wishing you wisdom, renewal, and steady wings in the months ahead. Happy New Year. Click on the photo of the raven to see a larger version.

Posted in Animalscape, Birds, British Columbia, Holidays, Inspiring, Mountains, West Coast, Wildlife, Winter | Leave a comment

Descending

Posted on 12/28/2025 by Jens

I spent the day photographing Bald Eagles ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus ) and Trumpeter Swans ( Cygnus buccinator ). The Bald Eagles were feeding on spawning salmon which were coming to the end of their life cycle. The Trumpeter Swans were coming into land on a wooded pond. Click on either one of the photos to see a larger version.

Posted in Birds, British Columbia, Science, West Coast, Wildlife, Winter | Leave a comment

Golden Hour Glow

Posted on 12/06/2025 by Jens

Fall light for photography is magical due to its low, warm angle, which creates golden hues at sunset. However, this time of year it gets dark by 4:30 p.m. I had to work quickly, before the sun went down, to get this photo of a Pacific Great Blue Heron perched on one leg which helps it to conserve body heat. Click on the image to see a larger version.

Posted in Animalscape, Autumn, Birds, British Columbia, Colour, Science, West Coast, Wildlife | Leave a comment

Twisty

Posted on 11/09/2025 by Jens

When I’m out exploring this beautiful province that I live in, I’ve been trying to use my drone more. As a photographer, you have to change your perspective because you are seeing the world from a Bird’s-eye point of view. Just like you need to look at things differently when you are shooting black and white vs. colour photos, you also need to think differently when you are taking images with a drone. I took this picture of a road that leads to a ski resort. It actually goes up a steep hill, but it doesn’t really convey that from above. Ideally, I should have included a cyclist or a bright red sports car, which would have made for a stronger composition. Click on the photo to see a larger version. Comments are always welcome.

Posted in Autumn, British Columbia, Colour, Mountains, Travel, West Coast | Leave a comment