As I was walking home this evening there was a beautiful full moon. You could also see a moonbow, lunar halo or lunar rainbow. This is caused by the refraction of light through high altitude clouds. It generally means that rain will fall shortly. The moon bow was only visible for a short period of time before a heavier layer of cloud covered the moon. Click on the image to see a larger version.
I enjoy taking images in the Fall because of the various shades of red, yellow, orange and brown. When a tree loses its leaves you can see the intricate design of the branches and twigs. I got excited when I saw the silhouette of the leafless tree in the foreground against the sky at sunrise. It’s great to be outside early in the morning when the air is so cool, crisp and clean. At night in low lying areas radiation fog forms when there is a clear sky, ample moisture in the surface layer and no wind. The fog burns off quickly when the sun rises, but there is a short period of time when the light is magical. Click on the image to see a larger version.
I spent some time revisiting my images from Iceland and I came across this photo of a mare with its foal. The foal was very shy, skitterish and suspicious of the human with a camera. The foal was always within close proximity of the mare. Originally the photo was larger and horizontal, I cropped it closer and I’m happier with the new composition. Click on the image to see a larger version. To purchase this fine art print see here.
In October, drawn by natural forces, the salmon return to the rivers which gave them birth. They fight their way upstream against powerful currents, leap waterfalls and battle their way through rapids. They also face dangers from those who like the taste of salmon: bears, eagles, osprey and people.
Once the salmon reach their spawning grounds, they deposit thousands of fertilized eggs in the gravel. Each female digs a nest with a male in attendance beside her.
By using her tail, the female creates a depression in which she releases her eggs. At the same time, the male releases a cloud of milt. When the female starts to prepare her second nest, she covers the first nest with gravel which protects the eggs from predators. This process is repeated several times until the female has spawned all her eggs.
Their long journey over, the adult salmon die. Their carcasses provide nourishment and winter food for bears, otters, raccoons, mink and provide nutrients to the river for the new generation of salmon, much as dying leaves fertilize the earth. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Vancouver Island is a great place to visit and live. Island life is more laid-back when compared to the hectic pace of the Vancouver lower mainland. I was fortunate to experience some sunny weather when I was exploring with my camera. One of the things I noticed was at night when I was sleeping it was pitch dark and eerily quiet, you couldn’t hear another sound. In the lower mainland you experience noise and light pollution 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Some of the communities on Vancouver Island seem to be struggling like many small towns in Canada. Click on the image to see a larger version.
During the Winter Olympics in Vancouver a heritage electric railway was built for tourists. There is a station platform at the end of the line which is never used anymore. The bushes or vines are slowly creeping across the concrete of the station platform. Click on the image to see a larger version.
The Facade Festival is an immersive and dynamic projection mapping experience which transforms the Robson Street facade of the Vancouver Art Gallery with the work of five Vancouver based contemporary artists. Click on a photo to see a larger version.
When I took this image at Jökulsárlón it was cold, windy, cloudy, overcast, dark and the light was very flat. When I looked at the image of the Arctic Terns resting on an iceberg I thought the photo might look better if I converted it from colour to black and white. Click on the image to see a larger version.
I don’t collect comic books, but this store is always fun to visit. The walls are covered in comic books, graphic novels, collectables, toys, posters, t-shirts, memorabilia and sports cards.
I’ve always been visually drawn to the overhead trolleybus wires at intersections in the downtown area. Some are quite simple and others are very complex, especially if there is a lot of buses coming from a variety of different directions and if they have to turn at the intersection. I was looking for an intersection where I could get a photo of the wires without any buildings or trees in the background, which can be kind of tricky. This is my first attempt, but I know I can do better in the future.
