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beach dragon
On our last day in Ucluelet there was a light mist in the morning air so I decided to head down to a beach at the entrance of Terrace Bay. I was hoping for a new vantage point for some misty sea side images. There was a set of access stairs leading down off the Wild Cost Trail, down the cliff to a rock beach.
... I had time to explore while the others slept or started their morning ritual and prepared for our departure later in the morning. I thought to hell with the wildlife warnings when using the trails early in the morning, I wasn't going far...
... then, reaching the bottom of the stairs and cleared the last tree I ran straight into the "beach dragon" - LOL
Well that's what I think it looked like. An interesting piece of driftwood was beached among the rocky shore exposed at low tide. I worked this subject for quire a while, stalking it from all around and all angles. Finally I moved on, there was so much to capture from this new vantage point. Some time later, I looked back at the dragon and started working it from another vantage point farther away. I stayed on the beach photographing for a long time, then realized that I had to get back, the others would wonder where I was.
... damn, I had to get to the stairs and that meant passing just within reach of the beach dragon ;-)
You know, as I walked by, I swear it moved !
DJE
I created this composite image in CS5 to be printed and framed as a gift to the "little girl" shown in her Grandmothers arms almost 90 years ago.
then and now
My wife's Aunt Veronica (Verna) turned 90 recently and family members gathered in Victoria BC to celebrate the occasion. The original B&W image is circa 1923 when Verna was photographed in the arms of her grandmother on the porch of the family home in Toronto.
I met Verna almost 30 years ago, not long after Lynn and I got together. I can't remember exactly when, but I do remember being told "you have to meet Verna", on more than several occasions. It was always communicated with such warmth and emotion that I new she was something special.
... special alright. So full of life and down to earth. I've always enjoyed the times Lynn and I get to visit with Verna. There have been far to few. It was wonderful to connect again and get my hugs from her and catch up. Here's to ya darlin'.
DJE
Ucluelet Shore
This is what I had hoped for...
A recent trip to Victoria BC to visit Lynn's family provided the perfect opportunity for us to head up island and visit Ucluelet. This has been on my list of MUST visit photo locations for a few years now after seeing some stunning images online. The scenery did not disappoint. The coastline is absolutely beautiful and on the day I made this image, I was provided with the morning mist that I had hoped for ... This was taken from a beach, with the tide out, while I sat in solitude listening to the gentle waves run up the sand between calls from the resident pair of bald eagles ... so easy to get lost in the moment that I stayed more than a while.
shhhhhhh.........
... one to be printed LARGE and permanently framed.
DJE
from the shade of a tree
...sometimes you just need to take a coffee break in the shade of a tree. In this case I had been on the road since early morning making inspection visits as my work duties require. It was well after lunch and I just really needed to stop and grab a coffee and sit down for 10 minutes to gather my thoughts in preparation for the next item on my "to do" list for the day.
What better place than under the shade of a tree. One with a magnificent view that just happened to be close to where I had pulled off the highway. I had photographed this location before in the fall and knew it would provide shade in the heat and mid-day sun and temporary isolation from the buzz.
When I arrived, there were a couple other people there enjoying the location and as I exited the car, I knew I just had to take a couple minutes to make a few images looking out over the river. Times like these are exactly why I try to always carry a camera. Lately I have been making sure that I take both my G6 (converted for IR) and my G12 when I leave the house in the morning. The G6 and IR was perfect for this mid-afternoon scene in strong sun with fluffy white clouds and green leaves all around.
This is one to add you my own version of The Book of Awesome.
DJE
winery ware
My niece, had her wedding at Stoney Ridge Winery in Vineland this weekend and while I had chosen not to do the wedding photography, I could not go without any camera gear. Before the ceremony we were enjoying some of the Stoney Ridge libations and I had time to muck about with my G12 Point & Shoot.
Not looking to capture any traditional images of the proceedings I had my eye out for something else from the venue. A table full of wine glasses arranged in rows caught my eye and I took advantage of a low point of view and shot along table level. The repeating patterns and receding lines make for an interesting almost abstract image.
DJE
roadside dawn
The really good light for photography occurs early during these summer months, very early. With sunrise taking place just after 6:00 am, getting to a location for the really good light means being there by 6:30. Capturing the glow of the morning sun as it approached the horizon ... at least an hour earlier than that. Add travel time to the location and this can require departures while it's still dark.
I'm normally an early riser and there are many early morning images in my library ... but, as of late I've taken to "banker hours", or so a friend chided me recently. After meeting up to scout out a location that my friend had photographed many times before, the good light was gone. We were too late ... by a long shot. He had arrived early and made a couple of stunning images and I was left to snap off a few that left me wanting "the really good light".
OK, lesson learned. I need to start getting my sorry butt out of the house and off to the shooting location earlier ... as I did for this week's shot. As a matter of fact, this image was almost captured too late. The sun was over the trees and rising in a cloudless sky. The morning mist was beginning to burn off. Not to worry, we'd been out shooting for almost an hour and at least 30 minutes at this location.
I'm reminded why I love getting up and out early ...
DJE
