Where’s Home?

Maple Forest

Where are my spruce and poplar forests? Where are my rolling prairies and jagged mountains? Where are the rose thorns that would constantly catch at my pants as I push through the underbrush? I have traded all these for…maple? Oak? Poison ivy?

I’m finding eastern Canada surprisingly less familiar than I thought I would. There’s more biodiversity and less familiar weather patterns. Rivers flow differently over more exposed rock. The birdsongs I know are mixed with many new ones, the squirrels no longer chatter at me – they buzz! I’m slowly learning the rhythm of this place, but it will be a long time until I feel as comfortable as I did in the west. I just finished leading my last scheduled trip in my old home (although I’m sure there will be more). So this is my challenge and this is my opportunity! I’ll be exploring this new place I’m in and as I start to understand it a little better I hope it will start to feel like home. And I hope I’ll be able to share just a little bit of that journey with you!

A Bloomin’ Gallery Show

The Daffodil Gallery

This Saturday, August 13 from noon to 4pm is the opening for “Blooming“, a new show at the Daffodil Gallery. I’ve got two pieces in this show — one you’ve seen before if you’ve been to the gallery, and the other is new for this show. Unfortunately, I’m not going to be there for the opening, but even without me the gallery is a relaxing and enjoyable place to go and see new art.

Kasaa Gallery

Also coming up soon is the VAAA Open Photo Exhibition. The opening will be Thursday, August 25th from 6 to 8pm at the Kasaa Gallery in the Northern Jubilee Auditorium. I am excited to have two pieces in this show, which is a juried show open to all Alberta photographers. There should be quite a variety of photo styles there.

I may have to get a calendar up on the site to keep track of exhibitions and shows for those interested.

But where are all the photos from BC?

I’m getting there slowly. Everything else is pretty crazy right now, so they’ll start trickling out over the next week or two. To get started, here are some cracked rocks in Medicine Lake in Jasper National Park. This was taken after my first day on the road, which is always a very liberating experience.

Thick Frost on Spruce Boughs

For the next couple of days I’ll be finding some new photos in the mountains. I’m pretty excited – I got some new crampons with a MEC giftcard I got from Uncle Jack for Christmas, so I should be coming back with ice photos of one sort or another. I’ve never used crampons before, and I don’t have an ice axe, so don’t expect anything too extreme, but I’m slowly expanding the places I can get to and photograph.

I’ve scheduled this to post automatically for today, and another for tomorrow, so for those of you who look forward to your daily fix – never fear.

Frost on spruce branches by Cave and Basin in Banff.

Columbian Ground Squirrel

I found this cute columbian ground squirrel in Sunshine Meadows in Banff National Park. They’re super tame in the parks, which is cool for taking pictures, but a little disturbing too. I think it was looking for a handout.

You can’t see it very well in this picture, but this guy has some serious claws. I’ll just happily continue assuming they’re for digging.

Small Mossy Creek

Goldstream Creek is an awesome creek on Vancouver Island, although I’m sure it’s not the only one. I could spend a month exploring a creek like this. It’s such a peaceful otherworldly place.

Overflowing

There has been a lot of rain this summer, and the rivers are higher than normal. This makes for some interesting photos as the water is rushing through the forest.

These were taken in Whiteshell Provincial Park, Manitoba. Anna and I were out there for a family camping trip with my side of the family, and we really enjoyed it. We only got to see a small part of the park so we’ll definitely have to go back sometime.

Quick Pics Between Trips

Editing photos right after a trip has always been a challenge for me. I find it hard to judge whether my photos are good or not because I’m usually judging my memory of the place rather than the photo. After a few months I find I can be more objective. But a few months is a long time to wait for photos. Sometimes whole trips get forgotten.

So here’s me trying to do quick edits. I still gave myself a few days, but I wanted to get these up before I leave on my next trip (actually in a few hours) and this last one is forgotten. These are from just east of Jasper National Park.

Anna in Ogre Canyon near Brule

Icicles hanging from a cutaway

Spruce trees near Cadomin

Evening light on the river

An old abandoned railway