Summer Evening at Qualicum Beach - Landscape Photography

It's been a while since I have shared some of my shots taken during our summer travel on Vancouver Island ( you can check the last installment from that trip - record of our visit at Victoria’s Craigdarroch Castle in Beautiful British Columbia - Part 7).  During our stay on the Island we have been lucky to spend an evening at Qualicum Beach, being guided by one of our photographic friends, who was kind enough to take us to his favorite part of the coast and, though, the tide was high and most of the beach was covered with water, we still had a chance to take a wonderful walk,  admire the views and, of course, snap a few shots ;D.  It is such a pleasure to watch the sun disappear behind the horizon, making the sky burn! Landscape photography can be so much fun!!! I miss those summer days.. I hope sharing these pictures will take your minds away from this long and cold winter. I took mine off, for sure.  Enjoy! :D Kasia

Evening at Qualicum Beach.. 4

Evening at Qualicum Beach.. 8

Concentrate on the details

Evening at Qualicum Beach.. 1

Evening at Qualicum Beach.. 3

Evening at Qualicum Beach.. 2

Evening at Qualicum Beach.. 6

Evening at Qualicum Beach.. 5

Rocks and rolls..

Evening at Qualicum Beach.. 7

The dreams we dream..

The sun goes down, the stars come up..

Evening at Qualicum Beach.. 9

The World in Yellow - Macro Photography

It's been a long time since I have dedicated a post to just macros..  It's gotten cold yet again and, it looks like, winter is not ready to move on at present. Not that there was a chance of that but .. eternal hope and the like ;D Oh well, we'll have to wait for spring some more, but don't despair.  At least in pictures we can find some wonderful color, borrowed from other seasons. I'm in mood for yellow in nature today and I do hope you'll find it as enjoyable as I do.  I love macro photography.  Love the fact that one can concentrate on a detail and that one can have wonderful colors in the background without sacrificing the main subject. Grant it, it it's not so easy to make macro interesting, but I hope, I have ben close enough to it that you'll take a moment to look at these ;D Have a wonderful day everybody! Kasia

The past and the future..

Landing gear out!

A promise is a promise..

Delightful in yellow

Summer beauty..9 (Dill-licious)

Little snack on the way

In search for heat

Hold on to your senses!

Twists and turns

Morning song

Yellow

Important detail

When Fall Met Summer - Landscape Photography And More..

I think it's time for some color, don't you? It's been so long since we've seen more than whites, blues, blacks and grays, so why not go back to late summer and beginning of fall, when all the world was covered in beautiful colors?  It's seems to me that Mother Nature gives us this opportunity, every year, to soak it all up in preparation for a monochromatic season that lasts too long.. Today, I would like to share photos from two trips of ours that took place just as the seasons were changing.. Last day of summer, first day of fall. Two sunsets in rural Alberta. A little bit of landscape photography, a bit of rural architecture and nature and, of course, a macro shot (one cannot admire the world without looking close at things, don't you think?) and all of it full of beautiful colors, complements of Mother Nature.  I am so very glad to have seen it all and have my memories recorded so that I can look at all this splendor when I'm feeling deprived of color. Hope it is as enjoyable to you as it is to me :D Kasia

Last day of summer 2013 .. 1

Last day of summer 2013 .. 3

Last day of summer 2013 .. 4

Day's end

When summer meets fall

How many layers ?

Last day of summer 2013 .. 5

Summer is leaving..

Another day, another sunset

Fall evening

Peaceful existence

On guard

Moment in time

The day has come to an end..

A Short Trip to Butchart Gardens in Victoria - Travel Photography

Considering that we got, yet again, a foot of snow and the temperatures are dropping, most everybody here in Edmonton, I'm sure,  is thinking of taking off to some tropical island to bask in sun and heat.. Well, since such a trip is out of the question for us, at this time, I am tempted to look at my pictures from our summer trip to BC ( to check our previous adventures on Vancouver Island see Beautiful British Columbia - Part 7), this time, from our short visit at the famous Butchart Gardens in Victoria.  Such a lovely place to explore!! So many beautifully growing, disgustingly luscious (sorry, a bit of a gardener's envy on my part, here) plants, beautifully arranged for the viewer to see.. I could spend hours with my macro lens there, surrounded by all that splendor.. Alas, we didn't have too much time and I did not take my 100mm lens, just the 200mm one and had to work with that, along with my 17mm.  Travel photography forces us to make the most of what we have (equipment and time -wise).. Lets see what I have managed to do with the two lenses I brought with me. Hope you enjoy!

Kasia

Welcome home

Butchart Gatdens, Victoria, BC .. 3

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 6

Butchart Gatdens, Victoria, BC .. 5

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 23

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 24

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 21

Hello, Pretty!

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 14

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 16

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 8

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 15

Butchart Gatdens, Victoria, BC .. 1

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 25

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 19

Las Vegas

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 11

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 18

Patterns

Tourists

Butchart Gatdens, Victoria, BC .. 4

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 17

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 12

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 10

Butchart Gatdens, Victoria, BC .. 2

Not Another Canola Shot! - Landscape Photography And More..

I don't know about you guys, but we have seen so many photographs with canola fields over the years that we have been reluctant to shoot them ourselves. One evening, however, when we were traveling Alberta back roads we have encountered one such field, with beautiful clouds painted by setting sun that we could not resist stopping and taking pictures... I could not resist a few close ups, as well... So we have done our part to add to canola landscape photography... Shame on us! But, just look at the pictures.  Wasn't it a beautiful evening?! Kasia

Beautiful British Columbia - Part 6 - Travel Photography

Long Beach, one of the most known places in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve on Vancouver Island.  Quite a beautiful place, full of sand and driftwood. We have visited it one misty morning (with one short stop in the evening), taking a long walk, enjoying a breeze and the sound of waves.  Lot's of cool stuff to find and take pictures of! As beautiful in the morning as it is in the evening sun.. We were lucky to get a very good light both times (which is not always the case with travel photography) and here is a few pictures I have taken while visiting.  To check our previous post, just click on the following link: Beautiful British Columbia - Part 5 - Travel Photography. Kasia

When we were leaving the beach the second time, I could not resist taking picture of these shoes hanging on the wires.  It's funny, but I think I have seen such things everywhere I have visited.. What is it with people's need to leave them like that?!

To be continued..

Beautiful British Columbia - Part 4 - Travel Photography

After a day of hiking around Vancouver (see Beautiful British Columbia - Part 3 - Travel Photography - our visit to Lynn Valley) we've decided to do a bit less walking and took a drive to the Horseshoe Bay to explore it a bit and search for a location for a sunset.  We've stopped at a few places along the way and ended up staying for a few hours on a little rocky beach. Don't ask me where these shots were taken, because after a while I completely lost any idea of where we were.. The tide was still pretty low, when we've arrived and it allowed me to take my macro lens and take a closer look at some barnacles and seaweed as well as the surrounding views.  The unfortunate thing about travel photography is that we can't always wait for a better light, having limited time at a certain location. But even with that in mind, using a bit of a different angle one can manage to get a few lovely shots. Here is a few of those from that outing.. Kasia

To be continued..

Beautiful British Columbia - Part 3 - Travel Photography

Our adventure with travel photography in Vancouver, BC continues with  Lynn Valley (previous post picturing Jericho Beach Park: Beautiful British Columbia - Part 2 - Travel Photography). It is a lovely place full of gorgeous trees, lots of stairs and a charming Rice Lake, as a culmination of one of the hiking trails. That day, the sun was shining through the canopy and making this dark, rain forest very beautiful. I wish I could see it with fog laying on the ground, with some sun rays shining through... It would look truly spectacular! But, as a guest, staying only for a day or two, one can only get what is there and don't complain about the ambiance ;D.  I love the play of light and shadow! As difficult it is to photograph it you always feel a wonderful sense of pleasure when your effort pays off! I hope you'll enjoy those few shots... Kasia

To be continued...

A Year In Macro Photography

Our recent chat about macros on a podcast Shuttertime with Sid and Mac has given me an idea for this post.  We were talking about the fact that it is easy to shoot macros all year round, for it doesn't requite taking any long trips to exotic places or getting up at a crack of dawn. All you need is a decent macro lens or extension tubes, a few plants in your backyard or a trip to the park with your family and you can always find something interesting to shoot. Whether it is a cool plant, a bug or a spider web there really always is something out there to take pictures of. As long as you find an interesting angle or a colourful background  you can came back home with tons of gorgeous shots.  I start the year with a trip to one of the neighbourhood nurseries in early May, before our outdoor planters can be filled safely with growing things.  It is always a great pleasure to look at all the beautifully colourful flowers just waiting for the weather to warm up enough for safe planting and the bugs are usually there as well. A couple of hours of being lost in such surroundings and I come back home with a memory card full of shots.   Here is a few of such spring shots that kept me happy over the recent years before the outside world turned green:

Then, things are starting to bloom outside and I start taking my camera out and about to see what new things are showing up out there.  I have shared some spring images I took close by in my post Spring 2013 so I'm going to just include a couple of more recent shots today:

During the podcast we have mentioned the fact that having an interestingly coloured background makes a difference. Here is an example - a couple of shots of the same spider web covered in dew and how the angle of the shot, utilizing different colours of the background, makes a difference:

Summer! Ah.. This is a macro photographer's paradise.. Over the last couple of years I have gathered so many wonderful shots and they've kept me very happy during long winter months..

There is always something magical in catching reflections in water droplets.. You can see the whole world inside a drop if you find a proper angle. It's always so much fun!!! And if you don't want to bother with these there is always the occasional trip into the country. I try always to take my macro lens with me. You never know what you'll find on such an outing..

And if you are tired of all that colour, you can always play a bit with an image and come up with something like that:

Fall has it's own pleasurable moments with it's fogs turning into frost and covering all and a wonderful soft, warm light.  There is always something that catches my eye..

During winter months I try to find something at home that can be photographed. Whether it is my son's guitar or a flower that was given to me, it makes not very big difference except it is not always easy to get good, strong light inside. I still go out and explore if I can. It may be cold, but if the weather conditions are right one can find little treasures outside, such as a couple of snowflakes (I've shared a few of those in my post Beauty of a Snowflake - Part 3) or frost covered foliage:

So keep on shooting guys.  There is really no need for long trips to exotic locations and you don't need too much time . Just a few minutes here and there. Cool stuff can be found everywhere!!

Kasia

Spring Sunset And "Prairie Castles"

Couple of weeks ago we have driven to a spot we've found about a year ago to see how is the spring progressing out in the country.  The distant silos on the horizon reminded me very much of castles in Europe and if you don't look too close you can actually pretend that that's what they are. Works for me ;D. It was a bit of a chilly evening, and mosquitos were out in quite a force, but being armed with a big old can of bug spray we were not afraid of them at all (one must be quite brave to venture out this year, for there is literally millions of them, considering how wet everywhere is..). The world was full of frog and bird calls and it was so wonderfully relaxing to just sit and watch the spectacle unfold.  What can I say, I'm a complete sucker for a nice sunset.. And if you can witness such, pretending you are traveling in Europe, with a wonderful accompaniment of natural music of nature... Let just say, it doesn't get much better than that.. I hope you will enjoy a few shots from that trip, considering how gloomy it is outside today. It is such a pleasure to ignore the wet, cold, cloudy outdoors and concentrate on the sunlight, sunset colors and a beauty of surrounding world.. With a touch of imagination, the magic is on! Kasia

Spring 2013

It is a wonderful thing to see the trees bloom as well as get green all over. I've been getting a lot of images here and there while walking with our dog, or just simply taking my camera to my own back yard recently. Such a delight to see all this wonderful color.  Hope you like it as well!! Kasia

Before Planting Season

The weather is finally warm enough that I can start thinking of what to plant in my garden. It's going to be a couple more weeks before I will be brave enough to do so - there is always a possibility of frost and I have had an unfortunate accident a few years back, when I rushed things through and lost almost all new plants to a morning frost.. So, I will wait with planting, but nothing stops me from visiting our neighborhood nursery and doing a little "window shopping" before I can actually purchase things. With that in mind, a few days ago, I have taken my camera with me and had a great time taking pictures of all those wonderfully colorful flowers all just waiting for me to take home :D.  I caught a few early insects as well, not mentioning a guarding cat that was enjoying a bit of a nap on one of the shelves, when I rudely interrupted his rest. A cute thing, allowed me to take a picture and then wondered away, in search, I think, of a quieter spot..  I don't know about you, guys, but I can't wait to plant things and watch them grow and bloom in a myriad of colors for my enjoyment all summer long!! Happy gardening guys!! :D Kasia

The Beginning..

As I have mentioned in my post Things to Come, spring has been very slow to start this year. We all are rather tired of grays, dirty snow and cold, and long for things to change.  It is rather late, but finally, after almost 6 months the snow has finally melted off my flower beds and lawn and I can see growing things starting to come out, particularly in one, sheltered spot by my house.  First there were the tulips, sticking out shyly, followed quickly by delphinium foliage and then, I have seen some buds on the trees in the neighborhood getting nice and fat and finally my crocuses started to bloom.  I was so very happy to see them!!! I'm also very lucky because in most places in our city there has been no signs of spring yet except for an occasional, very rare pussy willow.. So here it is, for all of us in central and norther Alberta, a little color with renewed hope that soon our world will turn green again. :D Kasia

Things to Come

Spring is taking its sweet time to come this year.  Things are barely starting to move along and I am waiting very impatiently for the Nature to fully wake up and start working on the colors.. Good thing I was able to take quite a few shots of the blooming trees and buzzing bees (and other insects finding refuge among those blooms, as well as little droplets of water hiding among foliage - you know, I cannot resist these ;D) last year so that I can look at them now in order to help me survive till such time comes again.. I would like to share some of these with you now in hope, they will bring you as much pleasure as they bring me. Enjoy! :D Kasia

Wishing for Things to Start Blooming Again..

I have been horribly envious of people living in parts of the world with milder climates, because they have flowers blooming already.. I see all these current pictures all over the net and I wish I was able to go out with my camera and take pictures of new things growing.. Alas, it's not going to happen any time soon yet, for me, anyway.  Fortunately, I have saved a lot of images I took last spring and can now enjoy processing them.  To me tulips and spring are very closely linked, thus any time I see them they bring to mind warm weather and sunshine.  So here they are, my spring shots of gorgeous tulips up close.  Hope they'll be cheering you all up, as they do me! :) Kasia

A Little Indoor Spring

Easter is always connected to spring in my mind.  It is the time when I look forward to things starting to grow. In our climate, we have to wait for that to happen for a while yet, so, in order to satisfy my need for colorful, growing things I have to bring them indoor and feast my eyes with them there.  Thus I was very happy to acquire a bunch of daffodils. They are so beautifully vibrant, and colorful! With their juicy yellow they bring cheer and joy to my life. Of course, there is no way I could stop myself from snapping a few shots and share them with you all ;D I hope you will enjoy them as much as I do.. Kasia

Sick of Winter, Yet?

Sick of winter, yet? I know, I am!! That's why I have decided to postpone my post with winter Rockies in black and white (the continuation of Rockies in Colour..) and share some of the colorful images I've been working on recently. I am so very happy to have a huge amount of pictures from summer saved for such an occasion! With recent weather, turning my world yet again into vast whiteness, those flowery shots keep me sane!! I hope they will work for you as well. Enjoy! Kasia

Magical World of Moss

I've been going through my spring photos and stumbled upon this set of macros I took last year, of my backyard grown moss.  Pretty things, when fresh, and even prettier when covered with dew. Here is a bit of magic, that spring brings with it.. Can't wait!! Kasia