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

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Hello, Pretty!

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Las Vegas

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Patterns

Tourists

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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

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

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

Yup! Fall is here...

Summer is over. Not only by the calendar but you can see the colours changing almost in front of your eyes out there and turning the recently green world into a myriad of golds, yellows, oranges and reds.  Since the day was wonderfully sunny and warm yesterday we have pretty much spent it all outside on photo shoots.  First we've decided to check Elk Island for morning mists (which have never showed up, BTW), than I took a walk about the neighbourhood with my camera and then, towards the evening, we have taken off to check out the countryside again... Wherever we went the colours were there. In just a couple of weeks everything has changed... Let's start with a sunrise at Elk Island:

And here is a few shots from the city, which is also quickly changing it's colours:

The morning sun has highlighted everything beautifully bringing out the colours and shapes of fall  :).  And , as the day progressed towards the evening and we took a ride in the country, the evening sun has brought out the colours out even more..

Our luck held and we were given a beautiful sunset to enjoy as well, with a big sun on a hazy sky giving the world a beautiful glow..

As you can see, the signs of fall are everywhere. The gathering of birds that are already flying south, the colours of leaves and ripe fruit on the trees, the general feel of the world are all crying out: Fall is here!!!   I'm going to enjoy it as long as I can hoping, that the frost and winds won't come too early and cause the beautiful leaves to fall and leave the world naked and monochromatic again..

Kasia

Ardgour Island

Ardgour Island, located right next to the Glenfinnan Monument  is a home of many interesting species of fauna and flora.  Visiting Loch Shiel we have had a pleasure of taking a little nature walk that took us there.  The spring was in the air, the flowers were blooming and the weather was still great. So we grabbed our cameras and went exploring:

First thing I noticed in Scotland was that everything is covered in moss and lichen.  It grows on rocks, on trees, on buildings and pretty much anywhere it can find a bit of nutrition. It gives the objects it covers a bit of a velvety feel, which I liked a lot.

As you can see, I even managed to find this lovely creature taking a stroll on the ground ;)

What I did enjoy the most, though on this walk were the trees. The pine trees on Ardgour Island are thought to have a different genetic makeup than the rest of pine tree population in Scotland.. Their ancestors, apparently, have survived the last ice age.. They are wonderful, some very old, some younger, but all with lovely shapes and impressive sizes..

Travelling in spring gave us an opportunity to witness their glory unobscured by leaves of many other kinds of trees growing there as well as a great colour contrast to view them before everything turns completely green. This early development also has given us the ability to enjoy the surrounding views..

Even our boys could not resist exploration and wondered frequently from the wooden path..

Alas, eventually the weather system has caught up with us and it was time to leave this interesting place and wait for the rain to stop falling before we embarked on the next part of this trip where even more amazing views have awaited us... Until the next time!

Kasia

The last day in Spain

With a great sadness we have said our good-byes to our friends in Almerimar and undertaken the long drive back to Madrid.  The views, again, were quite lovely and I have taken a few shots (again) of the lovely wind turbines that make the scenery even more picturesque..

We have chosen slightly different route this time and were hoping to be able to stop on the way in Granada and visit Alhambra.

The palace of Alhambra is rather famous for it's great Moorish architecture and rich history and I always wanted to visit it. Unfortunately we were unable to gain entry to the palace itself.  To preserve it only a certain amount of visitors is allowed daily and we were just too late.. When we approached the entry they were just announcing that fact over the loud speakers.. During the high season, in order to visit the place one has to book tickets on line well in advance, otherwise there is no way to get inside... So... since we have planned to stop there anyway, we have decided to, at least, visit the grounds and took a long walk around the palace.  The weather was gorgeous and everything was blooming and so green that it was a delightful break in our long drive. Of course, I was not only interested in the architecture of the place but, as usual, gave in to my fascination with plants so different than what I am used to.. And here is a few shots from there:

We were given only glimpses of the palace buildings, stolen through shrubbery and walls.. I'd love to see them closer, but, will have to wait for the next time..

Being located on top of a hill Alhambra has a wonderful view of the surrounding Granada, which we could spot also from our walk:

It was very pleasant there. Quite a restful place, where you can be surrounded with greenery and listen to the sounds of trickling water..

But, as everything, this little respite in our journey had to come to an end and we left Alhambra, promising that one day we shell be back!  For now Scotland was waiting for us, with it's wonderful mountains and heavy skies and a promise of yet another adventure..

Kasia

They are just leaves!

You'll ask perhaps, what so special about leaves? Well, I miss them terribly right now!  I cannot wait to see them sprouting all around us in all their magnificent shapes, sizes and colours! And what a difference they make to our cities and country! They are ignored most of the time, because they are just there, but it makes such a difference when they are gone in winter.  Here is a few photos of these under appreciated little things that I adore, no matter if it is spring, summer or fall!  Here is hoping they are going to show up soon!! Kasia

Winter Reflections.. Part 2

I think Mac was a bit optimistic trying to say good-bye to Lady Winter yet.  I am sure we all are tired of her, but the truth is we have no choice but to endure her rule... What helps me to survive is looking for little treasures in the winter world and recording them as I find them. With a little colour here and an interesting light there, one can almost always find something eye-catching even among dried up weeds and grasses.. :) Just like in the first post of this series, I have included images of plants that endure Alberta's winter every year. Here is what I would like to share with you today. Hope you find them as interesting as I did! Kasia

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Windowsill World of Plants

Mac has mentioned in his post that he needs some colour, being tired of the browns of the surrounding world.  I can relate! It is going to take us a few more weeks before we see anything green sticking out of the ground.. But, fear not! I can definitely help you there :).  You can always go and check out some of my previous posts with colourful flowers and greenery or take a look at these most recent ones.  Just the other day I was watering my own house plants and carelessly sprayed them with water. The result was rather eye-catching so, of course, I grabbed my camera and recorded the whole thing.  Take a look. Feast your eyes with some juicy colour and survive till our outside world turns green.  Enjoy! Kasia

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Magical World.. Part 2

If it is cold enough fog produces a beautiful layer of a hoar frost on everything it touches. And if you are lucky enough the wind is not there to destroy it too quickly.  I was recently such a lucky person.  If you remember my previous post I was just there with my cameras when it was all happening and here are some more images from that magical morning when fog has covered the world and dressed it in wonderful designs. Kasia

Fall Colours - Part 2

Some time ago, in my first post of this series, I have shown you what amazing colours a mountain ash turns during fall. Today, I would like to share a few pictures I took during our trip to the Rockies in October of last year. Mac has already shared some of his images in his post Fall Leafs in Jasper and I thought, it would be nice to show you some of mine as well... When we arrived the foliage was still covered by frost, that has not managed to melt in the morning sun, but as the day grew warmer all that was left behind was amazing colour.  Here it is, the splendour of last fall in Jasper National Park.

Kasia