Nature
Kasia Sokulska
Can't Wait!

The snow is mostly gone, here on the prairies, but it will be some weeks before we see greenery and flowers blooming. I can’t wait! It has been a long winter and I sure could use a bit of color. Late spring or early summer images are great for it because all is fresh and green is bright and not dimmed by dust of late summer days.

Can't Wait!
Fuji X
Kasia Sokulska
Fall Aurora

We are lucky here in Alberta, because some nights are full of light show. We had a couple of gorgeous Aurora showing last fall and I have managed to capture some shots without leaving the city.

Fall Aurora
Nature
Kasia Sokulska
Not Ready for Winter Images Yet...

I know, I know it is winter and everybody posts winter photography, but I am not ready for it yet. I see it outside my window every day, so I want to see something warm, colorful and pretty. Hope you are in need of this as well.

Not Ready for Winter Images Yet...
Nature
Kasia Sokulska
How Summer Began

It has been a while since I’ve posted anything about Elk Island National Park. So, I think, it is time for some lovely sunset from the beginning of summer, when all was green, flowers were blooming and days were warm and long.

How Summer Began
Nature
Kasia Sokulska
In The Woods

It’s wintery outside. With colder weather and short days I find myself thinking of summer. Summer visits to forest, here in Alberta, are one of my favorites ways to spend a weekend.

In The Woods

plants

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A Short Trip to Butchart Gardens in Victoria - Travel Photography

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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
Welcome home
Butchart Gatdens, Victoria, BC .. 3
Butchart Gatdens, Victoria, BC .. 3
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 6
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 6
Butchart Gatdens, Victoria, BC .. 5
Butchart Gatdens, Victoria, BC .. 5
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 23
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 23
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 24
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 24
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 21
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 21
Hello, Pretty!
Hello, Pretty!
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 14
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 14
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 16
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 16
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 8
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 8
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 15
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 15
Butchart Gatdens, Victoria, BC .. 1
Butchart Gatdens, Victoria, BC .. 1
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 25
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 25
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 19
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 19
Las Vegas
Las Vegas
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 11
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 11
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 18
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 18
Patterns
Patterns
Tourists
Tourists
Butchart Gatdens, Victoria, BC .. 4
Butchart Gatdens, Victoria, BC .. 4
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 17
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 17
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 12
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 12
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 10
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC .. 10
Butchart Gatdens, Victoria, BC .. 2
Butchart Gatdens, Victoria, BC .. 2
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The last day in Spain

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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

 

 

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Cabo de Gata - As I Saw It..

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You've all seen Mac's wonderful landscapes in his post Cabo De Gata and more Fuji X-Pro Landscapes.  It always makes me amazed how different two photographers can see the same place.  When Mac was concentrating on landscapes I took time to look closer at flora of the place as well as the wonderful and so different scenery. Of course we have stopped by the beach somewhere between the villages of Cabo de Gata and Almadare de Monteleva. It was with a great pleasure that we have all taken a walk there, searching for some sea shells that would make a great picture, looking at the waves and the blue sky. Such a lovely time to listen to the waves crashing on the beach. The wind was still strong and was ripping water off the waves to carry it inland, creating a haze that was obscuring the view...

On the way to the lighthouse I was asking Mac on occasion to make a stop by the road when I saw something interesting. As always the poppies were my favorite. Such wonderful islands of colour in this dry land! The grasses made for an interesting accent to the scenery as well as interesting rock formations emerging from the sea..

We took a short walk at some point in our trip. It was great to see the blue of the Mediterranean Sea meeting the volcanic rock.

And as we were leaving my boys decided to leave a little mark of our visit (don't worry, all environmentally friendly :))

It's a lovely, lovely place and well worth visiting, if you are ever close by..

Kasia

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Almeria and Alcazaba Castle

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We have decided one morning to go for a ride to Almeria and visit Alcazaba castle located on one of the hills in the middle of the city.  Our friend Sandra was kind enough to be our guide and led us through the city to the castle grounds.  Mac has already shared some of his pictures from that trip in his post Spanish Streets, Castle and Fuji X-PRO1. And here is what I saw that day..

Yes, I know, this is quite a pink place. The colour was so startling mids the more earthy palette of all the rest of the buildings that I had to take a picture of it ;)

The view from the castle located on top of a hill is quite remarkable. The blues of Mediterranean Sea contrast beautifully with the greens of the gardens and the pinkish rock that was used to build the castle.  Unfortunately great part of it was destroyed in an earthquake in 1522. Restorations started in 1950s.

Hope you have enjoyed this short tour. If you ever are close by I heartily encourage you to go and visit this lovely place.  It's too bad part of it is still in ruin, but I can imagine just how lovely it was during the time of it's glory.

Kasia

 

 

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

Windowsill world of plants 1
Windowsill world of plants 1
Windowsill world of plants 2
Windowsill world of plants 2
Windowsill world of plants 3
Windowsill world of plants 3
Windowsill world of plants 4
Windowsill world of plants 4
Windowsill world of plants 5
Windowsill world of plants 5
Green1
Green1
Green2
Green2
Green3
Green3