BC Trip - Travel Photography

Mirror less for the win.

It's been quite a while since I wrote a blog post.  I think I have a bit of catching up to do.  Actually quite a lot.  This is the second big trip that I've done with only mirror less cameras.  This time the bag contained three cameras, two Sony NEX models and one Fuji X-Pro1.  With all the lenses and other essentials it weighed less than if I packed my DSLRs.  So for walking around Vancouver, and then Vancouver Island, this was a perfect setup.  I will have to add that my wife was carrying all the heavy stuff, and her pictures from the BC Trip are absolutely wonderful.  So we dumped the kiddos on our friends, wonderful parents that we are, and headed out to the ocean.

The first day

Our first day constituted of trampling around parks, forests, and big hills.  I was glad I did not have my heavy DSLRs with me.  It was a tough day, but lots of opportunities for great photos.  The Sony wide angle lens came into play most often, as the trees were so tall, that anything else would not be able to fit them into the frame.  Enjoy!

Trees

Trees

Trees

Trees

Winter Has Come to Elk Island - Landscape Photography and more..

Yes, we got snow! It seems it's been a regular occurrence at the beginning of November for the past few years.. Well, can't do much about it but try and enjoy the event, so we have taken a trip to Elk Island with a group of photographic friends and went exploring. Here is a few shots from that outing.  Must say, the world looks quite beautiful in a fresh layer of white! Hope you enjoy :D Kasia

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...

Beautiful British Columbia - Part 2 - Travel Photography

Jericho Park with its beach were for us the first place to visit in Vancouver, BC.  We have been very lucky to bring with us sunny weather and we were definitely enjoying our evening stroll in the park and the beach.  As I have mentioned in my previous post - Beautiful British Columbia - Part 1 - Travel Photography travel photography allows us to practice shooting in all sorts of environments and this was a pleasure to do so with shiny water, reflecting the sun and in dark shade of park trees.. Here is some of what I saw and captured during our visit.. Kasia

To be continued...

Freezing Morning in the Park..

It was bloody freezing this morning in the park, where we went to shoot a foggy sunrise. The temperatures dropped to -22 degrees Celsius and the fog made it feel even colder. But the sky was blue and the sun was rising so we went for a very long walk and took a lot of pictures. By the time we've gotten back into our vehicle I could barely feel some of my fingers and toes, not mentioning my frozen face.. Oh, well.. I think, it was still worth it! ;D Here is a few of the shots I took this morning and, though, it is not spring yet, for which I am terribly sorry, the world is looking mighty wonderful today! :D Kasia

Embracing Winter

You know? There is really no escaping the fact, that no matter what my wishes are, the winter is really not ready to depart just yet.. In this case lets enjoy it!These were taken on a rare sunny morning with blue sky and mists enveloping the River Valley and Rundle Park here in Edmonton. It was rather cold that morning as well, and the snow was just so very fresh covering earth in a pristine blanket of white.  So, so beautiful!!! Well, if you can't get rid of it, embrace it!! ;D

Kasia

Winter Wonderland - Alberta Landscape Part 2

My wife has already posted some images from our morning walk in a snowy, foggy park shooting landscapes.  It was a great time, even though it was around -24C that morning.  We started off with a sunrise at an abandoned farm, which I posted a few days ago, and found our way to a local Edmonton park in the river valley.  Even at that late in the morning the fog was still rising from the river, making the world a really magical place.  Here are my renditions of the foggy park, that morning.  Enjoy!

Winter Sunrise - Alberta Landscape

Alberta landscape, photographs very nicely in any weather, and any season.  Spring and summers, are full of color, and stormy weather.  This looks wonderful with the never ending prairie skies.  Fall means activity on the fields, and beautiful changing colors.  Winters are quiet, peaceful giving you time to reflect.  They are also easier for sunrises, since one does not have to wake up too early to catch one.  This was the case here.  My wife and I, decided to visit one of our favorite spots, a little abandoned farm, not too far from where we live.  It was a cold day, and it got progressively colder the farther we were out of the city.  We started at -17C, and by the time we got to the farm (about 20min drive) it was -24C.  We had a bit of time before the sunrise, so we went out exploring.  I do have a confession to make.... I see the big picture, and constantly keep missing the small things at my feet.  So to train myself I brought the 60mm f2.4 lens on my Fuji to force myself to see close.  Just in case I did bring a 8-15mm Canon fisheye, which was mounted on the Sony.  Just in case :)  Here are some images from that cold morning sunrise.  Enjoy!

Winter Wonderland

Saturday morning, we've decided to, finally, venture out with our cameras to check out the world covered in over 20cm of snow. We were very lucky, because, after a week or so, the sun has finally showed its face. Mind you, the temperatures dropped to almost -20 degrees Celsius and even in a foggy park (such low temperatures caused the mist to rise from the river) the blue sky was reflected in the snow making it all look like a winter wonderland.  It's truly a glorious thing to behold such beauty!! We've returned home, after our visit in the park, frozen through, but very happy! Here is a few shots from that trip.  I hope you enjoy! :) Kasia

Fall... I Miss You!

The snow keeps on falling. There is over 20cm of the white stuff already on the ground.  Our roads are a mess and I am not planning on venturing anywhere for a while, at least... I miss fall with its gorgeous colors and misty mornings.  It doesn't last too long around here, so I was very happy to be able to make a trip to a park close to my home one misty morning and shoot the mysterious world covered in fog.. Here it is, the park still dressed in autumn colors, hugged by mists.. 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

Searching for Rob Roy

On our way back from Glenfinnan we have decided on a short detour to search for one of the Highland legends. We've decided to stop at the cemetery where Rob Roy was supposedly buried..(a cemetery by Balquhidder Parish Church). The rain has stopped again and we took a very narrow side road to get there.  We've passed some picturesque houses and fields with wonderful old trees and sheep, even spotting a traditionally dressed fellow, going somewhere with his bodhran, perhaps for an evening of history and song..

The first time I have ever heard about Rob Roy was as a child when the book by Sir Walter Scott found it's way into my hands.. Don't remember much of the book story anymore (it was a few decades ago after all.. ;D), and whatever memory of it I did have was successfully replaced by the movie (with Liam Neeson who, I thought, did an excellent job of playing the main character) but I've always liked the character and was quite excited to find a place that was dedicated to him.. The place was charming and lit with late afternoon light, surrounded by juicy greenery seemed very picturesque. And it felt old and peaceful...

We walked around the place for a while charmed by it's atmosphere. The old, old graves, covered by lichen and moss, reminded us of the fact that time does not wait for anybody..

On the very bottom of this picture you will see the resting place of Rob Roy, his wife and son.  At the time we have not noticed it.. I've learned only afterwords that we were standing right next to it and even, unknowingly, took some pictures with it. I guess it just goes to show that too often we search high and low for things that are right under our own noses... Until the next time..

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

Scotland - on the shores of Loch Shiel

As I have mentioned in my previous post: Scotland - the Road to Glenfinnan, we went to visit the shores of Loch Shiel as a kind of a joke because of "Highlander" the movie. But that is not the only movie that has made this place famous. Some of the scenes from Harry Potter movies were filmed there as well. The movies aren't the only thing that makes Glenfinnan interesting, though... In August 1745 Prince Charles Edward Stuart ("Bonnie Price Charlie") has landed on the shores of Loch Shiel starting the second Jacobean Rising that has ended tragically for Scotland at Culloden in April of 1746.  In 1815 the Glenfinnan Monument has been erected to commemorate the start of that event as well as in tribute to the clansmen who fought and died in the Jacobite cause. For those who would like to learn more a lot of information can be found on the web.  Now, for the scenery, I am going to leave that for you to judge:

I was paying attention to the little things that surrounded us, while we were hiking to the viewing point, so here is a little macro as well ;D

I am sure you will agree with me, that it is a beautiful place, well worth hours of driving from Edinburgh. I just wish we've had more time to spend exploring this area, though we did take a little nature walk and I will share some of the pictures in my next post.  Hope you enjoyed!!

Kasia

Scotland - the Road to Glenfinnan

Do you remember "Highlander" with Christopher Lambert? In the movie the main character said he was born in Glenfinnan on the shores of Loch Shiel.. So we've decided, as a kind of a joke, to actually make a trip there and see it for ourselves.  After all, since this was our first trip there, we needed some aim, right?! It's not a huge distance from Edinburgh (less than 400km), but it takes quite a few hours to get there . On the way from Edinburgh  you have a chance to see a lot of lakes, glens, moors and all sorts of beautiful scenery. Since we have been traveling in April the heather was not in bloom and some of the trees were still not covered by leaves thus the colors were still subdued. I can only imagine how this land looks late summer/ beginning of fall when things are in bloom!

Sometimes the narrow road would not let us stop at a point with interesting few, sometimes, that view was covered by old trees that would make it impossible to take a picture of such a view, though, it's not like it stopped me from trying ;D

The weather was great and it was really a pleasure to make a few stoops on the way, even if they've delayed our reaching the goal..

Whether it was a dam or a picturesque lake we were enjoying our trip and yet we were not completely prepared to experience Glenfinnan, which, we discovered, is a beautiful place and I will be happy to share pictures from there in my next post.  Looking forward to it!

Kasia

Scotland - Exploring the Countryside

Since we were up and about in the country, after visiting Castle Menzies, we decided to do little bit more exploring. Even driving on the narrow roads with moss covered walls instead of wide shoulders, to which we are used to, did not discourage us.  There was so many things to see starting with amazingly shaped old trees and ending with sheep covered meadows..

At some point he happened upon an interesting looking structure by a lake we were passing by.  It was a place called  The Scottish Crannog on shores of Loch Tay.  It is an interesting place where you can be taken on a tour giving you an insight of the life of people from a long ago time. It is a reconstruction of the 2600 year old Oakbank Crannog, discovered in Loch Tay near the village of Fearnan in late seventies by archaeologists from the University of Edinburgh. Definitely worth checking if you are ever close by!

The nice staff at the centre there has fed us some hot chocolate and oatcakes and pointed us to the nearby Falls of Acharn and Croft Moraig stone circle, where we decided to venture next. It was a bit of a hike to get to the Falls of Acharn, but we did not mind at all. Though the sky was dark, the rain did not fall and we've managed the whole trip up and down quite dry ;).  There was a meadow full of sheep, some more lovely trees and amazing sky to keep us occupied and I took a lot of pictures there:

And, of course, I could not resist a bit of macro work..

But mostly I was just amazed at the beauty of the very green countryside, so different from our prairies..

The Falls of Acharn are quite lovely as well, but I think the road there was as interesting as the falls themselves..

After completing that hike we drove a little bit to get to one of the two stone circles that are located close by.  This particular one is called Croft Moraig. I could not get too close to it, because it was fenced in but even from the distance, with a heavy sky it was quite an experience and I am very happy to have seen one of those in person. Though, perhaps it was a good thing I was not inside it, considering the nearness of one of the Sun Feasts.. Who knows what might have happened?!! ;D

After that short stop we've decided to head back to Edinburgh through picturesque countryside with it's meadows, sheep and lochs..

All in all, it was quite a wonderful day! Buy wait till you see where we went the next morning!!

Kasia

Almeria and Alcazaba Castle

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