River Flow

It is much like life.  There is so much going on all around you every second of every day.  You are bombarded by the unimportant, the "noise of life" that you cannot concentrate on the important stuff.  Somehow you must close your mind to the noise all around you and focus on what is essential.  If you can do that, then you may find a state of bliss, of happiness, or at the very least a sense of calm.  For me, photography is a great help in training my mind to focus each day on what really matters.  For you, it might be building fine furniture in your spare time. Whatever it is, I hope you can block out the noise.

Many times I find myself in the same place wondering if there is a storm ahead or calm and peace.  Everything seems heightened, the senses more alert.  

For a brief moment, you are not sure which is better: the drama or the calm

After the Storm

ContemplationContemplation and memories

This photo was taken as a gift for a friend: this is where the individual spent their summers and vacations with family and friends.  Special events happened at this location.  

I think it is helpful to stop and think of where we are and what we are doing.  This pandemic certainly has made us ponder these questions - some of us have found answers and others are still searching.  As  photographer, I am drawn to locations that create an emotional impact for me and hopefully those who see my images.

I try to sit quietly to get a sense of what is special or emotive about a location, and then try to capture the feeling.

This particular lake (well known to people here locally) is a place where you can let yourself be immersed in the quiet feeling of the water, let you thoughts go deep into your sub-conscious, recall special moments from your like, or just zone out.  

I find the exercise brings peace, and let's me regain a sense of balance.

I hope you will enjoy it.

Hidden FallsSmall waterfall on way to Ammonite Falls. Hidden Falls study 2Another view of small waterfall on way to Ammonite Falls.

I recently read two articles on photography about the benefits of staying local, and learning to look to find depth and meaning in your surroundings.  I think the point was that without searching out distant and exotic locations, you can still find something unique and meaningful in your back yard.  I am also working my way through "Looking at the Overlooked" an excellent treatise on still life painting.  All this has encouraged me to go back to sites I have photographed before and spend more time exploring and looking.  It is amazing the world that open up if you take the time to be patient, and see what is there.  Here are two images from a second visit to a local wonder.  It is only a 10 minute drive from the house; the hike down into the area is unfortunately a trying 45 minutes.  Then the climb back up!!  As I told my photo buddy Brad, it was definitely a two beer day.

Log on OceanLog on Ocean

I have been searching for this image for some time now. Along the coast there are many logs strewn across the beach, especially after a winter storm or if a barge has broken up in the strong waves we get in the strait.  I happened by chance on this one day not far from our house.  I was happy with the image but it took some time to figure out why I was looking for this image.

In processing the image, I really wanted to keep the distant beacon in the image, and I especially wanted the far off mountains as part of the image.  I just knew they had to be part of the final image.

This particular image appealed to a lot of people when I put it up on social media and shared with friends.  Actually I was surprised how many people responded to this image; more than I expected because I thought I was making one of my quaint/oddball images that appealed to me and did not really expect it to resonate with others.  I was not trying to create a "popular" image which can be a good safe image if you want "likes"" on that website we all hate but can't wait to check.

It is like the log is looking for something, it is searching for something elusive far off on the horizon.  It occurred to me that many of us, regardless of what stage of life we are at, spend our time searching for something to give meaning to things.  We strive to find something just beyond our reach to explain or make sense of our life.  This feeling is especially strong this past year.  We have had to re-assess what is important, what we can let go without affecting our life, and we are gaining a new appreciation of what little we need to be happy.  All those things we thought were important just don't seem to matter.  (That definitely does not apply to any new camera equipment!! Let's be real.)

I hope you will enjoy this image.

I would love to hear your thoughts if you care to post a comment.

Gull sitting on pilingGull sitting on piling

Long exposure photography requires patience.  If you do not have it, you must learn it.  If that fails, take up something else.

With patience, you start to observe your surroundings.  Over time, and much practice, you may learn something interesting about your natural surroundings.  After a lot of images, and lots of time spent along the shore, at marshes, and in really bad weather, I noticed one day that birds seem to settle on a rock or outcrop, on in this case a piling at certain times.  When there is  change in the weather (either a storm coming in or ending for example) the birds tended to settle down.  So I started to try my luck, and use my patience.

The virtue of patience is not a new revelation; it just took me a while to see it and apply it to my photography.

Long exposure photography captures people's imagination as it reveals the hidden aspects of our surroundings; it captures the effect of time.  It also reveals something of the photographer to him/herself.  Patience and time seem to go together in revealing the hidden.

Patience, especially during these strange times, is very important.

Ammonite Falls in black & whiteAmmonite Falls in black & white

Ammonite-Falls-1Ammonite Falls in Benson Creek park

We are very fortunate on the Island being so close to wilderness.  On a clear Sunday morning I went for a 30 minute hike with photo buddy Brad Powell of www.bpfoto.ca to take some images of Ammonite Falls.  Brad knows a special route in - we met only 3 others on the trail. This is a magical valley surrounding Benson Creek as it flows from Mt. Benson towards the ocean.  We definitely plan to do a full day trip back into the area when the light is better and the fall rains begin to swell the creeks. Here are a couple of recent images from my first trip to the falls.

Mountain-streamSpring run-off flow in an unnamed stream down Mt. Benson in early spring.

There are signs of early spring run-off everyone.  A very good time to go out to the woods for some "forest cleansing" - enjoy the fresh air, clean out the winter cobwebs and watch the renewal of life all around us.

Life seems to slow down, become calm. The birds settle in for the night. The sounds of the animals become quiet. The trees seem to stand still.  As this quiet calms settles over the surroundings, your mind relaxes.  You quietly contemplate the approaching darkness - the fear that seems to lurk at the edge of the darkness is slowly pushed back until everything is at peace.  You sleep awaiting the freshness of the next day.

Biggs-Park-sunset Biggs-Park-sunset-3

The lovely moss covering the sandstone that surrounds the river channel transports you to a fairy tale land - some place where creatures of our imaginary world might be found.

A short walk along the river takes you away from the worries of the world.  A photographer I respect and admire spoke of mindfulness in photography - about connecting with the surroundings and living in the moment.  Beauty and peace are always there - you just have to open your mind to see it.

Millstone-River-cascadeMillstone River cascade

Goldstream Park falls 3

Goldstream Park Falls

Goldstream Park Falls 2

Koksilah River rapids

Koksilar River rapids pano

Vancouver Island is one large green park.  It amazes me that wherever you go, there is incredible unspoiled beauty and nature.  Walking out into the woods you are bathed by a calming green canopy. A true rainforest full of ferns, moss, incredible trees, and water all around.  Regardless of the conditions, a walk in this great park always energizes and refreshes.  Mind you, getting up at 5:30 you need some motivation.

On a recent trip with Brad Powell (www.bphoto.ca) we explored Koksilah River Provincial Park http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/koksilah_rv/ and then a stop at Goldstream Park http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/goldstream/ which is one of my favourites on the Malahat.

Hope you enjoy some of these recent images.

As Brad said, the early morning is the best time of the day: calm, quiet, peaceful and everything is just perfect.  The day is yet to come but you are ready for it now. Honeymoon Bay Morning

But nothing happened after that; took some images and after a while, started sharing some on social media.  Despite that, no effort was made to update the website which should be where my images should be showcased.

It seemed I was unable to overcome a fear - that the images might not be very good, getting a bad reaction, it would finally show that I really did not know what I was doing.

Well, none of that really matters.  I know I cannot give up my day job to pursue photography for a living.  I realized that it did not matter.  None of the negative thoughts really matter. 

I enjoy photography.  It gives me pleasure.  It gets me out of the house and into nature. So, I am going to put up the images that please me.  Nothing else really matters.  At my age, I can say "who cares".  Quite liberating when you think of it.