Category Archives: Photography

The way the world presents itself to me

Travel within and without – British Columbia

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It may sound ridiculous to say, but wherever and whenever I travel, I find symbols of my inner journey, the personal transit that extends beyond airline tickets, overstuffed luggage, and souvenir shops. And it’s often not until I arrive home to look at the images within my camera, that I see the patterns.

Am I imprinting meaning where none inherently exists? Does it matter?

Whether inherent or imposed, the imagining of a pattern changes me and the pattern becomes true.

The following are a selection of images from my travels last year through British Columbia, a break before I began on the next great journey of my life, and one I take alone.

Hephaestus lives

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There is something magical about fire. It destroys. It cleanses. It rejuventates.

Few other media seems so alive and yet have no life. It has an almost palpable need to fight for its existence.

A few years ago, I was awoken by bright light through my bedroom window, which would have been fine, but the clock said it was only 4 a.m. Rising from my bed, I drew back the blinds and the room was suffused by the yellow-orange glow of a fire that raged in the next building. The rooftop patio of the club across the alley was aflame.

I was transfixed by the flames that shot higher and higher, dancing across the wooden frame and sending its embers out in search of new sustenance, dancing on the breeze the fire itself created.

Luckily, no one but the club owner’s bank account was injured.

Waterfront wanderings – Toronto

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The summer of 2012 was an amazing time to walk the streets of Toronto, camera in hand. The weather was gorgeous–most days providing incredible sun–and the temperatures never got uncomfortable for human or beast. Life abounded in profusion.

The following are some shots I managed while meandering my way along the Toronto waterfront. I didn’t have to wander too far to get some interesting photos.

Chinese lanterns – Toronto

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Easily, one of the best things about living in a city like Toronto is the multicultural mix. No matter what types of food, what types of clothing, what types of people you want to meet, you can find it in Toronto.

For several years–but sadly, no longer–Toronto played host to a Chinese lantern festival on its waterfront, a spectacle of light and colour that only became more impressive the darker the evening.

These are a few of my favourite recollections.

Birds of Costa Rica – Tarcoles River

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Considering the Tarcoles River was filled with very hungry crocodiles, I was amazed at how relaxed the birds were as they wandered the shoreline.

(This is also my first attempt at using the Gallery format for my photos.)

Woods you believe – British Columbia

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There is something amazing about the serenity of a lush forest. Even as you follow a trail through the woods with other tourists, I find everyone takes a slightly more hushed tone, as though in reverence to what is around them.

Here are some woodsy photos I took on my trip to British Columbia.

The variegation of the light and shadows, and the richness of the undergrowth take me to a place before time. (China Beach, BC)

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On the shoulders of giants grows the next generation. (Shannon Falls, BC)

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A carpet of green warms the forest floor. (Brandywine Falls, BC)

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Where did that elephant suddenly come from, leaping from the mountainside beneath the moss. (Brandywine Falls, BC)

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And some images express irreverence…I believe the tree on the far left is the men’s. (Chilliwack Lake, BC)

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Bees of Costa Rica

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There is something about the impossibility of bees that truly grabs my attention. Their bodies are so fully compartmentalized, like beads on an invisible string, and their wings can appear so fragile and yet manage to maneuver the insect to any food source anywhere.

While waiting for my brother to return from the gift shop after our crocodile tour, I spotted this guy on the railing of the cafe. I thought the silhouette was so simple and therefore so powerful. (Tarcole River near Jaco)

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Just outside our cabana in Montezuma was a banana tree. I’d taken plenty of photos of banana flowers before, but as I approached this one, I noticed that it was like Grand Central Station.

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Not far from our Montezuma cabana, I spotted some activity around this yellow flowering plant. On the first image below, I love the way the bee’s feed descend, like a plane’s landing gear, although helicopter might be a more apt analogy.

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It is funny how despite the wondrous diversity of my vacation spots, I often end up taking my favourite photos within feet of the front door of my hotel or cabana. In this case, these guys had set up shop in a pillar on our front porch and I could only imagine this massive beam being filled with honey. (Playa Samara)

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Across the universe – a mental travelogue

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(This post is inspired by something I saw earlier today on another blogger’s site. So thanks, storiesbyfrances.)

Whether writing or doing photography, one of my personal goals is to look beyond what is right in front of me, to see objects at levels beyond their macro existence (how metaphysical is that). Given time and attention, patterns form, images present themselves, thoughts meander, reality becomes flexible.

Below, I’ve posted photos taken while traveling through British Columbia last year. I was going to tell you what I saw, but instead have decided to ask you what you see in the images, if anything. For the sake of the wondrous places I visited, however, I will tell you where the photos were taken.

(Botanical Beach, Vancouver Island)

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(Botanical Beach, Vancouver Island)

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(China Beach, Vancouver Island)Image

(Port Renfrew, Vancouver Island)

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(Tofino, Vancouver Island)

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Don’t forget to let me know what you see.

I don’t care if we agree; in fact, if you see something I didn’t, then my universe becomes that much larger.

Taking wing in BC – Chilliwack

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As some of you have already discovered, I am a sucker for anything that creeps, crawls and flits, so it should come as no surprise that while I wandered the paths of Minter Gardens, outside Chilliwack, BC, that my eye was tuned to the slightest movements among the myriad flowers.

Here are some of the photos that came through.

It wasn’t until I blew up the photo that I saw the small flowers that explained her interest.

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I like the way the petals practically mirror her wings as she works so intently.

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How one walks on this flower I have no idea, but she seemed to have no trouble.

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These guys always looked like they were on their last legs…a little too ragged to get off the ground.

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On flowers like this, it was almost impossible to see these butterflies at first glance.

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The angle couldn’t have been any better for this shot from my perspective.

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The purity of his white next to the satin-like red of the flower was just amazing to me.

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I wanted to capture some of the chaotic nature of the garden with the butterfly…could have done better, but it’s nice.

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Just hanging out, taking 10.

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Playing with light – Hawaii (big island)

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As I play with my camera, empirically learning its ins and outs, I find pleasure in capturing different moments of natural light.

On my trip to Hawaii last year, I managed to capture some nice shots that really highlight, I think, the wonders of the sun (or other suns) at the extremes of the day.

Morning light in Kailua-Kona has almost an ethereal quality, especially when combined with waves.

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As sunset approaches, it was fun to play with silhouettes that just barely capture the colours of the leaves.

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With dozens of other hotel patrons, this girl sat patiently waiting for that perfect sunset moment. Her face had some quality that just made me want to keep taking photos of her.

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And so I did, until I started feeling stalker-ish. This is my favourite of the group for the way the reddening light plays with the colour of her hair.

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Photography mentor and friend Sam was a great target as the sun sets on his balding pate.

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Another favourite, sunset on Mauna Kea. The colour strata were amazing and being above the clouds means not having to worry about poor photo conditions.

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Go to paradise and freeze your buttocks off. Astral photography from near the top of Mauna Kea. This was a 30-minute exposure. I wish I could say I planned to get an almost perfect wedge of rotating space (okay, rotating Earth) but I got lucky.

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