Images change approximately every 15 seconds, or click on a thumbnail or the left and right arrows.
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On the esker
September, 2003
Autumn colours are beginning to paint the eskers and the tundra. During our week at the Whitefish Lake basecamp, bear berry, dwarf birch, blueberry and other tundra vegetation dressed themselves with colourful autumn garb. The air was crisp in the mornings, the campfire was a welcome gathering place in the evenings and after dinner the desserts were rich with tundra berries.
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Morning rain drops on Lily petals (Erythroneum oregonum)
Spring, 1986
The early photographer gets the morning dew or overnight rain drops adorning the flower petals. Also the wind usually holds off until later in the day. Nothing can be so engrossing as working at composing an image that conveys this magic moment.
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Oregon grape and mossy floor (Berberis nervosa)
Winter, 1986
Vancouver Island forests are rich with green at all times of the year. Watch for accents of red on the Oregon grape leaves. Winter mist and rain brings the mosses to attention. Walk along the trail and remember to look at your feet for this kingdom of many and varied plant species. A piece of equipment I find necessary for photography here is my rain pants. Fear of getting wet when sitting or kneeling makes for lazy photographers.
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Maianthemum dilatatum and Sitka spruce
April, 2000
Along the forest paths at Point No Point the Maianthemum spreads its heart leaves. Groups of photographers are down on their knees with close-up equipment finding patterns, metaphors, glowing greens...
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Camas and buttercups
May, 1988
After the sun went down I photographed this hilltop field of blue camas (Camassia quamash). In this way the colours can speak for themselves without interference from bright sun and dark shadow. You will find that blue flowers appear quite different with different films. I wonder how the digital cameras and computer programmes overcome this challenge?
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Simplicity in grey
April, 2001
Simplicity and understatement in composition can be very powerful both visually and metaphorically. Each viewer will see something different symbolized.
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Beach log
Winter, 1991
Early morning light on an eroded log with a touch of frost. Tiny pebbles have found homes in the crevasses.
A small aperture assures sharp clarity throughout the image.
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Dry kelp abstract
July, 1986
Patterns and colours and imaginary landscapes are everywhere at our feet as we walk along the beach. These kelp leaves were dry and stretched across the beach pebbles. By photographing them with no cues as to perspective, scale or context, the viewer of the photograph can imagine anything or simply explore the abstraction's design.
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Desert sunset dream
April, 2000
Smooth sand, a clean line, two pebbles resting and a surprising red salt stain on a fir log. This small piece of beach called out to me for photographic abstraction.
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Bewick's wren
April, 1997
A tiny bird with an operatic song. On this day my camera was broken so I borrowed one from my friend. His 300mm f2 lens was just the thing for this little shy fellow. My f4 lens would have missed this opportunity!
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Sky and light on the sea with the mountains hiding
March, 1996
For the past 10 years I have taught photo workshops in the spring at Point No Point Resort on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Watching the light play on the water is one of many ways to relax and enjoy this property of beaches, cliffs, forested trails and sea air.
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Wolverine prints
September, 2003
Every field trip and hike showed us the tracks of the tundra and esker animals. Wolves walking in front of our tents in the night, wolf pups and their babysitters carousing at the edge of a pond, and this wolverine taking a walk on the beach. And the caribou traveling south and north and back again - for thousands of years.
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Listen to the Sound
July, 1994
All night long we could hear this river from our tentsite. A lullaby to remember fondly. Photographing was a new adventure at every time of day with light and colourful reflections changing. Each different film portrayed the colours differently as did each shutter speed. Rolls and rolls of film!
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Cloud and sun contest
April, 1997
At the beach house at Point No Point resort we can leave all our troubles to stew on their own. Sitting on a log, sifting through colourful pebbles, walking on the patterned sand, and keeping an eye on the ever changing sun and cloud dance...
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Maidenhair fern clinging to the cliff
August, 1998
Water and rock push and resist, but over thousands of years the cliffs are shaped and polished. Photographic composition is difficult in this place with deep canyons, bouncing light and chain link fences. The challenge is exciting and the persistence pays off with images that tell the story of time.
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Orca family at sunset
September, 2000
Orcas (Killer whales) were swimming and diving all around the boat and so the captain turned off the engines. The sea was very calm and there was no wind. Right place, right time to catch the spray from the whale's blow with the last light coming from behind. I keep my shutter speeds fast when hand-holding in a boat. Here I needed underexposure to keep the background and water dark and to accent the wake and the spray. Magic moment!
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Early morning from the rock island
April, 1999
At all times of the day and year the waves come and go regardless of the vicissitudes of our lives. It is soothing or envigorating to sit, watch, listen, and enjoy the fragrance of the salt air. Photographing this phenomenon at different shutter speeds, in different light, and at different times of day could keep you busy for years.
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The dry hills of Nicola Valley
September, 2000
Starting our camping trip in Jasper National Park where it snowed, blew, froze, and fogged all the mountains to invisibility, we drove until we found somewhere warm. Since this first visit we have returned to Monck Park several times. Ponderosa pine forests to walk in and a lakeshore to explore in a canoe. Overhead, the ospreys are diving.
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Crashing waves
April, 1996
From one of the many cliff-top vantage points, one can watch the waves in their infinite variations. Or close your eyes and listen - waves, wind, a calling eagle, a passing hummingbird.
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Hills to infinity
June, 2002
At 11pm we stood looking out over miles and miles of hills. The shadows shifted and revealed one forested hill and then another. The look was quiet and calm, but the mosquitoes were very busy.
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Looking southwest after the sunset
November, 2000
The red glow in the sky reflected from the wet sand, but not the moving sea, created this image of horizontal colour and texture.
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Trembling aspens
June, 2002
With every slight breath of the wind the aspen leaves wave and applaud the spring. The aspens' white bark shines. All around Whitehorse there are lakes and mountain views and stands of aspen. In June the leaves were a colour inviting the photographer to find a composition to show them off.
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Caribou grazing
September, 2003
From the boat we could see small groups of caribou walking and munching lichen at a relaxed gait but with a definite direction. They seemed to be travelling slowly but soon disappeared from our view over the autumn tundra. Of all mammals, caribou migrate the farthest each year - to the calving grounds in spring and to the shelter of the treeline in the fall.
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Reeds
March, 1986
These reeds are very large as I found out once in a canoe. From the rocky shore they seem delicate. Underexposure of 4 full stops allows a proper exposure on the reeds and a darkening of the surrounding water.
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Goldstream dream
February, 1987
With my mentor, Courtney Milne, I set out for a day of photography at a place I had visited many times. He was there to photograph the dead salmon in the river. I asked for some guidance. Why do my photos of this place always look the same? Leave your tripod in the car he said. Slow film, dark winter forest...long shutter speeds... After much puzzling and struggling I realized the only solution was to move the camera with purpose and enthusiasm. This was the beginning of many experiments with camera motion that I continue to enjoy and to marvel at the possibilities.
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Arbutus bark abstract
June, 1986
For years I have been photographing the patterns and colours on the bark of the arbutus trees in Victoria area parks. There is always something new. This photo, from early in this project, is still one of my favourites. Macro lens, f22, sturdy tripod, partly diffused light, slow film... Every camera angle, each tree and every variation of light and shadow provide endless possibilities for compositions.
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Yukon topography
June, 2002
A view worth more than one visit! I was fortunate on a short visit to Dawson City to visit this viewpoint once in the evening and again the following morning. Each time of day and each day's light and shadow provide a variation on the Yukon landscape.
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The Alder grove, light and shadow
April, 1992
The grasses in the alder grove always looked like a green sea to my eye, but like geometric lines in a photograph.I learned to photograph forest scenes on overcast days. In the bright sun there is so much contrast. For all these reasons I made this image using camera motion during the exposure.
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Kluane Lake
June, 2002
After a warm drive from Haines Junction crossing many construction sites, we were happy to arrive at Kluane Lake for a picnic on the beach. The spring ice was undulating in the wind creating ever changing sculptures and patterns. Serenading us was the chiming of ice crystals.
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Pease Creek waterfall
December, 1988
This cedar tree has grown since this photo was taken. At different times of the year and according to rainfall in that year, the waterfall has many faces. The sounds of water and rock conversing travel through the forest to my ear long before I can see this waterfall. Depending on how you feel about moving water you can choose a shutter speed to freeze motion or a longer one to allow the water to flow and blur.
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Ice on Kluane Lake
June, 2002
The day before we drove to Kluane Lake we had hiked in the afternoon heat. It was a surprise to find the ice still on the lake and a delight to photograph the collapsing towers of candle ice on the shore. The breeze off the lake ice was cool and refreshing.
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Arbutus community
April, 1988
At the edge of the mixed fir forest the arbutus trees have the opportunity to spread and bush out in the sun. From the rocky hilltop I can look across to their sensual, colourful limbs. Each with her own personality. Overcast skies allow the film to see all the subtleties of colour and texture.
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Birch congregation
October, 2000
An hour of moving camera and tripod trying to make a composition that looked the same as my imagination had conjured while walking in this birch forest was well spent. The crisp air was still; I took several breaks to stretch legs and back; I smiled inside over and over as new patterns showed themselves in the viewfinder.
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Inukshuk
September, 2003
This tundra navigational landmark may have been copied from the original human inhabitants of the Canadian north. It was made by trappers who traveled in this area in the early 20th century. Our guides were full of knowledge about the natural history of this area and stories of the human history.
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for Nancy
October, 2000
While I was on a photo trip to Ontario a friend and life mentor in Victoria died. My husband, who had to give me the news on the phone, said "Go out today and take a picture for Nancy." I sat at the side of the river studying the slowly revolving floating leaves for over a half hour. Here is my picture for Nancy.
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Vanilla leaf in spring
May, 1995
In every season this unique plant has something to show off. In the late spring the three leafed plants have grown tall and broad. The spire of tiny white flowers grows on its own stem up through the space between two of the leaves. Here the shadows are created by the morning sun and the large Douglas firs up the hill.
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Blue reflection
October, 2000
Visiting a new landscape is always thrillling. Here the colours are so different from where I live in Victoria, British Columbia. The morning light was just brightening the autumn woods. The slight breeze on the lake created impressions that changed by the minute.
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Fiery leaves and deadstands
October, 2000
In the pre-dawn light colours glow and contrasts are only due to hue and tone. We photogrpahed here from the side of the road until our fingers were frozen. I imagined climbing into a canoe and paddling among these dead trees, touching the silver wood and maybe picking up a bright red leaf for a keepsake.
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Morning mist
Winter, 1993
Nature photography requires a balance between emotion and technique. Walking in the early morning watching the sun dance through the mist off the lake is the reward for getting up early. The photograph is a record of that experience. In the making of the image the photographer remembers the necessary technical tools. In this case some overexposure to keep the mists as weightless and refreshing as they looked.
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The last tree
September, 2003
On the esker, trees can take root even above the treeline. Wolves can make dens in the root stabilised sand and then watch for the caribou to come to cross the lake. On the other side the tundra reaches for hundreds of miles. Space, pure air and water and a quiet that city dwellers forget exists.
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Embedded shell
February, 2001
The beaches of Hornby Island are feasts for the senses. Photographers might feel overwhelmed by all the potential subject matter. "One thing at a time," I was coached by Paul Lazarski at a Hornby workshop in 1987. This lesson has been invaluable over the years.
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Hemlock and Spruce
March, 1996
Young and old live together in perpetual cycles. The dainty hemlock needles brush the rough bark. On an overcast day the film can capture every detail, every nuance of colour and texture. I can feel the fragrant breeze in my hair.
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Shooting Stars (Dodecatheon hendersonii)
Spring, 1987
Spring in Victoria starts as early as January in the city gardens and stretches for months with waves of wild flowers blooming one after the other. The shooting stars are among the early flowers in the forests along with Fawn lilies (Erythronium oregonum) and Satin flowers (Sisyrinchium douglasii). Photographers need to get down low and in close to enjoy these spring miracles.
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Vanilla leaf silver lace
January, 1987
After an hour of studying this Vanilla leaf plant through the lens, I discovered this angle. At every time of the year this plant is fascinating. The stiff stem stays erect in the winter showing off this phase of the plant's life. Silver lace sparkles with a background of green mosses and tiny orange cedar branches.