A Quiet Conversation with the Aurora

Under a frozen night, the aurora unfolded in silence behind the mountains. It was not loud or dramatic, but deeply powerful. Moments like this remind us how small we are, and how beautiful that smallness can feel in the presence of nature.

Mid flight

Great gray owl on the wing.

Sunset on the Magog river

Darkness coming soon

The little duck family is moving to their sleeping site.

Hair of an Angel

This most recent visit I had with my family, we did a lot of walking in the woods and would see this "Angel Hair" frost. This only occurs when there's lots of moisture in the air and temperatures are below freezing, these hair-like ice formations appear on dead or decaying pieces of wood. It's said to be rare, but the conditions were perfect to see it quite regularly on our morning walks the 4 days I was visiting. It didn't last long, as soon as it got above freezing, or the sun was shining on it, they would melt quickly, like cotton candy to water.

Tiny Surprise

I decided to put my telephoto lens in my backpack and take out my macro lens, see what I could find to focus on. As we were walking along, my brother pointed out a spider in its web. It was in the shadows, but it was an interesting spider, so I did my best to get some photos of it without too high of ISO.

Morning Mist

We all went out for walk in the morning, when we came to sections in the river, there was a slight fog over the water. We stopped because we saw a pair of swans swimming in the water and it wasn't long until some ducks showed up. I was waiting patiently for them to go into the sunlight, but they always stayed right along the edge of the shade. The male Bufflehead finally made an appearance out of the shadows, but it was brief.

A Great Catch

I was walking along the beach, which was different than other beaches I have been on, sandstone and rocks embedded as if it was cement. There were lots of large openings in the rocks and that meant lots of tidal pools, and they were full of life. I was busy using my macro lens on all the sea anemones, when I heard some splashing going on behind me. I turned and saw a flash of white and thought it was a Martin along the rocks. I grabbed my other camera with my telephoto lens and when I got a better look, I found there to be two River Otters along the rocks, and one had a really impressive Flounder. The fog was pretty thick, but I was able to get some shots of the Otter as it was eating the Flounder. The sound carried over my way and I could hear it crunching away on the bones, as if it were right beside me.

All My Ducks Are In a.. Circle?

I was on my way to visit family, and that involves a ferry ride. I usually always walk around the ferry and see what wildlife is hanging around the terminal before the ferry leaves. The Surf Scoters are always a joy to find and photograph, and these ones were almost in a perfect circle as they were swimming around.

Foggy Sunset

While I was visiting family, we decided to drive to the park at the marina in Comox and just as we were pulling into the parking lot, I saw the sun setting and jumped out of the truck. I knew I had to be quick, as the sun was setting fast behind the mountain and I really wanted to capture the way it was glowing from behind the fog.

Calm After the Storm

A mother cow lays with calves the day following a fierce wind, snow & ice storm on Cheticamp Island, Cape Breton, NS

Imposing certainty

For him, the sky is not a backdrop, but a territory. Every beat of the wings is an assertion, every silence a certainty. His gaze cuts through the air like a sharp blade. He does not search, he knows. Out there, something already exists beneath his talons. A straight, powerful, perfect trajectory. Nothing wavers, nothing shakes. The king of the sky has sighted his target correctly, as always.

Autumn scenes

Autumn time in Tremblant national park Quebec

Autumn scenes

Autumn time in Tremblant national park Quebec

Autumn scenes

Autumn time in Tremblant national park Quebec

Emerald Lake Panorama

The stunning scene that is Emerald Lake, in Yoho National Park, BC.

Corona explosion of light

A beautiful substorm creates a literal explosion of light above.

Snowy Owl

A snowy owl perches in a tree against the setting sun.

Sharp-shinned hawk in the snow

I almost feel sorry for it....this sharp-shinned hawk has not once gotten a meal when it's been in my yard. It stayed most of the morning as wet snow was falling.

Enjoying winter

Couldn't wait to go outside just after a snowstorm

A Quiet Conversation with the Aurora

Under a frozen night, the aurora unfolded in silence behind the mountains. It was not loud or dramatic, but deeply powerful. Moments like this remind us how small we are, and how beautiful that smallness can feel in the presence of nature.

Mid flight

Great gray owl on the wing.

Sunset on the Magog river

Darkness coming soon

The little duck family is moving to their sleeping site.

Hair of an Angel

This most recent visit I had with my family, we did a lot of walking in the woods and would see this "Angel Hair" frost. This only occurs when there's lots of moisture in the air and temperatures are below freezing, these hair-like ice formations appear on dead or decaying pieces of wood. It's said to be rare, but the conditions were perfect to see it quite regularly on our morning walks the 4 days I was visiting. It didn't last long, as soon as it got above freezing, or the sun was shining on it, they would melt quickly, like cotton candy to water.

Tiny Surprise

I decided to put my telephoto lens in my backpack and take out my macro lens, see what I could find to focus on. As we were walking along, my brother pointed out a spider in its web. It was in the shadows, but it was an interesting spider, so I did my best to get some photos of it without too high of ISO.

Morning Mist

We all went out for walk in the morning, when we came to sections in the river, there was a slight fog over the water. We stopped because we saw a pair of swans swimming in the water and it wasn't long until some ducks showed up. I was waiting patiently for them to go into the sunlight, but they always stayed right along the edge of the shade. The male Bufflehead finally made an appearance out of the shadows, but it was brief.

A Great Catch

I was walking along the beach, which was different than other beaches I have been on, sandstone and rocks embedded as if it was cement. There were lots of large openings in the rocks and that meant lots of tidal pools, and they were full of life. I was busy using my macro lens on all the sea anemones, when I heard some splashing going on behind me. I turned and saw a flash of white and thought it was a Martin along the rocks. I grabbed my other camera with my telephoto lens and when I got a better look, I found there to be two River Otters along the rocks, and one had a really impressive Flounder. The fog was pretty thick, but I was able to get some shots of the Otter as it was eating the Flounder. The sound carried over my way and I could hear it crunching away on the bones, as if it were right beside me.

All My Ducks Are In a.. Circle?

I was on my way to visit family, and that involves a ferry ride. I usually always walk around the ferry and see what wildlife is hanging around the terminal before the ferry leaves. The Surf Scoters are always a joy to find and photograph, and these ones were almost in a perfect circle as they were swimming around.

Foggy Sunset

While I was visiting family, we decided to drive to the park at the marina in Comox and just as we were pulling into the parking lot, I saw the sun setting and jumped out of the truck. I knew I had to be quick, as the sun was setting fast behind the mountain and I really wanted to capture the way it was glowing from behind the fog.

Calm After the Storm

A mother cow lays with calves the day following a fierce wind, snow & ice storm on Cheticamp Island, Cape Breton, NS

Imposing certainty

For him, the sky is not a backdrop, but a territory. Every beat of the wings is an assertion, every silence a certainty. His gaze cuts through the air like a sharp blade. He does not search, he knows. Out there, something already exists beneath his talons. A straight, powerful, perfect trajectory. Nothing wavers, nothing shakes. The king of the sky has sighted his target correctly, as always.

Autumn scenes

Autumn time in Tremblant national park Quebec

Autumn scenes

Autumn time in Tremblant national park Quebec

Autumn scenes

Autumn time in Tremblant national park Quebec

Emerald Lake Panorama

The stunning scene that is Emerald Lake, in Yoho National Park, BC.

Corona explosion of light

A beautiful substorm creates a literal explosion of light above.

Snowy Owl

A snowy owl perches in a tree against the setting sun.

Sharp-shinned hawk in the snow

I almost feel sorry for it....this sharp-shinned hawk has not once gotten a meal when it's been in my yard. It stayed most of the morning as wet snow was falling.

Enjoying winter

Couldn't wait to go outside just after a snowstorm