Star Struck - Heceta Beach, Oregon

Clinging to the rocks patiently waiting for the tide to come in, this little starfish is just one of the many wonderful creatures to discover in the tidal zone of the Pacific Coast.

Backroad Bliss - Twin Butte, Alberta

Any time I get a chance to take off for a few days, I always try to take the roads less travelled. I rarely remember how I get to some of these places, or how to ever come back in the future, but that’s the beauty of exploring. My truck has taken a beating over the years of cruising down dusty washboard ridden roads and seems to gain a new battle scar after every trip that have now accumulated into a lifetime of memories. Every now and then, I roll over the crest of a hill and scenes like this reveal themselves reminding me why I love the outdoors.

Jewel of the Rockies - Banff national Park, Alberta

While not my usual stomping grounds when it comes to landscape photography, I couldn’t resist photographing Moraine Lake in Banff with a blanket fresh snow. There is only a short window each year to capture this before the road is closed for winter and the lake freezes over. With how beautiful this place is, I can completely understand why busloads of tourists flock here and why this is the most photographed location in Canada.

When All Else Fails - Banff National Park, Alberta

When I first came to photograph Moraine Lake, I must admit I really did not like the experience. I was never used to being immersed into hordes of people everywhere. Fast forward to today and much of that feeling remains the same. Admittedly I do not do well in crowds. I am the type of person who prefers solitude. So why do I keep coming here? I’ve asked myself this before and the answer is simple. The sheer beauty of this area completely trumps the negatives for me. In fact, I actually look forward to stopping here every year. When I stand at the edge of this lake and take one look at the surrounding scene, it seems as if there isn’t a stone that is out of place. There’s a reason this is reported to be the most photographed lake in the world. So why do I enjoy photographing the most photographed lake on earth? Well, I have asked myself that as well. Typically try to avoid going to popular places because they have been shot to death. For Moraine Lake, I love it because it is impossible to take a bad shot here. When I am in a creative slump and feel like I just can’t seem to get any worthy shots (which happens a few times a year) one trip here really seems to do the trick and snap me out of it. If I spend an hour snapping pictures along the shores of this lake, I walk away with a memory card full of images that need next to no editing. It’s just too easy. This lake and area contain all the catalysts needed for boosting confidence when it is needed most.

Proxy Falls - McKenzie Pass, Oregon

It's incredible to think that the location of this scene is less than an hour and a half drive from the dry high desert. At only a mile or so long, the hike traverses and old lava flow before descending down to the waterfall. Photographing this place was surprisingly harder than I expected. With the thick foggy canopy blocking out most of the sunlight, I had to run long shutter speeds to get a proper exposure, and with the constant blasts of mist, it made it next to impossible to get a clean shot in. I quickly learned the mist came in waves, so eventually I was able to time it right and get a few good shots in.

Locals Only - Kananskis, Alberta

In regards to tourism in Alberta, Banff, and Jasper National Parks take the cake and for good reason. There are countless pristine lakes and glacier covered mountains, with guided tours and all of the comforts one could ever imagine. With all of the hustle and bustle in the national parks, it is surprising that Kananskis, which borders Banff, sees only a fraction of the traffic of the National Parks, most of which are locals. Kananaskis shares many of the traits of the big parks. Tucked out of the way, this waterfall is only a short hike from the road. Gems like this are what make Kananaskis my favourite park to visit in Alberta.

The Keeper's Cape - Newport, Oregon

Built in 1872, the Yaquina Head Lighthouse is Oregon's tallest lighthouse with the tower at 93 feet with the light fueled by whale oil. For the keeper, it was a full time job keeping the wick burning. The lighthouse has since been converted to a 1000-watt globe, removing the need of a permanent keeper. The lighthouse has now been listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

My Kind of Road - Medicine Hat, Alberta

These are my favourite roads. A couple of tire-beaten tracks that lead the imagination to what might be around the corner. My entire adult life has been spent lost, exploring these roads, and the best part is that I don’t seem to be running out of them.

Heceta Beach - Heceta Head Lighthouse, Oregon

Only accessible at low tide, this small cave is one of many at Heceta Beach on the Oregon Coast. I found it interesting how the waves during high tide would force the smaller stones to collect in the bowl shaped rock.

Redemption - Kananaskis, Alberta

I have lost count how many times I have tried to photograph this location. For nearly two years luck was never on my side. Each time I set aside some time to stop here the clouds would completely cover Mount Kidd in the background. I don’t know why, but without fail if I drove ten minutes down the road it would be sunny and clear every time. I knew this photo would never be my best work, but for me there was something satisfying about finally capturing the photo I wanted with the added benefit of some smoke in the air from wild fires across B.C. to diffuse the direct sunlight.

Winter Pine - Banff National Park, Alberta

As a lover of heat it’s rare for me to say I miss winter. As I edited this image however, I immediately had a fond memory of this particular morning spending time with my little girl who was so excited to go out on an adventure with her daddy. As always, she was eager to wake up at the crack of dawn, drive for an hour and a half in pitch black and stand out in the freezing cold with me to take this picture. When we were done shooting we both ran into the truck and cuddled in the back seat of my truck under a blanket to warm up and we watched every little girl’s favourite movie, Frozen on her little Ipad. We ended up both falling asleep and woke up just as the movie ended. I remember the look on her face as we both started to realize we dozed off. The groggy smile on her face was filled with joy as if it was the best day her life while her arms clenched me tighter in a big hug. It’s a memory I will always cherish.

Secret Alberni - Vancouver Island, British Columbia

On the outskirts of the small Vancouver Island port town of Port Alberni, this lovely little waterfall is an oasis for the soul. Nowhere near as popular as the popular Hole-in-the-wall waterfall that sees gobs of tourists daily, this one is relatively unknown and hopefully will remain that way. To get to the waterfall, a trail leads you through a scenic moss laden second growth forest following the river edge for about 20 minutes prior to reaching the waterfall. There are several places to stop along the way to soak it all in. This was one of those places where you may not walk that far, but you can easily spend a chunk of the day exploring each stopping point and losing yourself to nothing but the sounds of flowing water and the occasional bird chirping above.

Frosted Tips - Kananaskis, Alberta - 2020

I just love the landscape during the transitional seasons when the snow and frost hasn’t quite taken hold yet but the reality of winter is just around the corner. There’s something I find very beautiful about the look of the first snow in the mountains. Perhaps it’s because I know I can still find reprieve from the cold crisp air and just drive to a lower altitude and still enjoy the beautiful fall colours while basking in the warm sun. Either way, I just love this time of year.

A Maiden's Secret - Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Located on the western coast of Vancouver Island, this tucked away gem off a popular beach is far from secret nowadays. During my time in the area, I thought I would take a few minutes and show my little girl the canyon for the first time and let her discover the waterfall within. Unsurprisingly she was enamored with the place and how hidden it was to the unsuspecting beach goers. To her it felt so special, like it was made for us, and only us. While she was petting every slug that stuck to the watered down moss covered walls I decided to take a few minutes and try to get a shot that was a little different than the norm. In reality, the options for shots are rather limited in here and the only choices that presented were the obvious, or the obvious. The Maiden Hair Ferns however, kept catching my eye so I decided to focus my perspective on the plants that call these walls home, rather than the waterfall. I’m not sure this shot is anything different than what every other photographer has taken here, but I like to think it is. Either way, we had a great time exploring what was familiar to me, but new and magical to my little girl.

The Bugs - Radium, British Columbia

It’s a long rough bumpy road getting in to see this vista, but every time I’ve made the trek in, I have never regretted my decision to go. The Bugaboos are some of the most scenic mountain ranges in Canada. Difficult to get to, but incredibly scenic.

Memory Lane - Fernie, British Columbia

Looking at this image, I can still remember the fresh morning mountain air smell that filled this valley. While heading home from a trip to California, I decided to take a side road that I have seen several times just after crossing through to British Columbia. This road has always caught my eye for some reason, but I’ve never taken to time to drive down it. As I turned off the highway, and made my way along the mountain corridor, this beautiful vista appeared with a thick blanket of clouds and fog blanketing a ranch. I knew I had to stop to photograph it. I find it incredible how you can look at a picture, and immediately it can take your mind back to the senses and feelings you had when you stood there in reality.

Rock Star - Banff National Park, Alberta

There’s nothing like experiencing a night under the stars in the Canadian Rockies. With the glow of the Banff townsite illuminating Mount Rundle, it stands out from the other surrounding mountains giving it a look similar to a building lit up by flood lights. Standing here in silence without all the hustle and bustle typically experienced here in the daytime was a nice treat to say the least.

Tidal Zone

Every year my daughter and I go on a road trip together. This year, we spent several days exploring the Oregon Coast. Looking back on the trip, one of my fondest memories I had with her was exploring the rocky outcrops along the beaches during low tide. We spent several hours each day running from the waves, and flipping rocks looking for crabs and starfish together. Seeing that glow on her face every time we found a sea critter has burned into my memory forever. It is amazing to see the excitement in a child when they discover something new.

Engadine Blues - Kananaskis, Alberta

Luck seems to have eluded me this year. Leaving my house, the forecast said it was supposed to be only -3 degrees in the Banff area. With the Chinook winds blowing, heading out to the mountains for an early morning sunrise photo shoot seemed like a good idea. As I approached the Spray Valley just outside Canmore I had to constantly keep turning up the heat in my truck as I climbed up the hill to the valley. By the time I got to Mount Egandine Lodge, the temperature was well below -20 degrees and oh boy was it ever cold. after poking my tripod through the waist deep snow to set up for a shot, one of the latches on the lower section of the leg got stuck between some rocks that was under the snow. Nearly frostbitten, after 15 minutes of fiddling around, I finally got it out and thankfully I was able to at least capture this photo before having to run back to my truck to warm up.

Fool's Gold - Canmore, Aberta

Typically, I try to shy away from areas that are busy with other photographers. I generally prefer my own solitude when I am out in the mountains rather than being shoulder to shoulder with other people. In the fall, that’s not the easiest to do. It seems there are far more people willing to get out early to capture the autumn colour than any other time of year. Just to the right of this image is a well-known local mountain known as the three sisters. Noted for the prominent triple peaks, this mountain is a magnet for landscape photographers. By the time I arrived after feeding the kid, stopping for the kid to have a pee break, and then feeding the kid after she was hungry again, then stopping several more times for the dog to have his poo and pee breaks we were the last ones there and had the least desirable spot to capture the three sisters. Being late for the sunrise, I didn’t have much for options to head to a new location so I thought I’d make the best of it. As the sun started to rise, I instantly saw the main feature shot was not going to be the best one of the day. The clouds in the east were starting to ignite with the telltale signs of an epic sunrise. Conversely, there was nothing but empty sky over the three sisters which doesn’t bode well for a landscape photo. Instead I decided to change my direction of shooting and capture the silhouette of the trees with the sunrise. Instantly I had the best seat in the house, lucky me. The best part was that everyone else was so engrossed in capturing the three sisters, not one of them decided to look around and I was the only one who ended up capturing this. I remember some people looking in confusion at all the cameras pointing in one direction and me shooting the completely opposite way. I guess it pays to always look around. It worked for me at least.

Canadian Gold - Bugaboo Provincial Park, British Columbia

As a lover of solitude, Bugaboo Provincial Park is my kind of place. I discovered this remote park a few years back and now I dream of returning year after year. I’m not sure what it is, but there is something so refreshing for me every time I make a trip out here. It’s my happy place I guess.

A Walk in the Woods - Whistler, B.C.

In the temperate rainforests of coastal British Columbia you can be sure to find plenty of scenic trails with well-worn boardwalks traversing the rugged terrain. This particular trail is a long time favourite of mine near the village of Whistler. Each time I visit this location it has become a bit of bitter sweet for me. As I make my way home at the end of my annual coastal road trip, this marks the end of the temperate rainforest and the realization I soon will be leaving my paradise. I have been fortunate to walk away with a variety of photographs I am proud of at least.

Nature's Fireworks - Terrebonne, Oregon

With a thunderstorm fast approaching during my visit to Smith Rock State Park, I scrambled around to capture the constantly changing light before needing to head for cover. As each thunderous crash of lightning progressed to what seemed to feel a little close for comfort, I rushed for shelter back at the truck. As I scrambled my way with an armload of camera gear on one side, and my daughter in the other, I witnessed the sky start to explode with vibrant colours as the setting sun dropped below the clouds in the distance. With only a couple minutes to capture this, I quickly re-composed my shot and frantically snapped away before I had no choice but to get out. Within seconds of loading the in truck, Torrential rain came down, followed by a blast of hail. Either the stars were aligned, or the weather gods liked me that day. Either way, I'll take it.

Bluebird

I have to confess, as much as my personality hates touristy areas and crowds, this lake has really started to grow on me. Over the last few years I usually allocate at least one morning out of a weekend adventure during the summer to visit Moraine Lake and the surrounding area. The beauty of this area is so impressive it’s hard to ignore, despite the crowds. The people watching is top notch as well since the demographic visitors are quite juxtaposed compared to the usual trail goers that I have become accustomed to crossing paths with. The “Instagrammer” crowd is one I will truly never understand. When it comes to photographing Moraine Lake, it seems there’s not a single shot that can be made that is unique anymore. The way I see it, is that’s ok. Sometimes the obvious classic shots are the best. If there is one thing that is certain, it’s that it is practically impossible to get a bad photo here.