As the Sun Sets - Uclulet, Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Every time I am on Vancouver Island, I make a point to stop here because I’ve always loved the look of this place. Unfortunately, I never seem to time things right and the coast always has a blanket of fog roll in as the evening sets. After at least 5 years of trying for this shot, I finally made it happen this year. It’s nice to tick some of these off the list. Now off to the next one.

A Test of Time - Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Deep in a rather remote area of Vancouver Island cedar boardwalks meander through a grove of the largest trees found in Canada. Getting here is no small task and the trails overall are in very poor condition. For me, that is part of the allure. Walking through the overgrown bush amongst truly giant trees makes you feel so small and insignificant. The cawing of ravens or hooting of barred owls hidden within the canopy only occasionally breaks the beautifully eerie silence of these magnificent forests. Every time I make a trip out to the Island I always set aside a day or two to spend some time here. I find myself always excited to come photograph this area, but once I hike into the thick of the grove I struggle to take a photo that even comes close to doing this place justice. This is just one of those kind of places that must be seen in person to admire in its fullest.

Along the Juan - Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Countless streams and rivers cascade over the moss covered limestone carving out canyons and waterfalls as they flow through the dense vegetation of the temperate rainforests of Vancouver Island. Gems like this are commonplace for those willing to explore off the beaten path. The love I have for the island grows stronger and stronger after every trip I make here. I could happily spend a lifetime exploring every nook and cranny of this magical place.

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.

A Golfer's Dream - Pincher Creek, Alberta

Along the Southern reaches of Alberta, the rolling green grasslands clash with Rockies creating a stark contrast between the landscapes. I’ve always admired the beauty of this region. One of the things that stand out to me the most is the vibrant greens during the spring season that only last a short while. It is something I just can’t get enough of and draws me back year after year.

Banff National Park, Alberta

The beautiful glacial waters of Peyto Lake on Highway 93 in the Alberta Rockies.

A Fresh Coat - Bragg Creek, Alberta

While I would agree the Rockies are a spectacular sight in the winter season, I believe the foothills are equally as beautiful and are often overlooked. When a cold snap lifts, the frost-covered forests of the foothills tend to sparkle in the sunlight and become a winter wonderland.

Spotted - Beiseker, Alberta

The snowy owl is one of the most fascinating birds to me. It has the ability to hear a mouse beneath two feet of snow. It can also turn its head up to 270 degrees. It can also fly silently through the air due to special feathers that act to silence wind noise as air moves over the wings. The stealth bomber even incorporated designs based from this unique feature that is only found in owls.

On the Lookout - Southern Alberta

While driving down a prairie back road in Southern Alberta, my daughter noticed this little Short-tailed Weasel running along the side of the road. After he spotted us, he took off and dove into the snow. After a short while we were able to find him again. He would pop his head up out of the snow from time to time to check on us. With us both standing at the side of the road as still as possible, he became more comfortable and hung around long enough for me to take a few shots before he took off into the snow again.

Beneath the Veil - Kootenays, British Columbia

Every time I drive through the Kootenays in British Columbia, I fall in love with the area more and more. There is something special about this valley. Every visit through the winter months I can almost be guaranteed a beautiful layer of low lying clouds that sweep through the trees that layers every branch and needle with a layer of frost that ignites the minute the morning sun touches it. Yu will probably see more and more photos from me in this area as I have a strong pull to explore it more lately.

Wild Weather - Emerald Lake, British Columbia

I will always be fascinated how unpredictable weather can be in the Canadian Rockies. A couple hours earlier, I was hiking no more than an hour drive from this location in nearly two feet of snow in absolute whiteout conditions and this place surprisingly sits at a higher altitude than where I was hiking earlier. The way mountain ranges can affect the weather is truly incredible. Now I wish I spent the day here instead. Flip-flops are way comfier than parkas.

Evening Gold - Kofa, Arizona

The rugged and painful beauty of Arizona is truly unrivaled. If you have never been, you owe it to yourself to witness a sunset in this state.

A River Runs Through It - Mapleton, Oregon

Waterfalls and the forests of the coastal Pacific Northwest. For me, it doesn’t get much better than that.

Changing of the Guard - Kananaskis, Alberta

It’s not too often you can capture a beautiful alpenglow sunrise during the peak of the fall colour, with a full moon setting in a single frame. I suppose this will have to do…

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.

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.

On the Edge - Terrebonne, Oregon

For such a small little state park, Smith Rock certainly packs some punch when it comes tot he WOW factor. From the distance, this unsuspecting area doesn’t look much more than a typical foothill rising up in the grasslands. However, once you gain access into the park, thats when you see how special it really is. This is just one of Oregon’s many tucked away gems that begs to be explored.

Freeze Over - Millarville, Alberta

I just love those overcast winter days when everything is covered in a perfect blanket of frost.

Dawn of Time - Brooks, Alberta

While it doesn’t get the same fame as the Alberta Rockies, this UNESCO world heritage site is worthy of a visit any time of the year. Dinosaur Provincial Park is located in the prairie region of Southern Alberta near the town of Brooks. The park boasts unique landforms amongst the grassy knolls and is abundant with wildlife. A must visit for any nature lover.

Oh, Hi! - Southern, Alberta

A curious prairie rattlesnake peers out at me while emerging from its wintering den in the middle of the Canadian prairies.

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.

A Wrinkle in Time - Brooks, Alberta

In the middle of the seemingly endless grasslands of Alberta, the ground gives way to pockets of badlands formed by nearby river systems after generations of erosion. The badlands of Dinosoar Provincial Park near Brooks is one of the most impressibe this province has to offer. The strange geography of these badlands is not the only unique characteristic of this region either. Rattlesnakes and scorpions also call these areas home. Typically prefering warmer climates throughout the United States and into Mexico, the Alberta Badlands mark the most northern established reaches of both species. The Canadian badlands are also have one of the world’s best known deposits of dinosaur fossils. Routinely scientists discover new fossils of prehistoric creatures.

Vertig0 - Terrebonne, Oregon

This is certainly one of those photos that just cannot do this place justice. Displaying the magnitude of Smith Rock in a single photo just can’t be done in my opinion. After getting home from a 10 day road trip to Oregon, I was quite eager to take a good look at the file of photos I took while on this location, and to my dismay I was actually quite dissapointed upon review. What I came to understand, it is simply one of those types of places that the sheer size just doesn’t translate into a photo well. Some places just need to be experienced to be appreciated, and I am ok with that.