The northern lights paint the night sky in a dreamy technicolour display. On October 10th, Victoria was treated to another intense aurora showing in what has been an epic year so far. Walking through the misty oak meadow after dark was surreal, with the tree tops looking more like acacia trees in the African savanna than something from around here. Standing under the silhouetted branches, the aurora came alive, with bands of teal blooming overhead washed with warm hues of pinky reds. Impossible to capture were the rapid white pulses that looked like clouds flying by at light speed. Eventually, I found myself on a beach watching the show on my own at two or three AM. What a beautiful universe we live in!
Landscape
Northern Lights from Victoria, BC - May 2024
Mesmerizing rainbows of colour dancing like opals in the sky ~ it’s hard to think of something much more magical and beautiful than the aurora!
I captured these photos during the historic solar storm of May 10th from the beach at PKOLS/Mt. Doug Park, as well as from the top of Pkaals/Mt. Tolmie.
It was surreal to watch the colours bloom and light beams pulse while what looked like portals to another dimension opened overhead in the tie-dye skies. What a special experience to have shared with so many others in the early hours of the morning. A reminder of the vast and beautiful universe we’re all a part of.
Tidal Trees
Are you looking at a painting? A sketch? Or something even more incredible?
These “trees” were, in fact, all created naturally as water slowly trickled through grains of sand on the beach at Pachena Bay near Bamfield. While walking along the shore this past weekend, I was blown away by what appeared to be perfect drawings of trees beneath my feet. Big swirling trunks and branches arose, dotted with knots and other details. The combination of light and dark sands even made for accurate shading. Beyond individual trees, there were even whole “groves” of giants! I’ve seen simpler versions before, but nothing as detailed and realistic as this. Mother Nature never fails to impress.
Have you noticed these "sand" or "tidal" trees before? Whereabouts?
Pacific Storm - December 2023
in Landscape
A massive swell slammed into the coast from California to Alaska on December 28th, bringing with it monster waves of epic proportions. Swell heights off the west coast of Vancouver Island, where these were shot, reached 20 feet/6 meters. It’s such a raw and powerful experience to witness this explosive energy up close. The roars resulting from millions of litres of water moving with an incomprehensible amount of force are ferocious. They’re balanced by the delicate wisps and hiss of spray that kiss the air. It can hard to grasp the scale of the waves in these pictures but the biggest could have swallowed a small house. See the seagulls in some shots for scale
PSA: Always respect the forces of Mother Nature and keep yourself safe if venturing out in extreme conditions. Having experience with specific locations is important for better predicting safe shooting/viewing zones. Watch out for rogue waves, rolling logs, and flying debris. Never turn your back on the ocean and always have an escape plan. Then enjoy the show!
Hiking the Nootka Trail on the west coast of Vancouver Island, BC
in Exploration, Landscape, Travel
In 2020, a group of friends and I spent a week hiking the incredible Nootka Trail along the west side of Nootka Island in Mowachaht/Muchalaht and Nuchatlaht territory. The 35-kilometer-long coastal hike winds along white sandy beaches with waterfalls, wolves, and whales, and through lush rainforest home to towering cedar and spruce trees. It was a heavenly hike, despite hauling a 60lb bag loaded with heavy camera gear in case we saw wildlife, which we most certainly did! Only took me three years to go through the thousand+ photos but I’m happy to finally share some of my faves.
Despite its amazing natural beauty, the majority of Nootka Island still remains unprotected and threatened by industrial logging. Ancient Forest Alliance is currently working to support local First Nations and their Salmon Parks Initiative which will begin to help conserve some of this spectacular region.
Carmanah Valley From Above
An aerial view over the stunning Carmanah Valley in Ditidaht territory. Flying over the south coast, one quickly realizes just how hard it is to find a view of unbroken wilderness like this.
Nearly everywhere you look is a patchwork of clearcuts, second or third growth plantations, tufts of old-growth sprinkled about, and roads - everywhere roads.
It can almost feel strange then to see a sea of unbroken green like this. Like an emerald blanket, the forests wrap around every nook and cranny, peak and valley, for as far as the eye can see.
Knowing that this area is protected fills me gratitude, wonder, and joy. As a big tree seeker, staring down at the tapestry of tall trees has my mind spinning about what future adventures in this valley might uncover.
The old-growth forests of Carmanah wouldn’t still be here today though if it wasn’t for hard-fought efforts in the 1980’s and 90’s to stop clearcut logging by Macmillan Bloedel. It stands as a testament to the fact that your efforts can and do make a difference.
Let’s keep working together to protect the remaining endangered old-growth forests in BC for ours and future generations to cherish and explore.
Bomb Cyclone hits British Columbia
in Landscape
A record low pressure weather system slammed into the coast of BC this past weekend. I love storm watching and witnessing the front arrive along the coast was a wild and humbling experience! Here are a few pics as the first of it passed overhead.
Rugged Point Marine Provincial Park
in Landscape, Exploration
Feeling refreshed after spending five days in the wild and beautiful Rugged Point Marine Provincial Park in Ka:'yu:'k't'h'/Che:k:tles7et'h' First Nations territory on the northwest coast of Vancouver Island. This boat-access only park is home to much wildlife, such as bears, wolves, cougars, eagles, whales, and more. There’s even some surf to be had on with the right swell! Here are some photos from the trip. June, 2021.
