May and June have been incredibly busy months for me. I've been away from home almost non-stop which has meant little time for updates! Most of my time has been spent in Port Renfrew working on the construction of the Avatar Boardwalk, guiding writers and travelers to the various ancient forests, filming with drones, and exploring some new areas myself! At the end of a grey day last weekend I was treated to an incredible surprise sunset. Nice to see such rich colour out there :)
Landscape
Exploration: Cheewhat Lake & Carmanah Valley 2016
Over the May 14/15 weekend, three friends and I packed the van and made the dusty four-hour drive out to the Cheewhat Lake/Carmanah Valley region to pay visit to many of the country's largest trees. Around Cheewhat Lake grows Canada's largest tree, the Cheewhat Giant, along with the 3rd, 4th, and probably more of the largest western redcedars known. Thankfully, these are protected within the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. I had never visited the giant cedar at the north end of Cheewhat Lake before. It was bit of mission to get there as well as the road along Doobah Lake was quite grown in and the trailhead was nearly invisible but in the end we found it and boy was it worth it!! Such an immense tree!! The GPS coordinates for Canada's 3rd largest redcedar at the north end of Cheewhat Lake are: 48.70070, -124.75124 The trailhead is: 48.70175, -124.75104. The trail begins in second-growth before entering incredible old-growth that includes some unique culturally modified trees and ends at the lake. Near the Cheewhat Giant (GPS: 48.69395, -124.74459) we also found the remains of a half finished canoe in the forest. This forest, and the many giants it harbours, must be my favourite place on Vancouver Island.
The trip also included a visit to the breathtaking Sitka spruce groves found in the Carmanah Valley. Such a timeless place. Not far from the parking lot we also spotted an new giant cedar that was almost 40ft around! Sometimes the big trees are hiding in plain sight just waiting for people to find them. Felt great to get some bushwhacking in as well and rekindle the drive to start looking for new record size trees that may still reside in the dense rainforest landscapes of Vancouver Island! Now that the BC Big Tree Registry is online, it's also easier than ever to nominate new discoveries. See: http://bcbigtree.ca/
Snapshot: Incredible Clouds Over Victoria, BC
Here are some images of the incredible clouds and sunset in Victoria tonight as seen from Summit Park. It's pretty rare to see mammatus clouds and other stormy type patterns but the hot humid weather today put on quite the show! Wish we had unique and interesting weather like this here more often!
Snapshot: Amazing Rainbow near Port Renfrew
While filming with a documentary crew in Port Renfrew last week, we saw one of the most incredibly vibrant rainbows that any of us had seen before. It appeared to be emanating right from the heart of the ancient forests on Edinburgh Mountain, the largest intact area of old-growth forest in the region, which we took as a sign of hope and good fortune. It doesn't get much more magical than that!
Avatar Grove in Winter
Winter is one of the most beautiful and dramatic times of the year to explore ancient forests. During a visit to the Avatar Grove near Port Renfrew last week, an enchanting layer of fog and glowing light was softly sifting through the forest. It's hard to capture that truly magic feeling one experiences in person. So find time if you can and head out into the woods to lose yourself in winter wonder.
Capturing the Coast - 2016
Here's the slideshow I created for Raincoast Education Society's Capturing the Coast 2016 photo event in Tofino! It includes images of the many magnificent places I've visited along the west coast of Vancouver Island from Sooke to the Brooks Peninsula and everywhere in between. It also highlights however the reality that some of these incredible areas are sadly still endangered - a fact that I feel can't be ignored. The coastal landscapes of Vancouver Island are among the most beautiful and precious on planet Earth. Let's do all that we can to keep them that way. *Be sure to watch full screen with sound.
10 Favourite Photos from 2015
As 2015 comes to a close, I've taken a look back and picked 10 of my favourite images from the past year. Never an easy task when you have thousands to choose from, but for one reason or another, these ones stand out for me personally. 2015 was the year of the plane and with many incredible aerial trips made across the island, it was hard to not choose only images taken from above. But the time spent on the ground and in the woods proved to be spectacular and beautiful as well. In 2016 I look forward to exploring more uncharted terrain, flying over new locations, and taking on some fresh personal projects as well. Here's to a great New Year and a happier and healthier planet for all!
Fine Art Prints Now Available For Order Online
I'm very excited to have launched a new Prints section on my website here: www.tjwatt.com/prints. I love that photography allows you to bring the west coast wilderness into your home or business. The beauty and grandeur of British Columbia's coastal landscapes is second to none and lends itself wonderfully to large prints.
I'm working closely with a great local print shop to ensure that each individual print is produced to the highest standards possible. We've completed some beautiful print orders already and we're set to print more in time for the Holiday Season. For details on print, paper, and pickup/shipping, please see information below. If you have any further questions or comments, please don't hesitate to reach me by email at: prints@tjwatt.com. I look forward to hearing from you. TJ www.tjwatt.com/prints
PRINT INFORMATION:
The paper stock used is a bright white, matte, fine art paper (310 gsm), 100% cotton, acid free, with a slightly textured surface. It produces luxurious images with vibrant colours, rich blacks, and a velvety finish. Prints are then carefully packaged and shipped via Canada Post. It's best to allow a professional framer to remove and handle them to ensure their safety. Shipping to Canada $20, USA $35. Free local pickup in Victoria is also available.
CUSTOM PRINT ORDERS:
We also produce archival prints on canvas or aluminum die-bond and at a variety of sizes. These are durable and lightweight options that add a truly unique look! For any inquiries or special requests, please email prints@tjwatt.com and we'd be happy to help!