Just returned from another great weekend building boardwalk at the Avatar Grove near Port Renfrew. Have to be grateful when you arrive to work in the morning and this is your view :)
Exposed: Big Trees & Big Stumps - Camper Creek Headwaters
in Exposed, Forests, Logging, Exploration
In early summer of this year I went for a drive up to the headwaters of Camper Creek in the hills behind Port Renfrew. The road (GR 2000) ended at a deep ditch and a big rock wall but up to the left were signs of recent old-growth logging by Teal-Jones. The cutblock didn't appear like much from the road but upon further inspection it revealed its sad truth. Giant redcedar stumps, some up to 12ft wide, littered the clearcut while slash debris choked the landscape and former creeks. It can be hard to imagine what a forest like this would have looked like just prior to it being logged but a short hike into the neighbouring woods painted a clear picture of the incredible natural beauty and sensitive ecosystem that was lost. Despite current maps and stats that clearly show old-growth forests are highly endangered, the BC Liberal government continues approve cutblocks in forests like these across Vancouver Island and southern BC. And though one can argue that trees will come back, the ensuing second-growth tree plantations (which are typically re-logged every 30-70 years) do not adequately replicate the highly complex and diverse old-growth forests which are lost. Once they're gone, they're gone.
Press: Using Drones for Conservation - Front Cover
in Published and News, Press, Drone, Forests, Logging
The story of how we're using drone technology to help raise awareness of endangered old-growth forests in the Central Walbran Valley landed on the front cover of The Province newspaper this week! You can read the full story featured on the inside page here: www.theprovince.com/technology/anti+logging+activists+using+drones+fight+information/11394855/story.html and watch the YouTube clip I filmed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyMPXHOjlK0
Snapshot: 2015 Supermoon Lunar Eclipse
I was out in the countryside last night and had the chance to view the spectacular supermoon lunar eclipse amongst dark skies. Here it is nestled in some tall beach grass in rural Metchosin near Victoria, BC.
Canon 5D MKII, Canon 70-200 f/4 IS @ 200mm, 2 sec. @ f 6.3, ISO 1600, flashlight
Video: Drone's Used to Help with Ancient Forest Campaigns
Earlier this year I picked up a DJI Phantom 2 drone to use with the Ancient Forest Alliance and our campaigns to protect endangered old-growth forests in BC. The Phantom allows us to explore and document areas that were essentially impossible to reach before. Now we can fly hundreds of meters over the tops of trees to examine new, at-risk areas or carefully work from the forest floor up to the canopy, showcasing the incredible beauty and complex structure of these ancient ecosystems. For me, it's the closest thing to a flying dream where you can float throughout the woods, going whichever way you may choose. However, flying the Phantom is a little more nerve-wracking ;) The Zenmuse H3-3D gimbal is paired with a GoPro Hero 4 Black to capture the best images possible. I'm still in the early stages of flying in this challenging environment but I'm confident the clips we gather will only improve with time and become evermore useful to the cause. So for now, check out the first video I've put together which highlights the imminently endangered Central Walbran Ancient Forest on Vancouver Island. *Be sure to watch at 1080p HD **Additional ground footage shot with the 5DMKII ***Read our detailed press release here.
Snapshot: Sunrise at Willows Beach
Gorgeous sunrise at Willows Beach in Oak Bay this morning! I've been trying to make a point of biking to the ocean early each day to watch the sun come up. It's a wonderful addition to the morning routine and you just never know what you're going to get! It also happens to be at reasonable hour this time of year which also helps ;)
Canon 5D MKII, Canon 24-70 f/4L @ 35mm, 0.5 sec @ f 22, ISO 200
Snapshot: Blue Heron & Roosevelt Elk
While in Port Renfrew earlier this week I decided to check the San Juan River estuary for elk in the morning. I came across a lovely scene with 6 or 7 of them grazing in the meadow and a short while after watching, a great blue heron took flight right towards them. It's incredible what magic moments await us in nature if we only take the time to be out there and experience them.
Canon 5D MKII, Canon 70-200 f/4L IS @ 190mm, 1/400 sec @ f 4, ISO 3200
Press: Soar Magazine on Avatar Grove, Ancient Forest Alliance, and Tourism in Port Renfrew, BC
Soar Magazine has featured some photos and quotes from me surrounding old-growth forests and the benefits of eco-tourism to the town of Port Renfrew, BC. From a town who's economy was largely based on logging since the late 1800's, the transition to big tree tourism has been a novel approach, and that after being fully embraced, is truly taking off!