Shooting Saturday's Storm - Victoria, BC

I love storms. A lot. So when the 4th major storm to hit BC's coast in just over a week came crashing in on Saturday, I rushed out to the Ogden Point Breakwater and Clover Point to catch the action. What started out as a plan to just check out the ocean for a moment, quickly turned into almost 4 hours of dodging and chasing the huge waves. With wind speeds reaching as high as 127 km/h just off the shore, it was a powerful sight to see - and I hope it was worth it! Though I was pretty careful while shooting, in my excitement and haste a sea spray caught me and my camera by surprise, preceded shortly thereafter by an error message. I've got the battery out and the camera in a bag with silica gel packs to remove any moisture. I'm going to look into it more on Monday and my fingers are crossed that it's something minor and not totally fried!! In all, very little water hit the camera but saltwater + electronics = bad. I'd says it's better to be out there in the thick of it than missing out on all the fun but next time I'll be sure to not let my excitement push aside the need to better protect my gear. At least the photos have lived to tell the tale! Will post an update on camera soon. Until then, enjoy this wild weather - and keep your cameras dry!  **Update: Camera checked out all fine - no water damage! Error likely came from the extreme cold winds and humidity. Happy!

Exploration: Measuring Near Record-Sized Trees in the Central Walbran Valley

in , ,

On a recent trip to the endangered Central Walbran Valley on southern Vancouver Island, my colleague Ken Wu and I worked to obtain accurate measurements a colossal western redcedar tree known as the Tolkien Giant (GPS: 48.64569, -124.601246). After some scrambling through the thick underbrush, we managed to wrap it with the long tape. Preliminary measurements put the ancient tree at 14.4 metres (47 feet) in circumference or 4.6 meters (15 feet) in diameter, and about 42 meters (138 feet) in height. This makes it the 9th widest western redcedar in BC, according to the BC Big Tree Registry: http://bit.ly/1Iuf9Tv It's often hard to grasp the sheer size of these giants, and even harder that many are still at risk of being cut down. The Tolkien Giant currently stands in a tenuous forest reserve known as an Old-Growth Management Area and is thankfully protected for now however, just a couple hundred meters away lies 1 of 8 cutblocks proposed by logging company Teal-Jones. Here we came across the foreboding orange flagging tape marked "Falling Boundary", as well as more giant trees. We nicknamed one incredible specimen the Karst Giant due to the band of limestone that is prevalent in this area. The Karst Giant has been tentatively measured at 12.1 meters (40 feet) in circumference or 3.9 meters (13 feet) in diameter. Although it doesn't make the top 10, it's still an exceptional tree (photo below).

At almost 500 hectares in size, the Central Walbran Valley is home to one of the largest tracts of contiguous old-growth forest found outside of parks on southern Vancouver Island, a region which has lost 96% of its valley bottom old-growth due to logging. It's an ecological and recreational jewel that must be protected by the BC government from the current logging proposals.

The dense and highly productive ancient forests found here also provide some of the most incredible bushwhacking and exploration opportunities. One truly feels like they've stepped back in time to a prehistoric-like wilderness visited by few to none on Earth. You never quite know what unique tree, karst feature, or creature might by lurking around the next corner.  


Press: British Columbia Magazine - Vancouver Island's Ancient Trees

in , , ,

Here's an article in the latest British Columbia Magazine about visiting the old-growth forests of the Port Renfrew region along the "Circle Route" which features 6 of my big tree shots! It also raises the plight of the old-growth forests in the Walbran Valley, Horne Mountain (above Cathedral Grove), and Mossy Maple Grove, and includes a blurb about the Ancient Forest Alliance. Pick up a hardcopy of the latest issue to read the article today!

P.S. Here's a big tree map that you can print out and take with you: www.ancientforestalliance.org/biggest-trees-map.php

Fine Art Prints Now Available For Order Online

in , , ,

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!



Exposed: Big Trees & Big Stumps - Camper Creek Headwaters

in , , ,

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 , , , ,

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