Park Lodge

This is another picture I took last year of Jasper Park Lodge which is in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. The lodge has a low key presence which acknowledges the beauty around it without supplanting it. I stayed in a cabin not far from this spot and could almost imagine being at summer camp so many years ago. When I did go to summer camp, I would walk the trail from my campsite to the mess hall or campfire and all these years later I was reminded of that here. Anyway, the main thing is I learned to love the woods as a child and coming here re-awakened a little of that.

This is another picture I took last year of Jasper Park Lodge which is in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. The lodge has a low key presence which acknowledges the beauty around it without supplanting it. I stayed in a cabin not far from this spot and could almost imagine being at summer camp so many years ago. When I did go to summer camp, I would walk the trail from my campsite to the mess hall or campfire and all these years later I was reminded of that here. Anyway, the main thing is I learned to love the woods as a child and coming here re-awakened a little of that.

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Secluded Mountain Lake

This lake is in a secluded spot in a high valley above the Dart River in Otago, New Zealand. Cattle were grazing on grasses amongst the pines as we arrived by chopper early that morning. The startled look on the bovines faces was a little amusing, but once we landed and cut the engines they were happy to resume grazing in their mountain paradise. If I recall the lake is stocked with fish and so not a bad spot to spend a day or two. As it was, we only had ten minutes here before the chopper fired the engines and headed for our next amazing landscape.

This lake is in a secluded spot in a high valley above the Dart River in Otago, New Zealand. Cattle were grazing on grasses amongst the pines as we arrived by chopper early that morning. The startled look on the bovines faces was a little amusing, but once we landed and cut the engines they were happy to resume grazing in their mountain paradise. If I recall the lake is stocked with fish and so not a bad spot to spend a day or two. As it was, we only had ten minutes here before the chopper fired the engines and headed for our next amazing landscape.

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Family at the Beach

This is another shot from Naples beach last week. There were so many children playing in the warm shallow waters it was really fun to watch. I think these moments are very subtle and stay with us our entire lives. I have some memories like this somewhere back, at least this pail helped me remember building a sandcastle. Such are the days when I had no concerns in the world and my life was carefree. Now, maybe a little of that from time to time might do me some good.

This is another shot from Naples beach last week. There were so many children playing in the warm shallow waters it was really fun to watch. I think these moments are very subtle and stay with us our entire lives. I have some memories like this somewhere back, at least this pail helped me remember building a sandcastle. Such are the days when I had no concerns in the world and my life was carefree. Now, maybe a little of that from time to time might do me some good.

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Pyramid Falls Along the Rail

Last summer we took the rail through the Canadian Rockies and along the way was Pyramid falls where the conductor slowed down enough to get a few shots. I stood in the opening between cars to catch this. It was last year but as I think back I can still hear the rushing of the water and feel the mist in the air. One of many such spectacular sights as we wound our way from Vancouver to Jasper. A trip I recommend.

Last summer we took the rail through the Canadian Rockies and along the way was Pyramid falls where the conductor slowed down enough to get a few shots. I stood in the opening between cars to catch this. It was last year but as I think back I can still hear the rushing of the water and feel the mist in the air. One of many such spectacular sights as we wound our way from Vancouver to Jasper. A trip I recommend.

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Morning Glow

The glow of the mountain tops as the sun rises over Queenstown. I was on a mountain one morning concentrating on getting everything in focus and I goofed, the background got blurred. I later learned about hyper-focal distance which is a combination of aperture, lens size and distance to ensure everything is in focus. It's a complicated calculation but luckily there is an app for that. On second thought, I like the effect of the blur and I'll work on my hyper-focal distance calculation another day. Have a wonderful weekend everyone.
The glow of the mountain tops as the sun rises over Queenstown. I was on a mountain one morning concentrating on getting everything in focus and I goofed, the background got blurred. I later learned about hyper-focal distance which is a combination of aperture, lens size and distance to ensure everything is in focus. It’s a complicated calculation but luckily there is an app for that. On second thought, I like the effect of the blur and I’ll work on my hyper-focal distance calculation another day. Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

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Longboat Key at Dusk

The other night I visited the northern tip of Longboat Key. This is one of those spots that only locals seem to know since it's a little difficult to get to. To get here you have to walk in the water due to beach erosion. The water was warm and inviting which made my task all the more enjoyable. This section has a lot of toppled trees from hurricanes and so it's a rather surreal landscape. On one of the stumps sat this pileated woodpecker who was not so shy as he let me get quite close. Lets just say this is one of those little corners of heaven, right in my own backyard.
The other night I visited the northern tip of Longboat Key. This is one of those spots that only locals seem to know since it’s a little difficult to get to. To get here you have to walk in the water due to beach erosion. The water was warm and inviting which made my task all the more enjoyable. This section has a lot of toppled trees from hurricanes and so it’s a rather surreal landscape. On one of the stumps sat this pileated woodpecker who was not so shy as he let me get quite close. Lets just say this is one of those little corners of heaven, right in my own backyard.

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Sunset Through the Trees

This sunset from behind the trees produced and interesting effect I hadn't anticipated. It was more luck, I didn't plan it this way. In any case, I hope everyone gets a chance to pause and view a sunset from time to time, it's food for the soul. A sunrise will do also but that takes a little more effort. I once heard someone say that the reason we like staring at a fire is that flames are similar to the nature of our soul. I think that's also why we like watching the sun set and rise. Reminds us of something.

This sunset from behind the trees produced and interesting effect I hadn’t anticipated. It was more luck, I didn’t plan it this way. In any case, I hope everyone gets a chance to pause and view a sunset from time to time, it’s food for the soul. A sunrise will do also but that takes a little more effort. I once heard someone say that the reason we like staring at a fire is that flames are similar to the nature of our soul. I think that’s also why we like watching the sun set and rise. Reminds us of something.

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Queenstown Sunrise

Actually this sunrise is from a mountain that overlooks Queenstown. When you get up here before dawn it's pretty chilly but heats up right after the sun rises from behind The Remarkables which you can see here. This is private land but we got permission from the owner to be here. Typically only the mountain sheep and deer are here thus the name Deer Park Heights. I think the quiet and solitude of this place so high up yet so close to civilization was something that left an impression on me, like so many other beautiful things about the country of New Zealand.

Actually this sunrise is from a mountain that overlooks Queenstown. When you get up here before dawn it’s pretty chilly but heats up right after the sun rises from behind The Remarkables which you can see here. This is private land but we got permission from the owner to be here. Typically only the mountain sheep and deer are here thus the name Deer Park Heights. I think the quiet and solitude of this place so high up yet so close to civilization was something that left an impression on me, like so many other beautiful things about the country of New Zealand.

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Emerson Pond at Dawn

One morning last week I captured this just after sunrise. Everything seems so peaceful in the morning and to me this pond is a reflection of that. After capturing this I went a little ways up the road to another pond and was treated to the chatter of all the birds. I'm not sure chatter is the right word because sound of the Osprey is more like a cry-out warning the neighborhood that he's up and awake. I think if I was a critter I'd take note, because other than the occasional Eagle, the Osprey are the head honchos. Anyway, it's a nice experience to watch the morning rituals of the wildlife before I start my own busy day.

One morning last week I captured this just after sunrise. Everything seems so peaceful in the morning and to me this pond is a reflection of that. After capturing this I went a little ways up the road to another pond and was treated to the chatter of all the birds. I’m not sure chatter is the right word because sound of the Osprey is more like a cry-out warning the neighborhood that he’s up and awake. I think if I was a critter I’d take note, because other than the occasional Eagle, the Osprey are the head honchos. Anyway, it’s a nice experience to watch the morning rituals of the wildlife before I start my own busy day.

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