The Lions Gate
Vancouver, 2014.
A Case of Crows
Before dusk they begin to gather in Vancouver for the flight en masse to their rook near Still Creek in Burnaby. If you live in this town, you know what ‘Crow O’Clock’ means and marvel at the thousands of black birds who take to the skies each night. It’s a sight to behold, and an icon of East Van in particular. Vancouver, 2014.
Vancouver Folk Music Festival 2013, Part II
Following up on my promise of hot summer live music pics, here’s part two from the 2013 Vancouver Folk Music Festival. Check out part one if you haven’t already – I guarantee visual transportation to a sunny, soulful community of music lovers and creators coming together under blue skies of the West Coast. This set features more music from around the world — DeVotchKa, The Spasm Band, Kobo Town, The Latchikos, Justin Rutledge, Del Barber and Laetitia Zonzambé.
Vancouver, 2013.
<click the first image below to view large – recommended!>
Vancouver Folk Music Festival 2013, Part I
With the recent release of this year’s lineup and related promo materials, I felt it was (due) time to share some of my imagery from the 2013 Vancouver Folk Music Festival (VFMF). I feel completely blessed to be on the Festival Photography crew, a tight and talented bunch who have decades of shooting experience combined and who always get the shots. It was my pleasure to steer the photo ship for some time, and although I now mainly contribute through the lens, 2014 will be my 12th year volunteering and I can’t wait. To keep things manageable, here is the first of two photo-heavy posts from last summer on Jericho Beach. This set features Pharis and Jason Romero, Jerron ‘Blind Boy’ Paxton, Debo Band, Hanggai, Anthony Joseph & the Spasm Band, The Garifuna Collective, Whitehorse, Cold Specks, and Steve Earle & the Dukes.
Vancouver, 2013.
<click the first image below to view ’em large – recommended!>
When The City Began To Turn Pink
Early cherry blossoms on the eastside from about 4 weeks back. Many of these trees have now gone completely green, with the ‘second wave’ of larger cherry and plum blossoms taking over the streets of Vancouver. Warm temps, plenty of sun and the return of the lush foliage…It’s on!
Vancouver, 2014.
Similkameen Highlands
From the archives…a late summer camping trip into the highlands above the Similkameen Valley. At a crossroads with Oliver on one side, far below, and Cawston up, over and down the switchbacks on the other side. We camped at Ripley Lake, also known as Bear Lake, and in fact we saw many bears each day make their way across the plateau, down the mountain and above the lakeshore (far right in this image). From our perch across the water, this was prime viewing position and my ‘bear eyes’ were in full effect spotting the beasts all day long. At night, we tucked all our provisions away and kept an ear out for the snuffling sounds of the black bear. Thankfully, they slept straight through ’til morning as well. Here’s a shot of the plateau above the lake we camped at – I am certain there is a bear in this image somewhere.
Similkameen / Okanagan, BC, 2011.
Bike Shop: Raiment Bicycle Life
Raiment is a bicycle fashion boutique here in Vancouver, BC. I shot a full page interior for some recent coverage in Momentum Mag, part of our ongoing series looking at great Bike Shops in North America. Raiment might be a little different than most ‘bike shops’ — they don’t sell bikes. However, they are at the cutting edge of the style / function crossroads and the city cycling lifestyle. Mainstream brands like Levi’s Commuter series bike pants nestle alongside the Rapha City Riding collection, Aether, Alchemy, Brooks, Mission, Henty & Fred Perry. Plus a whole lot more. The shop makes excellent use of it’s compact size – expertly curated clothing and accessories remind you bike clothing can look cool and be purpose sewn to increase your riding pleasure. And you wouldn’t even know it half the time. Another angle to the growing interest in civilized city cycling that’s helping to create more livable cities for us all.
Vancouver, 2014.
These Walls Could Speak
Heading up and into Grotto Canyon near Canmore, Alberta on a crisp winter afternoon. The walls seem to speak as the canyon narrows and snow and ice pile up under your feet, crunching sounds that echo off the stone. In fact they do speak. Ancient pictographs are found on some of these stone walls, showing visits from ancestors of the Native American Nation of the Hopi – a people who now reside in Arizona – up to 1300 years ago. The pictographs are fading and easy to miss if you aren’t looking closely (top right, below). A couple frozen waterfalls provide a playground for ice climbers – and on a nice day there can be more than a few of ’em! The image above is taken after the falls, before the land opens up again to the sky where the hoodoos, caves and bears come together. Here is some more info on this family-friendly hike and history of the canyon.
Grotto Canyon, Canmore, Alberta, 2014.
Bikin’ Blossoms
Can’t resist a Sunday ride along the Burrard Inlet to Burnaby…following the scent of cherry and plum trees as they burst into bloom here on the West Coast.
Burnaby, 2014.
A Cozy Coastal Cabin
We had a little getaway in a cozy cabin up the coast for Christmas this year. We had everything we needed and nothing more: lots of wood for the stove, fresh ales from the local breweries, great homemade food and a forest of solitude to take it all in. We even had a family of Orca swim by the beach on Christmas morning, delighting us all as they calmly swam down the coast towards Gibsons. Can’t beat the Sunshine Coast for relaxing times with best friends and family.
Bonniebrook Beach, Sunshine Coast, BC, 2013.
Meeting Fires Creative 