Northern Light on Nels Bight
As alluded to in my previous post, the last evening on the beach at Cape Scott was a magical one. Shortly after the hues of sunset disappeared into the Milky Way above, the Aurora Borealis appeared, at first faintly then gradually picking up some luminosity. None of us had seen the Northern Lights in some time, and for one, it was their first experience. Neighbours at a campsite down the beach crept over to ensure we were seeing the performance. The few people on the beach that night had a collective experience, one captured in our mind’s eye as icing on our summer wilderness adventures.
Before we knew it, the green tones were fading into the sky and our naked eye was again filled with billions of twinkling stars and an inky black sky. I was going to do some night exposures later in the evening, so I wasn’t quite set up yet but did a 210-second capture just as the Lights disappeared for us. My 14mm lens did it’s job gathering light from the dark sky, eventually revealing the Aurora that was still happening, just outside our visual range, perhaps enough to light the way for the wolves and bears prowling the Cape.
Nels Bight, Cape Scott, 2014.
Best Sunset Ever?
It’s definitely a very strong contender! At the end of our five days in the Cape Scott backcountry, our final treats were delivered this evening. A superb low-tide sunset with salmon jumping just off the beach, a bright, hot beachwood campfire and, as the Scotch was passed around the fire, the Northern Lights came out for a show. Incredible, we were blessed. Many more pics from this late summer adventure to come. For now, enjoy the sunset over the Pacific on the NW tip of Vancouver Island as much as Sandra did, jumping for joy at dusk.
Nels Bight, Cape Scott, British Columbia, 2014.
Riding Bikes: State Bicycle Co. Saturday Deluxe
This was shot as part of a larger piece looking at ordering bicycles online (Mail Order Bikes) for Momentum Mag. I checked out a State Bicycle Co. Saturday Deluxe city bike this past spring/summer, went through the online ordering process and built the bike up at our office. The article is now out in Momentum Mag’s summer issue (M66) and online for your reading pleasure right here. Here is my posted review of this bike and some pics to whet your appetite to check out State’s cool collection of city and fixed gear bikes.
Vancouver, 2014.
A Visit to UBC Farm
I paid a visit to the UBC Farm on Vancouver’s Westside on a sunny morning for the opening of their summer farmer’s market. The fine farm folk took us on a tour of the grounds, a 24-hectare oasis of experimental farming, cross-faculty collaboration, traditional First Nations farm techniques, a garden for the Maya in Exile, beekeeping and much more. It’s all second growth forest in the area and surrounded by a 15,000-person community of new condos, it’s future was uncertain for some time as the land value is enormous. The farm was only recently given status as an important landscape for education and lessons in sustainability, so the future is bright. It was very interesting to hear how many of the other seemingly non-related faculties are now using the farm to enhance their studies as well. A peaceful, beautiful place to escape the city for a spell.
Vancouver, 2014.
(click the first image below to view large — recommended!)
Senses Working Overtime in the Dolomites
While I was in Bavaria and the Tyrol area of Europe a few months back, I spent a couple days exploring communities in the Dolomite Mountains of Südtirol in northern Italy. A most impressive mountain range, the jagged peaks and stunning wide open meadows and passes took my breath away. I was in awe. Here in Kastelruth, we stayed at Kamaunhof Zimmer, a working hay and cattle farm high up in the mountain plateau. The view from our room was this one, and the scent of freshly cut hay & blooming wildflowers, the feel of the fresh winds off these ancient peaks and the song of mating birds are all senses that stay with me. Really, it is one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen. This is just an intro, I will have a number of posts and plenty of images coming up from this UNESCO world heritage protected area.
Kastelruth, near Seiser Alm, Südtirol, Italy, 2014.
Riding Bikes: Single Bikes Custom Mixte
I put together a piece for Momentum Mag about ordering custom single speed bicycles online for the current summer edition. We chose five companies to work with and went through the online process, some of which involved customizing the entire bike, before delivery and assembly at our Vancouver office. From there, the bikes went out to our group of testers for a few months of real world action. Sandra Allen, above, took the reins of a Single Bikes custom mixte chosen with a simple blue and white motif. You can check out her review of the bike here.
Stay tuned for posts on the two bikes I personally reviewed from State Bicycle Co & Big Shot Bikes.
Vancouver, 2014.
(As always, click the first image below to view large — recommended!)
Lakeside Yoga
Waterside yoga practice on the shores of Cheakamus Lake at Singing Creek near Whistler, BC, 2014.
Singing Surreal Sundown
The purple/pink hue of the sky reflects deep into the woods, revealing the surreal colours of the rainforest at dusk in Singing Creek, Cheakamus Lake, BC, 2014.
Seun Kuti & Egypt 80
The incredible dynamic of Seun Kuti, performing live with Nigerian Afrobeat originators Egypt 80, at the 2014 Vancouver Folk Music Festival.
It was a very busy weekend of music and photography, stay tuned…..many more images to come!
Jericho Beach, Vancouver, 2014.
Lake House, Schliersee
An idyllic private lake house on the shores of Schliersee, in the Miesbach district of Bavaria, Germany, 2014.
Meeting Fires Creative 