Friday, October 3, 2008
"Long Beach Photos" is finally available
Well - follow this link to my book: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/372875 I am really excited about it. I hope you can see the preview of the book so you can take a look at the first 15 pages, try clicking here: http://www.blurb.com/books/372875
I am busy, busy, busy with my business. I actually understand and am enjoying working with Excel and Sensitivity Analysis for Business Plans and Market Plans... so many other plans.
Life is good. I hope you are all well.
'til next time... Syl
Monday, September 22, 2008
New Products!!
WOW! LOTS of new stuff for sale on my site. I got brave and tackled my web page and discovered that I actually CAN do somethings that I thought were impossible. It must be anticipation for taking the Web Page Design course.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
New Book coming soon!
I am back at the stables getting my physical activity. It's exhausting, but it feels good to actually produce something.
Not much else is happening. I will keep you up to date on what I am working on.
'til next time.... Syl
Thursday, June 19, 2008
WELL! It's been a while. The price of gas keeps me land locked for a while. I have had some trips though. I headed back east to my nephew's wedding and did some camping while I was there. I had a great trip as you can see by the adjoining pictures.
The yearly camping trip, I think this is year 46, was made up of only four bold campers this year. Four decades of campers to be exact. My Dad, Neil, my brother Bob and myself - 70's, 60's, 50' and 40's. It was a quiet camping trip with the water and weather cooperating all the way around. I am glad I had my long rain coat though as it was only 6 degrees Sunday morning and that is cold for a now west coaster that I have become.
Dad drinking his mornning cup of java and getting the fire going for those of us who slept in until o6:30. It was the sound of the crackling fire that awoke me in my very warm sleeping bag - sleeping bag compliments of my sister-in-law Slava, oh! so were the running shoes since all I brought with me were cowboy boots.
We finished the camping trip with a show of suckers spawing before our eyes right at the shore of the Maitland River. Huge fish! Making lots of noise and stirring up the water. You could actually see the fish through the water standing on the bluff where we were nestled in camping. It was a wonder to see.
Bobby and Erin's wedding was awesome. It was a whirl wind, I must admit. I arrived Friday night, greeted by Dad and June at the hotel. Satuday was the wedding... I met Erin after the wedding as she was heading to have pictures taken. The dance was great with music we all could sing and dance and jump up to. I danced with my big brother Bob, or should I say we jumped and screamed and had a great time.
Well, I will get back to the nature blog very soon. I have been revamping my business and adding product along with my images so soon you will be able to buy t-shirts, cups, travel mugs, clocks - things like that with pics of the west coast on them.... just imagine a set of matching coffee mugs! Thanks all... check it out. http://www.longbeachphotosbc.ca 'til next time.... Sylvia
Friday, April 25, 2008
Gracie Lake
http://www.longbeachphotosbc.ca/
See how clear the water is!! This is in the deep old growth forest near Gracie Lake. The water is so clear I could hardly see it. This spot is so far from hamans, no noise, no cars or machines, just birds and every now and then Sandy, the guide, spoke.
I spent the morning driving up, down and around the logging roads around Port Alberni and Sproat Lake with Rainbird Excursions. There had been a number of slides on the road that we were driving on, so they were fixing it as we drove on it. We had to wait until the truck was full and for the heavy machinery to move out of the way for us to pass by them. The Loggers and other men we ran into were very friendly and told us what roads were open and what roads were snowed in or had blow downs(trees that had blown down over winter) on them that were not yet cleared.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Sea Creatures revisited
The result - no trip to the coast this week.
Once more I direct you to my website http://www.longbeachphotosbc.ca/ to the Sea Creatures page to look at the clams and barnacles. The name of these barnacles escapes me, I will post it when I get the name. This day, there were dozens of these washed up on the beach. It makes me wonder what was different about the current that day that dredged up these clams and barnacles.
I enjoy shots like this. I hope you do too.
Here's hoping to get to the coast next week.... Cheers... Syl
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Tofi Surfer
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Snow Storm!
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Whale spouts
I set up my camera on Lighthouse point and looked towards the channel. I remembered this time to have my glasses with me so I could see in the distance, it was a good thing. As you can see, in the distance, there is a whale spout. There were lots of them. I had to have people almost hold my head to point out the spouts. I took about 10 shots, but realized they really were too difficult to see.
For your viewing pleasure, I am directing you to Kennedy River. I find those pics need the story that goes along with them. http://www.longbeachphotosbc.ca (click on Kennedy River - top right corner)
If you have been to the coast, you will remember these rocks. You no doubt stopped and took pictures at the bend in the river where just the corner is filled with rock and the water has carved its way through it.
Generally, the water is about half way up the rock. The first batch of photos were taken when the water was as low as I have ever seen it. You could see all the beauty in the rock. The water carved its way out. Take a close look at the rock as you look through the first part of the pictures.
The second set of pics are when a storm had just run through. The water completely covered the rock. The river bed was filled with roaring water. Look at the photos and try to remember what rocks are beneath it.
The final shot is a tree that will remain until the next storm takes it away.
Mother Nature sure has put on some shows this year.
'til next time..... Syl
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
High Tide
I headed across the island, no destination in mind, just letting my thoughts wander and enjoying the view as I drove. Unfortunately, there is no where to pull over for some of the more beautiful shots on the drive over.
The snow in the pass had a blue tinge to it as the sun shone through it. But wait, now the sun is gone and around the next corner is a torrential rain storm. The road is covered with water and I must be careful not to hydroplane. You have to keep your eyes on the road when it is like this. If I could tolerate other's driving, it would be nice to actually be able to look around on this drive.
The closer I got to the coast, the more my plan took effect. Last week I saw South Beach at low tide and was unable to get the effect I wanted where it looks like the waves will take you away. So, I thought I would try that at high tide.
I took only water shots this time. Mother Nature put on a show for me. I am awed by the power of the water. The small bay was alive with the roar of the ocean! The walls of water were pounding on rocks and then back on each other, churning up the stones off the beach.
I am using words here to describe something that is almost indescribable, so bear with me. As I sat and watched the phenomenon in front of me, I thought of Tolle and tried not to label anything, to just see the majesty. Can you do the same? Can you just look at the photo, hear the pounding of the water as it moves, pulling back from the beach, ripping the bottom from the earth and tossing the contents wildly into the surf. Can you feel the suction that is so intense it will cause a wall 15 feet high to collapse upon itself with such an effort, you can feel the ground shake? Can you feel the gush of wind as the breath is forced out of the wave when it collapses? Can you smell the mix of beach sand, sea salt and water? Can you feel the majesty in the moment?
When I sit here, it makes me realise how small my problems are in the big scheme of things. I let my mind empty and whatever comes in first is no doubt the most important and then I deal with that. The ocean is my ground. It puts my world in perspective. It gives me spiritual energy and as I took these photos, the energy overflowed in the form of laughter - over enjoyment - I just couldn't contain it.
I live here. I'm not on vacation.
See you next time.... Syl
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
South Beach
I chose Tuesdays to be my day to go to the coast. So this morning I planned on going , but not my usual trip to Wick Beach. I decided to step out of my routine and do something different. I never dreamt it would be so difficult to do :)
I stopped first at Larry Lake and as you can see by the first set of photos, the day put on a show. Larry Lake is fed by Kennedy River and flows into Kennedy Lake. I see my father here. When he was out to visit a few years back, we stopped here and he talked with some loggers who were making their lunch on an open fire. He had quite the time there. It is a beautiful scene.
It was the stillness of the water that was the catch today. Not a whisper of wind. Just look at the mountains reflecting in the water.
The stillness continued on Kennedy Lake. No matter how many times I see this, I still see it as breath taking and I repeat 'look at that' to know one in particular. Take a gander at Kennedy Lake. The tease with the view of Kennedy is that the first glimpse you get of it is as you round the corner of a mountain, sheer cliff and no where to stop to take the photo. Well, nowhere safe until you get down to lake level as you can see by the photo with the road on the right.
South Beach was my goal today. I have tried to take this walk for some time, but there was always a sign that said "BEAR AWARE" Path Closed. I saw some other people going that way so I figured it must be open and be safe today - that didn't stop me from packing my bear spray.
To get to South Beach, you walk past the south Tip of Wickininish (Wick) Beach, then through the woods on boardwalks until you get to South Beach.
There is an optical illusion at this beach which I have not captured with my camera. When you sit on the beach between the two rocks on the right, the waves look like they are going to come right up and wash you away. It really is quite disconcerting.
Sometimes I look at this coast and expect a dinosour to come out from behind the trees it is so wild and ancient here.
I had the opportunity to use my new lens - Canon 75-300mm. My brother's friend Roman bought it at a garage sale and gave it to me over the holidays. I took the crashing wave shot with it. That rock is quite a ways out. I haven't quite got the contrast down yet with the polarized lens on.
The trip back to Port (Alberni) was just as beautiful - it might have something to do with not seeing the sun for three months LOL, but when the sun shines in Port - you REALLY notice it!! I stopped at Taylor Arm to take a shot of Sprout Lake and Mt Arrowsmith. As I stood there and looked at Mt. Arrowsmith, I thought to myself - I live here. I'm not on vacation. How lucky am I?!
See you next time..... Syl
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
February 27th
Welcome to the west coast of Canada.