In eastern China, there is a mountain range called Huangshan, an otherworldly place where jagged granite peaks are shrouded in mist and pine trees grow out of the rock. Located in southern Anhui province, the mountain range is both a national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site. I left my hotel in the dark in order to arrive in time for the first cable car that whisked me up … [Read more...]
Cibola National Wildlife Refuge
Explorer. I think I’ll have to add it to my tagline. I’m happiest when I’m out there looking for new things, new places, new experiences. I’m walking across the desert looking down at the colourful rocks at my feet, looking across to the mountains in the distance, looking up to the birds flying above. Always waiting for the moment I hear something whisper to me “psssst ... hey … [Read more...]
Two Days in Shanghai, China
Looking out my hotel room window on my first morning in Shanghai, China, I noticed that everyone had umbrellas. I’ve never seen so many umbrellas! Someone told me I should bring one, but of course I thought I could handle rain since I come from a rainy part of the world and I never use an umbrella here. The difference? It was 35 degrees Celsius AND raining. Sticky raincoat … [Read more...]
Book Review: Treasured Lands by QT (Tuan) Luong
It was the sheer delight in his eyes that hooked me. The kind of delight and wonder you often only see in the eyes of a child. Somehow this grown man had found a way to keep the joy alive and it was clearly evident as QT Luong showed off his collection of stamps from America’s National Parks in the film The National Parks: America’s Best Idea. His collection, amassed on the … [Read more...]
Top 10 Wildlife Photos of 2016
Last week I shared with you my Top 10 Landscape Photos of 2016. As you probably know, I love my wildlife photography too, so now I have my favourite wildlife photos from last year to share with you. I didn't do any special wildlife trips last year, so 8 of the 10 images were made during my summer on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Some of the images are from the shore, … [Read more...]
Top 10 Landscape Photos of 2016
I wasn’t going to write this post. 2016 was a pretty shitty year for me. I didn’t actually spend that much time photographing, so I didn’t think I would have 10 good shots to show for myself. But, in an effort to find light in the darkness, to find a glimmer of hope, and perhaps discover that not everything was bad, I decided to take a look through my archives and see what I … [Read more...]
Best Black Friday Photography Deals 2016
It's finally here! All the best Black Friday photography deals on photo education and software are out. If you're ready to up your game and invest in some high quality photo education, now is a great time. Here are the best Black Friday deals for photographers in 2016: 1. Topaz Complete Collection for 50% Off If you've been reading my blog for long, you probably know that … [Read more...]
How the Beauty of Autumn Broke My Darkness
It’s hard to stay positive sometimes. After my mother passed away, the grey cloud came, both literally and figuratively. It rained and rained and rained. They were dark dreary days. There were some days that I didn’t even get out of bed - didn’t or couldn’t. But when I did get out for a walk around the campground, I couldn’t help but notice the colours of autumn. All the … [Read more...]