Arctic Outflow in Panorama!

It's crazy, but Shawna and I went up to Pano yesterday to practice some action shots! Yes, right in the middle of an arctic outflow! It was about -20C up there between 12.30pm and 2pm - very cold, but very beautiful! One has to take advantage of the occasions when a sitter is available - how we suffer for our art! ;D

All photo's were taken with a polarizing filter on the lens. Here, in no particular order, are some of my favourites from the outing (more will be posted on my flickr page later today):

The light was really difficult at times, with low very bright sunshine ... here's one saved by B&W:



There were a few speed demons out enjoying the hard, fast conditions:



Up, up, and away!



Gorgeous views:



And, last but not least, my first action triptych:

Snowflake Festival 2011

Last evening Invermere celebrated everything that winter has to offer here in the Columbia Valley! There was live music, food sampling, a curling bonspiel, ice skating, stump stoves and, of course, fireworks!





I couldn't resist making a triptych of these three shots! I call it "Firepalms".

Tyko

After several days of snow, I went out for a couple of hours this afternoon with Shawna, taking photo's around Invermere.

Not a lot of snow fell (compared to Whistler where feet fall at a time!), just a few inches, but there's apparently a lot on the ground for this area - the most in about 15 years!

Anyway, we shot all sorts of things today: Scenery, wild turkeys, fishing shacks, a woodpecker ... and Shawna's dog, Tyko, a monster Alaskan Malamute ... all 180lbs of him!

My favourite shots of the day are those of Tyko, and a friend of similar stature he (we think) made!

So, without any further ado, here's Tyko:






And here's his unnamed friend:

Winter Aspens

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2011! I hope the new year brings you and yours everything of the best: Health, happiness, peace ... and a little wealth wouldn't hurt either, eh?!

I was up at Panorama Resort yesterday evening for the torchlight parade (which I can proudly boast that my brother skied in!) and fireworks display.

My fireworks shots produced some pleasing results - best that I've ever done, although I'm aware that great improvements can still be made! My excuse is that it was so cold out (about -20C) that I could barely think straight - talk about suffering for one's art!







The best shot of the torchlight parade is way out of focus, but here it is:


And here's one of the bonfire that was going on beside the parking lot where we took photo's from. By the time I took this, I'd been outside for about 45 minutes and was literally in pain from the cold ... I didn't have anything left except to move the tripod to a decent vantage point, and press the shutter release!

Horses!

I decided to do a bit of exploring by car today ... started off in an area where I thought I might see sign of elk, but nothing doing ... followed this little side road, got a little lost ... what a treat to come across this chap and his friends!


I would LOVE to get into equestrian photography ...

Merry Christmas!

Here's wishing you and yours everything of the very best this holiday season!

May it be a safe and peaceful one for all!

This photo taken at our local Home Hardware, where a tuba band played Christmas carols a few days ago ... where else would you find a tuba band?! ;-)