Radium Hot Springs

Been through the town often, but never really stopped there or looked around! Mum decided to treat us to a traditional Schnitzel dinner, so we headed up to Radium early this evening.

Across the road from the restaurant was an odd place, looked like it had grown out of the forest itself ... we'll have to go back in the summer, when it's open, to learn more about it!





Then we enjoyed a super dinner at the Schnitzelhaus:


Schnitzel Champignon


Music to my ears ...


Needless to say, we were too full for dessert ... next time we'll start with dessert and take it from there!

Sundog

Of the photo's I've taken, this is one of my favourites already!

I took it yesterday, between 11am and noon, when my mum and I were out walking my dog, Taela. We had literally an hour of clear-ish sky before the clouds/fog moved back in.

This is certainly not the most distinct sundog I've ever seen, but it's definitely the biggest! And it's the first I've tried taking a photo of!


My flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/52832746@N03/

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!