Natural landscapes: the beauty of seeing red
FUCHSIA, GARINISH ISLAND,
IRISH REPUBLIC
Red fuchsia is quite common in Ireland, but it’s not a native plant. Fuchsia was introduced from South America and has become naturalized and widespread, especially in the west and in coastal areas, where it thrives in the cool, moist climate. It is now a common sight in hedgerows and gardens.
I recall photographing Irish fuchsia during a 1993 trip and was determined to find more on our 2025 visit. As you can see, I was quite successful. 🙂
Nikon D7100, tripod
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Urban landscape: the wheel of night
LONDON EYE, LONDON, ENGLAND
The London Eye, originally the Millennium Wheel, is a cantilevered observation wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames in London.
It is the world’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel and the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom with more than three million visitors annually.
My wife and I went on the wheel in 2017, but skipped it during our 2025 visit because each ticket would have cost us $60 CDN.
On our last night in the city, I slipped out with my photography equipment to capture a long exposure (30 seconds!) of the wheel, reflected in the Thames River
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Urban landscapes: the awesome ceiling
WESTMINSTER ABBEY, LONDON, ENGLAND
During our recent vacation, my wife and I spent more than two glorious hours exploring this incredible Anglican cathedral. There are an incredible number of ancient statues, side chapels and artworks.
More than 3,300 people are buried or commemorated in the abbey, including a British prime minister and 18 English, Scottish and British monarchs.
The sheer number of daily visitors made it impossible to bring my photography equipment inside, so I made due with cellphone pictures like this one. I like the colour version, but I knew I would make some black-and-white versions to remove the distraction of colour.
iPhone 16, processed with Photoshop Elements
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Rural landscapes: the dance of autumn
THE DARK HEDGES, COUNTY ANTRIM, NORTHERN IRELAND
In about 1775, James Stuart built a new house, named Gracehill House after his wife, Grace Lynd. More than 150 beech trees were planted along the entrance road to the estate, creating an imposing approach.
The avenue became super popular after it was featured in an episode of the TV series Game of Thrones. Since then, the road has been closed to traffic.
During our recent Ireland/UK/France vacation, I had time to enjoy the road and visitors like this couple. It was sheer coincidence that my camera was ready to go when the woman did a spontaneous dance move.
Nikon D7100, tripod
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Urban landscapes: under the eye of Big Ben
WESTMINSTER BRIDGE TRAFFIC,
LONDON, ENGLAND
I’ve seen this kind of picture before and was delighted to have a chance to do my version. To get it, I set up my equipment on a thin, long concrete island separating traffic from a bicycle lane.
All kinds of people watched me do this, because this bridge is a tourist mecca day and night. I did many long exposures to get a variety to choose from. This is the best.
Nikon D7100, tripod, graduated density (darkening) filter on the bottom half.
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Natural landscapes: autumn’s orange and green
MAPLE LEAF AND TREE VINES, KILLARNEY, IRELAND
While wandering the grounds of Killarney House & Gardens, I found a small forest and this leaf. Picking it up, I looked around for an attractive photo setting and decided to prop it amongst the vines on a tree. I deliberately included the distant background so it could be rendered a compelling wash of green.
Nikon D7100, tripod, polarizing filter
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Urban landscapes: lighting the Irish night
ST. MARY’S CHURCH, KILLARNEY, IRELAND
During our recent European trip, we overnighted in the tourist town of Killarney. I had time to wander around with the camera, including a night walk where I found this beautiful, ancient Anglican church.
Notice the blurred person on the bottom left? I could have removed him with Photoshop, but decided to emphasize him a little as a fascinating little “ghost”. Fun fact: I needed an eight-second exposure to properly record this scene.
Nikon D7100, tripod, 10-20mm. wide-angle zoom lens
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Urban landscapes: autumn in the city
PARK BENCH AT BELFAST CITY HALL, NORTHERN IRELAND
During our 2025 time in Ireland, my wife and I were blessed to visit Belfast and walk around the grounds of the city hall. This quiet, beautiful scene grabbed my attention and made, I believe, for an attractive photo. Do you agree?
iPhone 16, processed with Photoshop Elements
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Natural landscapes: the angles of summer light
A BADLANDS MOMENT IN HORSESHOE CANYON, KNEEHILL COUNTY, ALBERTA
I had a great time exploring these badlands northeast of my home in Calgary. Part of my goal was to create high-contrast abstract representations of the effects of wind and water erosion on the remarkable landscape. This is one of them. 🙂
Nikon D7100, tripod.
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Natural landscapes: a bend in the river
KANANASKIS RIVER, ALBERTA
I liked the reflections and the diagonal drive of the mountain valley scene — everything from the river to the logs — and so strived to bring it all together in a harmonious whole. Was I successful?
Nikon D7100, 17-70 mm. zoom lens, tripod, polarizing filter
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Natural landscapes: sombre and beautiful
ENGLISH BAY FROM STANLEY PARK, VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA
During our last trip to Canada’s west coast, it seemed like the tide was always low when I visited the ocean. This was one instance when that was good, since it exposed this fascinating rock formation. The overcast conditions played into my hand, since it eliminated distracting shadows and let you fully feel the moody atmosphere. Here’s another picture from the same place: https://wp.me/p2ccTX-2di
Nikon D7100, tripod, polarizing filter, two graduated density (darkening) filters – one on the water, two on the sky
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Natural landscapes: fishing in epic glory
ELBOW LAKE, PETER LOUGHEED PROVINCIAL PARK, ALBERTA
So here’s the story: the coach of a Calgary university volleyball squad brought his players to this western Canadian park for a team-building weekend. While they made much noise, he slipped just a few metres away to try his luck with the fish.
After we chatted, he graciously let me photograph him in action. I told him I was glad he wore the bright blue hoodie because it ‘popped’ against the spectacular backdrop. 🙂
Nikon D7100, 10-20 mm. zoom lens, graduated density (darkening) filter on the peak and sky
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Natural landscape: an Arctic landscape beacon
ROCK CAIRN, BAKER LAKE, NUNAVUT
During a 2019 work trip to this remote part of Canada, I had time to wander around with my camera and interpret the mind-blowing, treeless landscape. This cairn made a perfect focal point for a sunny composition. Here’s another view of the cairn with very different lighting: https://wp.me/p2ccTX-1WE.
Nikon D7100, 17-70 mm. lens
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Natural landscapes: the enduring reflection
CASCADE MOUNTAIN REFLECTED IN CASCADE PONDS, ALBERTA
This massive rock face is a gobsmacking scene for visitors driving into Banff National Park from Calgary. It’s also a great subject for reflection when the water is still. I was blessed to have a new wide-angle lens to capture the all 9,836 feet of elevation and its reflection on a glorious summer morning.
Nikon D7100, 10-20 mm. zoom lens, tripod, graduated density filter on the top half.
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Natural landscapes: a moment in the cathedral
CATHEDRAL GROVE, MACMILLAN PARK, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Driving across Vancouver Island, on Canada’s west coast, takes you through this stunning rainforest that leaves many people (like me) gobsmacked. It’s often a challenge to find strong compositions amongs the many douglas firs (some as old as 800 years!), western red cedars and undergrowth, but I think this one works.
Nikon D7100, tripod, polarizing filter
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Natural landscapes: beauty at Bow Lake
CROWFOOT MOUNTAIN, BANFF NATIONAL PARK, ALBERTA
Bow Lake is one of the most sublime visual and and natural experiences to be had along the Icefields Parkway in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. I hadn’t done much there for a few years, so it was delightful to revisit, chat with tourists from all over the planet and find ridiculous photogenic scenes like this one.
If you enlarge the photo, you’ll see two tiny paddle boarders who were probably just as gobsmacked by the scenery as I was. 🙂
Nikon D7100, tripod, polarizing filter, graduated density (darkening) filter on the sky.
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Rural landscapes: marking their land
BEARSPAW FIRST NATION TEEPEES, NEAR CALGARY, ALBERTA
The Bearspaw folks put up four of these beautiful ceremonial teepees near the Trans Canada Highway west of Calgary. As soon as I first saw them, I made plans to return with my photography equipment. I didn’t have a wide enough angle lens to capture all four, so I had to make do with three.
Sadly, some idiot later stole the covering for one of the teepees and they were all dismantled a short time after. 😦
Nikon Z50II, 24-120 mm. zoom lens, polarizing filter, tripod
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Natural landscapes: the Wild Pacific Trail
SUNRISE AT AMPHITRITE POINT LIGHTHOUSE, UCLUELET, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Named after the Greek sea goddess, Amphitrite lighthouse is one of the many tourist attractions on the west coast of Vancouver Island. As an active lighthouse, it’s closed to the public, but the grounds are open as part of the Lighthouse Loop section of the glorious Wild Pacific Trail.
The lighthouse is in the midst of a challenging rocky landscape, so I searched for a decent viewpoint that would lessen the visual impact or the rocks. I think I achieved that here. Do you agree?
Nikon D7100, tripod, polarizing filter, fill-flash (to illuminate the leaves)
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Natural landscapes: the camera in the wilderness
SUNRISE AT HERBERT LAKE, BANFF NATIONAL PARK, ALBERTA
I was wandering along the shore of this glorious alpine lake, looking for the best viewpoint when I noticed how my camera and tripod contributed to the scenery. So I made this photo with my phone.
Herbert Lake is along the Icefields Parkway, reputed to be one of the most spectacular drives in the world. I’ve travelled that road many times and I can tell you it absolutely IS. 🙂
iPhone 16, processed with Photoshop Elements
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Natural landscapes: the beauty of a summer forest
TWELVE MILE CREEK, ST. CATHARINES, ONTARIO
I plunged into the archives and found this beauty from 2010. This creek makes Decew Falls (http://wp.me/p2ccTX-qI) possible. It’s a tourist attraction and, after making my pictures there, I went down into the ravine to find beautiful combinations of summer trees and the flowing creek.
Nikon D90, tripod, polarizing filter
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