February Choices!

As I wrote yesterday, "Every year I put together a calendar for friends and family, of photos I have published on this blog for the last year or so. However, it's always difficult to make decisions about which photos to use. I sam hoping visitors to this blog will help out. Every day for the next few weeks I will publish two or three photos from a given month and hope that comments and choices made by visitors will help me make a final decision which photos to use in this year's calendar. As an incentive, I will offer an online downloadable/printable file of the calendar to anyone who helps me make a choice."

Thanks to everyone who gave me their opinions yesterday.

Below are my favorite February 2016 photos: Which one do you prefer?

Flowering Plum

Daffodils on Beacon Hill

View from Swallows' Landing

The View from Swallows Landing

It was a brisk and sunny day today so I took the opportunity to take in one of my favorite views of the city, from the terrace at Swallows Landing, just above the Matson Lands in Esquimalt. As you can see, our snow has gone just as quick as it came.

Top of the World

At dusk Mount Finlayson is a favorite spot for Victorians to come and gaze out over our little city. There isn't a dramatic skyline like some big cities but I think the natural beauty of the ocean and mountains make up for it many times over. - Fern

A Favorite View

Here's a view to which I often return, downtown Victoria as seen from Songhees Point. Here we are looking at the oldest part of Victoria, where the original Fort Victoria was built and where the oldest extant buildings still line Wharf Street. It's a picturesque view that encapsulates much of our history.

Macaulay Point

Last week I posted a panoramic photo taken from Saxe Point Park. Moving eastwards along the coast, the next point is Macaulay Point. Above is the view of the city from the western side of the Macaulay Point.

Afternoon Light

Since I've retired, I like to take a walk every day and I usually do it in the morning. When I took this photo I had taken my usual West Bay Walkway route but in the late afternoon rather than in the morning. It was a whole different experience since the light comes from the setting sun in the west rather than the rising sun in east. It's a beautiful view of the Inner Harbor and the city at any time of day but perhaps a little more striking in the evening sun.

Skyline

We'll start off the new year with a photo from a few days ago of the Victoria skyline seen from Macaulay Point, just west of the entrance to the Inner Harbour. The rocky area in the left foreground is Work Point. The two red and white ships are Canadian Coast Guard ships moored at the Coast Guard wharf. The tallest building near the center of the photo is the Sussex Building and below it can be seen the red brick towers of St. Andrew's Church, both on Douglas Street. If you click on the photo you can see a much larger version (3,000 pixels wide).

From Songhees Point

Coming home from downtown yesterday I realized it has been some time since I posted a photo of the oldest part of Victoria taken from Songhees Point, so I stopped and took this one. It's quite a warm looking photo but our temperatures have been hovering around freezing in the mornings and just barely above during the rest of the day.

Foggy Morning

Though we are still in summer, we've had a few foggy mornings lately when a cold mist drifts in over the city from the strait.

Favourite View

Here is one of my favourite views of Victoria, taken from the viewpoint provided by the Swallow's Landing condo complex in Esquimalt. This is accessible from the West Bay Walkway by climbing the zig-zag stairway that protects the delicate ecosystem of the rocky hillside. It's only a short climb and the view is well worth the small effort required.

Happy 4th Birthday to Victoria Daily Photo!!

For the past four years the amazing Benjamin Madison has faithfully posted an interesting photograph and a thoughtful write-up everyday here on VDP. My congratulations to you sir! I have been a very part-time contributor and have enjoyed the challenge of taking photos with the blog in mind. I have also enjoyed the many other blogs in this community and so a big thank you to you all as well. This picture, taken of Victoria from Mt. Tolmie will have to stand in for our birthday candles. Cheers! - Fern Long