Construction Zone

In my neighbourhood and in fact, all over the city there is always new buildings going up so there are cranes, and fences and these work sites that are everywhere. I walked all around such a site yesterday looking to see if there were any photo possibilities and actually found it quite an interesting project. It was a dreary day and suited the feel of this pictures. - Fern

Long Neck

Here's another from our walk at Killarney Lake earlier this week. I just couldn't help but see this tree with it's roots sprawling out like this as a reclining figure; a tree man who just took a seat for a moment and then never got up again. - Fern

Saxe Point Park in Black and White

Here's the photo I wanted to take yesterday. Or, at least it's close to the photo I wanted to take yesterday. I wanted to get away from all the rich, west coast colors for a change because sometimes, let it be known, the days here are bleak and gray and horizon disappears in the mist.

Eternal/Fleeting

Oh so quickly it's that time of the year when you see the long lines of geese flying overheard signifying the change of season is again upon us. - Fern

Keeping An Eye On Things....

We took an evening stroll and as we passed the City's Public Works Yard I had this feeling of being watched. Sure enough, looking out an upstairs window was the most curious sight. I'm not sure why or how this fellow got there but it was a surprise. - Fern

A Different Kind of Architecture - View Towers

Victoria does have lots of lovely, classic old buildings but it also has it's fair share of high rises and this one is particularly infamous in the downtown core for it's unimaginative and unattractive exterior. It's probably as close as we get to 'slums' here in the garden city where affordable housing is a major challenge for many. Of course that means it is even more of a challenge to photograph. - Fern

Train Tracks

The bus yard pictured last week is alongside the tracks that run from Victoria up island. There isn't currently a train running on this route but hopefully in the future it will be restored.-Fern

Island View Beach 3

Here's Island View Beach on a crisp frosty morning last week, in black and white.

Into the Light

When I'm taking photos I often notice people skipping out of the road or apologizing for being in the photo. Not only do I not mind if people are in the frame, I generally prefer having people in my photos, not necessarily as the subjects of the photo but just as participants in the scene. Sometimes, as in the photo above I wait until the innocent passersby are exactly where I want them before clicking the shutter.

Autumn Leaves

Autumn leaves always look great in color but they can be good in black and white too.

Galaxy on the Shoreline

West Bay Walkway

Fern's photo yesterday perfectly captured the rainy weather we've been having for the last week or so. Now and then, however, the sun peeks through the clouds for a few minutes and provides some really dramatic lighting. In the photo above we are looking west along the West Bay Walkway towards West Bay, at the far end of the Inner Harbour. This photo was taken from the Rainbow Park viewpoint.

Mushrooming Part 2

Benjamin and I were discussing our recent outing to Mount Doug Park and how it is that we can go out together to the same place with very similar equipment and yet our photos are very, very different. It's an interesting meditation on the creative process. He would say this for more eloquently as well. I enjoy his perspective as much as my own so I feel it's a win-win situation. Happy Birthday Dad, thanks for taking me out on so many great adventures. xo Fern

Night Bloom

Summer evenings are magic in the garden. - Fern
p.s. Happy Father's Day to one really great guy, Benjamin Madison. xoxo

Light and Dark

When the sun hits the wet pavement the reflected light is intense. - Fern

Victoria in Black and White - Another Rattenbury

Today's photo provides a nice wrap-up to two photo series I've started in the last few weeks. Earlier in August we had a look at three of architect Francis Rattenbury's creations that frame Victoria's Inner Harbour. Nearby, there is a fourth, the Crystal Garden. Originally a swimming pool and recreation center, it is now a part of the Victoria Conference Centre. It is located at the bottom of Douglas Street, behind another Rattenbury building, the Empress Hotel. While not as monumental as the Empress Hotel, the CPR Terminal, or the Legislative Assembly Buildings, it is nonetheless an impressive building. It should be noted that Rattenbury designed The Crystal Garden and the CPR Terminal in conjunction with another architect, Percy James. This photo will also be the last in the series I started last week to explore black and white photography.

Victoria in Black and White 4 - Chinese Public School

Here's one of many gems in our small Chinatown, the Chinese Public School, originally erected by Chinese residents because in the early days of Chinatown their children were barred from other schools. Though that need has thankfully passed into history the school is still used by the Chinese community to pass on aspects of their culture to the younger generation.

Victoria in Black and White 3 - Fisherman's Wharf

Here's a bunch of people enjoying their lunch on Fisherman's Wharf and not realizing they are being entertained by a truly amazing guitarist, Jean Bedard. Next time you pass a street performer, stop and listen, really listen - chances are you will be surprised at the quality of what you are hearing. Don't feel shy to leave a tip. Even superb musicians have to eat.

Victoria in Black and White 2 - The Suzhou Gate

Here is the gate that marks the entrance to Victoria's Chinatown. It was a gift from our sister city in China, Suzhou. I don't what we gave them in return but it is hard to imagine that it was anything as magnificent as this gate.

Victoria in Black and White - The Delta Ocean Pointe Resort Hotel

I love color but lately I've been experimenting with black and white - mostly because I happened to be looking at some old prints of early photography when they used to use glass plates for negatives. The photos I was looking at had such rich contrasts and splendid detail that I wanted to try to reproduce that using modern technology. I don't feel I have succeeded yet but I am enjoying striving in that direction. The photo above is of the Delta Resort Hotel just off the western side of the Johnson Street Bridge. It's an imposing building on Songhees Point that is a little dwarfed by the newly built "Promontory" condo development just behind it.