There are many areas of Vancouver Island that I’ve explored, but far more that I haven’t, yet. Most of my exploration has been near the southern end of the island, but my trip to San Josef Bay, in Cape Scott Provincial Park, took me to the far northern end and was quite an adventure.
This is the third year for the Sooke Music Festival, which has been renamed the “Sooke Music and Art Festival” and for the first time included the Sooke Community Arts Council (as one of their Art in the Park events) and various art displays.
The Olympic Peninsula (and Olympic National Park) is just a short ferry ride across the Straight of Juan de Fuca from Victoria, and somewhere I’ve been meaning to visit for years. I’m glad that I finally did!
Well, once again I’ve been away from the blog for longer than I’d like and have had less opportunities for photo-adventures. It’s been a crazy few months for me and I a few things went awry, but I think I should be getting back on track again. Early in June I will be exploring a new area and hope to have some intense photos to share. For now I will leave you with this photo I made of the lighthouse at the Sooke museum. 
Tofino is always one of my favourite places to go to get away. No matter what time of year you go, there’s always something interesting to do… or you can just relax in nature and escape the hectic pace of everyday life. This trip I went in search of gray whales, with Jamie’s Whaling Station, onboard the Chinook Princess.
For some time now I have been getting out with my camera less than I would like, so when I saw that there was a “Valerie Jardin’s Hit The Streets Photowalk” taking place just across the Salish Sea, in Vancouver, I thought it would be a great photographic opportunity and a chance to meet some other photographers. The photowalk lasted about two hours and went from Granville Plaza, near the waterfront, around the Vancouver Art Gallery, past the Vancouver Public Library (VPL), Central Branch, and back to Granville Plaza.
Botanical Beach is located on the south-west edge of Vancouver Island, just past Port Renfrew, BC, and it is one of my favourite local spots to visit for photography.
Once again another year has drawn to a close and it’s time for my now annual review of my favourite ten images of the year. I started posting my Top Ten Favourites three years ago after seeing Jim Goldstein’s Blog Project: Your Best Photos From (year) and I now look forward to participating in it and seeing the best Jim and others have to offer.
There never seems to be enough time to get out with a camera as much as I’d like and this year was definitely a hectic one. Perhaps in 2018 I will be able to stick a little closer to my intended photographic path.
In no particular order, here are my favourites of 2017:
At the beginning of 2017 it stayed just below freezing for long enough for a thin layer of ice to form on a small local lake. Looking at the tiny bubbles in the ice somehow reminded me of outer space, so I made sure the background was as dark as possible. If you look at the bubbles on the lower portion of this image, you can see my reflection.
I always enjoy going for a hike in the forest, especially places like Avatar Grove, on Vancouver Island, where there is still some very impressive old growth, including this tree which has seen better days, but still survives.
The way the sun was lighting up the patterns on this leaf in a garden a Hatley Park caught my eye and I couldn’t walk past.
I love reflections and this abstract image is of the boardwalk near Ed McGreggor park in Sooke, BC.
Take a closer look at this black and white image and you will see that it is actually upside down. I made this photo while peeking through a gap in the low hanging trees and ground, on walk around a partially ice covered local lake.
I love walking along the many local beaches and looking for interesting driftwood. Often the patterns of the wood can have hidden surprises, like this one, seeming to me to reveal some sort bizarre of animal face.
Botanical Bay, at Port Renfrew, is an amazing place to visit at low tide, when the many pothole looking tide pools are revealed.
The (mostly) black and white butterfly presents a stark contrast to the bright orange and green background and gives me a warm feeling.
While travelling on another ferry I saw one of the newest ones in BC Ferries fleet (the Salish Eagle) and was able to time it so that Mount Baker, in Washington state, was in the background.
Every December the British Columbia Legislature lights up the Parliament building with colourful lights. I prefer having some colour in the sky so I only waited about twenty minutes after sunset to make this image.
If you enjoyed my favourites consider following my blog so you can see more of my photography! I hope everyone has a very happy and healthy 2018.
Well once again it has been far too long since I have posted here. Unlike most of my posts, which primarily feature photos I have made and a bit about them, this post is meant to look at what I am planning for the coming year in photography.
Sombrio Beach is a place I’ve been meaning to check out for quite some time. In fact, a few weeks ago I actually drove there (it’s around an hour drive pst Sooke, along a the twisty West Coast Road), but when I arrived, both parking areas were full and the gravel road leading to it was lined with cars on both sides for some distance up the hill, so I decided to try again another day. I’m glad I did, because when I returned this time, there were only a few people camping on the beach and it was a great day to explore.
Wild Drake Photography 