Wild Drake Photography

Tag: Canada

  • The Snowbirds Continue to Dazzle

    You can probably guess by the title of this post that I had a chance to photograph 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, better known as the Snowbirds. The last time I did that was on film, over 30 years ago. Back then I couldn’t get enough of air shows, and the Snowbirds were always my favourite performance at them. I went to the Abbotsford International Airshow many times when I was young, as well as several others. The amazing precision flying in the old Tutor aircraft never failed to impress me, and I have no doubt played a big part in my positive impression of the Canadian Armed Forces as a whole. I am quite certain this played a big part in my eventual enrolment and 25 year career in the CAF, where I got to see places and do things that most people only experience on TV or at the movies.

    After the tragic end to last year’s season for the Snowbirds, I was very happy to hear that they were going to be flying again this year, and would be doing some training at Canadian Forces Base / 19 Wing Comox, which is within the zone I am allowed to travel during our current Covid restrictions. I had a rare day off during the week and got up extra early to drive there. It was a beautiful day, with low lying fog near home, which on any other day, would have made me want to stay to do photography in the local woods, but not this time. I arrived in Comox early and was warming up with my camera when I got a surprise…

    CF-18 Hornet flying out of Comox

    A pair of CF-18’s took off and did a couple passes over the airfield a little while before the Snowbirds took to the air, as did a CH-149 Cormorant Search and Rescue helicopter.

    A Cormorant shortly after take-off

    While it may ‘only’ been a training day, I was primed for the main event. By the time the Snowbirds took to the air, there was a good sized, appropriately socially distanced, crowd of two dozen or so photographers in the open area where I was. As the roar of the engines grew louder with the ascent of the Tutors, the clicking of the shutters became frenzied. The mountains made for a nice backdrop, but the chainlink fence between the runway and my position made things a little more challenging than at an actual airshow.

    Part of the Snowbirds flock soars over the runway

    When they were training over the water, which was behind me (in relation to my position facing the airfield) I was able to capture some exciting maneuvers without any obstructions, but the background wasn’t as picturesque.

    Nine of a kind
    Three Across

    Watching the Snowbirds training flights over 35 years after I first saw them preform and I still felt the excitement I did way back then; perhaps even more! I’m planning on going back to the Abbotsford International Airshow (hopefully this year) to see a variety of planes and demonstration teams perform, but I have no doubt which my favourite will be again.

    I hope you enjoyed this departure from my usual landscape / nature photography.

    Dancing above the clouds
  • Woodland Photography

    Woodland Photography

    One of the many things I love about living on Vancouver Island is how I am surrounded by trees. When I hike or just wander in the woods I get a relaxing, calm feeling and other concerns seem to fade away. The Japanese have a term for it “shinrin-yoku” (forest bathing) and apparently studies have shown what many already suspected: it is relaxing and beneficial to your health.

    Ferns growing from an overhead moss covered branch

    To get to many of the places I’ve photographed and written about on my blog, I’ve had to spend time wandering through the woods before arriving at my destination. While those posts may feature a waterfall, the ocean, a lighthouse, sunset or some other spectacular sight, the wander through the forest is always an important part of it for me.

    The arbutus tree branch tree

    I always keep an eye out for a new location to photograph. Sometimes I check out areas on a map or by using various apps, but other times I see somewhere that looks interesting while driving by. The location of the images in today’s post is from an area I drive by daily and have often thought I should check out. As you can see, it is a beautiful area to explore; rich with a variety of trees.

    Standing alone, surrounded by many

    I’m glad I stopped to check this area out a couple times in the last week. I will keep going back and looking for different conditions, as a nice fog or even misty rain would really make some of these trees (like the ones just above and below) stand out from the others.

    Moss and lichen give a distinct look to this tree

    Thank you for taking the time to check out my blog post. Please comment and let me know what you thought and share it with anyone who you think may enjoy my photography.

    “Ancient trees are precious. There is little else on Earth that plays host to such a rich community of life within a single living organism.”
    — Sir David Attenborough
  • Night Photography in Sooke

    Night Photography in Sooke

    I have done very little night time photography, but hope to do more in the future.  It will be fun to explore astrophotography and light painting and then post about it here for you to enjoy.  

    starlight illuminates the Sooke boardwalk
    Night at the Sooke Marine Boardwalk

    The Sooke Marine Boardwalk is a great place for a walk at any time.  It stretches between the Rotary Pier, near the bottom of a long staircase from the south end of Murray Road, to the long winding pathway & up to Ed Macgreggor Park.  During the day there are lots of people wandering about it and you’ll often see people crab fishing off the pier and boardwalk.  

    blurred people walk along the Sooke waterfront at night
    Ghostly Walkers on the Marine Boardwalk

    There are always a few boats anchored in the harbour.  Some of them seem to remain in place almost all the time, while others come and go.

    a meteorite can be seen streaking above a sailboat in the Sooke harbour
    A Sailboat in the Sooke Harbour

    A clear night at this time of year made for almost ideal conditions to watch the sky for meteors and other celestial events.

    twin meteorites streak across the Milky Way
    Stars and Forest

    The year has been going by quickly and soon it will be time to reflect upon the past and look toward the future.  With that in mind, it won’t be long before I start work on my top ten image list of 2018 (which, as usual, will be published in January) as well as and exciting new project I will announce before the end of December.

  • The Wonders of Sombrio Beach

    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.

    a wood plank bridge crosses Rosemond Creek
    One of the many small bridges on West Coast Road, heading towards Sombrio Beach

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  • Lest We Forget

    At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.  Please take the time for two minutes of silence and reflection.Remembrance Day Canada