The first three pictures demonstrate how much a landscape gains in beauty, when branches are being used for framing and are lending support to a given scenery. The last picture is showing the sun piercing through a dense forest with its light being scattered and refracted by snow and ice in the branches. Enjoy.
It is good to have a focus when you go out into nature for a photo session. One way to sharpen your focus is to have a theme. With this in mind my wife and I went to the same trail leading down to the Taite Creek Campsite last weekend. One of the great laws of survival, not just for plants and animals, but also for us human beings, is to be able to bend, to be flexible, but NOT to break and succumb to the adversities of life. Here are the photos dwelling on this theme. Enjoy.
Thank you all for your likes and comments! I should be back on my own computer by Friday. Enjoy the video as a message of peace and joy.
Today I start with a recreational theme on hiking. There are many wonderful hiking trails in and around Fauquier that are waiting to be discovered. Also there is no better time to explore the awakening of spring than by a walk through the woods along the rushing waters of a creek. Even if one was blind and could not see the beauty, the fresh aromatic air swirling about one’s face and the melt waters thundering at a distance would be enough to make you feel in tune with Mother Nature.
View onto the Lake at Taite Creek Campground
This afternoon after a heavy rain during the night the sun was shining brightly. So Biene (Gertrud) and I felt like driving down on Applegrove Road to our favorite spot at Taite Creek. We were lucky. We had the lake, the beach, and the campground all to ourselves. After our customary game of bocce and some home-made cake and coffee, which I brewed on our camp stove, I went for a hike, while Biene enjoyed the peace and quiet in the warm sun to do some knitting.
A Tree half uprooted by a Storm forms a beautiful Arch
More than ten years ago a sports-minded father created with axe and chainsaw a challenging dirt bike trail for his teenage son. We discovered it by chance and since it had been abandoned by father and son it turned out to be one of our favourite hiking trails.
Last Look at the Arrow Lake before Turning Left
For the first 500 m it runs parallel to the lake until it reaches the mouth of Taite Creek. Then turning left it follows the creek for about one km before it moves away into dense forest. Old overgrown logging roads crisscross the area creating a veritable maze where you could get easily lost. Luckily the boy’s father had carefully marked the path by tying yellow ribbons onto tree branches. Near the end the trail changes direction and crosses an old growth forest area, where in the fall I find some of the choicest mushrooms for our dinner table.
Wild Wilderness at its Best
Everything except for the trail is wild around here. This is perfect wilderness and nature at its best. One must often climb over a tree trunk that a violent storm had blown over across the path. Canada geese nest near the lake. The air is filled with the high-pitched voices of the osprey. And if you are lucky, you might see the king among the birds of prey, the bald eagle, soaring high above in the sky.
Trees Stretching to the Light
The trail ends at the bridge on Applegrove Road. If you are ambitious and don’t want to return to camp by the same route, you can extend your beautiful walk a little by turning it into a full circle tour. From the bridge you walk a few hundred meters in the direction of Fauquier, until you see the campground access road, which will lead you back where you started. There will be more posts on hiking trails in the near future on this blog.
When the winter days appear to be dreary and the lack of sunshine is getting you down, you must get out of the house and make good use of a rare sunshiny day. And even if the sun never manages to penetrate the gloomy cloud cover in the valley, open your eyes and you will find beauty everywhere to capture with your camera. I am sure it will give you a big lift and pull you out of the winter blues. Today I present five images to you. I would like to find out which ones my readers like best. Although always welcome and appreciated, no comments are necessary. I numbered the photos, so it would be easy to give a quick personal assessment. Just use three numbers in the order of your preference. Have fun!
1) View of the Nakusp Marina
2) Saddle Mountain behind a Cloud Frame
3) Burton Creek Estuary
4) Fauquier Twilight Hour
5) Taite Creek Area south of Fauquier
You can also view my photo stream at flickr.com. Photos are taken mostly from the Arrow Lakes area. Simply search for Peter Klopp under people.
My Wife at our Winter Photo Shoot at Taite Creek
Catching Precious Sun Rays Peeking through the Forest – Gertrud Klopp
Snowshoe Tracks leading down to the Lake – Gertrud Klopp
Getting ready for another Hunt for Nature Photos – Gertrud Klopp
Capturing Rocks in the Crystal-Clear Water
Old Logging Ramp of the Late Forties
Shooting through Tree Stumps of a Bygone Era
Brilliant Sunshine embracing the Landscape
Looking South on our Beautiful Lake
The Peter and Gertrud Klopp Family 