Sunset Fire

The the sky cleared from the forest fire smoke that has been choking and depositing ash us. Two fires are on the other side of the river one that is over 3000 hectares big and growing. The hot dry weather and lightning has been causing many fires across B.C. The night brought relief to my airways and gave some great colour in the sky and Liard River.


Ash from the forest fire on my car hood.

Highway 37 that connects the Alaska Highway and the Yukon to Highway 16 and central B.C. is still closed. I know there are some people invited to the wedding I am shooting today stuck on the other side of the highway closure. I hope the wind will cooperate and clear a little for the wedding.

Image courtesy of B.C. Wildfire Management Branch

For more photos of the fire visit here. For updates on the fire visit here.

Have a great fire free weekend.

Ready For The Weekend

Flickr and Jeff

Friday is a day to reflect on the week gone and to plan the weekend. With the heat this week the dogs have been resting and walking in the evenings. Today I will take them for a longer walk along the banks of the river so they can cool off when ever they want. When I walk the dogs (my five and sometimes Noah) I feel it is my best anti-depressant. I have a hard time taking aspirin now let alone anything stronger not like my athletic days when I was popping  aspirin like candy. This guy and girl are part of my self therapy program. All I have to do when I am feeling sorry for myself or a little overwhelmed by what happens in my life all I have to do is open the kennel door and go for a walk with my best friends who listen to everything I have to share.


Flickr holding Buddy's leash.

Thanks for the walk and listening.

Fire In The Sky

This morning's sunrise.

The smoke from nearby forest fires is making for colorful sunrises and sunsets. The bad thing other than the obvious fact of the forest fire is the smoke drifts in and chokes the airways of people. I have had asthma now for about five years since my pneumonia and fire season always makes me wheezy (looks for inhaler).  If I didn't have a wedding shoot this weekend I would drive to somewhere smoke free but in the north that can be hard as some roads are closed at times and the smoke covers so much area. The smoke right now seems to be coming from a wildfire just south of Yukon border. This one is started by lightning and there are fire bans all over the place. I will go fishing today in my belly boat to drift on the water of a lake a little further away to escape the smoke a little bit and I will use my propane camp stove for my shore supper.


Alaska Highway near Lower Post, B.C.
(last year as smoke drifted from Liard Hotsprings fire)

The Hover Fly

Some times I feel my life is like that of the hover fly. I look at all this beauty around me and the fragrance is so intoxicating it can make my head spin. Walking with the dogs or fishing I can just stop and inhale the sweet scent of the north. Clean, crisp, dry air... pungent with the spruce aroma fills me. It completes me... for a breath... I know I have to release it soon as it doesn't belong to me. I can only hope that I take more time out so I can have moments like this again. I may be the hover fly or a pest at times but I am so happy I had this moment to breathe and drink you in.

Lens Love

Today I took some photographs using my Opteka 650-1300mm lens. I use this while on my porch to get closer  to the squirrels and birds that I feed. I spread out sunflower seed and small seed (millet) close to the brush and trees to the front and side of my teacherage. This allows me to sit on the porch and enjoy their chatter and singing while taking some pictures. I don't use it as often as I should but it is fun to play with for those easily spooked critters. Thanks for zooming in!

Some New Gear

Olympus Zuiko 8mm Fisheye Lens

I know I have OCD tendencies. One of those is the obsessive compulsive desire to improve my photography equipment and most importantly my technique. These are my two latest additions to my equipment list. The lens will allow for some fun wide angle shots and eliminate some of the ghosting issues I had with my fisheye adapter lens I started with. Clearer shots with a wider bubble perspective will allow for some spectacular shots. I will be able to use this for landscape and macro shots.


Strobe Flash Light Kit

Another addition to my portrait studio is this great strobe light system that will allow me to have the best lighting possible in my portrait work. I will be able to offer a variety of key contrasts and give sharper, crisper images.

The learning curve in my life long learning continues to increase dramatically. :)

Some Like it Hot!

Pepper Plant

I am plant sitting Lindsay's plants and this pepper plant is fruiting now. It has great colours in the fruit. Hopefully I won't kill it off. I put it on the dining room table and seems to be doing well there. I look at it when I am not eating in my recliner. I made some comfort food of beef stew. I like it hot and use hot sauce to flavour it when it is steaming in the bowl. Nutrition, comfort and a little spice... what more can I ask for.



Comfort Food

Summer Time

     The dogs need their walks every day... and today was no different. Being summer I am sleeping more... doing more photography, and finding more lakes to fish and gaze at. :) I think that at times I have too much time on my hand and get too creative with my photos. I know I like to look at the world in naive eyes at times. I know I feel more comfortable in nature. Don't get me wrong ... I like people but I LOVE nature!:) Okay so maybe I need to socialize more... thank goodness I have a few wedding shoots coming up.

Another Day In Paradise

I had another fun day with Anthony but I swear he is bad luck for fishing... :) I caught some good photos instead. First we saw a nice black bear along the Alaska Highway and watched it for awhile.



 I took my small rowboat out to Iron Creek Lodge that has some nice rainbow trout in it. I thought it would be fun to have trolling motor on but it was so long that I had used the battery we made it about 50 m before the battery died... and that was with it charged. Good thing we had oars. :) So after talking and watching Anthony tangle fish line we decided to go for a drive and explore a side road along the Hyland River. This is where we saw the spruce grouse.



Another relaxing day in paradise.

They Shoot Horses Don't They

These horses are neglected outfitter horses in Lower Post B.C.  The horses free range around the reserve including the teacherage and often end up in front of my home. There were four horses killed last year on the Alaska Highway and one of my future dreams is to find a safe home for this gang of eight. The black one lets me scratch his nose and head.

Listen...Wait...Observe

Three-toed Woodpecker

Ever wonder what is making that sound while you walk through the woods? Most people just keep walking. Our native elders don't, they listen, they observe... and became the best scientists we have. They collected data through their memory and stories after countless observations. The made predictions (hypothesis)... they made conclusions... and mostly they were proven right. Governments and scientists studying global climate change, fish stock disasters, or land use studies need to listen to them.

Why Yellow Snow?

Bee on Goldenrod

A few people asked me why I use the name Yellow Snow Photography and I tell them it is to show my humour and yes that is part of the reason but the real reason is that I use that name to remember the friends and coach I had while running with the Yellow Snow Athletic Club. Formed in 1976 by Chris McCubbins (also see tribute below at page end) from a line in a Frank Zappa song it became a Winnipeg institution. The initiation was to spell your name in the snow (or at least attempt it) during a twenty mile run (32km) when it was at least -20 C.  The workouts where hard... but satisfying. When I moved back out west and then north I always carried the memories with me setting up the YSAC in Whitehorse, Yukon when I lived there and now in Watson Lake. I can't run now but I can walk, ski, dog sled, and take photographs in the cold (-54 C is my record) ... and yes I can still spell my name in the snow. Don't Eat Yellow Snow!

Butterflies Are Free To Fly

This is one of my images from the photo shoot my nephew and I did along Alaska Highway and this particular shot is from the Liard Hot Springs that has a great ecosystem surrounding it.



My summer is filled with dog walks, fishing, swimming and photography. The problem of taking so many images is that you need to spend time reviewing, editing or posting them. :)

Too Sexy for My...Photos

Being silly along the Alaska Highway just down the road from Liard Hot Springs  where I found a patch of wild raspberries while I was out taking pictures of the local bison.  After the the bison hunting :) I spent several minutes gathering and eating these delicious berries. As we were about to leave I had my nephew Anthony take this picture and then edited it making it even sexier. The north... where men are men and the wildlife nervous. :) You can listen to this song as you gaze at me. :P

( Turn off the player at the bottom of the blog first)

Introducing Anthony Jopse

Please introduce yourself to Anthony Jopse my nephew by mutual adoption. Anthony is a nature enthusiast and inspiring photographer. Today we drove south on the Alaska Highway to Liard Hot Springs and I took this picture at Whirlpool Canyon on the Liard River. We had just scaled rocky ledges and followed a portage past the dangerous whirlpools when I snapped this. The day was great and we will have many pictures to post.  Anthony set up a new Flickr account and will be posting there.

P.S. He is using my old camera and has a great eye. :)

A True Champ

Champ is my 5 month old German Shepard  cross and is growing so fast. I am sure he will be the biggest dog of the pack. It is fun to watch some of his awkwardness of puppy-hood. The running with swaying hips or the sudden stop , turn... then uncontrolled leg buckle. A true Champ in training!

Summer Walks

I love walking the dogs when they are running free. They get to sniff and explore and sometimes chase rabbits or bears through the woods... luckily I have only seen them catch a rabbit once. The are great bear dogs and the three older ones have treed two bears and run many away from me although one time the bear being chased ran right in front of me in a big panic and at amazing speed. The only danger are porcupines and a year ago Buddy, Jeff and Nick discovered them... $ 1300.00 in vet bills later I have learned to carry fishing pliers with me and at night when the prickly buggers are out more I have my dogs tied up at the campsite. Luckily they seemed to have learned their lesson and hopefully the pups won't have to learn the painful lesson. Champ is growing fast and is almost as high as Jeff now and will be as big or bigger than Buddy.

Summer Cold

Image by Yellow Snow Photography via Flickr

I am getting sick of being sick and drinking lots of Labrador Tea to make me feel better. This natural medicine is found in old growth forests of black spruce trees in moist mossy areas. The underside of the leaf has rusty brown hairs and can be confused with Trapper's Tea which has a white hairy underside, a good tea as well but not as powerful of medicine. Many local native elders have this tea on hand at all times and we are blessed to have rich harvesting areas here. Northern Canada's Cold FX.

Care

Llama

     Today I went to Watson Lake and watched some of the Horse Show put on by the local riding association. They have a beautiful grounds and run great riding programs. Three of my students attended their 4H horse program and loved it. This is the resident Llama who the association bought at an auction for $25.00. One lucky llama!

Conversation of a Father/Son

Image by Yellow Snow Photography via Flickr

     On the way to drive my friend and quasi foster son Anthony (21) to Whitehorse to get his eyebrow pierced we had a conversation that spanned hours and generations. I am a firm believer in not changing what the creator gave you... my opinion, but he is intent on getting the piercing to express his individuality. I was reflecting on what he was saying and it came down to as close to a father/son moment I have had... I told him no matter our differences or his choices that I will always be here for him and love him like the son I wish he was. Viva la difference! 

Let The Sunshine In!

Sunflower

The benefits of using sunflower seed as bird and squirrel feed. :) It helps when you have horses that visit and drop off the best free fertilizer money can buy. I won't waste the petals on whether "she loves me or she loves me not". I have been loved and that is good enough for me and now it is time to take pictures and spread the sunshine.

The Bitterness of Beauty

Wild Chives

Living in the north you get used to the many things... the loneliness... the lack of services... the high costs... but one thing you never get use to is the beauty that surrounds us each and everyday. The lovely edible plant is great to throw on campfire fish, soups or burgers and is a delight to see in bloom but its flower lasts too short of a time. Its beauty fades quickly in the north and all that is left is a memory and a bitterness in your mouth.

With These Rings

From Timothy & Deanna Wedding

I had a lot of fun shooting Deanna's and Tim's wedding. They are a lovely couple. I am now booked for wedding shoots July 31st and August 7th.