Cathedral Grove (February, 2002)

These pictures were taken on a trip to British Columbia (Vancouver Island). I visited in mid-February 2002; haven't been able to return since then, but would certainly like to have another visit at some point.



Above: heading through MacMillan Provincial Park on the way to Tofino. I spent the whole time on Vancouver Island, most of it in Victoria.



Within the forest; Cathedral Grove is a stand of ancient Douglas Fir in MacMillan Provincial Park.

One of the things I liked about the place, aesthetically, was the contrast between the brightness of the red wood and the moist green of the moss, which seemed to be growing everywhere. To me it looks like a kind of radioactive glow haloing the trunks and branches of the trees.

Anti-litigation talismans.

I can't remember why these logs were lying around. I think they may have been trees that died and fell, and were chopped up in order to get them out of the way.

Wooden paths were built above the forest floor.

I always loved the effect created by mist and distance. I can tell that's what I was trying to show in this picture, but at the time I was shooting everything with a 35mm SLR that lacked a telephoto lens, so I did what I could (and felt frustrated!).

Bird Watching (December 9, 2010)

My cats are obsessed with windows, and they're particularly riveted when squirrels, birds, or other moving objects are within the field of vision provided by the glass sliding door that opens on to the back deck. Distance doesn't seem to be much of a factor: if it moves, especially if it moves and looks like another animal, they're at the window in a trice (unless they're in a deep sleep).

In this picture Mr. Darcy's attention is locked on the large flock of birds perched in the trees that stand on either side of the driveway. The birds were making quite a bit of flustered, twittery noise, so of course my cats were going wild over the scene, with their little feet up against the glass and chattering frustratedly to themselves.