Alberta
25/02/23
On a Mission: ISO 640, 240mm, f/5.6, 1/800
It is a cold winter day here. So, it is a good day to go through my pictures on my computer and see what I have not shared.
This was taken before our move to Ontario. One of my last walks in Inglewood Bird Sanctuary in Calgary, Alberta. The bees were hard at work collecting pollen before the cold weather arrives.
27/06/20
Poplar Stand at Mt. Lorette Pond: ISO 800, 15mm, f/4.5, 1/1000
This is a stand of Trembling Aspens in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada. The backdrop is a pond.
Keeping with the black and white from my previous post, thought I would add this to my collection. The aspen bark takes on a silvery tone.
23/06/20
Hungry Aliens: ISO 200, 90mm, f/2.8, 1/4000
A world without colour can be a very scary place.
Glad I do not live in it. These are purple lilacs from our backyard garden.
11/05/20
Female Red-Winged Blackbird, Airdrie, AB: ISO 1600, 150mm, f/5.0, 1/3200
I took an early morning walk this morning hoping to catch the morning sun highlight the activity at a marsh down the street from our house.
The blackbirds were very active this morning. This female Red-Winged Blackbird was foraging for nesting materials. The male birds were standing guard and protecting their territory. A sure sign of spring!
04/05/20
Lancaster Bomber (Bomber Command Museum, Nanton, AB): ISO 200, 9mm, f/2.8, 1/1600
Last summer I was able to visit the Bomber Command Museum in Nanton, Alberta. It has always been on my list of things to see in southern Alberta but I never had the time.
Let me tell you, I was glad I made the time! The actual museum has quite of bit of artifacts and stories but together. Square foot wise it is pretty small but the amount of artifacts and content is quite vast. You could spend a whole day in the museum reading and looking. What I found most interesting was the part Alberta played in training air crews during World War II.
The day I was visited they had some volunteers working on restoring an old Mosquito.
13/03/20
Vermillion Lakes Sunrise, Banff National Park: ISO 400, 7mm, f/3.5, 1/1600
Took this image one morning last summer before all the tourists were awake. It was very peaceful. A summer storm was forecasted for later that morning. I was capturing the dramatic sky and the beginning of this storm.
11/08/19
Genetic Mutation: ISO 400, 170mm, f/4.0, 1/640
These are small flowers in our backyard garden. The majority of them are white with a pink interior. The odd one is all pink. Makes you think of the the saying, "Be Different."
Nature is full of surprises and wonders.
30/06/19
Taking Advantage of the Sun: ISO 200, 85mm, f/5.6, 1/250
Took this shot on a short hike at Marble Canyon located in Banff National Park late in May.
Caught this chipmunk in the distance and wasn't sure what it was until I zoomed in. The chipmunk was alive and breathing. Just taking advantage of the warm spring sun.
Guess animals love to sunbathe as well.
29/06/19
Red Wing Blackbird: ISO 320, 210mm, f/4.0, 1/320
Spotted this Male Red Winged Blackbird at Elizabeth Hall Wetland Nature Reserve in Lethbridge, Alberta pretty easily as he was trying to catch my attention as I moved closer to the marsh.
He must have been protecting a nest nearby because he was causing a loud distraction.
A couple of females were also flying around. They were probably busy gathering food for their young.
28/05/19
Pink Tulip: ISO 200, 90mm, f/4.0, 1/800
Spring is finally here in Southern Alberta. Our tulips are in full bloom and have survived our on again/off again spring.
11/02/19
Snowy Cat Tails: ISO 12800, 81mm, f/5.6, 1/4000
We are experiencing a very long cold snap here in the "Great White North."
We had an unusually warm January but February has given us a bit of a shock with an extended period of negative double digit temperatures (in degree Celsius.)
News agencies are calling it a "Polar Vortex" but I am just calling it a typical Canadian winter.
This picture of a local pond was taken early December 2018 when it was warm enough to take a walk without risk of losing your fingers or nose and a fresh coat of snow had fallen. These cat tails are also waiting for spring and the warmer weather it promises.
26/01/19
Calgary Zoo Chameleon: ISO 800, 150mm, f/5.6, 1/400
Yesterday was a nice day to talk a walk in the park. So took a morning stroll at the Calgary Zoo.
Couldn't resist taking a picture of this little guy checking out the spectators behind the glass.
I think he saw me.
15/08/18
Sleepy Panda at the Calgary Zoo: ISO 320, 200mm, f/5.6, 1/90
The Calgary Zoo recently became the new home of some Panda Bears.
We finally got to see them last month. I am not quite sure what all the excitement is about. They just seem to eat and sleep. But they do look quite cuddly!
14/08/17
Back to the Future: ISO 200, 7mm, f/3.2, 1/8000
This past weekend Airdrie hosted a Show and Shine (August 12th, 2017).
Lots of vehicles to look at and admire. I am always drawn to the long lines of the older Cadillacs. Looks like this old beauty is ready for space travel.
20/11/16
Hwy 40 View: ISO 200, 15mm, f/8, 1/125
I have always wanted to take a drive on Alberta's Highway 40 which passes through Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. I finally managed to do that while my parents came out to visit us this fall.
It was a beautiful day. This image was taken near the end of the drive as the sun was starting to come down in the west.