Spring Stroll in Squamish

OK, so its officially Spring... sort of. Despite the lack of sunshine, and continuing snowfall here on the West Coast, things are getting green, and I actually went out for an Oceanside walk in my T-Shirt yesterday.

Now that the snow is melted, I seem to be seeing more and more "green bags" laying everywhere around Squam. So here goes my vent to the dogowners of Squamish...

(ISN'T THIS A GREAT SIGHT - ITS GROWING WILD AROUND TOWN)

The green bags are provided for you to pick up your dogs crap. Why is the idea so hard to grasp, that the bags should then be carried to the nearest Dumpster or garbage can?????? If all you are doing is picking up said crap, then tossing it into the nearest tree, why dont you just bring a stick and flick it off the trail? I'd rater see some dried up poop around the trail edge, then hundreds of green baggies. BE A RESPONSIBLE PET OWNER.. Use the bags the way they are meant to be used. Next time I see a dog owner throwing a bag off the trail or into a tree, I am going to follow them and throw one of my babies used diapers into their backyard or car... Or better yet grab their green bag and deposit it at the front door of their house, car, or garden.

IDIOTS. PERIOD.

Anyway, the rest of the walk I ignored the green bags and looked at the beauty surrounding my home. Including a zoom in of a new snowboard zone that will get hit soon....

Climbers and the slack line rigging set up along the water is always a good view..

Not sure why this is here, but its getting pretty beat up...

Thinking about Travelling again....

Every time I open my image folders and scan across some travel shots I get the urge to get on a plane. Just looking for a few old shots today and came across some travel shots from New Zealand in 2009. NZ is a special place, if you have a chance I suggest going! These shots were taken on a few day trip from Wanaka, up the West Coast, to Punakaiki, New Zealand.

Rainy Day in Squamish

There have been far to many down days this winter, and today was just another day of wet to add to the already long winter season. I've been planning a few portrait sessions, and decided today was a day for prep... Yes, rain is falling so its a perfect day for a project...

I've always wanted a ringflash, but the price was never something I could justify adding to my already overflowing bags of gear that I dont use enough.

Luckily the internet is full of tips and treasures for the DIY'ers out there...
I gave myself a $30 budget split between the dollar store and walmart to see what i could do. At the end of an hour in the garage, I came up with 2 ringlight attachments to pop onto my Canon speedlight. I also had purchased some other gear for a beauty dish, that may get built tomorrow..

Anyway I'm pretty happy with how they seem to work, here are a couple of testers- Still need to finish them up and spray on some matte Black on the inner cones, but otherwise a cheap way to add to the portrait kit.

This one cost about $4.50.

This one about $5.00

And a few results....

BJ gets lucky

Yesterday was one of the warmest days I have felt up in the Alpine around Whistler. I was out shooting with Bjorn Leines, and Lucas Debari for the day. Unfortunately like the old song gies.. "...a day late, a buck short..." Seems that Terje, Blauvelt and Freddy K got to the spot a day earlier and didn't leave us much to choose from...actually they tore the place a new one. We were left with almost nothing after a 20+km woop-ed out sled ride into this spot.

Bjorne spotted a mellow drop to chute, and decided to hike the ridge to get a shot.. We had looked at the cornice overhang from the bottom, and seemed to all think it was manageable and that it could be passed on the backend. As Bjorn was hiking I seemed to get a guy feeling that he might be a bit close. I lowered my camera a bit and reached for my radio, and just as I was about to call him the entire cornice gave way. I managed to get a few shots off as the snow remaining on the cliff cascaded off, and luckily Bjorn was quick to jump back a couple feet when it started and was on a "safe spot"

The ridge up high was very thin, so the warm temps, and baking sun inside a milky overcast sky must have heated the think upper backend of the cornice, and all it took was a light-footed step to trigger.

We were lucky, but good warning to everyone that its Springtime, so watch out for Cornices on those hot days!

BEFORE

DURING - Bjorn clinging to the top..

AFTER.. Wasn't there snow here before?