All My Blogs

A sound and lighting technician praising God at a worship service Religion and politics; two subjects that can instantly unite strangers or make friends turn to blows.  We tend to spend our youth developing positions in both areas and then living out our lives defending those ideals.  It is not wrong to have a religion, just as it is not wrong to have a political point of view.  In both cases, what matters is what you do with those beliefs. Religion often gets a bad rap because of horrendous things done in its name.  You don't have to look very far to see explicit examples of this (Gaza), and history is replete with wars, crusades, and intifadas that further support this.  Politics, it seems, is not so very different.  Once again, both should be used to further humanity, compassion, and stewardship of our planet rather than to enable conflict. The book of James, chapter 1, verse 27, says, " Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orpha

  Dell on our Red Deer River adventure in 2004 There is an axiom that says, "It takes a community to raise a child."  What happens when one of those community members is Dell?   Dell has made a lasting impression on me and countless others.  Just off hand, I would include the scouts he led, many of the people who worked with him doing concrete, his friends and family members.  Then there are the myriad of others whose lives he touched just because he shared a class with them, drank at a pub with him, or knew him as a lover.   Dell's impact was always colourful, but not always appreciated.  It was who he was, and he never made an excuse for it.  He was born to lead, to stand out in whatever capacity destiny would sculpt for him, and on the way he made a difference in each and every encounter. Think carefully about the people who have had a major impact on the person you are today.  If Dell was one of those people, you are not alone. Dell gave me a passion for cards, free-s

For a few weeks every year, usually in early to mid-April, a native perineal covers the slopes around Kelowna with its bright yellow blooms.  These hardy plants are locally called the Okanagan sunflower, but are more properly called the Arrowleaf Balsomroot. Known also as Kelowna's official flower, the balsomroot is an edible plant that many ungulates (deer, sheep, cattle) enjoy.  They eat both the foilage and flower, the young shoots are supposedly a good source of protein (up to 30%).  The seeds serve as fodder for both birds and rodents. Natives have a history of using the plant medicinally.  The roots are of primary interest and are used in poltices, infusions, and smoke to treat a variety of conditions including aches, blisters, sores, insect bites, and fevers.  The plant was also eaten by several tribes, both raw and cooked.  The dried roots were ground to make a kind of flour used in baking. I was out today taking photos, the above photo is a stitched image taken from a hill

How many sleeps until Santa comes?  This is a common question for children.  They go to bed, get a good night's rest, and wake in the morning to begin another day.  One sleep. That model no longer works for me.  I go to bed, wake a few hours later, and navigate blindly to the washroom.  Returning to my slumber sanctuary, I attempt to reengage REM but only manage to drift off in what might be called a fitful rest.  It takes only a slight bump from my partner or dog to rouse my brain into consciousness.  A noise, perhaps a falling leaf, is often enough to stop slumber. After doing some reading or playing a game on my smartphone, a third attempt at meeting the Sandman is engaged.  If I am lucky, that may be the last time I wake in the middle of the night, that is unless nature calls once again.  Three or four sleeps in one night. Of course, it doesn't end there.  I nod off sometimes at work, not intentionally, but sitting with a pen in my hand when all is quiet will sometimes elic

  Yesterday I had an opportunity to photograph western meadowlarks (see my blog on it here ).  So, camera in hand, I ventured up the Okanagan Valley slope and found what I was after.  As I was heading home, a flash of blue caught my eye.   Western bluebirds!  And a pile of them too.  The area was obviously popular with the species; the numerous nest boxes donning the fence posts (see image below) must be attracting them.  I photographed them from the comfort of my truck.  I had walked along the roadway for a stretch, but I found that both species of birds were more comfortable with me ensconced inside my chariot of steel.  And so I drove along a bit with open windows, stopped, and took a few photos.  I did this several times as there was little traffic on the road. Female western bluebird by a nest box west of Kelowna I witnessed some territorial behaviour as some of the birds were clashing with each other.  It was an exciting spectacle.  Mostly they were content with sitting on a fenc

Am I going to disturb a species I am photographing enough to negatively affect its relationship with the ecosystem?  This is an important ethical question that needs to be asked when looking to photograph a particular species.  And it's one that I don't think we do nearly often enough. I recognize the desire to capture remarkable images; I have been in search of premium photos the bulk of my adult life.  There is the personal connection - just the joy associated with doing something well and the praise we seek when others recognize it.  There is the professional connection - doing something as part of a job, assignment, or class.  Then there is the financial connection - the hope to win a contest, publish an image, or sell prints.   These are all worthy goals in their own right, but none of them should be the reason behind disturbing a species, especially ones that are endangered or are at a critical period in their life cycle.  Essentially it boils down to doing harm.  If I ne