BC Faces

Took my niece to the Royal BC Museum and captured these dramatic shots. Who knew the museum would be such a great photo shoot location?

 

5 Retreats

So, so, so exciting to see my first cover feature in British Columbia Magazine! I was whisked away to the Kootenay Rockies to visit five retreats, write about it and snap a few photos. Here are a few of my favourites that didn't find their way into the pages.

Johnson's Landing Retreat Centres

Quantum Leaps Lodge and Retreats

Simply Delicious Lodge

I'm a bit behind on posting my photos. Let's just say I have spent more time writing articles and habituating to Facebook, which somewhat negates the creative need to express here. That being said, sometimes this safe haven is just what I need. It's more personal, more emotional. In that spirit, here are a few personal photos I had to share. This time, spring in Beacon Hill Park with friends.

Spring blossoms, green grass, bright flowers, golden hair, smile.

When she doesn't think I am looking, that's when I really see her.


This is what family looks like.

Photo: Susan Rybar / Canadian Tourism Commission

Every once in a while I google my name under "images" to see what comes up. As a stock photographer, I don't always know where my name and photos will appear. Like today! I just found out my image of Steveston, BC appeared on the Smarter Travel website this summer for an article on 10 Fantastic Fishing Villages. It's kinda like Christmas for me - just a little surprise present.

Pan Abode in Print

One of the highlights from my summer was learning and writing about Pan Abodes, a type of log cabin. Think Lincoln Logs, the toy cabin where you can stack the logs together one by one. I was fortunate enough to boat to Sidney Island just east of Vancouver Island and given a tour of the development and an inside glance into the Caza cottage as it was being finished. Sometimes being a writer gives you inside glances to beautiful worlds, and Sidney Island was one of those worlds I could live in for a while.

Well, the article just came out and I thought I would share a few shots. The first shot was featured in Cottage magazine along with the story.

1978 - Across Canada in 66 Days

In June, 1978 my family embarked on a cross Canada trip that lasted 66 days. We travelled and lived in an RV - one that would now be put in a museum as a flashback to the 70's. Flower fabric on the upholstery, lots of orange. Yep, I loved it! I know I have earlier memories as a child, but that trip hosted some my favourites.

I was looking through the old Photo Album and thought I would share of glimpse into road tripping back then.

Back then, you pet the wildlife and tents were triangular but small towns were still small towns and water looked just as inviting.

Into the Woods

After spending a few hours with the Wood family and their extended tribe, I wanted to sign up to be a member of the family. Such a nice bunch of people. I got asked to stay for breakfast (yummy omelettes!) and consider that my inauguration. I'm looking forward to the next reunion already. Costa Rica anyone?  :)

Between the three generations, there are too many photos to show all the good ones, but here are a few of my favourites.

Saturday Morning Family Time

I love taking photos of families just hanging out, doing their thing. For me, it is capturing those true moments of everyday life. Here are a few natural shots from across the table while I was spending a Saturday morning with my sister-in-law, neice and nephew. The morning sun created a nice lazy haze around everything and everyone.

Camping

Working on photos today. Kinda like this one from a camping trip at Cowichan Lake earlier this summer.

Laughing it up at the Lytton Pines Motel

Thank you Lytton Pines Motel for hosting our late night glow photo shoot last summer! Stumbled upon these tonight and thought I would share a few with you.

Here Piggy Piggy Piggy

Okay, by popular request (which in my world means at least one) I am sharing a highlight from my recent trip to Maui.

For Christmas, my parents gave me and my boys a two-hour trail ride with Mendes Ranch north of Wailuku. When we saddled up, we noticed a rather large swine wandering the grounds amidst the dozens of peacocks milling about (yep, peacocks, dozens of them).

We were joined by few other families so the guide ended up splitting us into two groups. As the first group rode off down a dirt trail into the lush, tropical foliage, the pig trotted off after them.

It was finally our turn to head out, sitting high on our horses as they trudged up a steep trail. We reached a plateau overlooking a deep valley ravine that was supposedly featured in the opening scenes of Jurassic Park. After a quick glimpse of the waterfalls below, we turned around, passed the ranch, and sauntered down to the ocean shoreline where we met up again with the first group and the pig, who traded alliances and remained behind with us.

After a few souvenier photos, the pig got in line and followed our horses back to the ranch. For the longest time my horse wouldn't pass it. Of course, I was too busy laughing and trying to take a photo of to care. Eventually I got ahead, but even as we galloped the last stretch, the pig kept going, still steadily following along.

I like to think this not-so-lazy pig, between our two groups, completed the entire trail ride. I also like to think it goes on all the trail rides, twice a day, all year long.

I read today that "amazing" has been named an overused word of 2011, so I will instead use the words immortalized in the song Zuckerman's Famous Pig, from the movie Charlotte's Web:

"Oh, wow, look at him now
Zuckerman's Maui's famous pig
Suey, whaddya see?
The greatest hog in history!
Fine, swine, wish he was mine
What if he's not so big?
He's some terrific, radiant, humble thig-a-majig of a
Fine, phenomena"

And now, the photos: 

DJ Jonnycat

I'm a few months late in posting this, but this "wicked" photo of DJ Jonnycat made its way into the South Delta Leader - a community newspaper. Nothing better than a hamburger and big headphones to represent an electronic music artist. First photo of mine that made it into the news. :)

Port Renfrew Secret No Longer

If you happen to see a copy of this month's Cottage magazine, check out my latest article, this time featuring Port Renfrew. Although not the cover shot, the story spreads over six pages and features a photo of my husband and son buying a few famous cherry pies (yum!) from The Cook Shack at the Port Renfrew Marina alongside a photo of my favourite beach. Turn the page and there is the shot of the San Juan River. Mixed in are a few images of the welcoming Wild Coast Cottages . . . wait a minute, anyone want to head to Port Renfrew this weekend? Or at least read about it? 

Ferns and Flipping-Fun Family Photography

I love this family. While most of us are putting on slippers, turning up the heat and hunkering down to watch the season opener of some new fall TV series (or in my case, hopping in and out of the hot tub), these guys are packing their truck to go camping in the backwoods, in a tent! Turkey schnitzels over the campfire for Thanksgiving dinner, anyone?

It was only fitting their family photos were taken in Mount Douglas Park, in Saanich, BC, with an abundance of ferns and towering Douglas Fir and Cedar trees. Not to mention an abundance of fun!