Christmas Lights on Parliament Hill

I was wandering around downtown Ottawa waiting to photograph the lunar eclipse. It was a very cloudy night and it gradually became more and more obvious that the eclipse was not in the cards for me. On the way out of town I stopped by Parliament Hill to create a few images of the Hill with all the Christmas Lights in full display. It's a beautiful scene and obviously very photogenic!!..©2010, Sean Phillips.http://www.RiverwoodPhotography.com (Sean Phillips)

I was wandering around downtown Ottawa waiting to photograph the lunar eclipse. It was a very cloudy night and it gradually became more and more obvious that the eclipse was not in the cards for me. On the way out of town I stopped by Parliament Hill to create a few images of the Hill with all the Christmas Lights in full display. It’s a beautiful scene and obviously very photogenic!!

I went to downtown Ottawa on December 21st to try to photograph the once-in-a-lifetime lunar eclipse (coinciding with the winter solstice), but unfortunately the city was socked in with clouds and I barely saw the eclipse. So I took the opportunity to wander around and photograph some of the landmarks in the city instead...©2010, Sean Phillips.http://www.RiverwoodPhotography.com (Sean Phillips)

I went to downtown Ottawa on December 21st to try to photograph the once-in-a-lifetime lunar eclipse (coinciding with the winter solstice), but unfortunately the city was socked in with clouds and I barely saw the eclipse. So I took the opportunity to wander around and photograph some of the landmarks in the city instead...©2010, Sean Phillips.http://www.RiverwoodPhotography.com (Sean Phillips)

©2010, Sean Phillips.http://www.RiverwoodPhotography.com (Sean Phillips)

I went to downtown Ottawa on December 21st to try to photograph the once-in-a-lifetime lunar eclipse (coinciding with the winter solstice), but unfortunately the city was socked in with clouds and I barely saw the eclipse. So I took the opportunity to wander around and photograph some of the landmarks in the city instead...©2010, Sean Phillips.http://www.RiverwoodPhotography.com (Sean Phillips)

©2010, Sean Phillips.http://www.RiverwoodPhotography.com (Sean Phillips)I went to downtown Ottawa on December 21st to try to photograph the once-in-a-lifetime lunar eclipse (coinciding with the winter solstice), but unfortunately the city was socked in with clouds and I barely saw the eclipse. So I took the opportunity to wander around and photograph some of the landmarks in the city instead...©2010, Sean Phillips.http://www.RiverwoodPhotography.com (Sean Phillips)

I went to downtown Ottawa on December 21st to try to photograph the once-in-a-lifetime lunar eclipse (coinciding with the winter solstice), but unfortunately the city was socked in with clouds and I barely saw the eclipse. So I took the opportunity to wander around and photograph some of the landmarks in the city instead...©2010, Sean Phillips.http://www.RiverwoodPhotography.com (Sean Phillips)

Reflections on Moraine Lake at Sunrise

Panoramic Image of Reflections on Moraine Lake at Sunrise

I was at Moraine Lake for Sunrise on the first day that the road up to the lake was open for the season in 2008. This popular Canadian Tourist Destination is only accessible to vehicle traffic during the summer months, usually from the May long weekend until the end of September. We were staying in the village in nearby Lake Louise, and I had originally intended to shoot the sunrise at the Chateau Lake Louise, but when I saw that the road to Moraine Lake was open I immediately changed my plans.

Although there are many incredibly beautiful places to see and explore in the Canadian Rockies, Moraine Lake is absolutely one of my favorites. I was very excited to see that part of the lake was actually free of ice, and when I saw the beautiful golden light reflecting off the mountains and glittering across the water I was ecstatic. Moraine Lake is truly a jewel and I try to visit at least a couple of times every year.

Although I created this image almost two years ago, I recently printed a large version of it and I really liked how it came out. I’ve also entered it in a couple of recent photo contests and I realized that I had never shared it here. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Deer Butts

Deer Butts

Sometimes you get the shot you want, and sometimes you get the butt.

I was out for a walk at Carburn Park with my son when a herd of about a dozen deer charged out of the woods. I could hear a dog barking off in the distance (in the No Dogs Allowed part of the park) so I can only assume that they were spooked out. When they saw us they froze and obviously couldn’t decide where to go. I tried to make a some portraits but they were still pretty scared and they took off running down the trail. We followed them for awhile in case they stopped, but they slipped off into the woods instead of hanging around for a chat.

The Beauty of Castle Mountain

The Beauty that is Castle Mountain

Castle Mountain is in the Rocky Mountains about half way between Banff and Lake Louise. It is a very scenic spot that looks good in all sorts of light and weather conditions. I love to see it when it is being lit up from the side because the shadows in between each of the parapet like peaks falls into deep shadow and makes the mountain look even more rugged than normal.

We were passing by at just the right time the other day to enjoy the sunrise. It was a particularly beautiful thing when the Alpenglow dropped down the face of the mountain. I love the Rockies!

The Beauty that is Castle Mountain

Panoramic image of the Alpenglow on Castle Mountain

Irrigation Pivots in Winter

Irrigation Pivots in Winter

It was amazingly cold out the other day and the ice fog hanging over the prairie landscape turned everything pure white. These irrigation pivots were beautiful as they loomed over the fields below. I’m always amazed by how the changing seasons completely transform the places around us. Something as simple as a little bit of snow on the ground can make the familiar things look completely foreign, and the mundane things beautiful. It’s worth it to pause every now and then and to take a good look at the things around you. You might be amazed by what you see, and by how little you really remember about what it normally looks like.