We took the kids to take a look at all the artwork and they enjoyed seeing all the displays. While there we stopped to watch a couple artisans as they worked. David Todd was creating some pottery and Lila Wiess was creating a new painting. The kids really enjoyed watching them work, especially Ellie, who aspires to be an artist someday.

At the end of the art show the votes cast by visitors were counted up, and I was once again honoured with the People’s Choice Award! Thank you to everyone who voted for my photography. It was a wonderful art show with lots of wonderful works on display. This is a very talented group of artists in our region. Looking forward to the next show!

Its a nice spot if you get a chance to visit it and there are a number of hiking trails in the surrounding woods.

Our family recently celebrated the wedding of Mike and my sister, Stacy. My two daughters were involved in the wedding as Flower Girls and my son, Ethan, walked Stacy down the aisle in lieu of our father who passed away 10 years ago. It was a beautiful day and we wish Stacy and Mike all the best!

Anyway, I took note of the lake and the fact you could easily get to the south side should I get to photograph the Aurora Borealis again. A couple weeks later, I was out from 11:00 PM to 2:00 AM doing just that.

On August 5 I headed out to the lake to view the Northern Lights. As I had hoped, the water was very peaceful and reflective of the colourful night sky.

“Hues from the Sun”

The Aurora was very active when I first arrived at the lake and the sky was full of greens and blues and the Lights were twisting quickly through the sky, producing many spikes of colour. The bands of colour even stretched directly  overhead.

The Intersection: The Milky Way and the Northern Lights.

After a while, things settled down a bit and the colours subdued. This allowed me to settle down too and start taking some longer exposures over the water.

Northern Lights reflecting on water.

I decided to offer a print for sale of “Reflecting on the Northern Lights”. I had this one done as a gallery wrap with a metallic finish to bring out the rich colours of the night sky and the reflection in the water!

What a fantastic night marvelling at God’s creation!

Naomi and I were asked to participate in their wonderful day by doing their wedding photography. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful, unique wedding. We really enjoyed the well thought out western theme and decorations.

Thanks for letting us be a part of your day!

This summer I have prints on display and available for purchase at two locations in central Alberta. After recently selling a few prints from Chair of Bowlies, in Olds, Alberta, I have added some new ones. For some time now I’ve wanted to do sets of 3 smaller gallery wraps that are ready to hang on the wall, so in addition to the prints already there, I have added two, 10×10 sets on display:

“Glimpses of Peggy’s Cove”

“Flowers”

I have also added a large 20×40 canvas gallery wrap print of a scene from the Tantramar Marsh in Sackville, New Brunswick.

“Old Barn”

I am also participating in the Wellspring Visual ArtNetwork’s 3rd annual ArtWalk. I have 4 works of art on display at the Café Radio in Carstairs, Alberta.

“Lone Tree” – A 14×30 canvas gallery wrap print.

“Peggy’s Cove” – 20×40 canvas gallery wrap.

If you’re in the area, please stop by and check out the displays.

Innisfail Pro Rodeo

The Innisfail Pro Rodeo at Daines Ranch starts this week, so I guess it is about time to put up some pictures from last year’s rodeo. The 2010 rodeo was also Jack Daines 50th anniversary rodeo!

This rodeo is one of my favourites. You get to watch the same riders and animals you will see at the bigger rodeos, except here, it is nice and small and you can get right up to the action. If you go to the Calgary Stampede, you better take your binoculars. At the Innisfail Rodeo, you can sit close or go right to the fence, where I usually am with my camera. It is also good, clean fun for the family.

They have all the main events, excluding the racing ones. There is the Bareback, Saddle Bronc, Calf Roping, Barrel Racing, Steer Wrestling, and as the grand finale, Bull Riding. They have big prizes to draw in the best riders and stock, and they keep the action moving. I’ve been to some rodeos that really drag on, but this one is lots of fun. I’m looking forward to going again this year!

Until this past summer, I had never been to an airshow. I made up for that oversight in style by attending the Lethbridge International Airshow. The final clincher in my decision to make the 3.5 hour trip was learning that my favourite aircraft of all time, the A-10 Thunderbolt II, would be there.

A-10 Thunderbolt II flown by the A-10 West Demonstration Team

I had never seen one before in person and when it finally flew over, I had goosebumps despite the fact that it was a very hot day.

Unfortunately, the Canadian Forces CF-18 Hornet wasn’t at the airshow as scheduled… It was there as a burned out wreckage as it had crashed two days before. It must have been a bit unnerving for the other pilots performing that day as they all had to taxi right past the wreckage.

There were a number of historical aircraft, including a P-51 Mustang, and a FG-1D Corsair. It was a real treat to see these aircraft in action at the Lethbridge Airshow.

P- 51 at the Lethbridge Airshow

As a bonus, the TORA TORA TORA team was there, reenacting the Pearl Harbour attack with Japanese Zero fighters and Nakajima B5N “Kate” bombers. Their show was narrated and had lots of sound effects, plus many large explosions. After a bit, the smoke was so thick it was getting hard to see the aircraft as they kept buzzing the ground in simulated attacks.

TORA TORA TORA at the Lethbridge Airshow

We also saw lots of very entertaining stunt flying and tricks, and even the Canadian Army Skyhawks Parachute Team were on hand. I left the kids at home as it was a long drive and was forecasted to be hot (which it was) and figured the explosions would be too much for them right now. Instead, I had a real good time hanging out with my father-in-law and brother-in-law. It was a really great day and I’m looking forward to the 2011 show!

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14

Baby it’s cold outside! Once in a red moon there is a lunar eclipse, and this morning was an opportunity to watch the moon slip into the Earth’s shadow, made a bit more rare by the coincidence of it occurring on the Winter Solstice. It was about -20C when I headed outside with a small telescope and my camera. It’s amazing how quick your fingers stop working when handling tripods and buttons and lenses at -20… but I digress. It was a beautiful, clear night. A slight breeze made it a bit cooler and harder to keep the tripod steady (or maybe that was just my shaking hands), but I did manage to get some shots of the lunar eclipse.

I went out at 11:45 PM MST and called it quits at about 1:15 AM, so I missed the second half of the show (unlike the last time).  It was cold (did I already mention it was cold), but I’m glad I got to witness it.

The next morning after not enough sleep, I drove my daughter to school right around sunrise, and got one last shot of the moon before it ended it’s spectacular day. Thank you, God, for the show!