Sheree

Zielke

A dusky evening sky above our Salish Sea. Ocean skies seem never to disappoint especially those off Vancouver Island in Canada.

I found this barn near one of our national parks. It was so handsome nestled into quiet water and lush greenery. The low light made the greens even more vibrant.

Raindrops on roses, er, on peonies. An abundance of rain in our Canadian city is making my garden very healthy. My peonies are the size of dishes.

The ornamental Crabtree in our front yard has such short-lived blossoms. But the color and the fragrance are so memorable. And photogenic.

A wonderful bit of freedom during the Covid lockdown led me to a local park still filled with snow. I liked the lacy overlay of the evergreen needles against the snowy background. The grey tones are somewhat symbolic of the collective mood in our societies.

Sometimes the sun combined with snow haze can turn an everyday common spot into something magical. Add some moody lines and shadows and voila. This is a neighborhood baseball park in Alberta Canada.

I am not a huge fan of snow and cold weather, but when I can brave our Canadian -C temperatures, I am always rewarded. This is a lonely path far up the riverbank in central Edmonton. No one was out walking in the cold. But the light was so beautiful and the textures were charming. I considered leaving the shot in full color, but the dark and light contrasts heightened the feeling of being alone.

A perfect day in Honolulu Hawaii awaiting our ship to leave port. Issues kept the ship in port an extra day, but it also allowed me this vantage point for a shot of the harbor and gorgeous Hawaiian vista.

Sometimes, the best photo ops find you, especially along a dreary nearly deserted highway. We sped over the bridge past this placid sight, but I encouraged my husband to stop and turn back. The perfect reflections, the still river, and the fog had to be captured in an image for a forever memory of natural beauty.

North Thompson River in British Columbia. We were making our way back to Alberta early morning along a nearly deserted highway. I could hardly believe my eyes at the clarity of the reflection. We stopped and I ran back fearing the scene would change. It did not. What peaceful magic.

My husband and I love Alberta/British Columbia road trips, especially in the fall. We were on our way to Jasper when this pretty mountain vista caught my eye. It just needed a little natural framing to perfect it.

My iPhone’s close-up shooting ability always astounds me. Roses, raindrops, and pretty soft sunlight are the perfect mix. Shot in Victoria, British Columbia.

Paragliders and Clover Point in Victoria BC are naturals together. This much-loved spot attracts thousands daily including those who crave the wind for their sport. This day proved particularly challenging for paragliders new to the sport. I loved the rich blue of his sail against the moody sky.

I am a huge fan of cars and will always grab a shot when I see a car show. This car was part of an auction that I happened across. I took a few shots of the bigger picture, but the hood ornament really caught my eye. The sky was a great colour and the bit of red and white of the auction tent backed the shot nicely. Curves, angles, smooth surface, a little reflected light. My inner eye was happy.

The Callingwood skatepark offers up great photo ops, but this time nature joined in. I crouched and shimmied till the cloud aligned with the sign. What a fun shot!

A yard sale yielded this beautiful Waterford Crystal decanter. Our bedroom window Venetian blinds yield these pretty golden bars of light at sunset. The two things were meant to be together.

Shot outside Honolulu, Hawaii along the Kalanianaole Highway, down from Makapu’u Point State Park. Well worth taking a drive. The weather cleared enough to brighten the water color to this gorgeous turquoise.

Hawaii yields up flower photos everywhere. I was walking away from our hotel when I espied this hibiscus in full bloom tinted by late day warm light. The Portrait feature on the iPhone 7Plus neatly blurs the cluttered background.

Grabbing a window seat when flying over the Rockies westward to Vancouver Island is so rewarding. I love the contrast and textures in this image. Keeping the lens close to the window helped to avoid reflections.

Although I live up the highway in Victoria, spending time in this coastal village, Sidney, is always a treat. I never tire of this pretty view. I am standing on “Glass Beach” while taking this shot (so named due to an abundance of beach glass). The near-still reflections and the moody sky in the background begged an elimination of colour to intensify the moodiness of the scene.