Sheree

Zielke

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.

Having lost my ability to drag around a heavy DSLR camera, lenses, and tripods, I count my blessings that my iPhone 7Plus exists. Light and always in my hand, it allows me to indulge my “sight” and never miss a shot. This one begged to be taken. It is the Fisgard lighthouse at Fort Rodd Hill in Victoria, BC. The leading line of the path and the dramatic skies made this a magical shot for me.

I cannot begin to say how blessed I am to live on the Salish Sea, where the Almighty blesses us with incredible sunsets. I was busily doing something else inside my apartment when a strong golden hue arose on the walls. I looked outside and gasped. James Bay has never looked prettier. I did nothing to saturate this color; this is REAL!

I live near one of the biggest malls in the world: West Edmonton Mall. I was walking the halls one day and espied this giant hoop (ring). I was entranced by the curves competing with the ceiling lines and, of course, the golden sheen. I looked at a straight-on shot, but it did nothing for me. I twisted and turned, tapped to find the correct exposure, and got this skewed shot. It felt right.

This Enesco (Treasured Memories) “World War I Doughboy” was discovered at a flea market. The seller was asking a dollar. How could I pass him by? He found a new home on our windowsill in Victoria where we live by the ocean. We were nearing our Canadian “Remembrance Day” and I thought this sweet figurine would make a great photo. Because of the strong light coming from behind him off the ocean, he was falling into silhouette. So I grabbed a piece of the whiteboard and reflected the strong sunlight back onto him. As I did, I realized the window had become a mirror for both the whiteboard and his shadow. I loved it!

One of my favourite spots on the planet, Clover Point, just off Dallas Road in Victoria, BC. The spot with its massive family of resident pigeons attracts tourists and locals alike, at all hours of the day. But timed with a beautiful ocean sunset, a visit becomes sublime.

Victoria, British Columbia inner harbour. This is normally a pretty place, but I think grey fog and muted lights made it spectacular.