Sheree

Zielke

Our odd local Alberta weather this summer was harsh on my peonies. The plant struggled, but managed to yield five blooms; this was one of them. I loved the rainy jewels adorning this valiant flower, almost in honour of its fragile strength.

Oh, my “broken beauty!” This Tiger Swallowtail butterfly, even though seemingly disabled, was going about its business gathering lilac nectar with nary a hint of a problem.

A friend gave me this Easter Lily. I had it on a dining table where it was caught up in the morning sunshine. I had to have the shot. I used black foam board to block out background clutter. And I misted with a plant spray bottle. I am glad others found this beautiful, too.

Road trips are so grand. Especially on a highway known as the Sea to Sky highway in British Columbia. It was a breathtaking vista and a little hard to capture.

I wanted to test my iPhone’s ability to capture moving flames. I threw some color enhancing crystals on the logs and waited. It was magical.

As avid travelers, we feel like this pandemic has clipped our wings. However, we are blessed with gorgeous Rocky mountains only four hours away in Jasper National Park. Snowcaps, wispy cotton candy clouds, and cerulean blue skies make for a perfect photo op.

One of the prettiest harbors at sunset is in downtown Victoria, British Columbia. I love the gentle wavy reflections from the boat riggings.

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.