The Last of Us?

Alberta, Canada, has become a popular place for filming. You might recognize some of the following movie titles—Unforgiven, The Revenant, Brokeback Mountain, and Legends of the Fall—a handful that have been shot here.

This image was not a film set from the post-apocalyptic HBO series The Last of Us, recently filmed in parts of Alberta. This fire began in the early morning hours when the temperature outside was about -16 degrees F and it’s currently under investigation. As fire crews battled the blaze, the water began freezing and for perspective, one gallon of frozen water weighs just over eight pounds.

Built in the early nineteen hundreds, this historic hotel did not survive the lethal combination of fire and the crushing weight of the ice.

I remember this hotel from when I was in my twenties. The bar was a little on the rough side but stuff like that doesn’t matter as much when you’re young and invincible.

It was impossible to get close, so I shot these using my telephoto lens. While doing so I discovered that if positioned myself just right, I could capture a rainbow. Which I did right before my bare fingers turned numb from the cold.

What I love about my life is the passion my husband and I share for nature, and we make sure to take time to appreciate whatever that brings. Sometimes it’s beautiful but other times it’s incredibly destructive.

This fire did not take any lives, but a piece of history has been lost. The building was demolished a couple of hours after these photos were taken.

Take time to appreciate the places and people that surround you—you never know when they’ll be gone forever.

One snowflake…

on a fall leaf.

snowflake balanced on a fall leaf

balanced [ˈbalənst]

a state of equilibrium

Whether or not you’re a fan…it’s here. This year on top of the added stresses the holiday season brings, we have Covid numbers increasing and early season snowfall! It’s the perfect time to think about balance. It’s tempting to jump on the 2020 Year from Hell bandwagon but when I think about it, I can find many things to be grateful for. If you’re finding that difficult to do I highly recommend taking one photo a day. It doesn’t have to be an incredible shot either. It’s the intention being set, the routine being followed; a purpose for the day that you will look beyond the disconnect and make a connection with something. It may not happen overnight but that one little gesture, one photo, can change your mindset and with that, bring balance.

After the freeze on a mountain lake…

pattern [ˈpadərn]

a repeated decorative design

Nature tells us everything that we need to know if we take time to study it. This might be one of my favorite ice views, sculpted by bitter cold and intense winds. Well worth the icy fingertips…

Winter…

winds.

black and white landscape with snow and blowing wind

This world is but a canvas to our imagination.

Henry David Thoreau

The wind chill was -29 degrees Celsius, -20 Farenheit. Bitterly cold and bone chilling but as we descended into the valley I couldn’t resist jumping out to capture this minimalist landscape.

The hills were reminiscent of waves and I was reminded of my times at sea. Only during winter could a prairie landscape take on the characteristics of the ocean.

Nature is amazing…make time for it.

Pheasant…

in the snow.

What’s really important is to simplify. The work of most photographers would be improved immensely if they could do one thing: get rid of the extraneous. If you strive for simplicity, you are more likely to reach the viewer.

William Albert Allard

One of the reasons that I absolutely love winter photography! It’s like having a clean canvas, uncluttered and primed.

Today was bitterly cold with periods of heavy snow but it was also the perfect day to spot pheasants: often overlooked as they blend so easily into ground vegetation.

Freezing fingers, wet gear…all so worth it! I believe that’s part of the magic of photography. Heading outdoors with no expectations and finding a little magic somewhere.

And tired out dogs…that’s a good thing too.