Stormy Evening at the Majorville Medicine Wheel

A stormy fall evening at the Majorville Medicine Wheel in southern Alberta.  I took this photo many years ago, using a Pentax 645 medium-format camera with a 45mm lens and Fuji Velvia transparency film.  The wind was blowing so hard, I literally had to hold down my tripod with both hands so it would not blow over in the wind.  Even though this was not a really long exposure, the grass in the foreground was still blurred.  

The thing that really makes this photo stand out is the intense, vivid colours in the sky as the sun was setting below the edge of a chinook arch.  I've been back to the medicine wheel site many times over the years, but I have never seen conditions like repeated - definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

This image was recently selected by Ducks Unlimited Canada to accompany an article on the great conservation work they have been doing in the area of the Majorville Medicine Wheel.

Majorville Medicine Wheel, Alberta

More Malaspina Galleries Images

I recently added a new gallery of images from the fascinating Malaspina Galleries on Gabriola Island to my Photoshelter stock photo archives (the following link opens in a new window):

Malaspina Galleries, Gabriola Island BC

Here are a few more sample images...

Malaspina Galleries, Gabriola Island

Malaspina Galleries, Gabriola Island

Elder Cedar Nature Reserve

We've spent the last couple of days (between rain storms) exploring the Elder Cedar Nature Reserve on Gabriola Island.  This beautiful reserve protects the last remaining fragment of old growth forest on Gabriola.

Elder Cedar Nature Reserve, Gabriola Island

The Elder Cedar (S'ul-hween X'pey) Nature Reserve protects 65 hectares of mature temperate forest.  Several streams flow through the reserve, and the habitat is home to a wide array of plant and animal species.

Elder Cedar Nature Reserve

A 1.4 kilometer loop trail leads visitors through the reserve. 

Stepping Stones

Rainforest Bridge

Rainforest Stream, Elder Cedar Nature Reserve

You can find more information about the Elder Cedar Nature Reserve by visiting the Islands Trust Protected Places web site.

You can see more images of the Elder Cedar Nature Reserve and Gabriola Island by visiting our web site:  Images West - Gabriola Island Gallery

Descanso Bay Regional Park, Gabriola

Now that we're getting settled into our new digs on Gabriola, we took advantage of a recent sunny day to explore Descanso Bay Regional Park.  Here are some of the images from that afternoon...

Descanso Bay Regional Park, Gabriola Island

Driftwood Log, Descanso Bay

Exposed Sandstone, Descanso Bay

Eroded Sandstone Beach

MV Quinsam

More Gabriola Island images can be found on our web site at www.ImagesWest.ca