Catching a nice sunset is always a good motivator for a last minute mountain hike. Here's tonight's view from the summit of Mt. Baldy overlooking Shawnigan Lake.
'Back to the Roots' - Vancouver International Film Festival - Nov. 23 2016
I'm excited to be a part of 'Back to the Roots', a forest-themed evening at this year's Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival (VIMFF) taking place tomorrow, Wednesday, Nov. 23 at the Rio Theater. I'll be presenting the Ancient Forest Alliance documentary produced by Darryl Augustine, the drone video I filmed of our climb up Big Lonely Doug, and a slideshow of my favourite images from the coast. The night also features a peek at the Heartwood Documentree by Daniel Pierce and a short documentary titled "Primeval" by Damien Gillis on the ancient forests of the Incomappleux Valley. The event starts at 7:30pm (doors 6:30pm) and tickets ($19) are available online here. If you're in the area, it would be great to see you there!
The night was fantastic!! Thank you to everyone who made it out! It was an honour presenting to a sold-out crowd of over 400 people. If you weren't able to make the event, you can still see the videos I shared below. Best, TJ.
Upgrade Time! The New Canon 5D MKIV
in Gear
It's always exciting bringing a new piece of gear into your creative field, especially a camera as nice as the new 5D MKIV. I'm not one to run out the door though and buy each camera or phone that hits the market. The pace of technology is simply too great and unless I can point to very specific things that are holding me back with my current setup, I'll stick with it. Back in the film days I shot with the Canon EOS 1N before making the switch to digital in 2006 with the Canon 1D MKII. I shot with that right up until 2012 when I bought the 5D MKII, just a month before the MKIII would come out. The MKII has definitely served me well over the past 4 years, capturing beautiful images and video while being dragged through soaking wet rainforests, over rugged clearcuts, and to the tops of 250ft trees. But certain technical elements were starting to show their age, most notably the auto-focus system, which struggled in low-light and often missed on important shots. I decided it was time. The MKIV's improved auto-focus system, dynamic range, higher resolution, and low-light capabilities, along with its added touch screen, GPS, WiFi, and HDR video with focus tracking, are all much welcomed additions. I can definitely see how it will improve critical areas in my field of shooting on a day-to-day basis, which includes a lot of hand-held shooting in dark forests. I can't wait to get it out in the woods and I'll be sure to post some images once I get back!
Surf's Up!
in Snapshot
If you can brave the cold water, the west coast of Vancouver Island is home to some fantastic waves in winter. This past week I was happy to catch some action while heading out on a hiking trip. I used to photograph a lot of skateboarding back in the day so it was fun to try my hand at some surfing. It's beautiful blend of human and nature. I have fond childhood memories of standing on the shore and watching my Dad surf as well. The smell of the ocean mixed with campfire is so nostalgic for me around this time of year. Stoked to shoot some more again this season! Might like to find a longer lens than the 70-200mm as well.
Bonsai Tree at Fairy Lake - Port Renfrew
This little hemlock tree at Fairy Lake near Port Renfrew is simply incredible. Growing out of a submerged log, it hasn’t had the resources to get much bigger than a few feet tall - even though it's known to be at least 30-40 years old. It must also be one of the most photographed trees on Vancouver Island! No two photos are quite the same though as the surrounding scenery is always changing - fall vs. spring, morning vs. evening, drought vs. flood. Below are a few images I’ve captured, including when heavy rains nearly submerged the tree. A few times a year the water level gets so high that the tree goes completely under water! How it survives that and the constant attention it receives, I'm not quite sure, but I'm always thankful for its zen-like presence amidst our busy and chaotic world. Prints available by emailing prints@tjwatt.com