I been AWOL for awhile and I apologize for it. It has been an active summer for my photography and I have been posting what I can on my Facebook. Just didn’t have the energy or time to write the stories about them at the time. I am here now and I have a lot to say. I may do some separate blogs for some of these adventures because of all the things that went on. Summer has definitely ended since I started writing this blog post now that it is October. This, well count this as a little summary of everything.

This summer here in Alberta was a very active one for stormy weather, beautiful landscapes, wonderful wildlife, and just taking in the nature. I still went out, photographing some of the storms and I also had learned a valuable life lesson doing so.

I posted my photos from June here of chasing some rainy storm clouds with a friend. What I have not shared is the unbelievable opportunity I got to photograph one of the animals I been dying in trying to photograph. A “Brush Wolf” or “Plains Wolf” or more commonly known to everyone, The Coyote.

There was a den that was living in my town and the pups were active on and around the hill of their den. I would not have known about this den if it were not for my sister because it was not in a spot I would believe to see one. On the outskirts of town but very near to the highway and to heavy foot traffic due to an active walking path. Yet there was a den there and the pups were just gorgeous. They were unbelievable and it was remarkable that the Momma Coyote let me sit there closely and observe. She kept her eyes on me but did not deem a threat to me or me to her young. One pup kept coming out and became curious, the watchful sibling, and quietly observed me. The sun was just starting to set and the den was on the perfect side to capture the light. I hope to see something like this again but I will always treasure the photos I got. I can finally say I got myself a Coyote picture.

Storms were blowing through all of Alberta but mainly down in Southern Alberta. That did not stop me on following the rain clouds and storms in my area. There is a plan for a trip maybe next year in 2026 but more than likely in 2027 that I want to do in Oklahoma on one of the Storm Chasing Tours with professional storm chasers. I may just do one though in Southern Alberta and capture the beauty of a fully raging Alberta Storm. All proceeds from my shop will be going to my trip to Oklahoma so every purchase also helps fund for the future trips.

Leading up to the trip I am researching techniques, storm photography a little more, and the proper camera equipment to take. I say this as one of the storms that blew through Alberta, near my home, was the last storm my Canon 80D had ever seen. The storm came in fierce, raging, and ready to create war. She came in flying with lightning, the thunder roaring non-stop, and the rain so powerful that it was curtain that forced cars to stop. The rain came so suddenly that it took mere seconds for the camera I was using to be completely soaked down to the computer board of the device. No, I forgot my rain jacket for the camera and it was a rookie mistake that cost me dearly. I am happy with the new camera I got though as it is mirrorless and full frame. A game changer for me. So this next image, is the last storm image that my camera ever took.

The above is the last lightning photo that was taken with the Canon 80D. The spotty parts in the clouds were raindrops on the lens of the camera. With lightning because it is unpredictable on where it may flash and strike, it is best to do long exposure for the photography to capture a bolt. With long exposure, you risk capturing the small blurs of the raindrops as they land like the one here. That is why I love this photo so much. It is not manipulated into perfection, it is not AI, it is 100% genuine and true to its nature. I would never manipulate a picture of landscape to get the perfect sky photo. No AI is used in my photography so you can believe them to be 100% true in their nature.

Now the above is not the last photo taken with the camera. No, the last photos were taken at the University of Alberta campus grounds. A photo walk I attended and it had just freshly rained at the time. It was absolutely beautiful for lighting and the sunset was nothing far from outstanding. It was beyond words the beauty of the architecture and the nature around it. I learned lots about perspective and different angles that day. Friends would say I had to much photographing archways and doorways.

1908 is the year when the University of Alberta was founded and is home to many great academics and pathways to great careers. The buildings have great history inside them and the outsides are well preserved. Like all old buildings, universities, and historical sites, it has its share of ghost stories and hauntings. Are any of these true? One will only know if one experiences it first hand. Pembina Hall is the most prominent of buildings believing to be haunted. It is believed that Pembina Hall is haunted by the ghost of a nurse who is searching for her fiancé from the 1918 Flu Pandemic. Corbett Hall is another building of the University that is believed to be visited by a ghost named Emily who appears on stage. Other buildings of the University are Dewey’s, Athabasca Hall believed to be haunted by a little boy with blue lips. Convocation Hall is another that is believed to be haunted by an invisible organ player. Then there is the hotel just down the way of the University of Alberta. All hotels seem to also share of their ghost stories. Perhaps one day, maybe even this year, I do the Haunted Edmonton Ghost walk and listen to these stories in full.

This summer was all about learning in the field of Photography. Growing the skills that I currently have, learning new techniques, learning some very valuable life lessons, and learning new things in Photography. On the last Photo Walk I attended, I not only learned my new camera the Canon RP but I also got to learn how to take Portraits outside using flash and natural light. That was one of my most favorite workshops I have attended now in a very long time. Now I am not saying I would do Portraits now as commission cause I will stick to my Wildlife and Landscape Photography. There was something always more appealing to that style of photography but now I won’t shy away if I was asked about to do it or help out another fellow photographer. Below are some of the photos I took as I learned the Canon RP. With that, this is where I will wrap up my post for this moment.

Tschüss!

Wake Me Up When Summer Ends

Remember Remember November

Chasing A Storm