Texada lightpainting experiment

We just got back from a family holiday on Texada Island, where we stayed for three amazing nights at Shelter Point, spending our time exploring Shingle Beach, Heisholt Lake, Gillies Bay and more.

Shingle Beach on Texada Island

It didn’t take long for the magic of the island to spark creativity amongst the family. We decided to set up down on the beach and try our hand at some unique lightpainting ideas. Long exposures, the faint light and deep colour of dusk, a few flashlights and whole lot of energy, helped us to create the images below.

Although we generated some great shots the first night, we were bursting with ideas for our second night of lightpainting. Everyone wanted to get in the action this time, despite the strange looks from other campers who had no idea why we were waving flashlights around in frantic fashion.

It was on the third night that we started to really refine our technique. I conceptualized a shot of a lightpainted car parked atop the log. After pressing the shutter on self-timer (45 seond exposure) I quickly ran behind the log and painted (with a regular flashlight) what I wanted my car-of-light to look like. I was quite happy with the outcome, but wasn’t finished despite the rapid loss of available dusk light. I employed the help of my neice and nephew for the grand finale. My nephew was tasked with lightpainting his sister, while I lightpainted a car around her. This was the last shot taken in a very successful (and a whole lot of fun) lightpainting experiment at one of the most beautiful spots on BC’s Sunshine Coast. If you want to learn more about lightpainting, be sure to check out our upcoming workshop in Mount Robson. I’ll bring the flashlights 🙂

The Province

The Province newspaper just published a great article by Jane Mundy on travel highlights of the Sunshine Coast, including the Sunshine Coast Trail, geocaching, and nature photography workshops.

Thank you to the Province and to Jane for helping us expose the beauty of the Sunshine Coast!

Please enjoy these other Sunshine Coast images.

Rushing creek found in the Mud Lake/Duck Lake trail system

The Sunshine Coast is blessed with ocean and freshwater lakes, including Haslam Lake in Powell River.

The Sunshine Coast is surrounded by coastal rainforest.

Quarry lake on Texada Island

Photo workshop participant awaits the perfect sunset moment. Palm Beach near Powell River.

Colleen and Vincent Wedding ~ August 6, 2011

The Sunshine Coast is one amazing place to get married, that is, if you find beaches, forests, waterfalls and magical sunsets romantic. Colleen and Vince had wanted shots that looked less “posed” and were very keen to incorporate the environment into their images wherever possible. I can do all that. The getting ready session was a lot of fun. Like a fly on the wall I tried to capture the fun and excitement of Colleen and her party getting ready for the big moment.

We then headed to Palm Beach, the extraordinary site of this beautiful ceremony.

After a series of family portraits on the grass of Palm Beach park, I took the bridal party out to the tidal pools for some fun (hereafter known as the bridal pools :). They had great energy and were really starting to find their groove for the camera.

Colleen and Vince also wanted some shots in the forests of Powell River. Can anyone blame them? So up Duck Lake Road we went.

The reception was held at Dwight Hall in Powell River’s Historic Townsite. Congratulations go out to Colleen and Vince and their families.