Digital photography has revolutionized the way we all take pictures. From the composition of the photo to the manipulation of the data after the image is captured, there is a tremendous amount to learn. Here is an exciting opportunity to learn from Ron Watts, one of British Columbia’s best known photographers. This trip is the perfect opportunity to develop your photographic abilities while enjoying the stunning beauty of Desolation Sound aboard the Columbia III.
Desolation Sound offers much variety, from Mitlenatch Island out in the open Gulf of Georgia, to the narrow passages under the snow capped peaks of the Coast Range. We will spend a good part of a day at beautiful Mitlenatch, which was established as a Provincial Nature Park in 1961 and is the largest seabird colony in the Strait of Georgia. There is much opportunity for photographing, as in June the island is covered in spring flowers, especially wild roses, (a few prickly pear cactus as well!) and sea birds abound ” glaucous-winged gulls, pelagic cormorants, double crested cormorants, pigeon guillemots, rhinoceros auklets, and black oystercatchers. There is a small “bird blind” from where we’ll watch some of the 3000 pairs of glaucous-winged gulls sitting on their eggs.
For marine mammals, harbour seals and northern and Californian sea lions haul out on the rocks on the island, snorting and bellowing – quite a sight ” and at low tide, the tide pools provide excellent viewing for twelve species of starfish, sea anemones, crabs, shrimp, and a variety of small fish such as sculpins, sand dabs, pipefish, shiners and greenling.
Mitlenatch is a lovely serene island to wander the trails on, and because there are almost no trees, the vista of the sea is all around with endless photographing possibilities.
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On other islands such as Marina Island we’ll roam about at low tide, turning over rocks, and seeing/ photographing the intertidal life that makes its home there. Marina Is has a lovely long sand spit (called Shark Spit), where we can wander about as well…(We often see deer here)
As we tour along the passages closer to the inlets, we’ll notice a change in the topography as the land gets steeper and the mountains higher. The forested slopes are a mix of western hemlock, Douglas fir and red cedar, while the shoreline is fringed with the bright greenery of salal. We’ll go ashore in our inflatable skiff for walks to fresh water lakes on well-used forest trails, (it may be warm enough to swim!) or pause and examine the mysterious pictographs on some very spectacular cliffs. We may visit a First Nations village site, called the “Flea Village”, where Captain George Vancouver once set foot…(no fleas there now)….All along the way, if we keep an eye out, we’ll have the opportunity to see seals, minks, river otters, porpoises, eagles, deer and even black bears.
Each night we’ll anchor in a different place, and each day we’ll have outings away from the ship. If we venture up Toba Inlet (depending on weather and time ” how long we’ve spent at the other places), we’ll go ashore at the river estuary ” a whole different “ecosystem” again.
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If guests want to photograph old coastal buildings/ settlements as well as the natural world, we can make a stop at picturesque Refuge Cove, a tiny, isolated community on West Redonda Island. And along an uninterrupted shoreline of rock and trees, hidden from view, very far from any settlement, is a mysterious grave, with quite a beautiful headstone, a hundred years or so old, of two small children…No one knows the story…
Ron will be on hand to share his knowledge from more than twenty years photographing in Canada and around the world for such clients as En Route, WestWorld, Canadian Geographic, Vancouver Magazine, Photo Life and British Columbia Magazine.
In the relaxed, informal atmosphere of the Columbia III, we will discuss all aspects of photographic technique with an opportunity to review photos from each day’s outing for those using digital cameras. All skill levels are welcome, the only pre-requisite being a love of nature and an inquisitive spirit.
For those who are interested I would welcome any feedback about specific topics you would like to see covered while on the trip.
Ron Watts has been a professional photographer of people and places for more than two decades. His passion for new experience and discovery has fueled many trips to diverse parts of the globe. The search for the unexpected has taken him on assignment to Africa, South East Asia, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South America, the Caribbean and across much of North America.
Ron’s photographs have graced the covers of many of Canada’s leading magazines and he is a regular contributor to British Columbia Magazine and WestWorld. Book projects include: Last of The Wild Horses: Key Porter Adventures In Photography: Hurtig Coastlines Of North America: Discovery Books In addition, he has participated in many titles for White Cap Books depicting the North American landscape.
Ron is a founding member and partner in First Light (see images), an image agency based in Toronto. In the United States and around the world Ron’s photographs are represented by All Canada Photos.
