Images: Where Are They?

My practice at the beginning of a new year is to review the images I’ve made over the previous 12 months. This time, it didn’t take too long. There just aren’t that many images in my 2025 catalogue. 

The number of images I make in a given year can number in the thousands. In 2025 I barely made 1000 images. What happened?

A broad overlook shows that through the Covid years until now my photographic output has declined. Here at home in the Central Okanagan this is very evident. I haven’t spent nearly the same amount of time hiking and exploring as I had done in the past. Part of that is age related. I’m not as agile as in  my younger years so I’m not hiking to less accessible places.

And I have a sidekick, Tucker, my 5  year old cockapoo with whom I spend a great deal of time. He loves to travel with me and I love to take him on walks that often do not involve my camera. I’ve  also become a voracious reader. Reading history based mysteries has become a real passion. It  is time well spent but it is time when in previous years I would be out with my camera.

At home there  is no doubt that my photographic priorities have changed. My approach is more targeted and planned. I enjoy photographing the influence of seasonal colors on our environment. The yellow blanket of Balsamroot flowers that can be seen in the spring up and down the Okanagan Valley present a truly magnificent scene. Though the season is short I managed to capture a sizeable collection of images that I think represents the beauty this lovely wild flower.

Fall in the Okanagan Valley is also very colourful. The mix of deciduous trees and  Ponderosa Pines  provides a lovely contrast of evergreen trees and bright yellow and orange leaves from such trees as the aspen, birch and cottonwood trees.  

Areas around the Mll Creek Regional Park and the Mission Creek Greenway are easily accessible and close to home. They provide me with lots of  opportunities to make interesting compositions.

Winters seem to be changing. Accumulations of snow is much less than we’ve previously seen. This year, for example, only a skiff has fallen  and given that I am writing this blog in late January it’s possible that we might not get much more. When there is snow, I like to use it as a prop to accent a variety of old buildings, barns and vintage cars and trucks that I have found in the Central Okanagan. I love the look of pure white against the rough texture and weather worn colours of the vintage vehicles and buildings I’ve located.

When we  are traveling away from Kelowna, I love being out with my camera. Nothing is targeted. I photograph what I find interesting. Destinations on Vancouver Island such as Victoria, Qualicum Beach, Port Renfrew and Parksville offer so much to photograph. The possibilities seem endless. Past trips to Europe, Australia and New Zealand have kept my camera very busy.

Perhaps it’s as simple as being too familiar with my local areas that I’m not motivated to get out and make photographs. Whatever it is, I haven’t lost my interest in photography and in making images. There will be many more photographic adventures.

The images I’ve included below were made in 2025. The first 2 images are of Balsamroot flowers that emerge up and down the Okanagan Valley every Spring. The last 3 images were made near my home in Kelowna along Mission Creek in the Fall. The remaining images were made during the 3 separate trips we made to Vancouver Island.