Jennifer Sawicky Photography

January 1, 2014

Prisms

I’ve decided to start 2014 off by committing to taking at least one photo per day. While I also want to commit to more regular blog posting, it certainly won’t be on a daily basis. Today, I didn’t feel like heading out into the drizzly afternoon, and found myself wondering what photographs of my chandelier would turn out like. Standard photos, it turn out, are not interesting at all, and only serve to remind me of how much I need to dedicate an afternoon to cleaning it.

The chandelier in my apartment close up… dust and all.

The thing I like so much about this light fixture is the way it throws tiny rainbows over the walls and within the fixture itself, depending on the vantage point. When I stopped trying to have sharp focus on the fixture, but instead concentrated on capturing the colours, shapes and textures, I liked the results a lot more.

There is still a hint of what this is, as the individual pieces of glass can be seen top left, but the colours are much more vibrant when the focus is reduced.

When I removed all focus, I liked the results the best 🙂

I love the tear-drop shape towards the centre of this photo.

When the focus is gone, it is all about shaw and colour. I love how saturated the blues are. — When the focus is gone, it is all about shape and colour. I love how saturated the blues are.

December 25, 2013

Birds at Finn Slough

It’s been several weeks since I went on my last photo walk with my class, but life has gotten in the way of putting together a post of my favourite photos.

The purpose of the trip was to concentrate on the altered landscape, but instead I was focused on all the birds. I rarely see swans in the local area, and on the drive in went past a field filled with them. There was no where to pull over to take a photo, and I was glad when I arrived at Finn Slough and had another opportunity for a photo.

November 17, 2013

Cooper's Hawk

I was lucky enough to have my camera while out on a walk early yesterday morning along the dikes. It was quite foggy, and I was hoping to capture a few shots for a project I am working on. I saw some moment in the tall grasses along the edge of the river, and managed to capture a sequence of a Cooper’s Hawk hunting. I didn’t manage to see in the end if he or she was success in the hunt, but it was still a great thing to witness. The thick fog adds a bit of a vintage feel to the pictures.

October 14, 2013

Autumn Days

Each year, the transition into autumn hits me harder and harder. I find the grey skies and rain day after day a bit much to handle (the colder temperatures don’t impress me that much either). However, we have recently had some gorgeous weather, and I’m glad I had my camera with me to capture a little bit of it.

I had my “photo assistant” along to enjoy the lovely weather. While I took photos of the river, he dug in the sand 🙂

This young deer was not far from where I saw several bears a few days earlier. I'm glad I was prepared this time with the correct lens. — This young deer was not far from where I saw several bears a few days earlier. I’m glad I was prepared this time with the correct lens.

September 27, 2013

Pacific Spirit Park

I spent time with my landscape photography class at Pacific Spirit Park last weekend, taking photographs on the theme of texture and patterns in the forest. It turned out to be a lovely day as the rains had stopped and the occasional sun beam burst through the trees.

I hadn’t planned on posting any photos, but when reviewing my favourites with some classmates in my Photoshop course, I was told that I should be enlarging and printing on canvas my forest photo. It’s not something I’m planning on doing, but I thought it is at least worth a share on my blog.

September 15, 2013

Whistler

I spent the Labour Day long weekend at Whistler, enjoying wonderful company and witnessing the marriage of two lovely friends 🙂 The weather was perfect, and the beer and wine were free flowing. I dragged up all my camera gear… and made very little use of it. I was simply too busy relaxing and socializing to spend too much time staring through my viewfinder.

But I did take a few photos…

You can't get a more postcard perfect day than this! — You can’t get a more postcard perfect day than this!

The ski hills don't look nearly as inviting like this - but I certainly prefer the hot sunny weather to the snow! — The ski hills don’t look nearly as inviting like this – but I certainly prefer the hot sunny weather to the snow!

I'm not sure exactly what this little one is, but it stayed still long enough for a crisp close up. — I’m not sure exactly what this little one is, but it stayed still long enough for a crisp close up.

A beautiful clear night for a BBQ and some beers (I highly recommend Whistler Brewing Co. Grapefruit Ale).

My first attempt at a star trail photo. I had a few issues with the interval timer (i.e. not knowing properly how to set it) resulting in some gaps... but all in all I am not displeased with my first go. — My first attempt at a star trail photo. I had a few issues with the interval timer (i.e. not knowing properly how to set it) resulting in some gaps… but all in all I am not displeased with my first go.

A panorama of Green Lake, just past upper Whistler Village on the way to Pemberton.

September 10, 2013

Maple Ridge

I’ve been neglecting working on this blog for some time – and even though I don’t have much to say about these photos, I really need to get back in the habit of posting.

I spent some time out in Maple Ridge collecting a few final shots for a photography assignment, here are some of my favourites.

The forest at Cliff Falls, Maple Ridge, BC

Cliff Falls in Maple Ridge, BC with a long exposure

I was taking interval photos to practice star trails, and while this one was quite boring, I did like this one photo. I don't know if that is a plane or a shooting star going across the top o the photo. September 2013 — I was taking interval photos to practice star trails, and while the final star trail photo was quite boring, I did like this shot. I don’t know if that is a plane or a shooting star going across the top o the photo. September 2013

August 18, 2013

Nature – Close to Home

I’m currently taking another digital photography course, so I have been busy the last few weeks snapping photos to meet very specific parameters. I was happy as the assignment this week was for landscape photos, both natural and urban.

I don’t yet have a macro lens, but I do really like the results of the close ups shown below – even though they really make me feel as if fall is on the way.

On a larger scale, I captured this lovely sunset near an area where I normally walk Spencer. I often see ducks, geese, heron and the occasional hawk and bald eagle in the area, as well as coyotes if we head out early enough.

Not the sharpest photo, as I was looking towards the shoreline for photos that would highlight texture. A beautiful sighting though.

July 28, 2013

My First Leopard Sighting

Londolozi is well known for the number of leopards they have living within the bounds of the property, and I was lucky enough to see three of them during my visit. They were elusive at first though, and it wasn’t until our third afternoon game drive that we finally saw our first leopard; the lions stole the show for the first half of our visit.

The photo opportunities were slim based on how the vehicle had to park, and how deep under the bushes the leopard was. Thankfully, the light was decent (unlike when we saw the lion cubs!) so I managed a few obstructed shots.

It was around 4:30 when Talley took a call that a leopard had been spotted with a fresh kill, and even though the viewing was not likely to yield great photos, we headed in that direction anyways, since we had yet to see a leopard.

When we found him, he was deep under some bushes with an impala ram. He had already had his fill, but was still working on pulling the fur off of the impala. The view from the vehicle was obstructed by the bushes, while I managed to get a couple shots and a short video clip, mostly I just watched.

This boy had a full belly, but he wasn't about to leave his kill for another animal to steal anytime soon. As the light started fading, we left him alone so he could hoist the impala or drag it to a new location to avoid hyenas. — This boy had a full belly, but he wasn’t about to leave his kill for another animal to steal anytime soon. As the light started fading, we left him alone so he could hoist the impala or drag it to a new location to avoid hyenas.

We came across this leopard, as well as others, the next morning. The photographic opportunities and the story of that morning viewing were amazing!

The Camp Pan male leopard with an impala ram, April 4, 2013 at Londolozi.

July 7, 2013

Birds in flight

I’ve not been having much success in crafting regular posts these days. I had planned on dedicating a post to birds in flight, but many of the photos I thought I would use do not look as crisp as I would like, and are now in the reject pile. Besides, it seemed a bit discriminatory towards those birds I have had the pleasure photographing that do not have the gift of flight.

So instead I’ve put together a rather random selection of birds to feature this week, and fingers crossed I will have both the time and inspiration for something more next week.

So without further ado…

A vulture coming in to land, South Africa, April 2013

Cormorant in flight over the Chobe River in Botswana, April 2013

A penguin at Boulder Beach, near Cape Town, April 2013

A group of bee-eaters along the Chobe River in Botswana, April 2013

I have no idea what type of bird this is! The photo was taken in January 2011 while on a Caribbean cruise. Several of these birds flew next to the ship for hours at a time.

An ostrich near the Cape of Good Hope, April 2013

Egyptian Geese at the Botanical Gardens in Cape Town, April 2013