Katherine Blake Photography
Campbell River Campbell River, BC, Canada

I’m ready to shake off my work week and decide on somewhere to explore with my camera this weekend.

Waterfalls and reflections from one of my many visits to Strathcona Park.

Back in my happy place for today’s post, Strathcona Park! I am so lucky especially with the craziness of this past year to be living close to such a beautiful place. I always get home feeling happy and fresher after a visit to the park.

I had seen some soft pretty sunrise colours most of the week on my way to work so I decided to get up early Saturday morning in hopes for at least one more day of colour before the rain that was predicted. The tide was in & there wasn’t much colour but I was able to use the time to sit and enjoy the view with a cup of tea while working on some long exposures images.

My feet sinking into the sand & hands numb from the cold wind but I could not be happier watching the waves crash & breathing the fresh ocean air.

The beautiful view from last Saturday’s windy beach walk. Cool crisp ocean air, soft warm light over the coastal mountains, & the lovely green ocean water from the herring spawn.

Decided to stop for lunch & a walk along the beach on my way home Saturday. My hands & face were pretty numb when I got back to my car but it felt so good to be outside in the fresh air & cool wind.

This isn’t one of my usual images but when I found this very cool looking Chinese lantern seed pod in my garden the other day & couldn’t help but get out my rarely used macro lens to photograph it

Memories of the beautiful autumn colours from a trip down island to finally get to see the Shawnigan Creek stone bridge. It’s an image seen many times over as there isn’t a lot of space to try for something different but that didn’t take away from how beautiful it is there.

We’d had a fun day out exploring with our cameras and were heading home when we saw a bunch of eagles near the beach so of course we had to pull over and get the cameras out. Getting to see this beautiful eagle soar above us made for the perfect end to our day.

We stopped at this spot because the mountains looked beautiful then we saw the reflections on the lake & decided to climb down the bank where we saw all these cool stumps and finally when I got this image open on my computer it was the clouds that really drew me in. There is just so much to see when we take the time to really look.

How can I not love where I live when this is a typical view for an afternoon walk along the beach.

I love the look of the snow covered mountains in Strathcona Park as they peak through the clouds

Seems I just don’t ever grow tired of the stunning views that can be found in Strathcona Provincial Park! I had a great time exploring the beautiful scenery in the park on Saturday & was excited to pull over to get this shot of Wolf Mountain from the side of the road. Click to see the full image.

I don’t normally photograph crows or ravens but I couldn’t help but go grab my camera when I spotted this poor crow unsuccessfully trying to hide from the wind and rain.

I love the look of a frozen waterfall....especially when I get to see with one of my favourite people. My daughter & I were able to get out and have a bit of fun before our weekend of heavy snowfall started.

A beautiful heron crane reflection from one of my sunset beach walks last week.

A little cloud drama below Marble Peak to help show how beautiful Strathcona Park can be even on a grey day.

I’ve always loved photographing Heron Cranes & eagles but this year I was lucky enough to be able to add bears to my list.

It was a different year but still a good one for me. Like everyone else, I missed spending time with friends and family but was still able to cherish and enjoy what little time I could have with my inner circle of family and friends. This is an image for one of those times.....a day in the foggy mountains with Bill.

A little lake with a thin layer of ice forming on the far side up in the mountains near Campbell River

I hope everyone has themselves a Beary Merry Christmas

When you’re driving around in the fog and pop out on to the top of a hill to discover you can just see the peaks of the coastal mountains above the clouds. Just so many magical views here on Vancouver Island.

Another Saturday sunrise from the side of a mountain.... just a hint of colour in the sky above and a wisp of fog in the trees below but it was still enough to capture my attention.

A beautiful bald eagle perched on a rock enjoying the evening light with Quadra Island and the Cape Mudge Lighthouse behind it.

Ive been pretty low key & quiet lately so thought Id come on and post an image I was working on last night. I know we all love the warmth of summer but as a landscape photographer, Im really looking forward to beautiful cool misty moody fall days to get out and explore with my camera. This was from one of those days last year when my girlfriend & I went up to Mountain Washington to discover the most amazing foggy fall views along the Paradise Meadows alpine trail.

Summer seems to have finally arrived so my girlfriend and I decided to go for a walk along the beach to cool down. We spotted this beautiful eagle at the end of our evening and this was the point where she got the look telling her they we may be getting a bit too close for comfort.

From a day of socially distanced fishing at McCreight Lake. It went from clear sunny skies to poured rain at one point but was still a great day.

I know, lots of waterfall images this week but its Waterfall Wednesday and it was just so beautiful up at Karst Creek last week! Lol

Another image from my Canada Day visit to Karst Creek in beautiful Strathcona Park. I was so excited to hear water rushing before I started the trail as I knew that meant there would be lots of water in the creek.....which isnt always the case in summer.

Spent my Canada Day on a solo adventure exploring Karst Creek. I missed the laughs that come with company on these adventures but it was still great to be out on my own enjoying the beautiful sights and sound of Strathcona Park.

We were almost knee deep in cold water and a pair of expensive sunglasses may have been lost but what a beautiful sight!

This is the first time in a few years that my Siberian Iris has bloomed so of course I needed to try and capture how beautiful it looked after a May shower.

I loved how calm and quiet it was at the lake on a day of exploring with our quad last month. It was strange to see the normally busy camping spot empty.

My husband and I have noticed over the last few months that we have a talent for finding waterfalls that we just cant get good access. This particular one was directly below the bridge we were one. Not the angle I would have liked for photographing it but it was still a beautiful sight.

Ive always been fascinated by the stumps in and around Buttle Lake. Each one like a piece of modern art.

It was 17 years ago today that cancer took my dad. He took me fishing a lot growing up and not many people knew it, but he was a pretty good landscape photographer. I think he would have liked this image from a day of fishing on McCreight Lake that Bill & I did last month.

I love waterfalls and right now with the winter runoff, they are even more spectacular! This is one we saw from across the valley while out for a drive a few weeks ago.

A beautiful little creek we found while Bill & I were out for a quad ride in the mountains last week.

Another day, another much needed adventure close to home. This is the beautiful view we had while stopped for a lunch break at Stella Lake.

Finally sat at my computer for a bit the other day and worked on a couple images. This is a beautiful waterfall we saw on the side of the road while out for a rainy day drive.

Thought Id take a break from painting to say Happy Earth Day everyone! I cant wait to get back out and explore this beautiful planet again but for now Ill settle for looking back at some past images. This one is from Buttle Lake before the parks were closed

Still filling my time at home working on macro photography and focus stacking. I am so lucky to have a yard to spend time in during this time to isolation.

Staying home has me realizing just how much I miss being able to get out and explore this beautiful island that I live on. I cant wait to get out and enjoy this beautiful place once again.

Wild bleeding hearts.....another one of my favourites thats blooming in my garden right.

Had some fun yesterday with a mirror, my macro lens & my flowering red current.

So happy to see my Star Magnolia is starting to bloom.

Remembering back to watching the sunset when life felt a bit less stressed but also appreciating that I live in a place where I can get out and enjoy nature while still being socially isolated. Hope everyone is doing well!

Strathcona Park is one of my favourite places to explore. It has stunning views all year round!

Ansel Adams has always been one of my favourite photographers and yesterday was his birthday so it seems fitting to be posting a black and white image.

I can still remember how numb my feet were as I stood in the creek taking this image of the icy waters flowing from Christie Falls.

Its a long weekend here in BC for Family Day so I thought I would share another image from last weekend when I was up at Buttle Lake with my son and his dog. Both my kids are grown and out doing their own thing now so I truly cherish the time I get to spend with them.

Beautiful lakeside winter view of Strathcona Parks Buttle Lake from my outing with Michael & Gracie the other day. I would have loved to have gotten some long exposures of the lake but Gracie was having so fun that it didnt feel right stopping her from running in to the water. Lol

I love getting to spend time with my kids so I was really happy to have time to go for a drive with Michael the other day. While his adorable dog Gracie ran in and out of the lake getting sticks and rocks, we got to enjoy watching the mountains as they would disappear and reappear in & out of the constantly moving clouds.

Thats right...,two posts in one day!! Lol I love the way the flow of water has eroded the rocks at Nymph Falls.

I decided to take advantage of Mondays sunshine and headed to the beach to watch the tide go out. Even with my warm layers, I was only able to stay about an hour before the cold wind was too much for me. It took some time to warm up afterwards, but it was totally worth it to sit in the not so warm sun and watch the waves crashing over the rocks.

It was 17 years ago this year that I lost my dad and today would have been his 73rd birthday. I was very much a daddys girl and although he didnt get to see me inherit his interest in landscape photography, I think he would have been proud of what Ive learned over these past few years. This ones for you dad!

My Grandma Hartman loved ferns as do I so when I saw them while out walking around Elk Falls on Monday, I knew I had to stop and get a picture.

Waterfalls are one of my favourite things to photographer! This is one I took at Nymph Falls on a misty November morning while out for a Saturday adventure.