Snapshot: Roosevelt Elk near Port Renfrew

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Near the town of Port Renfrew on Vancouver Island's west coast, Roosevelt elk, the Island's largest mammal, can often be found grazing in the estuaries of the San Juan and Gordon Rivers. It's such a peaceful experience sitting and watching from forest edge as these humble animals go about their daily lives. The rainforests of the pacific northwest are home to some of the most beautiful natural scenes on Earth.

Canon 5D MKII, 70-200 f.4 IS (This scene left me wishing for a longer telephoto lens!)

 

Exposed: Logging in the Walbran Valley - Vancouver Island

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I've been a little absent from posting on here over the last while but I've been out in the field shooting a lot and gathering new work. I'll be playing catch up over the next few weeks, sharing with you images of the large-scale old-growth logging that still continues here on Vancouver Island. About 75% of the original, productive old-growth forests have already been logged on BC’s southern coast, including over 90% of the valley-bottom ancient forests where the largest trees grow - we have very little time left to save what remains. By continuing to capture and share these photos and maps, I hope to put a tangible face to these remote but incredible valleys and groves. Today's post features old-growth logging by Western Forest Products up road W730 in the Walbran Valley.

Press: Global BC News Coverage of Echo Lake Eagles

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Global BC News has now covered the campaign to protect the old-growth forests of Echo Lake on the Lower Mainland! Their focus is on the bald eagles, of which hundreds often roost in the giant Douglas-fir trees around the lake. I was able to provide Global with some eagle footage that I've shot over the past few years. It's always been painfully cold while filming them in winter so I'm happy to see the efforts pay off :) They've also included a gallery with some of my images at the bottom of the article. Follow the link to check it out! http://globalnews.ca/news/1906359/clear-cutting-threatens-echo-lake-eagle-colony/

Press: Globe & Mail Coverage - Echo Lake Campaign

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Yesterday's Globe and Mail featured one of my eagle images along with a story on our campaign to protect the old-growth forests around Echo Lake near Vancouver, the world's largest night roosting site for bald eagles. About 60% of the ancient forests around the lake were protected from logging in 2013 but the remaining 40% are still at risk. In 2014 we hosted a "Bio-Blitz" which resulted in the discovery of some rare and endangered species as well. It's high time that the BC government steps in to protect this incredible ecological treasure.
• Read the Bio-Blitz press release here: www.ancientforestalliance.org/news-item.php?ID=868
• Read the Globe and Mail article here: www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/race-is-on-to-save-fraser-valleys-bald-eagles-echo-lake-old-growth-forest/article23576358/

Recipient of 2015 Eco-Hero Award

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A big thanks to all those who voted in the Hemp & Company Eco-Hero contest! I'm humbled to have tied for first with Misty MacDuffee of Raincoast Conservation Foundation. Congrats to each nominee as well, all of whom are doing amazing work in the local community. Anybody devoting time and energy each day towards making the planet a better place is an Eco-Hero to me! And thanks of course to Hemp & Company for showing leadership in recognizing citizen conservation efforts: http://www.hempandcompany.com/blogs/news/17382957-t-j-watt-of-the-ancient-forest-alliance-and-misty-macduffee-of-the-raincoast-conservation-foundation-winners-of-our-2015-eco-hero-award

Field Trip: Tofino Tour & Meares Island's Big Trees

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While visiting Tofino last weekend, my partner Jackie and I were treated to a fantastic little boat tour by local photographer Jeremy Koreski. Not only is Jeremy a highly talented photographer but he's also a very kind and generous human as well. On his new boat, we zipped around the Tofino coastline before getting dropped off for a hike on Meares Island's Big Tree Trail. The forest there truly lives up to its name. Clayoquot Sound is in a class of its own and I hope to spend more time there this year exploring its wild reaches. Big thanks to Jer for the tour and congrats to him as well on success in the Capturing the Coast contest :) Here are some shots from the day.

A young bald eagle takes flight near Meares Island in Clayoquot Sound.