A Photo Walk at Roberts Memorial Provincial Park Vancouver Island

We've recently made a pretty big move from the Fraser Valley to Vancouver Island. For the past few months we've been so busy getting settled in and doing stuff to make our home ours that I've not had time to get out and explore this stunning island. Join me as address that by taking a photo walk at Roberts Memorial Park on Vancouver Island.

It's mid October here and with a change in season I usually tend to switch up my creative focus. I decided it's been a while since I've done a photo walk so I dusted off my camera gear (literally) and headed out for a drive. Thankfully, I didn't have to venture far before I

found something picture worthy.

I headed up Cedar Rd. in South Nanaimo and ended up at a local grocery store parking lot where a nice young man advised me they were selling hotdogs to fundraise for their high school volleyball team to head to Hawaii next year. I threw $10 in the collection bin and left without my hotdog.

I knew of some local parks in the nearby area so I decided to head back South on Yellow Point Rd. My intent was to end up at Blue Heron park, but to my surprise I ended up at Roberts Memorial Park first. I've only headed North on Yellow Point so far and never that far up so this was a pleasant surprise.

I pulled into the muddy gravel parking lot trying to avoid the many puddle-filled potholes. The trail is adjacent to the parking lot so I was able to quickly head out on the trail as soon as I arrived.

The air was cool and the forest was damp and dewy from the morning rain. The sun crept through the tree canopy bathing the fern covered forest floor in a beautiful dappled light. It was almost mystical. Here's the first image from my stroll.

Sony A7iii 70-200mm f4 Sony Lens, f/8 1/50, Handheld. Edited in Lightroom

This was an important reminder to check my camera settings before I start shooting. The above image was one of the first ones that day and I didn't realize I was in aperture priority mode. I got caught up in the moment and hadn't been out shooting for a few months. Plainly speaking, I was rusty. This was shot at an aperture of f/4 and a shutter speed of 1/50. . I shot it handheld and the ISO was too low for the lighting conditions. You can actually see the lens blur. I mostly always shoot in aperture priority mode unless I need to freeze action or I'm working with off camera flash, then I switch to manual.

I'll give myself a bit of grace here as I think the softness in the image works in its favour by adding to the mystical mood of the forest.

Typically, in these shooting conditions I would have started at an aperture of f/8 and increased my ISO to combat too low of a shutter speed. Seeing as I was hand holding my camera, any shutter speed under 1/125 would prompt me to increase my ISO. I did end up catching my mistake shortly after I took this image so I adjusted my ISO to 800 and remained on aperture priority mode until I got to the water. You can see in this next image how these simple adjustments improved the image quality.

Sony a7iii, 70-200mm at 70mm, 1/200 at f/8, Handheld, Edited in Lightroom

I continued my walk through the old growth forest. The ground was covered with lush dewy ferns damp from the morning rain and the trees, ancient and tired, so much so that many took their final resting place alongside the meandering trail. I swear you can hear the irritated little grunts of mischievous sprites as they went about their afternoon chores.

I made my way further down the trail until the pathway widened to reveal glimpses of the Pacific ocean. This was my first time to this park and there was a pit toilet at the end of the trail which is always a welcome find for us IBD'ers. I passed through the last line of trees and the ocean spanned from left to right in front of me. It was beautiful (and chilly).

In the near distance, to my right lay large ocean smoothed moss covered rocks and a thin dirt pathway carved through the mossy green earth covered ground. Two trees perched on a small rocky jut at the end of the path; a sparsely covered coniferous tree towered over a scrawny tired tree underneath. The sound of the ocean lapping at the rocky base beneath them filled the air.

Sony a7iii, 70-200mm at 70mm, 1/100 at f/8, Handheld, Edited in Lightroom

To my left was a glorious expanse of smoothed rock face eroded by the ocean over time. Clusters of little pits peppered the surface creating lovely patterns to enjoy. I wonder how many years it took to get to this point? I decided to venture out over the rocks closer to the water to grab some shots. In this next image you can see how I used the natural separations of the rocks as leading lines. Such a simple way to create interest in an image. This would also make a great black and white print.

Sony a7iii, 70-200mm at 70mm, 1/500 at f/4, Handheld, Edited in Lightroom

The ocean was growing more and more active and a couple of seagulls took advantage of the rocky platform to do some pruning. The wind was whipping, but this little guy didn't mind in the least. He was as happy as a clam. Look how cute he is shaking the water off his feathers. I think he's beautiful.

This set of images was shot with my Sony a7iii, 70-200mm, varied focal lengths and shutter speeds, Edited in Lightroom

All in all I would say this was a successful little photo walk. I was reminded to check my camera settings before I shoot, I got to explore a new place and I got some much needed exercise in the fresh sea air. I'm looking forward to heading out again soon. The leaves are changing swiftly and before I know it November will be here.

Until next time, happy creating, whatever your medium is!

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Christie

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