The Pacific Northwest is inundated with wildfires this summer.
The smoky haze produces stunning photographic effects.
Waves, Lake Crescent
“In every outthrust headland, in every curving beach, in every grain of sand there is the story of the earth.”
~ Rachel Carson
Pier Review
Incoming, Lake Crescent
“Photography is a love affair with life.”
~ Burk Uzzle
Takeoff, Juvenile Eagle
Calm
Digging Clams
“If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.”
~Vincent Van Gogh
Sooke Harbour
Morning Ride
Kingfisher
Jane Lurie Photography 
Totally beguiling, Jane. 🙂 🙂 Very unsettling for those close to the fires though.
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Thanks, Jo. Yes, it was a frightening and sad situation indeed.
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I returned five days ago from three weeks in Alberta and Montana, where I had plenty of experience with that smoky haze. Sometimes I used it to my photographic advantage, but I sure could have used more of the vaunted Rocky Mountain clarity.
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Hi Steve, Agree…as strangely captivating as the effects were, I was stuck with them for the duration. Clarity with some nice clouds is a winning combo. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
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Waves and Calm are lovely but they’re messing with me!
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I know what you mean, Jay. The illusions were freaky. Glad you like it, thanks!
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There’s beauty in everything you see, Jane. 🙂
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Thank so much, Cheryl, for such a lovely compliment. You’ve made my day. 🙂
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AS usual, well-felt and well-seen images. Beautiful work.
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Love these — artsy , relaxing, mysterious, beautiful ! Thanks !
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natural world of photos ..beautiful & great photography
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great pics Jane
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Thanks so much, BTD. Much appreciated.
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I am in awh of how you captured these scenes in your pictures. Esquisite!🙂
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Thanks so much, Thrifty Campers. Much appreciated. 😀
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The soft sight of your picture make me dreaming…
The reflection in the lake shows us a game of lines and shapes …
All your pictures are stunning, but most of all I love the black and white picture “Sooke Harbour”
Best regards, Heidi
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Very kind of you, Heidi. I am pleased these spoke to you– it was one of those exciting photography weeks. Such fun.
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Stunning landscapes! You’ve captured them beautifully.
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Thank you very much, Dee. Pleased you enjoyed them!
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Jane your photography is magical. When I have a minute to myself in the weekend, I find myself checking out your blog, and scrolling through your magical photos. I love your nature photos the most. Thank you!
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Aren’t you kind, Maria, thank you so much. It’s been a rewarding summer. 🙂
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Those waves look pretty choppy in the first image. It creates an interesting texture.
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Thanks, Michael. Incoming wake from the boat in some of the other shot. Glad you like them.
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Wow, Jane. These layers of color remind me of beautiful, intricate paper cut outs.
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Hi Patti, Yes! What a great comparison. Thanks so much.
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I love the “incoming” picture. Are the posts sticking out man made?
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Thanks, Lisa. Yes, they are man made piers – maybe remnant from old docks?
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Sent from my iPhone
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While I agree with the effects the smoke adds to the photo my favourite in this post is the juvenile Eagle which due to its (realtive) closeness wasn’t that much influenced by the smoke. Beautiful captures Jane
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Hi Abrie, I’m so glad you like the eagle– I was thrilled to have him hang around for a while and I managed a number of decent shots. Had my 70-200mm lens so that sure helped. Thanks so much and hope all is well with you.
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Ah yes, these are lovely. Calm and Pier Review really reached me.
Thank you
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Thanks, Laurie. Two faves. What an eye-popping morning it was….so glad you like them.
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These are magnificent pictures Jane!
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Thanks very much, Nicole. I had such fun photographing them!
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Amazing landscape photos, Jane!
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Thanks so much, Rabirius. It was a great day!
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The wonderful thing about nature is it has a beauty no matter what the weather or the environment. Your photos are simply a tribute to this fact. Incredible captures once again Jane, and I think the quote from Van Gogh could have come directly from you as well: “If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.”
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Hello Randall, I so appreciate your kind thoughts- thank you. I feel peaceful when photographing the environment as I’ve come to think that honoring it and documenting it is vital. Happy you enjoyed these landscapes– it was a monumental day of nature moments. 🙂
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WOW! These are excellent and make me miss fog … we get some low clouds but very little fog here. ‘Incoming, Lake Crescent’ caused me to pause … it took me a minute to realize I got a shot there years ago of a guy in a rowboat. It is also my favorite in this series … even if I had not been there.
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Hi Denise, How cool that you’ve been in this spot and got the boater, too. The smoke has cleared a bit now for those in the PNW, thankfully. Glad you like these and that they brought back some good memories- thank you!
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Absolute peacefulness and beauty 🙂
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It certainly felt that way being there, Joshi. Glad you like them–thanks so much.
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I have heard about the smoke from wildfires in Canada, I believe. As bad as it may be, it certainly creates opportunity to capture some extraordinary photos. A pity I am not around at the time. You certainly created some stunning photos. Love the subdued colours and the subtle compositions.
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Hi Otto, One positive outcome from these terrible fires. The haze created some fascinating effects throughout the PNW. Sorry that Seattle was hit quite hard between the heat and smoke– happy that it has eased now. Very pleased you like the images – thank you so much.
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Really beautiful Jane and so moody.
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Thanks very much, Leanne. It was a good day. Glad you enjoyed them.
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Liked the delicate colors inthese pieces and especially liked that little kingfisher.
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Thank you, Jane. These landscapes were such a joy to see. And, that little kingfisher was a gift. So glad you like them.
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These remind me if growing up in north central BC. The better moments. Thanks for that bit of nostalgia.
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Hi Allan, Oh, that makes me feel great that these brought back good memories of your childhood. You are from a most beautiful part of the world. Thanks so much for letting me know. Have you been back there much?
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Each one of these is truly so peaceful, Jane. I really love each one.
You live in a beautiful area, and you capture that so beautifully.
Have a great week!
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Thank you, Lisa. It was a great combination of quiet days and natural beauty. Pleased you enjoyed these landscapes. Hope you had a great week, too!
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Just glorious Jane. Fortunately the smoke is clearing and we can finally see blue sky and the mountains here in the city.
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Thank you, Andrew. Was thinking of you as we passed through. Happy the air has cleared– you are lucky to live in such a gorgeous part of the world!
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Thanks Jane. We are indeed, particularly on such a sad day as today with the events in Spain.
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Such sadness in many places. It is a challenge to see anything positive.
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Brilliant use of reflections and a muted/monochrome pallet
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Thank you, Mark. I was so worried it would suddenly disappear. Fortunately, I had a little time in the stillness. It was wonderful.
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Magical, magical photos here, Jane. 👏👍
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Oh, thank you, Imelda. It really felt magical when I was making them. Pleased you enjoyed the series.
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Gorgeous photos Jane. You really captured the feel of my beloved PNW.
Alison
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Thank you so much, Alison. I’m happy you like them– you live in a beautiful part of the world. Hope the air quality from the fires has improved. 🙂
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Yes it has. We’re back to sunny skies again thank goodness.
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That’s great!
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Dream spaces! Beautiful light that you captured in your beautiful photos. Love the tranquility!
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Thank you so much, Lepis. I’m pleased that you enjoyed them.
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Good for you, Jane – it’s been too hot and at times, hard to breathe easily, for me to go to the lengths you have. I’m glad you took advantage of it, the photos are beautiful.
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Hi Lynn, Thank you. It was very hot for much of our trip, including BC. Seattle really got hit hard with smoke and heat– so sorry! We didn’t stay there. Vancouver was ok. Glad you like the photos and I am heading over to see what you’ve been working on. Hope you have found some relief.
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What a beautifully peaceful post, Jane. I love the colours, I find them so soothing. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
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Hi Amanda– Thank you so much. The cool colors were quite astounding. Happy you enjoyed this series.
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Definitely. 🙂
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Calm and Digging Clams are stupendous images. 🙂
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Hi Jude, Two faves– thanks very much. I was mesmerized by the clammers. And the lake…and all of it. 🙂
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And why not? Serene landscapes and your photography is truly majestic.
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SAD about the wildfires…BUT YES….great photos….love the reflections!!
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Hi April, Indeed. Hopefully, they will get them under control soon. I did love the reflections and quiet. Thanks!
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Beautiful set of photographs Jane. It looks like a magical place to be 🙂
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Thank you, James. The Olympic Peninsula is amazing and tranquil. These conditions made it even more so that morning.
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Absolutely magnificent, Jane!!
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Thank you, Susan. It was such a great day of photographing. Glad you like them.
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You’re just getting better and better and better, mastering the lighting.
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Hi Don, Wow, what a wonderful compliment. Thanks so much.
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Gorgeous photographs, I really love Calm. I feel a strong connection with the image, it makes me feel at home looking at it, really beautifully composed and captured!
http://www.shannie.blog
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Thanks so much, Shannon. I’m so pleased you felt a connection to Calm. I loved photographing it.
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Delicate, magical, beautiful 🙂
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Hi Pete, How nice, thank you. With the bright conditions, I was a bit worried the results may be too delicate…but they worked. 🙂
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You are welcome, Jane 🙂 You got the balance of light and shade perfectly!
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The haze gives everything a mystical quality. And your artistic use of the camera has brought me into that softly beautiful kingdom.
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Hi Dor, How lovely– thank you very much. They were peaceful scenes.
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Your beautiful photos express an upside to a not-so-pleasant situation. ‘Calm’ made me gasp – it’s wondrous!
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Hi Eliza. Gasping is quite a compliment. Thank you! I surely gasped when I saw that scene. You’ve changed your gravatar- very nice! 🙂
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Thank you! Great beauty often makes me gasp – I guess that is where the term ‘breath-taking’ comes from! 🙂
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Wow, Jane, you perfectly used the conditions to create awesome photographs. Enjoy the PNW (if you’re still up here 😉). Marcus
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Hi Marcus, Thank you! We had a great trip but now home in foggy SF. Hope you are enjoying your travels– we were in Eugene when you were on the coast. Hot as ever inland.
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Back in Portland after a great weekend at the coast. Tomorrow back to Germany, then 3 weeks family vacation in Namibia…Life is good 😉
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How wonderful, Marcus. Can’t wait to see your photos from Namibia. Enjoy!
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These pictures are like poetry…they go deep with grace.
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Thank you, N, what a lovely compliment.
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very beautiful photographs Jane!
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Thanks very much, Adrian!
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Wow!
Sent from my iPad
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Thanks, Sue!
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Bad atmospherics making for interesting photographs.
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Hi Bruce– So true– the sunsets were great, too. All for bad reasons. Glad you liked them-thank you.
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Great reflection shots!
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Thanks, Michael. I was in heaven shooting them!
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Beautiful photos considering the conditions, Jane. Your photographic experience with summer fog has been put to good use.
Ω
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Hi Allan, Hmm…very true…I hadn’t thought about my advanced degree in fog. 🙂 Glad you like them– I was worried about the exposure since it was very bright and hard to see. Thank you.
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You did a good job, Jane.
Ω
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Thank you. 🙂
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Loved that you were there when the eagle took off.
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Hi Sharon, I was photographing the clam beds and a man who worked there told me about the eagle at the end of the road. I managed to get a number of shots of him– very exciting. Thank you!
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Awesome Jane. So sad about the fires but you’ve turned them into art.
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Hi T- Agree, but have to admit, I was pretty thrilled when I saw this dreamy lake scene. Glad I got my exposure right. 🙂
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These are gorgeous images Jane 🙂 I really love the mirror image mountain shots they are incredible.
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Hi Joe, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw it. Pleased you like them– thank you. 🙂
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A mysterious calm in all the photos…. most interesting!
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Thank so much, Linda. It was so quiet and serene. Glad you enjoyed.
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“Calm” is simply wonderful.
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Thank you, Ed. That scene really got to me– it was amazing. Glad you like it.
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The photo called Calm – incredible Symmetry! ❤️❤️❤️
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Thanks, John. That one is a favorite–we could all use some calm these days!
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I adore calm and quiet these days…
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I love your contribution to this week’s photo challenge… the photos have tranquilizing effect on me. 😏
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Hi Mary Jane, I’m pleased that you enjoyed this series– it was a serene scene. Thanks so much. 🙂
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What a beautiful set. It looks like a majestic and peaceful place, Jane.
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Hi Mike, I was so happy we spotted this lake on our way to the Hoh Rainforest. What a treat. Thanks!
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Wildfires in general are horrible however rough weather does always make for interesting photographs
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Hi The One– Yes, that is so true. Glad you liked these. Thank you.
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Very hazy, mystery-esque like captures, Jane. Love the monotone colours and very crisp as usual. That bird capture is a very good one – great timing and it’s like you never miss a good beat or a good moment with the camera 🙂 Sorry to hear of neighbouring wildfires. Hope they die down soon and enjoy the rest of summer.
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Hi Mabel, Thank you. Many of the scenes were quite muted and dreamy. Happy you enjoyed. Hoping they are able to get the fires under control soon– an issue that Aussies know well.
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Beautiful images. Strange how something as tragic as wildfire can make for such beauty!
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Agree, Sue. The effect of the haze really does something incredible to the light. Thank you.
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Wow, oh Wow…Love the kingfisher and all the others. Sad about the fires though.
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Thank you, Paula. Yes, very sad, and there are many. Glad you like the photos.
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So many recent years have been terrible for fires. I’m from there, and my parents on the Olympic Peninsula are worried almost every summer. Beautiful pictures, alarming trend.
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Hi Anna, Yes, it’s awful. The one in BC is enormous and may take months to get under control. You are from one of my favorite areas in the country– such wonderful natural beauty. Glad you like the photos–thank you.
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Thanks for sharing!
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Thank you for sharing!
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What an amazing set again!
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Thanks very much, Jürgen. Much appreciated.
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The pleasure is on my side!
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Some stunning images, Jane!
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Thanks so much, Sue.
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😊
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Thanks for sharing!
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What a serene atmosphere. Beautiful.
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Wow, once again interesting pictures.
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Thank you, Robert. 🙂
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Thanks, Leeg. Yes, very quiet there.
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