Adrenalin Anyone?

It was a typical West Kootenay autumn afternoon......warm sunshine and bluebird skies, with a mix of that indefinable surreal tranquility known as Indian Summer. Veteran whitewater kayakers Carl Jacks and Chris Ryman phoned to say hello and tell me they were in my neigbourhood to run a “small waterfall” on the Kaslo River. They asked if I’d like to join them and photograph their little shindig. Hey, it’s what I do guys.....I’ll be there!

The Kaslo River is a pure gem. It flows out of the high alpine of Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park and journeys downward through the lush green forests and deep quiet valleys of the pristine Selkirk Mountains before spilling its crystal clear water into Kootenay Lake at Kaslo. (which is where I live for the time being).

An old ski buddy of mine attempting to be profound with brew in hand once commented, “Extreme sports are all about challenging and pitting yourself against intense terrain, under intense conditions, at an intense level of experience.....whether it be skiing, mountain biking, climbing, whitewater kayaking or whatever. But whitewater paddling (and surfing) are a real bitch, because the terrain actually moves under you. And that movement can change on any given day which makes things extra scary. There’s just no time for second thoughts, because everything is fluid and raging.”

Point taken....which is why I’ve stuck to mountain biking and skiing. And being an Aries fire sign I’m not a water baby anyway.

By the time I arrived and scrambled down the steep bank with my camera gear, Carl and Chris along with friends Bradd Tuck and la femme Laurence Bachand we’re scoping out a planned route through the falls from the bluffs above.

I’m a photographer and photojournalist. I would describe myself as a storyteller. Every good image tells a story! Even an engaging portrait speaks of the subject.

The slide show that follows is a story of a few hours shared by friends. It tells of the fear and excitement (often the same thing), exhilaration, camaraderie, elation, personal accomplishment and fulfillment. It was a sharing of special time enjoyed by all...photographer included. A captivating little river dance!

CLICK SMALL SQUARE IN LOWER RIGHT CORNER OF WINDOW TO VIEW

FULL SCREEN (BEST)
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Chris Ryman owns Endless Adventure in Crescent Valley, BC on the banks of the Slocan River. http://www.endlessadventure.ca/

Carl Jacks is president of Borderline Boaters here in the West Kootenay. http://www.borderlineboaters.com/

A bit of a digression. A few years ago Carl and Chris along with some other elite Kootenay paddlers formed a group called the Endangered Creek Expeditions. Their agenda was to paddle the high flow creeks across BC threatened by proposed private hydro development (IPP’s), an initiative of Gordon Campbell's ill-conceived BC Energy Plan.

Their goal was to show the people of BC the beauty of these incredible natural places by filming their experiences.

It was also an attempt to draw attention to certain clauses within the federal Navigable Waters Act, which placed restrictions on construction of industrial structures on watersheds considered "navigable". Paddling these raging creeks, considered by both government and power producers as "unnavigable", brought this issue into question or so they thought.

This past year Prime Minister Harper introduced legislation that significantly changed this act (which dates back to confederation), basically opening up all our Canadian watersheds to industrial development.

Smells of a very timely collusion between Ottawa and Victoria during the current push for private river power development in BC. But that’s another story!

This Camera Takes Good Pictures

I really can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this phrase. And it seems with the onslaught of the digital age it’s become epidemic. For the record cameras don’t take pictures, people do. And if you want to be a good photographer it might be well to understand this.

It's about the light ...period!

Cameras are merely a tool.....film (and yes, the immortal sensor) are merely a canvas. Furthermore, Photoshop and other editing software are not the panacea. They comprise a digital darkroom; considerably more user friendly than the traditional film darkroom, but that is their sole purpose. They don’t make you a better photographer. (computer geeks take heed).

Photography is an art form at its best...although it is mostly a personal documentary medium for the average person, and that’s all fine and good. Perhaps it's best not confuse the two, because that’s less important to all camera toters than understanding that photography is about light.....period!

That is your medium. And whether you’re an aspiring artist or you just want great family or travel photos, it all begins with an understanding and visual recognition of this simple fact.

As a career photographer and photojournalist I offer this advice from my website.

TAKE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

"Although subject matter and composition are important elements in creating a photograph, if you aspire to be a great photographer you must be a student of light"

Without exception it is the quality of natural or controlled light that creates the drama, emotion and visual appeal of an image. Subject matter and composition are secondary.

Photography truly is the "art of seeing" or better stated the art of recognizing the sometimes dramatic, but more often subtle and infinite diversities and changeability in the quality of light. A camera is merely a tool, for a true photographer "light is the medium".

These workshops offered in both studio and natural settings will enlighten and excite you, and will change the way you look through your viewfinder forever. You'll begin to create the images you really desired and envisioned.

Read more on this topic here:

www.dougpyperphoto.com/photo-tours.html

Pics of the Week

Legendary Richie Havens at Kaslo Jazz Fest

Northern Purcell Mountains at Dawn

Glacier Howser Rally and Public Meeting

Kaslo. BC

June 23, 2009

Children

(more photos to follow story)

If there was ever any doubt that so-called 'run-of-river' private power projects are a government/corporate coalition.......those doubts were completely dispelled for anyone attending the so-called Public Consultation meetings in Kaslo and Meadow Creek recently. It was Simon Gordeau, Axor Corporation spokesperson (proponent) and Gary Alexander, BC Environmental Assessment Officer at the head tables, joined at the hip in a blatant alliance against the public.

The EAO was clearly in defense of the Glacier-Howser project and answering questions merely as a matter of government process, repeatedly defending the proponent and their application. Alexander frequently passed questions he simply could not answer over to the proponents who would then implement their well-rehearsed rhetoric of lies. It was alarming and disgusting....if not frightening.

The EAO had refused a meeting in Nelson assuming that limiting the meetings to the remote smaller communities would lower the profile. Suprise! The largest assembly at any private power meeting to date in the province.......over 1100 socially, economically, and environmentally savvy folks from throughout the region rallied in Kaslo to voice their opposition to the theft of our rivers. They lined up at the microphone for three hours with educated and informed concerns.

We showed them what the West Kootenay is all about. Be proud people! And keep up the energy. But be aware the EA process is streamlined legislation in the interest of these private companies. It is a "rubber stamping" process....period.

An environmental certificate has NEVER been refused to any river diversion or other project to date. These public meetings are mere window dressing and an affront to the people of this province. The passing of Bill 30 (legislated dictatorship) by Gordon Campbell stripped regional disticts and municipalities of any legal say in these matters. The reality is our tax dollars are being spent on paying bureaucrats to set up and perform this political public theatre. Adding insult to injury!

Similar government backed corporate giveaways of public resources for private profit are common in the third world. Since we live in a supposedly modern democratic society they rely on public lack of education and apathy to carry on what is done more tranparently in developing nations. But be aware we are being raped in exactly the same way.

Cherish your public resources.....you're rapidly losing them. Speak out for the repeal of Bill 30 and other corporate initiatives by the Campbell government. It's your province and your home he's giving away!

Take a serious look at what this government is doing with our precious rivers and ask yourself one all important question. What's in it for us ....the people of BC. You'll find there is no answer to that question!!!!

And frighteningly they have another four year mandate to arrogantly attend to the desires of their corporate friends and political donors.

Your letters and emails to the EAO are merely "catalogued" as part of this whole sham. Nevertheless, keep it up so they are "on record" when other pressures such as unavoidable civil disobedience are brought ot bear on this autocratic government.

Buses ArriveFrom Nelson

People from Buses

Crowd of Over Eleven Hundred Assembled

Michelle Mungall MLA

More Rally Folks


Marilyn James Sinixt Spokesperson

Gabriella "Storm" Grabowsky

Lee-Ann Unger from Eco-Society

Samba Band from Nelson

Parade Around School to Gymnasium

Gary Alexander, Environmental Assessment Officer

Simon Gourdeau Axor Spokesperson

Members of Axor Corporation Panel