Long Beach: Part I

When my distant relatives' husband Cal called, asking if I wanted to accompany him to the west coast of the island for some nature photography I eagerly accepted. Sometimes it's like another world over there. I think he was disappointed by the cloudy skies and foggy forests, but I find the layering affect very aesthetically pleasing. Shorepine Bog, Pacific Rim National Park, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. July 9, 2009. Canon PowerShot A430. 21.6mm, 0 EV, f/5.8, 1/125.

It's shots like these that remind one that it is a rainforest. So colourful. But my raincoat, rain pants, waterproof shoes, and three layers of sweaters is evidence enough that this is not the tropics. Rainforest at Shorepine Bog, Pacific Rim National Park, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. July 9, 2009. Canon PowerShot A430. 5.4mm, 0 EV, f/2.8, 1/30.

Although they are beautiful, it is illegal to collect these shells from the beach because they provide valuable shelter for hermit crabs among other critters. I only just noticed now that you can see my squatting silhouette reflected in the purple olive's shell. Olivella biplicata. Green Point, Pacific Rim National Park, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. July 9, 2009. Canon PowerShot A430. ISO 200. 5.4mm, 0 EV, f/2.8, 1/500.

I took some of this stonecrop home on a later trip and planted it in our garden. It is still growing there today. Sedum oreganum. Green Point, Pacific Rim National Park, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. July 9, 2009. Canon PowerShot A430. 5.4mm, 0 EV, f/2.8, 1/30.

Rainforest at Shorepine Bog, Pacific Rim National Park, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. July 9, 2009. Canon PowerShot A430. 5.4mm, 0 EV, f/2.8, 1/30.

This plant, called bunchberry by the locals, actually grows up much higher when in the rainforest and almost resembles a miniature dogwood. Cornus canadensis. Shorepine Bog, Pacific Rim National Park, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. July 9, 2009. Canon PowerShot A430. ISO 200, 5.4mm, 0 EV, f/2.8, 1/500.