Preserved Light Photography: Blog

Okanagan Valley Inversion Time-Lapse

preservedlight@gmail.com (Preserved Light Photography) — Sun, 09 Dec 2018 01:17:29 GMT

A time-lapse video of the Okanagan Valley fog. This incredible time-lapse shows the Okanagan Valley filling up with clouds on a sunny winter day. Shot on Nikon D500 and D7100 cameras, the film captures a phenomenon that occurs each winter called an inversion.

A full cloud inversion occurs when cold air is trapped by the valley and topped with a layer of warm air, which combines with moisture and condensation to form a sea of clouds. Sped up in timelapse, it feels as though the mountains surrounding the Okanagan Valley are jutting up from an ethereal, rolling ocean.
I spent a day filming these clips up in the Carmi area near Penticton and at Apex Mountain.

Britt & Jesse's Wedding at Sleeping Waters

preservedlight@gmail.com (Preserved Light Photography) — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 18:48:02 GMT

Britt and Jesse had the most amazing wedding day at Britt's mom's private property in the South Okanagan Valley. They invited many of their friends and family for a weekend of camping at "Sleeping Waters", a cozy cottage nestled in the forest next to a small lake near OK Falls. Britt is a local artist (https://www.brittbidlakestudio.com/) so they decided to take on the decorating themselves with a vintage styled burlap and lace wedding which looked absolutely amazing. They even made their own robes by harvesting the sumac berry, naturally dyeing the cotton (tie dye detail) and then sewing them into robes for all her sisters and friends to wear while getting ready.
I can’t thank Britt and Jesse enough to have chosen me to capture it with my vision and be a part of it all. You two are awesome!
Here’s to these two and an unforgettable wedding day!

More photos here:
https://preservedlight.com/britt-jesse-wedding

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How to Find and Photograph the Northern Lights

preservedlight@gmail.com (Preserved Light Photography) — Mon, 27 Aug 2018 16:44:58 GMT

So you’re Social Media accounts have been bombarded with photos of green, red and violet skies and you’re thinking to yourself “I’ve spent so many nights outside and have NEVER seen the Northern Lights, how can I find them?!”. Easier said than done but with a little preparation, persistence and understanding of what causes these aurora to light up the sky, you’re chances of seeing them will greatly increase. There are a myriad of factors to consider before venturing out with the expectations of seeing the aurora borealis; nearby light pollution, moon phase, your location, local weather and most importantly, auroral conditions. They must be active to be visible. Below are a few websites I use before heading out in search of the Northern Lights. There are also smartphone apps that will notify you when they are active. The Geomagnetic Activity level (kp) must be around a 4 or 5 for them to be visible in Southern Canada/Northern USA.

Soft Serve News - For live updates
Canadian Space Agency / Aurora Max webcam - live webcam from Yellowknife
Aurora Service - 3 Day Forecast

What Causes the Northern Lights?

Great storms on the Sun, most notably Solar Flares & Coronal Mass Ejections, send massive bursts of gas and magnetic field hurtling into space. When these charged particles from the Sun strike atoms in our Earth’s atmosphere, they cause electrons in the atoms to move to a higher-energy state. When the electrons drop back to a lower energy state, they release a photon: light. This process creates the beautiful aurora, or Northern Lights. Oxygen results in a green aurora while nitrogen causes the blue and red colours. If the storm is strong enough, the sky will shimmer with a magnetic pulse similar to a strobe light.

When & Where to Look for the Aurora Borealis?

North of course! Although that’s not so easy in the dark without a compass so here’s a guide to finding Polaris, the North Star. You’ll also have to make sure there are no cities in the direction you are looking as this will cloud the night sky with “light pollution” or ambient light. Find a dark location with a clear northern viewpoint away from ALL light sources. You heard me. Put away your phone and let your eyes adjust to the dark night sky. Keep an eye on the “Auroral Oval” map for any dense areas of red or yellow; this is an indication that the northern lights are extremely active and visible in the sky. There is no specific time that they appear so you’ll just have to get out there and wait. I can tell you where the storm is but not when the lightning will strike. Bring a blanket, chair, hot beverages, friends and whatever else you can think of to pass the time and make it enjoyable.

How to find Polaris, the North Star

How to Photograph / What Camera Settings to Use

Possibilities seem endless photographing the Northern Lights. You’ll need a long exposure so set your camera up on a tripod and set your camera to Manual Mode. I’d recommend a fast, wide angle lens so that you can capture as much of the sky as possible. f/2.8 is best but f/3.5 will work great. Start by setting your ISO to ~1600, give or take depending on the brightness and speed of the aurora, and open up your aperture. Shutter speed will vary from 6 to 20 seconds depending on the intensity of the lights so play around with settings until you find that sweet spot.

Camera Settings:

Aperture: f/2.8 or 3.5 - as wide as your lens will open to
Shutter Speed: 6-25 seconds - the faster the aurora shimmers, the shorter the shutter speed
ISO: 800-2000
White Balance: Daylight or 4000K

Equipment:

Tripod
DSLR/Manual Settings
Wide Angle Lens
Extra Batteries
Intervalometer/Remote Shutter Release – optional

Tregoning Wedding at Revelstoke Mountain Resort

preservedlight@gmail.com (Preserved Light Photography) — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 05:51:39 GMT

There really is no better place for a winter wedding than at a ski resort in the mountains of British Columbia. So when Scott & Jess told us that their wedding venue was going to be at Revelstoke Mountain Resort (‎2225m/7300ft), we were thrilled! They didn't want to settle for the ordinary either. Jess proposed that instead of a typical bridal party photo session, they go snowboarding in their dresses & suits instead. At first we were hoping for scenic views of the Columbia River, Mount Revelstoke National Park and the surrounding Selkirk + Monashee Mountains but when heavy snowfall arrived shortly after the ceremony, there were no shortage of smiles once we were on top of the mountain shredding pow. Once the couple had blow dried their soaking wet suits and dresses, we were off to reception and dinner at the Revelation Lodge, located a short gondola ride from the base of Revelstoke Mountain Resort, which was laden with wooden decorations that Scott & friends had handcrafted throughout the year leading up to this special day. It truly was a magical day for these two, topped off by an epic party hosted by Dj Farmboy (Randy Farmer). Congratulations you two!
These are just a few teasers, the full wedding gallery will be available here: http://preservedlight.com/tregoning-wedding-revelstoke

2018 Elevator Race - Hoodoo Adventure Company

preservedlight@gmail.com (Preserved Light Photography) — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 18:07:10 GMT

We were thrilled to cover Hoodoo Adventure Company's Elevator Race for a second year in a row. This iconic Okanagan event takes in 6 different disciplines over 52 km and rises 6000 feet to finish at Apex Mountain! Participants paddle, road bike, run/snowshoe, mountain bike, nordic ski, hike and downhill ski/board from valley floor to mountain top.
It is important to highlight that 100% of the net proceeds of this Series are donated to a not for profit society that supports local youth – The Youth Outdoor Recreation Society. (Y.O.R.S) provides affordable programs for mainstream and at-risk youth in the Okanagan to participate in outdoor recreation, education and leadership activities. Community Support is very important to our company, we believe strongly that giving back to the community creates more opportunity and success for everyone, and where better to start then by exposing our kids to all the things we cherish

View more race photos here:
http://preservedlight.com/elevator-race-penticton-2018

2018 Winemakers Cup

preservedlight@gmail.com (Preserved Light Photography) — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 17:12:26 GMT

Event photography of the 11th Annual Winemakers Cup and Hot Tub Time Machine after-party with DJ Shakes! Over 100 participants from 24 different wineries dressed up to enjoy a great day of camaraderie on the hill at Mt. Baldy Resort followed by an epic evening at Spirit Ridge Resort. Thanks to the organizers, the sponsors and the participants for an unforgettable event!

Click here to view the full gallery

Photo Exhibit at Mile Zero Wine Bar - Dec 18th

preservedlight@gmail.com (Preserved Light Photography) — Fri, 08 Dec 2017 20:05:33 GMT

Join us at Mile Zero Wine Bar from 5:00-9:00pm for a creative night of local photography, food, wine & beer. Preserved Light Photography will have his most popular Okanagan photo prints on display, ready to share with you at extremely reasonable prices... A great idea for those last minute holiday gifts!

"As we enter the holiday season I wanted to say THANK YOU for your continued support and hope that my work inspires you to get outside and enjoy the beautiful world around us."

Don't miss this opportunity to meet the artist and enjoy a night of Okanagan culture with the local community.

~Join the Facebook Event~
Date: Monday, December 18th
Time: 5:00-9:00pm
Location: Mile Zero Wine Bar, 200 Ellis St, Penticton, BC V2A 4L6
Price: FREE!

Spotted Lake - A Landscape from Dr Seuss?

preservedlight@gmail.com (Preserved Light Photography) — Tue, 02 May 2017 01:16:57 GMT

Spotted Lake - Okanagan Grasslands, Osoyoos, British Columbia

The Okanagan Highlands is home to a myriad of unique natural phenomena but nothing quite as otherworldly as Spotted Lake. Known to the Syilx People as Khiluk, or the “grandfather of lakes”, it is a sacred place for healing and is said to contain 365 coloured spots, one for each day of the year.

Scientifically speaking it is a saline endorheic alkali lake. The coloured amoeba-like pools are formed each summer when the lake evaporates, leaving mineral-rich deposits of calcium, magnesium & sodium sulphates, making it one of the most mineralized lakes in the world. Their colours vary according to mineral composition & seasonal precipitation, varying from blue to green to yellow and nearly every shade in between.

Here’s an excerpt from the Statement of the Okanagan Tribal Chiefs on Spotted Lake in 1979…

“Since the dawn of history, Spotted Lake or ‘Ha? Ki lil xw’ as we call it, has been a sacred place. Indians from all tribes came to visit the lake for the medicine the lake contains. The ceremonial cairns, too numerous to count that surround the lake testify to that. Some of these are so ancient they have sunk underground and only their tops remain above ground. Some are buried altogether. There are many stories told by our ancestors about the cures this lake has provided, physically and spiritually through its medicine powers…

…Its medicinal powers are not to be taken lightly. This lake is a Chief among lakes, its powers are above the purely physical. It contains 365 circles in various shapes, sizes and depths. Each particular day of the year. Anyone who goes to this lake will find the right circle if he seeks.

How to Get There

The land surrounding the lake is owned by the Okanagan Nation Alliance and is normally closed to the public, both because of its cultural significance and its environmental sensitivity. It can, however, be viewed quite well from a pull-off on Hwy. 3, North-West of Osoyoos.

Explore WhyteCliff Park, West Vancouver

preservedlight@gmail.com (Preserved Light Photography) — Tue, 02 May 2017 01:07:12 GMT

Written for The Outbound Collective

Escape to the vanishing horizon of the Pacific Ocean, where time is measured by the rhythm of waves.

Located near West Vancouver's Horseshoe Bay neighbourhood, Whytecliff Park is home to more than 200 marine animal species and is one of the first Marine Protected Areas in Canada. You're almost guaranteed to see sea lions here!

The park offers numerous short hiking trails, sheltered beaches, tennis courts and is a popular location for underwater diving. You won't ever believe you're so close to the city of Vancouver!

Enter the park on Marine Drive and pull in to the parking lot on the left shortly after. From there you can explore on foot (it's a small park) or continue driving along Marine Drive to the other side of the park and venture out again.

Whytecliff Park in West Vancouver, BC

Attractions:

Sunbathing
sea lions
Premier dive spot
Short, yet breathtaking trails
Beaches
30 minutes from Vancouver

Pack List:

Picnic essentials
Athletic footwear or barefeet
Raincoat in winter, sombrero in summer
Camera
Swimwear
Frisbee
Slackline
Diving/Snorkel Gear
Kayak/Paddleboard

Whytecliff Park in West Vancouver, BC	Whytecliff Park in West Vancouver, BC
Whytecliff Park in West Vancouver, BC	Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver, BCLighthouse Park in West Vancouver, BC Caillum Smith/Preserved Light Photography