ian_mcmillan

<p><img src="http://m5.i.pbase.com/g2/91/251791/2/147670615.vQw9SC4A.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="601" />The weather hasn't been too good for photography here in the Fraser Valley. A lot of the time it's just rain, and more rain. That usually gets me to thinking of warmer days, like our vacation in October at the Columbia Gorge in Oregon. This is a shot of the number one sport at the Gorge - windsurfing. It's absolutely amazing how fast these surfers go!<br>

Ian</p>

<p>Well..I haven't posted for a few weeks, so it is time to try and contribute again! We went to Mt. St. Helens in 2001, and were incredibly impressed by the scenes around the volcano. It was amazing to see how much devastation remained, even 20 years after the eruption. we went again a few weeks ago, and now we could see nature at work restoring the area. Here's an aerial shot of Spirit Lake, taken through the plexiglas of a helicopter.<br>

<img src="http://ic2.pbase.com/g2/91/251791/2/147025689.3yEPMPnG.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p> In 2001, there was almost no vegetation between the volcano and the lake. Now, the volcanic flow is starting to show grasses and shrubs. In another 10 years, who knows? maybe trees will grow again!!<br>

If you want to compare then and now, go to <a href="http://www.pbase.com/dgimc/mt_st_helens">http://www.pbase.com/dgimc/mt_st_helens</a> . I've got a pano that I took then, along side this picture from October 2012.</p>

<p>Well, my weekly contribution is a shot I took on Saturday night, on the beach at beautiful and warm Osoyoos, British Columbia. It was my first time experimenting with the TAV mode on my K5. This particular shot was at 3200!!<br>

<img src="http://ic2.pbase.com/g1/91/251791/2/145962549.YulQPnK8.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Well, I'm still working on being consistent with an image each week for this thread. Unfortunately, I'm not getting out to take too many pics, so I have to post some from earlier in the year. This one was taken at the Skagit Valley Tulip fest in April.</p>

<p>K5, with Tamron 28-75<br /><img src="http://i.pbase.com/g4/91/251791/2/142767785.akWFUJDT.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="640" /></p>

<p>Well, I started last week, so I need to keep my string going for submissions <grin>. Here's another shot from Kenya - Masai Mara - of a female lion with all the cubs from the pride. Taken with the K10D and a Tamron 18-250<br>

<img src="http://i.pbase.com/g4/91/251791/2/145685156.q5AJMv5c.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="536" /> </p>

<p>I've enjoyed the pictures every week for some time now. I guess it is only fair that I submit something, too. I haven't got anything that I took this week, but I just re-visited this shot I took. The balloon isn't anything special, but....it is taking off in the middle of Masai Mara in Kenya for a day of balloon safari.<br>

K10D with Tamron 18-250<br>

<img src="http://i.pbase.com/o6/91/251791/1/145364484.LbQXOxIs.MasaiMaraBalloon.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="407" /></p>