Winter Wonderland

Happy New Year! Today is my first day back from Christmas vacation and what a wonderful break it was. I had a chance to get out of town over New Years and the south Okanagan was beautiful. It is rare for Osoyoos, Canada's desert to have snow, but this is what we saw as we ascended on Highway 3, headed to the Kootenays. It is difficult not to think of climate change when a desert region has snow and my Toronto friends and family have yet to wear boots or clear off the car (or so they tell me). Nonetheless, the light dusting of snow over Osoyoos is a beautiful sight.

What I like the most about these images is the way the snow provides a delicate outline to the roads, the vineyards and the mountains. In the summer, the colour palate is full of yellow and green - in striking contrast to the muted details here. I will definitely be returning to photograph this vista throughout the year.

Introducing Riley Joseph Tucker

I'd like you to meet my nephew, Riley Joseph Tucker. He was born on October 31, 2006 :) If you are wondering why it took his Aunt Laura soooo looooonnnnnggggg to post this picture, I did not want his father (Steve, pictured here...well, partially...) to see the picture before he and his wife, Ilean, received it as a gift for Christmas. I met Riley last month in Toronto; he is a beauty. If you have seen pictures of his parents on my main website, nothing about his good looks and charm will surprise you. On Christmas Day, I learned that I will be an Aunt for a second time next July, courtesy of Paul and Kathleen. I am very excited about all the fun we will have together as they grow up. It was a Merry Christmas and will be an exciting New Year for the (Expanding) Tucker Family in 2007!

Lucky Flight Home

Once in a while, you get really lucky. I was on the way back from a trip back "East" and the plane happened to be crossing the Pacific mountains at just the right time to take these soft-lit images. I happened to have my f2.8 lens in my carry-on luggage which allowed me to take advantage of the low light conditions. Luckily, all the images were sharp, given the movement of the plane.

Once I saw the right conditions, I had to haul my equipment out of the overhead bin and asked the woman in the row behind me if I could use her unobstructed view from her window; I had an aisle seat over the wing. Thankfully, she let me use her seat which allowed me to get these shots. When I was done, she asked me where I was from and seemed surprised to hear that I am a "local".

I hope I never take the mountains for granted. I choose to be inspired by them than not to see them at all.

Madison & Sadie

These pictures of Madison and Sadie were taken in the hills above Summerland on a beautiful day in late October. These sisters are among the most cooperative subjects I have ever photographed!

These two sisters truly enjoy each others' company.

I like this one a lot - it's like Madison is looking out for Sadie.

A pensive moment from an energetic little girl :)

We interrupt this raking.....

What a difference a week makes! A couple of days of rain and wind and everything changes......

Eighteen bags and counting with more to fall this week!