Category Archives: Photography

I feel in this crazy new world I may have lost my way for a brief time. But I’m back and I realize that it’s more important now than ever to live life with guiding principles and a life motto.

My personal motto is… To live with PURPOSE, TRUTH and OPTIMISIM. To Embrace the Deep LOVE, I have for my family, friends and this earth. To be CREATIVE and CARING. To Inspire others and be inspired by NATURE. What inspires you to live your truth?

“Rather than love, than money, than faith, than fame, than fairness, give me truth.”

“I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright” and allow us to go with the flow in a world gone a little bit mad.

“Let your life be a painting, let your life be a poem. Let nature be the source of your inspiration. Let nature wash your spirit clean.”

Take CARE friends. Stay TRUE to yourself. And have a bright and happy holidays!

xo

Angie

Since my return to Alberta for the season I am pleased and happy to once again be living in natures backyard. In the midst of all the chaos in this world I have found happiness and sanity surrounded by nature and the wildlife that live in these forests and mountains.

Big Horn Sheep

Athabaska Falls

Mama Grizzly and Cubs

My Girl Dakota-Born To Be Wild

Kootenay River

Coyote Kananaskis Country

Elk Spring Kananaskis Country

Athabaska Falls

Baby Rocky Mountain Goat

I love the experiences I have grounded in nature’s reality. I love the wildlife I encounter and photograph. I also love talking with them, it feels like they understand what I say because I say it out of love and respect. It has been said that in order to understand someone you have to love them. I think that is probably why I can understand the wildlife I photograph a little, because I love them. For me it’s not just about seeing them through my lens, but seeing the world through their eyes and getting to know them.

The popular portrait of a lot of our misunderstood wildlife has had huge consequences for them and for us. This misinterpretation is the foundation for policy and practice, with the result that wildlife numbers are now a fraction of their former population not only in Canada but worldwide.

If for example a bear should wander their territory and meander into a designated picnic area or campground, they are at risk of being darted, drugged, dragged away in a sling under a helicopter and deposited far from their home in unknown territory.

Having witnessed the disrespect of these amazing beings over the years, it always amazes me that they are so restrained. Most bears and other wildlife are still open and willing to be friendly with humans. We too need to be more open, understanding and compassionate for the wildlife in our coexistence. Because life is so much better lived with compassion and love.

We are all children of nature and we are all Born to be Wild.

Happy Friday and Happy Weekend!

Stay safe and take care.

xo

Anyone who spends time in bear country will most likely have an unexpected encounter with a grizzly bear. These experiences make us present, enrich our lives and humble us. What is remarkable is the restraint of the bears, who almost always want to avoid trouble with us.

Grizzly Bear Mama and Cubs in the Canadian Rockies

I breathed in her mama bear, I worshipped her. You look at one of these poetic creatures…you have a million transports of joy.

The grizzly bear is the perfect symbol of the untamed wilderness, the grizzly bear is one of the most magnificent and prestigious wildlife species on earth. And are an essential part of a healthy, full functioning environment. The bear represents strength, family, vitality, courage and health. The bear is thoughtful and independent. The bear is self-sufficient and strong-willed in nature.

The truth is the grizzly bear is a reminder to protect nature, to fight for what is right and to restore balance to the natural world so we can coexist having mutual respect for all members of our planet earth.

If the truth is one thing to me and another thing to you, how will we choose which is truth? We don’t need to choose. The heart already knows. They all touch the heart, and what the heart holds to becomes truth.

Happy Heartfelt Hump Day!

Stay safe and take care.

xo

“Whenever the pressure of our complex life thins my blood and numbs my brain, I seek relief in the trail; and when I see the coyote waiting, my cares fall from me – I am happy.”

I love the outdoors being in nature and the opportunity to photograph the wildlife I come across during my hikes and adventures in the wilderness. I have a reverence towards the wildlife that inhabit the wild places and have been in situations where I have been closer to the wildlife than expected; I’ve enjoyed these moments but I have never sought them out or purposefully intruded on them.

I believe in ethical practices while pursuing my hobby of wildlife photography. And I also believe that whether you are a professional photographer or a hobbyist it is important to never intrude on wildlife or their habitat for the sake of a photo opportunity.

We must respect and maintain safe and healthy boundaries at all times. Let us all strive for ethical actions towards wildlife and wild places.

It is good practice if you post a location on social media to keep it general, not specific, to allow wildlife and their wild places to remain safe from intrusion.

Whether you are a professional photographer or a hobbyist like me, we all need to ban together and keep the privacy and safety of wildlife at the heart of all the photos we take. In some situations, a zoom lens can get us close but keep us at far enough away to not intrude and risk lives for that perfect shot.

Happy Friday! Have a great weekend!

Stay safe and take care.

xo

Wow…what a year, right!? Finally, this rollercoaster of a year has come to an end and the anticipation of better times is contagious and catching and spreading. Thank you for your support and engagement throughout this very different year of 2020! I am grateful for all of you and this community.

Here are my top nine photos highlighting some of my adventures in 2020 @justsimplyangie.

I would like to introduce you to the newest member of my family the wonderful rescue dog Dakota.

Having lost our 2 family dogs after 17 years of companionship was difficult and meeting Dakota helped ease the pain of the loss.

She is a devoted companion, an adventure seeker, explorer, traveller and enthusiastic sled dog. She is free-spirited and at times can be prone to wanderlust. When we both needed rescuing, this pup came into my life to adopt me into her pack. She has since filled the void in my life with devotion, enthusiasm and a fun-loving crazy spirit to match mine.

I was matched with my girl through the Great Pyrenes Rescue.

She came in their care after her and five siblings were taken into the rescue from the north. She was just three months old when she came into my life. The rescue had called the litter the “K Pups” giving each pup a name using the letter K. My puppy was given the temporary name of Kate but she took to the name Dakota right away and it seemed to suit her perfectly with a meaning of “friend or ally”.

“Origin of the name Dakota: Derived from the Siouan word dakóta (allies, to be thought of as friends). The name is borrowed from the name given to the tribes of northern Plains Indians, also known as Sioux and Lakota. Dakota name meaning is allies and the associated lucky number is 7.” Coincidentally, 7 is my lucky number.

Dakota is a mix, Shepherd Samoyed and Red Husky with a little DNA dash of Coyote, a hybrid mix known as Dogote or Coydog. This mix breed is known for its intelligence, friendliness and loyalty and love of the outdoors (just like me) making us a perfect fit.

This year after semi-retiring from my life long career in mental health support services I decided to take a seasonal position as a campground manager in Alberta, pursuing a dream I had of travelling and working in the great outdoors. This life change gave me the opportunity to live in nature and be in close proximity to the wildlife I love so dearly.

Dakota proved to be a natural assisting me in some of my duties and being a big hit with the families and children camping there. She also surprised me with an innate ability to sniff out the coronavirus and proved herself to be not only a fitting co-worker but a blessing in every since of the word.

In this photo she and her best friend Fiona are commemorated on the Host Haven bus by the artists and my fellow co-workers at the campground.

Despite the pandemic and missing my family, children and grandchildren and my dear friends while temporarily relocating to Alberta for a season, things for me were really not too bad. I stayed healthy and I managed to find the good in life in spite of the difficult circumstance and challenges this year.

Cheers to this new year and another chance to get things right. Warmest thoughts and best wishes for 2021 stay healthy, stay safe and may peace, love and prosperity follow you always.

xo Angie

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