Sheree Zielke

As avid travelers, we feel like this pandemic has clipped our wings. However, we are blessed with gorgeous Rocky mountains only four hours away in Jasper National Park. Snowcaps, wispy cotton candy clouds, and cerulean blue skies make for a perfect photo op.

A dusky evening sky above our Salish Sea. Ocean skies seem never to disappoint especially those off Vancouver Island in Canada.

One of the prettiest harbors at sunset is in downtown Victoria, British Columbia. I love the gentle wavy reflections from the boat riggings.

I found this barn near one of our national parks. It was so handsome nestled into quiet water and lush greenery. The low light made the greens even more vibrant.

Raindrops on roses, er, on peonies. An abundance of rain in our Canadian city is making my garden very healthy. My peonies are the size of dishes.

The ornamental Crabtree in our front yard has such short-lived blossoms. But the color and the fragrance are so memorable. And photogenic.

A wonderful bit of freedom during the Covid lockdown led me to a local park still filled with snow. I liked the lacy overlay of the evergreen needles against the snowy background. The grey tones are somewhat symbolic of the collective mood in our societies.

Sometimes the sun combined with snow haze can turn an everyday common spot into something magical. Add some moody lines and shadows and voila. This is a neighborhood baseball park in Alberta Canada.

I am not a huge fan of snow and cold weather, but when I can brave our Canadian -C temperatures, I am always rewarded. This is a lonely path far up the riverbank in central Edmonton. No one was out walking in the cold. But the light was so beautiful and the textures were charming. I considered leaving the shot in full color, but the dark and light contrasts heightened the feeling of being alone.

A perfect day in Honolulu Hawaii awaiting our ship to leave port. Issues kept the ship in port an extra day, but it also allowed me this vantage point for a shot of the harbor and gorgeous Hawaiian vista.