Cook

Captain James Cook

One of Victoria's most iconic works of art is the statue of Captain Cook that stands with his back to Victoria's inner harbour, facing the main entrance of the Empress Hotel.

The low winter sun in Victoria produces stark areas of light and dark across his face.

Cook is famous as one of the early European explorers of the Pacific Northwest and Vancouver Island, although at the time he didn't realize that it was an island, separate from the main North American continent.

King Tide

I've been testing a little Kodak C190 point-and-shoot. Generally I haven't been impressed with the quality of the photos or video. Far too blurry.

Anyway what you are looking at is the recent king tide off the Victoria waterfront during a particularly windy December day. Rather than explain it, you can read about it here. On this day, the water was reaching the very back of the beach, something you don't see too often.

I've also included a video (also taken with the Kodak camera) below.

Santa Claus?

Okay, actually I'm pretty sure this is the god Poseidan -- his visage stares down from the roof line of the CPR Terminal in Victoria's inner harbour. For many years it housed a wax museum. However, that attraction closed down when the owners of the terminal decided to seismically upgrade the building.

What's interesting about this photo is that the low afternoon sun combined with the relief of the white sculpture produced a sketch-like photo effect. Except for re-sizing the photo, no other post-production effects were applied to the photo.

Lights

In Victoria's Bay Centre, long strands of Christmas lights create an electric 'waterfall'.

The ornate clock in the centre is an interesting feature. (See below). Two of the faces display the time in far-flung corners of the world such as Bombay, Zanzibar and Kowloon, a reflection of Victoria's historical status as part of the former British empire. A plaque under the clocks reads: "Westward the course of empire goes forth".

 Another plaque identifies the clock as part of the Victoria Eaton Centre, built in 1990. Of course, Eaton's itself has pretty much gone the way of the British empire.

Totem

The Water Keepers' Pole is a totem pole that overlooks the entrance/exit of the Galloping Goose bike trail down the street from Point Hope Shipyard.

It features a frog, osprey, a kingfisher, an orca and a warrior.

A plaque at the base indicates it was carved by Charles Elliot, a carver with the Tsartlip First Nation.

For another perspective of this pole see this image produced by another local Victoria photo-blogger, Benjamin Madison.

Neon

This might look like a scene from the new Tron:Legacy movie but, no, these are the lights outside the entrance to the local Silver City Theatres. Taken with a Kodak C190 point-and-shoot.

Scarecrow

Seen by the highway between Parksville and Port Alberni, just past Coombs. Not sure but I think he's equipped with a codpiece!

(Click image to enlarge...)

Owls

A couple of owls peer out of their enclosure at the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre near Parksville.

I learned something during my recent trip to this entertaining tourist exhibit. All my life I've called these things BARN owls, mistaking the word BARRED for BARN. However, barn owls are altogether a different breed of owl.

Windmill-y

A recent misfortune in my wife's family means I've been absent recently. I'm back today though with this quirky piece of art I saw recently in a James Bay backyard.

From a distance, it's obviously some sort of wind-powered weather vane built of driftwood and umbrellas. Closer inspection revealed solar powered lights attached to each of the arms. (See below). On a windy night, this thing must put on some sort of light show.



No idea who the builder/ designer was but clearly they are a creative type.

 (Solar lights attached to each arm)

Feeder

In the early morning sun, birds feeding outside our window. With their quick, sudden and random movements watching a group of birds feed has the same relaxing effect as watching a fire.

Brass

Whimiscal waterworks

On our recent trip up island, Leona and I snuck into the closing minutes of a craft show. This unique sculpture stood out amongst the many paintings. Closer inspection revealed it to be a wonderfully eccentric water fountain assembled out of re-purposed brass instruments, copper tubing, pulleys... With its playful moving parts, I would describe it as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang meets steampunk.

Artist Douglas Walker and his partner Jann live, work and play up island. Head over to his website to check out some of his other unique and eye-catching creations including bird feeders, gates and lamps.
(Click on any image for a larger view)

Douglas and Jann