This print is signed by Gavin Hardcastle and has a […]

Printed area for mounting is 7.75"″ x 9.75″ (19.69 cm x 24.77 cm)

Printed area for mounting is 7.75"″ x 9.75″ (19.69 cm x 24.77 cm)

Printed area for mounting is 7.75"″ x 9.75″ (19.69 cm x 24.77 cm)

Printed area for mounting is 7.75"″ x 9.75″ (19.69 cm x 24.77 cm)

Printed area for mounting is 7.75"″ x 9.75″ (19.69 cm x 24.77 cm)

Printed area for mounting is 7.75"″ x 9.75″ (19.69 cm x 24.77 cm)

Printed area for mounting is 7.75"″ x 9.75″ (19.69 cm x 24.77 cm)

Printed area for mounting is 7.75"″ x 9.75″ (19.69 cm x 24.77 cm)

I'll be honest, there are times when the composition finds you. This was one such time.

I will take some small amount of credit for recognizing it but I defy anyone to walk past this arrangement of rocks both big and small and not see the most delightful composition. That lovely soft light and the flat, calm reflection were 100% worth the third degree burns from severe chaffing due to the massive hike to this lake. I would do it all over again if I had the chance.

This canyon was one of the strangest places I've ever seen and not easy to photograph. The freezing cold snowmelt river might have made things more difficult as my hands were shaking from the cold just as much as from the excitement of capturing this special moment.

I'd also ripped my shoulder to shreds on the way down into the canyon but the temporary 'photographers high' took care of that, at least until later when the pain came home to roost.

For this glorious window in time I was ecstatically happy just to witness these conditions in this hard to reach canyon on Vancouver Island.

A big part of photography is seeing the unseen.

Sometimes you can't actually see a beautiful feature of a scene until you take a long exposure like this one. By choosing a creative shutter speed I was able to reveal the wonderful spiraling patterns of the bubbles as they weaved their way downstream. After some experimentation I was able to capture this delightful long exposure that I feel does justice to this tranquil and enchanting little scene.