Monochrome March

March in Calgary is pretty monochrome -- brown! When we lose our blue skies, we may as well be taking pictures in black and white. Monochrome photography is such an amazing art that it's good to be reminded and to take the opportunity. This post includes some of my favourite pictures from March, but all in monochrome. I hope you enjoy them.  My favourite is at the end of the post. 

The first few pictures are of bike racks in the City of Calgary. These were taken in Bridgeland, at the Saint Patrick Island and at the Zoo parking lot. 

The next picture is of the playground at Saint Patrick Island and the one following is the metal bridge on the island.

The next few pictures are of architecture around the area. The first is a cool house at the top of our hill. 

My favourite picture of the month, colour or monochrome is of this tree at the corner of MacLeod Trail and 25 Ave SE, Calgary. I want to go back when it is in blossom; maybe for a colour picture. Every time I look at this picture the word that comes to mind is Love.

All pictures photo-edited with On1 Photoraw 2025

Two Years

 March 31, 2025
It's been two years since Maria died.
Two years of change,
Following 
Two years of coping,
Following 
Thirty+ years of adventures and memories!
What an amazing life together!

A few days after Maria died I received an audio message that she had keyed up in advance. In that message she asked that I keep on with my walks, my birding and my photography; and that I keep sharing my pictures.  Thus this blog. She also told me that I should pay particular attention to the Chickadees and Nuthatches. She told me that Chickadees don't say Chick-a-dee-dee or Cheese-burger  --  they say Hi Sweetie!  She also told me that if a nuthatch ever landed on my hand and pooped, that it would be her.  

In mid-March I took this picture of a Red-breasted Nuthatch. It did land on my hand, but it did not leave a present.  I thought the ethereal nature of the picture celebrates Maria's life, death and presence.

I miss you sweetie!

Best of February 2025

I hesitate to call this a 'best of' because I didn't take many pictures in February  --  it was just too cold to get out much with a camera.  My hands get very cold holding a full metal camera body. The last week did warm up, however, and I did take some pictures and get in a few walks.  My favourite picture of the month is a scenic shot taken from the top of Tom Campbell's Hill in East Calgary. This was taken and 5:59am and the lights make the cityscape look like a jewel. 

As the weather warmed up the Bow River started to break up in spots and I like this monochrome picture of the river and East Village.

On my morning walks I usually cross the Bow River in two different spots and the Elbow River once. This picture of the Inglewood Drive in is close to the Calgary Zoo bridge in East Calgary. I love that Dole Whip was a big enough deal - in the day - to have front and centre advertising on the roof of the diner.

The month wasn't completely devoid of animals. This White Tail Deer was photographed at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary.

It seems wrong to have a blog post without a picture of a bird, and the best bird of the month was another Red-breasted Nuthatch at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. Such a photogenic bird, especially when they perch long enough to get a photograph.

All pictures photo-edited with On1 Photoraw 2025