The Light Returns

Over a year ago, my last post of 2024 signed off with the hope that 2025 be a year of light -- for my readers, and for the planet. Well... I think we can all agree that sometimes the light has seemed very far away. We are indeed living in challenging times.

A dark, fog-shrouded December solstice day, Victoria Inner Harbour. 

In the twenty days since the solstice we have gained 20 minutes of daylight in Victoria. And now as the Earth's orbit around the sun changes its angle, the rate will increase as the light returns to the northern hemisphere.

This is not a political blog, so I am not diving into the rabbit hole of politics. However, there is awareness, and there is resistance. I recently read the following quote, attributed variously to the anthropologist Margaret Mead, or to the evangelical pastor Charles Swindoll.

We are continually faced with great opportunities which are brilliantly disguised as unsolvable problems.

This perspective is one of possibility, which I like. It frames our current multiple crises as opportunities, rather than sources of despair. 

Now, it is time for some photos, to illuminate the world of beauty around us. I will start with a story about Iran, which is in the news today because of massive protests, crackdowns by security forces, internet blackouts, and horrendous loss of life on a scale that we can only guess at.

On December 21 I went to a celebration of Yalda, hosted by members of Victoria's Iranian community. Yalda is the night of the winter solstice.

Here are a few images.

Yalda night is celebrated with food, and colours associated with the sun. The red pomegranate symbolizes the return of the sun.

Intricate detail from the tapestry on the table at Yalda night.

One of the platters on the table. What astounding artistry!

Another platter, detail.

The Persian culture is millennia old. I've learned a little about it from an Iranian friend. A couple of years ago I was so taken by the contrast between our north American celebration of the time around the solstice, and the Persian celebration of Yalda, that I wrote a poem, "Two Mid-Winter Nights".  I was surprised and pleased that the poem won second prize in the Victoria Writers' Society annual writing contest.

Moving from the Persian celebration of the solstice, to how we in North American celebrate the dark nights around the winter solstice, and invite the light to return. One of the obvious ones is with our seasonal light displays.

An orca outside the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority.

And an octopus, also at the Harbour Authority.

The short days, and the amount of rain, sometimes makes it hard to get much walking in. I just read that the month of December had over 150% of normal rainfall in Victoria! Despite that, I've been able to squeeze some walks in between downpours.

The light might be dull, but the grasses and mosses in the Garry Oak meadows are vibrantly green at this time of year.

Despite the rain, there has been light.

An early January shaft of sunlight illuminating the red bark of an arbutus tree in Beacon Hill Park.

On the same day the sun shone on the arbutus, I caught it illuminating a pine cone.

Pattern in nature....

Our flat grey skies provide little light for interesting photography.

The light was drab, but I was intrigued by the silhouette of Garry oak trees against the pallid sky.

Even on dull days, the light picks up pastels, as the funky image below shows. 

The Clarence Street teacup tree, with the white teacups catching light. The tree has spawned offspring. In the distance are more trees, most of them decorated with seasonal balls which hang permanently.

With the short days, of course, we spend more time indoors -- including restaurants.

James Bay Inn restaurant, and some of its art deco themes. This mirrored post reflects a lot of light!

One more image of some of the art deco fixtures in the James Bay Inn restaurant.

I stepped into the BC Legislature a few weeks ago, and was captivated by the stained glass, which is all about using light to paint images. Here's one photo of a stained glass window:

I liked the theme of this window, on the Arts.

The vast expanse of the ocean is a giant mirror reflecting light. I feel very fortunate to be able to walk beside it; even on the gloomiest days, the ocean shines.

The sky is different each day. On this day the ocean was calm.

The ocean on a blustery day, with magnificent waves and sky.

I will finish this post with one final homage to light -- a distant rainbow shining near Ogden Point.

A light-filled sky, with the rainbow splitting it into colour.

May we all emerge from darkness with creative positive energy.

Perspectives on Perspective

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." I've been thinking about how I, as a photographer, can shape perception, through how I choose to frame my photograph, and what I choose to include, or exclude. Another phrase which also captures the photographer's dilemma, is "is the glass half-full, or half-empty?"

Here are a few examples of what I'm talking about. It's a rather random collection of scenes, but they all show the importance of perspective.

First, I'll start with an appropriately-named sculpture installed on Dallas Road near where I live, and a poem that goes along with it.

Glass Half Full, Dallas Road. Sculpture by Tyler Hodgins. It's also a play structure for children who can spin on the two discs.The poem which accompanies it is below.

Here is the text of Glass Half Full, by Linda Rodgers, who was Victoria's Poet Laureate in 2011, when the sculpture was installed. The text is written on a round plaque set in the ground in a spiral pattern.

This

is where spinning children find out

we are one drop of water in

sky becoming ocean, or earth, what

ever catches the I, eye, first

as we go round in the half-full

glass that never empties or fills,

in the song that never ends.

"The half-full glass that never empties or fills". That definitely sounds like perspective to me!

The photographer influences the viewer's reaction by how close the subject is, what is included in the frame, and how much is in focus.

Fritillaria in Beacon Hill Park in April. My phone camera is not very good at including both foreground and background with the same amount of crispness, but in this case, it did an adequate job.

A cheerful harvest scarecrow outside a seniors' residence. In this case, the scarecrow is the interest. The photo would have been less interesting if I'd zoomed out, and included some of the nearby building.

There's another scarecrow in the Murchie's window display, below.

I enjoyed the imaginative combining of squash, teapots, and haybales, all in autumn shades, in this window. In this case, the scarecrow is secondary to the display.

Readers will know I appreciate well-designed window displays. Here are a couple more that have caught my eye recently. It strikes me that the window artist has to have the theme of "perspective" front and centre when they create their design. After all, they want a window that is memorable, captures the flavour of the store, and is inviting to the passer-by.

Window of Lugaro Jewellers

Window design by Spirit Coast Creations

This window display was earlier in the summer, but I couldn't resist giving a nod to this local James Bay floral store, which always does imaginative, and appealing, window design.

Two more windows before I move on...

Window from South Park School earlier this year. I liked the metaphorical "upstream", and how the fish were located on the window.

Island Health went above and beyond at the James Bay Urgent Care centre. A kingfisher appliqued on the window is a lovely touch, showing that even when we're in need of medical care, art cannot be neglected.

Since we're talking Island Health.... here's the interior of the James Bay Urgent Care centre waiting room. The choice of colours and design contribute to a sense of calm.

As I mentioned at the outset, this post is a collage of ideas and images illustrating the theme of "perspective". 

The next two photos show one of the trees at Capital Park, now, and five years ago. Readers know I'm interested in trees, and what they add to the urban environment. The plaza on the north side of Capital Park is a large, open space with a lot of hard surface. The trees that were planted five years ago have contributed immeasurably to a softer ambience.

Part of the plaza at Capital Park development. Notice how the trunk completely fills the metal ring at its base. Then check out the next photo.

A few years ago I took a photo of the same tree looking the other direction. Capital Park was still being built, and the tree was newly planted.

The same tree, a little over five years ago, on July 20, 2020. This is a fast-growing tree! There was a lot of space around the plate at the trunk's base at that time, compared with the photo five years later. 

Sticking with nature, but moving on to colour:

I enjoyed the dusty rose of the Hydrangea, contrasted with the gold of its leaves. 

When I saw the Hydrangea, I made the decision to take the photo zooming in on the colour, rather than showing the whole shrub. The photo which follows has a different perspective.

Here's the larger scene of the hydrangea with the shrub and its golden leaves. Much less impact, in my opinion, than zooming in as with the previous photo.

Flowers are an amazing example of the difference made by perspective. 

The artistry of nature is on display in the Dahlia.

I couldn't resist a few more Dahlias. I'm in awe of their symmetry:

Amazing symmetry of nature

Dahlias add late colour to the falls in Victoria. I was intrigued by the colours and petal shape of this variety.

My final Dahlia of this post... such a gorgeous pink!

Hollyhocks were common in my childhood, but it's rare to see them now. I enjoyed its delicate flower.  (Note that all the photos in my posts are taken with my phone's camera.)

This striking, non-native plant was growing in Beacon Hill Park earlier this fall. Google says it's called "Fatsia Japonica". 

Gunnera, another non-native plant in Beacon Hill Park. The leaves on this plant are huge!

If I'm talking about non-native plants in the park, I have to include the Monkey Puzzle tree.

I touched these; they are as spiny and pokey as they look!

In a post on perspective with many examples of non-native plants, it would be unfair to native plants not to include them. After all, "perspective" in landscaping should include plants that are adapted to the landscape and climate. They are as beautiful as non-native species! Beauty is on the eye of the beholder, after all.

Here are images of two native plants I have found being used locally:

Canada Goldenrod near the end of its blooming season, with a young Garry oak in the background, on the west side of the Johnson St bridge. The choice of blue for the chairs in the far background is a pleasant complement to the yellow of the flowers.

Fireweed growing in front of an apartment building on Michigan Street. I am always pleased when I see that a choice has been made to include some native plants in landscaping.

Now, to switch gears and move from plants, to the built environment:
Within a week of walking James Bay and downtown, I saw three pieces of artwork with similar resonance. I was intrigued at how each reflected how the artist saw, and interpreted, the urban scene:

Children's play area at my dentist's office

Mural, central branch of Victoria Public Library

Window at Munro's Books

From collages of buildings, to one single building: it's impossible to walk downtown and not notice the Telus Ocean building under construction.

The Telus Ocean Building taking shape. The unusual windows are the first thing a passer-by notices.

Since I'm talking about perspective in this post, I'll include one more photo of the Telus building.

This image shows the way the building is using the triangular shaped lot, and reflecting that shape in its design features.

The reference to the triangular shaped lot reminds me of a post I did on that theme a few years ago. You can find it at https://linesfromthecoast.blogspot.com/2022/01/eternal-triangles.html

Over the years I've also featured a few different high rises whose architecture I appreciated. Here's another high rise I noticed on a recent walk downtown.

The Mazda building is at the corner of Blanshard and Johnson. I like the way the hard structure is broken by the glass in the corner. And of course, I'm always a fan of trees, even in concrete planters. When it was built in 1990 this building was considered an example of a sustainable green building, in terms of water and energy efficiency. 

I will conclude this post on random thoughts about perspective with a brief nod to two hidden pieces of art that can only be noticed by walkers who amble "off the beaten path". 

Mural at the back of the building where the New Horizons Seniors Centre is located. It is only visible to users of Irving Park.

The mural above features a lovely swirling Giant Sequoia (detail below), as well as Garry oak acorns and leaves, a camas meadow, the Olympics, the Ogden Point Lighthouse and a blue heron...and five five-pointed stars. I have to think that the woman is artist Emily Carr who lived in James Bay for much of her life, but I am not sure what the intention was with the five stars. 

Detail of Garry Oak leaf and acorn, from the above mural.

And here's the swirling giant Sequoia in the mural

The second example is more artwork that is easy to miss. The mosaic tile work below is on a bench off a trail at Banfield Park, built ten years ago by the Vic West Food Security Collective. 

Detail, back of bench at Banfield Park. The text reads "Sustenance for All".

A wider view of the back of the bench at Banfield Park. See https://vicwestfoodsecurity.org/community-gardens/banfield-common/

"Sustenance for all" is a hopeful perspective on which to finish this post!