Lightning Strikes In Couple's Engagement Photos, And The Result Is Nothing Short Of Striking

Photographer Elizabeth van der Bij of ENV Photography was meeting her clients Kassandra and Craig to shoot their engagement photos on Wednesday when the clouds started rolling in. 

Shortly after they arrived at the field in Edmonton, Alberta where they were going to shoot, the skies turned black and the wind started picking up. At first they thought they were just dealing with a rain shower so they grabbed their umbrella for a few shots. Then, van der Bij noticed lightning striking in the distance. With some excellent timing, she was able to capture this awesome moment: (read more)

***************************************************************

The latest in cement factories!

From The Outside, This Is An Old Shut Down Cement Factory. But Go Inside And… WHOA!

 It is worth checking out! (Click on image)

********************************************************

For your enjoyment!

*****************************************************************

Photo gallery - Debbie with a story (it's true, I watched her do it)!

We have had three Red-Tails hunting in our yard - a juvenile and an adult female with her juvenile.  The mother and youngster got marooned in the snow bank.  No pics of the mother 'cause I rescued her first using a bath towel and then the youngster.  They didn't struggle and never tried to bite me.  I was mostly worried about their talons which are needle sharp and can go through your hand or arm like butter.  Mum flew away but the youngster sat in the pine tree and watched me through the kitchen window for the rest of the day - guess he thought I was going to feed him, too. Debbie

*******************************************************************

Readers write - Bear Quints - once in a lifetime photo!

Black bears typically have two cubs; rarely, one or three. In 2007, in northern New Hampshire, a black bear sow gave birth to five healthy young. There were two or three reports of sows with as many as 4 cubs, but five was, and is, very extraordinary. The photographer learned of them shortly after they emerged from their den and set a goal of photographing all five cubs with their mom - no matter how much time and effort was involved. He knew the trail they followed on a fairly regular basis, usually shortly before dark. After spending nearly four hours a day, seven days a week, for more than six weeks, he had that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and photographed them. He used the equivalent of a very fast film speed on his digital camera. The print is properly focused and well exposed, with all six bears posing as if they were in a studio for a family portrait.

The photographer stayed in touch with other people who saw the bears during the summer and into the fall hunting season. All six bears continued to thrive. As time for hibernation approached, he found still more folks who had seen them, and everything remained OK. The photographer stayed away from the bears because he was concerned that they might become habituated to him, or to people in general, and treat them as approachable friends. This could easily become dangerous for both man and animal.

After Halloween, no further reports and could only hope the bears survived until they hibernated. This spring, just before the snow disappeared, all six bears came out of their den and wandered all over the same familiar territory they trekked in the spring of 2007.



The photographer saw them before mid-April and dreamed nightly of taking another family portrait, a highly improbable second once-in-a-lifetime photograph.

On 25 April 2008, he achieved his dream. 

When something as magical as this happens between man and animal, Native Americans say, "We have walked together in the shadow of a rainbow." And so it is with humility and great pleasure that I share these exhilarating photos with you.

Do pass  them on!

**************************************************************