The Bear Cage

I am a teacher, counsellor, inclusive education coordinator, photographer, and storm chaser as well as a constant dreamer, a wannabe world-traveler, and a reluctant denizen of the frozen north of Canada. I crave the outdoors, but hate bugs, and am slowly becoming the best, most fit person I can be. I started my fitness journey in September 2010 and thanks to the gym and reasonably smart eating, I've lost almost 60lbs so far. Slow and steady wins the race, right? I post an eclectic mix of whatever grabs my attention, and sometimes I don't post at all. Welcome to the Bear Cage.

[adolwyn]

Canadian storms are stunning, but when Saskatchewan gives you a big supercell and there's a church for foreground the storms get astoundingly pretty very quickly. This was a day that I owe to @braydonmoreso because he's the guy who believed the northern target was going to give us a storm. Thanks for making me stay, Braydon. This is from July 10, 2017 just south of Saskatoon, SK looking at the Pleasant Point Mennonite Church in Clavet, SK. --------------------------------------- Shot on Canon 6D with a Canon EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens. ISO 400. 1/125 second at F/7.1 16mm. --------------------------------------- #estheticlabel #ipulledoverforthis #explore #resourcetravel #thecanadiancollective #thankyoucanada #canadasworld #shareyourweather #shotoncanon #canonfanphoto #photooftheday #roamtheplanet #discoverglobe #visualsoflife #exploresask #explorecanada #TeamCanon #neverstopexploring #resourcetravel #canadiancreatives #traveldeeper #collectivelycreate #exploremore #shotaward #country_features #totescanadian #tourcanada #imagesofcanada #enjoycanada #saskatchewan http://ift.tt/2vvMIEf

[adolwyn]

Tornadoes were few and far between when I was chasing storms on the US plains. After fighting terrible roads and driving in u-shapes for a while, we caught the McLean, TX tornado as it was coming out of the precipitation of its core and roping out. I'll take it. Thankfully, this tornado did very little damage - the only kind I like. May 16, 2017. . . --------------------------------------- Shot on Canon EOS 6D with Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L II USM. 1/250 second at F/7.1. 65mm. ISO 100. --------------------------------------- . . . #travel #explore #resourcetravel #teamcanon #canonfanphoto #photooftheday #roamtheplanet #discoverglobe #visualsoflife #storm #neverstopexploring #traveldeeper #collectivelycreate #exploremore #artofvisuals #stayandwander #tornado #bestvacations #PassionPassport #AwesomeEarth #natgeolandscape #travelstoke #traveldeeper #country_features #texas #thunderstorm #clouds #nature #angryplanet #skylovers http://ift.tt/2sgp0Fr

[adolwyn]

This spring I was lucky enough to be able to make two trips to the US plains to chase storms. Trip two didn't have a lot of storms, but this one, from our last day, gave us some amazing lightning in the Oklahoma panhandle, near Keyes, OK. . . --------------------------------------- Shot on Canon EOS 5D Mark III with Canon EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM. 0.4 second at F/10. 35mm. ISO 100. --------------------------------------- . . . #travel #explore #resourcetravel #teamcanon #canonfanphoto #photooftheday #roamtheplanet #discoverglobe #visualsoflife #viewbugfeature #neverstopexploring #traveldeeper #collectivelycreate #exploremore #artofvisuals #stayandwander #artsyheaven #bestvacations #PassionPassport #AwesomeEarth #natgeolandscape #travelstoke #traveldeeper #country_features #oklahoma #thunderstorm #clouds #nature #angryplanet #skylovers http://ift.tt/2tHxbMR

[adolwyn]

Have you ever seen something in nature that you just can't believe is real? A couple nights ago, I was lucky enough to sit in the Texas panhandle with a storm to my north and these beautifully sunset-coloured towers going up to my south. Our planet is such an incredible place. What are your favourite moments of beauty? . . --------------------------------------- Shot on Canon EOS 5D Mark III with Canon EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM. 1/6 second at F/13. 35mm. ISO 100. --------------------------------------- . . . #travel #explore #resourcetravel #teamcanon #canonfanphoto #photooftheday #roamtheplanet #discoverglobe #visualsoflife #viewbugfeature #neverstopexploring #traveldeeper #collectivelycreate #exploremore #artofvisuals #stayandwander #artsyheaven #bestvacations #PassionPassport #AwesomeEarth #natgeolandscape #travelstoke #traveldeeper #country_features #texas #thunderstorm #clouds #nature #angryplanet #skylovers http://ift.tt/2pjNksQ

[adolwyn]

Let's move away from the rain forest and head to the other side of the mountains on New Zealand's South Island! Mount Cook/Aoraki is NZ's tallest mountain and it isn't often completely cloud free all the way to the summit so we were super excited to see this as we walked in the Hooker Valley track. This walk isn't necessarily hard, but it's pretty long for a person like me - about 14km out and back. The walk leads you to the glacier lake at the base of Mount Cook/Aoraki so it's definitely worth it. Here's one of the first views of the mountain with a lovely old cabin on the way. . . --------------------------------------- Shot on Canon EOS 5D Mark III with Canon EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM. 1/160 second at F/8. 70mm. ISO 100. --------------------------------------- . . . #travel #explore #resourcetravel #teamcanon #canonfanphoto #photooftheday #roamtheplanet #discoverglobe #visualsoflife #viewbugfeature #neverstopexploring #traveldeeper #collectivelycreate #exploremore #artofvisuals #stayandwander #bestnewzealand #artsyheaven #bestvacations #PassionPassport #AwesomeEarth #natgeolandscape #travelstoke #traveldeeper #NewZealand #RealMiddleEarth #DestinationNZ #NZMustDo #destinationnz #country_features http://ift.tt/2ktxoO0

[adolwyn]

Let's move away from the rain forest and head to the other side of the mountains on New Zealand's South Island! Mount Cook/Aoraki is NZ's tallest mountain and it isn't often completely cloud free all the way to the summit so we were super excited to see this as we walked in the Hooker Valley track. This walk isn't necessarily hard, but it's pretty long for a person like me - about 14km out and back. The walk leads you to the glacier lake at the base of Mount Cook/Aoraki so it's definitely worth it. Here's one of the first views of the mountain with a lovely old cabin on the way. . . --------------------------------------- Shot on Canon EOS 5D Mark III with Canon EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM. 1/160 second at F/8. 70mm. ISO 100. --------------------------------------- . . . #travel #explore #resourcetravel #teamcanon #canonfanphoto #photooftheday #roamtheplanet #discoverglobe #visualsoflife #viewbugfeature #neverstopexploring #traveldeeper #collectivelycreate #exploremore #artofvisuals #stayandwander #bestnewzealand #artsyheaven #bestvacations #PassionPassport #AwesomeEarth #natgeolandscape #travelstoke #traveldeeper #NewZealand #RealMiddleEarth #DestinationNZ #NZMustDo #destinationnz #aoraki http://ift.tt/2lJtHop

[adolwyn]

More jungle waterfalls today! This is the Fantail Falls, found along Highway 6 between Haast and Wanaka. After record setting rainfall, the waterfalls and rivers were running fast and full, which almost erased the fantail element of these falls. . . --------------------------------------- Shot on Canon EOS 5D Mark III with Canon EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM. 0.3 second at F/7.1. 45mm. ISO 100. --------------------------------------- . . . #travel #explore #resourcetravel #teamcanon #canonfanphoto #photooftheday #roamtheplanet #discoverglobe #visualsoflife #viewbugfeature #neverstopexploring #traveldeeper #collectivelycreate #exploremore #artofvisuals #stayandwander #bestnewzealand #artsyheaven #bestvacations #PassionPassport #AwesomeEarth #natgeolandscape #travelstoke #traveldeeper #NewZealand #RealMiddleEarth #DestinationNZ #NZMustDo #destinationnz #waterfall http://ift.tt/2lEIXmb

[adolwyn]

Continuing on the South Island journey today, here's one of a thousand rivers running from the mountains toward the Haast River along highway 6 and skirting the edge of Mount Aspiring National Park. . Getting this shot involved two lookouts and hanging onto the bridge girders for every car and truck that passed within inches of the tripod. Bridges in New Zealand are one lane traffic and quite narrow. It's like watching your life flash before your eyes as you lean out over the river and hope the mirrors of the truck passing behind you aren't going to take you out from behind... because drivers don't generally slow down. . . --------------------------------------- Shot on Canon EOS 5D Mark III with Canon EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM. 0.8 second at F/18. 24mm. ISO 100. --------------------------------------- . . . #travel #explore #resourcetravel #teamcanon #shotoncanon #canonfanphoto #photooftheday #roamtheplanet #discoverglobe #visualsoflife #viewbugfeature #neverstopexploring #traveldeeper #collectivelycreate #exploremore #artofvisuals #stayandwander #bestnewzealand #artsyheaven #bestvacations #PassionPassport #AwesomeEarth #natgeolandscape #travelstoke #traveldeeper #NewZealand #RealMiddleEarth #DestinationNZ #NZMustDo #destinationnz http://ift.tt/2lABa9e

[adolwyn]

Let's leave North Island New Zealand and head to South Island. The popular island. The Lord of the Rings island. Here's #ThatWanakaTree - one of the most famous trees in New Zealand, located in Lake Wanaka on the shores of... Wanaka! . This tree is never left alone. Sunrise finds it waking up with a crowd of people watching. All day long, tour buses stop by and tourists snap photos of it. Sunrise and it goes to bed with tripods and neutral density filters at the window. When it sleeps and the stars rise overhead, the tree is kept company by those looking for the Milky Way over its silhouetted branches. . This day was cold, windy, and not looking particularly good for a sunset. There were only a few photographers saying goodnight. Then the sky blushed. . . --------------------------------------- Shot on Canon EOS 5D Mark III with Canon EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM. 1/100 second at F/9. 53mm. ISO 100. --------------------------------------- . . . #travel #explore #resourcetravel #teamcanon #shotoncanon #canonfanphoto #photooftheday #roamtheplanet #discoverglobe #visualsoflife #viewbugfeature #neverstopexploring #traveldeeper #collectivelycreate #exploremore #artofvisuals #stayandwander #bestnewzealand #artsyheaven #bestvacations #PassionPassport #AwesomeEarth #natgeolandscape #travelstoke #traveldeeper #NewZealand #RealMiddleEarth #DestinationNZ #NZMustDo http://ift.tt/2l2NRMV

[adolwyn]

This is the last of North Island photos for a bit and I like this one a lot. The Coromandel peninsula is located southeast of Auckland. Getting there and around is like driving in a video game with narrow twisty roads, but when you get about halfway around the peninsula, you get views like this! It's not the shire, but is where they filmed Hunt for the Wilderpeople! . . --------------------------------------- Shot on Canon EOS 5D Mark III with Canon EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM. 1/100 second at F/9. 53mm. ISO 100. --------------------------------------- . . . #travel #explore #resourcetravel #teamcanon #shotoncanon #canonfanphoto #photooftheday #roamtheplanet #discoverglobe #visualsoflife #viewbugfeature #neverstopexploring #traveldeeper #collectivelycreate #exploremore #artofvisuals #shotaward #bestnewzealand #artsyheaven #bestvacations #PassionPassport #AwesomeEarth #natgeolandscape #travelstoke #traveldeeper #NewZealand #RealMiddleEarth #DestinationNZ #NZMustDo #NZ http://ift.tt/2kNRpAJ

[adolwyn]

The tree from yesterday is at the top of the hike to Cathedral Cove. This is what you find at the bottom and after you walk through a huge rock cavern. You come out on the other side and walk down beautiful fine sand, see glorious blue ocean, and this rock, standing sentinel just off the beach. It's high tide here, but at low tide you can often walk out to this monolith. White rock cliffs frame this undeveloped beach; it's the perfect place for a picnic and swim if the waves are calm. * --------------------------------------- Shot on Canon EOS 5D Mark III with Canon 16-35 f/2.8L II USM. 1/125 second at F/7.1. 16mm. ISO 100. --------------------------------------- * #travel #explore #resourcetravel #teamcanon #shotoncanon #canonfanphoto #photooftheday #roamtheplanet #discoverglobe #visualsoflife #viewbugfeature #neverstopexploring #traveldeeper #collectivelycreate #exploremore #artofvisuals #shotaward #bestnewzealand #artsyheaven #bestvacations #PassionPassport #AwesomeEarth #natgeolandscape #travelstoke #traveldeeper #NewZealand #RealMiddleEarth #DestinationNZ #NZMustDo #NZ http://ift.tt/2lpo1zE

[adolwyn]

There are many famous trees in New Zealand. There's that one in Wanaka. The series by Glenorchy. And there's this one. It isn't famous, but maybe it should be. This one can be found on the walk down to Cathedral Cave, in the Coromandel area of North Island. The walk is about an hour each way down and then back up and the beach is totally undeveloped. Keep your eyes open for a shot from Cathedral Cove itself here soon. • --------------------------------------- Shot on Canon EOS 5D Mark III with Canon 16-35 f/2.8L II USM. 1/125 second at F/7.1. 16mm. ISO 100. --------------------------------------- • http://ift.tt/2kpdbMe

[adolwyn]

There are roads. And then there are New Zealand roads. This road, on the east side of Arthur's Pass, was one of the sharper hairpins we encountered. The 14mm couldn't even fit it all in! • --------------------------------------- Shot on Canon EOS 5D Mark III with Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 IF ED UMC. 1/500 second at F/8. 14mm. ISO 100. --------------------------------------- • #travel #explore #resourcetravel #teamcanon #shotoncanon #canonfanphoto #photooftheday #roamtheplanet #discoverglobe #visualsoflife #viewbugfeature #rokinon #traveldeeper #collectivelycreate #exploremore #artofvisuals #shotaward #folkgood #artsyheaven #bestvacations #PassionPassport #AwesomeEarth #natgeolandscape #travelstoke #traveldeeper #NewZealand #RealMiddleEarth #AGameOfTones #NZMustDo #NZ http://ift.tt/2kfB0DU

[adolwyn]

People in New Zealand really like to start at the bottom of mountains and then walk up to the tops of them. This spot was no different. Even though it's only a 2km round trip hike, it's 500m of straight up stairs and another half km of down the same stairs. It's a booty-buster for sure. The payoff, when you get up to the viewing platform is well worth it. We hunted for this angle the whole way up, because we figured there's no way it would be easy to find. Of course, this is exactly the perspective you get from the platform, though you need more zoom to frame the tree like this. • --------------------------------------- Shot on Canon EOS 5D Mark III with EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM. 1.6 second at F/9. 70mm. ISO 100. --------------------------------------- • #travel #explore #resourcetravel #teamcanon #shotoncanon #canonfanphoto #photooftheday #roamtheplanet #discoverglobe #visualsoflife #viewbugfeature #neverstopexploring #traveldeeper #collectivelycreate #exploremore #artofvisuals #shotaward #folkgood #artsyheaven #bestvacations #PassionPassport #AwesomeEarth #natgeolandscape #travelstoke #traveldeeper #NewZealand #RealMiddleEarth #AGameOfTones #NZMustDo #NZ http://ift.tt/2lcSWPI

[adolwyn]

Winter in #Alberta brings with it the possibility for all kinds of adventures. Just one of those adventures lies at Abraham Lake and the Kootenay Plains. Abraham Lake is famous for its frozen methane bubbles; a byproduct of decomposing plant matter on the lakebed. As living matter decays, methane is released to be frozen in the ice. If you can find a time when the snow has melted from the lake and it's not too windy, you're in for an incredible treat on the remarkably clear ice. --------------------------------------- Shot on Canon 5D Mark III with Rokinon 14mm f2.8. ISO 100. 1/25 second at F/16. 14mm. --------------------------------------- #estheticlabel #ipulledoverforthis #explore #resourcetravel #thecanadiancollective #thankyoucanada #canadasworld #shareyourweather #shotoncanon #canonfanphoto #photooftheday #roamtheplanet #discoverglobe #visualsoflife #explorealberta #explorecanada #TeamCanon #neverstopexploring #resourcetravel #canadiancreatives #traveldeeper #collectivelycreate #exploremore #shotaward #country_features #totescanadian #tourcanada #imagesofcanada #enjoycanada http://ift.tt/2khz7KH

[adolwyn]

Remembering a great week in May today. It might be freezing here in Alberta, but on this day in May in #Kansas, it wasn't cold at all. Leoti's May 21, 2016 supercell was a beauty and I never get tired of looking at it. • --------------------------------------- Shot on Canon EOS 5D Mark III with EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM. 1/4 second at F/2.8. 17mm. ISO 100. --------------------------------------- • #travel #explore #resourcetravel #teamcanon #shotoncanon #canonfanphoto #photooftheday #roamtheplanet #discoverglobe #visualsoflife #viewbugfeature #neverstopexploring #traveldeeper #collectivelycreate #exploremore #artofvisuals #shotaward #folkgood #artsyheaven #bestvacations #PassionPassport #AwesomeEarth #natgeolandscape #travelstoke #traveldeeper #capturerad #igmasters #AGameOfTones #ItsAmazingOutThere http://ift.tt/2hoXcdb

[adolwyn]

You know what I miss? I miss storms. I particularly miss that one week in May when there were tornadoes everywhere we went. Here's a shot from the Dodge City day. It was a good day, though tough to find a shot that is slightly different than what others got. Oh #Kansas. I can't wait to visit you again. • --------------------------------------- Shot on Canon EOS 5D Mark III with EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM. 1/320 second at F/6.3. 16mm. ISO 100. --------------------------------------- • #estheticlabel #travel #explore #resourcetravel #teamcanon #shotoncanon #canonfanphoto #photooftheday #roamtheplanet #discoverglobe #visualsoflife #viewbugfeature #neverstopexploring #traveldeeper #collectivelycreate #exploremore #artofvisuals #shotaward #folkgood #artsyheaven #bestvacations #PassionPassport #AwesomeEarth #natgeolandscape #travelstoke #traveldeeper #capturerad #igmasters #AGameOfTones http://ift.tt/2f3dZF7