van der Valk Photography

A cold and blustery winters day in Sooke on Vancouver Island. These three photos were not taken this weekend, but it sure feels like it could have been.

"Stuck" inside as I'm too weak to get blown over (read too weak to go out and get cold today) so I've taken some time to re-edit some of my favourite images of past.

Standing at the end of Goodridge Road overlooking Goodridge peninsula and the old water tower.

I remember this early morning day and standing on the Mariner's Village property. This was, by far, the most intense sunrise I have yet to experience in the seaside community of Sooke.

The cloud formations were unique and the colours so bold as the sun came up over East Sooke.

It's Friday, I hope your weekend is as brilliant as this sunrise!

I remember this early morning day and standing on the Mariner's Village property. This was, by far, the most intense sunrise I have yet to experience in Sooke.

The cloud formations were unique and the colours so bold as the sun came up over East Sooke.

It's Friday, I hope your weekend is as brilliant as this sunrise!

There was a little pull-off on the north side of Roche Cove before the upgraded bridge was built. I used to work in East Sooke and many mornings I'd stop at this location and capture some of my best sunrise work. This day was no exception.

Bonus, you could face west and were equally fortunate to have an amazing vantage point of Sooke Basin and Saseenos.

Early morning aerial sunrise, Sooke, Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

The last of a three part series of early morning aerial photos taken near Billings Spit and the Sooke River last Friday. As the sun rose over East Sooke, the sky lit up in hues of oranges and blues.

Early morning sunrise over Sooke Harbour and Basin, Vancouver Island. Amazing blue and oranges covered the entire sky as the small seaside community of Sooke was just starting to wake up. The sun was peaking over East Sooke, the calm before the storm.

Below, Billing Spit juts out marking the geographical separation between Harbour and Basin while the mighty Sooke River coming from the Sooke Hill spills into the ocean.

Both photos were taken on Friday.

Early morning fog over the seaside town of Sooke and the Sooke River.

All the lights in the distance are the homes in Sunriver Estates.

Tucked below the fog is the Sooke River bridge and all the early morning commuters making their way to their jobs.

Took an early morning flight from Billing Spit to capture the sunrise. A lovely display of low lying fog patches nestled into the hills around Sooke. A rainbow was visible from the west side of Sooke to greet the early morning risers. A great start to the weekend.

This is the 2nd photo in the Glenairely series. Taken after the 1st image, the sun had started to rise here providing a warmer toned image. Facing closer to east, in the distance is Arbutus Cove and Coopers Cove in the far distance.

This is one of my favourite photos that I've ever taken. The combination of candy coloured skies, low lying fog and calm seas make for a relaxing and beautiful image. There was a cold nip to the air and the grass was frosty.

This photo was taken standing on the shores of East Sooke looking towards Saseenos and Goodridge Peninsula.

Can you spot the bench? Wouldn't that be a spectacular spot to sit? Cold, but beautiful. :)

Our photo walk ended up near Sooke Potholes. If you've ever wondered what the old, now dilapidated, hotel looks like from above, here is a photo. The Sooke River was raging from all the recent rains. Some nice yellow leaves still remain on the trees.

Charters River - Sooke, British Columbia

If you've never been to the excellent Charters River Salmon Interpretive Centre, you must. At this time of year, with the rivers swelled, the various species of salmon find their way back home to continue the circle of life.

This small nature trail allows you to get in the heart of the spawn nestled amongst a mature rainforest.

Yesterday morning my oldest and I did a fall photo hike during an opening in the cool rains. Our first stop was to capture the last remnants of the fall colour before moving onto the lush rainforest and swelling rivers with spawning salmon.

This photo was shot near Coopers Cove, Sassenos, facing west towards Sooke. The waterway image left is the Sooke Basin near Goodridge Peninsula. In the distance you can see Billings Spit.

I love the low lying fog which blankets the homes below.

Roche Cove at Sunset. I've taken numerous photos of this location over the years. It's an easy win with the natural framing and mountains in the background. The light bounces around and it's always nice to have a boat in an ocean scene. Add some low lying ocean fog and in my opinion, that's the recipe for a nice photo.

Thanks everyone for commenting and liking my work over the past two weeks.

Unfortunately Facebook decided that I didn't follow the community guidelines and I have been prevented from replying to everyones comments on pages for another 4 days.

It seems that my messages thanking everyone for their comments on the various landscape photos I've posted has net me with a "spam" flag and I'm not permitted to reply to y'all.

So I guess I can't be as polite in the future.

6 Pilings- Sooke Harbour, Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

Memories of days past, the only salty remnants left of a different era of Sooke Harbour. Looking south from the government dock, fog rolls in over the strait as the Olympic Mountains peek out from above. The sun waves its last shout, good day.

Colony Farm Regional Park - Coquitlam, BC

Sometimes the unexpected turns into an epic
morning photo session.

Armed only with my phone and a puppers, this early morning walk was more than expected. In fact I was just looking for a place to walk the floof. We had never been here before.

The early morning sun, frost and fog provided the most amazing photo walk. Cold? Yep. 😂

300ft above downtown Sooke at twilight.

I’ve enjoyed the art of photography for a couple of decades now. My passion hasn’t wavered much but my time certainly has and the past few years I rarely picked up a camera except to take photos of my family.

But jumping into the world of aerial photography has certainly rekindled that fire and passion for creating photos again. The different perspectives of areas frequently shot from hand held cameras offer views like no other being up in the air, unless you’re willing to pay for a helicopter flight. Ouch.

It takes time to master the tool though and now the photographer not only has to be concerned about his footing, but the air space around him. But the risk is certainly worth the reward.

This photo was taken over downtown Sooke on Vancouver Island. You can see the sun setting over the Olympic Mountains in Washington State, US. The water body is the Juan de Fuca.

Last night I took a detour down Hwy. 14 and headed west. I had no idea where I was going, but I had my camera and drone with me. As I made my way down the twisty road and the sun getting lower in the sky, I decided to shoot an old long lost friend, Sheringham Lighthouse. There isn't much more west coast iconic than taking photos of these beacons of light.

As the sun was setting I launched the drone into the calm sea side air. I managed to navigate all angles trying to find the best light and strongest view.

Below is a collection of the best images I took of Sheringham Lighthouse in all of her beauty and the west coast sunset on the Juan de Fuca strait.

You know that crisp sound you hear when you walk over the wet polished rocks as they grind under your feet when strolling along a west coast beach? This was the only sound I heard, aside from a few lone gulls calling in the distance.

The waves were very calm, they didn't make much of a sound, and the wind was light. I arrived about an hour before sunset. Watching the cloud patterns I had high hopes that I was going to be in for a real display of colour.

I looked around and found a rock of interest for my foreground. The tide was on its way out. I waited, and waited, and waited.

Then, as I had hoped. BAM! The colours exploded as the western sun set behind the Olympic Mountains across the strait.

Ella Beach is one of the best beaches around Sooke for a full view of the sun setting.

Sooke River - Vancouver Island

Once in a while you’re driving down a road that you’ve travelled a thousand times before. And one day you turn your head and see this place in a completely different light.

This was the case when crossing the Sooke River bridge early one morning. I just happened to have my camera with me. I stopped the car and walked along the bridge, faced south-east and captured as many shots as I could as the light was rapidly ever changing.

What resulted was a spectacular early morning sunrise one early winter morning from the Sooke River bridge. Fog. Sunrise. Calm.
I have not seen light and clouds like this since. One of my favourite captures at this location.

A collection of sunset aerial images taken around Sooke Harbour and Sooke Basin, Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

The old water tower from logging days of past is now only a rusted memory of a dominating industry once booming in Sooke.

The other aerial of Goodridge Peninsula was taken facing west, with Sunny Shores Marina about mid-frame.

No introduction to the final image of one of the most iconic pieces of land in Sooke — Whiffin Spit. Taken from the East Sooke side looking west towards the end of the Spit. — in Sooke, BC.

This brightly colourful, yet foggy scene, was taken high above the seaside town of Sooke, southern most part of Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

Standing atop of the residential community of Stoneridge Estates. In the distance East Sooke rises high above the fog, while below, Sooke and Sooke Harbour are socked in by fog and low lying clouds.

I’ve lived on the west coast of Canada for a couple of decades now and have extensively explored the places I’ve called home. You think you’ve seen it all until that one day where everything changes. The places you’ve visited many times before change right before your eyes.

In this case I was up a logging road on Vancouver Island. At the top, on a clear day, you’re able to see across the Juan de Fuca Strait and overlook Washington State and the Olympic mountains.

But at sea level the entire land was covered in thick fog and low lying clouds.

Breaking through as the elevation increased presented one of the most breaktaking views I had encountered in this location.

As the sunset the most vibrant purples and pinks emerged.

While the view was awesome, it’s the clumps of conifers poking out that anchor this photo and in my opinion the best part of the image.

Charters Creek located in Sooke, BC on Vancouver Island is a vital salmon bearing creek for the southern west coast of BC.

Near the famous Sooke potholes, this magnificent waterway is tucked deep inside a coastal rainforest full of dense ferns, mosses and lichen which also houses an abundance of creatures like black bear, deer and cougars.

This is one of my favourite locations to shoot rivers and rainforests.

This is a perfect time of year to enjoy the frequent fog that rolls in from the Juan de Fuca Strait. Early mornings and evenings provide wonderful opportunities for some stunning atmospheric images.

This photo was taken off the shores of Sooke Harbour.

Beautiful fall morning with amazing colourful skies dancing over Sooke Harbour.

Shot with DJI Air 2 drone.

Fall and winter months on Vancouver Island treats early morning risers with many opportunities of low lying fog and misty waterways.

On this particular morning on the north side of Sooke Harbour the sea was blanketed in a shroud of fog. As the sun rose warming up the mist, it began it swirl around and fill the air with brilliant golden hues.

With fog comes absolute calmness.