Lens-Artists #415 | Move Your Body!

I was eagerly awaiting this weeks challenge, as we spent our anniversary weekend in Killbear Provincial Park with another couple. The park is beautiful, incredibly spacious and so clean. Our two sites were side by side and we had at least 30′ or more between us with immense greenery!

Anne introduced this weeks challenge, move your body. Its true sometimes, even with a zoom, the best way to get the shot is moving your body! Be sure to check out Anne’s beautiful examples here.

I primarily shoot with zoom lenses. When my passion for photography deepened our son was 9 months old, I found out a month later I was pregnant with our daughter. A zoom lens meant the kids could be kids and I could capture their lives from a distance. Lifestyle photography held my heart. I was not someone who liked posing, I much prefer real life happening and moments captured. I have a few prime lenses for fun, many are macro, other than my EF 50L.

To Killbear Ive brought a variety of lenses, pushing myself to use for reach and landscape. Truthfully, I normally rush through downloading the pictures and even staying up late just to get through. Rather, I have put my creative eye forward, to enjoy my editing process. My RP and R7 I got through rather quickly, however the over 500 on my R6MII is when I decided to ENJOY the process vs rushing through. I am loving the images and am so proud of myself for embracing this creativity in me. Pushing my limits – with a sore knee to walk confidently, and safe, to help it get stronger. I will share a handful of images here and then over next week Im going to share photos from each day in the trails we did. I more than highly recommend this park. We were in the Lighthouse Point Campground and our site was 1464 – highly recommend!

This view was a short walk from our campsite, a couple streets over. A beautiful small beach with a powerful view of the sunrise. It felt like the perfect distance to move my body at 7am. The beautiful morning of our 22nd Wedding Anniversary.

We did the lighthouse point trail on Friday (Sept 25 – Happy 22nd Anniversary to us <3), as its within our campground we are in. This was challenging, but worth it! For this trail, knowing it would be more challenging, I took my R6MII + 24-70 f2.8L. There were a couple instances I did wish I put the 24-240mm STM on, for that wide and extra reach! As you can see by the rocks, this trail wasn’t the easiest at all, we took our time and 3 out of 4 of us didn’t walk down to the shoreline. Such a gorgeous view and it was the first time in a month since I confidently went for a walk, since hurting my knee. My knee and leg were exhausted by evening, but also felt really good to get out and move – especially to take photos! The brace helped immensely.

For our walk at Twin Peaks, on Saturday (Sept 26) I knew the trail was 1.8km and majority was wheel chair accessible, so I planned to bring my wide and zoom options. I had my R6MII + 15-30mm STM and my R7 + 24-240mm STM. Going for lighter weight was key, as I am healing a torn acl in my right knee.

This was at the peak – such an incredible view!

Sunset Rock – beautiful ! We parked near the start of the beach on the right, it was an interesting and strengthening walk in the sand.

Sunday (Sept 27) we did the Lookout Point trail, it was the longest one yet. I took both cameras I had with me yesterday with the same set up. I was grateful I had the zoom on my R7 when we were heading back and saw a blue heron in the beautiful autumn swamp. Pulled over and I happily jumped out to get pics of the bird and of the landscape.

This morning, I woke naturally, when my alarm would most days go off, to another beautiful sunrise! I was there early, I thought I had missed it and then suddenly, the sun surfaced.

The view from the top of the trail! It was such a beautiful walk, some of the trail was on natures floor, a lot was a board walk through. There were some swampy areas they were covering.

As we were heading back to our site from our outing, our friend caught the eye of a blue heron, she asked her husband to pull over and I got out and went back to get photos of the heron. Such a beautiful bird.

Monday (Sept 28) before my husband and I left, we did the final two spots in the park we hadn’t been to yet. Harold Point and Granite Saddle. I shot with my Canon R6MII + 24-70 f2.8L lens. I knew we wouldn’t be walking far, so I brought my fav lens out! The views, in all areas of this park, were incredible. These views were amazing.

This was at Harold Point.

Granite Saddle

Overall we had a fabulous time – a lot of walking but it was fairly easy, thankfully! I felt much more comfortable, wearing a knee brace for long or uneven ground walks. Someone we know had been to the park in August, so I had heard from her to be careful on the Lighthouse trail, it definitely had spots where I needed to be much more aware. I am glad, actually both my husband and I were grateful we did that trail on our first day, we were exhausted that night. It was not super long, but it was much more strategic walking. Our friend went down to the waters edge, we stayed up top. Which was ok, I got some amazing view shots!

Here is a map of the park and shows the trails we did!