First off, Happy New Year.  It's been a whole year since blogging and I thought it was time.  The following is an image of a stump found on the rocky shores of Lower Arrow Lake in British Columbia Canada.

20130829-PAS_0947Stump on the shores of Lower Arrow Lake. Many years ago this stump was under water and was eroded, creating amazing art. Since the construction of the Hugh Keenleyside Dam near Castlegar in 1968, water on this newly formed lake can fluctuate up to 20 meters.  There are areas where the trees were cut down leaving stumps all along the shoreline.  These stumps were then submerged and all the soil has been washed away leaving only rocky shorelines in it's place.  It's kind of strange to see the stumps intertwined in amongst the big rocks and how the wood has been formed from water erosion.   It appears as though they have been submerged for some time and only recently have been exposed to air.  This particular stump however is up a little higher than the others and has been exposed to the elements a little longer.

The patterns are amazing I think.  Almost as if carved by hand.  This is why I love being a photographer.  My eyes are kept open looking for opportunities such as this and I get to enjoy my surroundings in a more vivid way.  As well as receiving a good feeling knowing this stump has been preserved for all of us to enjoy for years to come. 

If you've never been to this area of the world, don't go.  We're trying to keep it a secret.  If you do go, just visit quietly and leave only foot prints.  Whatever you do, don't blog about it.

(uncomfortable silence ...... ) 

(quick diversion learned from being a Dad ...)

The more you stare at the designs in the wood, the more that you will see. - John