lost lagoon | john bishop images | fine art photography | vancouver, bc

Lost Lagoon

Over the Spring and Summer of 2009 I spent many hours wandering around Lost Lagoon, one of the jewels in Stanley Park, located in Vancouver's West End community.

I experimented with my first telephoto zoom (50-500mm) and captured some very pleasing images. The more I became aware of nature around me, the more it revealed itself to me. Some of these photographs became part of my first fine art photograph book.

Vancouver had a rare winter in 2008-2009. More snow than usual and more fog than I remember since the 1950's. One of the icons around Lost Lagoon, the wooden bridge.

Lagoon mists

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Lagoon mists

On the lagoons eastern shore this tiny recent fledgling Sparrow stopped by to check on a nest.

Baby sparrow

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Baby sparrow

This year the fountain at Lost Lagoon, built in 1936, has been running since early Spring. On hot summer days winds from Second Beach wash over the lagoon, carrying a fine mist.

Lost Lagoon

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Lost Lagoon

Another recently fledged Sparrow checking out what I was doing.

Little visitor

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Little visitor

On the lagoons eastern shores the Lost Lagoon Nature House now occupies what, up until 1938, was a canoe and boat rental office.

Lost Lagoon Nature House

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Lost Lagoon Nature House

Great Blue Herons nest near Lost Lagoon's abundant wildlife. Once prey is spotted, their movements become barely perceptible.

Ready to strike

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Ready to strike

2009 saw several additions to bird habitat housing around the Lost Lagoon Nature House. One of several bird houses built underneath what was once a bus loop for the Number 19 Kingsway.

Sparrow feeding chick

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Sparrow feeding chick

Brilliant in song Redwing Blackbirds nest in the small islets made of reeds along Lost Lagoons north eastern shores.

Redwing Blackbird

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Redwing Blackbird

The more I become aware of nature around me, the more is revealed itself to me. This little bright-eyed towhee hopped out from under a bush right in front of me, for once, camera at the ready.

Rufous sided towhee

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Rufous sided towhee

The Mute Swans of Lost Lagoon are an exotic species brought from the U.K. They like to swim with their wings slightly raised and fluffed. These swans are pinioned (wing tendons clipped) to keep this introduced species from spreading to other parts of the province.

Lagoon grace

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Lagoon grace

These were the first photos taken with the 50-500mm lens; the detail I was able to capture from over a hundred feet away was superb.

Canada Goose bathing 1

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Canada Goose bathing 1

Flapping water around noisily, this Canada Goose made a great subject to learn about high-shutter speed to stop the water flying in mid-air.

Canada Goose bathing 2

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Canada Goose bathing 2

Powerful flapping and furoius pedalling allow these large birds to lift themselves near clear of the water.

Canada Goose bathing 3

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Canada Goose bathing 3

Caught half way through a vigorous tossing side to side, water suspended in mid-air as the goose splashed around.

Canada Goose bathing 4

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Canada Goose bathing 4

This image captures the sense of power building at the high point of this flap.

Canada Goose bathing 5

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Canada Goose bathing 5

Capable of producing over 200 sounds, crows are a highly intelligent birds. They can construct and use crude tools as well as plan several steps ahead.

Crow raising a ruckus

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Crow raising a ruckus

Completely at ease in the warm sun, the turtle in the forground doesn't seem to be aware of the impending ambush from behind. Moments later the submerged turtle makes a landing.

A rock of his own

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A rock of his own

After finally climbing onto the rock from behind, the turtle seemed to yawn for several seconds, after which it settled down to nap in the warmth of this beautiful day.

The warm sun

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The warm sun

Two turtles sunning themselves on a rock. I love the central focus and the sense of soft movement in the surrounding green.

Bakin in the sun

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Bakin in the sun

The tiny birds are well camflouged, as are their nests which resemble soft grey socks that hang from a branch, usually surrounded by fairly dense brush for protection. I had been watching this particluar nest for several weeks when I became aware of the first movement. The nest has since been destroyed; whether by animal or human I don't know.

Bush tit leaving nest

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Bush tit leaving nest

Lost Lagoon Tree Swallows. A male makes his presence known, singing loudly and darting back and forth behind the very attentive female.

Swallows mating 1

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Swallows mating 1

Lost Lagoon Tree Swallows. Lifting her tail feathers to signify her readiness, the male swoops in.

Swallows mating 2

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Swallows mating 2

This brightly coloured Tree Swallow has taken up residence in the purpose built bird houses mounted on long bamboo poles in the north-east corner of Lost Lagoon. The soft blue backgroud is the unique result of using a telephoto zoom lens that effectively frames and focuses the subject.

Tree swallow

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Tree swallow

Lost Lagoon Tree Swallows. The male hovers over and behind the female, signing loudly while the female seems to puff herself up to appear more alluring.

Swallows mating 3

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Swallows mating 3

Lost Lagoon Tree Swallows. The male lands on the females back, his beak pressing firmly against her head as he completes the mating ritual.

Swallows mating 4

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Swallows mating 4

Framed in a circle of soft green, a hen and her brood make for a branch barely submerged. Under the hens watchful eye her brood splashed and dipped around, a mid-day bath in the mid-day sun.

Mum and her chicks

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Mum and her chicks

This little chick had wandered away from its mother and her clutch. Here, the detail of the downy chick fluff stands out against the darker water. Branches and leaves below create orange-red shadows under the ripples.

Mallard gosling

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Mallard gosling

A Canada Goose and gander marshalling their sole surviving gosling along at a brisk pace. Geese usually have a brood of six to eight.

One left

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One left

This fat little gosling, along with six brood mates, already seem to understand the people are food sources, showing no fear as they come to within two feet.

Gosling at sunset

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Gosling at sunset

Relaxed and accustomed to people, this Mallard was sunning itself on rocks against the shore. The brilliant blues and greens of the head feathers are vibrant in the bright sun, but the detail in the body feathers is amazing.

Mallard drake

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Mallard drake

The calm peace that fog brings to the land as it wraps its cool lacy threads silently around scattered rays of sun.

Winter fog 1

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Winter fog 1

Lost Lagoon cloaked in a misty grey shroud, swirling fog coats the trees with tiny crystal drops, almost draining all the colour from this scene.

Lost Lagoon in the fog

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Lost Lagoon in the fog

The calm peace that fog brings to the land as it wraps its cool lacy threads silently around scattered rays of sun.

Winter fog 2

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Winter fog 2