What is the future for PFRA community pastures?
For over 75 years, the Canadian government has managed a large swath of community pastures across the Canadian Prairies, comprising of 929,000 hectares (2.3 million acres) of some of the largest unfragmented tracts of grasslands found anywhere in the world. If grasslands included in the Community Pasture Program (CPP) were a country, they would rank 168th in size – slightly larger than the Republic of Cyprus and right behind Lebanon. Or in the Canadian context, the PFRA community pastures cover the area that is 1.6 times the size of...
read moreCanada’s Coolest School Trip contest
Tris post does not have too much to do with photography. I am presenting it here to promote a worth-while cause. Parks Canada is running a contest to promote awareness of our national parks. If you are a parent with a grade 8 student, please read the notice below and encourage your kid(s) to think about visiting one in the near future. Are you or do you know a grade 8 / secondary 2 student or teacher? If so, did you know that all grade 8 / secondary 2 classes in Canada are eligible to win Canada’s Coolest School Trip, an...
read moreI wish you a happy and prosperous 2013
Dear friends and web site visitors. As this year draws to an end, I wish you all the best in the upcoming 2013. May all your (reasonable) wishes come true. I sincerely hope life will bring you friendship, lots of laughter, joy, wonder and beautifully exposed days. A small treat for the festive season – take a few minutes to check out the videos on this (external) web site: http://amooseinamapletree.com
read moreGreat Sand Hills book among top 30 best-sellers in Saskatchewan
A happy news that I am proud to share with you: the Saskatchewan Publishers Group has compiled a list of their top 30 best sellers for 2012. The top-ranking list includes ‘The Great Sand Hills, A Prairie Oasis’ book in 13th place. If you have not picked up a copy, check them out and order a copy. Or two. Here is an excerpt from the book review by Dr. Bram Noble, a University of Saskatchewan professor who was involved in the GSH Regional Environmental Study. The review was published in the Great Plains Research journal, University...
read moreNorthern Lights at Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park
While driving to Swift Current one cold and clear November night I noticed an amazing display of Northern Lights appearing above the horizon. I just passed the town of Kyle and could not find an interesting feature on the landscape to use as a foreground for images. I continued my trip south to the Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park, knowing that there are rugged hills adjacent to the highway and a curve in the road that could be used as a leading line and aid in composition. I left the car at the Goodwin House parking lot and started...
read moreNovember skies on the prairies
There is something special about November skies close to sunrise or sunset. I have quite a few images that capture the warm, soft light above the horizon around the magic hour. A friend of mine commented once that those pictures are part of my “Lavender Landscapes” opus. I have been travelling to Swift Current on a weekly basis since since early November. On my last trip I was driving through gently rolling farm fields along Highway 4 just north of town, when I noticed the skies changing colour. An opportunity to capture one more...
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Dr. Branimir Gjetvaj is a biologist and internationally published environmental photographer specializing in western Canadian landscapes. He leads photography workshops and photo tours, and gives public presentations on photography, natural history and conservation biology topics.