Sunday, November 14, 2010

254 - Salmon Run



My wife and I went out to look at the running of the salmon. Our region in local native dialect is called Kwayhquitlam, which translated into English means "River That Reeks Of Fish Slime". That's not a fact that often finds its way into our tourist brochures. Every year at this time, the salmon come up our creeks to spawn, after which they die. It's a beautiful and awe-inspiring sight, but also a powerful and awe-inspiring stench.

This photo ends up looking very impressionistic. The light was very low on account of clouds being overcast, so I could only use long exposures. The rythmic motion of the fish and flow of water creates an almost painterly look to this image.

For another look at Hyde Creek, please click here to see my painting of a different section of this parkland. Note that it might take four to eight years for the fish in the painting to grow to maturity. Then they will return to Hyde Creek just like the fish seen above.