Michael Van der Tol Photography Blog

It felt good to be out of the rain

2012-01-26T10:00:00.000-08:00

The heat was hot and the ground was dry,
But the air was full of sound.

No to Coal

2012-01-23T12:00:00.000-08:00

"Ten years ago Beanstalk Capital Corp. was a new company with nothing more than a listing on the TSE Ventures Exchange. Today it is Compliance Energy Corp., and its Raven Underground Coal Project is a proposal to mine 44 million tonnes (2.2 million a year) from a coal deposit near Fanny Bay on Vancouver Island.
The Comox Joint Venture (CJV) - 60% owned by Compliance and 20% each by two Asian trading companies - owns about 29,000 hectares (ha) of coal on the Island, 3,100 ha of which are targeted for the Raven mine. The surface workings, which include a coal preparation and wash plant, storage and loading areas, and waste storage, would occupy about 200 ha. The two minority partners have put up $11 million to acquire the coal, and to explore and validate the Raven project." - source Arthur Caldicott

"Compliance plans to truck 40 million tonnes of coal from its proposed Raven coal mine, near Fanny Bay, along Highway 4 to Port Alberni. The coal will then be shipped to Asia. Since the mine will operate around the clock, that means 96 coal trucks will drive the route every 24 hours. That’s 672 coal trucks each week!

Highway 4 is a narrow, winding and, at times, steep and slippery road. It's the only route across the island to Tofino and Pacific Rim National Park. See a new website that explains why people in Port Alberni are opposed to the Raven mine.

Compliance also owns the Bear and Anderson Lake coal deposits near the proposed Raven mine.

CoalWatch Comox Valley has slammed the environmental assessment process on the proposed Raven Coal Mine Project for lack of transparency and disincentives for public participation.

BC Environmental Assessment Office and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency announced a second public comment period from Nov 15 to Nov 29 2011, based on Compliance Coal Corporation's response to the concerns flagged in the first public comment period last June.

However, the 1,100 pages of documents offered for public comment are so voluminous and unwieldy that they in themselves are an obstacle to meaningful public participation.

"The proponent has had over four months to respond to the nearly 3,000 public comments—a task they achieved using a full-time staff. Yet the public, with volunteers who have other lives and jobs, is given only two weeks for the mammoth task of responding,” said Cam Connor, Vice-President of the CoalWatch coalition, of which Sierra Comox Valley is a member."

Compliance Coal Corporation plans to truck 40 million tonnes of coal from its proposed Raven coal mine, near Fanny Bay, along Highway 4 to Port Alberni. The coal will then be shipped to Asia. Since the mine will operate around the clock, that means 96 coal trucks will drive the route every 24 hours. That’s 672 coal trucks each week!

Highway 4 is a narrow, winding and, at times, steep and slippery road. It's the only route across the island to Tofino and Pacific Rim National Park. See a new website that explains why people in Port Alberni are opposed to the Raven mine.

Compliance Coal Corp. also owns the Bear and Anderson Lake coal deposits near the proposed Raven mine.

CoalWatch Comox Valley has slammed the environmental assessment process on the proposed Raven Coal Mine Project for lack of transparency and disincentives for public participation.

BC Environmental Assessment Office and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency announced a second public comment period from Nov 15 to Nov 29 2011, based on Compliance Coal Corporation's response to the concerns flagged in the first public comment period last June.

However, the 1,100 pages of documents offered for public comment are so voluminous and unwieldy that they in themselves are an obstacle to meaningful public participation.

"The proponent has had over four months to respond to the nearly 3,000 public comments—a task they achieved using a full-time staff. Yet the public, with volunteers who have other lives and jobs, is given only two weeks for the mammoth task of responding,” said Cam Connor, Vice-President of the CAll the local governments in the Comox Valley and Port Alberni, along with thousands of British Columbians, have called for a more rigorous environmental assessment review, an independent review panel with public hearings. So far, those requests have been rejected at both the provincial and federal levels of government.

The first public comment period for the proposed Raven mine drew more than 2,500 letters, with 1,500 people in total attending the three public hearings in Courtenay, Port Alberni and Union Bay.

Read a Sierra Club fact sheet about the Raven mine, coal and global warming, steel-making and a recent coal victory in the Flathead River Valley.

Why all the fuss?
Coal is a dirty business. Aside from health impacts, burning coal releases carbon dioxide, a major contributor to global warming. In 2008, B.C.’s coal exports generated more than 55 million tonnes of carbon dioxide—almost as much as B.C.’s total greenhouse gas emissions in 2007. Surprisingly, we do not count emissions generated by burning B.C. coal overseas as part of B.C.’s carbon footprint!

The High Cost to Taxpayers
Mining companies must post securities to the B.C. government, ostensibly to ensure that the costs of mine decommissioning and reclamation are borne by the mining company rather than by taxpayers. Yet the record shows that taxpayers still shoulder most of the burden for clean-up costs. In the four decades since Vancouver Island's Mt. Washington copper mine ceased to operate, B.C. taxpayers have paid $6 million for environmental clean-up costs. That doesn't include the $2 million annual loss to communities from destroyed Tsolum River salmon runs, or millions of dollars that could potentially be spent on water treatment.

In 2003, B.C.'s Auditor General reported that securities being taken under the Mines Act are "inadequate to remediate the known mines sites in BC where contamination exists." The problem persists, with $100 million in unsecured liabilities today in B.C.alWatch coalition, of which Sierra Comox Valley is a member." - source Sierra Club BC

Not wanting to provide only one side to this story, here's Compliance Coal Corporation's view on the benefits for Vancouver Island.

Raven Underground Coal Project
The mining industry continues to grow throughout BC and projections show there will not be enough workers to meet industry demand. A new training program has been launched at North Island College, and an increase in female participation in mining is being encouraged to meet the demand for an expected 6,000 workers.

The next steps for the proposed Raven Project include further environmental work to ensure the studies outlined in the draft Application Information Requirements/Environmental Impact Statement Guidelines document are completed in preparation for the federal and provincial applications for environmental approval."

Principles Of Public Participation

Our information will be clear, consistent and accurate
We will listen
We will be accessible and easy-to-reach

- source Compliance Coal Corporation

You be the judge. Those of you that live on the Island know how precious our air, water, and landscape is. If you're on Facebook or Twitter please share this post with others. Then call, write or e-mail your MP, MLA or local political officials and tell them how you feel.

Photography exhibition supporting Breast Cancer Action Ottawa- Feb 12

2012-01-20T15:00:00.000-08:00

Transitions presented by Meridian, Gavin Murphy’s latest fundraising exhibition of women’s photographs, will take place Feb 5-Apr 6, 2012 at Gallery Farina in downtown Ottawa (216 Elgin St/near Lisgar St). A satellite show of different images will be concurrently held at Meridian’s Ottawa branch, located at 99 Bank St, corner of Albert St.

All proceeds from the sale of photographs will be donated to Breast Cancer Action Ottawa, a survivor-directed voluntary organisation founded in 1992 by a group of women who knew firsthand what breast cancer diagnosis meant to patients and families.

Murphy’s photographic style is unique. His pictures are taken spontaneously with minimal cropping or retouching. What the viewer sees is basically what the camera caught in its totality.

The photographs feature a transition of the artist’s work from 35 mm film to digital photography and were shot in Canada, United States and Great Britain between 2005 and 2011. Many of the images have never been seen before.

Murphy’s last exhibition of women’s photographs was 2010’s ThunderStruck, also a fundraising initiative for Breast Cancer Action Ottawa. He has produced a charity calendar of photographs of women for Osteoporosis Canada-Ottawa Chapter and held two exhibitions featuring images of women to help raise funds for CANHAVE, a local charity helping AIDS orphans in Uganda.
A vernissage will be held at Gallery Farina on Sun, Feb 12 from 4-6pm. A reception is also scheduled for Meridian on Thurs, Mar 1 from noon-3pm. All are welcome to attend.

Transitions presented by Meridian is made possible through the generosity of Meridian, Ontario’s largest credit union.

For further details or to arrange for interviews, contact Gavin Murphy at posingforthecause@gmail.com or telephone 613-741-4029.

Hope you have a great show Gavin. Sorry I can't be there this time.

Southwest Panoramas

2012-01-19T14:00:00.000-08:00

Overlooking the San Joaquin Valley, California

Cathedral Rock, from The Chapel in Sedona, Arizona

San Xavier del Bac Mission, Outside Tucson, Arizona

Some of my favorite places from my 7,000 km journey to the Southwest of the US.

Along the Mormon Trail

2012-01-11T11:00:00.000-08:00

If you are ever in Phoenix, Az and like hiking, South Mountain Park just south of the I-10 is a great way to spend the day.

Chapel of the Holy Cross

2012-01-07T18:00:00.000-08:00

I've been to Sedona many times but this was the first time I visited the Chapel of the Holy Cross. The view is picturesque. The sanctuary is positively spiritual.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

2011-12-23T07:41:00.000-08:00

On one of the busiest travel days of the year, I wanted to wish all of my friends and readers of this blog a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Have a great holiday break and travel safe.

Google+ for Photographers

2011-12-08T12:00:00.000-08:00

I'm thrilled to be one of the photographers selected to appear on the Google+ for Photographers website to be released sometime in December. There is a companion book that will feature the work of +Trey Ratcliff +Catherine Hall +Patrick Di Fruscia +Brian Matiash +Scott Jarvie +Jay Patel +Varina Patel +Alex Koloskov +Elia Locardi +Elena Kalis +mark waslick +Melly Sh Y Hardt +Jacob James and +Grayson Hartman.

The idea for the book and website is the creation of Photographer +Colby Brown.

Thanks Colby.

Sunset over Ganges Harbour

2011-12-03T09:00:00.000-08:00

It doesn't get better than this.

Postcard from Amsterdam 2003

2011-11-27T15:00:00.000-08:00

I had to cut short my walk on the beach with Chelsea the Dog when the skies opened up. It's been one of those weekends (rubber boots & raincoats). But sitting back at my computer I started thinking about some of the photographs I took when I got my first digital camera. In 2002 I bought myself a Nikon CoolPix 5000. Looking back on the archives of photos I took with that camera a few pictures stand out (most do not). I liked this one I took on a trip to Holland in 2003.

Stay dry where ever you may be :)

Storm over Deep Bay

2011-11-24T18:00:00.000-08:00

One thing you do get use to living on the Wet Coast is the frequency of wind storms and pounding rain from November to March. November just happens to be the month with the highest average rainfall - 180 mm. Wow!

Moss glows green like Neon

2011-11-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

During the dark winter months on the Island the moss in the old growth forests puts on a show. The best time to go is on a cloudy overcast day. Under the diffuse light conditions the green moss glows like neon lights.

Introduction to Digital Photography

2011-11-10T12:00:00.000-08:00

I'm offering my Introduction to Digitial Photography Workshop in February 2012. There are only two spots left in the class so if your interested sign-up at the Regional District of Nanaimo website.

The Source Promo

2011-11-07T15:03:00.000-08:00

I had some fun the other day with the technical support staff at the local Source Store here in Qualicum Beach. What do you think?

P.S. In case you don't know "The Source" use to be called Radio Shack here in Canada until it was bought by Circuit City and then Bell Canada Enterprises.

Sea Lions at Fanny Bay

2011-11-07T06:00:00.000-08:00

You can tell I'm new to the Island. I'm the guy who pulls over at Fanny Bay to photograph the Sea Lions. On the weekend I am sure there were close to 100 lions gathered; barking, sleeping, eating and sunning themselves.

My second winter with Georgia

2011-10-30T14:00:00.000-07:00

I will visit her often...

Places

2011-10-25T19:00:00.000-07:00

I like the fact that there are still so many places in the world that I can go to be alone. Sometimes we all need to just step away for a moment.

Thanks

2011-10-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

Thanks to those of you that attended my "Introduction to Photo Editing" workshop at Oceanside Place this past weekend. Hopefully you get a chance to use some of the editing techniques on your own photos very soon.

Lingering

2011-10-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

Sometimes a photograph is just enough...

Renews a weary Spirit

2011-10-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit.

~Robert Louis Stevenson

Cindy on Salt Spring Island

2011-10-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Cindy & I celebrated our 30th Wedding Anniversary on Salt Spring Island. Just before dinner I took this photograph of her. She is as lovely as the day we met.

Chelsea on Chesterman

2011-09-29T16:00:00.000-07:00

As the over-night temperatures dip into the singles digits, I thought I would post this shot of Chelsea the Dog enjoying the sun & heat on Chesterman Beach (near Tofino) a couple of weeks back.

We've lived near water now for just over a year and Chelsea has turned into a real beach dog. Gotta say it's growing on me too :)

Fogged out on Qualicum Beach

2011-09-25T10:00:00.000-07:00

Early Saturday morning I woke to see fog rolling in over the Strait. And you know I love fog! So I grabbed my camera and dragged Cindy and Chelsea the Dog along to Qualicum Beach. To my surprise there was this pod of Sea Lions and their young quietly laying around on the rocks. Exciting, eh? Sadly all I had with me was my 35mm prime lens. And with the Chelsea the Dog in tow, there was no way the mother seals were going to let me get close enough for a shot.

So you will just have to imagine these rocks cover with sea lions and their pups.

A Rare Sighting

2011-09-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

It's rare that people get the opportunity to photograph me. This shot was taken by one of the "Sunrise at Low Tide" photo walk attendees, Larry Williams. I'm hunched over my tripod, ankle deep in the Strait of Georgia attempting to capture the beauty on Qualicum Beach.

Thanks Larry!

P.S. Interested in the shot I took. See it here.

The Long Beach

2011-09-17T06:30:00.000-07:00

Cindy, Michelle and Chelsea the Dog enjoying a morning visit to Long Beach near Tofino, BC.