It’s a hectic world today. We all know the stress of work, of home ownership, politics and so on. At first we don’t seem to notice it, but after some time we find out that things feel a little “off”. We start being snappy, even with people who don’t deserve it. Depression in some form sets in and still we have no idea what is the cause of all this, adding to the discomfort. Then starts the spiral downwards to outright anger and despair. Getting rid of the feeling may need something more, say, powerful.

No longer can the feeling be ignored, something has to be done before it is really too late.

Read more: Relaxants

This is a popular subject every year again. First of July in Canada, 4th of July in the USA and the 14th of July in France. Lots of fireworks to be shooting and to be missed if you don’t have the basics together. So let’s take a look at the necessities of shooting fireworks. If you have the intention of shooting them using an iPhone or Android, use your movie mode, fireworks will be clear and even have the sound. A little camera shake will be recorded most of the time, but that is part of the charm of a cellphone recording.

Should you want to shoot them using a DSLR, you will need a few things.

Read more: Shooting fireworks

In short, the Wetlands. A mere 75km north of Winnipeg, the wetlands are a treasure trove of wild plants and flowers. What attracts most people to these wetlands is the abundance of medicinal plants, edible plants and orchids. Lots of orchids. Out of the 36 species of orchids in Manitoba, the Wetlands have 23 of them. That is an impressive number. While many of them can also be found elsewhere, largely diluted by other plants, here, they come fairly concentrated along a trail of about 2.5 kilometres.

The Brokenhead Wetlands are a cedar bog, a fen and a swamp, all rolled in one.

Read more: The Brokenhead Wetlands Interpretive Trail

People who know me will tell that I am not a morning person. Not that I stay in bed until noon every day, far from it. Getting up before the crack of dawn is not one of my favourite activities. But when I do get up, I want to make the most of it. That usually starts with a plan on the previous day.

Planning the trip for early morning is the least I can do, wandering about without aim while I could be in the warmth of my bed needs some motivation.

Read more: Early mornings

Doesn’t seem to make much of a difference, eh? When I first came across a 60mm macro lens a few years ago, I didn’t think I would be using it very much. After all shooting insects can only be done so many times before you start repeating yourself. Yet, if you add other subjects to that from up close, a macro lens can have a serious impact on your photographic life.

Nowadays I bring it out quite often. Walking in the woods, there is no reason to use a 600mm, after all, the trees hide the forest. A 60mm macro on the other hand will reveal tons of details in what you are seeing all around you.

Read more: 55 going on 60

Literally. All weekend. Instead of hunting birds I decided to go and hunt for some foreign landscapes. Many people here in Winnipeg or Manitoba will already know the places I will show here, but this was a first time for me. As usual, a first time anywhere is full of awe and wonder. Well, mostly.

When I was younger, I travelled a lot and saw many different places and cultures. Most of them good, some of them are off my list of destinations forever.

Read more: All gone south

Manitoba is dry this year. Winnipeg experiences driest April in 30 years, 4th driest on record, news outlets scream. And I wanted to go for a nice barbecue in the park. After all the fire pits are designed to keep a fire under control, right? Well, not so much. It all started with a handful of grass fires across the province.

The fires got out of hand and were uncontrollable within minutes. A local fire ban was quickly declared for the affected areas. High winds and more grass fires soon made that the fire bans were extended for the whole province.

Read more: Of BBQ and Fire bans