AUGUST 2002 – Thorson Creek near Bella Coola, British Columbia, on a sunny day. © Mark Zanzig/zanzig.com
The story behind the image
Bella Coola in British Columbia is a paradise for nature lovers. Situated at the west coast of the Canadian mainland, it is quite detached from the rest of B.C., and in fact, from the country. The only lifeline is Highway 20 which connects Bella Coola to Williams Lake, the next city. However, it’s a 450 kilometers drive towards the East. That’s why the highway is called the Freedom Highway. Back in the 1940s, the government claimed it was impossible to build the road. However, the locals took things into their own hands, and on 26th September 1953 they completed the road. You can find out more about this road at the Bella Coola Valley Museum.
This image shows Thorson Creek, one of the many smaller rivers that feed the Bella Coola River before it merges with the Pacific Ocean. I love the clear, saturated colors that visualize the clarity of the air in the region.
The silence was absolute. It was just us, the splashing of the river water, and the gentle wind that was moving the leafs in the trees. No cars. No trucks. No airplanes. (Fortunately, we did not encounter any bears.)
By the way, if you follow Thorson Creek, you will discover the Thorson Creek Petroglyphs – a historic site with ancient rock art.
Bella Coola is an awesome place to be.
Design ideas
The high resolution image
| Capture Date | 16-AUG-2002 |
| Location | Bella Coola, B.C. |
| Camera | Canon AE-1 Program |
| Image Source | Fuji Slide Film |
| Digital Image Source | EPSON Perfection 4870 Photo |
| Digital Image Source Format | TIFF, 48 bits/pixel, sRGB |
| Edited Image Format | JPEG, 24 bits/pixel, sRGB |
| Edited Image Dimensions | 4281 x 6564 Pixels |
| Copyright | © by Mark Zanzig/zanzig.com |
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