Most people familiar with WWI history have heard of the notorious German Flying Ace – the RED BARON. But do you know who shot him down? I’ll give you a hint – it wasn’t a comic strip beagle named Snoopy flying on a doghouse! I live in an old mill that was once owned by his family, so I dug deep into the life of this humble Canadian man who lived in Carleton Place, Ontario.
I learned to dive in Tobermory, Canada, the site of Fathom Five National Marine Park in Lake Huron. In this small park, literally dozens of 150-200- year-old shipwrecks lie at the bottom of the lake. In some cases, they are almost stacked on top of each other, a testament to the storms of November that were immortalized by Gordon Lightfoot as he sang about the Edmund Fitzgerald. But this wreck, the Sweepstakes, has been visited by more people than perhaps any other Great Lakes Shipwreck. It lies in only 20 feet of water in Big Tub Harbor. Today, people snorkel…
Shooting the dancing colors of the northern lights is often a part of a trip of a lifetime. It is critical to have the right gear and settings to capture the stunning visuals to share with your friends. Bring a high-quality tripod capable of stabilization for a 10-20 second exposure. Carbon fiber is lighter and easier to handle than metal. Your camera should be capable of working in Manual Mode so that you can control aperture, ISO, and shutter speed. Check the aurora forecast for your area to determine if and when they might peak. The aurora activity is described…
Shooting in the polar regions offers some incredible opportunities for capturing rare wildlife sightings and natural phenomena such as the northern lights. To make the best of your trip, be prepared for the cold. The following tips will help you protect your camera, batteries, and body from the chill. Store extra batteries fully charged and warm inside your parka. I use the inside chest pocket, so they are close to my body. Bring at least three camera batteries so that you have two spares ready to go. You don’t want to miss a shot when the low temperatures shorten the…
A magazine from New Zealand reached out to ask some personal questions about what makes me tick. I offered these answers to give readers a look into my world. Q: Jill, tell me a bit about yourself, where did you grow up, school, family life etc? I grew up near Toronto, Canada in a small town called Cooksville. That village of apple orchards and farms quickly grew into the town, then city of Mississauga. My Dad worked really hard to allow my Mom to stay home and raise the kids. As the youngest of three, I had a lot of…
This morning I met with students from classrooms across North America to share the underwater geography of Canada. This month women explorers will share their work on Exploring by The Seat of Your Pants online classroom sessions. 50 hangouts will reach hundreds of classrooms around the world! Check out the archive if you missed my talk!
Apply now for the Women Divers Hall of Fame scholarships and training grants. The deadline for applications is October 31, 2018.