Featured Photograph: Kootenay Lake Boathouses (Enlarge)

Beautiful British Columbia ... that's what the tourism bureau likes to call it. And why not? Pound for pound, Canada's westernmost province is probably one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Why this photo? After days of being surrounded by stunning mountains and inundated with breathtaking views, I was taking a quiet morning walk in Nelson's Lakeside Park. Though I had my camera with me, I wasn't really looking at anything in particular. However, the high contrast of the scene pictured captured my attention.

An abundant snowfall the previous winter left the mountains a deep green in the Nelson area; this deep green is responsible for the lake's almost black appearance. A light breeze gave the water a pleasing amount of ripple and the complementary coloured doors and walls of the boathouses completed the scene for me. Beautiful and functional.