Dave Hutchison has been travelling up and down Vancouver Island, taking photographs of the beautiful landscapes for 20 years. 

The culmination of all he has seen and captured has come together in a new book that shares his photographs, meshed with narration from his wife, Kelly. The book, 鈥榁ancouver Island: The Art of the Landscape,鈥� hits shelves on Feb. 15.

Though the book covers seven different geographical areas along the Island, Dave shares that he thinks the Comox Valley chapter or area six in the book, is his favourite. He even adds in that Kelly's son's favourite area was the Comox Valley as well. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 just so diverse. With the mountains. You could be snowshoeing or backpacking,鈥� said Dave.

鈥淪ki, hike, bikes and paddle all on the same day and finish with a sunset whale watching tour,鈥� adds Kelly.

With the Comox Valley area skirting up to Campbell River in Hutchison鈥檚 book, the variance of the landscapes are plentiful. From China Bowls in Cumberland to various climates on top of Mount Washington, the book showcases the beauty found in the Valley. 

Interwoven with the breathtaking images captured by Dave, Kelly narrates the book with details behind the scenes of the photos and information about Dave, his process and the scenes laid out for the viewer. 

While Dave and Kelly haven鈥檛 been a couple for all of Dave鈥檚 photography career, she has been present for about 20 per cent of the adventures or what the couple call 鈥渢he journey,鈥� and found a way to reflect on what Dave captures with his camera. 

鈥淲e actually met in the trees. We both have a love for nature and that was what brought us together,鈥� shared Kelly of how the two met. 

Not only was the book a work of Dave鈥檚 photography from the past 20 years, it was also a labour of love between the two as Kelly鈥檚 writing about Vancouver Island is an accompaniment to the landscapes. 

鈥淗e first selected all of the images and then he decided that he wanted to break the book into these seven sections, into our regions, and then I interviewed him about his time and his travels and each of the images. Asked how he felt to try and remember what it was like to be back in that time and place,鈥� shared Kelly of her process when writing for the book. 

鈥淣ot merely a collection of photographs, this book is a love letter, a tribute, to a place that has given us so much,鈥� said Kelly, in a reading of a quote from the book. 鈥淥ur book represents more than a moment captured in time. It reflects the Island鈥檚 enduring spirit, embodying what lingers in the heart long after time has passed. Whether you are a local, a traveller or someone looking for inspiration from afar.鈥�

Copies of 鈥榁ancouver Island: The Art of the Landscape,鈥� can be found locally at Laughing Oyster Book Shop in Courtenay.