Albert Head Lagoon — A Break in the December Rain

There are days on Vancouver Island where it feels like the rain isn’t just falling — it’s committed. Sideways, horizontal, relentless rain. The kind where you stop checking the forecast and just accept that everything is damp now, including your motivation.

This was one of those weeks.

I had the drone in the truck anyway. Not because I expected to fly, but because if you don’t bring it, that’s usually when the weather decides to behave out of spite.

Sure enough, while driving around on the west side of Victoria, the rain eased up just enough to suggest a brief ceasefire. Not a full clearing. Not blue skies. Just a quiet pause. And I happened to be a few minutes from Albert Head Lagoon.

So I made a quick beeline.

A quiet little surprise just outside Victoria

Albert Head Lagoon is one of those places that doesn’t announce itself. Tucked between the ocean and the forest, it’s easy to drive past without realizing how calm and sheltered it feels once you’re actually there — especially in winter.

In December, the lagoon takes on a different personality. Fewer people. Muted colours. Low clouds drifting just high enough to let the light sneak through when you least expect it. It’s quiet in a way that feels earned.

I got the drone up while the conditions allowed, keeping things simple and unhurried. No chasing shots. No dramatic moves. Just letting the place do its thing.

And for a few moments, the sun actually showed up.

Not long. Just enough.

Winter flying, Vancouver Island style

This wasn’t one of those cinematic, postcard-perfect mornings. It was very much a December flight. Grey skies, soft contrast, and that familiar West Coast palette where everything leans a little cooler and a little calmer.

But that’s exactly what made it work.

The lagoon reflected what little light there was. The shoreline wrapped around quietly. The ocean beyond stayed calm. It’s the kind of place that doesn’t need drama — it just needs a bit of patience.

I grabbed a handful of stills and a short video while the weather cooperated, then packed it up before the rain remembered what it was supposed to be doing.

A short film from a brief window

The result is a short December film from Albert Head Lagoon, captured during one of those fleeting breaks in the weather that make winter flying on Vancouver Island feel a bit like a game of chance.

Sometimes you win. Sometimes you don’t.

This time, the timing worked.

The video is embedded below if you’d like to watch it. It’s part of an ongoing series documenting some of my favourite quiet places around southern Vancouver Island — focusing on calm moments rather than fast edits or commentary.

More quiet West Coast locations to come — whenever the rain allows it.

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