Clouds were starting to take over the sky in the early morning, there was some blue sky near the town of Bnaff, keeping my fingers crossed I headed for Vermilion Lakes. The sky started to light up and I quickly found a place to take pictures. The sunrise did not last too long, but was able to frame few pictures. Was not happy with the original framing of the shot, so did some cropping to get something I liked.
Until next moment,
Amar
Did not have time to go far from home, so it was time to visit a familiar place to photograph the sunset, the Vermilion Lakes. Been taking pictures from there since 1995 and still look forward to visiting the area. Few photographers were out there already, I arriving later then I hoped, but still found a place to set-up. Next to a little open pool of water to catch the reflection of Mount Rundle, just had to lower the camera down to my knees to achieve it. Another happy day at the Vermilion Lakes.
Until next moment,
Amar
Snow is here with cool temperatures, winter has arrived. Its time to focus on staying warm and getting out to enjoy the winter and finding places to take photos. Winter provides very limited time for photography with shorter days, its even more important of get out on the weekend. The morning I took the attached image, I decided to stay close to home. The image was taken just west of town of Banff. In the winter the sun is lower in the sky compared to the summer, giving a longer period of time with decent light for photography. Clouds were waiting for sunrise,but a respectable light gave me calm picture of the Massive Range after the light got over the clouds.
Until next moment,
Amar
Mount Chephren is an impressive mountain, standing along Lower Waterfowl Lake, rising some 1600 meters from the valley. You see it long before you reach the lake. When I was there few weeks ago, it was a very frosty cool morning, with low clouds in the area. I was taking pictures from different parts of the lake, trying to get the view that would show just how impressive the mountain is. The light was great and the water was still, could not ask for more. Started taking pictures when the first light touched the top to the peak and about hour later session came to end, picture I wanted in hand.
Until next moment,
Amar
I spent few days in Jasper National Park for work, the weather was mainly the overcast type, but one evening the sky opened and photo opportunity presented itself. Sadly I had to behave and only take the photo with the sensor between my ears, so I could work on an assignment with my team over dinner. I was rewarded when we started to make our way to Banff. Late morning light lit the top of Colin Range, creating photo opportunity of Hawk Mountain with fresh snow on top.
Until next moment,
Amar
It was the morning before few hundreds would be jumping into the cold waters of Two Jack Lake, to participate in the first Banff National Park triathlon. I was there to take photos of the sunrise, with calm water and clouded sky, my personal preference. Clouds were moving through as the light highlighted different part of Mount Rundle. While I was taking pictures, a Raven and a gull kept flying front of me, giving me a challenge. Then a Bald Eagle came into the scene, made its way to the other side of the lake to perch on a tree. It picked a weak branch, made a circle over the lake and landed on a different tree. But too close to a Common Loon resting nearby on the lake, not happy, it started calling out. All this and a great sunrise, made for a very good morning.
Until next moment,
Amar
I must have by now taken pictures of Mount Rundle hundreds of times, more to come for sure. Never get tired of the mountian, the way it stands out, very prominent profile. Two picture being posted, first one taken during the sunset, standing next to a pond, with the moon in the open sky. The second was taken middle of the same day, but from the Vermilion Lakes. Even before taking the picture, I knew it would be more interesting in black and white.
Until next moment,
Amar
Was standing on the Marsh Loop Trail, waiting for the morning sunlight to light up the clouds. Soon the clouds started to turn red. The wind was causing ripples on the water, so I decided to take photos standing in a small open field. The willow shrubs just about 10 meters front of me were still holding their fall colours, added to the image. Once I had taken enough images of the sunrise, I turned around and crossed the trail to take pictures of the Massive Range. Not as colourful but still interesting with the sun rising behind me.
Until next moment,
Amar
Was too late to go where I originally wanted to take pictures of the sunrise, decided instead to head for a pond off the 1A to take pictures of Mount Pilot. The water was calm as I arrived, with few water fowls diving for food. As the sunlight start hitting the top of Pilot, I started snapping pictures. Moved around the pond to get few different views. I stopped when the light was blocked by the clouds, then it was time to watch the birds as I had a small snack.
Until next moment,
Amar
The last few weeks I have been taking pictures of the fall colours, for a short period each year the mountains explodes with burst of colour. I like to take pictures of leaves on their own, whether they are on trees or on shrubs. Isolating the leaves from the surroundings, making the leaves and their colours pop. Moving around the leaves to control the background colour. Entertaining myself with different colour combination, keeping onlookers wondering what I'm up to. During early or late light of the day, I have been combining the fall colours with the mountains in the backgrounds. Fall colours, nature's own version of Indian festival of colours, Holi.
Until next moment,
Amar
Was walking on the Marsh Loop trail, with the camera in my hands in case I spotted something. I could hear the call of bull elk in the distance. Sun was now behind the mountains, hopping the clouds would light up for a nice sunset image. I was getting closer to the bull elk, or it was getting close to me. Finally I was able to see the bull and couple of cows, but too dark to get a good picture. As I listened to the bugling of the bull, made my way to a small pond to take the landscape picture of the Cascade Mountain. Clouds lit up and the fall colours all around, I got the image I wanted.
Until next moment,
Amar
Well, we woke to our first major snowfall in the Bow Valley this morning,and its only mid September. Many of the leave holding trees and shrubs felt the wait of the wet snow, fallen branches of all sizes can be seen around the valley and in some case the whole trees. In the evening I headed for Two Jack Lake to take pictures of the Failholme Range reflecting on the lake. I was happy to find shrubs by the lake, still holding their leaves. Produceing a nice contrast with the snow, as well as grounding the picture.
Until next moment,
Amar
I was making my way home later in the day as the clouds were deciding if rain should fall. With the debate going on in the sky, the Vermilion Lakes were calm as I saw them from the highway. Late dinner would have to wait, it was time to take pictures at the Vermilions. I slowly made my way to the top of the small dock of the first lake, as to not cause any ripples, I wanted to catch the beautiful reflection in the water. I was not along watching the sun setting behind me, one to the left and other to the right were two Bald Eagles. Each safe from my lens reach, we all watched the late sunlight do it's magic as I took one picture after another.
Until next moment,
Amar
One of the things I like about living where I like do my photography, is I can always go back to an area to keep trying to get a better picture of the subject. The first time I took a picture of Mount Stephen was when I went to Yoho National Park to take pictures of Takakkaw Falls this summer. As I was leaving the Yoho Valley, I liked the view of Mount Stephen I was seeing but the morning light was gone. I decided to scout the area for future visit.
The next chance I had to take picture of Mount Stephen, great light but cloudless sky did not do it for me. A week passed and I was back along Kicking Horse River waiting for the sunrise. Light comes in contact with the mountain but again clear sky, not for long, this time clouds were moving in. Just hoped they would move into position before the early light was replaced. As I waited, I looked around for even a better foreground. Found a balsam poplar branch leaning over the river. Everything was in place, I snapped few pictures before the clouds made their way out of the frame. But this is not the end, never is, will be back again to see if I can get a better picture.
Until next moment,
Amar
Watching a sunrise in the mountain, great.
Watching a sunrise with beautiful clouds covering the sky and being reflected in the still lake, wonderful.
Taking a picture of all this while the Common Loon calling nearby, priceless.
Nature, inspiring us one day at a time.
Until next moment,
Amar
I did not have lot of time, decided to head to the Vermilion Lakes. It was windy that morning but the three lakes always come through. I often look for calm open water to catch the reflection of the sunrise in the picture. I had an area in mind, where the westerly wind gets blocked and water tend to be calm most of the times. But that morning two other photographers were set up there already. No problem, change is good; photographers forced me to find a place that I would otherwise not have noticed. No water, but melting packed snow and ice had a look as if it was reflecting the patterns of the clouds. How do I handle change? I take picture of it.
Until next moment,
Amar
It was early in the morning, saw few vehicles on the road as I made my way to the Waterfowl Lakes Campground. The campground was closed for the winter, but I was there to hike to Chephren Lake and take pictures. It had been a while since the trees last held snow but the ground was heavily covered. When I stepped off the packed snow that was on the trail, I was met with snow up to my thighs.
I was few minutes away from the next main turn, when I decided to follow tracks which went away from trial, I hopped it connected later with the trail. Took the early turn not to save time but to have fun in deep snow. But I got more then I bargained for, after about 200 meters the tracks stopped, leaving it for me to connect with the main trail. I did not have the ideal snowshoes for the snow, after 15 minutes of good workout I joined up with the trail and made my way to the lake. Where I was met by a Gray Jay, otherwise a quite pleasant visit to glacier fed lake. Complete opposite to what I encountered when I was at the same lake end of last August.
It was warm muggy day then, walked along the the shore for a place to eat and to enjoy the view before heading home. Just as I sat down, I started hearing loud yells, various random yells. They kept getting louder and louder, with very little pause between. Even though I was few hundred meters away from were the trail first comes in contact with the lake, I knew the one doing the yelling had reached the lake as four grebes were scared off. The person did not stay long, he left just as fast as he had arrived, within few minutes it was quite again. I stayed seated and enjoyed food in the shade.
Afterwards I headed back, but not before taking pictures of a mountains surrounding Chephren Lake. Half way along the trail I came across a lady who looked to me to be in her seventies, had that look of a person who had seen and hiked these trails many a times. She looked comfortable and content, smile on her face, pack on her back and water bottle in her hand. I smiled and said hello. She greeted back and asked if I was staying far back as possible behind the man who was making all that noise. I told her not on purpose, it just how it worked out. She said she wanted to speak to him but was afraid to. I asked why was she afraid. She said as she got near to him on the trail, she read what was on his t-shirt, “I’m smart and you’re stupid”.
Until next moment,
Amar
I started the days adventure at upper Waterfowl Lake, with the goal to snowshoe to Mistaya Lake. Snowfall in the mountains has been below average this winter, but here along the Waputik Mountains below average is still enough to play with. But first thing first, need to capture the morning light. Standing on the east side o the lake, I started to take pictures of the mountains across the lake, as the light made its way toward the bottom of the valley.
It was a cool morning, I wanted to start moving and to get back some of the heat I lost taking the picture of the sunrise. Was hopping to head for the other side of the lake where the sunlight would be hitting soon, but was having way too much fun exploring the side of the lake I was on. Exploring places I wanted to come back to take pictures in winter and during the summer.
I made my way toward the small section of the Mistaya River that connects Waterfowl Lake to the Mistaya Lake. Due to low temperature mist was rising from the open running water, visible from a distance as the the sunlight came in contact with it. Being careful to stay on solid surface as I walked along the running water, open in some area and covered by ice and snow in others. Water was cool and clear as the surrounding landscape reflected off the water. Walking with snowshoes, made it easier to walk on the snow and at the same time carry the camera on the tripod.
So many place to take pictures, would be great to return and capture the early light on the mountains being reflected in the water. I was seeing so many possibilities for pictures, every few steps produced a unique opportunity for pictures. I was so involved taking pictures of the landscape , did not the mountains were holding a surprise for around the corner. A surprise that heard me coming. To be contuined... .
Until next moment,
Amar
I'm alway looking for new places to take pictures of the same mountain. Spend lot of time with maps, looking for spots along trails, rivers, lakes. etc.. I'll always be taking pictures form the well known locations, but when I find that not so well know location to take pictures from. I not only get a picture with a unique view, but learn how diverse and unique the mountains are. Each mountain, each valley, each river, each lake has many stories to tell. You just need to spend the time exploring.
I was exploring the Cascade River below Minnewanka Lake, river's power was greatly reduced with the three dams built since 1895 along Minnewanka. But it still plays an important role to it's surrounding and the many life forms that rely on it. I came across the Cascade Power Plant that was built in 1912 and closed in 1941. Saw the beautiful fall that friends had told me about. But also another spot to capture the beauty of Cascade Mountain.
Until next moment,
Amar