Red winged Blackbirds

I just had fun taking pictures of the sunrise as I made my way to the end of the Vermilion Road, was hopping to see some Red winged Blackbirds The last few times I was there, no sound or sight of the birds. I looked at the cattails as my cold hands from the early morning shoot were getting warmer, no sight or any sound of the birds. I started to make my way home when I heard a "click" sound, smile came across my face as I turned around and looked in the direction of the cattails, there was a male Red winged Blackbird.

 Top of a single cattail, showing its l black body with the bright red shoulders. Putting out the calls and putting on the pose to let all other males know this was its territory and not to come near. About ten minutes later a female came onto the scene. There was a distance of 8 to 10 meters between the two birds, and I in the middle to the side taking pictures of both. The female after few minutes went from the top of the cattails to somewhere at the bottom. Soon the male followed, but not for long, as it was back perched on the top. I spent few more minutes listening to the male, it did not have to defend its territory that morning from other males, I with my just solid blue jacket parted its domain.

Until next moment,

Amar

Mount Rundle

 Wanted to get out and take pictures of the sunrise, but clouds were rolling in from the West. Not sure what the weather was going to bring, decided to stay close to home. Headed for Johnson Lake, hoping to get the sunrise and then a walk around the lake. The cool night and early morning kept the open part of the trail firm to walk on, could make out the deep foot prints from the previous warm day. Found my spot near the Douglas Firs, looking at the North side of Mount Rundle. There were some low clouds the light had to go through, once again I was nicely reward for my visit by mother nature.

Until next moment,

Amar

Birds at Johnson Lake

Was at Johnson Lake taking pictures of the sunrise. As I was doing that I saw a Pileated Woodpecker fly above me, heading for the Town of Banff for its morning coffee. When I was done, a smaller woodpecker went by, which I could not I.D.. I decided then to stay in the area and see what the morning light would bring to the forest.

 I was glad I stayed, as I got to work on my hands and eye coordination taking pictures of the Mountain and Black-capped Chickadees that came out to play and eat. First I would observe the direction they were moving and what they were doing. Then I would find a spot  and wait for them to come toward me. They chickadees were moving fast , but soon after I was able to join their rhythm and get the pictures I wanted. When they moved on I would find a another spot and start the process again. I was hopping to get the two species in the same shot, I came close bout not close enough.

 Brown Creepers and a Red breasted Nuthatch paid a visit, but that's not all. As I was about to leave, I looked up and saw two Bald Eagles few kilometers above me riding the wind. To let us know spring was on its way.

Boom Lake

It was a blue bird day, decided to hike to Boom Lake. The snow on the trail was packed well from previous users, providing great traction. When reaching about a kilometer into the hike, I passed a high school group having a break. They were all on skis, the trail was excellent for it. I nodded as I passed them and after another 4 kilometers I was at the lake.

 It was bright, the Sun was sending rays of vitamin D in all direction. I quickly got my gear out and started to click away with my camera. I wanted to get my pictures before the school group reached the lake. After five minutes I followed snowshoes tracks, on top of the lake to get pictures from different viewpoints. The group had still not arrived, Clark Nutcrackers were keeping me company with their calls.

 After about 40 minutes I decided to head out, no sign of the school group. From the ski tracks on the trail I found out the group had turned back after going for another kilometer or so. Its too bad, they missed a beautiful day at Boom Lake.

Until next moment,

Amar

Frost

I was working at the Cave and Basin, the day started with the temperature in the minus mid twenties with sunshine. It was lunch time, had my apple and for a walk  I went. Wanted to take pictures of the frost on the lower boardwalk. The sun light was now able to make it over Sulphur Mtn, and add to winter wonderland look alongside the warm running water of the Cave and Basin hot springs. On the lower boardwalk I met a lady and her son. She said she been living in Banff for 35 years and could not believe how beautiful the area looked that day. I introduced myself and explained how lucky we were with all the factors working together to create that day.

After few minutes we separated and I started to take  pictures of the frosted branches before heading toward the Marsh Loop. Attached is one of the few pictures I got that day.

Until next moment,

Amar

On Helen Lake Trail

Was headed toward Waterfowl Lake to enjoy the afternoon. The weather was changing that day, with cold, wind and snow in the forecast for the next few days, so I wanted to make most of that day. Got on my favorite road, Icefields Parkway. Could spend a lifetime there.  As I was getting near the Crowfoot Glacier lookout, started wondering what the glacier would look like from the Helen Lake trail that day. The seed was planted, I decided to go up Helen Lake trail instead, Waterfowl Lake would have to wait.

Parked the car at the Crowfoot Glacier lookout and started to walk toward the trail head . Few times my feet went through the snow as I tried to stay on the used part of the trail by skiers and snowshoers. With my snowshoes at home, hoped the snow would be packed to carry my weight until. Every few minutes one or both of my feet would go through the snow, a ratio I could live with. Pushed my way as fast as I could go, the snow would be too soft in the open to go further, might as well get a good workout before getting
there.

Reached the open area and did not take long before my legs were covered by the snow, made my way to an area where the wind had blown most of the snow. As I drank and ate, I heard human voices coming from higher elevation. Set up my tripod and went to work with the camera, as the voices got closer. Crowfoot Glacier was not doing it for me, the light was not right, stated to move the camera when I could  hear the sounds of skies and voices just behind me. Looked back and was greeted by one of the skier teleing toward me. We exchanged words about the beautiful day and he mentioned they had spotted a Lynx about 100 meters above me. We said good-by as they went down the trail and I started thinking about the Lynx.

I would have gone further up if I had my snowshoes, the snow was too deep even for my size 11.5 boots. Lynx and I would meet another day.  I was able to get few good pictures of the valley, before I made my way down the trail.

Until next moment,

Amar

Quite Sunset

I was waiting for the sunset between second and the third Vermilion Lakes. Waiting for the warm colours in the clouds to come out, so I could start taking pictures. As I waited, saw several meters front me a male mallard duck come out in the open and then back in hiding from my view. Few minutes later a vehicle parks on the side of the road, man carrying a camera and a tripod and a lady carrying a small back pack.

 They said hello as they passed me to go from my left to my right. They were our to take pictures as well but from a another view. They had to go past a icy section, section were the lady slipped, but quickly got up smiling. My eyes went back to why I was there, noticed I had a picture front of me. Took several but not with the warm colours. This time it was a quite sunset.

Until next moment,

Amar

Snow Art

 I was sitting back and looking at the shapes created by snow and the wind. I like to call it nature's gallery. Now the great thing about this galley is, the artwork is always changing. The artist would be the weather, as the weather changes, so does the artwork. I took out my camera with the zoom lens, and started to look through the viewfinder for pictures of the artwork. The snow, wind, light and shadow got together to give me the attached picture.

Until next moment,

Amar

Deep Snow

I was visiting Kootenay National Park (I do like to travel, not far from Banff), wandering around the Marble Canyon area, enjoying the deep snow. Every now and then I would step of the path created in the snow by others, down I would go into the deep snow. Simple things entertain me. I was liking the contrast between the snow and the trees that was part of the 2003 burn. The lightness of the snow and the darker colour of the standing burned trees was creating appealing images for me. Turning the image into black and white extended the contrast and appeal.

Until next moment,

Amar

Sawback Range

For most part, I take pictures, loaded them onto my computer's hard drive and look over them. Those that I don't like get deleted the others I save and back them up on another drive as well. Then there are the in between pictures, not sure what to do with them, they get saved until I look at them in the near future. Attached is one of those pictures. I took the picture just before December came to an end.

 Last week I had a look at the picture and decided to start playing with it. I turned it black and white, did some cropping and brought out some details in the mountains. When I was done, I got a picture that I wanted to save.

Until next moment,

Amar

Townsend's Solitaire

 Was having a short lunch, decided to walk on the upper boardwalk with the camera in my pack. Half way up, I saw a bird fly off from the hand rail to top of a tree few meters away, it was a Townsend's Solitaire. The last time I saw one was eleven months earlier in the same area. It did not look as it was going to fly away. Quickly I went into my pack and pulled my camera out. Took few pictures until I saw a couple coming around the corner from the top of the boardwalk, the bird would be between them and I.

 As I expected, it flew off, but again not too far. I exchanged few words with the couple, then the focus was back to the bird. Was able to take number of pictures, it would go near the running warm water and then perch on a branch or the boardwalk's rails, repeated this few times. I was trying to figure out if it was looking for food and what that food would be. Luckily, I was able to take few pictures with the food being held in its bill. The experts tell me, its a spider.

Until next moment,

Amar

Lodgepole Pine Needles

Had a nice walk around Johnson lake, meeting several people and seeing even more birds. There was a group of eight, from the south, snowshoeing around the lake. Half way around the lake the group had broken into three groups, some members of the party did not like the slight slope on the far end of the trail, so they decided to walk on the lake.  Then few minutes later I met an English couple, who were taking easy on their snowshoes, as they day before they went for a longer and steeper trip near Lake Louise. At the later part of my walk met two ladies and one gentleman from Scotland, one of the lady was concerned I was walking by myself in the middle of the wilderness. I assured her that I would be fine and told her too keep an eye out for a woodpecker just ahead.

 Before I started to walk toward the parking lot, I saw a Lodgepole pine with some yellow-orange colour needles on the end of several branches. Started to walk around the tree, taking pictures , looking for a soft background with the needles standing out. Attached is one of those picture.

Until next moment,

Amar

Light Over Castle

I was 5 to 10 minutes east of Castle Junction, taking pictures facing Sawback Range but at the same time keeping my eyes on Castle Mountain. There was nice light on Castle, I had about an hour before sunset, more then enough time to get closer to Castle Mtn to take pictures. When I got to the bridge at the Castle Junction, the direct light had left Castle Mtn because of the heavy clouds moving in from the west.

 Hoping some light would come through, decided to park my car and walk down to the side of Bow next to the bridge. On the west of the bridge, there was a couple being entertained by their dog, I headed east along the river. Kept walking and looking back at Castle Mtn, the light was not going to come through. After walking for several hundred meters, decided to take some pictures with the sky and the clouds still getting the evening light.

Not upset about missing the light on the mountain, everything is relative. As I was walking back toward my car, saw a dipper working away along the Bow River. It was not concerned where the light was, just looking for enough food to survive another cold night that was headed our way.

Until next moment,

Amar

From the Bow River

It was another great day in the park, we're very lucky to get 365  of those a year. I was in the Lake Louise area, enjoying a cool sunny day. Walking around in knee deep snow, great way to exercise, thinking about opening up classes and perhaps calling the program "Deep Snow Workout".

 I got onto Bow Valley Parkway, to make my way home, taking short glances at Mount Temple. Big blue sky, with just a touch of clouds, the mountains and the trees covered by snow, classic winter day in the Rockies. Stopped my car on the provided spaces along the parkway, crossed the road and then crossed the railway tracks.

 Walked right on to the frozen and snow covered Bow River. Beautiful little spot, was able to take number of pictures  with various compositions. Attached is one of those pictures I was able to take at the site.

Until next moment,

Amar

On Two Jack Lake

It was a Friday morning, temperature was minus 20 before the windchill. I decided was going to get out and take pictures at Two Jack Lake and then come home to warm up. Got no problem walking around in cold temperatures but stopping to take pictures, well the hands and the toes don't like that one bit. I wanted to walk from Johnson Lake road to Two Jack Lake, about a 1.5 km walk.

 Got 200 meters from the car and decided I wanted to take few pictures. Out came the tripod and the camera, took the pictures as the hands started to call for help. Packed everything up and was off to the lake, moving at a fast pace to warm up the body and the hands. Arrived at the lake all warmed up, thinking I had about 10 minutes to take the pictures before Jack frost would be bitting on my nose. But was having too much fun taking the pictures before noticing I had been there for about 20 minutes or so. Packed everything up and walked my cold body back to the car. 

Again warm after the walk, looked around, it was going to be a cool, sunny and mostly clear day. Decided to keep exploring the park and taking pictures. For rest of the day played the warm and cold body game as I took few hundred pictures. Got home  around 5pm, all tired from walking in ankle to knee deep snow. But after going through all the pictures, I would gladly do it again.

Until next moment,

Amar

Bohemian Waxwing

It was about three weeks, when we were not thinking about the deep freeze. It was much simpler time, about zero degree when I came across about 30 Bohemian Waxwings on the Admin. grounds. They would fly onto the tree that contain the energy rich food, not all at once, some would be eating while others could be heard on the nearby trees.  They would take the fruit by their bills and swallow it whole, pause and take a another. They were going at the tree like if there was  going to be no tomorrow.

 I visited the same spot the following day, and could not locate a single fruit on the tree, just what was left on  the ground. It was fun watching them, except they were making me hungry, thought about joining them, but waited to eat my apple instead. I spent about a half hour watching them, and taking pictures. Every five minutes or so I would take a step closer to them to get a better picture, they were comfortable with me and went about their business, left them, visually content.

Until next moment,

Amar

Upper Boardwalk

As the snow and the cold hits the valley. Its always fun and interesting to walk along the hot springs  on the side of Sulphur Mountain. Feeling the warm heat coming from the flowing water next to the boardwalks.  Forces of warmth from the springs creating a special environment, all surrounded by the winter.

 Winter that's only steps away, covering all directions from the hot springs, as well on Cascade Mtn across the Bow Valley. All connected by the unique geology that created the Canadian Rockies, setting up the stage for the natural hot springs.

 I was able to take the attached picture from the upper boardwalk at the Cave and Basin, before the cold took the upper hand. Then it was time to step inside to take in warm water, flavored with chocolate of course, some call it hot chocolate.

Until next moment,

Amar

Reflection on Ice

Before the snow started to cover the ice, I was getting around and taking pictures of the sunrises and sunsets reflecting off the frozen rivers and lakes. The other week I made my way toward the Bow River to catch a sunset. But first I decided to have a meal before leaving home, which made me late catching the wonderful evening light on Mount Inglismaldie and Mount Girouard.

 But I soon found out, that was just the opening act, the main show was yet to come. The band of clouds that were shaped by the winds from the East started to light up. All together it must have lasted between 15 and 20 minutes. I moved along the side of the river taking pictures, not having the confidence with the ice in the middle. Attached is one of the many pictures I was able to take that evening.

Until next moment,

Amar

Banff 124

November 2009 came in quietly and ended the same way. It was 124 years ago from that month, a large step was taken to have Banff become the first National Park in Canada. Around the Cave and Basin National Historic Site and other springs on the side of Sulphur Mtn started a 26 square km Hot Springs Reserve.

 Today Parks Canada represents number of incredible special places, representing natural and cultural heritage for all Canadians, and for visitors from around the world. Our cultural heritage  connects us with hundreds of years of nation building and thousands of years of human history and our natural heritage representing millions if not billions year of natural history, everyday reminding us what we are part of.

 Our definitions of parks and sites are  always evolving, with each generation adding its value. Together looking after these special places, so the future generations can make the same connections with the natural and cultural world. Happy birthday Banff National Park.

Until next moment,

Amar

Sunset by Bow Bridge

As I was stepping outside Banff Park Museum to make my way home, the evening light was giving the clouds a shade of red. Decided I was going to walk over to the Bow River and take a picture of the sky. As soon I was able to able  to see toward the west, looking above the massive range, I realized I was about to witness a great sunset.

 I started to run down the new steps to the river from the museum, jumped onto the dry part of the river bed, hoping not to trip over the rocks as I made my way under the Bow River Bridge. The sunset was becoming more and more intense, needed to move fast. Out came the tripod. It was going to be a long exposer, so I could get the details in the shadows as well. Changed the long zoom lens to the wide zoom lens, so I could get the river, trees, mountains and the sky in the picture. The camera is was on the tripod, connected the quick release for the shutter to prevent camera shake. I set the aperture to f22, so I could get everything in focus, then it was time to shoot.

 I took four pictures, 30 seconds, 8 seconds, 4 seconds and 2 seconds exposures respectively. I then combined the four pictures on the computer, did some cropping and got the picture.

Until next moment,

Amar