Sunrise by Marsh Loop Trail

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

Spruce Grouse

I was walking around the Johnson Lake, after not having good luck with the sunrise, due to heavy winds and not finding ideal place to take pictures from. I was few minutes from finishing the hike when a female Spruce Grouse came across my path. It slowly took few steps away from the trail and stood there, I quietly started to take  pictures of it. Light was low, so I raised the ISO and squatted to get a less busier background. It moved again, I adjusted my position and was able to get few more images before it went father into the forest.

Until next moment,

Amar

Johnson Lake

It was a very windy end to the day. Was hoping it would to calm down before the light made it over the mountains. But it was not meant to be, nature had other plains. Found an area in the corner of Johnson Lake, where the water was calm and lowered my camera to get more of the calm water in the frame. The sky really made this picture.

Until next moment,

Amar

Civilization and Nature

Every now and then I like to take pictures of civilization and nature together, especially when they work together to create interesting images. The Rocky Mountaineer was heading west through Morant's Curve, named after Nicholas Morant, made famous by the photos he took at this location. Mountaineer's two colourful car added to the image.

Another photo taken at the Admin. grounds. Robin ready to eat the fruit produced on the colourful Mountain Ash standing along the Banff National Park's Administration building.

Finally, this bench and the deck covered by the fallen leaves from the Balsam Popular tree. With the beautiful golden colour from the leaves brightly lit up by the sunlight, the image was meant to be taken. 

Until next moment,

Amar

Barn Swallows

Putting a highway in a national park created a barrier for many of the animals who want to go from point A to point B by crossing the road. For others,it was life and death situation when they decided to cross the highway. By putting a fence on either side of the highway, they reduced the carnage considerably, but it slowed the movement of animals, if not completely stopping it. As result underpasses and overpasses were built, trying to overcome the highway as a barrier, and moving toward more of a natural environment. Many creatures have become used to having the fence in the park and learned to navigate it, other rest on it as they wait for the parents to bring back food and shove it down their mouth.

Until next moment,

Amar

Mountain Sheeps

They were just above the road, taking in the warm sunlight. I kept driving until I came to spot to park my car on the space provided along the road. Grabbed my camera and walked toward them on the opposite side of the road. I wanted to capture to all four of them in the frame, stopped fifty meters from them next to a tree. I under exposed the image by one stop to get the details on the very white parts on their face. They kept looking at the vehicle that would stop just below them, while I would taking the photos.  After few minutes I had the images I wanted and decided to move on.

Mount Pilot

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

Birds

The last few days I had few opportunities to take pictures of birds. Been focusing on landscape lately, but it was good to find birds to take pictures of. First, few days ago saw a Robin on Mountain Ash, leaves in wonderful fall colours. Robin enjoying the fruit.

Then three days later on a same type of tree but with green leaves due to being next to a light post, on top a Black billed Magpie having a snack.

Then same day, few kilometres away was a Belted Kingfisher looking for food from a dead tree next to the Cascade River. A bird I'm having challenges getting close to. I'm happy with this picture for now, and will keep trying to get a better image.

Until next moment,

Amar

Mount Ishbel and Colours

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

Cascade Mountain

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

Crossing the River

In photography, timing is everything. I was on my way to work while the morning light was adding bright red to the clouds. As i was crossing the bridge going over the Bow River, I heard a call of a male elk. Quickly crossed the road to look down on the east side of the bridge, there I saw Elk crossing the river, with the sunset colour reflecting in the water. Had a chance to take few pictures before it was all over.

Until next moment,

Amar

Sun Setting

 It was few weeks back, was done taking pictures of the Ospreys and headed for a location to take pictures of the sun setting. Parked the car and went for a fifteen minute walk, had to spray myself with mosquito spray, as they were still after my chocolate rich blood. I had scouted the area early spring, has potential for sunrises and sunsets, this was the first time heading to area, located between the main highway and Bow Valley Parkway. Sun started going behind the mountains, shooting rays of light, with smoke in the valley from wildfires far away added to the image.

Until next moment,

Amar

Larch Valley

We seem to spend too much time thinking about what we don't have and less time about what we do have. Having grown up in Ontario, I often think about the beautiful fall colours created by the maple leaf trees in the east. But having spend a day in the Larch Valley with friends hiking, beautiful golden coloured Larch Trees surrounded by snow covered mountains. I was in the right place. As beauty is created by nature in the east, different but just as unique beauty is created by nature in the Rockies Mountians. 

Literally hundreds were out on the Larch Valley trail, taking in the fall colours on a sunny day in the Rockies. That with friends and chocolate, what else one can want on a great fall day.

Until next moment,

Amar

Practice

There they were on the field, testing each other, testing themselves. Nearby was a two year old bull and about 100 meters the dominate bull in the area. These two were sharping their skills, enough force to test each other but not enough to hurt each other. It went on for about half hour before they were distracted by a female. One by one they went after her, but quickly were persuaded aside by the larger bull Elk. Perhaps in few years they might have a chance.

Until next moment,

Amar 

Full Moon

I was heading home when i saw the full harvest moon rising above Mount Rundle. I did not have the lens to include the trees, more of the mountain and some of the colour that was below the moon. Had my long lens, so I decided to capture the moon and just part of Mount Rundle.

Until next moment,

Amar

Johnson Lake

It was a quite evening at Johnson Lake. Three vehicles in the parking lot before I arrived. A couple had their stove on as they prepared dinner. Another taking pictures as they watched the late light fade. Three friends just finishing their walk around the lake. I standing by lake, ready to take pictures as short distance away muskrat swan across the small lake. Last of the light was giving some of the clouds colour, as mist hoverd above the water. Conditions providing me the last image for the day.

Until next moment,

Amar

Two Jack Lake

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

Whiteface Dragonfly

I was walking around a picnic area near a railway track, when I came across this Whiteface Dragonfly. It seems to be end of its life as it was not doing much flying, also seems to be a problem with one of its wings. I took the attached picture as the dragonfly was resting on the spike, the colours on the metal highlighted the beautiful colours of the fly. Hope they had lot of mosquitoes to eat this summer, as the mosquitoes were very busy taking my blood this year.

Until next moment,

Amar

Morning of Sunshine

After spending the early morning taking pictures of 93 North in Banff National Park, I then found an area for place to take pictures of fall colours. It was a cool morning, temperature as low as minus three, leaves were falling off the trees under the sunlight. The warm light was also melting away the heavy frost that covered all that was around me. 

Temperature was starting to go up as I walked around small wetland created by Rampart Creek, quickly two coyotes ran by. Not able to get a clear picture, as they were on a quick move. Decided to post this out of focus picture, which seems to give a better sense the speed they were moving with.

Soon my eyes turned toward the birds that were coming into the area. Few Yellow rumped Warblers,  two White throated Sparrows and also sighted a Northern Harrier.

It was a fun morning, after resting and having a snack, took more pictures of the fall colours and made my way home.

until next moment,

Amar

Chephren Lake Hike

Few weeks back friend and I were trying to reach Chephren Lake as the early light was coming up. It got brighter as we got closer and top of Howse Peak and Mount Chephren looked beautiful with their tops bathing in the light. Wind was calm and was hoping to get the reflection off the Chephren Lake, but when we reached the lake everything was ready except the light was being blocked by clouds.  We took in the lake and its surrounding as we waited for the light to come through. After a short wait it all came together and we were able to take the pictures with calm lake, giving us a great reflection of the nearby range.

On the way to the lake we kept our eyes looking ahead to where we were heading, but on the way back with the area lit up as the sun was much higher. The eyes were looking down to the ground, which was filled with mushrooms. That day I saw more mushrooms and more variety then all my hikes put together, thanks to regular dose of rain this summer. We probably took twice as long hiking out as we stopped and explored all the different species that came in our path. Also along the way got to see a Spruce Grouse. Once again you can plan where you hike, but nature decides what you will experience.

Until next moment,

Amar