Mount Rundle

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

Big Horn Sheep

I was making my way to Kootenay National Park when I came across four Big Horn Sheep rams along 1A. There were four of them, between the age two to five. They were making up the slope along the road, probably out there to get their share of minerals off the road. I was able to capture few photos quickly as they quickly went out of site.

Until next moment,

Amar

Bohemian Waxwing

Its fun taking pictures of Bohemian Waxwings when they are on an eating frenzy. Too focused on eating, which lets me get close and focus on them with my camera. I moved around the tree to isolate the birds I was taking pictures of. Enjoyed catching them in all kind of crazy positions trying to grab the fruits of the tree. I never get tired of them,always getting new images to entertain me.

Until next moment,

Amar

Red-breasted Nuthatch

One way to create a better image is too move the subject away from the center of the picture.There should always be a reason for where you place the subject in the final image, by doing that you're telling a story and not just taking a photo. Now that's not easy to do with wildlife, in particular with the nuthatch I was taking pictures of. So I made sure the bird was not taking up all the space in the photos, I just wanted to make sure it was in focus and the background was not busy. 

When working with the attached photo on the computer , I was able to place the nuthatch toward the top left when cropping the image. End result, you can see the subject on the tree with its classic pose, giving space toward the direction its looking at and as well providing the symbolic space that the bird can fly into. There is no perfect formula for a better photo, but at the same time if you decide to place the subject in the center it should be because it creates the best image.

Until next moment,

Amar

Massive Range

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

Mistaya Lake

As 125 years of having national parks in Canada pass, I thinks about what it is I like about them. I don't have favorite route, hike or a scramble. I don't have favorite lake, mountain or a meadow. I don't have favorite shrub, tree or a flower. I don't have a favorite amphibian, insect or a snail. I don't have a favorite fish, mammal or a bird. I realize its only when you put all these and many other parts together, you have a national park. So what do I like about the national parks? When I'm out there, middle of one. I feel as I'm part of something special, and that's worth protecting.

Until next moment,

Amar

Water and Rocks

As most morning when taking pictures, I have the whole area to myself. It was no different when I was visiting the Marble Canyon in Kootenay National Park. I just get a kick out of thinking how the water played a role building the mountains we enjoy and also plays a role breaking them down. The goal that morning was to include just the water and  limestone surrounding it. Just as its important deciding what to include, its also important deciding what not to include to get a interesting  image. After getting the images I was hopping for, I went for a hike in the valley.

Until next moment,

Amar

Mount Chephren

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

Peyto Lake

Snow is taking its time staying around the bottom of the valley and below normal levels on top of mountains.  I decided to head over to the Bow Summit for short hikes around Peyto Lake. With higher elevation near the Bow Summit, found snow from the valley up. It looked beautiful seeing snow covered trees, looking forward to winter and photo opportunities. I was able to grab this image before leaving the viewpoint.

Until next moment,

Amar

Mountain Bluebird

I was heading for a location to shoot a sunset when I noticed a bird flying from the bottom of a young spruce to its top. I was the only one on the road, no other car visible, I slowed down to see what bird it was. It was a Mountain Bluebird, a juvenile. Looking at it from the driver seat was difficult to separated it from the cloudy blue sky, thinking, would it be still perched there while I grabbed my camera from the back seat. I took a chance, parked the car off the road and using the car as a blind grabbed my camera and started shooting from a standing position to get a greener background. Within minutes vehicles  from both direction were coming to my location, could hear them slowing as those inside them I'm sure were trying to figure out what I was shooting. Before they got close enough to stop, I was in my car to keep my appointment, after all sunset waits for no one.

Until next moment,

Amar

Black capped Chickadee

There were five to six Black capped Chickadees slowly moving from tree to tree, singing as they went. I got my camera out and started taking pictures. Even though they were spending fair amount of time on each tree, as always they were not spending to much time stopping in one position. I would find them with my eyes and then locate them with the camera to take their pictures. They kept me entertained for about five minutes before flying away from me. I was able to capture few images, where the birds were isolated from their surrounding, standing out in the photos.

Until next moment,

Amar

Animals in the Park

The more time you spend away from home, the more you see of the wildlife in the mountains. Three different animals pictures, taken at three different areas. As I was making my way home, came across the Grizzly crossing the road. I was able to take few images before it crossed the road and went into the forest, where it took its time moving.

Same day, while I was doing a short hike, I spotted a American Marten on a tree. It went up higher when it spotted me. I stepped back and took out my camera and took several images as it came down one tree and went up another, before getting back to the ground and walking away.

For the last animal, Coyote, it was spotted near the town of Banff. Searching and digging for something when I came across it. I garbed few images before leaving it to go about its business.

Until next moment,

Amar

Hawk Mountain from Palisades Centre

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

Birds

Few days back I had gone for few short hikes to take pictures of birds. First I decided to explore the Hoodoo Trail and spotted several birds, but only able to get close and take decent pictures of Gray Jays and Clark's Nutcrackers. Nutcrackers were going after the pine nuts from the pine cones and cache they had hidden.

Then went over to the Vermilion Lakes and spotted two Bald Eagles, one close enough to take a photo of.

Until next moment,

Amar

Golden crowned Kinglet

There were three of them, making their call as they slowly moved from tree to tree. I grabbed my camera and moved ahead of the Golden crowned Kinglets. Their quick moves make it difficulty to get them in focus. Having enough light gives me high shutter speed, improving my chances. I spend about fifteen minutes taking picture of the kinglets and was happy to get few images I liked, including the one posted.

Until next moment,

Amar

Mount Rundle from Two Jack Lake

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

Mount Rundle

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

Bohemian Waxwings

The Bohemian Waxwings are spending more and more time near the Town of Banff, eating the fall harvest one at time. The day I got these photos, they were going after the berries on the ground. But while resting on the tree branches of a Aspen, they were making quite the conversation, which got my attention. I slowly moved near, with the sun behind me, started shooting. Got few good keepers, could have used more colour in the background. After about five minutes, they all decided to fly off, until we meet again.

 

Until next moment,

Amar

Angel Glacier

I was able to make the quick hike to the small lake below the over hanging Angel Glacier on Mount Edith Cavell, before the road was closed for the winter It was my first time being there, all I can say is I want to go there many more times, The mountains, glacier, lake with iceberg and more can produce endless possibilities for photo opportunities. I spent about an hour there before the rain asked me to leave, but not before I was able to capture few images.

Until next moment,

Amar

My Wait at Herbert Lake

Waiting is a big part of nature photography. From experience, photographer can have some level or accuracy forecasting what may take place, but nature will always have the final say. My hope was to go north of Herbert Lake to take pictures of sunrise and then go for a hike. But the very dark clouds moving in from the west made me pull over into the parking lot by Herbert Lake. The time when sunrise was to take effect came and passed without making a change in the sky, I decided to stand  against a tree, waiting and watching the two adult Common Loons feeding the juvenile in the lake. 

 Then it all started to come together, light coming through creating a wonderful reflection on the still water of the lake and dark clouds creating a dramatic effect. Once I was finish with the landscape, I got a chance to take pictures of the juvenile loon that paid a visit near where I was standing earlier. To end my time at the lake, as I was taking pictures of the loons heavy rain drops start to fall on the still water, creating what sounded like musical notes with each drop.

Until next moment,

Amar