Was taking pictures of Castle Mountain with the evening light on it. At that time the clouds were too far away and I was not liking the pictures I was getting. Once the light was off the clouds, the clouds in the distance lit up. Then it was a hurry to find a spot without falling off the ice into the cold water to take the picture I was hoping for.
Until next moment,
Amar
It was late afternoon and light snow was falling. This male who had just few days before dropped its antlers was eating away with another bull, who was outside the frame. With a cold morning and the heavy snow on the road kept me near home, so it was good to end the day taking pictures of two moose.
Until next moment,
Amar
Taking a good picture of birds has its challenges and trying to take pictures of birds in flight increases those challenges. So having knowledge of their behaviour goes a long way trying to get the picture. A snow storm had covered everything in sight, which left few places for the birds to go to for food, one of those place was this tree still holding berries. This Townsend's Solitaire along with few other species of birds were busy trying to get the fruit. The solitaire would hover under the branches to grab the berries, each time it did that I would aim my lens to the spot and take the pictures. After couple of tries I got it.
Until next moment,
Amar
Was driving on 93 North, decided to stop and look at various glaciers that caught my interest. Around this time they look great with part of them covered with the fallen snow and standing out amount the mountains they are on. I zoomed in and would take pictures when I had a nice composition. This glacier was one of them, located on the side of Mount Patterson.
Until next moment,
Amar
It's pretty easy to find out if there are American Marten in the area in the winter, their tracks are hard to hide in the snow. But coming across one is less likely and getting a half decent picture of them even less. We first saw this marten cross a side road, then I quickly spotted it up a tree. If you give them space, they will provided plenty of photo opportunity as they make their way down to the ground and continue their journey looking for food.
Until next moment,
Amar
I was bit under the weather, but decided to bundle up and head outside anyway. With me taking too long to decide if I should go, as soon I stepped outside I could see the warm colours in the clouds. Kept my fingers crossed, hoping to make it to the Vermilion Lakes before it was too late. With the heavy winds, there was only one place where I was going to find still water. It was a small area, but that was all I needed. When I saw all the clouds on fire, I forgot about the aching joints and started clicking the camera. It was a morning to remember.
Until next moment,
Amar
Another year is coming to an end. Life always seems to take me away from what I enjoy most, which is nature photography. But I kept pushing back, getting outside to explore and bring back pictures. I never got all the pictures I wanted, just another reason whey I need to get out there in the New Year.
Until next moment,
Amar
From a distance the coyote was walking toward me, so I got ready with the camera. As expected, as it got closer it walked around me, keeping a safe distance and keeping its eyes on me. Once around me, it continued his way to where ever it was headed.
Until next moment,
Amar
I have been taking pictures for many years now and hope to keep taking for even more. But what will make me press the shutter button on the camera is still the same. I have to have interest in the subject, something about it that grabs my attention. And slightly more important reason why I press the shutter, is to capture the beauty that is in front of me. In most case both of reasons are present in each image I take, as they are in the case of this grizzly's picture, who I have know about for the last few years.
Until next moment,
Amar
This image is the last of the series taken few nights ago. Before the clouds moved in, my eyes and of course the camera's sensor could see the Northern Lights. I was bit under the weather that night, but it was hard staying inside. Glad I got out.
Until next moment,
Amar
This picture was taken the same night as the previous one, I just moved about 40 meters to the right. The clouds had almost covered all of the Northern Lights, but the water was still and Mount Rundle and Tunnel Mtn were visible. I took a ten second exposure.
Until next moment,
Amar
More experimenting with star trails pictures. Northern Lights were out, but I could only include them in part of the frame. I thought with the Northern Lights I would include star trails, so I took several pictures over a 15 minute period. When I started there were less clouds, but they soon moved in. In the end I lost some of the star trails and the northern lights. But I was still happy with the experiment.
Until next moment,
Amar
Today Christmas Bird Count took place out here, birders were scattered throughout the Bow Valley. I was joined by two lovely friends on this above average temperature day in December. Day started out slow, but once chocolate and christmas cookies were consumed, (it's hard being a birder), we started seeing birds. Before we called a day, we spotted 94 birds all together, consisting of 15 species, including this female Pine Grosbeak.
Moose don't have much problem getting through deep snow. with their long legs they move through the snow to get at a common food in the winter. The winter limits what they can eat, so top of willow shurbs is a regular part of their diet. This one was in a meadow with one other bull, both resting and eating all day long.
Until next moment,
Amar
Was out enjoying the cool night while practicing taking pictures of star trails. Everything else about photography is the same, it's about trying to decide how the start trails can enhance the overall picture. It will be fun to see what I can come up with, there is no limit to photography and imagination. Looking forward to more trials and errors.
Until next moment,
Amar
It's that time the year again, Christmas Bird Count, the 115th edition. The date will vary within few weeks in and around Christmas Day, depending on your area. Here in the Bow Valley it will be Saturday, December the 20th. No matter where you are, all are welcomed, it's a great way to spend some time outside to see what common birds are around and being surprised when spotting uncommon species for this time of the year. Just one way to see how our bird friends are doing. Check the net for your local birders organization.
Until next moment,
Amar
There were Black-capped and Mountain chickadees flying to the ground from their perch to grab seeds, then returning to their perch to consume them. I stood there watching and trying get their picture while they were in the air. Timing was the hard part, but still came away with few keepers.
Until next moment,
Amar
I had taken a similar picture few winters ago, was hard not to stop few days after a big snow storm on the same road to get the same picture. I like when trees are covered by snow and looking down this Bow Valley Parkway, there seems to be no end to the trees and the road. I was the only one on the road in the morning, stopped the car and got to the middle of the road to take the picture.
Until next moment,
Amar
I had not seen him for about six months, but there he was grizzly 122, walking in the distance toward my direction along the railway line. I above the tracks watched him, he was walking at his normal slow pace, not missing anything, taking in all the smells. It's his way of gathering all the information, it's his way of going on Facebook and seeing what others he share the area with might be up to. Two weeks have passed since I saw him, is he still wandering looking for food or has the last snow storm followed by the cold temperatures told his instincts its time for bed.
Until next moment,
Amar
Spent way to much of November away from home, so its was great to be back exploring Banff National Park. In the last few days spent several hours moving all that snow that came down, so it was good to take pictures of it as well. This one was taken in the Lake Louise area, all the trees and mountains looked beautiful with the snow.
Until next moment,
Amar