American Marten

If you happen to  surprise a American marten, one of three things can happen. It may just stay there and watch you, run away or it may climb a tree. They are very good climbers and it's a great way to get away from the predators. In this case the marten went up a pine tree. I stayed put as it effortlessly climbed and looked toward me. Once it was certain that I was not coming any closer, it slowly came down and again kept looking toward me. One reaching the ground it then ran away. 

Until next moment, 
Amar

Mount Rundle

I must have see several hundred sunrises in Banff National Park, and still I get excited. This picture was taken few morning ago before the last snow storm came into the park and has since left with more snow on the ground.

Until next moment,

Amar

Moose

We are well into 2017, its time to look back at 2016, through pictures. Taking place on Saturday, February the 11th, from 7 to 9 PM at the Cave and Basin NHS, the birthplace of our national parks, in Banff. Come join me as I share some of my favourite pictures from 2016 and the stories that go with them, for $3.90 per person. 

Until next moment, 
 

Amar

Elk

There were three male elk I came across, while two of them stayed to the side and kept eating. This one stopped to look toward me and seems to be showing me his teeth. Perhaps he was smiling for the camera.

Until next moment,

Amar

Moose

The calf was keeping a close eye on its mother, from the time the calf is born and can walk, a strong bond is formed between the calf and its mother. The mother showing what to eat, where to eat and providing safety. The mother will do just about anything to protect its calf. When the mother is getting ready to give birth again, all will change, she will then push her calf away.

Until next moment,

Amar

Castle Mountain

It was a cold day and even a colder morning and evening. I was out in the morning to explore the area where the picture was taken. At that time everything was right but Castle Mtn was covered with clouds. I moved on, thinking perhaps another time when it would all come together. By mid afternoon I was still exploring  when I looked toward Castle, The clouds were above the mountain now and the light was great but it was going to take an hour to get back to my morning spot. It was starting to get cold again and there was always a chance the scene could change by the time I got back. I took the chance and I was not disappointed.

Until next moment,

Amar  

Sawback Range

It was one of those day when any direction I looked, there was a beautiful view. Even with the cold temperatures, the scenery brought a bit of warmth. I did not stand around a lot that day, but every now and then stopped to take pictures, including this one of the Sawback Range.

Until next moment,

Amar

Cascade Mountain

During the short days of the winter, the south facing side of Cascade Mountain sees the first light every morning. Giving the peak a beautiful glow. With the peak's physical location to the town of Banff, most pictures of the mountain are taken from the town's roads. One of my favourite place to take pictures of Cascade is just west of the town. In this case around the Marsh Loop trail.

Until next moment,

Amar

Red Fox

I came across this Red Fox on a cold morning, she was busy hunting for food, in this case for voles. She was on the side of the road, I stopped my car to the side and turned off the engine. Giving her quite space from a distance to focus on hunting. I watched her hunt for few minutes before she left the area.  But before that happened I was watched her amazing tail. There are few roles the big bushy tail plays, providing balance,  warmth on cold winter days and it's also used for communicating with other foxes.  Chocolate does the same thing for me. 

Until next moment, 

Amar

American Marten

The American marten is active year around, with the tracks I come across on the snow, one would think they would be more often spotted. They are always busy, always curious searching for food. This one was travelling by, when it saw me it climbed up a tree for safety. Once I moved on, it came back down and was on its way.

Until next moment,

Amar

Cascade Mountain

It was very windy this morning, so I decided not to look for water for the reflection of the beautiful sunrise. Instead I stood over the frozen snow covered Bow River with ski tracks from the day before. For about ten minutes the sky lit up and I kept taking pictures until the fire went out.

Until next moment,

Amar

Moose

It was a surprise coming across these two moose, a mother and her calf, they have a look as if they were surprised by me in turn, as if they were up to no good. Earlier that day a truck had dropped a bit of dirt while going by on this small side road. For moose as for other members of the deer family, winters are a big challenge for survival. There is very little to eat, and what there is provides very little energy. They are hungry, waiting for spring when food will be available that will help them gain the weight they lost over the winter. So when they come across some dirt that may have minerals their body needs, its worth getting down on their knees for it. 

Until next moment, 

Amar

Raven

Raven is one bird I can always cont on seeing or hearing no matter where I am in the mountains and no matter what the weather is like. They are very adaptable and always are able to find what they need to survive in harsh conditions. This one was hanging around the road, looking for food I imagine.

Until next moment,

Amar

Light and the Fog

The temperature was around minus 35 Celsius in the morning when I was out there looking for things to photography. I was hoping to come across wildlife or perhaps see something around the river that would be interesting. Wildlife opportunity came after I saw the fog that was created by the cold air moving over the much warmer running water in the Bow River. And I liked the way light was coming through the fog around the trees located next to the river. I grabbed few pictures until it got to0 cold, this one was my keeper.

Until next moment,

Amar

Johnston Canyon Lower Falls

Few times a year I like to walk through the Johnston Canyon. Being one of the more popular hike year around, I tend to hike it before anyone else shows up. Having the place to myself for a short while, I get to  take pictures without getting me or my equipment in anyones way. Seeing the narrow canyon during different seasons, one gets to see the different faces of the place. When the snow starts to melt during the warm days in the spring, the power of the water is amazing. And during the cold winter days , the beauty created with water and ice by nature is worth seeing even during a very cold morning.

Until next moment,

Amar

Elk

Couple of months ago this male elk got yellow rope tangled onto its antlers. Every week or so I come across him, he's doing well. The rope is now mostly tangled on just one of his antlers. He might just have to wait until April when his antlers will fall off, along with the rope.

Until next moment,

Amar

Moose

This bull moose was making its way through the meadow full of willow shrubs. It was toward the end of the day, perhaps he was done with eating and resting in the open, it was time to head into the woods for the night. 

Until next moment,

Amar

Castle Mountain

The sun was setting and I did not have enough time to get to location where i was headed to take pictures of Castle Mtn. So I decided to stop along the road I was travelling on and take the picture of the mountain, providing me with a different prospective of the sunset and the mountain. 

Until next moment,

Amar

Northern Hawk Owl

I'm not much into New Year resolutions, because for me there is only one thing I want to do and do more of it,  next year and the year after that and the year after that. That is eat more chocolate, oops sorry, I mean take more pictures. Nature photography is my way of having balance in life, the more pictures I take the better every other part of my life is. I use photography to connect with people and I use photography to connect with nature. 

Until next moment,

Amar

White-tailed Deer

A female white-tailed deer was bit nervous, she kept looking to the right of her. I was not able to see or hear anything, but she eventually decided to leave the area with her fawn.

Until next moment,

Amar